OBSERVER Photo by David Prenatt Mikayla Certo, community project coordinator at the Chautauqua County Health Network.

RIPLEY — A walkability study will soon be conducted in the town of Ripley by the Chautauqua County Health Network, board members learned at their regular May meeting.

The Chautauqua County Health Network, whose purpose is to identify and promote healthy lifestyles, will conduct the study and provide a report to the town board, said Mikayla Certo, community project coordinator at the Chautauqua County Health Network.

“Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is for walkers,” Certo said. “A team of students will cover a mapped out area, addressing such questions as: how are the sidewalks? How are the intersections? What is the traffic like? How accessible are buildings? And are there particular safety concerns that should be addressed?”

In addition to the walkability study, the Chautauqua County Health Network will be conducting a Community Conversation on Thursday, June 20 at Meeder’s Restaurant from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“The purpose is to get input on how CCHN can best support the school and community,” Certo told the board. “We want to know how we can make Ripley a safer, healthier place to live,” she added.

In other matters, town Supervisor Doug Bowen asked for board approval for a letter to ConnectGen. Representatives from ConnectGen gave Ripley residents and town board members a presentation on their proposed South Ripley Solar Project at their April meeting, Bowen noted.

The letter to ConnectGen will state that the Town of Ripley is aware of the project details and aware that ConnectGen intends to submit a proposal to NYSERDA, seeking grant money, Bowen told the board.

Bowen also requested board approval for a letter to Quincy Cemetery Association regarding East Ripley Cemetery, Bowen said. The town will be asking for guidance and leadership because the trustees can no longer look after the East Ripley Cemetery, Bowen said. “We will ask if Quincy would consider bringing the two cemeteries under one board,” he added.

The town board subsequently approved the letter to ConnectGen and the letter to Quincy Cemetery Association.

In other business, Bowen received board approval to submit an application through the Rural Development “Community Facility Program Loan/Grant for the Purchase of Road Maintenance Equipment” for the purchase of a new highway plow truck.

Bowen noted that grant funding can run from 15% to 75%.

The board also approved the engineering agreement between the town of Ripley and Clark, Patterson, Lee for the Belson Creek Diversion Structure Repair. “The town has received funding commitments from Rural Development for this project,” Bowen said.

Deputy Supervisor Mike Rowe addressed the board about a resolution for grant submission through the “Western New York Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Smart Growth Community Fund.” Rowe noted that one grant is given to each region in New York State. “So the odds of getting it are slim,” Rower said.

Rowe told the board that the Ripley Main Street plan is part of this submission, as well as 15 houses that need upgrading, and several other projects. “We can put together a darn good proposal,” Rowe said. The board approved the resolution for grant submission.

In other business, Bowen spoke to the board about the consolidated fund application (CFA), noting that applications must be submitted by July 26. The board agreed to set a public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Infrastructure Grant Application. This concerns the sewer main replacement on Main Street, Bowen said. “The last two years we applied and didn’t rank high enough,” he added.

In another matter, planning board member Shelly Spacht told the board that three committee members went to Houghton College on May 9 for the Annual Local Government Conference. She said they attended three sessions of training: changes in SEQR, Hot Button 101 for planning board and zoning board members, and industrial hemp planning. “We received a lot of information about where we can obtain information — who to contact and who can help us,” Spacht said.

The board approved several other resolutions, including a job posting for two summer rec employees and the awarding of the bid contract for Water 5 materials to Lock City Supply, Inc.