Fredonia officials reported Monday on talks about consolidation of services with other municipalities — including a plan ato acquire water from the North County Water District.

Mayor Michael Ferguson said at a Board of Trustees meeting that he met with water district officials Friday. The meeting was about “going through parts of the agreement, discussions on fulfillment, and the next steps as we move along. We have asked that we have a monthly meeting to be held in my office so we can continue to update everybody as more information becomes available.”

Ferguson continued that on Dec. 4, “I did meet with (Pomfret Town) Supervisor (Daniel) Pacos to talk about the possibilities of more consolidations, the efforts towards money for the studies that are required for that.”

Ferguson said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel backs the effort. “This is a new project for him that he put into this year’s budget, because as he said, there are so many good communities that are trying to consolidate some of their services, but don’t have the money for the studies. He has set aside a substantial amount of money in his budget…to provide monies for these studies.”

Fredonia’s mayor mentioned the Department of Public Works, courts, police, fire, and animal control services as things that could be shared with neighboring communities.

“I did reach out to the city of Dunkirk to talk about consolidation of police efforts. We’ve also been told that monies are available for buildings in New York state if you merge a police department,” Ferguson said. “I know this has been brought up in the past, and our police department is woefully understaffed right now.”

He added, “The condition of our police department does not help (the) recruitment process of that.” That was apparently a reference to the dilapidated physical condition of the department headquarters on the Temple Street side of Village Hall.

Fredonia Trustee Paul Wandel has also been deeply involved in recent consolidation of services talks. He offered one of his characteristically detailed reports Monday.

Wandel said the Dec. 5 water project meeting included himself, Ferguson, Trustee Jon Espersen, Chautauqua County Legislator Bob Scudder (who represents part of Fredonia), and representatives from the NCWD, the county Department of Health, village engineers LaBella, and Pomfret engineers CPL.

The meeting involved “Project planning, timing, and coordination with all connected and involved entities,” Wandel said. “These include (Pomfret’s) Phase 2 and Phase 3.” A proposed shared water tower, and mapping details of water line routes, were also discussed.

Wandel said he is responsible for “develop(ing) a comprehensive map illustrating exactly how the village interconnects to the existing North County Water (District) distribution system.” The trustee said he will also work with new Fredonia DPW Supervisor David Bird to assess current water main structures.

“Overall, this was a very productive meeting,” Wandel concluded. He said the group’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 16.

A lawsuit against the village hangs in the background of the water talks. Three village residents have sued in state Supreme Court over the Fredonia Board of Trustees’ September vote to acquire water from the NCWD and move towards shutting down the village treatment plant and reservoir. The lawsuit looks to quash the resolution, in a case still pending.