Town Board Meeting
Town Board Meeting
Town Board to share consultant to move development projects through planning and zoning; selects assistant planner candidate
The Ellicottville Town Board agreed, during its March 16th meeting, to offer an Ellicottville Assistant Planner position to Gregory Keyser of Springville on condition he receives training and certification as a municipal planner. If Keyser accepts the arrangement he must obtain certification and will be under the supervision of Town and Village Engineer Ben Slotman. The Board also agreed to a six-month consulting contract with Barton & Loguidice of Liverpool, NY, for services of the firm's professional planner Keith Ewald. Ewald, or other members of the firm, will advise the Town and Village planning and zoning boards for 16 hours a week.
A search committee, mindful of development pressures on the community's planning officials, had recommended contracting for shared professional planning services while finding and training a suitable candidate to fill the opening left by the October resignation of Planner Gary Palumbo. The offer of employment and consulting contract were also approved March 15th by the Village Board.
Following the vote on the consulting agreement, Town Attorney Seth Pullen suggested a formal intermunicipal agreement with the Village. He said it would allocate the expenses between the two municipalities according to hours billed by the contractor. The Board authorized Pullen to work out a draft of the terms with Rich Stanton, Village Attorney.
Also on the agenda were the contract bid awards in the town's $5.3 million water project. While the names of bidders and amounts of the bids that were opened March 10th were not discussed, Board members said the cost of the project could now reach $6.6 million.
Slotman reported two contractors submitted bids on the distribution system and water tank improvements, one bid was received on well house and pump station improvements, but no bids came in for electrical improvements and backup generators.
He said he's discussed how to address the increased costs but pointed out that bidding is incomplete. Board members discussed the possibility of completing the project in phases, rebidding the project, or finding additional funds, but Slotman noted any change in the scope of the project could jeopardize the EFC grant funding. The current bids are valid for 45 days. Slotman said the project engineer consultants advised that the matter should be tabled and when there are answers a special meeting of the Town Board could be held.
The Board did take action on several bids for the Town Center renovation project and other work. The low bid of $188,841.60 was awarded to Ehrhart Construction Management of Hamburg. Slotman said the firm will coordinate with the contractors chosen by Cattaraugus Cornell Cooperative Extension for work on the leased portion of the building.
Parise Mechanical of Tonawanda, with the lowest of two bids at $147,700, was awarded the contract for the Center's boiler and auditorium. FSC Systems of Jamestown, won a $8,805.56 fire alarm system contract, as the lowest offer among three packages.
West Side Handyman & Lawncare of Little Valley was awarded the Nannen Arboretum landscape maintenance contract with a $9,800 bid, the lowest of three received. D & J Lawn Service of Salamanca was awarded a $3,500 landscape maintenance contract at the cemetery, the lowest of three received.
Plans were discussed to provide $1,000 stipends after April 1st to 22 part- and full-time Town employees who stayed on the job during the pandemic. Town Supervisor Matt McAndrew explained that half of the $121,000 in "rescue" funds (ARPA) was received in December and the other half should arrive in June.
On the topic of the Covid-19 pandemic, Town officials have returned to in-person public meetings, but call-in participation may be arranged by contacting the Town office.
Police Officer-in-Charge Don Auge reported that in February there were 118 calls for service or complaints and three arrests in the town, and 54 calls for service in the village, with no arrests. Police issued 31 traffic tickets and 11 warnings in the town, with 8 traffic warnings issued in the village.
He and Councilman Gregory Fitzpatrick updated their task force's progress in meeting Ellicottville Central School's request for a school resource officer. The school district has received a funding grant, and is awaiting the Town's funding formula for the cost of a town officer as the group continues to work out terms.
The Board discussed Highway Superintendent Tom Scharf's resignation at the end of March and a farewell pizza party that was arranged for the afternoon of March 18th. They thanked him for his six years of service.
They accepted Dog Control officer Paul Timkey's February 28th letter of resignation, effective April 1st, and will consider his recommendations of several possible candidates for the position. On a related topic, the Board received authorization from the Cattaraugus County District Attorney to move forward with prosecution of several years worth of outstanding cases of dogs running at large.
The Board also granted permission to the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce for use of the Gazebo during several 2022 events: The Gazebo Series running June 30th through Aug. 11th; Rock N Roll Weekend on Sept. 18th; and Fall Festival on Oct. 8-9th.
At 7:30pm the Board entered an executive session with Attorney Pullen and the public meeting ended. The Ellicottville Town Board meets at 6:00pm the third Wednesday of each month. For details on their April meeting, go to ellicottvillegov.com or contact Town Clerk Robyn George at 716-699-2240.