Town Board - Regular Meeting

I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Welcome to the October 23rd town hall meeting. If you uh take notice of the exits behind you on both sides and to our right, if you could please turn all electronic devices to vibrate. Kathy, can we get a roll call? Yes. Councilman Cypress. Councilman Larka here. Councilwoman Lewis here. Councilman Mazada here. Supervisor Duranti

here. Thank you, Kathy. Okay, so we could just get right into it uh into our first work session. We're going to talk about the 2026 water and sewer rates updated for all the special districts. So, these uh I left a few copies in the back if someone was looking for them. These are proposed rates. We're still working on uh some grants. uh one of the residents from Brewster Heights had asked me about we are still working on some of the grants for some of the updates for the water section of Brewster Heights. We are also working on a very large grant for the sewer. The sewer plant has two oxidation tanks outside that are 40 years old and the concrete is starting to deteriorate. So those have to be corrected. We do get some relief from the from DP for sewer things. This particular item they don't help us cover. So this is something we're we're working with Han, our new engineering company, to get as much of a grant as we can to fix these tanks. This is u this is a tough job because we can't shut the sewer plant off. If we shut the sewer plant off, we're uh we're in a lot of trouble. So, they're trying to come up with ways to have a temporary vehicle there possibly u to divert the sewer to run through those items while they're redoing the trenches. The trenches are probably uh 50 yards long each, probably 25 ft wide.

The water end of uh Brewster Heights, we're still we're still um trying to get something from Delaware. We have to actually talk about speaking with another engineering company to see if we have enough information to basically go after Delaware for the issues we had down at Drewville. Uh so we're still working on that. That's um that's going to be a little bit of a long road. So what we did with the proposed rate for the year to come is we did put those numbers in there and we also are trying to put together some funds to purchase the three separate sand filters that are in the water plant that are also uh over 20 years old. I believe we just had one refurbished, so it'll last for another few years, but those those three units have to be two of them have to be running at each point or we don't we don't get water in Brewster Heights. Uh the rest of the districts are basically just um just small increases to uh help us with the cost of electricity. Every plant obviously uh is going up because electricity rates are going up. There's pumps at every one of these uh districts. The sewer and the Blackberry sewer and Brewster Heights sewer, their uh electric bills are extremely high. So, we're trying to prepare ourselves for any increases that NiceG gives us next year. Uh and obviously, you know, we're

still working with Matt Slater and Pete Harkham and uh everybody who's helping to go after Nice Egg, but that's something that's a little bit out of our control. Um other than that, you know, I think Birch Hill had a few issues and that's why their percentage went up a little higher than uh most of the other districts. They had a pump failure that we had to take care of. There was also a pump failure at uh the Blackberry Hill pool. So, that's another percentage that was a little higher than we expected. So, you know, if if anybody would like to talk about this at the end of the meeting, you can come on up uh for public comment and just tell us what you're what you'd like to know or uh if if we can't answer a question for you today, we can definitely get you an answer. And like I said, these are proposed rates, so we're we're going to see what can be done and uh we'll go from there. Anybody from the board want to

I you know, I have a question, Nick. Um you know, I know we had a lot of discussion. You mentioned the grants for the work that was done. Where where are we on that? Like I know it's in process. Yeah. Well, because we went because we moved to Han, it's kind of like a redo almost. Uh, but I think we're in pretty good hands because these guys have gotten grants from New York State for a lot of different types of things. What's the timeline for that, do you think? Uh, I that I can't really answer. Uh, but new grant money comes out in I think I think April things are announced. Okay.

And available. So, whatever we can't get from this year, they'll definitely go after next year. I think there were a couple of deadlines that come up early November. So, George from Han is working with Bruce uh to try to get these grants approved. Okay. And we are starting to look again at the PFL situation. Yeah.

So, that's uh another thing they're trying to get grant on. I think are there other in some of the reports that we've seen from VRI it looks like some of the districts are creeping up or have exceeded one or two tests threshold for PFOAs PE files whatever they are uh is there any update on that on some of these other districts

I haven't talked to Joe about that yet u I will I know though that if with Birch Hill right now they're they're kneede in trying to understand how they have to rearrange change that building, the pump station, the pump building. And from Delaware's assessment and the Gak filters that those guys talked about, it's definitely a whole redo because these are different types of units. Okay.

