Residents press board over Aqua water concerns and demand accountability as trustees debate summer programming approvals

During public comment at the June 24 meeting, multiple residents and trustees expressed deep frustration with Aqua, the water utility serving parts of University Park. Speakers recounted health problems they associate with water quality and demanded further testing, broader community engagement and accountability from Aqua leadership.

One resident said a meeting with Aqua’s president and engineering staff resulted in a promise to erect a fence around the Aqua site to screen an unsightly construction area; residents thanked trustees for attending the meeting but pressed for more than aesthetics. Several speakers urged the village to insist that Aqua address alleged contaminants raised by residents — including lead and nitrates — and to provide clearer remediation or replacement timetables. Trustees described a recent Thornwood House town hall and pledged to coordinate with neighboring municipalities and regulatory agencies to amplify resident complaints.

Trustees also debated a separate but related issue: summer youth programming. A trustee who proposed a slate of summer events said the item was tabled for a workshop and that a missed workshop schedule contributed to the program not moving forward. Other trustees said they supported summer activities for children but stressed the need for advance board review of safety plans, volunteer vetting and vendor approvals. A dispute arose over whether event expenditures — for example a $1,500 sound/stage fee for a recent car show — require pre-approval or fall under budgeted event lines; trustees asked staff to clarify event procurement procedures going forward.

The board deferred to staff and to subsequent workshops for specific next steps: staff will continue outreach to Aqua contacts and report back on testing and remediation timelines; trustees asked that future event proposals include safeguards and cost breakdowns prior to approval.