Town Board minutes — May 13, 2026 (full text)

May 14, 2026 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING – EDEN TOWN BOARD 2795 East Church Street Eden, NY 14057 May 14, 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 (absent) MICHAEL BYRNES - COUNCILMEMBER (arrived at 6:56 PM) TIMOTHY WALKER - COUNCILMEMBER OTHERS PRESENT: Emily Hawkins - Town Clerk Marlene Grunder - Administrative Assistant to the Supervisor Lisa Winter - Bookkeeper Nicholas Blasz - Highway Superintendent Bill Trask - Town Attorney Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Minutes: #102-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Wilhelm to approve the Town Board Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2026 as written; seconded by Councilmember Walker; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Budget Transfers: From Account To Account Reason Amount A878.4 A7110.2 20" 10K Utility Trailer $5,111.00 Reserve - Rec Equipment Parks & Grounds - Equip per permissive referendum A7110.4 A7110.2 Cost of Legal Notice for Trailer $121.89 Parks & Grounds Contractual Parks & Grounds - Equip per permissive referendum SF3410.4 SF3410.2 Cost of Legal Notice for $119.30 Fire - Contractual Fire - Equipment Sutphin Fire Truck A2665 A878.4 Funds from Sale of 1996 New Holland Tractor $10,000.00 Sale of Equipment Reserve Rec Equipment to Reserve for Rec Equipment SF3089 SF3410.2 Forestry Grant for Gear & Equipment $3,500.00 State Aid Fire - Equipment SF915.2 SF3410.2 Forestry Grant for Gear & Equipment $3,500.00 Assigned Gear Fire - Equipment A889 A1420.4 Commercial Permit Fees Used Jan-April 2026 $2,112.50 Commercial Permit Fees Legal Eden Solar I & II A889 A8020.4 Commercial Permit Fees Used Jan-May 2026 $1,162.59 Commercial Permit Fees Planning Contractual Evergreen Acres WD#5 Fund Balance for Erie County Charge SW917 SW1989.405 Back $323.00 Fund Balance - Water County Charge Back WD#5 Commercial Permit Fees for National Grid A2115 A889 Project $10,000.00 Permit Fees Commercial Permit Fees A889 A2115 Return Unused Portion of Commercial $1,352.70 Reserve Commercial Permit Fees Commercial Permit Fees Permit Fees Kelly's Place A878.1 A4540.2 2025 Crestline Ambulance Purchased in January $224,350.00 Restricted Ambulance Reserve Ambulance Fund Balance Permissive Referendum was for General Fund Purchase 1

May 14, 2026 A915.5 Assigned Rec to A9950.9 Transfer out to Capital $166.00 for Swartz Field Project #103-2026: 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 214-295 $98,296.42 Fire 90-137 $44,167.98 Ambulance 62-87 $16,673.96 Water 4-6 $1,427.70 Street Lights 11-16 $5,968.88 Refuse 6-8 $129,684.78 Highway 93-126 $85,005.68 Drainage District N/A Capital H7110.2 3 $166.00 #104-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Wilhelm to approve the Audit of Bills as listed; seconded by Councilmember Walker; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Departmental Reports: Department reports for the month of May 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; Eden EMS, and Emily Hawkins, Town Clerk. All Department Reports are available to the public and on file in the Town Clerk’s office. East Eden Fire – Don Winkleman, Thank you for 60 years of service John McCarthy, Thank you for 45 years of service Councilmember Walker asked that the recent sales report from the Assessor’s Office add a column for “Fair Market Value” and that the Eden Police Department Report include all ticket breakdowns to equal the total number of tickets. Public Comment on Agenda Items Only: No public comment. Department Reports New and Unfinished Business: 1. Girl Scouts: The Girl Scout troops from Eden presented two ideas to help earn their next badge: building a “Little Free Library” and creating a community first aid kit to be located at Swartz Field. Both items would be built and painted by the Girl Scout troops, initially stocked by the troops, and then maintained and replenished by the community as needed. The Girl Scout troops will work with the Supervisor’s Office to develop a plan and finalize their request. 2. Dresher & Malecki – Annual Audit Report: Informational presentation from Auditors Drescher & Malecki LLP. Nicholas J. Patronik, CPA, and Erica M. Handley, CPA, presented information on the Town of Eden’s 2025 Independent Audit. Councilmember Byrnes arrived at 6:45 PM. 3. Grievance Day/Board of Assessment Review: Board of Assessment Review will hold Grievance Day on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 from 6pm-10pm in the conference room of the Town Hall. Call the Assessor’s office at 716-992-3408 opt. 7 to schedule an appointment. 2

