Town of Pomfret residents and former officials hoping to see the North End Water District plan finally progress witnessed one major step forward at the Fredonia Village Board meeting Monday evening.
Village attorney Sam Drayo said the contract has been finalized and has been given to the town of Pomfret. Mayor Stephen Keefe said the contract must now be signed by the town of Pomfret. Trustee Joseph Cerrie agreed.
"It's up to them now to call a special meeting and get it passed," Cerrie said.
The 30-year contract allows for Phase I of the plan to move forward so the village may begin selling water to the town of Pomfret. If the town of Pomfret approves the contract, the final draft will still need to be reviewed by the Department of Health and Pomfret's financing agency. Most of the changes that have been made to the contract were at the direction of those two agencies, so additional delays are not expected.
"There are people who can't wash their clothes," former Pomfret town councilman Chuck Civiletto said of many Pomfret residents on personal wells.
Pat Dashiell has been waiting to be able to buy water from the village for a long time.
"I can't use Chlorox on any of my clothes, because it reacts with the iron in the water and everything turns brown," Dashiell said.
According to the resolution, engineering studies conducted by the village demonstrate the water flow and pressure in the village will not be impacted by the sale of additional water.
In other business:
The board approved resolutions related to the Farm Festival and Red, White and Blues regarding the use of the Gazebo, Barker Common, bagged parking meters and road closures.
A resolution to re-appropriate funds to repair a playground pavilion roof was passed. The amount of repairs is not to exceed $1,000 and was appropriated from the playground fall protection line item in the village budget.
Account Clerk/Typist Barbara Valone, who is retiring effective June 29, was rehired on an as-needed basis at $20.38 an hour with no other benefits. Village Clerk Richard St. George said the appointment is for training purposes for Valone's replacement.
"There are certain things that only come up quarterly or every six months, so she'll be able to come in and train at those times," St. George said.
At the end of the meeting, trustee Cerrie reminded everyone about summer safety matters in the village.
"All of the playgrounds are open now, so drive carefully around those streets," Cerrie said, "and construction has begun on Holmes Place so be sure to drive carefully there."
Trustee Janel Subjack also had public comments, but she said she was speaking as a resident.
"I watched a man curb his dog on my lawn and ignored me ... when I told him to clean it up. ... If you're out with your dog, clean up after it. It really makes for a much nicer neighborhood," Subjack said.
