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After tabling the measure for two straight meetings, the Fredonia Board of Trustees approved an agreement last week with the city of Dunkirk to test a shared water pumping station on Vineyard Drive.
"We understood that the county Health Department just needed to be notified, they're not regulating," said Mayor Douglas Essek.
Natalie Whiteman, water specialist with the Health Department, was at the meeting for a presentation about Fredonia's water system and confirmed that. "Any time you use a source that is not your own, we need to be notified," she said.
"It's exercising of the pumps," said Trustee Dave Bird.
However, the resolution originally stated the testing must be "approved" by the Health Department. That was changed to "notified."
"City law has it ready on the city side," Dunkirk Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury said this week. "It was the city's idea to have a pump exercise agreement."
The agreement is a rider to Dunkirk and Fredonia's original maintenance contract in the 1990s for the Vineyard Drive pump station.
"I thought we already had this agreement 30 years ago," commented Trustee Michelle Twichell.
"I know. See, that's the thing, they put this back on exactly like it was. The attorney was going to take a look at this," Trustee James Lynden said.
Trustee Jon Espersen responded that the concern was about the Health Department's participation, which was cleared up. "That was the only question that's been raised, it was answered," Espersen said.
"No, it was not!" Lynden responded. "A matter of confusion is this not being part... of that 30-year agreement." He said the resolution on hand was supposed to be an addendum but did not clearly say so.
"It specifically says it's a rider to the executed agreement. It's attached as part of it. It's not a separate agreement," Espersen said.
Lynden complained the rider contained provisions and exceptions not in the original agreement. "Yes, because we're not buying the water, we're not using it," Essek said.
"It's a moot point here. Why are we making this board difficult?" the mayor added.
"You want it on the agenda? You want to vote on it as it is? Go ahead," Lynden responded.
"OK, let's move forward," Bird said.
"Thank you," Trustee Nicole Siracuse said.
Lynden wound up voting "yes," as the other trustees did.