By Art Cusano
acusano@ncnlocal.com

PUTNAM VALLEY — The town board passed a set of local laws aimed at controlling phosphate levels in Lake Oscawana.

The board voted to approve a septic pump-out law and a phosphate fertilizer ban at its Feb. 17 meeting that it hopes will cut down on phosphate runoff into the lake. Excess phosphates are believed to be the main reason the lake is now considered an impaired water body by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Under the law, residents who have one or more septic system on their property must have their septic tank pumped, cleaned and inspected at least once every three years by a licensed septic contractor.

Residents must then provide the town with a receipt of the septic being pumped within 30 days of the service’s completion.

The town will identify and contact property owners that fall under the watershed district in the next 60 days. Over the next year, owners of all lakefront properties will be required to abide by the new law. In the second year, properties within 200 feet of the lake will be required to comply and all properties in the watershed will be required to have their septic system pumped by the third year.

The fine for violators of the law is a maximum of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 15 days for the first offense, and a second offense carries up to a $1,500 fine and/or 15 days in jail.

The second law passed bans all plant fertilizers containing phosphates from being used or sold in the town, and will force residents to use phosphate-free fertilizers in their place. A first violation of the law carries a $50 civil penalty, with all subsequent violations carrying a maximum of up to a $500 penalty and/or 15 days in prison.

In other news
The town board also passed a law banning graffiti on town buildings. Under the new law, property owners are required to remove any graffiti on their buildings within 10 days of receiving notification by a town code enforcement officer of the graffiti. Previously, property owners had 30 days to remove graffiti. No fine is associated with the law, only the cost of removing the graffiti.

Residents of the Roaring Brook Lake district will be required to get a permit from the town for boats stored on the shores of the lake by June 13. Boats without a permit will be confiscated by the town and auctioned off on June 26 at North Beach at 2:30 p.m.

The annual town Easter egg hunt will be held at Leonard Wagner Memorial Park on March 27 at noon sharp. The town’s dog new park will also hold its opening later that day in the park at 2 p.m. Registration for residents looking to use the dog park will be $20 per year, and residents can register on that day or afterwards. Proof of vaccination for dogs is required.