Webster Town Board
February 19, 2026
A regular meeting of the Webster Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Scialdone at
7:30 p.m. at the Webster Town Board Meeting Room, 1002 Ridge Road, Webster, New York,
with the following officials present:
Supervisor ......................................................................... Alexander B. Scialdone
Councilman....................................................................................... John J. Cahill
Councilwoman...........................................................................Jennifer S. Wright
Councilman.............................................................................. Nicholas E. Hunter
Councilman................................................................................ Garrett J. Wagner
Attorney for the Town .........................................................................Kyle Taylor
Town Clerk .................................................................................. Danene M. Marr
Department Heads Present:
Finance Director ..................................................................................Paul Adams
Highway Superintendent ................................................................... Pat Stephens
***
Supervisor Scialdone led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
***
Supervisor Scialdone and Deputy Supervisor Hunter read and signed the following proclamation:
Proclamation in Recognition of Black History Month
WHEREAS, Black history in the United States is comprised of an extensive collection of
stories, leaders, and traditions that are critical to our national identity. It remains important to
acknowledge the individuals and accomplishments that helped to found, build, develop, and
improve our nation; and
WHEREAS, the designation of a time period to celebrate Black history began in 1926, with the
intention of highlighting vital aspects of the American experience that academia had long
neglected. In 2026, Black History Month is an annual effort to continue this tradition and build
on years of work to add the realities of the Black experience to collective public memory. The
significance of this month echoes far beyond the teaching of history in classrooms; and
WHEREAS, 2026 not only marks a century of this coordinated effort to highlight black history,
but also 250 years since the independence of the United States of America. America’s story is
incomplete without acknowledging the massive role that African Americans have in it; and
WHEREAS, each February, we recognize Black History Month and appreciate the many
achievements of African Americans in science, the arts, religion, public policy, and every facet
of society beyond; and
WHEREAS, the tradition of abolition and progress sustained in this region lives on today. From
ensuring that the promises of the Constitution apply to all citizens, to the Civil Rights movement,
the White House, and beyond, we revere the contributions of the Black community:
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, on this nineteenth day of February in the year
2026, on behalf of the Webster Town Board and the entire Webster community, we recognize
the indelible achievements of the Black community and commemorate Black History Month in
Webster.
Alexander B. Scialdone, Town Supervisor and Nicholas E. Hunter, Deputy Town Supervisor
***
The meeting was open to the floor for public comment and the following Webster residents
appeared before the Town Board.
Chris Nacca, a Webster resident, came before the Board and raised two main points. First, Mr.
Nacca suggested reconsidering the public comment format by allowing or encouraging speakers
to comment at the end of meetings, possibly with a sign-in option indicating whether someone
wants to speak at the beginning or end, to encourage attendees to stay for the full meeting.
Second, Mr. Nacca expressed concerns about proposed Verizon cell towers in Webster.
Although only a small number of homes would be directly affected, he argued this sets a
precedent and imposes impacts on residents who are not Verizon customers. Mr. Nacca
acknowledged conflicting public opinions about 5G safety but emphasized that, regardless of
scientific accuracy, residents’ fears and stress are real and affect their quality of life. He urged
the Town to be sympathetic to affected residents and to encourage companies to offer some form
of compensation or benefit to those living near the towers, rather than adding another source of
stress to people’s daily lives.
Peter Weishaar, a Webster resident, came before the Board in opposition to the Montante Solar
Project at Xerox, focusing on concerns about noise and maintenance from solar inverters. Mr.
Weishaar noted that a previous demonstration involved only three inverters, while the current
proposal would include 18, significantly increasing potential noise impacts such as humming,
buzzing, fan noise, and high-pitched whining. Mr. Weishaar emphasized that these sounds could
be disruptive, especially during startup and shutdown in the morning and at night.
Mr. Weishaar also raised concerns about unintended consequences, including who will be
responsible for ongoing maintenance and cleaning of the equipment, noting that inverters require
regular upkeep and will be exposed to dust and debris. Mr. Weishaar questioned the plan for
fixing problems when equipment fails and argued that assurances dismissing concerns overlook
real impacts, particularly for residents sensitive to noise.
Dr. Alice Pena, a Webster resident, came before the Board, in opposition to the Montante Solar
Project at Xerox. She stated that decision-makers must balance clean energy benefits with
residents’ quality of life and peace of mind, emphasizing their duty to protect public health and
safety.
She cited speculative health concerns associated with living near solar farms, including
electromagnetic hypersensitivity referenced by the World Health Organization, and noted that
some studies recommend maintaining distance due to possible long-term effects. She also raised
environmental concerns about toxic substances in photovoltaic panels (e.g., cadmium, lead,
selenium) potentially leaching into soil and waterways if panels are damaged by storms or
mishandled.
