BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Despite the village board signing off on a contract to continue supplying water to the town and maintaining infrastructure for water delivery, the deal was held up by the town board.

Village officials signed off on the five-year deal previously, saying the contract was fair to all parties involved.

The deal runs from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2028 and is renewable for additional five-year periods, officials said at the time.

Trustee Ken McGowan voiced concerns about the inclusion of the South Raquette Water District and the impact it would have on costs and services for the village.

That future district won't have an impact just yet, according to Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller.

“Right now, the district has not been formed. That doesn’t happen until the village agrees to it. It’s not approved by the village board yet. That’s not quoted in this agreement,” Miller said.

Miller said the deal is good for "what's in place right now."

As part of the agreement with the village, the town is also supposed to pay $6,000 annually to the village.

According to Mayor Greg Paquin, the payment is for the Water Department's handling of billing services, as well as the additional houses that are now included.

"Now we feel we're getting, maybe now fully compensated for the effort we put in, but maybe a significant one-time payment each year of $6,000 is fair," Paquin previously said.

But town officials are hung up on a $6,000 yearly payment.

Despite the village signing off on the deal, town officials were hesitant to press forward without feedback from Town Attorney Eric Gustafson.

Town Board Member Adirian Taraska questioned the inclusion of the payment, asking if maintenance and billing is already built into the initial charge to the town.

"That's a good catch. That charge has to be built into the billing that goes to the residents in the districts," Gustafson said.

According to Gustafson, he and Town Supervisor Sue Bellor had met to discuss the billing of the town the day before.

Gustafson told board members that the village is not allowed to take a fee for residents of a water district and spread it to the entire town tax base.

“I think that the language of the agreement is standard to what we’ve had for a long time. But, that little quirk, we’re going to need to change," he said.

The town of Massena was also awarded $4.5 million for the new South Raquette Water District on Feb. 23.

The funding is part of an $82 million federal aid package that "will benefit town residents by providing access to public water and will improve the health, welfare, and safety of the residents."

The South Raquette Water District is expected to cost $9 million but with the influx of federal funds, the town is on track to secure enough funding through grants and low or no-interest loans to cover the costs.