Village Approves New Sewer Use Schedule

By Liz Page

STAMFORD – Village trustees adopted a new You-Dig regulation within the village, approved increased sewer use rates to become effective July 1 and are asking water district users who have not yet had their meters replaced, to make an appointment.

They also talked about the LED street light replacement project, whether to continue with the bridge replacement on River St. and the increased cost of repaving the tennis and basketball courts in the village park and the new flags during their regular meeting May 20.

The Robinson-Broadhurst has agreed to transfer excess grant funds from the LED lighting project to be used for resurfacing of the basketball and tennis courts. The quote for the courts totals $48,362 and the additional grant money is still not enough to cover the full cost of resurfacing all of the courts. The village will be responsible for the shortfall. Street Superintendent Jesse Calia was asked to try to get a second quote on the project.

The village purchased all new flags for Main Street, including the poles. The quote of $5,000 was a few years old and the village had received grant money from Robinson-Broadhurst for their replacement. Since then, the prices have increased and the cost of the flags was $6,900. The Village allocated an extra $1,900 in the budget for the purchase. However, Trustee Jim Kopp has applied for a matching O’Connor Foundation grant to cover the extra $1,900. The village street crew recently drilled new holes for the flags that were flown on Memorial Day.

A letter to village residents addresses three related issues for sewer and water. It asks those who have not yet had their water meters replaced with a new meter to make an appointment. The village has replaced about 200 meters, with another 200 to be replaced. The cost of replacement for the first meter is free, but if subsequent meters are needed due to frozen meters, the village will charge $100 per meter. The remaining meters are for absentee landlords and some do not allow anyone entering the building. Trustee Robert Orcutt suggested the water be shut off to those who do not allow the replacement. Calia said there are restrictions involved in shutting off utilities. Officials are hoping the letters will prompt compliance.

A separate letter will go out to out of district users, with rates also going up for those users.

The You-Dig notification law was adopted following a public hearing at which no one spoke. It is intended to prevent digging without knowing what is underground and possibly damaging the village and other utilities. The state already has laws in place requiring any property owner to call U-Dig before they dig, but this law further protects the village. If the property owner hits another utility, like electric, they are required to notify that utility company.

Calia asked trustees to consider purchasing uniforms for each crew member and have the crew members be responsible for maintaining their own uniforms. He said the uniform and laundry service costs $1,000 per month and the crew is not wearing all the uniform components. The condition for crew members is that they maintain the furnished uniforms and wear them as required. Calia was asked to provide a cost sheet to the board members.