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Additionally, she highlighted noise impacts from inverters and transformers, noting that lowfrequency hum is harder to mitigate and may require full enclosures, and that battery storage
could lead to nighttime operation and noise. She concluded by questioning what tangible
benefits the project would provide to nearby residents and the broader taxpaying community of
Webster.
Mark Williams, a Webster resident, came before the Board to dispute claims made by Montante
that contamination at the former Xerox Brownfield site is being well managed, arguing the
remediation system is less reliable than presented. Mr. Williams explained that off-site
contamination is prevented primarily by underground bedrock trenches with recovery wells that
capture and pump contaminated groundwater for treatment. Contrary to claims that the system
operates continuously. Mr. Williams cited Haley & Aldrich annual engineering reports
documenting multiple system failures.
Mr. Williams described a 2023 incident in which a monitoring trigger well exceeded
contamination thresholds for the first time since 2011 due to extended downtime of pumping
wells caused by corroded conduits and a broken pipe, resulting in month-long outages. He also
noted a significant decline in groundwater pumping from the hazardous landfill since 2022,
reducing contaminant control, and criticized the State regulator’s response of merely monitoring
the issue, referencing New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Additional concerns included the aging and cracked asphalt cap over the landfill, which is
intended to prevent rainwater from worsening contamination; Mr. Williams stated that adding a
thin new asphalt layer is unlikely to be durable. He warned that constructing a solar facility over
the capped landfill would make future repairs difficult, could allow more rainwater infiltration,
further stress already compromised pumps, and potentially cause settling under heat and added
structural loads.
Councilman Cahill thanked the speaker for providing documentation and noted the value of
independent information, asking about Mr. Williams’ background; to which he stated he worked
at Xerox for 40 years.
Dennis Gorlick, a Webster resident, came before the Board and outlined his scientific
background, including research training and appointments at Columbia University and Princeton
University, and noted their recent appointment to the local Conservation Board. Mr. Gorlick
stated he did not yet have conclusive information on health effects related to remediated
Brownfield sites.
Mr. Gorlick summarized findings from a 2025 literature review by the Louisiana Solar Energy
Lab on acoustic impacts of solar power facilities. The review found that although some
equipment can be loud at the source (up to ~90 dB), noise attenuates rapidly with distance: at
~100 feet levels drop substantially, and by ~200 feet even worst case low-frequency noise falls
below typical audibility thresholds. Mr. Gorlick concluded that, at sufficient setback distances
(around 140–200 feet), solar facility noise is generally minimal and often not perceptible and
offered to share the research with interested parties.
***
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Resolution No. 89: MOTION by Supervisor Scialdone, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
approve the February 5, 2026 Town Board Workshop Meeting Minutes as submitted by the
Town Clerk.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 90: MOTION by Councilman Wagner, seconded by Councilwoman Wright, to
approve the bills as submitted in Warrant #0226A by the Director of Finance.
Fund
General (A,B) #0442-0642
Highway (C,D)
Sewer (G)
Library (L)
Drainage Districts (M)
Park Districts (P)
Trust & Agency (T/A,N/SF,T/T, WEMS)
Capital Projects (H) #011-012
H231 WWTP Upgrade Phase II
H232 Highway Garage Building
TOTAL
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Inside
204,285.19
445,290.29
68,304.32
47,252.05
0.00
900.00
0.00
Outside
308,389.65
87,966.21
180,650.14
15,175.07
2,092.32
0.00
4,933,491.08
Card/ACH
Total
6,346.23 519,021.07
8,174.29 541,430.79
1,231.00 250,185.46
0.00
62,427.12
0.00
2,092.32
0.00
900.00
0.00 4,933,491.08
3,975.00
700.28
770,707.13
0.00
0.00
5,527,764.47
0.00
3,975.00
0.00
700.28
15,751.52 6,314,223.12
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 91: MOTION by Supervisor Scialdone, seconded by Councilman Hunter, to
approve the prepaid vouchers included in Warrant #0226A by the Director of Finance in the
amount of $5,527,764.47. [Included in the summary of vouchers approved in Resolution #90]
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 92: MOTION by Supervisor Scialdone, seconded by Councilwoman Wright, to
approve purchase orders as submitted by the Director of Finance.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
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Supervisor Scialdone explained the following Resolution to remove the agenda item authorizing
an updated engagement letter with the Town’s labor attorney, Balaños Labor Law, PLLP. Upon
review, the individual who was going to be subcontracted through the firm agreed to contract
directly with the Town instead, making the engagement letter unnecessary. It was clarified that
this specific Resolution will not return, though a different Resolution could come back if the
Town later decides to contract directly with the firm.
