Tuesday’s meeting of the Seneca Falls Town Board drew significant public engagement as residents voiced concerns over ongoing issues affecting the town. Environmental hazards and unresolved infrastructure complaints were chief among public speakers concerns while the town board debated how to handle a request from the state’s cannabis management entity.
Doug Avery, a long-time resident, environmental advocate, and former town board member delivered a strong critique of the Seneca Meadows Landfill. He accused the landfill’s corporate owner, Waste Connections, of exerting political influence to maintain its operations through aggressive election campaign spending. While revenue is a frequent retort among SMI’s supporters, Avery cited other area communities, which provide essential services without a funding source like Seneca Meadows, which generates millions annually for the town through a host agreement.
Jean Gilroy echoed these concerns with an account of the landfill’s environmental impact, citing data from the landfill’s own permit application, which reported the release of thousands of pounds of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. She warned of potential health risks tied to these emissions, including cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Gilroy also highlighted the dangers of leachate runoff entering local waterways and raised fears about the landfill’s proximity to the Seneca Canal, a vital source of drinking water for nearby communities.
Those remarks come as the Town has repeatedly punted on a voting on a local permit for Seneca Meadows, as its application with the Department of Environmental Conservation to expand is considered at the state level.
Infrastructure issues also took center stage when a resident from Green Street described a persistent and overpowering sewer gas odor affecting her neighborhood. The woman recounted multiple failed attempts to have the problem addressed by town services. Despite receiving promises of action no resolution had been reached. The frustration mounted as she described poor communication from town departments and questioned whether the smell might be linked to distant landfill operations.
Another major topic of discussion among the Board was a proposed cannabis dispensary in downtown Seneca Falls. The board received a notice from the state’s Cannabis Control Board seeking input on whether the town would support the dispensary’s application. The board voted against issuing a letter of support for the dispensary, though they acknowledged that the state could still approve the application regardless of local opinion.
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