OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Arkwright Town Supervisor Brian McAvoy called for a public hearing on a short-term rental property law at the latest meeting of the Town Board. The public hearing is set for Sept. 11 at 7:45 p.m.

ARKWRIGHT — While nearby municipalities have taken plenty of time drafting a local law to regulate short-term rental properties, the Town of Arkwright has utilized their blueprints to move much quicker with its own law.

At the most recent Town Board meeting, Arkwright Supervisor Brian McAvoy asked his fellow board members, “Are you satisfied with this law in its current form – satisfied enough to call for a public hearing in September?”

Board members Bruce Gustafson, Larry Ball, and Chris Jackson all responded they are prepared to move forward. Board member Lynn Bedford was absent from the meeting.See The Town Board discussed a one-time $100 fee for a special use permit to register as a short-term rental property owner in the town. The Town Board has the authority to grant special use permits, contingent upon a review of the property by Code Enforcement Officer Ed Pagano.

“If they meet simple, minimal, common sense requirements, that’s all there is to it,” McAvoy said. “… We’re not nickel and dimeing anybody by any means at all. We’re just making sure it’s safe for the property.”

McAvoy stated in the past that the Town of Dunkirk’s local law was evaluated for suggestions to the Town of Arkwright. The Town Attorney of Arkwright tasked with drafting the law, Joe Calimeri, is also the attorney for the Village of Cassadaga, who has dealt with the same topic for over a year.

“We’re not doing anything that any of our neighbors aren’t doing. We’re not trendsetters by any means,” McAvoy said. “We’re just doing what we think we ought to do.”

The public hearing is set for the date of the next regularly scheduled meeting, Sept. 11, at 7:45 p.m., after the opening of the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m., as usual.