Resolution No. 93: MOTION by Supervisor Scialdone, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
strike from the agenda* the authorization of the Town Supervisor to sign an updated
engagement letter with the Town’s labor attorney, Bolaños Labor Law, PLLP.
*This was formally removed and will not be pursued at this time.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Representatives Jason Mollner and Jon Miller from MS Consultants, LLC discussed signing an
engagement letter for Federal Tax Credit Compliance Services related to a Renewable Natural
Gas (RNG) project. MSC will handle Phase One, which includes reviewing prior assessments,
confirming eligibility for the Federal Tax Credit, and performing a preliminary 80/20 test to
ensure at least 80% of project costs are for new investments. The 80/20 test is expected to
account for roughly 70–75% of Phase One costs, and MSC will provide valuations for older
components if the Town cannot. Phase One is targeted for completion by late March 2026, and
the Town can halt the process without further expense if the 80/20 test fails.
Council members raised concerns about open-ended contract language allowing MSC to use
third-party providers and a liability cap inconsistent with public entities. MSC agreed to remove
the problematic provisions and clarify responsibilities. The engagement letter will be approved
contingent on these revisions, including confirming that the 80/20 test accounts for 70% of Phase
One costs and defining the roles of the Town and MS Consultants, LLC in valuing components.
While some Council members expressed caution about committing to design costs before tax
credit outcomes, others emphasized the potential financial benefits, including RNG revenue and
Federal credits, making the project a significant opportunity for the Town.
Resolution No. 94: MOTION by Councilwoman Wright, seconded by Councilman Wagner, to
authorize the Town Supervisor to sign an engagement letter with MS Consultants, LLC to
provide Federal Tax Credit Compliance Services related to the Renewable Natural Gas
component of the Wastewater Treatment Plant project for an amount not to exceed $121,500.00.
WHEREAS, authorization is contingent upon Section 7u being struck from the terms and
conditions of said contract; and
WHEREAS, authorization is contingent upon the 80/20 rule completion being 70% of the overall
cost of Phase One, which is between $18,000 and $22,000; the contract not advancing beyond
Phase One and the Town not being responsible for any fees beyond the cost of Phase One if the
Town fails the 80/20 rule; and
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WHEREAS, authorization is contingent upon the Town and MSC clarifying the roles that the
Town and MSC will play in establishing the value of the components that go into the 80/20
analysis; and
WHEREAS, authorization is contingent upon the discussion and finalization of the engagement
letter occurring between the parties by February 27, 2026:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
To authorize the Town Supervisor to sign an engagement letter with MS Consultants, LLC to
provide Federal Tax Credit Compliance Services related to the Renewable Natural Gas
component of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project for an amount not to exceed $121,500.00
[Contract to be filed in Town Clerk’s Office]
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Nay
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 4-1
***
Resolution No. 95: MOTION by Councilwoman Wright, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
authorize the Town Clerk to advertise and the Highway Department to solicit requests for
proposals to provide construction administration services for the Salt Barn and Washout Building
Project. Advertisements to be in the Webster Herald on Wednesday February 25, 2026, with
proposals to be opened on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 96: MOTION by Councilwoman Wright, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
authorize the Town Clerk to advertise and the Highway Department to solicit requests for
proposals to provide professional construction management services for the Salt Barn and
Washout Building Project. Advertisements to be in the Webster Herald on Wednesday
February 25, 2026, with proposals to be opened on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 97: MOTION by Councilman Hunter, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
authorize the Town Supervisor to authorize the Town Supervisor to sign the Houstin Casualty
Cyber Insurance Application to renew the policy for the period covering March 18, 2026 –
March 18, 2027 at a premium cost of Thirty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Dollars and
Eighty-Nine Cents ($38,840.89).
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[Contract to be filed in Town Clerk’s Office]
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 98: MOTION by Councilman Cahill, seconded by Supervisor Scialdone, to
approve the following items for recycling from the Sewer Department:
• Horizontal Band Saw
• Gas Meter
• Flow Meter
• Circulation Pump
• Circulation Pump
• Allegro Air Blower
• 2- Control Panels from Digestor
• Dell Optiplex Tower
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Asset Tag #1991
Asset Tag #01430
Asset Tag #00885
Asset Tag #02072
Asset Tag #02073
Asset Tag #05184
No Asset Tag
Asset Tag #5767
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
Resolution No. 99: MOTION by Supervisor Scialdone, seconded by Councilman Cahill, to
adjourn the Thursday, February 19, 2026 Town Board Meeting.
Vote on motion:
Supervisor Scialdone .......... Aye
Councilman Cahill ............ Aye
Councilwoman Wright ....... Aye
Councilman Hunter ........... Aye
Councilman Wagner………Aye
Motion carried .................. 5-0
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
8:50 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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