The Seneca County Water and Sewer Authority has unanimously selected James Varricchio as its first executive director, putting a local water-utility veteran in charge as the agency builds its operations staff and prepares to support more communities.
Varricchio is scheduled to begin October 5, according to the authority's September 22 announcement. The position is new for the authority, which was established by state legislation in 2024 to advance infrastructure projects and help the county, towns and villages manage water and sewer systems.
Building countywide operations
As executive director, Varricchio will be responsible for building the operations staffing needed to support towns and villages throughout Seneca County. The authority has already entered water and sewer operations contracts with the county and expects to formalize operations and maintenance agreements with multiple towns, the announcement said.
The release does not name those towns, give dates for the agreements or specify a budget or staffing target for the new director. It describes the appointment as a step toward direct operating support for communities, not the completion of those arrangements.
Board Chairman Robert Carroll said Varricchio stood out among applicants for his technical knowledge of local systems and relationships in Seneca County. County Board of Supervisors Chairman Michael Enslow said staff leadership would help the authority support communities seeking water and sewer infrastructure investment.
Experience in water systems
A Seneca Falls native, Varricchio began his career at ITT Goulds Pumps and later joined the town's water and sewer department. He started reading water meters and eventually became the town's chief water treatment plant operator, a job involving staff, budgeting and utility operations, according to the authority.
Most recently, he worked in the operations support group at consulting engineering firm Barton & Loguidice as a water quality scientist. The authority said his work there included design, construction and operational support for municipal water and sewer projects.
Varricchio earned an associate degree from Finger Lakes Community College and holds New York state water-utility licenses, the release said. He has also served with the Seneca Falls Volunteer Fire Department for more than 16 years and has chaired the Bridgeport Fire District board after being elected a fire commissioner in 2024.
Varricchio said he looks forward to returning to work in Seneca County and supporting county, town and village leaders. His first stated task is to develop the staffing that will allow the authority to carry out its growing operations role.
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