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Pleasant Valley board to advertise for Water System Advisory Committee amid resident concerns over wells
Summary
After hours of debate the board decided to advertise for letters of intent to fill a 5–7 member Town Water System Advisory Committee and asked for a neutral technical expert; residents reported low aquifer readings and private wells going dry.
The Pleasant Valley Town Board on July 6 voted to advertise for letters of intent from residents willing to serve on a Town Water System Advisory Committee, setting a short recruitment window so applicants can be reviewed at the next town meeting.
Board members said the advisory body should be balanced and include subject‑matter experts to evaluate competing proposals for water service and infrastructure. Several members emphasized the committee’s advisory role and recommended hiring an independent third‑party engineer for feasibility and dewatering studies.
Council member (speaker 5) described the draft resolution as providing parity and clear timelines: the draft calls for 5–7 members, a chair appointed by the town board, and an implementation schedule to prevent open‑ended delays. The board directed the legislative aide to accept letters of intent, with applicants to be in by the following town meeting.
Residents urged urgency. Samantha Knowlton, a Pleasant Valley resident, asked the board to make sure the fund‑balance policy and audit recommendations are reconciled as water planning proceeds.
“During the fund balance discussion I would appreciate clarification of what the difference was between the two different fund balance policies and how they were reconciled,” said Samantha Knowlton, who asked the board to ensure any committee work aligns with audit guidance.
Environmental experts and residents pressed the board on immediate water impacts. Carrie Ann Ferrara, an environmental scientist and local resident, said monitoring‑well DI‑009 in Pleasant Valley is at its lowest recorded level and that some private wells have declined or gone dry; she urged the town to hire an engineering consultant to assess dewatering risks from construction and quarry operations.
Board next steps include circulating the draft committee resolution for comment, accepting letters of intent by the next meeting cycle, and determining whether to appoint a liaison or proceed without a designated liaison during initial formation. The board also discussed term lengths and whether the committee should sunset once a project is selected.
The board’s action starts the formal recruitment process; final committee membership and any technical studies will be subject to future board review and budget decisions.
