Just prior to today’s regular board meeting, at 4:15 p.m., the public is invited to contribute comments to proposed changes to the local laws that set the water and sewer rents in the village. The proposed changes will permit the board to lower the water and sewer EDU rates below their current valuations. The current law stipulates that the water EDU rate is equal to half the annual operation-cost of the water treatment plant divided by the total water EDUs in the village. (The other half of the operation costs comes from usage) A similar definition sets the sewer EDU rate based on the annual cost of operating the waste water treatment plant. The proposed amendments allow the board to lower the water and sewer EDU rates below these levels. By how much the rates will decrease depends on the final figures released by the independent Auditor’s report of the village’s finances for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The auditor’s report is expected to become available towards the end of May and will confirm the growth rates of the water fund balance and the sewer fund balance. The fund balance-growths since implementation of the DANC policy suggestions (in November 2018) will determine by how much the EDU rates can be lowered and still maintain positive fund-growths. This discussion is independent of possible future discussions of EDU valuations for accessory units etc.
Then at 4:25 there will be a Public Hearing to incorporate a local Cannabis Law to better guide the development of that industry throughout the village. The local law must conform in every respect with the state-wide laws, but may add further stipulations to suit the particulars of our village. The current proposed local law was designed primarily by the Planning Board with assistance from the Code Enforcement and the Planning & Development offices, who advise the village board to accept this new local law.
The regular meeting of the village board then follows right after, at 4:30 p.m. or a little earlier if the Public Hearings conclude early. During the regular portion, the public has the opportunity to contribute comments on any other matters of concern.
During the summer, the village board meets once a month, not twice a month as during the academic year.
Local Government Matters 