Penn Yan village trustees will take up a packed agenda Tuesday that includes a $701,500 North Main Street water main project, another major step in the village’s water treatment plant upgrades, creation of a new full-time police officer position and nearly $100,000 in grading and paving work on Commercial Avenue.
The Village Board meets at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at Village Hall, 111 Elm St. The meeting will begin with two public hearings — one on a proposed 15-year renewal of Spectrum’s cable television franchise and another on Local Law F dealing with abandoned vehicles.
The Spectrum agreement would run for 15 years beginning when it receives approval from the state Public Service Commission. Draft findings included in the meeting packet say Spectrum has substantially complied with its existing franchise, has the financial and technical ability to continue providing service and can reasonably meet future cable-related needs in the village.
Trustees are also scheduled to receive an update from the village attorney on the proposed IDA/McFetridge Farm annexation. The agenda does not spell out what that update will include.
Another notice included in the board packet comes from the neighboring town of Barrington, which has scheduled an Aug. 25 public hearing on a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers, high-density cryptocurrency mining facilities and artificial intelligence computing facilities. Barrington says the pause would give the town time to study potential environmental, infrastructure and community impacts and consider permanent zoning regulations.
North Main Street water main work could move forward
One of the largest decisions Tuesday will be whether to award the North Main Street Water Main Improvements project to Nardozzi Paving & Construction LLC for $701,500.
The company submitted the lower of two bids received. City Hill Excavating bid $1,255,755, according to the village’s bid tally.
The contract calls for all labor, equipment and materials necessary for the North Main Street water main work. Once the village issues a notice to proceed, the contractor would have five days to begin and 60 calendar days to complete the project. The contract includes $100 per day in liquidated damages for delays beyond the approved completion period.
Trustees will also be asked to approve the final change order on a separate water service line investigation project performed by Casinella Excavating.
That change order would reduce the contract by $200,784.32 after actual construction quantities came in below original estimates. Remaining stored materials add $18,935.76 back into the contract, leaving a revised final contract price of $559,140.68.
The village’s accounting shows $538,206.91 had already been paid, leaving a final payment of $20,933.77.
Water treatment plant design work would expand
The board will also consider another $173,680 for engineering work tied to improvements at Penn Yan’s water treatment plant.
The amendment with GHD Consulting Services would complete the design and bidding phase for what the documents call “CT Improvements.” The expanded scope includes repurposing existing waste tanks into a baffled finished-water clearwell and adding a new decanting waste tank with a lake outfall.
GHD would prepare final drawings and specifications, permitting documents and a 90% design package for village and state Department of Health review. The engineer would also assist with applications to the Department of Environmental Conservation, including a Protection of Waters permit and a new State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the proposed outfall.
The amendment would bring the total engineering budget for the project to $481,680 and move the expected completion date to Feb. 28, 2027.
Trustees are also being asked to approve a policy allowing the Water and Sewer Department to purchase asphalt from the Heidelberg plant on Pre-Emption Road in Oaks Corners rather than strictly selecting material through the lowest-price bidding process.
Village officials argue that distance matters because asphalt can lose heat during transportation, reducing workability and compaction. The proposed resolution says purchasing from the nearest available plant would reduce travel time and improve the reliability of repairs.
Police position, new vehicle and July activity on agenda
The village could begin recruiting another full-time police officer under a motion on Tuesday’s agenda.
No salary range or anticipated hiring date is included in the meeting documents.
Trustees are also scheduled to retroactively approve the purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango police vehicle from Main Motorcar for $39,745.94. The vehicle purchase agreement included in the packet lists a Dodge Durango Police AWD model with a purchase price of $39,745.94. The village also plans to declare a 2021 Dodge Charger surplus and sell it through Auctions International.
Penn Yan police reported 766 calls for service during July, along with 69 traffic tickets, 19 parking tickets and 23 arrests.
Among the traffic tickets were three DWI-related tickets, 16 equipment violations, 10 involving unregistered, uninsured or uninspected vehicles and three for drivers using mobile or portable electronic devices. Police reported two DWI arrests, no drug-related arrests, no overdoses and nine mental health calls during the month.
The Penn Yan Fire Department, meanwhile, reported 23 calls in July and 190 through the first seven months of the year. The department had 62 active members listed in its July report.
Code enforcement officials reported 15 building permits issued in July, 35 building-related inspections and 88 open building permits. The office also listed 36 non-compliant commercial properties, including 15 with expired compliance status.
Commercial Avenue work, energy funding and other business
Trustees will consider awarding Commercial Avenue grading and paving work to Seneca Stone for $98,432.
Seneca Stone submitted the lowest of three bids. RoadTek bid $205,945 and City Hill submitted a bid of $235,934, according to the tally sheet.
The board will also be asked to authorize Mayor Patricia Christensen to sign a commitment letter supporting an application through the Independent Energy Efficiency Program for NYSERDA’s Net-Zero Resilience Preparation for Municipal and Rural Electric Providers program.
The proposed letter says Penn Yan would participate in a program aimed at supporting decarbonization, energy efficiency and resilience for municipal electric systems and property owners.
Other items include approval of $10,946.62 in municipal utility payment agreements, sewer bill forgiveness requests of $156.11 and $197.73 for leaks where officials determined water did not enter the sanitary sewer, and a five-year electric substation maintenance contract with Northline Utilities totaling $299,642.
The board will also consider creating a permanent Human Resource-Personnel Committee made up of Christensen and Trustees Teresa Hoban and Robert Craig, scheduling special board meetings Aug. 28 and Sept. 11, and moving the September regular meeting from Sept. 15 to Sept. 22.
Downtown Penn Yan could also see the return of the Yates County Chamber of Commerce scarecrow display this fall. Trustees will consider allowing participating businesses to attach handmade scarecrows to downtown lamp posts beginning Oct. 2, with removal scheduled by Nov. 3.
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