Town Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, I'm going to call town board meeting to order at 8:05. You're on. Okay. And the clerk can read the role. Councilman Datti here. Councilman Kilmer here. Councilman Garcia here. Councilwoman Deal here. Supervisor Marston excused. Today we have our invocation which be read by Kelvin Vander and our pledge led by Councilwoman Rhonda Deal. And there's no microphone for you Cal so speak up.

Oh fail. just she doesn't close her eyes when she's walking back. Okay, let's pray. Our heavenly father, we thank you for this opportunity to come together as a family and uh we just uh thank you for those who felt led to lead this town and I pray you give them wisdom. We think of those that lost their loved ones this past week and even over the last month. And we pray as you are the God of comfort and mercy that you would give them comfort and peace. We pray for those uh first responders and those in our fire department and law enforcement, those on the border. We think of those in our military as we think of them during this month, law enforcement month. And uh we thank you. We pray for peace around the world. We pray for the school board vote tomorrow, safety at the polls as people go out and we pray for this meeting too that uh the decisions made will be for the betterment of this community. And this we pray respecting all faiths in Jesus name. Amen. to the flag of the United States of America and to the indivisible liberty and justice for all.

Okay. Bye. All right. Item number four on the agenda. We have a proclamation for the PFW Poppy days. All right. Whereas the buddy poppy resulting from the inspiration of many who read Colonel John McCrae's 1915 poem in Flanders Field is accepted as a symbol of remembrance for Memorial Day. Whereas the annual distribution of buddy poppies by the veterans of foreign wars the United States has been officially recognized and endorsed by government leaders since 1922. Whereas the red petals of Buddy Poppy are symbol symbolic of the vast outpouring of the of blood. The yellow and black center is a reminder of the mud and desolation of all battlefields. The green is this the green of the stem is symbolic of the forest, meadows and fields where generations of Americans have perished to make this land free. The stem represents the courage and determination of our fallen warriors and the assembled product. A flower is a symbol of resurrection. And whereas the buddy poppies are assembled by disabled veterans and the proceeds of this worthy fundraising campaign are used for the benefit of disabled and needy veterans and also for the widows and orphans of deceased veterans at the national home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Whereas the basic purpose of the annual distribution of buddy poppies by the for veterans of foreign wars is eloquently reflected in their desire to honor the dead by helping living. Now therefore, be it resolved, the town board of the town of Grand Island does hereby urge all patriotic citizens to wear a buddy poppy, especially on

Memorial Day as evidence of their gratitude to the men and women of this country who have risked their lives in defense of the freedoms that we continue to enjoy as American citizens. He had further resolve that this same town board does hereby proclaim May 28th, 29th, and 30th BFW Buddy Poppy Days, 2026. We have a proclamation here that's signed by uh the board son supervisor Mars since he's been out of town, but we'll get him signed before we send it to the VFW. We have some folks from the Grand Island BFW here to accept Sure. Okay. And next on our agenda is public comment period. These are limited to agenda items only with the exception of the four public hearings. If you have comments on those uh agenda items, please hold off and speak during the public hearings on those. Uh step up to the mic. We need your name and you'll have three minutes. Anyone for comments on agenda items only? All right, I'll declare that portion of the meeting closed and we'll move on to the public hearings. First public hearing is on local law intro number five, 2025, our battery energy storage systems law. I'll have the clerk read the relevant part.

Notice is hereby given that the town board will hold a public hearing on May 18th for the purpose of considering and possibly adopting a local law regarding battery energy storage systems at the time and place stated above. All members um of the public shall be heard. Just so folks know as you come up, we don't anticipate acting on this today. It's going to go back to planning where take uh those comments. All right. So, anybody has comments on the battery storage systems on please feel free to take the mic. Hi everyone. Good evening.

