I participated in the Dec. 8 meeting in the Town of Fleming, which focused on proposed revisions of the zoning ordinance. My attendance and the fact that I spoke was referenced in an article by Kathleen Barran the following morning in The Citizen. This reference was written in a way that could be misinterpreted and so to reduce the potential for misunderstanding I would like to say simply that I did not speak in opposition to the proposed zoning amendments.

I spoke extemporaneously from thoughts I prepared prior to the meeting and with reference to thoughts I heard expressed by other participants at the meeting. I can't imagine that anyone at the meeting could interpret my statement as opposition but it is obvious that most who will read the article will not have been in attendance.

In my verbal statement, I underscored the value of geospatial information technology (GIT, e.g. aerial photography, satellite imagery, lidar, computer mapping) as an information tool that can help sort out the difficult dynamics at play when communities attempt to co-manage sustainable growth and protect water resources. Further, I expressed the expectation that this technology would become more and more accessible to citizens in direct relation to the expansion of broadband coverage into rural areas, including the Owasco Lake Watershed. As time goes on, I said, GIT will become more and more integrated into local decision-making at the citizen level, expanding out in applications beyond the current deployment in professional staff offices. I also spoke in praise of the many residents, town board members, Officials and professionals for the hundreds of hours of dedicated time and intellectual energy that has underpinned this town effort.

I have no doubt that I was understood by those at the meeting and by Kathleen Barran, who did a great job capturing the tone, spirit, and details of the meeting. But once again for the record and to avoid any misunderstanding, I did not speak against the proposed zoning amendments.

Robert Brower

Auburn

Brower is CEO at the Institute for the

Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT)