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Fredonia Trustee Michelle Twichell received a "second" on her effort to rescind a Dec. 26 resolution regarding the possible future of Fredonia's water system. She did not, however, receive any other trustee support as the motion was defeated by a 4-1 margin during Monday's Village Board meeting that included 11 speakers at the meeting on the topic.
That decision, which was option three of a study, calls for the shuttering of the water treatment facility, drawing down the reservoir and purchasing water from Dunkirk. Opposition to that direction was voiced earlier this month as well as this week.
Mayor Michael Ferguson, who led his second meeting, appeared to be in the role of moderator for the first 45 minutes. He even, at times, responded to speaker concerns regarding how this current board will move forward in ultimately deciding the next step with water.
Andrew Ludwig, a Fredonia resident, reiterated his call for a referendum on the topic. "The change I want to see is that we start to invest in our infrastructure that hasn't been done in decades and decades ... I want to make the right decision," he said. "I want the reservoir fixed yesterday."
Ludwig remarked the effort to save the reservoir has made for strange partnerships. "It's pretty eye-opening when Gus Potkovick agrees with people from the Farmers' Market," he said.
Potkovick's hot-dog stand has been a point of contention for years with market members. However, the two appear to stand united when it comes to an historic and sentimental water-delivery system that is gravity fed.
"What's wrong with having tender feelings about a natural jewel? ... It's a sentimental decision for me too," Ludwig said. "I'm sentimental about my tax dollars ... the fees that I pay. I have tender feelings about my pocketbook."
Other speakers included plenty who had previous ties to leading and overseeing village government in the past. James Sedota, former administrator, discussed his concerns with future costs. James Lynden, former trustee, noted his concerns with the fiscal stability of the North County Water District that was recently admonished by the state comptroller's office.
Athanasia Landis, who served as mayor from 2016 to 2019, said no matter where the village water comes from, there will be legacy and distribution costs for the village in the future. "This decision will drown Fredonia in debt and will have a very negative effect on the entire area, including Dunkirk," she said.
Sam Drayo, who served as village attorney for more than four decades, during his allotted time was critical of an OBSERVER's View that was published in Monday's edition. That article noted how the December vote was tied to 30 years of little to no investment in the troubling system. He called the piece "misleading" while noting the absence of the village Planning Board in the process. "The board should rescind its resolution to terminate the village water system and set a time schedule to carefully review the options in detail and in public," Drayo said. "The village water customers deserve a careful and thorough review of the issues."
Michelle York, a village resident, noted an "emotional attachment" to the current reservoir system. As a former Spoden Road resident, she spoke of the natural wonder and wildlife that thrive along the hill in the ecosystem.
"We have a lot of people who have moved from this area who have been in contact begging (us to) please don't let them take the reservoir away," she said.
Trustees Nicole Siracuse and Ben Brauchler both commented after the public portion of the meeting regarding the decision. Siracuse said, moving forward, a regional effort has the potential to bring in more funding than if the village decides for major repairs and upgrades to its current plant.
"This project, should we keep our water system, is going to be seen as a maintenance project," she said.
Brauchler, who seconded Twichell's resolution, said the process of taking the next step is just beginning. "I would like time to study this whole issue further and I think down the road we have the opportunity to change direction," he said.
Ferguson noted there will be a meeting on Jan. 31 at the Fredonia Opera House that is open to the public to listen to concerns of all the partners connected to the village water system. The town of Pomfret, city of Dunkirk, LaBella and the attorneys are expected to be in attendance.
"We're all working to do the best for this community," Ferguson said. "We're trying to make decisions that will help northern Chautauqua County."