Fredonia’s ubiquitous water debate took a turn this week when Trustee Michelle Twichell expressed openness to sharing a new water tank with the town of Pomfret.

Twichell has strongly advocated for Fredonia’s water independence. Her statement at a Board of Trustees meeting was probably her firmest statement yet in support of water collaboration.

Twichell’s support for the proposal, originally made by Pomfret Supervisor Dan Pacos, came with a tinge of her characteristic cynicism about the North County Water District. She pointedly noted that Pacos also chairs the water district’s board.

She thanked Trustee Paul Wandel for a wastewater treatment plant report. “I’d very much appreciate our water committee to give an equally detailed report to this board, concerning its latest water purchase conversation with the town of Pomfret. I’d also expect a consideration” of the fact that Pacos heads both the Pomfret and the NCWD boards.

Twichell went on to repeat her recent assertions that the village has never received water from a two-year-old backup connection agreement with the district.

“Despite this, I am open to a joint project with either the town or the district to construct a water tank near the village-owned reservoir, which would be beneficial to the village, the town and the district.”