Webster Town Board
September 18, 2025
A workshop meeting of the Webster Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Flaherty at
6:30 p.m. at the Webster Town Board Meeting Room, 1002 Ridge Road, Webster, New York,
with the following officials present:
Supervisor ................................................................................ Thomas J. Flaherty
Councilwoman ........................................................................... Patricia T. Cataldi
Councilman....................................................................................... John J. Cahill
Councilwoman ............................................................................ Ginny L. Nguyen
Councilwoman ...........................................................................Jennifer S. Wright
Attorney for the Town .........................................................................Kyle Taylor
Town Clerk .................................................................................. Danene M. Marr
Department Heads Present:
Finance Director ..................................................................................Paul Adams
Community Development Director ..................................................... Josh Artuso
Police Chief ...............................................................................Dennis Kohlmeier
Parks and Recreation Director ............................................................ Chris Bilow
Also in attendance was Rick Kenealy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator.
***
Dennis Kohlmeier, Police Chief, came before the Town Board to discuss updates on the
Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) efforts to house stray dogs. The team, led by Chief Kohlmeier
and Barb Holland, Animal Control Officer, researched options with three neighboring Towns—
Penfield, Ontario, and Irondequoit—focusing on three key areas: the ability to reserve space in
existing or planned facilities, potential joint staffing opportunities, and possibilities for future
capital projects to expand or enhance space.
In Penfield, while a new facility is under construction, only one kennel space could be reserved
for their use at an estimated $15,000 annually, with staffing costs at $52 per hour, and there is
limited room for future expansion. Ontario was deemed unfeasible due to an existing joint
system with nearby towns, ongoing $4 million capital projects, staffing limitations, and travel
logistics.
Irondequoit, however, was identified as the most accommodating option. Although their facility
is currently not compliant with market codes, they have plans to address this, creating an
opportunity for a joint capital project that could make the space functional and compliant. The
potential for a joint staffing model was also discussed, depending on how agreements on
physical space evolve, making it a feasible solution for the town’s needs.
The recommendation presented to the Board is to pursue an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA)
with the Town of Irondequoit, alongside a grant application to fund facility improvements.
Proposed upgrades include adding a containment or isolation room and enhancing safety features
like cameras and panic buttons for staff. Chief Kohlmeier seeks Board approval to move
forward with this plan, emphasizing collaboration with the Town of Irondequoit to make the
project successful.
***
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Chris Bilow, Parks and Recreation Director, came before the Town Board to discuss food truck
services at Sandbar Park and recommendations for a possible food service concept at Sandbar
Park. Mr. Bilow stated, this past summer, Sandbar Park implemented a food truck service as an
alternative to a brick-and-mortar concept, which proved financially unfeasible. Six food trucks
operated over approximately 40 days between June 1 and September 11, 2025, with schedules
updated every two weeks to accommodate the trucks’ prior commitments. Despite some
communication challenges and occasional last-minute cancellations, the initiative allowed the
park to gather important feedback from vendors and park users about operations and visitor
engagement.
A post-season survey was conducted with five of the six vendors to evaluate their experiences.
Feedback highlighted weather as the most critical factor impacting attendance, while promotion
and accessibility were generally well received. Vendors suggested that additional features such
as music, games, and alcohol sales could enhance the park experience and attract more visitors.
Parking was not a concern, even during busy nights, indicating the site’s capacity could handle
increased activity.
Consistent seasonal service was identified as the key to success, running roughly mid-May to
October, totaling about 140 days. Operators emphasized the importance of reliable scheduling to
build trust and regular attendance. Overall, the response from vendors and park users was
positive, indicating strong potential for a recurring seasonal food operation.
To expand on the concept, a storage container model was proposed, using repurposed cargo
containers to create flexible, seasonal food and beverage stations. These containers could
accommodate a 40-foot food service unit, a 20-foot bar, and a 20-foot stage/storage unit, along
with tables and seating, while remaining compliant with New York State building codes.
Benefits include lower construction costs compared to permanent structures, the ability to
relocate containers if demand changes, and the potential for off-season or special-event use.
Two vendors, Box Pop and Roxbox, were identified as potential partners for implementing the
container-based concept. Base packages range from $320,000 to $350,000 and include essential
restaurant features such as counters, sinks, electrical panels, and walk-in coolers, with options to
customize for additional amenities like rooftop seating or HVAC systems. The next steps
recommended are to finalize a design concept, determine seasonal operator requirements, and
move toward a formal seasonal agreement while obtaining firm cost estimates for the project.
Councilwoman Nguyen asked where the responsibility would fall to for the alcohol sales and
consumption, Mr. Bilow responded that the vendor would be responsible.
Councilman Cahill asked what the cost would be for the concept design drawings, Mr. Bilow had
an estimate of about $14,000.00, but at this time, he did not have exact figures.
Councilwoman Wright appreciated the first step that Parks and Recreation took to the
community’s desire for food service at Sandbar Park, acknowledging that a full-year restaurant is
cost-prohibitive, so starting with food trucks and moving to container-style setups is a practical,
sustainable alternative. Councilwoman Wright referenced a similar container concept, like the
one seen at Backwoods, in Perinton, offers ambiance, flexibility, and lower costs compared to
permanent structures, while allowing the Town to generate revenue through vendor rent. If the
concept proves unviable, the containers can simply be sold, avoiding the risk of an empty
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permanent building. She indicates she thinks it’s worth pursuing further to obtain concrete cost
estimates, design details, and feasibility, with the goal of having a food option ready for the next
summer season. Ultimately, this initiative aligns with the broader Comprehensive Plan, allowing
both projects to progress simultaneously while meeting community needs efficiently.
