Cape Vincent supervisor keeps mum, attempts to meet with turbine owner in private

CAPE VINCENT — Town supervisor Urban C. Hirschey, who told Robert A. Shimp to halt the installation of his 50-foot personal wind turbine in a Jan. 30 letter, attempted to talk things over with Mr. Shimp Wednesday following a Times report.

“I told him he’d have to talk to my lawyer,” Mr. Shimp said after a brief phone conversation with Mr. Hirschey, who apparently wanted to “sit down and talk.”

Mr. Hirschey, who did not return calls Tuesday seeking comment, was unavailable Wednesday.

Mr. Hirschey’s letter demanded that Mr. Shimp stop the nearly $35,000 work because the Town Council is about to pass a wind moratorium.

However, Mr. Shimp was granted a permit for the project more than a month ago and has already bought the turbine parts for about $25,000, which sit on his 31699 County Route 6 property waiting to be assembled.