CAZENOVIA — On Oct. 3, the Cazenovia Town Board took multiple actions related to the Mount Pleasant Water District, which includes 26 homes on the north side of Stanley Road (Mount Pleasant Drive and Huntington Drive) in the north end of town.
First, the board opened a public hearing relative to the map, plan, and report — including a cost estimate — prepared in relation to the proposed increase and improvement of the facilities of the Mount Pleasant Water District.
Supervisor Bill Zupan said the board scheduled the public hearing because the town is applying for a grant to replace the water mains in that district.
Councilor Pat Race explained that the system was originally installed around 60 years ago by a developer as a private water system.
“[At some point], long before my tenure, a district was formed, and the town took responsibility to manage the system,” Race said.
According to Zupan, the developer incorrectly backfilled the water mains all those decades ago.
“Now, big stones are rubbing against the main lines, and we are having a lot of breaks, so I thought if we could get grants, we could improve that water district for the residents up there,” he said.
No public comments were made during the hearing.
Next, the board adopted a public interest order in the matter of the increase and improvement of the facilities of the Mount Pleasant Water District.
The maximum estimated cost of the proposed work, according to the adopted resolution, is $750,000.
The board then adopted a bond resolution authorizing the issuance of $750,000 bonds to pay for the project.
“We have to pass this resolution for the total amount of the work, and we are hoping that it will all be covered with grants,” said Zupan. “So, there will be no increase in water rates in Mount Pleasant because of this work.”
In other news
The board approved the tentative/preliminary budget for the Town of Cazenovia for the fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
“Right now, for town outside of [the] village, we are proposing a three percent increase, which equates to four cents per $1,000 tax rate increase,” said Zupan. “Most of it was because of inflation.”
During his report, the supervisor stated that he has been working on the budget with Town of Cazenovia Bookkeeper Elizabeth Merrill.
“In this time of inflation, I think it’s a very good budget,” he said. “We stayed under the two percent cap, which is great. There are a few more numbers that are going to be coming in, but I know we can stay under the cap.”
The board will hold a budget work session on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.
A public hearing as to the adoption of the proposed 2023 town budget is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
The board also scheduled a public hearing as to the enactment of a proposed local law updating the town’s code enforcement program for Nov. 7, 2022, at 7:30 p.m.
“This is something we do every once in a while to keep our codes up to state standards,” explained Zupan.
Additionally, the board approved the use of Ridge Road, Ten Eyck Avenue, Lincklaen Road, and Syosset Drive for the 2022 Pumpkin Run, a fundraiser for the Cazenovia Central Schools Graduating Class of 2023/2025 scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at 1 p.m.
During his report, Councilor Jimmy Golub announced that the annual Cazenovia Lake Summit is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the Betsy Kennedy Community Room at the Cazenovia Public Library.
The next town board meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, at the Cazenovia Town Office.
The Cazenovia Town Board typically meets on the second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit towncazenovia.digitaltowpath.org or call the town office at 315-655-9213.