So, that pump house has to be made bigger, but we don't have to go to the other piece of property that Delaware was contemplating. We had to. And I believe the numbers we first got for Birch Hill was 180,000 for the new system compared to what Delaware was asking for something over 2 million. And we were already approved Phil for the $2 million grant. So I'm pretty confident for the new system we'll be getting a grant up to almost 80%. So that will be significantly lower. And for any of these other plants that are coming online, there's time frames of when we can actually start to work. So we have a little bit of time on them, but we have to we have to get one under our belt to see what procedures we need moving forward. Um, we had we had f I'm trying to find it right now. Uh the mayor of Danbury posted that they were awarded uh here it is. They were awarded $3.5 million uh from the national PAS contamination settlement with 3M Dupont and whoever else did we signed on for that class action lawsuit

and uh it's still in the process. We we did run into a a difficulty because our testing they required in that settlement they required each uh source to be tested independently and uh we do have independent source testing for bird shell but we did not have it for uh does that mean each user no each well oh had to be independently tested

andh it was just a a matter of we hadn't merged the two or this whatever wells there are in Birch Hill. They hadn't merged at the time we started we were mandated to start testing and um so when our people tested these things those wells were separate and they were tested separately at at Birch Hill at the uh the three wells at at Star Ridge all coming to one u one distribution point and they were tested unwittingly at the uh the where they came into the distribution system. So the the the uh the rules of the of the class action lawsuit indicated that we have we had to uh do each well separately. And I I said, you know, we weren't made aware of that when we we first started uh testing because this lawsuit wasn't even in effect yet. the settlement wasn't in effect yet and they said, "Well, you could maybe appeal it." So, they've now made the determination that um Star would get nothing. They made an initial determination on the This is the DuPont 3M lawsuit that I think Star uh Burch will get like $55,000 or something like that.

If we have another I think Springhouse, I don't want to say it out loud. Yes, I think it is Springhouse. their their levels were getting high. If we have another district that gets flagged for PFOAs, can we uh enter that class action or is it I I think they're going to be future class action, future uh cases, but this is just with one uh alleged manufacturer of the stuff that created the you know the uh contaminant. Um and so damage is probably high because they have huge water systems. Oh yeah, absolutely.

So if we if we were to benefit from class statute and it was 55 grand, whatever it was, could could we still get our grant from the state and use that 55? Absolutely. So then the residents might Yeah. Okay. I have um a plethora of questions.

Hit me. I do think that we should have Bruce attend the next meeting. Bruce is our special districts coordinator and um summarize some of this uh and put it so so you all could see it because you know we're rambling through things and I'm sure it's really hard to uh follow along on that. Um one of the things in this report which you guys don't have but is the fund balances. Um, yeah, if if I'm reading this correctly, the way it's highlighted, and I don't know when you and Alex, I don't know if you looked at this, but it says fund balance for everything is zero, unless it's the line below it.

Yeah, it was a little hard to follow. I found the reports that came through. Yeah, this this this whole, you know, the special districts are part of our budget. Um, just so you guys all know, every dollar collected for your district is spent on your district. you know, town doesn't benefit or uh get hurt from what happens within your district, but it is part part of our budget. Um, can't really hear you.

Oh, so I said everything every dollar that's collected for the districts spent within the district and every dollar that's spent comes from the district. So none of that money uh comes from the town. Um they're all self-funded and that's what affects the rates that that you all pay. Um we're setting our budget right now. Each district is within the budget. So we just need to make sure that Brewster Heights, right?

No, Brewster Heights is in the budget and every every district is in the town budget under special district and we set the rates for all the districts. Um, and we do have a special district coordinator who I really do think that uh needs to attend this meeting um and give some more information and background on what's what all is going on in the districts. Um, I know there were some districts that had loans out to the town. So, I think we need to uh understand where we are with that. Nick, you talked about some of the capital improvement projects for the Heights and for water and for sewer, but I think there's, you know, I think Joe's been working on VRI, um, you know, capital improvement plant because all of these plants are going to need updating of some sort at at some point. And we want to make sure that uh we are prepared and budget for that. Um, and that, you know, it's transparent and that you all know what's coming. Um, so I don't know for for the next meeting. I don't know if you guys agree. I do think he should come and do a little

