OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Brocton Deputy Mayor Bryan Woleben urged the Village Board to pursue grant funding for future water projects.

BROCTON — With the Central Avenue water project now complete, Brocton Deputy Mayor Bryan Woleben urged the Village Board to pursue grant funding through the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) program for the next big project on the horizon.

At a previous meeting, Highway Superintendent Ken Becker stated that Highland Avenue and Main Street are two areas the Village should be monitoring for potential improvements in the near future.

The Village is evaluating its potential for grant funding for improvements. The Village Board plans to discuss the matter further with Jody Falkner of J.F. Grant Consulting Services and is considering avenues with Municipal Solutions, as well.

The Village of Brocton and the Town of Portland have also been making progress on providing water and sewer to open lots at the Haywood Heights development site, located atop the hill behind the Country Fair store.

Revisiting another conversation at a previous meeting, Village Attorney Peter Clark has been in contact with Code Enforcement Officer Wendy Spinuzza regarding the property of 98 Old Mill Road that was destroyed in a fatal fire on Christmas morning.

Mayor Craig Miller spoke of the property back in March, describing it as “a terrible eyesore.” Debris has remained at the site since the blaze. Miller does not want to use taxpayer dollars to clean up the property, and the Village does not want to assume liability for the property.

“We’ll find a way, one way or another, to get it cleaned up,” Clark said. “I’ll figure a way out so we can get it done.”

The Brocton Fire Department responded to 28 calls in the month of May, including eight mutual aid calls and 13 emergency medical services calls. The Village Board declared a fire rescue truck as surplus and is set to receive $13,000 upon its sale.

Clark is also drafting a local law to address any conflict of interest when members of the Village Board vote on matters pertaining to the Fire Department. “It’s always going to be an issue in a small town like this,” Clark said.

Spinuzza issued five building permits and 16 violation letters in the month of May on behalf of the Village. Village Trustee Drew Ransom joked, “It looks like everybody had lawnmower issues.”

The Village also hired its summer recreation staff, including five full-time staff members. The program is held at Brocton Central School under the direction of Maleah Vazquez. The Village interviewed nine candidates for the positions and stressed the importance on safety, attentiveness and maturity because of the ongoing construction at Brocton Central School this summer.