Town Board minutes — April 8, 2026 (full text)

April 8, 2026 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING – EDEN TOWN BOARD 2795 East Church Street Eden, NY 14057 April 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM This meeting was held in-person and virtually through GoToMeeting.com. The meeting link was made available to the public prior to the meeting. TOWN BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: RICHARD VENTRY - SUPERVISOR SUSAN WILHELM - COUNCILMEMBER VINCENT VACCO - COUNCILMEMBER MICHAEL BYRNES - COUNCILMEMBER TIMOTHY WALKER - COUNCILMEMBER OTHERS PRESENT: Marlene Grunder - Administrative Assistant to the Supervisor Lisa Winter - Bookkeeper Ronald Maggs - Highway Superintendent Bill Trask - Town Attorney Jennifer Johnston - Deputy Town Clerk Pledge of Allegiance #85-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Wilhelm to approve the Town Board Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2026 as written; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Budget Transfers: JCAP Funds for Air Conditioner & New Court A3021 A1620.4 Doors $13,619.00 Town Hall Court Facilities Contractual H5031 H7110.2 Swartz Project Legal Notices for CDBG Grant $297.53 Transfer In Swartz Park Project *Assigned Non Rec A915.6 (Police Tech Grant) Body Cameras & Evidence.com A3120.4 and Tasers $8971.77 *Assigned Sick Reserve General A915.3 for retirement sick time payout $25761.08 *Assigned Rec A915.5 (Swartz Project) to A9950.9 Transfer out to Capital $297.53 #86-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the Budget Transfers as listed; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Audit of Bills: FUND DESCRIPTION VOUCHER NUMBERS AMOUNT General 149-213 $104,804.79 Fire 62-89 $45,700.31 Ambulance 41-61 $29,816.82 Water N/A Street Lights 8-10 $1,592.96 Refuse 4-5 $7,477.00 Highway 67-92 28,125.51 Drainage District N/A Capital 1-2 297.53 #87-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Vacco to approve the Audit of Bills as listed; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 1

April 8, 2026 Departmental Reports: Department reports for the month of April were submitted by Rick Kirst, East Eden Fire Chief; Joseph Hart, Eden Fire Chief; Robert Lazarczyk, Eden Police Chief; Nicholas Blasz, Dog Control Officer; Glenn Christner, Code Enforcement Officer; Michael Rados, Assessor; and Emily Hawkins, Town Clerk. All Department Reports are available to the public and on file in the Town Clerk’s office. Public Comment on Agenda Items Only: No public comment. New and Unfinished Business: 1. Summer Recreation Maintenance: #88-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to add Tucker Jobe and Thomas Rasmus as summer seasonal maintenance workers at the rate of $18.50 per hour for up to 40 hour per week to be paid bi-weekly; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. #89-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve Chris Griffin’s rate of pay as $19.72 per hour as a summer maintenance crew leader from May 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026 to be paid bi- weekly; seconded by Councilmember Vacco; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 2. Leiland Bellomo Eden Fire Roster: Informational Leiland Bellomo is removed from the Eden Fire Roster and thanked for his service. 3. Special Use Permit - National Grid, Declare Lead Agency: SEQRA NOTICE OF INTENT TO SERVE AS LEAD AGENCY FOR NIAGARA MOHAWK POWER CORP d/b/a NATIONAL GRID SUBSTATION Whereas, the Town Board of the Town of Eden (“Town Board”) has received a Special Use Permit Application dated March 17, 2026, from Niagara Mohawk Power Corp d/b/a National Grid (“Applicant”), by and through its agent/attorney Ari M. Goldberg of Barclay Damon LLP, for the construction of a new electric utility substation located at 9733 Gowanda State Road, Town of Eden, New York (Tax Map Number: 253.00-1-9.121); and Whereas, the proposed substation will provide increased grid capacity, reliability, and resiliency, assuring continued provision of essential utility services to the Town; and Whereas, the subject property is situated within the Agricultural Priority Zoning District and involves approximately four (4) acres of ground disturbance on the parcel, along with realignment of existing transmission lines and installation of new sub-transmission connections; the site is previously disturbed as an agricultural operation and subdivision approval was obtained in May 2025; and Whereas, in accordance with the provisions of 6 NYCRR Part 617 (SEQRA), the Town Board intends to serve as Lead Agency for SEQRA review of this Unlisted Action and will determine if the proposed action will have a significant effect on the environment; and Whereas, the Lead Agency will undertake a coordinated review of this proposed action. Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Town Board hereby designates its intention to serve as Lead Agency for the proposed action and will circulate a Lead Agency Notice along with Part 1 of the Long Environmental Assessment Form and any other supporting documentation to all Involved Agencies. These agencies shall be given up to 30 days from the mailing of the Lead Agency Notice to consent. Interested Agencies will be given notice, but not required to consent pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.6. #90-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to appoint the Eden Town Board as Lead Agency for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corp d/b/a National Grid Substation; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 2

