By MATT LINDSEY

HOPKINTON — A Hopkinton town councilman who was abstaining from wind related voting and discussions says he will vote on the wind law.

Councilman Gilbert Sochia asked to speak before the town board meeting last night and told the crowd, council members and Supervisor Susan Wood that he will be voting on the proposed wind law.

Sochia was abstaining because a close member of his family is a leaseholder with wind developers, Avangrid Renewables.

Avangrid plans to build 27 turbines on land in Hopkinton. They previously had plans to build in nearby Parishville, but have since pulled out.

Wood said that the town attorney, Roger Linden, told her that Sochia was not able to vote due to ethical reasons. Sochia countered that his lawyers, Pease & Gustafson, claim he is eligible to vote on the wind law.

“He then handed me their (Pease & Gustafson’s) card,” Wood said.

Wood then told Sochia that they would let the lawyers sort it out.

The supervisor was unsure how the issue would be settled, whether in court or out. She said Linden will contact Pease & Gustafson about the matter.

“I don’t know what is going to happen,” she said.

Local residents will get to weigh in on the wind law at a public hearing March 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall.

Wood hopes to have a vote on the wind law at the April 16 town board meeting.