FORESTBURGH – The Forestburgh Town Board approved a resolution at its July meeting authorizing joint legal and technical representation for the proposed Townline Solar Project by RWE Solar Development.

As previously reported in the Democrat, the proposal is a large-scale renewable energy development planned along the Forestburgh-Thompson border near the Melody Lake area, spanning about 1,200 acres.

The law firm Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC was selected to jointly represent Forestburgh, the Town of Thompson and Sullivan County during the state’s review process.

The resolution authorizing Harris Beach as special counsel and Sterling Environmental Engineering as the independent technical consultant was passed 3-1.

Supervisor Dan Hogue and Councilmembers Vincent Galligan and Susan Parks Landis voted in favor, with Councilperson Robert Sipos voting against it. Councilperson Steven Budofsky was absent.

The proposed solar project is subject to review by the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES). In the town’s resolution, it states, “the Town has an interest in participating in the ORES review process to ensure that environmental, land use, public health, safety, community-impact, and local-law issues associated with the Project are appropriately reviewed and addressed.”

It was stated that both firms would be paid through state-provided intervenor funds if awarded, with no local taxpayer funds committed unless separately authorized.

It was noted that RWE Solar Development is expected to file its application with the state in the near future.

In other business, Supervisor Hogue announced Highway Superintendent Joe Ruggeri will retire effective July 31. Rather than appointing an interim superintendent through the end of the year, the board indicated the deputy highway superintendent will oversee day-to-day operations while voters could decide on the office in the upcoming election.

The Forestburgh Fire Department announced its community yard sale and bake sale will be held Aug. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. at the firehouse, and members reported responding to 86 calls so far this year, the majority of those calls being medical emergencies.