HAMMOND — The Town Council will take another month before it votes on its comprehensive plan to “soften” the language in a section concerning commercial wind development.

Developed by the residents with help from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office, a local review committee, the Town Council and the village board, the town and village’s joint community plan recommends improvement projects regarding agriculture, business, governance, housing, industry, infrastructure and land use.

During a public hearing last month, residents showed support for the plan, but disapproved of the language concerning the town and village seeking commercial wind developers.

Councilman Douglas E. Delosh expressed concern over whether the language could reopen wounds that “already could take two generations to heal.” “We’ve gone through this for four years and it has torn the community apart,” he said. “It doesn’t make us a neutral party. It wants us to actively push this. I don’t think that’s our prerogative.”

Council members said they would review the language and consult with town attorney Joseph W. Russell before settling on proper language for the plan.

“We have to make it so that it is acceptable to a lot of people,” Councilman Howard W. Demick said.

The public hearing will remain open until the March meeting. The village board approved the plan last week.

In the meantime, Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram encouraged the Economic Business & Economic Development Group of Hammond & Chippewa Bay to form a committee responsible for implementing the plan.

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