RIPLEY — Town of Ripley Council members enthusiastically approved the appointment of Nicole Gerhardt as the sole assessor for the municipality at their meeting in February.

Gerhardt, who also serves as the Deputy Clerk for the town, has completed all of the necessary training for the position. The training process took nearly a year to complete. “Nicole has done all that she needs to do,” said Ripley Supervisor Laura K. Pless. “A lot of hard work went into this.”

In another matter, Pless updated council members on the progress of efforts to seek a collaborative grant with the Towns of Mina and Clymer to construct a facility to house stray animals.

Pless told council members that the grant application has been submitted and the municipalities are also in the process of seeking a County Shared Services Grant from Chautauqua County. “It is quite an undertaking, but it is something we have to do because it is state mandated,” Pless said.

The mandate requires that shelters are sanitary, ensure proper nutrition and that all animals receive appropriate veterinary care. “The state has pretty strict guidelines about how dogs can be sheltered,” Pless said.

If the grants are awarded, the municipalities will build a shelter at a central location that can be used by all of them, Pless said.

In a related matter, Pless reported that Ripley did not receive a consolidated funding grant for a zoning study. The grant was available through Environmental Protection Fund Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning Program which provides financial assistance to municipalities to update area plans and zoning codes. Only about 10 municipalities received the grant out of more than 65 applications, Pless said.

In her report Town Clerk Ryleigh Enterline reported the town has entered into the 1% tax bill penalty phase. After March 6, the penalty will go up to 2% on unpaid tax bills, she said.

Enterline also reported that renewed applications for property tax exemptions were due to the assessor by March 1 or the exemption will be removed.

In matters of personnel, council members approved the appointment of Scott Carnahan as Water/Sewer Laborer, effective Feb. 16. They also approved Thomas Brown to the Board of Assessment Review, effective from Feb. 12 through Feb. 12, 2032.

Pless noted, however, that there is another vacancy on the Board of Assessment Review. An advertisement for that position will be posted, she said.

Council members approved, with regret, the resignation of Gordon Carris as part-time cleaner. “Gordon has been a cleaner here for many years, longer than any of us have been here,” Pless said.