Yes. Hi, my name is Lauren Hall and I'm here on behalf of Carson Power which has a leaseold interest in property at 2408 Pedell Road. We consider this property well suited for a best project and we support the town's effort to adopt a clear framework for battery storage. Uh we first met with the town in September while this law was being developed and since then we've attended multiple town and planning board meetings to provide subject matter input. Uh we are grateful for the time, thought, and care that's gone into this law, and we're here to offer comments in the same spirit to help the town adopt a law that is protective, technically sound, and workable for responsible projects. We provide these comments based on our experience permitting best projects with various municipalities across New York State. Battery storage provides important benefits for communities like Grand Island. Improves grid reliability by delivering power quickly when demand spikes. supports resilience during extreme weather and helps to meet the rising uh electricity demand without requiring the town or rateayers pay for it. Uh modern best projects are designed with significant safety protections and including the NFPA 855 and New York State Fire Code safety standards and we support the board's compliance requirements um including a detailed emergency response plan, hazard mitigation analysis and commissioning plan. So with that context, I want to highlight the four changes that we've advocated for which were provided to the board in writing earlier. Um so first we recommend reducing the side and rear yard setbacks from 150 ft to 100 ft. A 100 foot setback remains substantial especially in this town's industrial districts where the standard setback is 25 ft. It is also important to recognize that setbacks are not the only way to address project specific concerns. So if a de if a developer cannot meet other required standards such as visual screening or emergency access, the board can deny the application or require revisions like greater setbacks or other protections as

part of the normal permitting process. Um and secondly require or we recommend measuring setbacks from the nearest best container rather than from the project fence. Uh these containers are already located inside the fence. So measuring from the fence effectively increases these setbacks beyond what appears in the law. uh measuring from the equipment itself is also more consistent just with how zoning setbacks are typically applied. Third, we recommend revising the 200 foot setback residential setback so that it applies to the property lines abuing residential zoning districts rather than to individual residential structures. If the intent is to protect residential areas, residential zoning boundaries are the clearer and more consistent standard. Last, we recommend allowing setback relief where a neighboring property owner voluntarily agrees in writing to participate in the project. This participate participating property concept gives the town a clear way to recognize private agreements between land owners while still preserving town's review authority and safety requirements. Um, so in short, Carson Power supports a strong best law for Grant Island. We respectfully ask the board to adopt a law that protects residents, incorporates recognized safety standards, and preserves local oversight um while allowing responsible projects for being reviewed on their own. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is James Panapinto. I reside at 2455 First Street here on Grand Island. I'd like to offer a few comments and my perspective related to the local law on battery energy storage systems. Before I do, I want to give you a little background of my experience in this in the energy space. I'm a civil engineer by trade and operate my family's construction company for the last 35 years. My family's company has performed work for both National Grid and NYAG across New York State for the last 50 years. After many years of little or no invest investment by the utilities in electrical infrastructure despite more recent efforts, I assure you that they are barely keeping up with the demand we place on the fragile network. In addition, my firm is also working on several very large data center projects which require huge amounts of power. No one really knows when all this demand, including the further electrification of transportation, will out strip the supply the grid can handle. I have personal construction experience and ownership with renewable energy projects such as wind and solar, and I'm familiar with the costs and challenges private industries face when developing these projects. From my perspective, the public utilities and government alone can't get this done without private investment for projects that support the grid. The benefits of battery energy storage systems are numerous. They include improving grid reliability and making the grid more efficient. and it complements renewable energy sources by storing power that can be deployed when needed the most. There is currently not one technology that is a silver bullet for our energy challenges that we face. It's important that our town has proper ordinances that govern these systems for the protection of our citizens rights and adjacent property holders. However, we need to be mindful not to place overly burdensome restrictions on SEPTA acts and other regulations that make it difficult or impossible for projects to make sense. Optimum B battery storage storage

project sites are difficult to find for a number of reasons. Therefore, it's important that we find balance for the protection of our town's res residents interest while supporting efforts to help the grid that we all rely on. Practical solutions with guidance from town ordinances for each specific site's nuances for battery storage projects is important. I respectfully ask the board to consider ordinance language that does not put an upfront overly burdensome set of development criteria while not giving up the town's ability to make the best decision for each project based on the specific challenges of any proposed project location. Thank you.

Thank you. I don't always like to speak on the battery better energy storage system.

