Portland seeks grant funds for court upgrades
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PORTLAND -- The Town of Portland is seeking grant funding for upgrades to its Justice Court. At a recent Board meeting, the Portland Town Council authorized the Justice Court to apply for a Justice Court Assistance Program grant of up to $30,000.
Town Court Justice Daniel Larish submitted a proposal to the Town Board seeking commitment from the Town to pursue the grant for upgrades centered around security. The Town Court is eyeing three security cameras, along with call boxes for entry, a video display screen in the office, and tinted windows. Larish received an estimate of the cost between $25,000 to $30,000.
If the grant application is approved, the Town will pay for the upgrade upfront, then will be reimbursed fully once the grant is applied. The Town will utilize court funds to cover the cost until the reimbursement is received.
The Town is also seeking grant funding for a salt shed for the Highway Department. Cassandra Pinkoski, Grant Specialist from the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, assisted the Town in preparing a grant package. The County would pay 75% of the total cost, amounting to $433,700, while the Town would pay the remaining balance of $108,425. The Highway Department could potentially handle some of the work associated with the project to lessen the total cost.
Two solar energy projects in the town are moving along, according to Town Supervisor Rich Lewis. Projects are located on Fay Street and Pecor Street. Another project is eyed by Dispatch Energy, with hopes to revive the plans for a solar power facility on Felton Road.
The Board approved the part-time hire of former Code Enforcement Officer Wendy Spinuzza to assist the Town with code-related matters on a temporary basis. Spinuzza is filling in for Josh Dobbs, who is out on medical leave. Spinuzza will work no more than 10 hours per week for $50 per hour, plus mileage. Lewis stated that without an acting Code Enforcement Officer, there is a "bottleneck" on projects requiring a permit to proceed.
The Town Board also approved the hire of Hope Larish as Deputy Clerk, in place of former Deputy Clerks Roxanne Sobecki and Carolyn Magnuson.
The Town is in the process of updating its dog control facility. The State has updated its rules and regulations that govern dog control statewide, and the Town is waiting to get all of the specifications for a new shelter approved before undertaking the project.
A public hearing for a local law governing dog control in Portland was set for the next meeting of the Town Board in October. Another local law, related to notification pertaining to road hazards, will also be held at the October meeting.
Several members of the public also spoke at the recent meeting in opposition to a data center coming to the town. Following an inquiry by the owner of the former Sugar Hill Golf Course on Route 5, the Town Board issued a resolution in general support of the concept, if all rules and regulations were followed. No proposal was made, and a statewide moratorium on data centers has since been established by an executive order from Governor Kathy Hochul.
The next Town of Portland Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall and Court.