A landmark restaurant on Main Street in Ballston Lake will remain open and reenter negotiations with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Carney’s was set to have its last day of business on Sunday, Sept. 28 amid sewage disputes with the DEC, but after what co-owner Rosemary Carney called a tremendous outpouring of support by residents and local groups, Gov. David Paterson has effectively granted the 26-year-old business a stay of execution.
At the behest of letters sent by Senator Hugh Farley (R-Niskayuna), Assemblyman James Tedisco (R-Schenectady) and with what has grown to 1,500 petition signatures and personal letters sent to the Governor’s office, the DEC will be entering back into negotiations on how the business can solve its sewage problems.
Carney said Farley called her and her husband, Bob, at home Thursday evening to tell them that the DEC would be coming back to the table.
They have been paying $900 a week to haul wastewater away from their business because of issues with their sewage disposal. The DEC wanted a $215,000 septic system installed, which was simply too costly.
Carney’s employs a staff of over 30, including two bartenders who have been there since the grand opening.
It’s still too early to say when the owners will meet with the DEC or what arrangements will result, but in the meantime Carney’s will be serving its patrons.
The restaurant will continue to hold and haul its wastewater.
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