SENNETT - Partnering with Auburn to study the feasibility of combining water/sewer services appealed to the Sennett Town Board as it unanimously resolved to show its support of such a study at its Tuesday night meeting.

The city council had resolved at its Sept. 11 meeting to ask the towns of Fleming, Owasco, Sennett, Throop and the Cayuga Water & Sewer Authority to partner to receive grant money for a study examining the feasibility of combining services.

The grant, available through the state Local Government Efficiency Grant Program, could lead to joint ownership in a water authority among Auburn and the surrounding towns.

“I thought it was a good idea,” David Sikora, town supervisor said. “I think we might be the first town to jump on board.”

A regional water and sewer authority could ensure fair rates for using the system. Now, towns are benefiting more from the city's infrastructure. Sewer rates are expected to increase.

Town councilor Jerrold Eades expressed a caveat before the vote, which he directed to town attorney Donald Cheney.

“Make sure there's no place in here where we can be hoodwinked into paying money,” Eades said.

Cheney reviewed the number of water and sewer users in the town as well as an increase in the future with Water District 6 that will serve every house going into the new Kasper development.

“Giving up local control might be in the best interests of the town,” Cheney said.

According to a letter from Mark Palesh, city manager, the purpose of the study would be to see if there could be a reasonable plan for infrastructure development that might result in sharing services to provide a benefit in rates paid.

The partnership could make each town eligible for up to $200,000 in grant money to fund the analysis of the status of its infrastructure.

The town agreed to send a letter to Palesh expressing its support.

In other news:

• New voting machines and the voting process were explained by Cayuga County Board of Elections Deputy Commissioner Deborah Calarco.

She noted the old lever machines would be used this year except for those who need special assistance, when a new machine would be used. In 2009, everyone will mark ballots by hand and they will be scanned by new machines.

• Town engineer Ken Teeter told the board that preparation of new zoning maps was “going as well as can be expected.”

He said the draft of the new map will show planned development districts enumerated chronologically and indicate parcels at break lines. An area above County House and Healy Roads which follows a waterway was also redesignated light industrial/commercial.

• The town also discussed a rapid meter reading system that involves a truck equipped with hardware to read water meters. The truck and hardware could cost $23,000 to $30,000 with installation in each home at $75 to $100. A one-year grant to be applied to the system falls short of meeting the total cost and has to be completed by June 30, 2009. The system can read 300 meters per hour. The meters would be owned by the town but commercial meters would be charged to the owner.

• The issue of putting something on the books related to private ownership of windmills used to power residences might be considered in the new comprehensive plan, which will be coming out in draft form in a month or two, town attorney Cheney said.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net