May 14, 2026 4. Permission for Highway to Hang Hometown Hero Banners: #105-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to grant permission to the Highway Department to hang Hometown Hero Banners; seconded by Councilmember Walker; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 5. Polling Location Lease Agreement: #106-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the agreement between the Town of Eden and the Erie County Board of Elections for the 2026 Primary and General Election as presented; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 6. Support for High School Firefighter Education: A RESOLUTION REQUESTING STATE AND FEDERAL ACTION TO ESTABLISH HIGH SCHOOL FIREFIGHTER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS. WHEREAS, the Town of Eden relies significantly on the service and dedication of volunteer fire departments to protect life and property within the community; and WHEREAS, volunteer fire departments throughout New York State and the nation are experiencing ongoing challenges with recruitment, retention, and training of new members; and WHEREAS, providing structured firefighter education and training opportunities to high school juniors and seniors would introduce young people to public safety careers while addressing critical workforce shortages in fire service; and WHEREAS, integrating firefighter training into high school curricula would allow students to earn academic credit toward graduation while acquiring valuable life skills, leadership experience, and nationally recognized firefighting certifications; and WHEREAS, students completing such programs would enter volunteer and career fire service with foundational training already completed, resulting in significant cost savings for towns, villages and cities that would otherwise bear the expense of initial firefighter training; and WHEREAS, municipalities and career fire departments would benefit by hiring candidates who are already trained and certified, provided such candidates successfully complete all required New York State Civil Service examinations; and WHEREAS, New York State has previously demonstrated support for fire service recruitment and training though initiatives such as firefighter training stipends, grants and assistance programs; and WHEREAS, existing federal grant programs, including those administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provide a framework that could be expanded or adapted to support firefighter education programs within secondary schools; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Eden respectfully urges the New York State Legislature and the United States Congress to develop, support, and fund a comprehensive firefighter education program for high school juniors and seniors that integrates certified firefighter training into approved high school curricula, provides academic credit toward graduation, and creates a direct pathway into volunteer or career fire service; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such a program would strengthen public safety, reduce municipal training costs, and promote long-term sustainability of volunteer and career fire departments across New York State; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is hereby directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of New York, the New York State Legislature, the Town’s State and Federal representatives, and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). #107-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Walker to approve the Resolution as presented; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 7. Architectural/Engineering Consultant Agreement for Larkin Road Culvert: #108-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the Architectural/Engineering Consultant Agreement between the Town of Eden and Azar Design Co. for the Larkin Road Culvert Project; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 8. Ratify Schedule of Fees: #109-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to ratify the motion from April 22, 2026 to approve the changes to Section 108-3, Schedule of Fees, as presented effective July 1, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Walker; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 9. Fitness Trail Bid: Bids Received: L Phillippi Inc. - $34,600.00 Enders Contracting - $37,750.00 3

May 14, 2026 #110-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the bid from L Phillippi Inc. for the Swartz Field walking path in the amount of $34,600; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 10. Engage Legal Services of Ralph Lorigo: #111-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the Letter of Engagement from the Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo from his letter dated May 5, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: Ventry, Walker, Byrnes; Opposed: None; Abstain: Wilhelm; Motion carried 11. RIC Energy – 12 Month Extension on Obtaining Building Permit: Jim Taravella discussed the timeline for the solar project and explained that required work by the utility company has caused delays, putting the project behind schedule. Supervisor Ventry stated that an extension could be granted until December 31, 2026, at which time the Special Use Permit renewal would take place. Further discussion could then be held to determine whether an additional extension would be needed. #112-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to extend the requirement for the building permit to December 31, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 12. Waiver of 30-Day Municipality Notification of Liquor License – Schunk’s West Hill Grill 2.0 #113-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the Waiver of the 30-Day Municipality Nonfiction of Liquor License for Schunk’s West Hill Grill 2.0 located at 4274 Keller Rd. Eden who is applying for an on-premise liquor license; seconded by Councilmember Walker; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 13. Create Ambulance District Equipment Reserve: TOWN OF EDEN RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AMBULANCE DISTRICT (EQUIPMENT) RESERVE FUND UNDER SECTION 6-C OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW The town governing body of the Town of Eden duly convened in regular session on May 13, 2026 does hereby resolve as follows: SECTION 1. That there be and hereby is established a capital reserve fund in the amount of $49,559.30 plus interest earned January 2026 through date of transfer to finance the cost of equipment for the Eden Ambulance District SECTION 2. Such fund is to be known as the “Ambulance District Capital (Equipment) Reserve Fund of the Town of Eden.” 4

