Pomfret Water District Formation Petition (2009)
The Pomfret Water District Formation Petition was an initiative to create a water district on the north end of the town of Pomfret, New York.[1] According to media reports, questions were raised about the validity of the petition and whether residents were aware of its purpose.[2]
The petition proposed to create a new water district that would extend municipal water, purchased from Fredonia, New York, to areas along Routes 20 and 60, as well as Webster Road. Water service would be provided to more than 200 residences and about 130 mobile homes that would be connected by 55,000 feet of water line. The initiative was approved on August 18, 2009.[3]
Noteworthy events
When resident Jim Cripe asked voters to sign the petition, some residents reportedly said they were told that the petition was the next step in the process to get the water district. Others said they were told that the petition was needed to "stop" the water district. Pomfret Town Board member Rod Pennica brought attention to this during the board's June meeting when Cripe attempted to deliver the petition to the board.[2][4]
"The only way I can describe it is I was misled," town resident Chris Christy said. "He introduced himself and said it was about the water district and that it was for a vote to make sure that it went through.[2]
Cripe responded to these allegations by stating at a July 1 meeting:
| “ | Every person at least read the title of the petition and the majority of people read every word of it. … The petition says it's seeking a referendum for the water district … some people read it all the way through others said they were for that and they signed it … if they chose not to read it that's their problem.[2][5] | ” |
Reason for petition
According to Cripe, taxes were his main concern when he created the petition. He stated that higher taxes would come with the water district formation. He said, "New York has the highest taxes of any state in the union and that's what's hampering development in this county. More taxes accomplishes nothing."[2]
Timeline
- June 10: Town Councilman Rod Pennica addressed concerns that signers of a petition may have received false information.
- June 11: Town clerk received petition with more than 200 signatures.
- June 16: Five-day timeline to rescind signatures expired.
- August 18: Landowners voted to approve the district's formation.[6]
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Westfield Republican, "Pomfret Town Board approves north end water district," March 14, 2009
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Observer, "Water petition spurs waves of concern," July 5, 2009
- ↑ The Buffalo News, "Pomfret approves water district," May 14, 2009
- ↑ The Post-Journal, "Water petition spurs waves of concern," July 5, 2009
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Town of Pomfret Comprehensive Agricultural Protection Plan, "Final Report December 2010," accessed December 7, 2015
| ||||||||
