DPW chief calls ballpark environmentally sound
By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - With nearly everyone in sight enthusiastic at the prospect of minor league baseball's arrival in the area, some Monticello officials still had questions about possible long-term effects of fertilizers, auto parking with possible petroleum product spills, and other impacts on municipal water sources resulting from the proposed stadium.

The site village officials agreed to rent the Mountain Lions sits atop a "contributing" segment of the St. Joseph's aquifer, but will have no impact on purity of drinking water, said director of public works George Panchyshyn.

Panchyshyn said the site is not in the primary or secondary aquifer, and is far enough away from both to convince him the proposed land use is safe.

Acton agreed not to work on the site without Panchyshyn's approval; to provide Panchysn with engineering data about construction plans; and to pay fees for any needed outside engineering studies throughout all phases of construction.

"All activities on the site must be approved for use by the Director of Public Works for the purpose of protection of the village water supply," the agreement states.

Former mayor John Diuguid said the village bought the 123-acre tract as added protection -- beyond what was required by law as a buffer -- to protect nearby village and town wells. A second reason for the original land purchase, he recalled, was to enable possible future annexation of adjacent properties into village limits if development occurred there.

The proposed ballfield lies in the northeast corner of the larger tract.

Diuguid spoke in favor of the proposed site, citing Panchyshyn's recommendation, as did board members.

Several knowledgeable sources described Panchyshyn as being respected locally and statewide as an hydrology and water conservation expert.

Interviewed the following day, Panchyshyn commented on the lavish praise of his expertise, "One thing I can't do with water is walk on it."

Former Thompson supervisor John Barbarite questioned the distribution of payments in lieu of taxes as outlined by Cummings in the memo of understanding. NYS Village Law section 11-1128 requires all funds generated by sal of portions of a municipal water system be used to retire water-related debt before any other use, Barbarite asserted.

Panchyshyn said he tried to reach Barbarite after the meeting to discuss this further, but was unsuccessful. "If that's the case I'm a happy man," said Panchyshyn, stating Barbarite was "probably correct. One thing about him is he does his homework."

But Cummings disagreed, stating the section Barbarite cited does not apply because the proposed ballpark site is not owned by the water department, meaning it is not part of the water system.

Cummings called chances for baseball on the proposed site good. "Based on what I know around the state of New York, and based on what George [Panchyshyn] has told me, I don't see any problems. But could there be a problem? Absolutely!"

Sticking points could arise during the environmental review process, which Cummings said will include reports by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Health and Delaware River Basin Commission.

"These are the people who, in my opinion, could make or break this project," Cummings said.

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