Community members and advocates plan to hold a rally outside the Seneca Falls Town Municipal Building in response to the Town Board’s recent approval of the Local Operating Permit and Host Community Agreement for the Seneca Meadows landfill. The rally is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the town board’s monthly meeting.
The permit approval allows the landfill, operated by Texas-based Waste Connections, to continue operations, pending a final decision from Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The Town Board’s decision has faced opposition from some residents, including parents, teachers, and business owners, who have raised concerns about potential environmental and public health impacts. Critics argue that the board’s vote may be interpreted by the DEC as an endorsement of the landfill’s expansion, despite ongoing community objections.
Town Clerk Melissa Brown has stated that the vote was invalid due to procedural errors, including the failure to properly introduce or second the related resolutions. However, Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter has disputed that claim, maintaining that the vote stands as valid.
Protesters at Tuesday’s rally aim to voice their concerns over the board’s decision and advocate for what they see as a need for greater representation of community interests in local governance.
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