If you’re trying to reach the town of Ripley, you’ll need to write down this number: (716) 413-8010.

Town of Ripley council members learned at their regular meeting that, after months of work, the new phone system is now in use.

After dialing the main number, the caller will have options to be transferred to various departments, such as 1 for the town clerk, 3 for the highway department, 5 for the town supervisor and 7 or 8 for water/sewer emergencies and highway emergencies, respectively.

Town Clerk Ryleigh Enterline and Deputy Clerk Nicole Gollhardt did extensive work to get the new phone system operational. Enterline noted the town will transition to the new number over a 30-day period, during which time people still use the old number.

Enterline said the new system gives the town many more options. “It’s nice — we can transfer people, put people on hold, and all sorts of things we couldn’t do before,” she said. “It will take a while to get used to it because we had the other system for decades.”

In other business, Town Supervisor Laura Pless submitted a letter of intent to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and state Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, asking that Ripley be recognized by the state as a pro-Housing Community.

Pless stated, ” We believe with all the potential growth happening in Ripley, it was important for us to approve the pro-housing community agreement. In addition, it provides the town with additional opportunities to apply for Grant funding.”

The pro-Housing Community Program, which was launched by Hochul last year, recognizes municipalities for their commitment to increasing the housing supply.

The program rewards municipalities that have “successfully unlocked housing growth or are committed to taking important steps to support housing,” according to the state description.

Municipalities in the program will be eligible for discretionary funding. Benefits to certified municipalities include priority consideration for state funds and incentives for housing growth.

Hochul is quoted as saying, “My administration is ready to work with any community that shares our determination to build safe, stable and affordable housing.”