Eric Hawkins

Key discussions included public comments referencing participation in an Excelsior Society tour and the potential celebration of National Historic Preservation advocacy week in March 2026. The review of Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) applications was noted, with one application received past the deadline requiring discussion at a future meeting as no quorum was present for the draft minutes review. The Chair reported submitting the annual CLG report and noted that the CLG office requires closeout reimbursement documentation for the 2024 grant.

The meeting began with the annual meeting segment, which included the designation of Shimon Canal as a receiver of monies for various village accounts, including the Community Block Grant and trust accounts. Resolutions were passed to designate the first and third Mondays of each month as regular board meeting nights, with provisions for holiday scheduling, and to designate the Tioga County Courier as the official newspaper for legal notices. Appointments were made for acting village justice, court clerk, village historian, and deputy clerk treasurers. Further resolutions addressed the review of insurance policies, including flood insurance, the review of the County Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Village's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and the review of the status of all Village grants. A resolution established the mileage reimbursement rate at the IRS standard rate of 57.5 cents per mile. The board also established a policy for reviewing the Village procurement policy and mandated that the Wastewater Treatment Plant Commissioner and Director of Utilities review plant funding needs. A new personnel policy was established for handling personnel numbers and new hire interviews through a dedicated committee. Following the annual segment, the regular meeting commenced with public comment, where a representative from the Owego Rotary Club presented a proposal for centennial year projects to beautify the Marvin Park Pool, including a new, more visible sign.

The meeting commenced with a public comment session where a resident raised concerns regarding the condition of the Woodlawn Avenue playground field, specifically deep ruts caused by stuck mowers, and inquired about plans for equipment replacement, noting a grant application had been submitted. Another resident voiced strong opposition to any zoning changes or expansion into a hotel/motel use for 44 Front Street, clarifying their conditional support for permits focused only on community events like Strawberry Fest. Significant discussion centered on appointments to the Planning Board, including the introduction of Pat McHugh as a candidate for a vacated seat and the mention of Ben Almos as another potential candidate. Furthermore, a request was addressed concerning the temporary use of the Marvin Park pool for private swim lessons by an LLC owner while the OFA pool is closed for construction; this was preliminarily approved pending legal review and contract finalization. Updates were also provided on essential operational items, including necessary CPR certification training and delays in receiving equipment for pool regulation.

Key discussions during the meeting included a public comment requesting a "Do Not Enter" sign for the parking lot behind the theater due to safety concerns. There was also discussion regarding garbage pickup procedures at the homeless encampment, focusing on employee safety. Department reports covered utility figures, noting lower summer sewage numbers. A notification was received regarding a potential air facility registration, requiring consultation with process engineers. The board also discussed the Local Government Efficiency Program (LGEP) concerning contract flexibility and funding constraints. Major agenda items involved the potential part-time hiring of a qualified candidate, Cole Ladoucer, contingent upon academy completion and committee approval, to address immediate staffing needs within the Police Department. Furthermore, there was a motion and discussion regarding the purchase of a new Dodge Durango SUV for the Police Department using reserve funds, contingent upon verifying that the purchase adheres to competitive bidding procedures, as the current fleet requires replacement of aging Tahoe vehicles.

The discussion primarily focused on the environmental impact review for a proposed action, covering air emissions, flora and fauna, agricultural resources, aesthetics, land use, and historic/archaeological resources. The board considered a resolution to repeal and replace Chapter 126 of the building code related to historical information. A significant portion of the meeting addressed a proposed working family housing project involving 93 units, detailing potential sales tax and mortgage recording tax savings, job creation (construction and permanent), projected consumer spending, and sewer revenue impact. There was also discussion regarding drainage issues impacting a neighboring property and the need for a comprehensive stormwater pollution prevention plan. Furthermore, the board discussed potential locations for the police station, including co-locating with the fire station, considering the cost implications and security requirements, and the process for selling current village property, requiring adherence to fair market value through bidding. Finally, the status of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and a final report deadline were mentioned, alongside scheduling a public hearing.