Alcohol Rules Relaxed in Seneca

 A town once considered New York's frontier was the last one in Ontario County to eliminate strict rules regarding alcohol.
 Seneca voters decided customers in restaurants should be able to order a drink.
 Volunteer firemen lead the effort by circulating petitions.
 Firefighter Rick Allison said "We built a new fire hall with a banquet room and we knew we could not have a wedding and serve alcohol there (or have anybody else come in and serve) because the town is dry."
 The first time Seneca voters budged on this issue was in 1972 when they allowed convenience stores to sell beer.
Seneca Town Supervisor John Sheppard sees another benefit for businesses looking to take advantage of an opportunity.
  "Route five and twenty is a state highway. Fiber optics, 3 phase power, natural gas, municipal water (we have) a lot to offer. I suspect that now with an enhanced ABC law those entities will be attracted to Seneca."
 The hope is that money brought in by the restaurants will help the town in the future.
Profits will supplement the money made at the Ontario County landfill. It makes up 60 percent of the town's revenue.
 The landfill's lease could expire in 2028.
 Sheppard added "Life after landfill, that's what I'm concerned with. My job is not necessarily to anticipate I'll be here that long, likely i won't. But my job, the town board's job, is to make sure that our successors have a choice and how to continue after the landfill."
 Businesses both new and old can now apply for a liquor license.