Don't let village board take over BEGWS

To the Editor,

I was shocked reading about Mayor Dave Wallace deciding he wants to run the Bath Electric, Gas and Water Systems himself with aid from the village trustees.

I remember back in 1942, Frank Knowlett convinced the people of Bath it would be to their advantage to own and operate their own utilities system operated as a non profit agency, for the past 66 years the residents of the village of Bath have been fortunate to have the lowest utility rates in New York State.

Are we as tax payers of the village going to allow Mayor Dave Wallace and his trustees to take this away from us without good cause or reason? To my knowledge the mayor and the trustees have full time jobs and no "know how." I have a strong feeling the mayor has something up his sleeve he has not mentioned. Possibly like subcontracting the utility company to a profit making firm, which would give the village a few extra tax dollars, and it would mean a giant increase in utility rates for every resident and business in the village of Bath.

To all who care, come to the public hearing on Monday, April 21 at the Town Hall at 6 p.m. The Bath Electric Gas and Water System is operated under good management with few or minor problems as a nonprofit agency. This agency is owned by the tax payers of the Village of Bath - we have the right to decide to keep it as it is or eliminate it as a non profit agency. Come out and make your voice heard on the 21st.
Pat Eaton
Bath