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Trustees approve O'Reilly Auto Parts commercial water connection; debate continues over PPD sewer/water rates
Summary
The board approved commercial water service to a Bennett Road address (O’Reilly Auto Parts) while public comment and trustees pressed for renegotiation and data on the Pomfret/Pomfort (PPD) sewer/water contract and what outside users pay relative to village ratepayers.
A resolution approving a commercial water service connection at 10374 Bennett Road (the location cited in the meeting packet as O’Reilly Auto Parts) was approved by the Village of Fredonia Board of Trustees on May 12. The vote came amid a wider discussion about a long‑standing contract with an outside sewer customer (referred to in meeting comments as PPD or Pomfret/Pomfort) and whether outside users pay an appropriate share of wastewater treatment costs.
Why it matters: contracts that sell village water or accept outside sewage flows affect the village’s treatment plant load, operating costs and ultimately the village tax burden. Several trustees and public speakers said outside entities currently pay less per thousand gallons than village residents and asked staff to produce flow‑meter data and a comparative billing history to support renegotiation.
Trustee and public discussion: multiple speakers urged the board to insist that outside entities pay a rate comparable to village residents. One public commenter said the county legislature had passed a resolution capping a rate at $3.06 per 1,000 gallons for the outside district for the next 30 years; village residents are paying approximately $8.00 per 1,000 gallons, a disparity that trustees said is unsustainable. Trustees requested historical flow data and proportionate contributions; village staff agreed to provide flow meter records (daily meter readings and 24 months of comparative flow percentages) to show how much of the plant’s influent originates from the outside district.
Action taken: the board passed the resolution approving the commercial water service connection (agenda language identified the applicant as O’Reilly Auto Parts). Separately, trustees discussed re‑examining the contract with the outside entity (PPD) and requested staff to compile 24 months of flow/meters and cost allocation data to inform any renegotiation. Members of the public pressed the board to consider increasing the outside user rate to match village residential rates or to adopt a proportional index so outside rates move with village rate increases.
Follow‑up: trustees asked the superintendent and plant staff to provide a month‑by‑month comparison of flow percentages from the outside district for the previous 24 months and a proposal for a rate adjustment mechanism (for example, indexing outside rates to village rate changes). Public commenters also urged the board to make contract proposals and supporting data available to residents before any renegotiation.
