The North County Water District board sped through its December meeting but still managed to fit in some information about the village of Fredonia’s plans to share water with district member Pomfret.

Water board chairman Daniel Pacos, who is also the Pomfret town supervisor, reiterated previous reports from Fredonia officials about meetings over the plans. NCWD Executive Director Alison Vento pointed out that the plans are subject to a lawsuit — and noted a Jan. 9 court date in the case.

Pacos confirmed Fredonia officials’ recent statements about meetings held to hash out the details of the water sharing. He said Pomfret wants to coordinate its long-running Phase 2 water improvement project with the village.

Pacos said there will be monthly meetings on the water plans, echoing Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson.

Phase 2 is waiting on the “chasing down of the last easements,” according to Pacos. He said there are four more easements, which are legally required for water line work, needed from property owners.

Someone asked Pacos when Fredonia would “go online” with Pomfret water. “It’s dependent on when our lines are ready,” Pacos responded. “It’s dependent on putting in our water tank,” a reference to a tank that is to be shared by Fredonia and Pomfret and has always been a key part of this particular plan.

At that point, Vento reminded the board that a lawsuit is pending against Fredonia’s move to acquire water from Pomfret. Former Village Trustee James Lynden — joined by Fredonia High School newspaper advisor Gladys “Dadie” Sedota and her daughter, Marie — sued the Fredonia Board of Trustees over its September vote to buy water from Pomfret and close down the village’s own reservoir and treatment plant.

A look at the New York State Unified Court System’s informational website confirms that a hearing in the case is set for 9 a.m. on Jan. 9 at state Supreme Court in Mayville with Justice Grace Hanlon presiding. Hanlon upheld a previous lawsuit, which Lynden and the Sedotas were also involved in, against a 2023 Fredonia trustees’ decision to acquire water from Dunkirk and shut the plant and reservoir.

The NCWD board meeting lasted exactly 14 minutes. No one from the Fredonia village government attended.