Everyone, I'm Padma Casti. I'm with Buffalo Renewables. Uh I'm a uh wind and solar PV installer for projects uh for customerowned projects mostly commercial uh and business owners want to generate their own energy uh who do storage also but on a much smaller scale. One of the biggest challenges in most of these commercial sites is the land area and the need for energy. Uh and uh a lot of times we have to turn customers away and say we cannot do projects not because the town would not allow it or but if they don't have the wind resource or solar resource. It's mostly because of grid capacity. Where we put projects depends largely on what the uh grid infrastructure is and like the other said before the grid infrastructure is pretty bad right now. battery storage is one of the best solutions for it. Uh we really appreciate that the town is right taking the time to write an ordinance that will cover everything. Uh I'm here to say thank you for that but also uh ask that you don't make it too restrictive to do large projects. Uh and uh I support the uh changes that Carson Power has proposed. They seem very reasonable uh based on my experience permitting projects all over Western New York and in different uh jurisdictions and it would be a really good benefit for all the uh for the local businesses and entities here. Thank you.

Thank you. Hi, I'm Tony Fo uh 036 Void Haven Road, Grand Island. And uh I also in support of the battery project. Um a lot of things that I was going to say s we all need to home for the safers. So, um, I just want to say that whatever we can do to help with energy and to make it more affordable, I think it's a it's a good thing for all of us here in the Grand Island. Um, I looked at some of the issues that are added. The one that really kind of caught my eye was the fencing. It being part of the setback. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me since the battery is where it should be registered to not where the fence is. And uh so in summation, I just want to say that thank you. Jin Dagler Staley wrote, "Um, you know, I too think batteries are a great idea. The, um, and people have stood up so far have the same opinion. I am concerned about the use of the term restrictive. Um I have read about I'll call them just warnings from developers about won't be too restrictive. Um as

far as I can tell in my research uh plaintiffs are filing suit against unreasonably restrictive best laws not or by very nature a law is restrictive. Um, so just a couple things. I won't even get into the setbacks because that's that's another ball game. I've had this longunning concern that the contractors that we hire in the town to protect the town don't protect the town. And this is another example of where that's happening. Okay. The um I was instrumental in CAB's comments and one of the things in my research I found is NFPA 855. It was in our comments for CAB to be put into this law. They are not there. I talked to folks at Carson Power. I say, gee, no. Is there an issue that you have with 855? Oh, no. We do that hazard mitigation analysis, commissioning plan, commissioning report, operations and maintenance manual, the whole ball game. Inspection, NFPA 855. Of course, you know, I'm looking forward to reading the NEG deck. Uh but I'll tell you this, if if this law doesn't include 855, there's no way you can make debts. That is the standard for mitigating impacts from a best. That's not here. Um it's not and we apparently purposely left out the um the purpose and intent person every other 10 laws I read local laws and naerta's best law um the purpose and intent is to pick the right site look at land use uh in the area and protect the environment one two three in Naerta and in all the other town laws I've read what are grand islands guidance and flexibility opportunity committee. That's not what this law is about. The tier designations, um, I think we might have been the ones to bring up

this differentiation between power capacity and energy capacity. Uh, what's in this law now is totally confusing. There's a clause in here that says, well, if they meet both requirements, then we'll decide which which tier it belongs in. How how can you have tier designations when it can meet two different criteria? That doesn't make sense to me. The other thing about this egg inclusion, which uh you know, we talked about very early on with the attorney writing this law, why is there this cutout for egg? What's the deal? Because in this law, the town board can decide to pick whatever. First of all, they can do 110% of 12 months worth of power usage. Why would you store on a farm uh 13 months worth of energy? Why would you store that? What's the purpose? It just tells me that there's something going on here with a town board can just pick whatever value they want. They'll just pick it. That's what the law says. It's absurd. The way to go with these tier designations since it became uh issue in my opinion uh is energy capacity because the energy capacity is the amount of energy that's stored on the site. You also you do want to know about the power capacity you know 5 megawatt 20,000 kW hours so that you know how it's going to charge and discharge or what it has capability of doing. um the the tier designations. Oh, by the way, how can they meet both? Well, because the thresholds are both the same for a tier two and a tier three. They're exactly the same. How can that be? Well, where'd that come from? Most other laws, by the way, have two tiers, not three. Um, I talked about 855. So, I

