In an 8 to 5 vote, the Yates County legislature voted on Monday to support a resolution opposing extending the life of the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca County as well as plans to increase the state’s largest landfill’s height by 70 feet. Prior to the vote, District One Legislator Douglas Paddock explained why he wouldn’t support the resolution as it was written.
“The resolution does not call, as such, for the closing of the SMI Landfill,” said Paddock. “The ultimate decision is that of the NY DEC. The DEC has issued a 40-plus page document describing the analysis that must be undertaken before considering the permit. The Scoping Document includes the Due Consideration as requested in the resolution. ”
He added, “The resolution calls for Yates County to be included as an “Interested Party” No estimate of cost to be included as an “interested party” has been brought forward. Is it hundreds, thousands, or millions of dollars? This is something we ought to know.”
District One Legislator Patrick Killen explained why he opposed the resolution.
“There is no, that I’m aware of, feasible alternative to burying our garbage. We don’t want to dump into the ocean like some countries do. We don’t want to burn it. We have to do something to do with it and no one wants it in their nearby areas, but it has to go somewhere. So because there is not a viable alternative on the table, I can’t support urging them to close it early when there isn’t another alternative.”
District Four Legislator William Holgate brought the resolution to the agenda. He said the Landfill’s current lease with the state is set to expire in 2025.
“New York State did do a Waste Management Plan with 26 other landfills and in that plan, they do not speak of Seneca Meadows as part of it. This resolution shows that basically, we don’t want to have that landfill open for 15 more years taking trash and all of those trucks going up and down our highways. So I’m in favor of this resolution.”
Voting in favor of the resolution on Monday were: Leigh Mackerchar, Nonie Flynn, Daniel Banach, William Holgate, Jesse Jayne, George Lawson, Richard Willson,
Voting in opposition were: Douglas Paddock, Richard Harper, Patrick Killen, Leslie Church, and Edward Bronson.
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