Webster Town Board
July 17, 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:
Town Engineer ..............................................................................Keith Mortimer
Community Development Director .....................................................Josh Artuso
Finance Director ................................................................................. Paul Adams
Town Assessor ................................................................................ Donna Komor
Deputy Commissioner of Public Works-Sewer .................................. Art Petrone
Also in attendance was Rick Kenealy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator.
***
Katie Soscia, Director of Project Development for Montante Solar, appeared before the Town
Board to present a proposed solar farm on Xerox lands. She presented a proposal for a 6.63megawatt solar project in the Town of Webster. The project, a collaboration between Montante
Solar and Xerox, would be built on Xerox’s campus and aims to utilize underused land near the
dead end of Caracus Drive. Ms. Soscia requested a referral to the Town Planning Board for a
sketch plan review.
The solar facility will span 20 acres of a 120-acre Xerox property that includes two closed
landfills, making the area unsuitable for most redevelopment. To protect the integrity of the
landfill sites, the system will use a ballasted racking setup that avoids ground penetration. The
design includes nearly 11,000 solar panels and 18 inverters, surrounded by an 8-foot security
fence in compliance with National Electric Code (NEC) standards. The project meets all local
zoning requirements, including staying within the allowed 20% ground cover ratio.
The location is isolated from residential areas, with the nearest properties over 250 feet away. It
is bordered by forested vegetation, which will remain in place to preserve visual screening. The
Army Corps of Engineers confirmed there are no jurisdictional wetlands on-site, clearing a path
for construction. Additionally, Montante Solar plans to install three monarch butterfly planting
stations composed primarily of milkweed to enhance the site's ecological value.
The project will primarily benefit Xerox, which will use 60% of the power generated on-site to support its operations.
The
remaining 40% will be distributed through New York’s Community Solar Program to eligible
low to moderate income and disadvantaged households, as defined by the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This split ensures both corporate
sustainability goals and community access to clean energy at reduced rates.
Beyond generating renewable energy, the solar installation supports Xerox’s Environmental,
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Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. It also provides responsible use for landfill-impacted
land while contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development in the region. The
proposal underscores both environmental stewardship and community engagement, aiming to
bring long-term energy and ecological benefits to Webster and the greater Rochester area.
Marcus Lathrup, Manager of Environmental Operations at Xerox Corporation, spoke on the
importance of the proposed solar project from Xerox's perspective. He emphasized that as Xerox
transitions beyond print technology into broader services and software, it remains committed to
corporate social responsibility, particularly in addressing climate change—a priority seen as both
a moral obligation and a strategic business decision.
Mr. Lathrop outlined Xerox’s roadmap to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, a publicly
available multi-phase plan focused on emission reductions, innovation, and stakeholder
collaboration. The plan is structured around four pillars: energy efficiency, circular economy
and low-carbon product design, carbon compensation and neutralization, and process
improvements.
The proposed solar project directly supports the carbon compensation and neutralization pillar by
generating zero-carbon renewable electricity. This aligns with both corporate sustainability
goals and the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019).
The project also supports community engagement through the community solar model, allowing
local residents to subscribe and benefit from clean energy. It makes optimal use of previously
unusable land—two closed landfills—thereby turning a limited redevelopment area into a
productive, environmentally beneficial site.
Mr. Lathrop concluded by encouraging community members to participate in the project to help
reduce carbon emissions and support statewide climate goals, reinforcing Xerox’s commitment
to a sustainable future.
Councilman Cahill asked what the plan was for once the solar panels have reached their end of
life cycle. Ms. Soscia responded that the type of solar panels they plan to utilize for this project
were reviewed and approved by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(NYS DEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
as a panel to be used in New York State to be placed in a landfill at its end-of-life cycle. Ms.
Soscia indicated that she would still like to move forward to the Planning Board to submit a
sketch plan review, but they will include their decommissioning plan with the formal application
to the Planning Board.
Councilwoman Wright asked if they know who the neighbors are that this property backs up to,
as it is difficult to tell from the pictures provided. Ms. Soscia indicated that Tessy Plastics would
be one and then any residential areas are well beyond 250 feet and mature vegetation would act
as a buffer to protect those views. Councilwoman Wright requested site lines as part of the
application to the Planning Board, and Ms. Soscia agreed it would be included.
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Councilman Cahill asked for clarification on how the Town of Webster would directly benefit
from the proposed solar project. Ms. Soscia explained that Xerox plans to participate in a
Monroe County renewable energy Payment in Leu of Taxes (PILOT) program and has agreed to
a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with the Town. Additionally, the Town could subscribe
to the community solar portion of the project and receive a 10% discount on power.
While the land itself will continue paying regular property taxes, the solar installation’s
improvements will be covered under the PILOT, which splits tax revenue among the County,
Town, and School District. The HCA ensures the Town continues to receive Town tax
payments. The precise effects of the PILOT and HCA program on tax revenue require further
investigation by Town Officials. Regarding employment, the project is not expected to generate
permanent jobs but will create temporary construction jobs during installation.
