After a recent audit report from the State Comptroller’s Office cited the Town of Sheridan, Board Member Colleen Yerico said, “We’re going to chisel away at it and work hard on it. We’ll figure it out. We’re going to change a lot of policies and make it happen.”

The latest meeting of the Board featured more than a dozen resolutions, with the majority of them focused on smooth and transparent processes, as the Board has begun to follow through on Yerico’s comments.

Arguably the most notable of the items on the agenda was the Board’s approval to retain the services of Wright and Calimeri to proceed with legal action against the property owner of the former Pawn Starz building on Route 20. The property remains in disrepair after a fire destroyed the building in the summer of 2022.

Despite the Town’s best efforts, the property owner has refused to clean up the property and has not paid the fines levied against the property. The Board is authorizing Wright and Calimeri to file a motion with the New York State Supreme Court calling for the demolition, removal, cleanup and other necessary safety measures by legal remedy. The cost to the Town for Wright and Calimeri’s services will be $250 per hour, not to exceed $5,000. The funds were budgeted for in the latest Town Budget with the thought in mind.

The former Pawn Starz building on Route 20 has been in a state of disrepair since it burned down in the summer of 2022.

“This is going to be a long, drawn out procedure, unfortunately. The wheels of justice turn very slowly,” Town Board Member Joe White said. “It’s a step we need to take … and the least costly to the taxpayers.”

The recent Board meeting began with the adoption of new open floor rules for public comment, which dictate speakers to be called upon to address the Board, to clearly state their name for the record, and to be limited to three minutes or less. Without the rules clearly set forth at the previous meeting, the Town Board was interrupted repeatedly throughout the night.

After its recent audit from the State Comptroller’s Office, many policies of the Board have been updated. Among the recent updates includes monthly voucher and reimbursement policies, as well as a clearly stated intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Dunkirk regarding the Highway Department management and supervisory functions. Town of Sheridan Highway

Superintendent Jeff Feinen also serves as the Town of Dunkirk Highway Supervisor.

The State Comptroller’s Office cited the Town of Sheridan for discrepancies regarding the Highway Department, including Feinen’s health insurance reimbursement costs, which were also clarified by the Board at the recent meeting. Feinen’s health insurance costs for 2023 and 2024 were both clearly stated for reimbursement at the recent meeting.

“Thank you for clarifying that on Jeff’s behalf,” Sheridan resident Sue Bigler said.

“With the rest of the audit, we’re getting through it,” Yerico said. “We’re almost done.”

Even the air quality of the regular meeting site is being cleaned up, as a resolution passed to purchase a dehumidifier for the Community Center from Grainger at a cost of $2,109. The Community Center underwent substantial renovations in the past year, including mold remediation.

Also at the recent meeting, the Board set the rates for Sheridan Bay Park, not only for the season, but also for an early opening for the upcoming eclipse set to take place on Monday, April 8. The weekend rate from Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8 is $300, with electricity available for guests, but without water because of the risk of freezing. The seasonal rate is $2,995 for 50-amp service and $1,745 for 30-amp service, while weekly rates are $280, or $40 a night. The updated rates are a “huge decrease” from last year’s figures, according to Yerico.

The Board also approved Erie Coast Solar LLC to perform site work prior to being granted a Special Use Permit for its 2.2 megawatt solar energy facility on New Road to allow for trees to be cleared prior to the nesting of the long-eared bat species, as required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Town Board also accepted the Host Community Agreement between Erie Coast Solar LLC and the Town of Sheridan, while the Decommissioning Plan of the project is in its final stages before official Board approval.

The Town also approved a contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for police officers to provide security services for the Town Court when no Town Court Officers are available. The Town Court turned over $30,086 for distribution in the month of January.

The next workshop of the Town Board is March 6 at 7 p.m., with the next regular Town Board meeting set for March 13 at 7 p.m.