Councilwoman Cataldi indicated that the community has been asking for a restaurant down at
Sandbar Park, and this idea fits the desire of the community.
Supervisor Flaherty wanted to remind the Board members that whether it be a permanent
structure or a lodge, for a 2,400 square foot building DEC would make the Town put in
foundation for a permanent building with helical pilings at a cost of $750,000.00, indicating that
a lodge would have the same mandate. Supervisor Flaherty stated that the operators of the
Bayside reported that 85–90% of their revenue occurred between June 1 and September
15. While there is interest in a facility that could be used in December, such a building would need
to be permanent, with costs starting around $750,000 before construction above ground.
Supervisor Flaherty mentioned that he will work with Chris Bilow, Paul Adams, and Kyle
Taylor, to see if at the next October 2025 Town Board Meeting, an agenda item could be added
to discuss authorizing the Supervisor to sign an agreement for the design costs for this project.
***
Josh Artuso, Community Development Director, came before the Town Board to discuss
updates on potential code changes. Approximately five and a half months ago, a presentation
was given with the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer regarding proposed updates to the
property maintenance code. These updates were intended to address frequently reported issues
around Town. The initial presentation took place on April 3rd and covered several areas,
including formalizing code enforcement procedures, clarifying sections of the building
construction chapter, regulations related to street parking, vehicle storage on private property,
and portable storage containers such as roll-off dumpsters and dumpster bags.
The extended time between the initial presentation and the Public Hearing request arose because
changes to the Code often intersect with other sections. Staff and the Attorney for the Town
reviewed these overlaps to ensure the updates did not conflict with existing regulations. This
effort involved significant internal work and consultation, highlighting the complexity of
updating municipal codes in a thorough and legally sound manner.
The proposed code enforcement procedures would be codified as a new chapter. The process
begins with complaints received via phone calls, emails, walk-ins, or staff observations. Upon
identifying a potential violation, staff will conduct a site inspection to confirm if the issue rises to
the level of a violation. If confirmed, a structured four-step enforcement process begins to
ensure compliance.
The first step involves sending a violation letter to alert property owners of the potential
violation and inviting them to collaborate on resolving it. Most property owners comply
voluntarily at this stage. If there is no response within approximately one to two weeks, a
stronger notice and order is issued, specifying a reasonable timeframe for remediation.
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If non-compliance continues, the next step is serving an appearance ticket to summon the
property owner to court before the Town Judge. This structured approach ensures that property
owners are notified and given multiple opportunities to address violations before legal action is
pursued, creating a fair and systematic enforcement process.
Another proposed change involves the building construction chapter, specifically regarding
Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCOs). A TCO permits occupancy of a building before
full project completion, provided minimum safety standards are met. Currently, the Town
requires the Town Board’s approval for TCOs, which are valid for only 30 days. This contrasts
with other Monroe County Towns, where TCOs are administratively issued and valid for six
months.
The proposed update would allow TCOs to be issued administratively by the Commissioner of
Public Works and the Building Inspector, with a potential three-month extension. Applicants
must provide financial security and a list of remaining items with timelines for completion.
Additionally, the Town retains the authority to revoke the TCO if a public safety threat arises.
Finally, due to scheduling constraints, the presentation was paused to begin the regular
September 18, 2025 Town Board Meeting on time. The Public Hearing Resolution would be
addressed at the meeting, with Board members given the opportunity to ask questions before
proceeding with the vote.
***
Paul Adams, Director of Finance and Rick Kenealy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief
Operator, came before the Board to discuss the anticipated timeline for the Wastewater
Treatment Plan for the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Project. The proposal involves adding
this project to the existing capital plan for the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is projected to
cost approximately $8.8 million. However, potential IRS tax credits of around $14 million could
offset the costs, resulting in net savings for the Town.
A key step in the process involves engaging Withum (formerly Freed Maxick), a CPA firm, to
conduct a “safe harbor” memo assessing the project’s viability for tax credits. This portion of
their work is estimated to cost $35,000–$40,000 and is expected to take four to six weeks. A
Resolution for this engagement is on the Town Board Agenda on September 18, 2025.
If the Withum report is favorable by November 6th, the results will be discussed in a Town
Board Workshop. This assessment will provide an indication of whether the project is likely to
qualify for the tax credits, which is a critical consideration before moving forward.
Following this, Navitas would begin the design and engineering phase, producing detailed
drawings over a three-to-four-month period. Their input would provide estimated design,
engineering, and construction costs, which would then inform a potential Resolution to authorize
the supervisor to sign a contract for this phase.
It was clarified that no Resolution to amend the contract for $8.8 million could occur
immediately; several steps, including Public Hearings and Bond Amendments, must precede any
contract approval. The sequence of necessary Resolutions is expected to continue through
meetings in February, March, and April of 2026.
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It was emphasized that the project is not being fast-tracked. The timeline is meant to ensure
proper review, approval, and adherence to all procedural requirements. The goal is to provide
assurance that the project qualifies for the anticipated tax credits before proceeding further.
Board members expressed that the project has significant potential benefits for the Town, but
they require as close to a guarantee as possible regarding tax credit eligibility. Engaging Withum
is the key step to obtain this assurance.
The workshop concluded with an explanation that the Resolutions tied to the RNG Project, and
ongoing code changes will be addressed in the regular Board meeting on September 18, 2025.
This ensures that discussions are properly sequenced, and approvals are completed before any
contractual commitments are made.
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:27 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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