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he had an engagement tonight and I didn't give him enough time. Uh, but what I'd like to also say though I I'm not sure if everyone's aware, but Brewster Heights is not a well. It's it's from the reservoir. And that's why we need all these devices to clean the water as best we can to to to off you know to have the the service. Uh and over the past I don't know how many years they weren't preparing for the future. And the plant is 40 45 years old. So you know when water's running through something every single day all day long it's you know it it definitely beats these things up. So, you know, I'll make sure we get Bruce here for next time and Ron if we need to uh with those what the uh balances in each district. Talk about that. Also,

Nick, to to Eric's point, especially when you see the million dollars over five years for the um sand filters. Yeah. You know, if that if we started to save for that 10 years ago or 12 in anticipation, this number would not be nearly as large an increase. But we have to be proactive with all the other districts that'll have similar repairs in the future that we can't anticipate. There's got to be some kind of formula or calculation so we could start setting aside now. And if in fact most of these districts have zero um you know that's an issue.

Yeah. Um, and we certainly need um Bruce and Ron to to do that number crunching um because otherwise another district's going to have a 15% in a few years from now. We we do have Tyler from VRI putting together concrete numbers for us for those things. A lot of the other districts, they're just well pumps. There's not nearly as many moving parts. I mean, we know the Heights is the is, you know, the biggest one, but the other ones, I would imagine, would have some large capital improvements eventually as well. They should be identified and they should be reasonably spread out over a period of time.

Would it be helpful to have Tyler here in addition to I think maybe we'll do that. Yeah, all of them. Yeah, I agree. I think I think what and you know I did put this in my email uh to Bruce and I don't know that he replied to it but we need you know this this document's a disaster. Yeah. Right. You you really need to be super analytical to read it. Not the ones you guys are looking at another one. Um, the special districts coordinator should, I believe, come to a meeting either once a quarter or once every six months and give an update on every district. I think once a quarter

and it and it should be um here's the consumption, here's the balance, here's what broke, here's PFOAs, here's you know we pick those 10 things in a very simple uh format and we have him update it and we have him present on it because um you know then there's no surprises. Yeah, I agree. I think it should be quarterly. Okay. We could do that. Uh, anything else, guys? No, I think I think we really need to table until we have, you know, Yeah. I mean, I could probably get them all here for next meeting. Yeah,

we do have the budget public hearing next meeting. You think we should be okay though, right? Maybe. Yeah. Yeah. I think uh Okay. I don't I don't know. It would be a public It would be a work session with public comment afterward. No, I meant uh next meeting we have the uh public hearings for the budget. Yeah. So, it's something different.

Okay. So, that's what we're going to do. We're going to get in the water company Bruce and uh Ron here for next meeting to go through all of these numbers, tell us what's going on uh financially in each district, what's what's there. Uh, and you know, I'll try to get Tyler to tell me what their plan is because they've been working on it for a couple of months now, so they should have a pretty decent idea. The last time Tyler was here, he had a decent um he was updating on some of the districts and he said what he had in the works. So, it would be nice to see he's pretty thorough. Okay. And you know,

maybe maybe I'll make a comment after maybe we could go into an executive session real quick after this. Sure. Okay. And I, you know, I'll I'll take the heat for not bringing them here this week. I I thought um you know, this was somewhat self-explanatory, so it's on me that they're not here tonight. I I just think in I think transparency is important and coming from the experts. You know, we we see these numbers, but we're not the experts on this. So,

okay. Um All right. So, we can go into our second discussion. It's the upgrade of the transformers at the highway department building with Nice Egg. So, we're trying to put solar panels on the highway garage to help us with the electricity issue. So, we're able to get a a grant for uh the panels themselves. I think the grant was 100,000. The job is going to cost us 104. So, we agreed to just pay the four. But now, for some reason, and I asked them why they didn't know that these things had to be upgraded, apparently the garage right now is set for 30 kilowatts, the transformers, but with the panels that are going in, all of a sudden now the power is 38 kilows, which makes no sense to me. Uh apparently if power goes back to the grid these transformers have to be able to support the power

like a surge.

Yeah. So when when the company figured out all the numbers and the usage they didn't tell us I don't know maybe they didn't know that it's more power than those transformers are already rated for. So, in order to move forward with the panels, we the nice egg is telling us it's 16,500 to upgrade those transformers. Uh, the reason I'm pushing this is because they just got their new generator. Well, they didn't get the generator yet. They're still working on it, but they put in all the equipment for the generator when it gets here. There's new panels. And while they were doing this, the panels inside the garage, the actual electric panels where the breakers are is outdated and it needs to be replaced. Uh so we're getting a grant for that. This is the only thing I can't get a grant for. So in order to get the power to 2026, you know, uh, standards, I really think that this is something we should do.

