Fredonia’s trustees finally made water and sewer rate hikes official Tuesday. They first faced some heavy criticism from members of the public, including former village officials.

The water rate is going to $7.60 per 1,000 gallons used, and the sewer rate to $8.00 per 1,000 gallons. The trustees voted, 4-1, without comment to approve both rates, with Trustee Michelle Twichell the “no” vote each time. Both rates were previously $7.00 per 1,000 gallons.

“That 60 cents per 1,000 should give the village another $170,000, which I find to be an exorbitant increase,” said former Trustees James Lynden to kick off legally required public hearings on the rate hikes, held before the trustees’ Tuesday meeting. Lynden said that because there is “more than ample fund balance” in the water fund, “there is absolutely no need for an increase at all.” He said he hasn’t seen any indication as to what Village Hall will do with the extra revenue.

Andrew Ludwig took a shot at the trustees’ initial attempt to enact the rate hikes by quietly placing them in the 2025-26 budget, which was not legal because Fredonia didn’t hold separate public hearings for the hikes.

“Maybe you could tell us why (the rates are rising), and then maybe someone could take responsibility for the rates being raised improperly a couple times recently, and that would go a long way toward regaining the trust of some of the public,” Ludwig said.

“I suspect the… increase is being used to shut down our water facilities,” declared Mark Twichell. The husband of Trustee Twichell said he didn’t disagree with rate hikes if the revenues were used properly. However, he alleged the hike will be used to help build up fund balance “to the greatest amount possible to use as collateral so that you can get the grants that you believe are going to come.”

Former Mayor Athanasia Landis echoed Ludwig’s concerns about improper enactment of water rate hikes when she stated that the last legal increase was during her administration, in May 2017. A proposed rate increase went to a public hearing in 2022 but failed a trustees’ vote — then the village quietly raised the rate twice, she said. One of the times was last year and apparently went unchallenged, the other time was the current hike.

Landis also questioned the need to raise water and sewer rates. “What are you going to do about the fact that the people of this village were overcharged for water and sewer for years?” she added. “Some of you were there every time it happened.”

Cathy Furness commented that after the recent property tax hike, “I got rid of my landline, my cable TV I reduced, got rid of satellite radio, stopped Netflix, stopped getting trash removed. What’s the village doing to reduce their rates?”

She added, “You guys have to stop acting like you’re spending someone else’s money. It’s our money and you owe us information. You owe us that!”

There were separate hearings on the water and sewer increases; most of the speakers commented during the water hearing.

Mark Twichell was the only speaker during the sewer rate hearing and commented that it was caught up in a proposed new contract between the village and the Portland Pomfret Dunkirk (PPD) Sewer District.

Approval of that contract was also on Tuesday’s Board of Trustees agenda, but got tabled by a 3-2 vote.