Southtowns Record

Town Board minutes — August 18, 2026

Government
Town of Aurora
Board
Town Board
Meeting
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Roads and traffic

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 2 of 3

Town of Aurora | Work Session | August 18, 2026

Questions remain about the plans required from Hybrid Building Solutions. The Town needs New
York State stamped plans before a building permit can be issued. It was unclear whether Hybrid
provides the necessary plans or whether the Town will need to hire an engineer. Supervisor Snyder
agreed to clarify that directly with Hybrid.

The barn will be built at a new location near the highway garage, not on the footprint of the
existing structure. A survey has been ordered, and a buffer of approximately 10 feet from
neighboring property was discussed. The building is approximately 120 x 70 feet. The goal is to
prepare the pad and footers, with construction occurring in the spring.

Superintendent Gunner plans to use accumulated millings to build the subgrade, reducing project
costs. He expects the value of those millings can count toward the Town’s required 25% grant
match. A market value of approximately $12 per ton was discussed. Estimated materials were just
under $60,000, plus roughly $6,000 for equipment rental.

Because this is a buildings and grounds project rather than a highway expenditure, a separate
project line will be established as a capital project. Town labor, employee benefits and eligible
equipment usage will also be tracked as potential contributions toward the approximately
$121,000 local match.

3. Aurora Town Library, Landscaping and Procurement

The concrete sidewalk and accessible ramp at the Main Street Library were described as
deteriorated after decades of patching and water damage. The condition was characterized as
a safety and accessibility concern, particularly for wheelchair users. Three contractor quotes were
obtained and while the work had initially been anticipated to cost $15,000 to $20,000, the lowest
estimates were closer to $10,000.

Superintendent Gunner proposed using money currently allocated for the municipal
landscaping/flower project. Approximately $30,000 had been transferred for landscaping as a
hold over plan to address the Japanese knotweed found in the soil when the original plantings
occurred, but Superintendent Gunner did not expect to complete the full landscaping project
this year and suggested that some of that money be returned to the general buildings and
grounds line and use it for the library work.

That led to a lengthy discussion about the landscaping project itself. Superintendent Gunner
envisioned doing smaller sections as time allowed, beginning near the municipal entrance. Others
raised concerns that dividing a larger planned landscaping project into smaller purchases could
appear to circumvent the Town’s procurement requirements. There was agreement that the Town
should first have a clearer landscaping design and then determine the proper purchasing process.

Councilmember Armbrust also raised a potentially significant issue with the library project:
replacing the existing ramp may trigger current ADA requirements. Before choosing a contractor
or approving the existing quotes, the Building Department will need to determine whether the
current configuration complies and whether reconstruction would require a different ramp design.
Several councilmembers stressed that the finished ramp needs to be genuinely usable, not merely
technically compliant.

4. Baseball Field Lighting Project

Superintendent Gunner presented an engineered lighting layout that showed the location of the
new field lights and the distribution of light across the field. The proposed poles are approximately

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