The Cazenovia Town Board held their first meeting of 2012 the evening of Jan. 9 in the town offices at the Gothic Cottage. Newly elected councilor Liz Moran was absent.
During the organizational meeting, the board approved the 2012 lake treatment of Cazenovia Lake and discussed future actions of the High Impact Use Committee.
As no lake treatments were conducted in 2011, councilors approved the treatment of Cazenovia Lake using the product Renovate to take place this year.
No company has been assigned at this time, but Supervisor Ralph Monforte estimates the cost will total about $190,000.
“Donations from the Cazenovia Lake Association and other local organizations will cover approximately $70,000 of the total cost,” Monforte said in his speech at the State of the Area Forum, Jan. 11.
At last month’s town board meeting, councilors authorized a payment of $1,500 to lake management company Allied Biological for the preparation of the pesticide application to be submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The next step the board will have to take is approval of the scoping document, said Town Attorney John Langey. A scoping meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at the town offices. Langey told councilors the resolution will be similar to those of past lake treatments, although this document will include history of treatments as well as approximate acreage of water that will be treated.
Also during the meeting, newly re-elected councilor Bill Zupan was designated liaison between the town board and High Impact Use Committee, formerly known as the “Hydrofracking Committee.” The group, which investigates viability of high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the area and the amount of land currently leased to gas companies, meets the second Monday of each month at the Gothic Cottage, immediately before town board meetings.
In the following months, the board will look to add information on hydrofracking to the town website and work with Delta Engineering to examine road use agreements, in anticipation of having increased industrial traffic on area roadways.
“We’re concerned people are getting involved in leases that aren’t advantageous to them, and may be putting themselves and the community in jeopardy,” Monforte said. “We’re looking for more participation from general citizens coming to the meetings and getting up-to-date on [high-volume hydraulic fracturing].”
In other board news:
—Supervisor Monforte named councilor Pat Race 2012 Town of Cazenovia Deputy Supervisor.
—The Cazenovia Republican was designated as the official newspaper of the town of Cazenovia.
—Portions of Ridge Road, Ten Eyck Avenue and Lincklaen Road were approved to be used for the eighth-annual Chilly Chili 5k Run/Walk, Jan. 29.
—A substance abuse testing agreement was authorized. Industrial Medical Associates will conduct the annual drug tests of highway department employees in 2012.
Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338 or [email protected].