know that at least Cars and Power and I'm I'm guessing all the reputable developers will follow these guidelines, yet it's missing from our code. Why is that? Now, not only is it missing from the code, a reference to 855. when you look at 855 and see what's required in terms of operations manual, commissioning plans, uh commissioning reports, inspections, you know, equipment, I have it right here if you want it. It's that thick and it it tells you what you what the developers need to prepare and what to submit to the authority having jurisdiction. That is not in this law. You if you follow this law, you will not meet 855 requirements. You won't meet the expansion of the facil. This is another one that really bugs me, right? So, apparent what this law says now is a facility area includes the fence, the screening, the roads, everything. Right? That's the facility area. In this law, you can uh you do not have to if you go ahead and upgrade your site uh and you don't exceed the originally permitted facility area, you're good to go. you can absolutely just go ahead and do it. Well, I've spent my career working for developers. I'll tell you right now, what I'd be doing is I'd make my facility are pretty damn big, bigger than it needs to be. And then I'd go stuff in some more batteries uh and I wouldn't have to go anywhere. We don't have to talk to anybody about can we Oh, the other one is um the town board can ignore the results of hazard mitigation analysis. Are you kidding? Really? That untrained town board is going to override the findings of a

valid hazard mitigation analysis? Well, that certainly has to be. Now, I'll I'll spare everybody here because I too want to watch the game. Uh, but I do have comments I want to submit for the record. Anyone else with comments on the best time? My name is Mike. I'm one of the owners of the project and just want to say thank you for you guys considering it. everybody's time, consideration, the efforts into finding out more information and you know we uh we plan on doing the right thing whatever is required and it's new we're going to move it good for the community. Thank you.

I think it looks like we have fur online who would like to speak. Anyone else in the room before I turn to our online folks? All right, Miss FTH, uh, floor is yours. Can you say something to make sure we can hear you? Awesome. Thank you. Can you hear me? We can. Thank you.

Fantastic. Um, hi, Kaylee FTH, project developer with Soul Source Power. Um, I was in attendance back in March uh, in person, but apologies, I couldn't be in person today. Um, I just wanted to note for the record, I submitted a comment letter via email this morning and just want to confirm it was received. And instead of taking the time to read the whole letter aloud, uh I just thought I'd briefly summarize the main points. I I didn't have too many. So firstly, um I want to again commend the town council for its proactive efforts to establish, you know, a clear better energy storage system regulation. I know it's no easy feat. Secondly, um I would like to recommend that the side and rear setbacks as previously discussed um by their comments for tier three best be modified from 150 to 50 ft. And uh I want to second the recommendation from Carson that the measurement be from the edge of the container instead of the fence line. Um this is a small one. Uh thirdly, there there was a mention of the New York City Fire Department. I believe might have been an error in the code. So I just I just want to recommend striking that section. There was also a requirement for annual renewal of the SUP, you know, the special use permit. Um, I recommend also striking that section just because that provision would make a project unfinancable and impossible to build. Um, but I believe there are other sections of the law that should adequately protect the town from any potential SUP violations. Uh the last one I had was just recommending lowering the initial escro deposit amount from 50,000 to 20,000 uh just to make project applications more feasible at kind of those early stage steps of of a project. Um you know as always happy to be a resource happy to share my information anyone that has questions about BES. And yeah that's uh that's all. Thanks again for everyone's hard work and thanks for the floor. All

right. Thank you. All right. Anyone else on that? All right. Declare the public hearing closed. You want me to put this back or take?

Yeah. Planning want to make the table. I'll make move to table. Well, it's good. So, we won't forget it's already. All right. Patty, we roll. Kilmer. Hi. Garcia. Hi. Daddy. Hi. Deal. I. All right. Public hearing number two, special use application 4184 East River Road for the operation of bed and breakfast.

Notice here given that a public hearing will be held by the town board on Monday, May 18th to consider an application by Wendy and John McCaffrey for authorization by the town board for a permit for a special use for a bed and breakfast located at 4184 East River Road. All interested persons may attend at said time and place and be heard thereof. Right. Anyone who would like to be heard on this special use application, step to the mic. You have three minutes. All right.

Train, ladies and gentlemen. She's watching her.

My name is John McCaffrey. of 4184 is perfect. We've had breakfast while problems. All right. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Publicos. Make a motion to approve. type two special four weeks ago.

Reapproved. Make a motion to reapprove special. I'll second that. Any discussion? I'm gonna vote yes because my wife told me to Patty. Garcia I dugatti. Hi. Kilmer. Hi. Deal. I All right. Three special use permit application to 241 Coroner Drive for the operation of a bakery as a whole occupation.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the town board on Monday, May 18th to consider an application by Deos Denise Sterns. Apologies for authorization by the town board for a permit for special use home occupation bakery on premises located at 241 Colonial Drive. All interested persons may attend at set time and place and be heard thereof.