I think we have no choice, right, at this point. Yeah. I mean, to install everything, we have no choice. We should scrap the solar panel project, but then, you know, they have to pay for electricity.

Yeah. Nick, when when the application was submitted, and I don't know the exact mechanics of this, but was there an agency that reviewed the application to make sure the project met specs? Did NYG review it first? And if they did, how was this overlooked? I couldn't understand how, you know, this very large piece of equipment for this very large project could have been overlooked during the review process and approval process and now it's coming up so late in the game. And my point was as well, if we would have known that at the inception of the project, would we have still move forward with that project? Would the ROI have been the same? So, I mean, we are stuck at this point, but our process wasn't great on this.

I have to ask if they submitted to some I don't know if they submitted something to NYG when they drew the plan up to be honest. I don't know if they did that because they probably would have noticed it. Well, if there was an approving agency in in a submittal, they would have determined what was needed and when they signed off on it, it would have been complete. So that's that's what I'm asking.

Yeah. Uh what what the what uh Chris told me, Chris is the owner of the company. The system that we're putting in is only a 20% increase from a household solar array. So I guess that 20% is making is making up the difference of why those transformers can't handle the load. I guess I'll have to ask him about the agency, but yeah, at this point we're so far in. The grants are approved. Yeah, I mean, I agree. I wouldn't withhold it at this point and and not let the project go through, but just more expensive than we thought.

Yeah. Uh, anything else? No. Okay. So, uh, I'll make a motion to open the regular meeting. Second. All in favor? I. I'll make a motion to weigh the reading of the correspondence. Second. All in favor? I. Uh Kathy, do you have the number? I'll make a motion to approve the voucher list. Second. For1,137,523.7.

Second. All in favor? I. I'll make a motion to weigh the reading of the budget transfers and to accept such transfers as submitted. Second. All in favor? I It's a supervisor's report. Uh oh, sorry. Um Pugsley Road is open. It opened the other day. Uh I I would like to acknowledge the fact that uh there was a loss of life on Route 312 the other night.

Uh so um we're I I think what the police told us was it was an actual medical situation and that's why the woman was not in her lane. Uh, and the reason I bring that up is because it's over near Pugsley Road and we uh we we had to make sure that Pugsley is open. It's a seasonal road. It closes from December 1st till April 1st. So you can use it uh from April 1st to December 1st. Uh so then um in looking at some of the numbers Ron gave me, we are we are struggling in the building department still. That number is still not very good. We are we are somewhat short in uh if you if you look at the list Ron gave us, one of the numbers Just trying to find the actual number. Anyway, it was for Cobb Road and Tanetta Lake. Uh we we he's spending he's paying those numbers with ARPA money. I think the number was over close to u 700,000 for Cobb Road. And he's making the final payment this week. So that number is going to drastically change. It's going to basically even out. So that will be in our balance. The the other numbers, they're actually catching up. We are after the third quarter. Uh we're 75% through the year. Mortgage tax rate is still kind of low. There's not much we can do about that. Uh, other than that, there's really not much to report on

what's coming in because we're, you know, we're in budget season. We're trying to work through that right now. The town board's looking at everything and hopefully you guys can help straighten me out. I think um the last update on revenue coming in, if I remember correctly, was July and then we had some random numbers. Is there any way that Ron can give us maybe an a an update for the actuals? Yeah, for the actuals

I have the um 9 + three uh that was in the latest one. So it has it should be updated through September. Okay. Okay, that's helpful. Okay. So, uh but there are things like um mortgage tax that won't the second payment won't be till till the end of this month. Yeah. Yeah. That's a that's a pretty big one.

Yes. Pete Carrie came back to work. He's doing okay. I like so I'll set uh meeting dates and public hearings. All meetings will be held at 1360 Route 22 Brewster, New York at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted Thursday, November 6th, 2025. Thursday, November 20th, 2025. Uh we have one resolution tonight. It's with the school. It's aou with Brewster Center schools installation of crosswalks on Foggingtown Road. We Mike installed two solar uh crosswalk signs so they were always lit at night. We paid for one and the school paid for one. So now now therefore it be it resolved that the town supervisor is authorized to finalize and execute a letter and intermunicipal agreement memorandum of understanding in form of substance and acts annexed here as exhibit A memorandum of understanding to effectuate sharing of services and resources as set forth here and above and in and be it further resolved that All actions here hereto for taken by the supervisor in connection with this initiative and hereby ratified confirmed and approved non pro tunk and be it further resolve that this resolution shall take effect immediately. So moved

second. All in favor? I I Okay. So do you guys have any new business? I don't have anything. No. Okay. So, at this time, if somebody would like to come up and talk to us, please come on up.