May 14, 2026 SECTION 3. Such funds are to be used for purchase of Ambulance District equipment as defined by Section 6- c.1.c of the General Municipal Law SECTION 4. That out of the total sum of $49,559.30 plus interest earned January 1 2026 through date of transfer held in the General Fund account A878.1, Emergency Squad Capital (Equipment) Reserve be and the same hereby appropriated for the “Ambulance District Capital (Equipment) Reserve Fund of the Town of Eden”, and the Supervisor of the Town of Eden is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to transfer said funds as outlined in this paragraph. SECTION 5. Such additional sums as may hereafter be appropriated shall become part of the fund. SECTION 6. The moneys of the fund shall be accounted for in a separate fund balance account. The Supervisor, in his/her discretion, may invest monies in the fund in the manner provided in Section 6-f of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. Interest earned and capital gains realized on investments accrue and become part of the reserve fund. Interest and gains on reserve fund balances “follow the principal.” If reserve fund cash is commingled with other moneys for investment purposes, the reserve fund must receive its prorated share of any interest or capital gains earned on the total investment SECTION 7. No expenditure shall be made from the fund except by authorization of the town governing body of the Town of Eden pursuant to the provisions of Section 6-c of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. SECTION 8. This resolution is subject to permissive referendum. #114-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Wilhelm to approve the resolution as presented.; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 14. Burials on Private Lands: #115-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to refer the request for legislation preventing burials on private lands to the Code Review Committee; seconded by Councilmember Byrnes; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 15. VFIS: #116-2026: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to approve the VFIS insurance for the Volunteer Fire Fighters in the amount of $3,219.00 effective July 1, 2026; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 16. Addendum to Vet Contract and Dog Redemption Fee Schedule: Emily Hawkins gave a detailed overview of the changes to the NYS Agriculture and Markets law requirements and their impact on the Towns dog redemption process. #117-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Walker to approve the second addendum to the 2026 Dog Shelter Lease Agreement between the Town of Eden and the Eden Veterinary Clinic as presented; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Changes to Dog Redemption Fee Schedule Redemption Fees: Day 1: $45 Subsequent Days: $40 Required Exam at Intake: (unless completed by DCO pending certification) $65.00 (healthy) $80.00 (sick) Deworming/Parasite Prevention: (upon arrival) $50 per dog up to 100# $100 per dog 101# plus Upon Expiration of Stray Hold (5/7/9 days Per NYS Agriculture and Markets Law Section 117) Distemper/Parvo Vaccination: $50.00 per dog Bordetella Vaccination: $60 per dog Rabies Vaccination: $35.00 per dog Additional required medical fees: Payments for additional required medical needs if the dog is deemed to be sick will be charged at the exact billed rate given by Eden Veterinary Clinic for services. 5

May 14, 2026 ***These changes are required due to unfunded mandates enacted by NYS*** #118-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Walker to Redemption Fee Schedule as presented; seconded by Councilmember Ventry; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. 17. Dog License Fee Schedule: Dog License Fees To be adjusted to the Standard Schedule of Fees WHEREAS, Section 108-3(G) of the Town of Eden Code provides for the Eden Town Board, by resolution, from time to time to establish the schedule of fees it shall deem necessary and appropriate for the proper administration of its dog licensing and dog control program, and authorizes the Town Clerk to collect and remit such fees consistent with the requirements of Article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Town Board of the Town of Eden does hereby amend the schedule of fees for dog licensing and dog control to be as follows, effective June 1, 2026: Spayed/Neutered* $12.00 Un-spayed/Un-neutered* $20.00 Purebred License Removed Surcharge per month for $5.00 – for each dog license Late renewal registrations *For Spayed/Neutered and Un-spayed/Un-neutered dog fees, there will be a $4.00 discount for seniors 65 years and older. ****Increase of $2.00 per license fee, senior license fees will receive a $4.00 discount, keeping license fees unchanged. #119-2026: MOTION was made by Councilmember Walker to approve the changes for the Dog License Fees as presented; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Supervisor’s Report • Community bike ride, May 31st, 6pm, about 9 miles through Eden starting and ending at Swartz Field Hearing of Visitors: Dan Malarkey – Comments on interest in Dog Control position when it becomes available #120-2025: MOTION was made by Supervisor Ventry to adjourn the meeting and enter executive session for legal purposes with Town Counsel; seconded by Councilmember Wilhelm; Ayes: All; Opposed: None; Abstain: None; Motion carried. Adjourned: 7:45 PM Respectfully submitted by, Emily Hawkins, Town Clerk 6