By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Village Board of Trustees decided water rates will go up across the board.

Trustee Timothy Ahlfeld proposed the hike in September, citing a nearly $400,000 gap in the Water Department revenues and expenses.

The 60 cents per 3,000 gallons increase will create about $300,000 in annual revenue, Ahlfeld said.

“We’re two years away from operating in the red,” he told the room.

Their decision met resistance from a Massena man who recalled the board earlier in year saying the water fund was stable.

“During your budget deliberations … it was stated in this room the water and sewer funds were stable,” R. Shawn Gray said. He also pointed to a May debate over hiring a water plant employee that he recalled indicated the fund was stable.

“You might want to check your minutes. It was very specific – water and sewer funds were stable,” Gray said.

“All of the discussion at that timeframe revolved around the hiring of two employees at the sewage plant,” Ahlfeld replied. “The sewage fund has $800k in the fund balance … not the fund balance in the water fund … Even though you need water to get rid of sewer, we weren’t talking about that.

“Did what I say clear it up for you? Good.”

“Not at all ... obviously the sewer fund was stable, but the water was not,” Gray said.

“Maybe you can meet with him offline and discuss it,” Ahlfeld said to Mayor Tim Currier.

“Don’t discuss it in public at a public hearing. That would be silly,” Gray said back.

Village resident Joel Greig wanted to know why the rate was going up and why now.

“We’ve consistently worked to keep our rates low. Our expenses have exceeded our revenues and fund balance has depleted,” Ahlfeld said. “Staffing levels at the water treatment facility are identical to what they were in 2005.”

Following a public hearing that preceded the vote, Trustee Francis Carvel asked Ahlfeld if he explored all alternatives to a rate increase.

He wanted to know if scheduled weekend overtime had been axed per recent contact negotiations.

Public Works Superintendent Hassan Fayad said they were still scheduling weekend overtime.

“Follow the contract and not be spending money we don’t have,” Carvel said. “I think it’s time we started enforcing that schedule.”

Trustee Matt Lebire said getting rid of that could be a way to eliminate the remainder of the gap not covered by the hike.

“I think that’s a great area to look at to possibly make up the rest. Sixty cents doesn’t get us there,” Lebire said. “I don’t think it negates the need for the 60 cents.”