2026_07_08_BoardMinutes.pdf

JULY 8, 2026 Town of Erin Board Meeting Supervisor Schmidt called the regular meeting of the Erin Town Board to order on this date at 6:30 PM. She then asked the Clerk to call the roll. MEMBERS PRESENT: William VanRiper, Jr., Ryan Buzzetti, Alan Hughson, Michael Shutts, Dawn Schmidt. PUBLIC PRESENT: Joe Frega, Mark Margeson, Maureen Spencer, Anthony & Ellen Coolbaugh. Supervisor Schmidt welcomed everyone and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A motion was made by M. Shutts and seconded by W. VanRiper, Jr. to pay the audited bills as they appear on the General Fund Abstract 7, #107-126 totaling $15,860.44; and the Highway Find Abstract 7, #74-84 totaling $266,808.37; and the Street Lighting Fund Abstract 7, #108, totaling $284.63. Motion Carried: Ayes: W. VanRiper, Jr., R. Buzzetti, A. Hughson, M. Shutts, D. Schmidt. Nays: None. A motion was made by M. Shutts and seconded by A. Hughson to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the May Board Meeting and June 10, 2026 Special Meeting and approve the minutes. Motion Carried: Ayes: W. VanRiper, Jr., R. Buzzetti, A. Hughson, M. Shutts, D. Schmidt. Nays: None. COMMUNICATIONS • A copy of a resolution passed by the Town of Baldwin was received encouraging coordination action among affected municipalities served by NYSEG. • Received a thank you note from Chemung County 4-H for supporting and encouraging local youth programs. AGENDA FOR THE TOWN OF ERIN BOARD MEETING JULY 8, 2026; 1. RESOLUTION 28-2026 APPOINT KIM TUTTLE AS COURT CLERK 2. RESOLUTION 29-2026 FOR SPECIAL PERMIT FOR SUBDIVISION ZONING DISTRICT AR DISTRICT (AGRICULTURAL-RESIDENTAL) FOR WILLIAM THOMAS RESOLUTION 28-2026 APPOINT KIM TUTTLE AS COURT CLERK Resolution By: A. Hughson Seconded By: W. VanRiper, Jr. RESOLVE, that the Town Board of Erin appoints Kim Tuttle as Court Clerk with no monetary compensation for the term ending December 31, 2026. Motion Carried: Ayes: W. VanRiper, Jr., R. Buzzetti, A. Hughson, M. Shutts, D. Schmidt. Nays: None. RESOLUTION 29-2026 SPECIAL PERMIT FOR SUBDIVISION ZONING DISTRICT AR DISTRICT (AGRICULTURAL-RESIDENTIAL) Resolution By: W. VanRiper, Jr. Seconded By: A. Hughson WHEREAS, the Town of Erin received an application from William Thomas of 455 North Greenbush Road, Erin, NY 14838 has submitted a request for a special permit to subdivide his 108.7-acre lot into 2 parcels. One parcel would be 3 acres which contains a pre-existing single-story house leavening a 105.7 parcel with an existing barn and other smaller out buildings as seen on the map and farmland. Tax Map Parcel Number 53-00-1-8.1 located in the AR District (Agricultural-Residential). As defined by Local Law No 10- 1992. And WHEREAS, this special permit application was referred to the Town of Erin Planning Board May 16, 2026 to make a recommendation on and to hold a preliminary the State Environmental Quality Review; and WHEREAS, the Town of Erin Planning Board after a public hearing and the State Environmental Quality Review on June 15, 2026 finds the following; 1. Is a Type 2 action and will not require further SEQR action. BE IT RESOLVED the Erin Town Board; does accept the findings of the Town of Erin Planning Board and does grant/deny the subdivision request of William Thomas. Motion Carried: Ayes: W. VanRiper, Jr., R. Buzzetti, A. Hughson, M. Shutts, D. Schmidt. Nays: None. COMMITTEE REPORTS Town Attorney- No report. Planning Board-Deda Cedar- The Town Attorney would like a highlighted copy of the changes to the zoning code. Local Law #10 of 1992 is currently called Comprehensive Zoning Plan and they would like to change it to Town of Erin Zoning Law. There is also an old zoning plan called the Erin Master Plan that needs to be removed. Talked about accessory dwelling units (ADU). Town Clerk will get a copy of ADU paperwork from Deda for the Board members after the meeting. Parks, Recreation and Senior Committee-Deda Cedar- The Senior picnic was today at Park Station. They are planning a trip to the Attica rodeo 8/8. Sewing class is going well. Asked about the removable tether ball for the Park. The insurance company needs to be contacted before a decision can be made. Discussed maintenance, security, and liability issues. Joe Frega - Wood Fest report – There were over 4,000 attendees at Wood Fest, 21 volunteers, and over 400 volunteer hours. Advertising was done with magazine, radio and printing. Biggest complaint was the dust from the road/parking. Talked about car show, vending, carvers, and parking. There are people in Town that would like to take the extra wood to burn, but due to the size it needs to be cut with a