Right. So if anyone that would like to be heard on this application, please with us stop the microphone. You have three minutes. Um, I'm looking to put a bakery cart in front of my house to do pre-sale item pickup and um pop-up sales. So, I usually sell at like farmers markets. And if I come home and I have anything left over that I couldn't sell, I want to be able to put it in the cart and then do like a popup sale for whatever I have left. So, thank you so much. Anyone else like to be heard on this?

Right. Public hearing closed. Mr. Turns, just so you know that this table by the planning board. So, make sure next meeting is second Monday and May sw. All right. To the table. So second discussion Garcia I deal I Datti hi Kilmer I

last public hearing is on local law 2 the reszoning SPL 364415 and 3604 6604 7 baseline mode for R1D to M2. Good evening. Uh Marco Manowski from Up Falls here on behalf of the applicant 1930 road. Uh we're here this evening uh seeking to it's actually a combination of actions that are taking place here. First is the reconfiguration of lots to bring the conglomeration of these parcels located up to 1.5 acres. the sand edge previously three three acres and uh the the current break up of the properties three of the parcels are and then the other two the applicant owns the properties to the south of 30 and essentially what we've done is reception on 30 m and the 1.5 block size. Uh the third floor planning boarding is recommendation to reszone. One of the points of discussion during that meeting which was certainly appropriate until expected uh is to make sure that when a site plan application comes in for the site for the future that some type of buffer be placed. more than that to bulent. We're also keenly aware that one of the fast was not desirable that that was that one

and certainly understand it's a fairly simple as soon as possible. Thank you. Anyone else have comments on that one?

I wasn't going to comment till I heard the gentleman here talk about how the previous owner didn't do what he was supposed to do and there were problems. So, I think that's what I heard. As a Staley Road residence, I oppose any redistricting of a residential district for um industrial use or M2, whatever you want to call it. the uh unless there's been some kind of detailed explanation and commitment as to what they're exactly going to do with that property because we live it on Staley Road. All right. House declare the public closed table. I'm sorry. Uh I'm not sure exactly when the 30-day referral went out. I make a motion table. Patty,

Garcia, I Kilmer. Hi, Jugatti. Hi, Deal. Hi. Thank you very much. All right, that's it for public hearing today. On to item seven, minutes. We have the minutes of regular meeting number eight from May 4th, workshop meeting number 10 for May 4th, and workshop meeting number 11 of May 11th. Motion to approve those. So move. Any discussion? Patty roll. Garcia. Hi. Kilmer. Hi. Jagatti. Hi. Deal. Hi.

All right. Item eight, the consent agenda. We have meeting minutes from the park and recreation advisory board March 23rd, 26. Building permits issue report for April 26. Meeting minutes from the zoning board of appeals from April 2nd, 2026. And that's it. Motion is in order to approve those move. Second. Any discussion? Any deal? Hi. Garcia. Hi. Daddy. Hi. Kilman. Hi.

Item number nine from Advisor Marson is the monthly supervisor report. Please note that receipts are filed. Item 10 from Councilman Kilmer is a resignation.

Um, yes, we received a resation from Sheila, but she just no longer wants make resation. Yeah, appreciation. Oh, good. Yeah, I'll second that. Just say she sorts of Kilmer. Hi, Datti. Hi, Garcia. Hi, Deal. Hi.

Tom, I would just like to add that she will be greatly missed. Yes, she will. She she did a great deal for our community. Know we're all appreciative of that. She will be missed.

All right. Item 11 from Town Garcia, local law intro 3 of 2026. Okay. Uh so the conservation advisory board has been kicking around this tree law that is part of the requirement for Grand Island to become a tree city and I think we have a version that's palatable and it's time to refer it to our advisory boards. Um I want to make this referral to all of our advisory boards in an attempt to start process that councilwoman Deal has been working on to give them all a shot if they want to say something or they can say it's not in their wheelhouse but at least give them all an opportunity to make a comment so they'll learn two months down the road and then finding out there is some interest in one of our boards. So I make a motion that we refer local law number intro number three of 2026 to all of our advisory.

Second discussion right I deal I Daddy I Kilmer I item 12 from highway superintendent James Sadita. He writes the department requests permission to hire the candidates below effective date subject to approval process start date upon completion onboarding process. So motion's in order to make the iter referenced in the agenda. So moved.