It was also discussed from the community solar aspect, noting that 40% of the power will be
allocated to eligible subscribers, including low and moderate income residents within the Town.
This could provide local residents with access to discounted renewable energy.
The Board agreed to gather more information and consult with relevant officials before making
further decisions. The topic will be revisited in future meetings to ensure all questions and
concerns are fully addressed.
***
Robert Koszarek, from KLW Municipal, appeared before the Town Board to provide an
insightful presentation on Webster’s upcoming townwide property revaluation project, which
was contracted in December 2024. KLW Municipal is part of KLW Appraisal Group, a Buffalo
based firm with extensive experience in residential, commercial, and municipal property
appraisals across New York State. The firm was chosen to partner with Town Assessor Donna
Komor and the Town to carry out the revaluation process, aimed at ensuring fair and equitable
property assessments.
Mr. Koszarek emphasized that a revaluation does not raise taxes but redistributes the tax burden
based on updated property values. Property values will be reassessed using accurate market data,
with the goal of reflecting current market trends. Without regular reassessments, some property
owners may end up overpaying or underpaying in taxes due to unequal value appreciation. The
reassessment process includes three main phases: data analysis, valuation production, and public
interaction.
The Town has prioritized community engagement, launching public outreach early in
2025—well before the revaluation officially begins in January 2026. Public education includes
informational mailings like the July edition of Webster Today, a revaluation website, community
meetings, and exemption workshops. Donna Komor’s office has hosted five office-hour
sessions, and door-to-door outreach has also been conducted by Town officials to proactively
address concerns.
The revaluation project will span over 30 months, with its results affecting January 2027 tax
bills. A strong communication strategy is in place, with regular updates to the Town Board,
community workshops, and a detailed public education timeline. Officials are committed to
transparency and accessibility to alleviate residents’ anxiety about reassessment. Supervisor
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Flaherty and Councilwoman Nguyen stressed the importance of early, consistent, and grassrootslevel communication with the public.
The Town leadership, including the supervisor and Board Members, reiterated that the goal is to
ensure fair tax distribution and avoid misinformation. They encouraged residents to participate
in community sessions and ask questions throughout the process. They also noted that thanks to
the Assessor’s strong records and reputation, the Town secured the revaluation project at a much
lower cost than expected, using American Rescue Plan Action (ARPA) funds. The Town plans
to stay ahead of the curve by maintaining open communication and proactively managing public
expectations.
***
Bob Wimmer, from Navitas, appeared before the Town Board to provide an update on the Sewer
Plant Project. The project began with a study in July 2021, followed by the facility design in
March 2022. Initial discussions with fairlife started in November 2022, and construction began
in June 2023. Currently, the project is about 25 months into construction, with an anticipated
completion date of July 9, 2026. A key part of the project is preparing the facility to handle
wastewater flows from the new fairlife plant, with a commitment to have some components
operational by August 30, 2025.
Mr. Wimmer shared aerial photos showing significant progress at the site. Initially, the site had
old equipment and lots of green space, but construction has since transformed the area with new
infrastructure, including a large new anaerobic digester and an aeration basin—critical
components for wastewater treatment. These new structures greatly increase the facility’s
capacity, doubling its ability to treat wastewater compared to previous tanks.
Several new systems are already online, including a laboratory for compliance testing, a grit and
screening facility to remove debris, primary clarifiers for solid removal, and upgraded electrical
systems that replaced outdated and unsafe equipment. The anaerobic digester processes solids
leftover from treatment into methane gas, which powers a new boiler to reduce natural gas costs.
Safety improvements like a gas flare system have also been installed.
The aeration basin, central to the treatment process, is set to come online shortly and features
highly efficient air transfer equipment that lowers electricity usage. A new dewatering and
drying building is under construction to reduce landfill dependency by converting waste solids
into fertilizer products. A new belt filter press will soon replace aging equipment, lowering
maintenance needs and costs. Additionally, a facility for accepting high-strength organic waste
and septage will be operational by fall, creating a new revenue source for the Town by accepting
waste from nearby areas.
Mr. Wimmer summarized that over the past two years, multiple key upgrades have been
completed, including new administrative and lab buildings, electrical upgrades, and several
treatment process improvements. The Town remains on track to meet its commitments to fairlife
by August 30, 2025, with ongoing work focused on the drying facility and additional aeration
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components.
During the Q&A, Mr. Wimmer confirmed a readiness to handle fairlife’s wastewater flows,
initially expected to be around 400,000 gallons per day. He noted limited regional competition
for septage acceptance, highlighting the revenue potential. Board members praised the forwardthinking aspects of the project, particularly the new drying building, which will drastically
reduce hauling costs.
Finally, due to time constraints, the Board asked Mr. Wimmer to return on August 21, 2025 to
present a potential new project scope for consideration.
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:26 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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