OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured is the site of 98 Old Mill Road, a Brocton home that was destroyed in a fatal fire on Christmas morning of 2024. The owner of the property reportedly plans to turn the property over to the village.

PORTLAND — The Town of Portland moved swiftly to find a replacement for Wendy Spinuzza following her retirement as Code Enforcement Officer.

After navigating the civil service employee process, the Portland Town Board has found its newest employee in charge of addressing violations in the town. At the latest Town Board meeting, Joshua Dobbs was hired as a town-wide provisional Inspection Officer to serve both the Town of Portland and the Village of Brocton.

Brocton Attorney Peter Clark plans to meet with Dobbs in the coming days to discuss ongoing matters in the Village. Among the most significant on the list is the cleanup of scorched debris at the site of 98 Old Mill Road, a home that was destroyed in a fatal fire on Christmas morning of 2024.

Clark recently got a verbal commitment from the owner of the property stating the deed to the land will be turned over to the Village. In turn, the Village will work to have the property cleaned up and rehabilitated for an eventual sale, which the Village hopes will reimburse the cost of the cleanup.

Also of note, the Town of Portland approved an increase of 30% to the total budget of the Village of Brocton Dog Control Officer budget line. The new amount, beginning Nov. 1, 2026 through Oct. 31, 2027, amounts to $4,657.50.

Portland also set its permit fees for principal use and large scale wind energy facilities. Application fees and building permits each cost $5,000, while special use permits cost $500 per megawatt of maximum capacity, and permits for electrical and fencing work cost $100.

The Town of Portland approved the Ahira Hall Memorial Library Board. The library is located in the Village of Brocton. Kathleen Thies is the new President; Stephanie Buck is the new Vice President; Jay Hardenburg returns as Financial Officer; Patricia Thompson returns as Secretary; Malinda Marsh fills Beth Jagoda’s term as Trustee; and both Charles Krauth and Nancy Hazelton return as Trustees.

Library Director Julie Morrison Putcher told the Brocton Village Board that the Library is pursuing a partnership with FeedMore WNY for a food truck carrying affordable, local produce for purchase. Brocton is defined as a target area for FeedMore WNY, with SNAP benefits accepted. The event would be held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday afternoons, beginning after Memorial Day, likely to be located at or near Ryckman Park.

“It sounds awesome. Thank you for looking out for the community,” Mayor Craig Miller said to Putcher.

The Library is also planning a foam and bubble party at Ryckman Park on Friday, Aug. 14. More information will be made available at a later date.

The Village Board also unanimously passed a resolution in support of increased aid to municipalities in the spirit of strengthening New York’s state-to-local partnership. The resolution stated, “New York’s strength begins in its cities, villages and towns.”

The resolution “applauds” Governor Kathy Hochul for reaffirming her commitment to invest in local governments by allocating an additional $100 million in temporary municipal assistance, just as she has for the past two years, in the statewide executive budget. The additional funding is to be used to “address fiscal challenges to maintain essential services for residents.”

The next Portland Town Board meeting is Wednesday, April 8 at 6 p.m., while the next Brocton Village Board meeting is Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m.