The Geneva Town Board has approved a new local highway excavation law designed to regulate utility and other excavation work on town roads and rights-of-way.
The law was approved following a public hearing and establishes a formal permitting process for companies or organizations seeking to perform excavation work within town-owned highway areas.
Town Supervisor Mark Venuti said the measure was prompted after New York State Electric and Gas approached the town seeking an easement agreement that would have allowed excavation work on town roads without additional approvals.
“We found, I think it was NYSEG, New York State Electric and Gas, that came and wanted our highway superintendent to sign an easement that said we can dig anywhere on your roads anytime we want,” Venuti said.
Venuti said the proposal was reviewed by the town attorney, who advised that the town needed a formal highway excavation law in place rather than allowing such agreements to be signed administratively.
Town officials then reviewed similar laws adopted by neighboring municipalities before drafting the new local legislation.
Under the law, entities planning significant excavation work on town roads or rights-of-way will now be required to obtain permits and provide bonding or other financial security to cover potential roadway damage.
“They have to bond it, they have to put some security up, in other words, so that they don’t destroy the road and then we’re left with it,” Venuti said.
Venuti said the law creates a standard process commonly used by municipalities to protect local infrastructure while allowing utility and related projects to move forward.
