Fredonia Trustee Michelle Twichell proposes a resolution to find Chautauqua County in breach of a 2020 water contract. Photo by M.J. Stafford

Fredonia Trustee Michelle Twichell wants to punish Chautauqua County over the village’s latest boil water order.

Twichell proposed a resolution Wednesday to find the county in breach of contract over water connections with the village.

The resolution states the village entered into a 2020 pact with the county to provide emergency water supply in case Fredonia’s system had problems. However, “the county has failed to provide or maintain a functional emergency water supply connection to the village’s system.”

The other four Fredonia trustees had a mixed reaction to Twichell’s proposed resolution, which she read out at a Village Hall workshop Wednesday morning. Jon Espersen appeared interested, Nicole Siracuse was highly critical, Paul Wandel said nothing, and Ben Brauchler wasn’t there.

The county’s North County Water District and the village are connected in two places, at Route 20 on the west and east borders of Fredonia. “If we would have had the connections working on Route 20, we would not have had to have a week-long boil order,” Twichell said. Some of the five other separate boil orders over the last 30 months could also have been prevented, she asserted.

Espersen commented that the connection on the west side of the village didn’t work due to a pressure issue. He said county officials told Fredonia that the village needs to add pressure reduction valves.

“I’d like to look into this further,” Twichell said. “We’re missing an opportunity to have water come into the village.”

Her resolution would have Fredonia formally finding the county in breach of contract, and demanding “immediate compliance and establishment of emergency water supply capabilities.” It would authorize the village attorneys to take appropriate legal steps, including filing a notice of claim.

Siracuse called the resolution “a wild goose chase for no financial gain” that would cause the village to spend more on attorneys at a time when it is intent on saving money. Espersen responded, “We should at least entertain it.”

Fredonia does have another water connection outside the village, with Dunkirk on Vineyard Drive. However, that is a relatively small line that cannot supply much of Fredonia.

In a statement Wednesday, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel responded to Twichell’s comments, saying blame lies with the village.

“While I understand that, due to the most recent boil water order, frustrations are high, I believe the suggested resolution is misplacing blame, and I would like to correct the record.

“Simply put, all the connections between the North County Water District (NCWD) and the Village of Fredonia are operational. The issue lies with Fredonia’s water infrastructure, which has suffered from years of neglect. While the NCWD and Fredonia’s water systems are connected, the valves at the Fredonia Water Treatment Plant have been nonoperational for some time. As a result, the village is unable to shut off its compromised water supply to its customers.

“Because the village’s water supply cannot be isolated — and due to the higher pressure within their system — the interconnect with the North County Water District cannot be activated. To fully integrate the two systems, the village would need to repair or upgrade infrastructure at its treatment plant.

“Throughout my time in office, I’ve offered for the NCWD to provide the Village of Fredonia with a safe and reliable source of drinking water. I appreciate the local Fredonia officials who have been willing to work with us as we continue striving for a long-term solution. My door remains open to Village officials who are ready to work toward meaningful progress.

“Clean, safe drinking water is not a luxury — it is a necessity.”

Fredonia relied on bottled water during the boil order which ended Tuesday. Fire Chief Joshua Myers, the village emergency manager, said 3,300 cases were distributed.

He added that a state of emergency instituted with the boil order would get lifted later on Wednesday.

Luis Fred, chief filtration plant operator, offered a technical explanation for the incident that caused the boil order. He spoke of sludge blankets failing, resulting in an excess of suspended solids. A green algae bloom spurred by recent hot and dry weather made the situation worse, he said.

One of Fred’s employees wound up resigning over the incident.

Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson thanked a lengthy list of people and organizations for their help in distributing water during the boil order. The list included Myers, his fire department, the police department, the public works department, Wegman’s for donating more than 1,000 cases of water, Tops and Home Depot for also donating water, and Frank Pugliese, local representative of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Ferguson said the incident behind the boil order was “certainly nothing intentional.”