Am I live? Just Yeah, just tell us who you are, where you live. Bob Fischer. I reside at uh Eagles Ridge.

Hey, Bob. Uh, I want to thank the board for the opportunity to voice my and a lot of other people's concerns here regarding the water issues. I've been living at uh, Eagles Ridge for about 19 years and uh, when I first got there, I was kind of surprised when I got my first water bill because nobody told me about a separate water bill. What a surprise. I had a number of uh, emails, phone calls with Levon which didn't get me anywhere. He kind of danced around the whole issue, the issue being cost. In uh 2014, I guess Peaceful Hill decided to wake up and stated their concerns with their bills as well. Our current water sewer bill is $589 per quarter. Uh $2356 per year. When I get my social security check each month, I have to allocate over almost 11% just for water. The problem is the method of the billing for the water as a flat rate billing mechanism. Some of the newer condos in our complex have water meters installed and we know they have them because it indicates on my quarterly bill, my usage. There was a paper that got sent out from the town of Southeast. I'm sure you guys have it. If not, I'll leave a copy with you all from November 10th, 2023. And uh town of Southeast recognized that there was a problem that a lot of residents were being built unfairly. um something was in the plans and then all of a sudden the gentleman who was running it was let go and we never heard anything else but happened

for some of the board members. Um, I'm sure you probably have some wells and your septic systems. Kind of have no idea the added cost that comes in people on um incomes that are stabilized. Um, flat rate includes up to 15,000 gallons of usage and anything over that will be build on a per per gallon overage charge. My quarterly usage has been approximately 1,600 gallons. That's 1,600 gallons. That's amazing because my bill reflects a usage of only that amount that I'm paying for 13,400 extra gallons of water that I never use. And clearly, I've been paying for this for almost two decades now. I see no incentive to conserve water. usage with this archaic use of flat rate. The bonds that were floated to upgrade and replace the towers down at the bottom of the hill were never put before the voters. As far as I know, there were no open bids for the reservations for the renovations. the work was done and the added cost for the bonds and kind of ran down our throats. There was no referendum put before the voters and these were the voters that were going to use the water. I just feel it's time, the time is right for the injustice that has been put on the backs of some of these residents to stop kicking the can down the road. And if you don't have a copy of the letters here, I'll leave them here for you guys. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Good evening. I'm uh I'm Jim Gainer. Hey, Jim. About a year ago, sorry. About a year ago, the district paid about a quarter of a million dollars for work done down at the Drewville station and some other work at the time. Uh I think we were installing new pumps in preparation for the lowering of the reservoir. Y um if I'm not mistaken, as soon as those pumps were turned on, they pretty much failed and and the district had to actually go out and buy water. uh until such time I think those pumps could be repaired. Is that relatively accurate? Oh yes. Okay. Um

so my understanding was these pumps had to either be replaced or fixed. Um what's the current status down there at the Duval station because uh earlier this summer I thought I heard some conversation during some of the board meetings that there may be some additional work needed to be done there. Uh what we're trying to the the building is done that was done relatively right at that point where everything was going on. What we're what we're trying to do is we're working with VRI and Han on a grant to get the two pumps the the pump that's in the reservoir back to the old style pump. I don't know why they went to a new style pump. Obviously, the old pump must have been failing, so they replaced it with a newer version of a pump. But the pumps work differently, and when the new pump when the water gets too low, it loses basically weight on the pump and the pump stops operating. That's why we had to put something out in the water. So the old pumps worked where it didn't matter how much water was in the reservoir. They they the water got sucked a different way where the reservoir could pretty much be almost down to the ground and the water would the water would still get pumped. So basically the building is the pump and it sucks from the from the device out in the reservoir and the new ones operate differently than the old ones. So, the the pumps are $40,000. The device in the water is $40,000 and we are very confident we're going to get grant money for both of those.

So, that's what's remaining to get done. Okay. So, this was an engineering problem for the pumps, the new pumps that were installed and and and in the opening comment you mentioned Delaware and I'm not sure who Delaware is. Delaware was our um engineering company that designed this whole redo of that pump station. Well, is there a possibility this could end up in litigation and should we keep talking about Okay. There there could be some litigation around that situation. So, we probably shouldn't go too much further into it if that if you could read between the lines.

