SOMERSET — The AES power plant and the taxes it pays were the big topic as the Somerset Town Board and the Barker School Board searched for common ground in a three-hour executive session at town hall Wednesday. The meeting was at the invitation of the school board.
Councilman Randall Wayner said he could not go into specifics on what they discussed. “We want to best represent the community as we move forward with AES. We would like to work out an agreement that’s in everyone’s best interest.”
Deputy Supervisor Dan Engert said the boards hope that AES will be part of the discussions in the near future.
School Superintendent Roger Klatt attended the meeting, along with Barker board members, the school attorney and Business Manager Scott Hoot.
“We want to proceed forward with negotiations,” Engert said. “We’re all on the same page in that regard. We want an amicable settlement to this issue. We feel as though we’ve got a good opportunity to bring this to a successful conclusion for all partners.”
The school board and town boards won an Appellate Court decision to erase the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency’s payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with AES. The town estimates that it lost $383,000 in 2008 and $424,000 in 2009 under the PILOT. School revenue was down $1.6 million since the PILOT took effect, the district has said.
“It was a good dialogue,” Engert said. “I have a better understanding with the unique situation the school faces. It was a good discussion. We understand our roles and our constituency. We want to be fair with whole process, across the board.”
Randy Atwater, Gordon Kenyon, Ronald Clemens and Fred Bennes represented the school board, along with attorney Robert Pusateri. Supervisor Richard Meyers, Engert, Wayner, April Gow and Dudley Chaffee represented the town board, with attorney John Philipps.
Barker
May 21, 2009





