Residents press board after DEC letter on Seneca Meadows; odor complaints and pump-station concerns raised

The board read a letter addressed to Supervisor Schmitter from Amanda Lefton on behalf of Gov. Kathy Hochul conveying that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation "remains committed to ensuring the protection of the environment and human health and continues to closely monitor Seneca Meadows Landfill facility to ensure full compliance with applicable state laws and regulations." The read correspondence noted DEC comments to the Veil Infill Project DEIS dated 09/19/2025 and that DEC had received a renewal application for a Part 360 solid-waste permit on 06/30/2025.

Separately, a resident urged the board to read correspondence about worsening odor issues into the minutes and asked when the pump station by Kenny Drugs will be repaired, saying the town should confirm whether local sewer infrastructure — not Seneca Meadows — is the odor source. The board acknowledged both the DEC correspondence and a lengthy resident letter asking for "clear, measurable odor control benchmark[s] and enforceable consequence[s] with violation," signed by Mark Piddeford of Waterloo Container. The board did not announce immediate remedial steps; the communications were entered and the chair asked for a motion to accept communications into the record.