County suggests study to review four sewer services in northern sector
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

With four sanitary sewer providers in the northern part of Erie County a study is being proposed to combine them and save tax dollars.

Thomas Whetham, deputy commissioner of the Erie County Department of Environmental Planning, Division of Sewerage Management, asked the Amherst Town Board for its support of a study at Monday's work session.

"We would retain a consultant to determine the technical feasibility of a merger and the financial impacts," he said.

Currently a northern sector of the county has the towns of Clarence and Amherst, the Village of Williamsville and Erie County maintaining sanitary sewage services, Whetham said, adding that it appears that if one service provider was chosen it would either be Amherst or Erie County because of its qualifications.

The Town Board was asked to support the study, which Erie County will fund, unless Amherst chooses to pay a part of the cost, Whetham said. An $80,000 grant from New York State is also being sought.

"We are asking the Town of Amherst to support the concept of the study," he said.

Amherst Engineer Jeffrey S. Burroughs said his department will be presenting a resolution at the Nov. 20 Town Board meeting that states the board's support for the study, but board members had some questions about the details.

In response to questions of what would happen following the study, Whetham said that can't be determined until the consultant reviews it.

"That remains to be seen. Without the information we can't make that decision," he said about closing some of the services.

He added that it was decided by a board of representatives from the four services to have a third-party look at the systems.

A recommendation to merge the four services could save taxpayers money by cutting overhead at each municipality and offering better rates.