chainsaw. Harold will cut to length to fit on trailers for people to take. They would like to move forward with the walking trail. Brett Smith is able to do it with millings for $7500, but it needs to be prepped. It is on hold until they can figure it out. Can price out prep work, fabric, and stone for next meeting. Talked about trucking, hours, resources, and maintenance. Harold spoke about the playground at the Town Hall and the insurance inspection. Rust has to be sanded down and repainted, sod needs to be removed from under the swings, and woodchips brought in to put under the swings. Council Member VanRiper, Jr. found playground approved woodchips at McDonald’s for $55/yard. He measured it out at 80 x 70 x 10” deep – about $9515 for chips, paint and primer is $52/gallon. He reached out to a few boy scout groups to see if anyone needs volunteer hours. Mark Margeson suggested putting together a recreational facility plan (RPF) that would include the walking trail and the playground. Put an RFP together on what is wanted/needed including labor. The courtroom entry is finished. Will follow up with Judge Tuttle regarding what is needed to file the grant paperwork. Code Enforcement-John McCracken- The no gas hookup through the energy code for New York State has been put on hold. The court ruled in the State’s favor. New houses can hook up to gas, but there will be no gas appliances able to be purchased in New York State after 2027. He has one more section of town to do property maintenance inspections and issue appearance tickets. Highway Superintendent-Harold Spencer- They have been grading roads, putting down dust oil. Put 2,500 tons of gravel on Austin Hill. In August it will be oil and stoned. The 550 is at Ferrario with a wiring problem inside the motor. Waiting to hear back from the manufacturer. He has a check from the scrap yard. Asked if the check was received from the truck that was sold at the auction. He will follow up on that. He got prices on the tin for the garage. It’s $3.05/linear foot, 14’ sheets and need 27 sheets. Will need 44 sheets of insulation-$1055.12, tap screws are $50/box. Soil and Water will saw the boards for the slats. The Board approved to move forward with the project. Suggested getting a quote from B & B Custom Construction to do the labor. Council Member VanRiper, Jr. will contact him. The grader has a flat tire. It is at Parmenter’s and he will pick it up tomorrow. County Representatives- Mark Margeson- The budget process has started. The Legislature is not involved yet. The County Legislature is trying to eliminate Atlantic Aviation so Premier Aviation can have the airfield. The FAA is now involved. The County Executive is going to continue to run in the election. The Amazon project was started. The land was purchased without a PILOT. The train project is going well at the Holding Point. Talked about other projects going on in the County; the travel center, Dandy is expanding, Rural King, and other businesses that follow them, a coffee shop, and Chick-fil-A. Supervisor- Dawn Schmidt- May report from the Sheriff’s Department - 32 incidents, 3 traffic accidents, 1 felony arrest and 1 DWI arrest. Received a $1,200 rebate from Comp Alliance for minimum workplace accidents. Thank you to Harold and your team. Received a letter from the City of Elmira regarding the incident that happened in Elmira with the dog. The City Manager said they are working on it. There are concerns about failing quarterly inspections. There are several other towns that are in the same boar and there are other options. Harold Spencer – The State DEC will not allow concrete sea wall block to be put in the creek on Rorick Hollow Road. You have to use riff raff. The wall would be 70’ long x 6’ tall. It would be $9,000- $12,000 to repair. He will put creek gravel in to push it back from the road naturally. The Board agrees. HEARING OF THE PUBLIC Joe Frega- Asked about Church Street/Church Road where the State caused damage. Harold said they are not going to do anything about it. It pulled the top of the oil and stone off and that was all. Joe also talked about when the wires were being taken down from the poles and where it crosses over the creek by Laurel Hill Road, they are hanging across the creek. He contacted DEC today. He also contacted Spectrum, but they have not been out. With no further comments from the public Supervisor Schmidt closed this portion of the meeting. A motion was made by W. VanRiper, Jr. and seconded by A. Hughson to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 PM. Motion Carried: Ayes: W. VanRiper, Jr., R. Buzzetti, A. Hughson, M. Shutts, D. Schmidt. Nays: None.