SKANEATELES - Village and town officials will be considering an automated meter reading system for water and light utilities this month.

The Municipal Board is reviewing a bid for the system that would allow wireless readings of roughly 3,000 meters in the village and town. The village would pay about $276,000 for the upgrade with the town picking up the remaining half.

The municipalities have a chance to split a $20,000 state grant, but only if a contract is awarded by the end of August.

“I think this board is going to have a lot of questions before a decision is made,” Mayor Robert Green said at the village Board of Trustees meeting Monday.

The board plans to discuss the bid and a possible recommendation from the municipal board at a work session Aug. 22.

In other news:

€ POM Inc. will replace a majority of parking meters installed on Genesee Street in January 2006, Police Chief Lloyd Perkins told the board.

The meters began to corrode and malfunction over time, a defect linked to the Arkansas company's manufacturing process. The faulty production has been adjusted and replacement meters are on their way, Perkins said.

“They stand by their work,” he said. “They're going to replace the defective parts and (POM) has agreed to come install them.”

The meters will be replaced within a few weeks.

€ Village police cars are now equipped with video and sound equipment purchased with a grant.

The cameras and microphones will help protect the village's liability and eventually reduce the amount of paperwork involved in driving while intoxicated arrests, Perkins said.

€ The board unanimously appointed Lee Buttolph to fill a vacancy on the village Zoning Board of Appeals.

Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net