Amidst growing complaints of high water taxes, Town Supervisor Thomas Dolin announced the town is in talks to source water from Guilderland instead of Bethlehem.
Since 1965 the Town of New Scotland has been dependent on Bethlehem for parts of its water supply, and since that time the rate has been set at a maximum of twice the rate paid by Bethlehem residents. According to Dolin, the rate has been a near-constant source of resident complaints, and the town has attempted to get out of this contract numerous times. With no other water sources of their own, the conflict has stood at a standstill.
New Scotland has no water source of its own and is currently under water agreements with both the Town of Bethlehem and the Village of Voorheesville. An emergency water agreement is in place between Voorheesville and the Town of Guilderland. The proposed water agreement between New Scotland and Guilderland would use this emergency connection between Guilderland and Voorheesville.
Dolin has met with Guilderland Town Supervisor Kenneth Runion and the Guilderland water supervisor three times to discuss the possible connection. He has also met with leaders from the Town of Bethlehem to discuss changing the rates, and said they “know we’re unhappy” yet still refuse to change the rate.
After August’s meeting on the water fees in New Salem and Heldervale Water districts became a public forum for resident complaints on water taxes, a recent Town Board meeting ended on the same discussion.
“This is a simple dollars and cents issue. They are not a charity,” said Dolin of Bethlehem to meeting attendees.
Of the eight water districts in New Scotland, four districts source water from Bethlehem, and of those four, two are sourced from Albany through Bethlehem, and thus receive City of Albany Rates. Swift and Feura Bush water districts receive these City of Albany rates through Bethlehem, which are also twice the rate of water in Albany. Font Grove and newly created Heldervale water disticts are the remaining two districts sourcing their water from Bethlehem. A little less than 100 residents combined live in these two districts.
The New Salem district alone receives a lower rate from Bethlehem, as a result of a year’s worth of negotiations, resulting in a contract wherein New Scotland took responsibility for several Bethlehem dwellings on environmentally unstable land.
Resident John Hotaling of the Heldervale water district said he and many of his neighbors in the districts sourcing from Bethlehem pay a steep price of $2,000 combined in water and sewer yearly. The average family uses about 65,000 gallons of water per year. To Hotaling, the rate and the town’s inability to change the contract or find a new source has been a large source of frustration. Hotaling has emerged as the leader in the outcry against the steep rate.
“They can explore other options, that’s fine.” said Bethlehem Town Supervisor John Clarkson. “We don’t rely on their purchasing. It’s fairly insignificant in the overall budget picture, but we’re glad to help out when it works for both parties. It depends on where (they) can connect and other things involved.”
While Clarkson didn’t seem phased by New Scotland’s threat to switch water providers, board members in New Scotland believe legal action could be necessary.
`I think there is a legal rational that one has to justify certain costs,” said Councilperson William Hennesey in reference to the rate. Dolin agreed that he would not be opposed to taking legal action. No action will be taken, however, until a meeting with residents is held in early December.
