Archive: News

Wednesday's board meeting was contentious and nasty at times.  But the thing most people agreed on is that there should be a town-wide sewer vote.  The Town was waiting Wednesday to hear whether State legislators would allow an early sewer vote, the only legal way a vote can be held before the process of environmental studies and State approvals is completed.  Supervisor Kathy Miller vowed there would be some kind of vote or straw poll even if the State doesn't approve an official September vote.  She said that residents who want sewer want a vote, and it was clear Wednesday that those who oppose it agree there should be a town-wide vote.

"It's precisely because I believe the proposal will fail that I think everybody who is eligible to vote should vote on the proposal," said Marcy Rosenkrantz.  "I've lived here in Lansing for 19 years.  Every once in a while the idea of the sewer comes back to haunt us.  If we vote this down now we will have all the more reason never to have to see this thing again.  But let's vote.  I don't want five people to make this decision for me."

Councilman Ed LaVigne and Councilman Robert Cree are against the project and against a town-wide vote.  LaVigne says he would rather 'lead from the front' and quash the project he now views as an unnecessary expense to townspeople who can't afford it.  But most people at Wednesday's meeting said they want a vote because the people should have a say on an issue this important.

School Board member Walker Reynolds said it would be a waste of money to hold a vote unless the board thinks the sewer proposal has a chance of passing.  He said that before a vote town officials should change the message to show residents how they will benefit from sewer.  He said if the town can't do that they should abandon the project.

Nearly a dozen residents spoke against sewer, with one community member interrupting almost every speaker and then speaking at length himself, and two attacking Miller personally.  Miller and LaVigne showed animosity toward each other with LaVigne challenging Miller's assertion that about 60 people have told her they are in favor of the sewer, and  challenging some Sewer Committee assertions.  Committee member CJ DelVecchio was clearly upset by LaVigne's flip about a month ago from one of the project's biggest supporters to being adamantly against sewer. 

Miller is pushing for a September vote that she hopes will minimally show people they have a voice in the sewer issue.  As of Wednesday the State Senate had approved an early sewer vote, but the Town was waiting to hear if the Assembly would do the same.

---

v9i23