SWAN LAKE — Delaware Engineering was given the green light by the Liberty Town Board by a vote of 3 to 2 for a budget of $40 million, aimed at constructing a sewer system for Swan Lake with a 960,000 gallon per day (GPD) flow capacity.

At a recent meeting on May 28 between the contractor and the town, it was discussed that the current sewer plant was built in 1986 and has reached its expected lifespan of 35-40 years. The plant covers roughly 1.15 square miles and services 371 users. Currently, it sees a capacity of 425,000 GPD, and is characterized by a number of other deficiencies, including several issues with operations and maintenance (O&M) and regulatory compliance issues, and changes in Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulatory permit limits.

The Democrat previously reported that Councilperson Vincent McPhillips stated he would vote against a $40 million budget proposal, to which he kept his word by joining Councilperson Sherri Kavleski in voting no. McPhillips said that putting the burden of $40 million on 371 users was “unacceptable.”

“To me it is ridiculous, I have struggled with this for two years and now it is brought up again, so I am a no vote because I don’t even know what we are getting [for $40 million],” McPhillips said.

Councilpersons John Lennon, Jr., Dean Farrand and Town Supervisor Frank DeMayo voted in favor of authorizing the budget and flow capacity.

“This is just a budget number, we hope that it comes in significantly less,” DeMayo said. 

“I don’t think this is a can that can be kicked further down the road, and my big concern is that continued delays will cause the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to run out of patience and we will get hit with a consent order, or at the very least, violations,” DeMayo said. “This district extends past Swan Lake…and there could be opportunities for development.” 

He noted the town would do what they can to secure more funding and entice other people to enter the district to lessen the burden.

Farrand said that he understands $40 million is a large number, but the plant that exists currently is not in compliance with New York state. Lennon noted that the estimated budget was the product of two estimating consultants.

The Supervisor also noted that the many hamlets around Liberty should begin to construct committees in regards to upcoming discussions for the town’s soon-to-be updated Comprehensive Plan, as well as what Swan Lake’s potential downtown commercial core could look like.

Previously, Delaware Engineering’s Dave Ohman, who was present at Liberty’s meeting on June 3, and Mary Beth Bianconi, noted that in addition to the $11.4 million grant, and a $6.6 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) loan with zero percent financing, they would look to keep construction costs at a minimum.