A steady stream of people told the Fredonia Board of Trustees Monday to send a plan to change water and sewer rates down the river. The trustees wound up doing just that.

Trustee James Lynden proposed removing the water and sewer base user rate, and going to a graduated rate system depending on volume, in the village. He wanted to charge a slightly lower rate for users of 150,000 gallons per quarter or more, but said his plan would ultimately save money for lower-volume users.

A torrent of talk from homeowners, businessmen, town of Pomfret officials and Mayor Douglas Essek called the plan all wet. Their flood of words, and Lynden’s defenses of his plan, dragged the public hearing and discussion about the proposed changes to 90 minutes.

Later in Monday’s meeting, the trustees voted down Lynden’s proposal, which was in the form of two local laws: one changing Fredonia’s water rates, the other altering its sewer rates. Trustees David Bird, Jon Espersen and Nicole Siracuse voted against them, while Lynden and Michelle Twichell voted in favor.