When Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson, was in Delhi on Aug. 17 to open her new office in the Charles D. Cook County Office Building, she took time to sit down with a group of county officials to hear what the local issues are and to offer her help.

The group gathered informally around the tables in the board of supervisor’s room to eat pizza and air concerns.

Jim Thomson, Delaware County IDA director, said his biggest concern is that the local economy is already being crushed by the watershed regulations, and a $300 million land acquisition by New York City would be an even bigger stumbling block.

Delhi Supervisor Pete Bracci said if the city would allow recreational uses on the reservoirs, which he referred to as lakes, it would be the economic key to the future.

"Skaneateles has the same Filtration Avoidance Determination that New York City has and they use the lake for boating and swimming," Bracci said.

Gillibrand promised to set up a meeting with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to intercede on the county’s behalf by negotiating for recreational uses of city-owned land and water. She also suggested that county officials work with her local representative, Phil Giltner, to apply for economic development grants.

Delhi Mayor David Truscott and Bracci said the village and town are being impacted by the city’s constraints on the village wastewater-treatment plant, which limit the amount of treated effluent can be returned to the river.

Bracci said the treatment plant’s capacity is higher than the artificial limits that have been set.

Gillibrand said she would contact both the city’s Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to address the problem.

Davenport Supervisor Dennis Valente told Gillibrand that local towns are being forced to borrow money to pay flood-repair bills because FEMA payments are clogged up.

"The Army Corps of Engineers is not signing off on projects because of litigation involving wetlands," Valente said. He added that the interest on the borrowed money is not eligible for reimbursement through FEMA.

Although Colchester Supervisor Bob Homovich was not present, several officials spoke on his behalf and questioned the decision not to provide FEMA assistance to Colchester homeowners.

Gillibrand said she would have her representatives contact the Army Corps and FEMA officials to get the money moving again and said she believes that the FEMA regulations "are not a good law. It makes no sense. It’s flawed."

Walton Trustee Rich Morley brought up the issue of gaining access to the rivers and streams to keep them cleaned out to prevent future flooding.

Other issues that surfaced included energy legislation and the controversies over wind, solar and bio-fuels.

Throughout the session, Gillibrand was attentive and appeared concerned, and if she is able to pull even a few of the strings she promised, it would make an impact.

___

Staff Writer Patricia Breakey covers Delaware County.