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Monticello talks sewer district extension

Vincent Kurzrock
Posted 6/10/25

MONTICELLO — Attorney Jacob Billig came before the Village of Monticello Wednesday night with the idea of extending the Harris Sewer District for Brookview Cottages.

Billig wasted no time …

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Monticello talks sewer district extension

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MONTICELLO — Attorney Jacob Billig came before the Village of Monticello Wednesday night with the idea of extending the Harris Sewer District for Brookview Cottages.

Billig wasted no time in getting down to business. 

“Several years ago when the Town of Thompson was building the infrastructure for the sewer system [for Brookview Cottages]...the Town said they could apply at some point in the future for a sewer extension,” explained Billig. “We made that application last October. The Town did a map plan and report and submitted that to the Village Board.”

Billig mentioned that in that report, there’s currently “22 units on the property, 3 bedrooms. They use a little less than 7,000 gallons”.

The report also stated Brookview would look to expand 15 more units with four bedrooms per unit. Billig estimated usage would be slightly less than 14,000 [gallons].

According to Billig, the Town of Thompson voted to allow for extension subject to Village of Monticello’s code.

“I noted in a prior application Mr. [Village Attorney Michael] Sussman raised the question of the Town making the application so I asked Michael to write the letter to this Board so it would serve as the Town’s application to this Board,” stated Billig.

Sussman questioned if, even with a second sewer system, that system couldn’t accomodate the expansion.

Billig also highlighted that, from an environmental standpoint, he believes it’s better for the area to be using the existing sewer system as opposed to a seperate system. Upon being asked, he also confirmed that Brookview did SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review Act) with the Town.

“Contingent upon this Board acting, the Board could incorporate by reference the map plan of report and the SEQR that’s been done by the Town,” asserted Billig.

Trustee Theodore Hutchins referred to the Benmosche Pump Station and how work would have to be put into it. 

“The Village continues on making deals with outside applicants, why don’t we continue on having them improve our infrastructure?” inquired Hutchins. “There’s always improvements that need to be done to our pump stations. When something happens to that Benmosche Pump Station you know what happens? The Town [of Thompson] and the Village [of Monticello] has to do it.”

He wondered why the Village taxpayers should have to continue on improving pump stations that “we’re not even benefitting from.” He also exampled that the Village’s own pump station could be upgraded as well.

Barbarite replied that it was “part of the bigger picture” with Spring Hills and the I&I [Inflow and Infiltration] from the Racetrack.

“We’re going to have a share of the cost of the pump station but the town - as I understand it - is picking up a majority of the cost,” stated Trustee John Barbarite.

Billig explained that they’re looking to fit into the existing agreement that was entered into by prior boards - village and town - and that map report outlined that the Benmosche Pump Station is being upgraded. He also stated the report didn’t go into detail about that upgrade  but indicated such an upgrade was being made.

“The map plan report also indicates that costs that we would have to pay pursuing to the agreement and the current rate structure,” stated Billig. “That capacity is there. It doesn’t negate down the road for any kind of cost increase to all of the users. Whatever direction you go to upgrade your systems, we would now be a new user with additional pockets to be able to pay.”

Hutchins stated that the matter was a discussion and could be put on for a later date [their next meeting].

Village Manager James Snowden also stressed they not commit on the basis that he didn’t have all the information that was needed. He suggested either Village Mayor Rochelle Massey or Sussman could reach out for additional information.

“Subsequent there too Mr. Snowden and Mr. Sussman if you guys have questions after this meeting, hopefully we’ll get that information to you real quick and maybe we can get back here in two weeks and wrap this up as other projects have done,” assured Billig.

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