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SUNY seeks opt-out in water pact

Last September’s drinking water crisis has led to the State University of New York at Fredonia to include an opt-out clause in a proposed contract with the village.

In a Village Board workshop Monday, which at times appeared to be directed by hired attorney Melanie Beardsley, Trustee James Lynden called the opt-out stipulation in the proposal “illegal.” He also was the most outspoken regarding the deal that has yet to be approved. “We supply it,” he said. “There shouldn’t be an ability to opt-out to go anywhere. … If they chose to go somewhere else, I think they would find themselves in some type of lawsuit to prevent that.”

For 20 days during the fall semester last year, students at the university voiced their displeasure with the boil-water order. Adding to their angst was the plastic bottled water, which numerous students were offended by due to environmental concerns. Village residents and businesses also were impacted by the crisis.

“We operate as a whole community and they’re part of that community,” Lynden continued. “If there’s an issue with our community water, we deal with it.”

Beardsley warned against more discussion on the issue, suggesting a committee meeting or an executive session. “It sounds like this should be a committee level if there are still questions about this,” she said.

Lynden noted other issues in the proposed deal as well without going into detail. Village officials were to go into executive session to discuss those concerns.

If SUNY Fredonia was to not go with the village as its supplier, it could possibly go with the North County Water District, which gets its water from the city of Dunkirk. That arrangement, however, has not been publicly discussed.

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