Fredonia’s trustees have approved a $2.975 million engineering agreement with LaBella for work on connecting village water to the North County Water District.

Representatives from LaBella — the Rochester-based firm that has worked with the village for years — answered questions from trustees about the agreement.

Trustee Leeann Lazarony had most of the questions. “I’m new to this so I’m asking questions,” said Lazarony, a trustee for three months now.

Lazarony worried there was no apparent “out” clause in the agreement. “There’s no contract-contract with the village at this point? It’s not been made clear to me the process of this point to this point and now we’re here at this proposal.”

LaBella’s Matt Higgins explained that after the village decision to acquire water from the North County Water District, it put out a Request for Proposals in November to submit qualifications for engineer of record on the linkup project.

“We were notified the village selected LaBella based on the belief that LaBella was the firm most qualified to be the engineer of record for this project, based on a mix of qualifications and experience with the villages system and an understanding how it works, and the project itself — and certainly influenced by partnering with the village in previous phases of the project,” Higgins said.

He stated that LaBella prepared two project proposal documents. The second one, prepared at Fredonia’s request, assumes the water plant will be fenced off and not demolished.

“It’s up to the board to decide which of the two it prefers,” Higgins went on, “and when the board makes a decision, we would provide a standard professional services agreement that would be the contract. Exhibit A would be the fee services agreement.”

“My concern is if we approve this proposal, what does that bind us to?” Lazarony wondered. “There’s no legal words in here about if we disagree with what happens in this process.”

Higgins said the agreement on the agenda has no in-depth language because the village has not decided which fee schedule it wants: the original one including the plant demolition, or the one without it.

Lazarony complained she doesn’t have enough information needed to vote on the agreement. She wound up voting for it anyway, though with apparent reluctance.

Lazarony queried about water pressure in the village, concerned that there will be enough when the linkup project is complete. Higgins assured her the water pressure would be fine.

Lazarony also asked about grant funding for possible demolition of the water plant. Higgins said none of the millions in funding for the linkup project will allow any work on the current plant and reservoir.

Mayor Michael Ferguson said, “The project’s been estimated to be $17.5 million — no disrespect to anybody, but I think it will come in more in the $20 million range.”

Ferguson said he is speaking with various groups about more funding, and also about what the village could do with the reservoir property after the project is complete.

Responding to a question from Trustee Paul Wandel, Higgins said Chautauqua County has imposed a deadline of Sept. 30 for a preliminary design report on the project.

The deadline is included in the consent order slapped on the village by the county Department of Health last year, which forced the fix of numerous violations. Higgins said, “It is the Chautauqua County Department of Health holding the village’s feet to the fire to reach that step by Sept. 30.”