Sure. Um I didn't I didn't know that was Is that is that accurate? What would what what would make us go to litigation or not determination ultimately? I'm Will Stevens. I'm the town attorney. Yes. um litigation of this state nature would be handled by a an outside firm. But we we would need before we get to that point a determination from an outside engineering firm that what was or wasn't done by that particular uh contractor meaning the engineering contractor was uh done um properly.

And so we'd have to pay for that firm to look at the first firm and their work. Oh, absolutely. And you we'd end up having to pay a litigation firm, a construction litigation firm to um you know to to uh hold uh the responsible party uh responsible. Um you know, okay, unfortunate, but uh it appears that there was some I hate to use the word malpractice, but um it wasn't it wasn't done as I see it. uh according to uh according to proper engineering standards.

Well, if there was there was litigation like that and um we were to prevail, does that cover any of the expense to bring it to litigation? It's generally not in New York State unless a contract provides uh that uh if there's a default or a uh or a litigation that that ensues from the contract from the work that was done under the contract. Uh the the prevailing party would would uh would prevail would would be able to uh recoup their their engineering cost, their litigation costs. But generally it's not in the uh

tell don't answer this or tell me if I'm asking too deep. Um if we haven't paid them yet and we dispute this. Is there a possibility that we don't pay them? So what am I trying to say? I don't think we've paid them. We have not paid them. If we haven't paid them in full paid them the engineer. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So there's there's money owed and there's potential litigation and I think that's probably as much as we could say right now. Go any further at this particular point in time. We don't really

Okay. All right. I think I understand. Thank you. Um I see in the sheet that was handed out today that the deficit in the in the Heights um district was about $100,000 in 2024. If I'm reading the uh spreadsheet correctly, um I I know that the uh I wish that Bruce and the others were here tonight. It would probably easily answer these questions, but do we know how much a deficit so far in 2025? Do you have that number? I don't have it here. I Okay, I I can get it.

That's fine. Um in 2025, houses paid about $100 more uh per year than they did the previous year. We went up about $25 a quarter. I don't know how many homes are in the district. A round number I just I said 400. So 400, you know, times uh a 100 is 40,000. Um look, looks like in 2026 it's going up $160 a year, which is about 65,000. So you know, more than the previous year. Again, looking at the spreadsheet, the cost of those filters is going to be about a million dollars. Now, also I thought I heard in some of the meetings this year that that million dollars was actually higher. It went up a little bit. Can anyone comment on that at all? Did that number rise a little bit for some reason?

The the original million dollar Yeah. for the filters I you know I the only thing I could say is inflation. I don't I don't know that answer.

Okay. So, even if it's a million dollars, I mean, the district collected um, you know, 40 grand more this year, it's could be 65 grand more next year. I mean, how does that get us towards starting to save up for these million dollar filters we need in five years? It barely scratches the surface and and the district is already in a deficit. Um, if it was 100,000 under last year, you know, we didn't even collect that much this year. We only collected another 40 grand more. So, I just don't see how the numbers work out so far. Now, I know we don't have to balance the budget in the districts every year, right? You don't have to, you know, but it it seems to me anyway that um the numbers here are a little lower uh than they should be if we really need to spend a million dollars uh five years from now. So, I'm a little concerned about that to be quite honest with you.

Yeah, we are too. And that's why I really wish uh Bruce and Ron were here. I hope or the questions I would ask if they were here is um are what is the remaining debt on the water tower bond? Um are there grants for the filters? Are there you know can we you apply for a bond to replace those filters? So you know it's debt replacement and hopefully not um too much. I don't know if and I don't know those answers to those questions but those are the questions that we need. answered. They're they're very valuable,

right? Because remember, you know, if you're borrowing a million over 20 years, you're not paying back a million, right? What are you paying back about 1 six maybe at about 6%. Yeah. Um so it's not a million dollars. With respect to those filters, uh if you could go over again the process by which the bidding I guess those go out to bid, I imagine, right? Is it only done through the newspapers? Is that the way? Is it also there's other ways to do that that we just don't know about?

