Anti Fracking Rally Says Preston Threatens Home Rule

11/2/2012 (Updated 6:46:47 PM)

Has Debbie Preston moved to take away a town's ability to prohibit hydrofracking?

An anti-fracking protest group says yes.

But Preston's administration says no.

Citizen Action organized a rally and information meeting Friday complaining that Preston's "Denial of Approval"  of a gas drilling moratorium under consideration by the Town of Chenango is a denial of Home Rule, and a denial of a localities ability to decide what it feels is best.

"Only two other counties have denied approval to a moratorium. The idea of home rule, the idea of a community having control over its own destiny is a Republican ideal, that's a very conservative ideal. And I'm curious as to where the council to deny approval came from," said Issac Silberman-Gorn an Environmental Organizer.

But the Preston administration says the County Planning Department was required by law to offer an advisory opinion, which does not interfere with Home Rule, or the town's ability to decide the issue for itself.