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Public commenter praises county executive’s 90‑day halt on biosolids and urges continued action
Summary
A member of the public told the Legislature he supports County Executive Dan McCoy’s 90‑day suspension of agricultural use of biosolids and urged Albany County to limit land application because of contaminants cited in studies.
During the March 10 public forum, a resident urged the Albany County Legislature to support a recent executive order by County Executive Dan McCoy that halts the agricultural land application of biosolids (sewage sludge) in the county for 90 days.
Tom Ellis, introduced in the record as a resident of North Pine Ave in the City of Albany, said he supported the executive action and described biosolids as containing a range of contaminants including mercury, lead, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, microplastics and pathogens. He referenced the state of Maine’s 2022 ban on land‑application of biosolids and warned of long‑term contamination risks, saying some farmers in Maine were unable to use land after contamination.
Ellis also raised separate concerns about fluoridation of the city water supply and cited federal reports he said had established a link between fluoridation and reduced infant IQ, noting a recent federal judge’s reference to such a report; those comments were made in the public‑comment segment and reflect the speaker’s views and citations.
Why it matters: The county executive’s temporary halt to biosolids application is an administrative step that may affect agricultural practices and county environmental oversight. Public commenters urged the Legislature to sustain or expand the temporary pause and to consider health and environmental research when setting policy.
What was said: "Sewage sludge contains a wide variety of toxic materials and that is best kept away from farmlands," Ellis said. "The county must take the lead, and I am glad that it has."
Action requested: The speaker urged continued county leadership on the issue; the transcript does not record a formal motion or committee referral at the meeting tied directly to this comment.
