HAMMOND — If the town board meeting was any indication, the town of Hammond is divided on building wind turbines, except for one issue: there is not enough information to make any decisions.

The board and members of the public discussed a possible wind turbine law for more than two hours Monday and reached an agreement to continue discussions.

"We're trying to get a law in place before a developer comes," said councilman Ronald Tully. "We're trying to be proactive."

Mr. Tully said the town has not yet been approached by any developer.

More than ten residents spoke at the meeting and four letters were read by Supervisor Janie G. Hollister concerning the turbines. Speakers mentioned a range of topics, from set-backs and overlay zones to whether wind energy is a reliable source of energy.

The major concerns were similar to those voiced in Morristown, mainly about set-back zones, which determine where a turbine can be constructed, property taxes and revenue from the turbines. Similarly in Morristown there are few answers.

Some at the meeting were also concerned that Hammond had not done enough to inform the citizens and called for more public involvement in the creation of the law.

Don W. Sunderland, who was a member on the former committee to create the wind energy law, suggested recreating that committee to get more public involvement in the process.

At two points, the discussions turned into arguments with several people talking over one another.

One citizen suggested that if the town does not allow wind turbines to come to Hammond, Hammond is "not doing (it's) part to help America."

At one point another citizen claimed the proposed wind energy law had been created by proponents of the wind farms and asked to poll the board members on possible conflicts of interest.

He was stopped by Mrs. Hollister, who said board members had already been asked this question and Councilmen Russell Stewart and James Pitcher have already recused themselves from discussions for that reason.

"There are no conflicts of interest, as far as I'm concerned," said Mrs. Hollister.

Although discussions were heated, everyone seemed to agree that they knew few facts about the what money the companies could bring and how that money would be spread throughout the community.

Unlike neighboring Morristown, Hammond is trying to create a town law, not a zoning law, which requires review by the St. Lawrence County Planning Board.

A public meeting will be held Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. in the town hall to discuss any issues regarding the law and whether to continue a moratorium on turbine construction, which expires later this month.