The planning board in Springwater will increase from five to seven members at its next meeting. The town board passed a law to increase the seats and this week selected the seven town residents who will make up the board.
The board’s current chairwoman, Nancy Pennell, will remain on the board with a three-year term as will current board members Bob Radell for a seven-year term and Laurie Hill for a five-year term. Judy Tripp-Neu, previously an alternate, was appointed to a six-year seat. Mike Dambra was appointed for a four-year term and Jackie LoFurno was appointed for two years. Lori Faith had been on the board and was in line for a one-year seat, but she is no longer a resident and the town board accepted her resignation Monday. Her position will remain vacant temporarily. Two alternates were selected: Steve Todisco and Adam Tatlock.
All appointments were approved 4-0, with Councilman Phil Viruso unable to attend the meeting.
The planning board will select a chairman at the next meeting.
Pennell informed the town board on the board’s progress. The board has been reviewing comprehensive plans and is looking closely at plans from Albion, Conesus and Sparta, as towns with attributes similar to Springwater.
Pennell also reminded the board os a proposal to hire a consultant to assist with several areas of the comprehensive plan. She suggested the board consider a dollar amount to pay a consultant, which will help define the scope of work before the town solicits proposals.
In other matters of note, the Springwater board is moving forward with a plan to raise water rated from $40 per quarter to $45 per quarter. The rate includes the first 10,000 gallons, with overages assessed for higher water users.
One of the more significant changes is how apartments will be billed. Previously, each apartment and multiple-family residences paid the same $40 per quarter with an additional $5 per quarter for each additional unit. Under the proposed rates, that changes to a flat $45 for each unit.
The town is also revising one-time fees for shut-offs, new connections and other services.
“What I’m looking for is to make sure we have sufficient money,” Supervisor Deborah Babbitt said. “The users of the system need to pay for the system.”
She noted that the water budget is already in the red and the sewer budget needs assistance as well. However, she added concern that raising rates too far could be a burden on some families and the town has several low-income residents, particularly in the hamlet served by the water system.
Councilman Larry Gnau observed that a lot of the problems with the sewer and water system are tied to capital projects in recent years — some of which remain unfinished. Gnau noted that once those projects are concluded, the proposed rates should generate a small surplus to help address future projects.
“These rates put us still well below what other towns are charging,” Babbitt said.
At the town board’s next meeting on Aug. 27, the board will accept input from the public about the rates. The official public hearing required before the board votes will be in September.
The planning board in Springwater will increase from five to seven members at its next meeting. The town board passed a law to increase the seats and this week selected the seven town residents who will make up the board.
The board’s current chairwoman, Nancy Pennell, will remain on the board with a three-year term as will current board members Bob Radell for a seven-year term and Laurie Hill for a five-year term. Judy Tripp-Neu, previously an alternate, was appointed to a six-year seat. Mike Dambra was appointed for a four-year term and Jackie LoFurno was appointed for two years. Lori Faith had been on the board and was in line for a one-year seat, but she is no longer a resident and the town board accepted her resignation Monday. Her position will remain vacant temporarily. Two alternates were selected: Steve Todisco and Adam Tatlock.
All appointments were approved 4-0, with Councilman Phil Viruso unable to attend the meeting.
The planning board will select a chairman at the next meeting.
Pennell informed the town board on the board’s progress. The board has been reviewing comprehensive plans and is looking closely at plans from Albion, Conesus and Sparta, as towns with attributes similar to Springwater.
Pennell also reminded the board os a proposal to hire a consultant to assist with several areas of the comprehensive plan. She suggested the board consider a dollar amount to pay a consultant, which will help define the scope of work before the town solicits proposals.
In other matters of note, the Springwater board is moving forward with a plan to raise water rated from $40 per quarter to $45 per quarter. The rate includes the first 10,000 gallons, with overages assessed for higher water users.
One of the more significant changes is how apartments will be billed. Previously, each apartment and multiple-family residences paid the same $40 per quarter with an additional $5 per quarter for each additional unit. Under the proposed rates, that changes to a flat $45 for each unit.
The town is also revising one-time fees for shut-offs, new connections and other services.
“What I’m looking for is to make sure we have sufficient money,” Supervisor Deborah Babbitt said. “The users of the system need to pay for the system.”
She noted that the water budget is already in the red and the sewer budget needs assistance as well. However, she added concern that raising rates too far could be a burden on some families and the town has several low-income residents, particularly in the hamlet served by the water system.
Councilman Larry Gnau observed that a lot of the problems with the sewer and water system are tied to capital projects in recent years — some of which remain unfinished. Gnau noted that once those projects are concluded, the proposed rates should generate a small surplus to help address future projects.
“These rates put us still well below what other towns are charging,” Babbitt said.
At the town board’s next meeting on Aug. 27, the board will accept input from the public about the rates. The official public hearing required before the board votes will be in September.
