CWC says it can save $10K annually

December 10, 2008 04:00 am

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MARGARETVILLE _ The Catskill Watershed Corporation board of directors estimates that it will save about $10,000 a year by changing when it meets.

The CWC will change the regular date and time of its monthly meetings to the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. The organization previously met on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Meetings are held at the CWC office at 905 Main St. in Margaretville and are open to the public.

The board will now meet on the same day that committee meetings are held, reducing time spent and fuel used traveling to meetings. The CWC will save on travel expense reimbursements to board members.

In other business, the board adopted a measure allowing reimbursement for certain septic repairs done between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.

Eligible repairs are those not within priority areas for the regular Septic Repair and Rehabilitation Program.

Adequate monies in the program fund allow the CWC to make this assistance available at year's end, the group said.

Homeowners who repaired or replaced septic systems without help from the CWC may be able to recoup the cost.

Full-time residents may receive 100 percent of eligible costs, while part-time residents can get 60 percent of those costs reimbursed.

Homeowners who can show proof that repairs were completed, were approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and were paid for may fill out a CWC form to request reimbursement.

Homes that were constructed after Nov. 2, 1995, are not eligible.

Also, the board approved rules for a program that will repair or replace failed septic systems for small businesses in the Catskill-Delaware Watershed.

The CWC will reimburse eligible small-business owners _ those employing 100 or fewer people _ 75 percent of the cost of septic repairs, up to a maximum of $40,000.

To be eligible, failing commercial septics must be 100 feet from a watercourse, 500 feet from a reservoir of the New York City water system or within a specified priority zone.

Only commercial septic systems constructed after Nov. 2, 1995, are eligible.

The program is expected to be operational in spring 2009, the CWC said.

For more information about CWC programs, call (845) 586-1400 or visit www.cwconline.org.