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Town Board Minutes of July 14th, 2026 The meeting of the Wales Town Board was held on the 14th day of July 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 7:00 pm EST. ROLL CALL: Supervisor Howard Councilman Gallo Councilman Newman Councilman Butcher Absent Councilwoman O’Connor Present: (3) Residents whose names are on file. INVOCATION: led by Supervisor Howard PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: led by Councilman Gallo ADOPTION OF AGENDA: MOTION # __By Councilwoman O’Connor, second by Councilman Newman, approving the agenda. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: MOTION # __ By Councilman Newman, second by Councilwoman O’Connor, approving the Town Clerk’s minutes of June 9th. Carried. ayes-4 noes-0 INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None OLD BUSINESS: 1. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Councilman Newman is working on following Colden’s Law. They ‘re still reviewing and it could be finalized in the next few months. Supervisor Howard said we should make a motion to table until the next meeting. MOTION#__By Councilman Gallo, second by Councilman Newman, table until next month. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 Dog Control 2. Dan Whitehead said he has contacted the town of Cheektowaga and Grand Island. We are trying to get a kennel contract with one of them. In contract with Mary Healy from the Ag & Market; she thanked me for the update. She is being very patient, knowing we’re working on it. My research shows that a private kennel like the one on Grand Island is going to be more expensive than the municipality. It maintains a kennel on government funds rather than personal funds. So, it would be easy for a town to work with another town. 3. Discuss Amending Short Term Law and table short-term rental application Supervisor Howard said after talking with the town attorney, she suggests that we table the STR and application as well as seasonal residences. MOTION#__By Councilwoman O’Connor, second by Councilman Gallo, table the STR and application as well as seasonal residences. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 4. Expenses from the 250th Anniversary Celebration Supervisor Howard said we hosted breakfast and the community prayer service in the morning on Sunday. Coffee, juice, bananas, apples, and donuts. Councilwoman O’Connor had expense for $126.31. MOTION#__By Councilman Gallo, second by Councilman Newman, approving Councilwoman O’Connor’s expenses for $126. 31. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 Mike and Kathy Lewandowski were the recipients of the $250 prize, being the only applicants. They were very grateful and plan to donate the prize money to the fire department. MOTION#__By Councilwoman O’Connor second by Councilman Newman, approving the $250.00 payment to Mike and Kathy Lewandowski. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 Supervisor Howard said tomorrow night at 7 o'clock, we have a wrap-up meeting with the town of Marilla. According to the contract that we had signed with them in January, there had to be a breakdown of all the expenses we had committed to paying. Not more than $10,000, as it was clarified, but they still have to do a breakdown. Both the expenses as well as any revenues that were generated might potentially offset the total amount that we have to pay. Until they do that, we will not be making a motion or paying anything toward that $10,000. 5. Approval of a permit fee for New Energy Solar Supervisor Howard said, comparing the surrounding towns the building permit fee for solar installations should be set at $2,500. The Building Inspector agrees. MOTION#__ by Councilwoman O’Connor, second by Councilman Newman approving the solar permit fee for $2500.00 Carried ayes-4 noes-0 NEW BUSINESS 1. Town Insurance Renewals Supervisor Howard stated the insurance broker reported a slight increase of 13%, primarily due to adding a new 2025 truck and the 2018 pickup. It was noted that insurance rates have gone up. That was the only policy that increased. The equipment and vehicle policy. MOTION#__by Councilwoman O’Connor, second by Councilman Gallo approving the insurance policies for 2027. Carried ayes-4 noes-0 2. Request for Highway Superintendent to attend Fall Conference (this is a budgeted item) MOTION#__by Councilman Gallo, second by Councilman Newman approving Highway Superintendent to attend Fall Conference (this is a budgeted item) Carried ayes-4 noes-0