Seeking Albany's Help

On September 23rd, Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi took an important step forward seeking funding support from New York State to help lakeside homeowners defray the cost of replacing their aging septic systems.

Supervisor Annabi invited NY State Senator Rob Rolison and NY Assemblyman Matt Slater to join in conversation at Town Hall with a small group of homeowners from Lake Peekskill and Roaring Brook Lake about how their communities might become eligible for the state's septic replacement fund. Three of the four town board members - Christian Russo, Stacey Tompkins and Sherry Howard - were also present at the meeting, as was County Legislator Bill Gouldman.

Real money is at stake: In the fourth and most recent phase of this program, Albany has set aside $30 million. The Department of Environmental Conservation is the agency that determines which lakes around the state are eligible for support. Supervisor Annabi urged our state representatives to make the case to the DEC on the town's behalf.

Lake Oscawana is currently the only lake in Putnam Valley admitted into the program, having been declared "impaired" by the state in 2004. At the meeting, Supervisor Annabi argued that all Putnam Valley lakes should be included. She maintained that since our lakes and streams flow into Peekskill Hollow Creek, which is a drinking water resource for the City of Peekskill, we should merit special consideration.

Both Albany politicians expressed support for her request and asked for additional data to buttress their outreach to the DEC. Joe Paravati, the county's senior public health engineer, also attended the meeting and explained that the county has no say over which lakes will be included in the program's next phase.

If other Putnam Valley lakes are included in Phase 5, homeowners whose septic systems are within 250 feet of a lake would become eligible for reimbursement of up to 50% of their investment. Because there is new technology now on the market that the county has approved for use, a new system can cost as little as $10,000, or nearly half of what older, more conventional systems cost. Additionally, this new technology removes most of the phosphorus in wastewater. (Phosphorus is one of the primary contributors to harmful algal blooms affecting our lakes.)

While both Assemblyman Slater and Senator Rolison expressed appreciation for the information they were given and the logic of the arguments they heard, they were also cautious about how the DEC would respond. They promised to follow up with Supervisor Annabi, who said she would keep town residents apprised of any progress that results from the meeting.

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