|
Published: April 27, 2007 03:29 am
PILOT CONTROVERSY: AES, IDA hearings still on tap
By Tasha Kates/katest@gnnewspaper.com
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
There will be a factual hearing in the case of three taxing jurisdictions versus AES Somerset and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.
Judge Richard C. Kloch Sr. denied the Town of Somerset’s motion Thursday to cancel the May 7 hearing.
“The appellate division is adamant about matters being (heard through) a fact-finding hearing,” Kloch said.
Attorney Robert Roberson filled in for regular Somerset Town Attorney Edwin Shoemaker. The town is getting ready for the next court date.
“We’re just waiting for the hearing,” Roberson said.
Somerset Supervisor Richard Meyers said he was not surprised the town lost its motion.
“I think everybody expected that to happen, so I don’t know why we did the motion,” Meyers said.
Representatives from the town, county and Barker Central School District are supposed to appear for the factual hearing next month to discuss several causes of action found in each of their lawsuits against the power plant and IDA. Kloch threw out several causes in all three lawsuits March 22 but wanted to know more about the IDA’s procedure during the granting of a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT, agreement to AES.
AES had asked for the PILOT last fall for “tax certainty” before it applied for a clean-coal plant under former Gov. George Pataki’s Advanced Clean-Coal Initiative. AES lost the bid to NRG Huntley in the Town of Tonawanda.
The 12-year, $192 million PILOT was signed in January by IDA Chairman Henry Sloma and AES Somerset plant manager Kevin Pierce. Numbers calculated before the PILOT was signed estimate the three taxing jurisdictions will lose $43 million over the life of the agreement.
Shoemaker has said the town has had difficulty preparing for the hearing because they don’t have any witnesses to call. However, Roberson said the town and county have subpoenaed the IDA and AES for more documents.
AES attorney Mark McNamara said the subpoenas were sent to both individuals and AES’s corporate entities to ask for “irrelevant information.”
“That will be the point of the motion to question the subpoenas,” McNamara said. “They’re looking for everything they can with respect to anything to do with the process of negotiation, consideration and execution of the PILOT and anything having to do with the clean-coal initiative (request for proposal).”
AES and IDA attorneys will return May 10 on their motion to squelch most of the subpoenas. Although the factual hearing was originally scheduled for May 7, Kloch said the hearing would have to be rescheduled because of another ongoing case. Kloch did not set a new date Thursday morning.
In the meantime, the Commission of Investigation is in the county this week conducting an investigation of the PILOT, which Legislators Dennis Virtuoso and Renae Kimble had requested last month. IDA Chairman Henry Sloma said he was interviewed Wednesday.
The state agency is expected to make its findings available to the public once the investigation is complete.
Contact reporter Tasha Katesat 439-9222, ext. 6241. Reporter Jill Terreri contributed to this report.
|
|
|
|
 |
Job Fair
HUMAN SERVICES JOB FAIR For COMMUNITY MISSIONS
Program Locations/Job Opportunities working w/c...>MORE
INSURANCE - CSR with Personal Lines exp., for Lockport area. $25,000 salary. 433-7504...>MORE
Instructors
Join Our Team! Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport...>MORE
Nurses
NURSES
RN - LPN
Join our progressive health care team
FT-PT - Per Diem ...>MORE
Packers
Packers, General Production & Assembly 1st, 2nd and 3rd shifts Sanborn, Tonawanda & Amherst. Re...>MORE
Remedy Staffing
Inventory Control Carousel Pickers Order Pickers Receivers/Shippers Packers Pay: $10/hr Sh...>MORE
Nursing
NURSING. RN's. Up to $7500 Sign on Bonus. Thinking of a change? Consider Mount St. Mary's Hospital. Various positions av...>MORE
WAIT STAFF
WaitSTAFF P/T 11am -2pm or 3:15-6:45pm. Will train. Apply Amberleigh Retirement, 2330 Maple near Transit. ...>MORE
Facilities Director
Facilities Director Strategically manage commercial and residential portfolios onsite in US and Canada. Exe...>MORE
Nurses
NURSES
RN - LPN
Join our progressive health care team
FT-PT - Per Diem ...>MORE
See all ads |
Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE
Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT 25,800 mi, ext. warranty Exc. Cond, $16,500 297-2199...>MORE
Chevy 2003 Impala
CHEVY 2003 Impala 25,600 miles, loaded Exc. Cond. $10,000/bo 297-2199...>MORE
Mercury 1999 Grand Marquis
Mercury ‘99 Grand Marquis 4 dr, leather, all options, 49k org mi., showroom cond. $6000. 860-2854, ...>MORE
Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer 531-3548, 297-1526...>MORE
VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE
Buick 2005 Lesabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE
See all ads |
|
See all ads |
|
 |
|