New Scotland Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, September 29, 2011
William Hennessey
By Saranac Hale Spencer
NEW SCOTLAND — Having spent nine years on the zoning board, William Hennessey, a Democrat, is seeking a seat on the town board. An engineer, he owns a small firm.
Thus far, he said, the town has kept taxes “in check.” He thought the town board as a whole should discuss how to stay under the state’s new cap.
Hennessey is supportive of making improvements to the highway garage, he said, stressing that the final determination would hinge on the cost.
Individual wind projects would have to go through the zoning process, Hennessey said of large-scale wind projects. He was hesitant to speak in broad terms about the issue, stressing that each project is site specific. He supports alternative energy sources, Hennessey said, but proper locations have to be found for building them. Hennessey noted an application that he supported for an individual, residential-scale turbine in the southeast part of town when it came before the zoning board.
Not enough research has been conducted for him to have a position on hydraulic fracturing, he said, adding that he doesn’t expect that there is enough natural gas under New Scotland to attract drillers.
Hennessey is supportive of a cap on the size of retail development, he said, and would like to see a continuation of the diversity of businesses that the town currently has.
Town board members have to exercise their judgment, but also “interject what they hear from constituents,” he said.