Second. Any discussion? Aren't those eyes on boarding process?

All right. Any further discussion? I can read the role please. Deal. Hi. Daddy. Hi. Kilmer. Hi. Garcia. Hi. All right. Next is item 13 from recreation recreation supervisor Joseph mentor. First he requests one hire at a seasonal status effect of May 19th sub completion of pre-employment paperwork. So motions in order to make that higher. Does that need to include onboarding process as well?

The pre modify it to the pre-imployment process. Some second. All right. Any further discussion? Daddy, please roll please. Deal. Hi, Datti. Hi, Kilmer. Hi, Garcia. Hi. Next from recreation supervisor mentor is a motion to accept the resignation of Dominique Brennan effective today. So, I'll make a motion we accept Dominique's resignation.

I'll second. Thanks, Dominique. She ran the youth programs for quite some time and did great jobs. Thank her for hard work and wish her her the best in her future endeavors else. All right, if you can read the role, please I deal. Kilmer.

I last from uh Mr. Mentor is a request to promote an employee from her permanent position of recontending grade three year three to the vacant provision of program leader youth which is a grade 4.5 that would be to replace where to to replace who do it is to replace Don. Yeah,

I'll make I want to I want to evaluate. Okay, go ahead. Make the motion discuss a second. I'll second for discussion. Yeah. So, that's I mean it's thought we're going to discuss uh under that department place. Well, and she I don't want to put her in position that we might not know.

So, she's already a fulltime she does she continue to do that. But I talked to try and seek back recreation. at this point be many employees be what happened to the next round as far as respond whatever Daniel hasn't so the plan is not to be placed position she's maintained

correct so the portion of the work that she's already doing she's contin to doing what is so instead of three and a have that down the tree. Yes, she lost that hand. Correct. And that's what I thought. I mean, we could always talk about if we want to sell that position, but as long as not until

I just want to hire her then if we find out we don't need three full stuck. Well, not whether or not doing if I did, I would be just put this off and see it. But that's any more call the role, please. Gotti. Hi. Kilmer. Hi. Garcio. Hi. Deals. Hi.

All right. Item 14, the code enforcement office. Uh first up is a special use permit renewal for 3059 2nd Avenue where a barber shop is being operated as a uh home occupation been inspected. It's unchanged. The fee has been paid. So motion is in order to approve the special use per second. Second. Any discussion? I think we can roll please. Deal. I Garcia. I

Datti. Hi. Kilman. Hi. All right. Next is a special use permit application for 4410 East Road for the keeping of four courses in 10 acres. So at this point a motion is to set a public hearing to refer this to the planning board. And what's our next day? June 1st. And this is a modification that already existed special. Well, either way, it's got to go. Yes. So June 1st and the planning board would be the problem. Motion's order to set a public hearing for June 1st at 8:00 and to refer this to the planning board.

Second. Can you make a motion? Sure. Okay. Second. Any discussion? Yes. I I I just question. Should this go to um the act board since or does that not is that not necessary since it's an act district but still okay. Yeah, this is I mean there's still I know there's less um restrictions on a district but there's still certain things on my application with referrals to a for as well as perfect. Thank you. Motion you second amend. Yes. Second. Yes. Any further discussion?

All right. Read the role. Daddy. I deal. I kilmer. I

All right. And last from the code enforcement office is the resignation of the code enforcement office. Mr. Moes writes that he needs to inform the members of the town board that his employee Chris Gullen has given his letter of res resignation from the department and expressed his last day of work was on 5626. His title of the department was a code enforcement office with part-time status in this in his experience in customer support which he was known for providing the residents of Grand Island. Feel free to contact him with any questions. It's my understanding that uh Mr. Paul got an opportunity and turned down. So I'll make a motion to accept the resignation. Any discussion regretful? Yeah. Good man. He was still alive.

Yes. Wishing his best. We're going to miss him. Next endeavor. Patty. Daddy. Hi. Deal. I kilmer. Hi. Hi. Item 15 from parks meet maintenance crew chief Tom Cisery. Um he's got some status and pay changes outlined in a memo in the memo and a motion is in order to approve those as written. So motion second. Any discussion? Danny. Garcia. Hi. Kilmer. Hi. Gotti. Hi. The hi.