We have uh we have a we're on bidet. It's uh it's a um it's on the uh it's electronic uh and companies subscribe to that and if something comes up they're notified. So I would assume that more than you know more than just a handful of companies saw that. But for these particular types of items there aren't a lot of companies out there that do these things. Yeah. I'd imagine, you know, you can't get these at Home Depot. I understand that. Um, but I mean, could we or do we reach out to, you know, within a 50 mile radius other municipal water systems and do we ever talk to those folks who say, you know, who do you work with on major projects?

Well, you know, we have I'm sorry, we have New York City, probably the biggest water filter people in the world, certainly in this country. I mean, do they contract out their work or they do it internally? Yeah, they as all public agencies have to by bid. So the newspaper um solicitation is just required by statute. That's the bare minimum standard. But after that um biders list are created. Usually when you hire engineers, they have a set of firms that they believe are deemed eligible to and qualified to do that work and you solicit them with that bid. Right? So that it could be upwards 10, 20, 30 depending on how many are qualified. So it is not limited to just the chance occasion that someone read the newspaper would be interested in the bid. It's more proactive than that.

I had hope so. Yes, I'd hope so. But with respect to, you know, contacting New York City, I mean, is there anyone we could talk to to say who do you who do you folks work with with respect to if you want to replace three sand filters? Um uh I mean, they're the reason that we're lowering the the water level anyway because of New York City. So I mean can we reach out to them to say

I will tell you this there is someone from D that constantly deals with VRI our water company they come and inspect the plants the sewer and the water plant. So I I would I would say that you know if if they have any opinions they would have probably have given it to us. But I'll ask I'll ask VRI if you don't mind just maybe on the chance that they never really spoke about that before. It might help us with respect to the cost of this because a million dollars replacing three sand filters and again I know you can't buy these anywhere and there are not many firms that do that but a million dollars seems you know that's a lot of money. Yeah.

Um and finally, you mentioned these solar panels over at the uh and this is a little related over at the um the garage. Thank you. Um I mean, can we take them over in Brewster Heights and uh and plug them in someplace and then uh and make sure we have the right wattage and amps and everything else that we need and maybe cut down on the electricity cost over there. Could we get grants to get our own solar panels and maybe defer some or or reduce some cost? I could look into it for sure. I you know I just uh I don't know if there's room down there for panels.

Well, it's an an awful big area down to bottom of the hill there. I think you and uh it's it's pretty wide open. It's not a lot of trees around there on Route Six. I think you probably have enough room for panels there. Well, we just made we just changed some of the rules for solar farms in the town. Uh so, you know,

it's not a farm. No, it's not a farm. Uh, but again, you know, I apologize. It's on me that these guys aren't here tonight. Uh, so I will make sure they're here next time. And I'm sorry if if if I'm making you come back, but you know, you're more than welcome back. And uh hopefully now that we have some of your questions, I'll get those answers before the next meeting and I'll make sure these guys are prepared to answer any of the questions you you guys have. All right. Thanks for your time. Thanks, Jim. Thanks, Jim.

I'm sorry I'm not gonna be talking about millions of dollars here, but there was a figure that I do want to drop on you guys. U with my usage of $1,700 um gallons of water per quarter at $355. I'm paying $4.80 for a gallon of water. Thank you. You were supposed to ask my question.

Hey, my name is Michelle Hamburg. I also live in Eagles Ridge. And I just have a very quick question. We're supposed to be one water district with Brewster Heights and Eagles Ridge. The discrepancy in payments between the single family homes in Brewster Heights and the condos in Eagles Ridge is ridiculous. And I'm trying to understand why. We pay according to this somewhere between 155 and $185 more than the single family homes. Why? I I I can't answer that. I have to ask Ron to to give you the right answer.

There there obviously is a reason. Uh but I'll get you the answer.

Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm Kathleen McBride from Brewster Heights and I'm just so happy to learn tonight that there's sand in my water and it's not dirt that's coming from the filters at the bottom of the hill. I'm happy about that. But anyway, I don't drink the water anyway. Um, last year you were putting in storm drains on Allen Road in Brewster Heights. Okay. The water is still flowing down my property. And in October, they said, "Well, we'll have to get to it next year." They don't know what they're going to do. They're not whatever. Well, I am now missing over an inch of soil around my foundation of my property. So, what am I supposed to do to get this fixed? Am I supposed to get a lawyer and sue them? I mean, you're working all summer long. They put a storm drain in on this side and it's all going down my property. Now, I'm missing about an inch of soil on my property. It's gone down to the neighbor's house. So, you're all spending money here and you haven't fixed the problems from last year.

