by Doug La Rocque
Speaker after speaker that stood to address the Poestenkill Town Council on Thursday evening, October 21, had one message: we are very concerned about the discovery of PFOA at the Algonquin Middle School and some private wells in the vicinity. Rensselaer County Health Department test results to date have found four wells to be slightly above the state limit of 10 parts per trillion (PPT), and several more at lower levels. All but one speaker urged the County and New York State Department of Health (DOH) to ramp up the number of tests being conducted, as they believe that is the best method to find the as yet unidentified source. One person did urge everyone to let the current process by the county take its course. That was the message as well from County Legislator Robert Bayly, who explained the county process and timetable. He also indicated the County’s Health Department is following the guidelines laid down by DOH.
On the agenda that evening was a resolution prepared by Councilman Eric Wohlleber that would see the Town pay for residential well testing out of COVID-19 funds, and seek reimbursement from the state. That was generally favored by those in attendance including former Environment Protection Agency Regional Director Judith Enk, who felt the testing was not moving forward fast enough. She said, “Even drinking low levels of PFOA is dangerous,” and pushed for the County and State to do more to find the source.
Paula Heilmann, who tells The Eastwick Press she has spent nearly 10 years employed in various environmental occupations, says she feels these chemicals have trespassed into her well. “I feel violated. The safety of my home has been stolen from me.”
Having the Town pay for blanket testing did not sit well with all the members of the Town Council. Supervisor Keith Hammond stated it was his belief the lab that would do the testing was not certified with the County or State, a statement Ms. Enck vehemently disagreed with. He was also concerned that the testing pertained to any portion of the Town, and felt it should be more targeted, a sentiment echoed by Councilwoman June Butler.
Water District Manager Bob Brunet also addressed the Council and those in attendance. He made it clear that the water district itself was non-detect for PFOA, and many people who have had their wells tested privately have confidentially shared their results with him. He indicated that those showing traces of PFOA were all to the south and southeast of the school, particularly near Algonquin Estates. Tests to the north and west of the school have been non-detect.
In the end, when it came time to vote on the resolution introduced by Councilman Wohlleber, there initially was no second. Councilman Harold Van Slyke eventually seconded the resolution, but it was defeated with three of the five members of the Council voting against. They were Supervisor Hammond and Councilwoman Butler, for the reasons they stated. They were joined by Councilman David Hass in voting against the measure. Councilmen Wohllbeber and Van Slyke cast yes votes.
Town Budget
The Council also opened a public hearing on the proposed 2022 town budget at the beginning of the meeting with no one rising to speak. According to Supervisor Hammond, the proposed budget does not contain a tax hike.