BROCTON — Village Attorney Peter Clark stated that while the process has been moving slowly, an unsafe property located at 26-28 East Main Street in Brocton “will be taken care of in due course.”

Several months ago, Clark summoned the property owner, Michael Bellando, to the State Supreme Court of Chautauqua County regarding the unsafe property, which was once a laundromat.

The property was cited for various code violations over several years, as it developed a sizable hole in the ceiling that allows rain to enter the building and damage its interior. Former Code Enforcement Officer Wendy Spinuzza stated in a violation notice that Bellando had “no intention” of repairing the structure. The lawsuit was filed in December to force the building to be repaired, and Clark is optimistic the repairs will proceed.

Clark stated at a recent Village Board meeting, “We’ll have a property that will be put back into condition that somebody will use on Main Street.”

Regarding another site in the village in need of improvements, 98 Old Mill Road, Clark is still awaiting the deed to the property to proceed. The village is looking into solutions to cleaning up the debris left at the site after a home was destroyed in a fatal fire on Christmas morning of 2024.

While the village has expressed a willingness to take over the site and handle preparations for a sale once it is cleaned up, the village would first need to obtain the deed to the land. Clark has had little contact with the owner of the property, who lives out of state, in recent months. Clark is looking into other legal avenues regarding the property. “One way or another, we’ll get there,” Clark said.

In the month of April, eight building permits were issued in the village, while two violation letters were sent.

The Village Board authorized Highway Superintendent Ken Becker to install a drainage system on Railroad Avenue to address flooding concerns. Becker also stated that the department is aware of fire hydrant concerns along Highland Avenue. He did not rule out installing new hydrants along the road.

Becker stated, “It has not gone unnoticed. We just haven’t figured out the exact steps to make it happen.”

Rich Lewis, Waste Water Treatment Supervisor and Town of Portland Supervisor, urged the village to look into grant funding opportunities to replace water mains along portions of Highland Avenue and Main Street. The water lines along those streets are the most in need of replacement in the village.

Three separate equipment purchases of more than $5,000 for each piece of equipment were approved for the Water and Sewer Treatment Facility. The purchases come from the funds budgeted for the Water/Sewer department.

The Village Board appointed Cynthia Furman as its new Youth Recreation Director for Summer 2026. Furman is a Brocton Central School physical education teacher. She was one of three finalists for the position, and Trustee Drew Ransom recommended her to be hired.

Furman replaces Maleah Vazquez as Youth Recreation Director at a rate of $18 per hour. Furman was approved to spend up to $3,000 remaining in the budget to purchase supplies for the summer program.

Brocton’s community yard sale initiative, “Arch and Seller Days”, will be Friday to Sunday, with Ryckman Park as a centralized location for residents to set up and sell goods. The park will be open to sellers all day.

The Village Board also expressed thanks to 16 residents who participated in the village-wide cleanup day earlier this month.

The next Brocton Village Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 at 6 p.m.