Town infrastructure
Proposal in different part of town follows sound defeat
After defeat of proposed sewer line on Route 50, Ballston is trying again.
After a crushing referendum defeat of a proposed $15.8 million sewer line on Route 50, the town is trying again, this time in a different part of town with a plan that will come at a higher cost to residents.
Town Councilman Bill Goslin said there will be a referendum, costing between $2.26 million and $4.39 million, to install sewer lines for about 160 homes built decades ago in the Carpenter Acres neighborhood on the west side of Route 50. The referendum, which has no date yet, will cost residents more than the line that was defeated by a four to one margin in April. That defeated line would have cost residents $926 a year plus the cost of mandatory hook-up.
Early estimates for the annual tax homeowners would pay for the newly proposed line run from $1,400 to $1,600. That figure does not include the likely $3,500 to $10,000 a property owner would have to pay to connect to the sewer.
“The cost is way too high,” said Valerie Dussault who lives on Harold Street. “It’s insane. There are a lot of seniors here who are on a fixed income. It’s very sad that they are trying to force this project onto us.”
Goslin, however, said the neighborhood requested the proposed sewer district in 2015 with a signed petition. He said the town is responding to their needs.
“Homes were built in areas where septic is difficult,” Goslin said. “There are certain times of year that drainage is a problem.”
At a public hearing in May, Don Poutre, who lives on Reita Street, said that someone came to his home to ask about sewers. He said he thought
it was a good idea, but the person who surveyed him did not say anything about cost.
“Looking at the fine print, the cost is way too expensive,” said Poutre, who has had a septic system for 40 years without any issues. “Affordability will hurt a lot of people.”
A random check of the neighborhood on Monday found only one resident who was in favor of the sewer plan. Bruce Macwatters, who has lived on Reita Street, said he will connect if the proposed line is installed.
“I understand the costs and we are prepared to pay it,” Macwatters said. “I’m all for it.”
Neighbors say most of the homes affected are the newer ones built on Robert Drive in an area that was always swampy. They believe the developer should have installed sewers or not built there at all. A 1973 surveyors map in the database of Saratoga County’s Real Property Tax Service noted that the area on Robert Drive should not be built “until such time as public sewers are available.”
County records also show that some of the homes were built by Manchester Associates, Ltd. of Altamont. The phone number listed for the Manchester Associates office is not working. A call to owner Wade Coton to ask why sewer lines were not installed at the time of development, was not returned.
Jim Callahan of Sunset Acres told the Town Board that the people who bought homes on those lots “purchased homes on swamp land.”
“Why should we pay to solve other people’s problems?” Callahan said.
Betty Brynes, a widow who has lived on Harold Street since 1957, agrees.
“I can’t say I’m in favor of it,” Byrnes said. “I can’t afford it. There are a few widows my age on the street and they don’t want it either. We feel like we are being forced into it and that’s not the right thing to do.”
While all residents in the proposed sewer district will have to pay for the installation of the sewer line, it’s unclear if residents will be mandated to hook into the sewer, said Goslin. Compulsory hookup was strongly opposed during the Route 50 sewer line referendum and one of the reasons why the line was defeated. That proposal would have penalized residents with fines and jail time if they didn’t connect.
“There is no law requiring connection,” Goslin said. “It’s really early. We have a few layers to go through. We haven’t finalized anything yet.”
Meanwhile, Goslin said, the referendum will likely go to voters this winter.