Village Notes 2025-08-25

Board Actions

BILL 114 (Passed 5–0): Statewide Community Regrant Award – Music on the Green
Accepted a $4,250 grant to support Music on the Green. There was some confusion over fiscal year timing, but the funds were confirmed as part of the 2025-2026 budget.

BILL 115 (Passed 5–0): Annual $2 Levy on Unpaid Tax Bills
Approved the annual notification letter, reaffirming the standard charge on delinquent taxes letters.

BILL 116 (Passed 5–0): Franklin County Grant for ROOST Contract
Accepted a $5,000 county grant toward the Village’s ROOST contract. Trustees requested that  Franklin County and the Village contractor (ROOST) coordinate deliverables and branding.

BILL 117 (Passed 5–0): 2025–26 ROOST Contract
Approved the Village’s contract with ROOST. Trustees emphasized the need for measurable deliverables, regular reporting, and alignment of marketing efforts with local economic goals.

BILL 118 (Passed 5–0): SEQR for Park Avenue Sewer Project
Declared a “negative determination” under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, clearing the way for sewer replacement on Park Avenue.

BILL 119 (Tabled): Safeguarding Our Residents & Financial Resources
This resolution—first introduced by Trustee White—sought to formally affirm that Village police should focus on local safety, not federal immigration enforcement. After strong public support, the board debated the language. Mayor Williams and Trustees Scollin and Ryan objected to it. 

Message from Trustee White: Resolution 119 was tabled with the promise that if I bring back a “watered-down” version it would pass. 

Over the past months, I’ve heard from so many of you—neighbors, business owners, seasonal workers, teachers and families who support this resolution and care about their community members. At board meetings we have heard members of the public express their support of the resolution during the public comment period. These voices matter. This resolution was written for you, and it will not be compromised.

I was elected by the residents of this village—not by the Mayor or the two trustees at the table who keep creating new excuses and moving the mark.

This resolution makes clear: local tax dollars will be used for local issues, not to take on federal responsibilities. I will not strip out the very heart of this resolution.

BILL 120 (Passed 5–0): Arts & Culture Advisory Board Appointments
Appointed new members, expanding representation on the board that advises Village arts programming.

BILL 121 (Passed 5–0): Support for Franklin County Broadband Buildout
Endorsed a county-led project to expand high-speed internet access. Village approval is needed to install fiber optic cable alongside sewer lines with safeguards to avoid conflicts. The project will come at no cost to the Village.

Old Business

• Emergency Services Facility:
  Trustee White raised concerns about missing documentation and unclear responsibilities in the RFP process. She emphasized that the Village—not outside consultants—must oversee bidding and contracting, and requested copies of all bids and floor plans submitted to state agencies. Trustees agreed all communication with consultants should flow through the Village Manager.

Message from Trustee Brunette: 

Here’s where I stand: Our first responders deserve modern, functional facilities. Taxpayers deserve honesty and transparency at every step.

I will not support moving forward until we have:

1. Public access to current designs and cost estimates

2. A clear and credible taxpayer impact analysis

3. A meaningful public process before major decisions are made

“Letting the experts do their job” does not mean elected officials hand over our responsibility. Our role is to ensure those experts work within a process that is transparent, fiscally responsible, and aligned with community priorities.

• Public Safety Building Committee:
  Trustees discussed clarifying membership and responsibilities of the committee. Updates will continue at the next meeting.

• Water/Sewer Relief Policy:
  Trustee White shared work on aligning the proposed emergency grant/loan program with the Village’s existing overage relief policy. She is coordinating with counsel to ensure consistency and fairness.

New Business

• Meeting Notifications & Communication:
  Trustee White asked for clarification on how trustees are notified of special meetings, and whether texts, personal emails, and forwarded messages meet open government requirements. The Clerk confirmed texts are acceptable if all trustees receive the same notice, but emphasized emails must be archived for FOIL compliance. Trustees agreed to forward any Village business sent to personal accounts (email and phone) to their official Village accounts, ensuring proper record-keeping.

Work Session – Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Trustee Brunette presented the draft Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and led a work session to review it. The CIP pulls together community-identified projects from past planning efforts and narrows them into a prioritized list of 18.

Key points:

• Projects came from existing adopted plans.

• Projects were ranked using clear criteria: readiness, cost, funding potential, and community benefit.

• Top priorities include fixing sidewalks and upgrading water/sewer systems—bread-and-butter infrastructure with high community impact.

• The proposed Emergency Services Complex was ranked low due to missing cost and financing information.

• Trustees agreed the CIP should be formally adopted before the next budget cycle, making it the guiding document for investment decisions.

Public Comments

• Attracting Young People:
  A resident urged the Village to think long-term, making it easier for young residents to settle in the community. Calling housing affordability “our biggest challenge” and suggested tax relief or housing conversions to help families.

• Emergency Services Facility:
  A resident requested that floor plan diagrams showing overlaps with sewer and electric easements be formally included in Village minutes, stressing the need for transparency.

• Support for Bill 119:
  Multiple residents spoke in favor of Bill 119 (safeguarding resolution). They stated that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not a local one, and warned of risks to community trust and constitutional rights if Village police partnered with ICE. 

Executive Session

Although included in the agenda, the Board did not enter into executive session to discuss a proposed lease of property.