Menands trustees move to set July 20 public hearing on lead service-line replacement grant

The Village of Menands Board of Trustees at a special meeting moved to set a public hearing for July 20 to consider applying for a New York State grant to replace lead and galvanized water service lines serving village properties.

Lauren, a staff member, told the board the state and related federal guidance are pushing municipalities to replace all lead service lines and that the grant being pursued would allow the village to pay for replacements on behalf of residents. “That’s essentially what this grant would be used for,” Lauren said, describing the program as covering replacement of identified lead and galvanized service lines found through meter-replacement work and door-to-door inventories. She noted homes in the South End are excluded from the current count because a moratorium on work there is in effect; she said the village could pursue those properties later if grant timing allows.

Board members discussed financing. Lauren explained the village would typically authorize a bond for the full project before applying for grant funds; any grant award would reduce the village’s net cost. The amount cited during discussion as the bond authorization example was $2,100,000, which Lauren and the chair described as an authorization level rather than the village’s final out-of-pocket obligation.

A committee member read a draft resolution and the SEQR screening language, concluding the board determined the proposed water-service replacement project is a Type 2 action under 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and therefore does not require further environmental review under the cited criteria. The committee member’s reading outlined the proposed work to include coordination with property owners, excavation and replacement of affected water lines, reconnection to municipal mains, testing and flushing, proper disposal of lead materials and restoration of affected areas.

A motion was made to hold the public hearing at the board’s July meeting. The mover was the committee member who read the resolution; the transcript does not record a second or a roll-call vote on that motion. The board will consider the bond resolution and any public comments at the July 20 hearing if scheduled as discussed.

Lauren also said the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review would be completed after a grant award if the village receives funding. She and trustees noted timing and grant award deadlines will determine whether excluded South End properties can be added later if excess funds remain.

Next steps: the board set the public hearing date for July 20 (motion recorded in the meeting transcript) and will bring the formal bond resolution and grant application materials to the public hearing for comment and potential action.