Watkins board will pursue sewer plant

WATKINS GLEN--Following several public comments in favor of the Project Seneca joint wastewater treatment plant, the Watkins Glen village board voted unanimously to continue with the project Monday, May 4. The meeting was attended by more than 25 people, four of which spoke in support of the joint plant between Watkins Glen and Montour Falls.
Michael Hartney called the project a "once in a lifetime opportunity," adding the financing for the project by state agencies has been "incredibly generous." He said there would also be an enormous opportunity for development along the waterfront once the more than 50 year old plant is removed, citing the economic benefits to the community the Harbor Hotel has brought to the village.
Hector resident Joe Campbell said the current aging plant was "probably never designed for the load it is expected to carry in today's world." He said can often smell the plant when he is on his boat, which indicates how overstressed it is. Campbell also mentioned the benefits of moving the facility off the waterfront, adding there have been a few occasions where the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has fined the village due to high wastewater effluent levels.
Former Village Justice Nick Dugo said he moved to the village of Watkins Glen because of the services it provides, adding he could not imagine going ahead without Project Seneca. He said he would be willing to pay more for the project to go ahead. John Bond also spoke briefly about the smell emanating from the current plant. Many of the comments were met with applause from the audience members.
Trustee Tony Fraboni also read two letters the village received on the issue, both of which were in support of Project Seneca. Mayor Sam Schimizzi said he was glad to hear the village residents express their views on the issue. Trustee Laurie DeNardo said the board was not necessarily opposed to the project, but needed some time to review and digest all the information associated with the joint project. Following her comments, DeNardo made the motion to move forward with Project Seneca, which was unanimously approved by the board. The audience again applauded following the board's approval.
In other business:
• The board approved two special event applications during the meeting, one for the Seneca Lake Wine and Food event and one for the Schuyler County Italian-American Festival.
• The board approved a request to move forward with Clute Park improvements. Superintendent of Utilities Mark Specchio said the village received a grant for $500,000 for a walkway along the head of the lake as well as a kayak launch site for Tank Beach off Fourth Street. He said the walkway would connect Tank Beach to Lakeside Park, with the path into lakeside going for as far as the grant money would allow, with the hope that future plans would connect the path to the Harbor Park. Specchio said the next step in the project is to get cost estimates for the project.