Southtowns Record

March 10, 2026 Minutes

Government
Town of Wales
Board
Town Board
Meeting
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
Minutes
Topics
Moratoriums, Energy and data center siting, Short-term rentals, Zoning and land use

Original document

Same meeting

Text · page 1 of 2

Town Board Minutes of March 10th, 2026
The meeting of the Wales Town Board was held on the 10th day of March 2026 at the Wales Community Center,
12345 Big Tree Road, Wales Center, New York.
  The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Tim Howard at 7:05 pm EST.
ROLL CALL: Taken at Public Hearing
  Supervisor Howard
  Councilman Gallo
  Councilman Newman
  Councilman Butcher
  Councilwoman O’Connor
Present: Wendel Engineering, Robert Klavoon (8) Residents whose names are on file.
INVOCATION: led by Councilman Butcher
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: led by Councilman Newman
ADOPTION OF AGENDA: MOTION # __By Councilman Butcher, second by Councilman Newman, approving the agenda.
Carried ayes-5 noes-0
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: MOTION # __ By Councilman Butcher, second by Councilwoman O’Connor,
approving the Town Clerk’s minutes of February 10th & 17th. Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS:
 Sheriff Deputy Matthew Malican - The sheriff's office oversaw eighty-four calls for service in the town of Wales, conducted thirteen
traffic stops, nine car accidents, one with injury: two reported cases of theft, and two arrests for DWI. The board inquired about
snowmobile accidents. I looked back to November 1st of last year. and zero snowmobile accidents reported.
 Executive Session
 MOTION # __By Councilman Butcher, second by Councilman Newman, to enter executive session at 7:10pm and returned
  at 7:20pm. Carried ayes-5 noes-0
  Supervisor Howard stated no votes or decisions were made during executive session.
OLD BUSINESS:
1.Intro. Local Law 3-2025-Local Law 3-2026 Comprehensive revisions to Chapter 200
MOTION # __ By Councilman Butcher, second by Councilwoman O’Connor, approving the final draft of Local
Law 3-2026 Comprehensive Code revisions to Chapter 200. Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
MOTION # __ By Councilman Newman, second by Councilwoman O’Connor, approving a Public Hearing on
Local Law 3-2026 on April 14th prior to the regular Town Board Meeting. Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
2. Intro. Local Law 4-2025–Local Law 2-2026 Short Term Rentals
MOTION # __ By Councilman Gallo, second by Councilwoman O’Connor, approving the final draft of Local
Law 2-2026 Short Term rental. Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
MOTION # __ By Councilman Butcher, second by Councilman Newman, approving a Public Hearing on Local
Law 2—2026 April 14th prior to the regular Town Board Meeting. Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
3. 13748 Big Tree Solar Project
 Robert Klavoon from Wendl Engineering stated we are not prepared to recommend approval yet. The host community
agreement needs to be negotiated between the applicant and the town. Once that's completed the board can then move
forward with approval also some outstanding fees that need to be paid by the applicant. We have drafted a Special Use permit
that contains forty conditions, some of them are construction oriented, some of them may need permits before the code
enforcement officer can issue a construction permit. This is more just for information at this point for future actions by the
board.
4. Approve Intro Local Law 7-2025 as Local law 1-2026 - 12-month Moratorium on Battery Storage
  RESOLUTION TO ADOPT LOCAL LAW INTRO. NO.1-2026

  A local law establishing a 12-month moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems facilities in the Town of Wales.
WHEREAS Local Law 1-2026 allows the Town Board to carefully consider adopting appropriate provisions to achieve these
purposes
WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was held on March 10, 2026, permitting public comment on Local Law 1-2026 establishing a 12-
month moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems facilities in the Town of Wales
NOW, THEREFORE, be it
RESOLVED, Local Law No.1-2026 is hereby adopted and shall become effective upon filing of the Local Law with the New
York Secretary of State.
Duly adopted this 10th day of March 2026
MOTION#__ By Councilwoman O’Connor second by Councilman Butcher approving Local law 1-2026 - 12-month
Moratorium on Battery Storage.
ROLL CALL:
  Supervisor Howard
  Councilman Gallo
  Councilman Newman
  Councilman Butcher
  Councilwoman O’Connor Carried. ayes-5 noes-0
5. Update on Dog Control
Daniel Whitehead, acting dog control officer, mentioned a situation with a sheriff officer being bitten during a traffic stop in
Wales, the owner of the dog is temporarily staying at town resident’s home. We are waiting for paperwork, so our judge must sign
the order. The court will review the case but there is a 30-day appeal process. Based on the circumstances, if the judge is willing to make