All right. Item 16 coming fronts. First is the ground fire company to link the service awards. She writes attached a final list of GIFc firefighters who qualify to receive their 2025 service award. As per GML 219A, the town board is required to review the list and approve the final certification. The list is also posted to the fireh hall for at least 30 days for review by members. When these steps have been completed, the names will be submitted to the accounting office for distribution of payment for those who have qualified. Motion in order to approve the awards. So moved. Second discussion.

Well, thanks to all our volunteer firefighters that uh serve their community and these boards are released. We can deal I Garcia. Hi, Datti. Hi, Kilman. Hi.

Also from accountant Karen Fron a request for payroll software with Tyler Technologies. So she asked for authorization to approve the supervisor to sign the quote to add payroll software component to our contract with Tyler Technologies. 2000 three years. She was still She was still exploring my

All right. Make a motion to approve. Authorize supervisor to execute. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Any discussion? All right. Patty, if you could read the role, please. Garcia, I deal I Daddy. Hi. K. Hi. Item 17, correspondence from the planning board regarding 2315 Brandon Boulevard.

That be received and filed and 18 from the audit. Okay. Make a motion to pay the bills from following accounts. Uh from the general fund, $97,81314. From the highway fund, $13,97369. From the sewer fund, $46,965.38. From the water fund, $10,98142. From the trust and agency fund, $350. From the capital fund, $3,7002. The lighting district fund, $600.88. And from the fire fund, $3,600 for a total of $177,98453. Doesn't

We're going to leave it approved. You can hold it for Are you talking about the car, the van?

Modify a motion for the $10,000 down payment for the Golden Age Center vehicle purchase to be withheld until verification purchase state. So, I did get a verbal verification that it was. Are you looking for uh paper? It's probably fine. We'll we'll close the loop of paperwork. So, if you had that amendment to the motion, you second that amendment. I will second that amendment. So, the voucher $10,000 voucher, correct? For for verification of it being on state bid. Yes, sir. Any further discussion? Daddy, if you could read the role. Garcia.

Hi. Deal. Hi Daddy. Hi Kilmer. All right. Well, this is a safeation. Well, well, we need action. There's a table. It's a correspondence from the planning table. Yeah. Send us another make recommendation.

Just an FYI for us. Yeah. Um item for 19, unfinished business, the reszoning of Lang Boulevard M1 to uh Northern Business District. My understanding that has to remain on the table. see any correspondence from it is but it's still waiting back.

Okay. Uh item 20, public comments. This is an opportunity for the public to comment on anything at all, not just agenda items. Uh still three minutes. Please provide your name to the clerk. Paul show um Stanley Road steering committee to the department engineering and town council. Um basically hammered out a really nice plan. We thought we had some hope movement and crickets crickets. Crickets. It's been four years. whatever frustrated. um watched a workshop committee and then decided to attend committee where there had been some discussion about and it was very disturbing to me personally where the engineering way signed contract supervisor There was a lot of report whether it was illegal to cancel the contract whether there was going to be repercussions about town being sued if they cancel the contract splash praise not but if two months splash pad the additional cost of three quarters million dollars my road is disintegrating four years is not okay with it's not okay with a lot of people on our Great. So, I just wanted to people are doing I don't know why we can't have both. Why can't we have both?

Why can't our road get fixed? What do we need to do to get our road fixed? The splash pip. Why can't we do both? Cherry Curts, Daily Road. I agree with Paula. The splash pad is a great idea. There is a splash pad within 10 to 15 minutes of Grand Island residents right now to make kids happy. I know several young families that go over to the paddock area where the splash pad is. They absolutely love it. It's fine. We want to give our kids a great place to be. Whereas the kids on Staley Road can't even ride their bikes, can't walk, can't walk their dog. We've got cars zooming by. We still have potholes that deep that if you were to go off the road there to avoid something, you your car would be a mess. you'd be a mess. I don't understand what the purpose is coming here over and over and over again and asking for the attention that Staley Road meets. It's so discouraging that I see and read in the paper the funds that this is going to cost this the splash pad. But like Paula said, for two months when we've been dealing with this 365 days every year. So I am begging you to please, please listen to us. We made the decision a while ago not to go public, to the media, to the lawyers, to all that because we trusted that you guys were

