Departments

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Our Department of Public Works does more for the people of Richfield Springs than maintain our streets, though that is their primary responsibility. With only three full-time and one part-time member they not only keep our streets plowed in the winter and clean in the summer; they maintain our parks and municipal buildings all year round, are on hand to deal with water main leaks and other problems should they occur, and take the initiative to help citizens keep their properties clean by picking up leaves and lawn debris, as the season dictates.

FIRE DEPARTMENT & EMERGENCY SERVICES
The dedicated volunteers of the Richfield Springs Fire Department and EMS presently serve the residents of Richfield Springs, the Towns of Richfield, and Warren and Schuyler Lake.

VILLAGE COURT
Village Court is now being held at the Public Library basement floor on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 6:30. District Attorney is 4th Tuesday at 5:30pm. Phone: 315-858-2048 Fax: 315-858-0750

DRINKING WATER & WASTE WATER
Our Water and Waste Water Treatment Plants serve about 1,500 people, with an average of 140,000 gallons per day and the capacity for more. In 1994-1995 the present water treatment facility was constructed, with a system wide storage capacity of 700,000 gallons. Our Waste Water Treatment Plant was built in 1972, resulting in the clean up of Canadarago Lake, and is presently undergoing, along with our waste water collection system, an upgrade, thanks to New York States Environmental Facilities Corporation and Federal stimulus funding. This upgrade includes solar panels, an environmentally and economically friendly addition.

CODES ENFORCEMENT
There are a number of local laws requiring enforcement: property maintenance and parking regulations being the most common. These local laws are enforced both by our local Zoning Enforcement Officer and the Otsego County Codes Office. Citizens who have a complaint may register it at the Village Office. Property Maintenance and Building Code concerns can also be forwarded to the County.

The Village Codes can be found on the Village Office page.

LAND USE AND ZONING
Zoning Laws are in effect regulating land use in the village. While Otsego County handles building permits, before the County Codes Officer will approve a permit, an applicant must apply through the Village Office for Land Use Approval. Our Zoning Enforcement Officer will evaluate these requests according to the letter of the law. If for some reason the request must be denied, a land owner may apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance.

LAKEVIEW CEMETERY
Lake View Cemetery is a municipal cemetery under New York State Village Law, Article 15. The Richfield Springs Village Board of Trustees is responsible for the cemetery’s maintenance and regulation. Contact the Village Office for cemetery business.

SHARED SERVICES
Shared services is a concept now heavily promoted at the State level to control municipal over-spending, but has long been a practice among the Richfield community governments. In May 2009, long before the Town of Richfield / Village of Richfield Springs Joint Comprehensive Plan was adopted, the full Boards of Richfield Springs Central School, Town of Richfield and Village of Richfield Springs established a joint committee comprised of members from each Board. After many years of inactivity, that committee re-established ties in 2019. The goal of the Committee remains the same now as in 2009:
Find ways to share or coordinate the resources of all three entities in order to create better and stronger services for the community while containing the costs to the taxpayers.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR THE SEASON
If you know you’ll be out of town several months at a time, consider turning off your water. At this time the service is free.

WINTER
Remember there is no overnight parking during winter months. No matter the time of day, if it snows, please move your car off the road. No Village on-street parking from November 1st thru May 1st 2-6am. Tickets will be issued.

Snowmobilers are presently welcome in the Village as long as they remain on designated streets. Please stay off sidewalks and private property.

Homeowners are asked to keep their sidewalks clear for the safety of pedestrians.

DPW will remove Christmas trees placed along the street after the holidays.

SPRING/SUMMER
Remember to keep lawns mowed and property free of debris and accumulated junk.

DPW will pick up of lawn debris (in bags) and branches under 4 ft on every Monday.

FALL
DPW will pick up clean leaves piled along the road. Times to be announced.

NO OPEN BURNING!

• If you’d like to use the bandstand for an event, be sure to apply several weeks ahead of time so the Board has time to approve the event. Call the office for more details.

• We now have a Dog Control Officer, Mark Yerdon. If you’ve a dog related concern leave a message for Mr. Yerdon at the Village Office. He enforces our local dog control laws (see Village Code Sec 10, Article IV) and NY State Ag. and Market Laws.

A NOTICE FROM THE VILLAGE OF RICHFIELD SPRINGS:

State and Federal regulations, along with local law (since the 1970’s), prohibit the discharge of rain or ground water into the sanitary sewer system.

Check to make sure the water in your basement is being properly drained. If you aren’t sure where any water in your basement goes (and in our Village there is likely to be water in your basement from time to time), then please find out.

So be safe and check your basement, especially before rains hit in the fall and definitely before the snow melts this spring.