Cortlandville town board tables action of proposed local wellhead protection law

(Photo Source: Unplash).

The Cortlandville town board voted 4-0 in favor of tabling the action of a proposed local law that would protect the town’s drinking water wells from contaminating processes and hazardous materials at a recent December meeting.

At a town board meeting in October, the town board rescinded the proposed local law, which added amendments that would outlaw any current and new mining operations. According to town attorney John DelVecchio, the proposed amendments prevent existing mining operations located in the town’s wellhead protection zone 1A along Route 13 from expanding further down into the aquifer (protection district).

Town officials recently submitted a new version of the proposed local law, which “amends the zoning code to further safeguard the existing wellhead protection areas within the town of Cortlandville’s aquifer protection district and other related amendments.” It includes a new amendment to the town and Cortland County planning authorities.

At last week’s meeting, DelVecchio suggested tabling any action on the proposed law until the town’s planning board gets a chance to review and make recommendations at its Dec. 28 meeting.

“I want to make sure the most recent proposal is reviewed by that board, and that they provide any comments or suggestions for your consideration,” DelVecchio added.

Any action taken by the town board could be taken as early as its meeting on Jan. 5. Town supervisor Tom Williams agreed with the move to table possible action on the drafted law until next month.

“It will give the town board time to digest the comments from the planning board (and others),” Williams said.