The conversation around Fredonia’s water system dripped away again this week at the latest village Board of Trustees meeting.

Trustee Jon Espersen and Dan Pacos, the North County Water District chair and Pomfret’s town supervisor, offered the biggest bubbles from the latest rivulet of chatter. Espersen explained the latest moves by engineers that the village water committee is tasking to look at shared water services with Pomfret. Pacos explained his position and denied the water district seeks to poach Fredonia water customers.

According to Espersen, Fredonia’s and Pomfret’s engineers have met a couple times, and they joined village and county Department of Health officials for another session recently. He said both engineering firms recommend splitting the village into two water pressure zones, to address high pressure on the north side.

“The northern pressure zone would be supplied by water through existing connections (with North County Water District lines) on the west and east village boundaries where metering pits are currently present…the zone will be supplied through these connections until the (village’s) Webster Road water storage tank fills to a certain level,” Espersen said. Control valves would determine if the tank has enough water in it to supply the zone.

The southern zone would use pressure valves to help the northern zone. The south zone would be supplied by a Fredonia-Pomfret shared water storage tank, to be constructed somewhere along Fredonia Stockton Road.

Espersen asserted all infrastructure needed for the project in both zones is either constructed or under design.

“The village system would be entirely gravity fed except during emergencies when the Vineyard Drive pump station would be running. The village water system would retain already existing water flow paths, mainly south to north, rather than potentially pump a north to south water path,” he said. “The potential interconnection option with the North County Water District would allow for multiple avenues of water supply for the village, rather than a single supply through the water treatment plant or Dunkirk.”

Espersen concluded, “That’s what both engineering firms (LaBella for Fredonia and CPL for Pomfret) feel is the best path forward.”

Earlier in the meeting, Pacos attempted to combat negative comments about his dual position as Pomfret supervisor and NCWD chairman. He explained the makeup of the district board, noting that because he is Pomfret town supervisor, he automatically has a seat on the board.

Pacos went on to revisit how he became chairman of the board. He was named vice chairman when previous seatholder John Walker rose to the chairmanship, after chairman and Dunkirk Town Supervisor Richard Purol passed away. However, Walker passed away just months later and Pacos was himself elevated to the chairmanship.

“I can tell you there is no conflict of interest with me serving in both of these roles. I have no financial interest in the county water district. I get no compensation, it is a volunteer position,” Pacos said.

“My understanding is that the village board has made the decision you’re going to purchase water from Dunkirk or from the North County Water District. My understanding is the village doesn’t have the water capacity to serve our additional customers in (Pomfret’s water line) Phases 2 and 3, so we’re looking to the North County Water District for our water,” Pacos added. “I reached out a hand to your board (on the shared tank)…I’m not trying to advocate for business. I’m not trying to poach water customers away.”