Bath OKs septic deal with Elmira engineering firm
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - The Bath town board this week approved an agreement with Fagan Engineers, of Elmira, that could help ease the financial crunch for homeowners needing to replace or install a septic system.

For a one-time fee of $1,250, the town will acquire a set of professionally engineered plans for septic systems property owners can use for their own residences.

The Fagan deal allows the state Health Department to waive a requirement that all new septic systems be designed and certified by a professional engineer. Codes Enforcement Officer Al Buckland has estimated the agreement with Fagan will reduce the cost of installing a new septic system by $1,500 to $5,000.

Homeowners still be be responsible for the cost of a professional engineer's site evaluation, percolation test and a final inspection of the completed septic system. Fagan has agreed to provide those services for $650 per homeowner.

The Elmira firm was one of three companies that submitted proposals to the town. The other two were Avery Engineering, of Rochester, and Allen Engineering, of Corning. The latter firms submitted proposals that included homeowner fees of $1,525 and $800 respectively, while Allen Engineering's proposal included a $500 onetime charge to the municipality and Avery Engineers proposed a $1,200 annual municipal fee.

The DOH waiver program was developed in the wake of a 2004 state law requiring all onsite septic systems to be designed and certified by a professional engineer. Prior to the law's passage, an engineer's participation had been required only for unconventional septic plans.

The waiver will apply only to residential properties, Bath town Councilwoman Robin

Lattimer noted during a discussion of the engineering proposals.

James Emo, chairman of the town planning board, also noted property owners will be free to hire their own professional engineers for site evaluations, percolation tests and final inspections, even though they may use the plans developed by Fagan Engineers.