FORESTPORT- More than 100 citizens of the Town of Forestport attended the April 18 town board meeting that had a wide and varied agenda of topics. Many residents from the hamlet of Forestport were there to discuss to very different proposals to replace the now closed twin bridges in the hamlet.

The State Department of Transportation closed the two 100-year-old bridges in 2009. The town hired the Spectra engineering firm from Latham to design plans that met state and federal grant guidelines to replace the bridges. The proposed bridges would be two lane, 32 foot wide, thirty ton bridges with new abutments at an estimated cost of 1.2 million dollars. The town is awaiting announcements of grants from the recently approved federal infrastructure bill.

A group of Forestport citizens chaired by Parker Snead, Forestport has proposed their own replacement plan from the Zangrilli Engineering firm of Whitesboro. Their plan would replace the bridges with a single lane precast concrete span placed on the current repaired abutments. The group’s proposed cost is $455,000 and would be funded by local taxpayers from a bond that would have to be approved by voters in November. After a heated exchange from both viewpoints it was agreed to hold a public information meeting with both engineers present on May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall.

In other town board news:

• After listening to several presentations by anti- hydrofracking groups, the board listened to an hour presentation by Paul Hartman and Adam Schultz of the Petroleum Institute who informed the board that Forestport would not see drilling for natural gas since the township is outside of the Utica shale area. The two answered many questions about water pumped into the wells, chemicals used and the economic advantages of cheap natural gas. Hartman said that their firm has many wells in the southern tier and that 99 percent of all water pumped into the wells is now recycled and reused. He stated that New York State has the most restrictive drilling laws in the country and that meant a much safer drilling process.

• The board heard from Guy Sassaman of the Oneida County Planning Department who discussed Agricultural Districts within the town and the county. Any one wanting a larger farming operation can apply in January of each year for an AG district designation. The biggest problem the board indicated with that action is that since the town does not have zoning, they do not have home rule in the matter. The board opened the meeting by refusing to pass a local law concerning the harboring of animals that included dogs, cats, chickens, goats, cows and other domestic animals. The board had held a public hearing on the matter in which nearly a hundred people opposed the local law.

• Robert Lawless was awarded the bid for property on Route 28 known as “Critters Crossing.” He was the highest bidder at $7,150. The building on that property has been condemned. Bill Miles was the highest bidder on the Route 28 former “Otter Lake dump property” at $12,222.