OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Village of Fredonia officials sit on stage at the Fredonia Opera House Monday during a hearing about the water system and a report about it by the LaBella engineering firm.

Fredonians had plenty to say Monday at the hearing on LaBella’s study of village water issues.

A total of 13 people spoke their mind about the troubled water system to village officials. A majority supported the LaBella option where the village would maintain its system basically “as is,” though with significant and necessary renovations and upgrades. LaBella’s other preferred options involve purchasing water from the city of Dunkirk.

“I’m a fan of the reservoir … we do need to do work up there,” said Bob Clark. “It does feel like (there is) a push to get the village to move to Lake Erie water…whether it is or not, it just feels like it.”

Clark said getting water from an outside source would incur big costs, while cutting revenue. He suggested the village would lose control of its water system.

Andrew Ludwig also backed Fredonia’s water independence – but suggested the issue should be put up to the public for a referendum.

Sam Drayo, a former village administrator and village attorney, said having a gravity fed water system is still a major advantage. He finds it “difficult to believe the city can supply without expensive pumping stations and towers.”

Warning about possible contract conditions, he said it was “safer” to go it alone and concluded, “Upgrade our system and I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Soon after, another ex-village official — former Mayor Frank Pagano — rose to speak. Pagano said he disagreed with his “good friend” Drayo.

“The plant is in deplorable condition. Absolutely deplorable. Hasn’t been maintained at all. It needs more infrastructure, more money and that is not sustainable,” Pagano said. “That plant cannot last 10 more years and if we have to borrow $25 million to overhaul that plant – if we don’t get any grants, the cost of borrowing that money, and the principal, is going to raise our water rates 200 or 300%.”

A “good agreement” with Dunkirk would save money by closing the plant, eliminating maintenance and personnel costs, he said. The savings would pay for the cost of getting water from Dunkirk.

“We’ve gone so far off base with that plant. It’s in terrible, dangerous condition,” Pagano reiterated, pointing out two boil water orders in the past year.

Pagano wore a Fredonia State shirt, a reminder of his current job as president of the university’s College Council. He suggested Fredonia’s water problems could keep parents from sending their kids to the school.

“The existing water system is an asset we should not easily give up,” said Richard Leone. “We should not do anything in a fast or quick manner to make any determination on how to do the following projects.”

He cautioned trustees against making a decision at a special meeting scheduled for Friday.

“I see no reason for the village to abandon its economical and safe water supply resources,” stated Mark Twichell, husband of village Trustee Michelle Twichell. Mark Twichell also said the Fredonia Planning Board should be consulted about water infrastructure decisions.

A Planning Board member, David Fridmann, later spoke in support of Fredonia keeping full water system independence.

Richard Ketcham, former head of Brooks-TLC, said the idea of drilling test wells for new water sources is a good idea, if there is a decent percentage chance of success. His experience in grant writing tells him “we’re not going to get the grants if we go it alone. We will get the grants if we work with other communities… there’s tens of millions of dollars we forfeit if we go it alone.”

However, Ketcham said, no matter what direction the village chooses, new water meters must be purchased.

James Sedota, former village administrator and treasurer, criticized the notion of buying water from Dunkirk in financial terms: “Even with a grant, you’re looking at $11 or $12 per 1,000 gallons. The present rate is $4.95. That might seem alarming, but these are not my numbers. I took the village budget, then I added the cost to purchase water from Dunkirk … then I annualized the debt service cost. Getting a grant only affects the debt service cost, it’s only going to reduce that cost by a couple dollars per thousand.”

Sedota renewed his call for the village to use an independent financial analyst before making water system decisions.

Marc Romanowski, counsel for Brooks TLC, said the hospital did not take any position on what the village wants for its water system – but is very concerned about the delays in making a decision. Brooks-TLC intends to build a new hospital in Fredonia.

CORRECTION

Earlier in the meeting, Mayor Douglas Essek offered what he called a “hybrid” of LaBella’s preferred options. The OBSERVER incorrectly reported his proposal. Essek proposed to keep Fredonia’s water system fully independent, with significant upgrades – but with a new interconnection with the city of Dunkirk. He said nothing about wells.