going to have Staley Road safety as a priority. and it has done nothing but deteriorate with very little done even even the crossovers and and I know Jim has a plan for it and we really like Paul said had a lot of hope at that meeting and then the next thing you know you hear about the splash pad and the expense it's going to be and expenses that nobody's quite sure of either and yet here we are again. So, we're just so sick and tired of getting pushed back, back, back, back. Please, please consider Staley Road as a priority. Anyone else with public comments on anything at all? Jim Carlson 2885 Staley Road. The condition of that road is just worse and worse and worse. They've not even made any effort to fix anything. And I encourage each and every one of you from baseline to West River, drive solely to the west and solely to the east. When in fact, if you have someone else driving so you can look at the condition of the shore, there are places with 8 to 12 inch deep potholes right at the edge of the pavement. The pavement that's there, the original pavement is gone.

You should take a look at it. I know. I was on with the prior town highway superintendent. Why don't you get the guys out with a truck and a load of gravel and fill in the pothole? Never happened. Never had. You need to each and every one of you look at that road and see what an embarrassment to Grand Island is. You talk about all the wonderful things and all the wonderful improvements that we want to make but nothing is happening and heaven forbid there is a fatality because of that poor maintenance. Thank you.

Right. Anyone else? Public comments from the board. Councilman Garcia.

Uh, thank you. Um, to the Staley Road conversation, you're right. The road is a disaster. I don't think anyone can deny it. I know I've driven it and I'm certain other councilmen have. I spoke with uh Superintendent Sadita and he's discussing the engineering and talking about the bonding and getting the funding to begin working on that road. It was a active discussion today in in town hall council when deal was there when we were talking about it. It's not forgotten he's got a plan to do something. It's just he he just can't tear up your road. I mean that we we had that meeting. He just can't go and do that right away. I understand you've been waiting four years and it should be already engineered and everything ready to go, but unfortunately it's not. But it will be and he guarantees he will be doing a section of Stanley Road this year. I want to hold him to them and go

I'm going to talk on the daily road is too I feel the same way about you guys. Um but the um you have to understand this kind of splitting hairs here because the highway superintendent um has full autonomy to pay whatever was seen inside. So for the last four years, six years get something coming to us. Um I think a lot of times maybe the board thought that the highways been scheduling that project then but then again we're wait for engineering so that's another co engineering cost. So every time I think you thought we were moving forward, I don't think we were moving forward at all because without the engineering done, I don't know how we even assess the cost. The engineering as we consider today is not done. So all I can do is apologize. I I will myself vote to borrow the money to get it done. We've done a couple sections, but for the next year and a half, there is I don't normally answer to the public, but I will this one time. your highway superintendent. We do not control the repair people up here do not control the roads and if you're mad about something the clerk yach responsibilities daddy has hers we have ours off I can't talk

yeah we're I'll talk to you afterwards, please. You good? Sorry. Counciloman deal.

Yes, I will vocalize that I am also in support of a plan for Staley and spoke with Jim or was with uh Councilman Garcia today. Sadly, it will have to be broken into sections, but um we have to start. If you don't start, you're never going to get get the project going. So um we have had that discussion. The potholes I I have questioned that not on Staley but other areas and um they weren't even our roads but there's a concern with the temperatures and obviously today the temperatures are rising. I was told that if they had filled those before temperatures and this is um county if they reach a certain temperature or we don't have a certain temperature it doesn't seal properly and it's just going to open back up. Um, so we have to hold them to now it's warmer and some help with with potholes. I don't know what the score is, but I know everybody wants to see the game, so I'll just cut it there. 2-1 2-1.

All right. Well, I mean, I'll let go that Councilman Kilmer question. We hired that part-time guy from highway department. We don't even have he gets to hire his own people. We can make calls but for the most part talk about things especially small things like that as far as passion reach out to him. We can control some extent how much money we allocate for him and that gives us some control over what he can and can't pay. But if we give him the money theoretically decide to do what he please with it there wouldn't be a whole lot we can do. So other than that nice that the weather is nice. Bill Sers from now and keep on keeping on. So with that, a motion is in order to adjourn tonight's meeting at 9:12 p.m.

Second. All right, Patty. All those in favor or all those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? All right. So, we can please rise. Tonight, we're going to observe a moment of silence in memory of Brian Montiello and Florence Susie Mike. All right, students. Uh, any of us can sign your uh forms.