OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured is the current state of 98 Old Mill Road, a Brocton home that was destroyed in a fatal fire on Christmas morning.

BROCTON — From Christmas to July, the site of a fatal fire has left scorched debris sitting in a residential neighborhood along Old Mill Road in Brocton.

The village is evaluating its options for how to clean up the mess. The Village Board and Village Attorney Peter Clark continue to seek a resolution on the matter.

“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.”

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, and there is a sizable hole where the house used to stand. The Village Board does not want to take on the cost for the cleanup or assume liability for the property.

“It’s in a residential area. My heart goes out to the residents who have to look at that and drive by it every day. It’s beyond an eyesore,” Village Board member Kari Doino said.

Clark is in contact with the Chautauqua County Department of Finance regarding the property. Clark and the Village Board seek clarity regarding the financial burden that would be assumed if the Village were to take action on the property.

A similar case is nearing resolution in the town of Sheridan after a former pawn shop burned down in the summer of 2022. The site is finally nearing a cleanup after three years of legal battles with the former owner who refused to clean the site. The Chautauqua County Land Bank, the County Legislature, and the County’s Real Property Tax recovery procedures assisted the Town of Sheridan in the process.

The Village of Brocton is hopeful that a resolution to its fire damaged site will be reached in the coming months.

The Village Board also enacted a local law to address any potential conflict of interest for members of the Board to vote on matters pertaining to the Brocton Fire Department. Both the Mayor, Craig Miller, and Deputy Mayor, Bryan Woleben, are members of the Brocton Fire Department, a volunteer organization. Former Village Trustee Ed Bellando previously took exception with their voting on matters pertaining to the Fire Department on several occasions.

The local law states, “a member of the Village Board, or Mayor, who are members of the Village of Brocton Fire Department shall not automatically need to recuse themselves from voting on Fire Department issues.” The resolution will also be appended to the Village of Brocton Code of Conduct.

The Village Board enacted the law, in part, to encourage membership with the Fire Department. With fire departments and local governments all across the region facing challenges to attract dedicated members, the Village Board does not want to limit its pool of candidates to members who are not interested in volunteering with the Fire Department.

Also of note, six building permits were issued in the month of June, along with 17 violations. Also of note, the Village’s Summer Recreation Program is serving between 28-39 children each day.