Residents press board over lake-remediation work; trustees say 90 tons of lily pads removed

Several residents questioned the village about the scope and impact of ongoing lake-remediation work, complaining about daily machinery in front of homes, noise, visible piles of vegetation and a lack of written updates from the board.

A resident said she was "very concerned about all the the work that's being done there and whether lily pads are actually being removed," and described machinery appearing in front of her house at 9 a.m. and remaining through the day. Multiple residents asked who is in charge and whether the village had coordinated with state agencies or used alternative approaches.

Trustee Pat, who the board identified as part of the lakes committee, responded with a multi-part explanation of the remediation plan and constraints. Pat said the village contracted an environmental firm, has budgeted roughly $25,000–$30,000 annually for lake work, and that chemical treatments previously tried were ineffective. "We've taken out over 90 tons," Pat said, noting the removed plant material is being taken to the village compost facility rather than landfill.

Pat and other trustees described DEC rules that limit draining lakes without extensive soil testing and remediation work that would cost "millions," and defended using a contractor to get a season's work done efficiently after a late start. The board acknowledged noise and intrusion, said crews would adjust operations (fewer trucks parked at private frontages, end-of-day pickups), and committed to further outreach and schedules for residents. The board also said larger open-field mowing tasks were contracted to Brightwaters landscaping so village crews could focus on canal and parks maintenance.

The board did not provide a detailed, itemized budget or a daily schedule at the meeting; a resident later asked for follow-up documentation and the chair indicated staff would provide additional information.