Nearly 100 people crowded the Town of Albion offices while at least 50 more waited outside for the official decision on whether town officials would approve Waste Management’s permits May 19.

Councilwoman Nancy Ebbs made the motion to deny Waste Management’s permits to construct a landfill. “I’ve been involved in this process for many years and I know the background,” she said. “The reasons for my vote of no are many but the traffic in front of the schools is unacceptable.”

The town could have chosen the host benefits package that was offered as an inducement to allow Waste Management to operate the former McKenna Landfill. Waste Management has permits that would allow them to operate a 200 foot high landfill next to the Orleans Sanitary and McKenna landfills. “But we chose the other path that will assure our economic and environmental well-being,” she said.

Supervisor Gene Christopher read a statement that was prepared by the board members. He said the board came to the conclusion of what has been a long process following the settlement of litigation against former landfill operators and that board members gave the proposal a full and impartial review.

The decisions were based on economic and environmental, not emotional factors, Christopher said. Saying the landfill is inconsistent with the community’s comprehensive plan and that it would be a visual impairment, Christopher added the reopening of the landfill would be a “tremendous, growing wound” in the community. “We are aware that Waste Management made a conscientious effort to address the visual impacts but a 200 foot tall landfill would be an unforgivable scar on this community.”

The economic costs versus the potential economic benefits was one of the impacts officials looked at, Christopher said. “Albion is moving forward … we’re seeing an increase in tourism and a rebirth of service business in the community,” he explained. “We’re well-poised to take full advantage of the draw of the Erie Canal and the takeover by Washington Mutual of Dime Bank has been a real boon.”

“Does the landfill fit into our community?” Christopher said the board members asked themselves this question when making their decision and they came to the conclusion that it did not.

Most of the conclusions drawn by board members, Christopher said, came directly from the various impact studies supplied by Waste Management. “Noise is a significant factor in front of the schools and at the corner of Route 31 and Densmore,” he said. “The figures given to the town were based on hauling 1,500 tons of trash a day and Waste Management said they plan to haul more than that … the actual noise levels will be higher than stated in their reports.”

Waste Management officials stated in reports that the traffic for hauling the trash would be heaviest during July, August and September. “We cannot be a tourism-based community and have that much traffic in our busiest tourism season.”

It was not the numbers that were at issue, Christopher said, but the overall effect.

Estimates showed that the average homeowner in the village would have reaped a $145 annual savings while taxpayers outside the village would have seen a $240 savings if Waste Management were allowed to continue forward with its plans. “The savings are very minor compared to the loss of tourism and economic impacts,” Christopher said.

Kim Remley, an outspoken member of the community and a member of the Stop Polluting our Community (SPOC) group, said she was elated at the board’s decision. “We’ve been working on putting a stop to this for six years.”

Joe Zagraniczny, an attorney for a firm representing Waste Management, said they will be looking into the decision. “We’re obligated to pursue the landfill permit pursuant to an agreement with the Chapter 11 trustees,” he said. “We’ll discuss our options and go from there.”