GUILFORD – With gas drilling on many people’s minds, the Guilford Town Board invited Steven Winkley, a water resources specialist from New York Rural Water Association, to speak about changing the designation of the town’s lake area.

Winkley explained that designating the watershed area around Guilford Lake as a Critical Environmental Area (CEA) would provide additional oversight for any future building or repair around it.

Several voiced concerned that the designation would make it difficult to bring gas drilling into the area, an option many believe would create jobs.

“The recent job fair in Binghamton saw 3,000 people looking at jobs in the industry,” said Dick Furman of Guilford. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe if you designate the area as a CEA, the gas drills won’t come and we’ll miss a major opportunity.”