Farmingdale seeks water authority coverage
The Village of Farmingdale in the Town of Oyster Bay was officially incorporated in 1904 and the area became known for its aviation and aerospace technology. (July 5, 2011) Credit: Alexi Knock
Farmingdale has formally requested that Albany expand the Suffolk County Water Authority’s service area to include the Nassau village, though Farmingdale has not yet chosen between SCWA and Bethpage Water District as the village’s next provider.
The village board of trustees on Monday with a unanimous 5-0 vote approved a home rule message — a formal request by a local governing body to state legislators — asking Albany to enact legislation amending the public authorities law.
The measure “does not obligate the Village to enter an agreement with Suffolk County Water Authority but allows the Village to consider all available options,” according to the resolution.
Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand has said he does not know whether Albany will consider the village’s request this legislative session, which is to end late next month, but said village officials are taking their time in making the decision.
SCWA chief executive Jeff Szabo has said his agency is ready to serve Farmingdale if the village is successful in its bid for statutory changes.
A contract with Farmingdale would be the first time SCWA has crossed the county border to provide services in its 60-year history.
Several other municipalities elsewhere in the state have submitted similar home rule messages in order to join the service areas of Erie County, Onondaga County and Monroe County water authorities, the agencies confirmed.