April 8, 2026 4. Swartz Field Sidewalk Bid: #91-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to accept the bid from L. Phillippi Inc. in the amount of $46,200.00 for the sidewalk at Swartz Field; seconded by Councilmember Vacco; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 5. Ron Magg’s Retirement: #92-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to acknowledge and accept Ron Magg’s retirement as the Highway Superintendent effective April 10, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 6. Highway Superintendent, Nicholas Blasz: #93-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to appoint Nicholas Blasz as Highway Superintendent at the yearly salary of $96,141.00 to be prorated to start date and paid bi-weekly effective April 11, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 7. Permission to Send Nicholas Blasz to Highway School: #94-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve sending Nicholas Blasz to Highway School; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 8. Proclamation Honoring Ron Maggs: Informational RESOLUTION HONORING RONALD A. MAGGS WHEREAS, Ronald Maggs has honorably served the Town of Eden residents for 30 years as the Highway Superintendent, WHEREAS, it all started with him picking up the keys at the police station and figuring out the location of the light switch at the Highway building, WHEREAS, plowing and maintaining roads, managing a crew, and keeping up with equipment are all part of the job. Ron also made an equipment rotation schedule, and a schedule for road maintenance to improve the efficiency, WHEREAS, he updated the cold storage building with new flooring, heat and installation to store the equipment and a mechanical and fab shop and added a new cold storage building to expand the Highway department, WHEREAS, Ron built positive relationships with all Town departments, other Highway departments and most importantly the residents of Eden, WHEREAS, if you call him Ronald, Ron, Ronnie or Mr. Maggs he is willing to lend a helping hand. He helps with the hanging of Hometown Hero banners, and Town Christmas lights. Ron is always willing to help a neighbor, WHEREAS, he was President of the Highway Association twice and was recognized for Attending his 25th Annual School for Highway Superintendents, WHEREAS, Ron may struggle with the computer, emails and waiting for the government procedures to go through, Ron is a great leader with a big heart, WHEREAS, his many contributions to the Town of Eden and his help to individual departments In the Town of Eden are deeply appreciated, join us in saying “thank you” to Ronald Maggs for his 30 years of service to our town and the Eden Highway Department, NOW, BE IT RESOLVED, that, by act of this Town Board meeting on April 8, 2026, we honor Ronald Maggs by presenting him with Eden’s “Key to the Town” as a thank you for his many years of service to the Town of Eden. 3

April 8, 2026 Supervisor’s Report • Supervisor Ventry reported that Erie County Legislator John Mills, declared a county proclamation on February 5, 2026 to recognize and honor the Eden Highway Department and Superintendent Ron Maggs for their dedication to public service and public safety. • Supervisor Ventry and The Board thanked Ron Maggs for his years of service, hard work, dependability, and dedication to the Town of Eden. Hearing of Visitors: None. #95-2025: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to end the Regular Board meeting at 7:00 pm; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Respectfully submitted by, Jennifer Johnston, Deputy Town Clerk 4