Sewer Project Facing Delays and Additional Expenses
By Doug La Rocque
The reason is the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) order last summer that work on the Lyman Street Pump Station and subsequent pipelines be halted until a PFOA mitigation plan for ground water, ground saturated by the water, and air disbursement be developed and put in place. That, along with the 200-foot extension of a previous not completed leachate line, and discovery of a water line near the Sand Bar restaurant the village was unaware of, means a winter shutdown. According to Mayor Rob Allen, it is believed the work on the Lyman Street station can be completed some time next month, and when it comes back on line, the River Street Pump Station can then be taken off line for work that is needed there. That won’t start however, until early spring.
The added work and contract changes mean more money of course, in both materials, labor and construction management. The Village has applied for an increase in its Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) funding from the previously approved $3.9 million to $5.75 million. According to the Mayor, the paperwork may take until the end of the year, which might require some short term borrowing until the approval comes through.
$475,000 of this added cost is for the mitigation project, for which the Honeywell Corporation has cut a check to the Village. The Mayor said that will go directly toward the pay down on the EFC funding.
Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing
Prior to the meeting, the board opened a public hearing, the first of two required, on its Comprehensive Plan Update, as well as the Local Waterfront Revitalization Strategy. That plan, summarized by Bob Murphy of Barton & Loguidice, has been about a year and a half in the works, and recommends 23 projects to be considered. They include improving kayak access to the Hoosic River, and changing some Village codes in the area from industrial to multi use, to better facilitate some of these projects. The entire plan is on the Village website for viewing.
Emission Testing Results
Last month, the mayor indicated he hoped to have the stack emission test results conducted earlier this year by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ready to present at the Tuesday, November 12 meeting. Since then, the Mayor says the EPA has thrown them another curveball, having forward the results to DEC to review and release. Why, he is not sure.
He remind all that this report will only identify the actual pollutants taken from the Saint Gobain stacks on McCaffrey Street, not how much of each element is present. During public comment, Kevin Allard asked if the report would give the village any idea of where the winds are carrying the elements. Mayor Allen indicated probably not, since the tests were apparently conducted inside the stacks, but that it was certainly a valid point for follow up.
Police Contract Approved
With a tentative contract having been reached between the United Public Service Employees Union, which represents the officers in the Village Police Department, and the Village, and following the acceptance vote on the contract by the officers, the Board went into executive session to discuss the details. It returned and voted 5 to 2 to ratify it, with trustee Kevin O’Malley and Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan opposed. The details of the agreement were not released. It is retroactive to June 1 of this year, and runs through May 31 of 2022.
Still Time to Comment On An Alternative Water Source
That report on five possible ways to ensure the village has clean drinking water, one of which is to do nothing and continue to use the carbon filtration systems for the foreseeable future, is still open for public comment until Tuesday, December 3. The Mayor asked Village and Town residents to take the time to comment to the NYS Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation, if they have not already done so. He said the Board will formally file its comments as well, though he did not indicate which of the five options it might be leaning toward.
Woods Brook Buyout
The Mayor said the Village is set to close on four properties this week, and two more very shortly. After the village takes possession of the flood-damaged properties, demolition will be scheduled. Work then begins on what steps will be taken to prevent a repeat of the flooding of July 1, 2017.
Renaming The Municipal Building
The Village Board hopes to formally name the building after long time village Clerk Ann Marie Bornt, who passed away in office last November, at its next meeting on Tuesday, December 10. According to Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan, who originally proposed the idea, the plaque is finished and on its way. The stone monument that will sit outside the building, is also in the process of being shipped. The foundation for the stone has already been poured.
Other Notes
Mayor Allen says the First Street underpass will remain closed most of this week. Work at the site is taking longer than anticipated. The Festival of Trees is scheduled for Saturday, November 30, with a Holiday Pop up craft fair with vendors at the Armory from 10 am to 3 pm, and the tree lighting in Wood Park at 6 pm.