So, what's what what's the story? Are you going to ignore me like you ignored me all last year? I I don't think we ignore you. We we've been here. I think you did. I'm not going to argue with you. No, I know. I I'm not going to argue with you either. I just I would like it fixed. What am I supposed to do when I lose more soil? Did Didn't Mike Berdick come to your house and talk with you about the drain? No, he doesn't. I think I thought he was there. He told me he was there. He spoke with you and said what? I'll be back next year. I'm not sure what he said, but I know he can't see.

Listen, I I'm not talking to Mike. I'm I I want to talk to someone that's going to fix it. What am I supposed to do if I lose more soil? I mean, we're talking about my house. This is not funny. No one's laughing. Mrs.

Well, well, apparently it must be funny because no one's done anything now. That was last October. We're a year later. All summer long. Trucks going up and down, up and down, and nobody's coming to my house. I I just think this is terrible. You know, I'm I pay my taxes just like everybody else. And And they're not going to fix it. So So I should get a lawyer. I mean, this is not right. This is unfair. I live in a house. I I pay the bills and I'm just getting screwed. Okay.

Water all over my house. Then my neighbor has drain pipes that she uses for put storm drains for her water for her garden. Winter comes, tough Kathy. Let the water go all over your house now. I mean, this is ridiculous. I will come out with Mike. You will look into it then. Would you write yourself a note? Yes. Yes. I'd appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thanks.

Would anybody else like to come on up? Good evening. Tom Wolverton, 7 Leona Drive. Hey Tom, Mountain Brook section. Um, the biggest Well, first of all, I'm disappointed Bruce is not here or Tyler. I mean, that's you put out this agenda. You know, people want to come out and talk about it.

Um, not everybody can make every meeting regardless. Um, back in 2024, the letter that the township sends out about uh information water rates, it um it was missing something vital. Um, it was it had 2022 no um water allowance listed. Okay. 2023, no water allowance listed. 2024, no water allowance. We had a water allowance of 13,000 gallons for for 23 and 24. Um I'm sorry, for 23 24 it wasn't on the 2025 letter that you sent out. All of a sudden, it's like it's gone. That equates to $167.50 a quarter. 650 if we want to keep going with our big number. 650 a a year. That just went away. But yet we'll look at this year's budget and you want to talk about a 4% increase. How nice. But what you're missing for the last couple years was the 20% increase. So when we go from a penny to a penny and a and a quarter, that's a 20% increase just on the on the usage, which now we have to pay completely. We don't use any more than 8 or 10,000 gallons. So that's $167 a quarter. I have to pay now. So who's doing the math for us here? We're hoping that the township sits there and I'm not sure how long VRI has been servicing us. How

just a year? It was a year in May, I think. Okay. Uh so you you you switch over but you forget about these flat rates. The the the allowance that's huge. How did that get past anybody or you just like it's okay? We we'll pass it along. I mean, what district was it again? Mountain Brook. Mountain Brook. And and I don't have the paper in front of me, but there is Well, you know what? We need Bruce and Ron. I'm sorry.

Yeah. Yeah. That that that would be good because I would like to talk about that increase. Uh, also the operation and maintenance budget went up another 14 uh%. And that used to be included in the flat rate. What are we doing here? If we switch companies, I don't know about anybody around here, but if I switch for my phone, if I switch for anything, I'm always trying to get a better price, not let's stick it to the public because that's really what I'm I've only been in this area for a year and a half. I love it. I love it up here. I've stood up here at this mic and and and said that, but holy snowies, what are we doing? I mean, and this is not just our district. This is insane. These are pumps. These these are things that we can fix, get fixed, budget for, and yet blindly accept these these these dollar amounts which are it it it's crazy. Uh last thing I'll mention is our D, you know, okay, the water testing. Um we have a a fellow in our district, Kevin Ador. is comes up here quite a bit and uh I mean the last thing I think uh Supervisor Dante he was arguing was do you need daily water tests? He gave us lots of backup from the state saying that it's not necessary and yet we're getting hit for $7,800 for daily water testing from VRI. Please get these guys back here. I mean I'm disappointed in the council this week very very much so. Right. Great. You take the responsibility, but come on. This this is a waste of their time, our time, and yours.

Yep. We need them here. They'll be here next meeting. Thank you. Anyone else? Uh, okay. Does anyone from the town board have a comment? Nope. Nope. All right. Uh, I'll make a motion to close the meeting. Second. All in favor?