The village of Fredonia approved a $5 million federal grant for its upcoming plan to connect with the North County Water District, and trustees reported on meetings about the proposed connection, at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

None of it pleased Michelle Twichell, the lone Fredonia government official, to consistently support an effort to revitalize the village’s own reservoir and water plant. She voted against accepting the grant, the only trustee to do so. Twichell also criticized the meetings over the plan as premature, because the village has been sued over the plan.

According to the resolution passed Monday, Fredonia’s upcoming water project is eligible for up to $5 million from the government under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It can also access up to $12.5 million in interest-free financing for up to 30 years.

Trustee Jon Espersen initially brought up the meetings over the plan during his report. It would connect Fredonia with North County Water District water through the town of Pomfret.

Espersen said that he, Mayor Michael Ferguson, Trustee Paul Wandel, and representatives from LaBella and the Chautauqua County Department of Health met “to plan the next steps, and set up a proposed timeline for the water project. Then we met with the town of Pomfret and the Department of Health to try to synchronize our timelines regarding a shared water tower, and what it will look like when Pomfret goes off line with our water system.”

Twichell then stated to Espersen during her own report time, “I just want to remind you that we do have an Article 78 filed against the village.”

“Fully aware,” interrupted Espersen.

“We do have to wait for the outcome of that,” Twichell said. “No, we don’t,” Espersen said. “Please don’t interrupt me,” Twichell said.

Twichell wanted the addition of the sentence “pending the outcome of the Article 78” to the grant resolution, but was ignored.

“I feel that it’s right that we let the state know we are being sued,” she said.

The “Article 78” reference is legalese for a proceeding in the state of New York that allows people to challenge state and local governments, agencies, and officers in court. Village residents James Lynden, Gladys Sedota and Marie Sedota have filed an Article 78 against the Board of Trustees’ Sept. 10 decision to enact the plan for connecting with Pomfret, which would eventually shut down the village’s own reservoir.

Wandel offered one of his typically information-heavy updates on the water meetings in his own report. He stated they were held Nov. 5 and 6.

At the first session, “General discussion was to discuss the Department of Health consent order for Fredonia village in regards to our water treatment facility, and existing current citations,” Wandel said. “Next steps for the water project include developing a strategic plan, with dates, for moving forward.”

Wandel said the village planned a Request for Quotations on engineering work for the project. “We will interview engineers, next select a firm, and identify the fee structure.”

He went on, “Regarding the size and scope of the project and the RFQ preparation, LaBella will assist the village with go-by RFQs. Project timelines include issuing an RFQ and allowing two to three weeks for responses. Potentially, the board will review this Nov. 24.

“Aligning project timelines with the town of Pomfret and the water district: potentially early February for kickoff meetings regarding scope of work, project permitting, about seven months to complete the process. This

leads to the summer of 2026 for the completion of preliminary and basis- of-design work. Collateral with these efforts is potential additional project funding sources from WIA and IMP.

“As higher government agencies are monitoring our project, these activities will demonstrate the village’s serious and earnest efforts to launch, maintain and complete the water interconnect project.”

Wandel later mentioned the second water meeting on Nov. 6. “The water storage tank location would need to coordinate with the Pomfret town Phase 2 project, with potential construction beginning in the spring of 2026. This meeting emphasized the critical need of close coordination between the village, town and water district. It is about timing, synchronization and detailed organization. The next meeting is set for Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.

“Lastly, today I was informed with an update on our village water treatment plant chlorination project. The supervisor relayed to me that the concrete base and protecting bollards for the exterior chlorine storage tank have been poured.”