Photo by Braden Carmen Tonia Wilson, shown at a Cassadaga Village Board of Trustees meeting, has resigned from her roles on the Planning Board and Ethics Committee.

CASSADAGA — Some of the village’s most contentious issues in recent months were addressed at a January meeting of the Board of Trustees.

To address the issue of the village’s short-term rental properties, the Village Board scheduled a special meeting on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. for the presentation of zoning review on such properties. The Village Board will review a draft of a short-term rental law.

In other news, Tonia Wilson submitted her resignation from the village’s Planning Board and the Ethics Committee. At a previous meeting, Wilson claimed she would step down from her positions if it was deemed a conflict of interest because of her husband Mark Wilson’s role as a village trustee. Three votes accepted her resignation with regrets, with her husband Mark abstaining from the vote. Trustee Cindy Flaherty was absent from the meeting.

“She worked very hard and contributed greatly,” said Planning Board Chairperson Nancy Wickmark of Tonia Wilson’s work with the Planning Board. Remaining planning board members after Tonia Wilson’s resignation include Wickmark, Peter George, Rodney Waite, and Todd Anderson.

Also at the meeting, Wickmark presented the board an annual report on the village’s Comprehensive Plan. As stated in the plan, the village’s mission “is to be a safe community that will retain its unique small-town character, is supportive of its local businesses, reflects a strong conservation ethic, protects and celebrates its rich local history, promotes recreation and is reflective of active, inclusive citizen participation and community pride.” Focuses of 2023 include the completion of zoning review and updates, the consideration of a Business Council, and historical preservation.

After a public hearing preceding the recent meeting, the Village Board of Trustees later adopted a local law to expand residency requirements for appointed village officials to include the townships of Arkwright, Charlotte, Pomfret, and Stockton. Village attorney Joe Calimeri stated it is common for small municipalities to open residency requirements because of a shortage of qualified residents or due to lack of interest in positions. The vote was unanimous among members in attendance.

No members of the public commented on the proposed law during the public hearing. The law will take effect immediately upon filing in the Office of the New York State Secretary of State.