Webster Town Board
November 7, 2024
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
Town Attorney ........................................................................... Charles J. Genese
Town Clerk .................................................................................. Danene M. Marr
Department Heads Present:
Finance Director.................................................................................. Paul Adams
Town Assessor .................................................................................Donna Komor
Community Development Director......................................................Josh Artuso
Parks and Recreation Director ............................................................ Chris Bilow
Also in attendance was Maria Dewar, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Community
Planning and Development and the Town Engineer.
***
Maria Dewar, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Community Planning and
Development and the Town Engineer, appeared before the Town Board to provide an insightful
progress update, offering a close look at the processes and improvements within the grant
landscape. The grant application process is a collaborative effort involving several key roles:
Department Heads, Grant Consulting Firm J. O’Connell Associates, and Webster Economic
Development Alliance (WEDA), if appropriate. The Grant Consultant, J. O’Connell Associates,
uncovers suitable grant opportunities. The Department Head then assesses whether a grant is
viable based on the project’s need and available documentation. Transparency has been
enhanced via the Grants Matrix, now available on the Town’s website. This tool allows citizens
to track grant applications and statuses, including amounts requested and awarded. Updated
quarterly, it offers detailed information on grants led by both the consulting firm and internal
departments. To date, the combined efforts of the grant team and J. O’Connell and Associates
have yielded applications for over $8 million in grants. With decisions pending on several
substantial applications, the Town has already realized a 97 percent return on investment.
Following the presentation, a general discussion took place.
***
Paul Adams, Director of Finance, presented an update on the Capital Project Matrix, a tool that
improves financial transparency by tracking both historical and ongoing projects. The key
elements of the Capital Project Matrix include: Bond Resolution Amount, Gross Amount
Borrowed, Project Life-to-Date Net Cost, Net Cost as a Percentage of Bond Resolution Amount.
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Webster Town Board
Current Capital Projects as of September 30, 2024
Project Name
Bond
Resolution
Amount
Gross
Amount
Borrowed
Sandbar Park Improvements
Sandbar Park- Lake Rd Drainage
Sandbar Park- Shore Flood Wall
Sandbar Park- Shore Flood Wall Mo. Co.
Wastewater Treatment Plant- Phase II
Tebor Rd to Phillips Rd Conveyance
Pipe
Highway Building
5,500,000 1,720,000
2,300,000
620,000
1,200,000 1,110,000
500,000
220,000
81,500,000 35,000,000
7,100,000 6,280,000
Project
Net Cost
Life-ToPercent of
Date Net
Bond
Cost
Authorization
1,630,199
29.6%
1,116,589
48.5%
603,711
50.3%
209,686
41.9%
12,530,168
15.4%
2,069,433
29.1%
28,250,000 22,100,000
11,687,506
41.4%
TOTALS
126,350,000 67,050,000
29,847,292
23.6%
The information on the current capital projects will be updated on the Town’s website quarterly.
Following the presentation, a general discussion took place.
***
Paul Adams, Director of Finance, presented and reviewed the allocation of American Rescue
Plan Act (ARPA) funds, detailing how the Town has utilized over $4 million received to mitigate
the impacts of COVID-19 and bolster community infrastructure. ARPA funds can be utilized
for; response to public health emergencies, economic impact of COVID-19, funding for the
Town’s loss of revenue, general government services, premium pay for essential works, or water,
sewer and broadband infrastructure.
To date, the Town has expended $3,085,084 in various approved utilizations. There is a
remaining $965,776. Proposed utilization ideas are: Animal Control Dog Kennel, Highway
Building Project, Sandbar Park Building, Sandbar Park Phase II and III, Speed Monitoring
Equipment and the West Webster Hamlet.
In light of the end-of-year obligation deadlines for ARPA funds, discussions included potential
allocations towards a comprehensive townwide property revaluation. This would mark the first
reassessment in twenty years, aimed at correcting property value disparities and ensuring
equitable assessments.
Donna Komar, Town Assessor, emphasized the importance of a thorough revaluation, addressing
the historical context and current disparities caused by outdated property assessments. This
reevaluation, spanning 18 to 24 months, would include an extensive public relations campaign to
educate and ensure stakeholder buy-in, attempting to minimize misunderstandings and concerns.
Following the presentation, a general discussion took place.
***
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Josh Artuso, Director of Community Planning and Development, presented the Comprehensive
Plan update, and highlighted the selection process for a consulting firm. Out of multiple
submissions, Collier’s Engineering and Design emerged as the preferred choice, promising a
robust plan aligned with both state requirements and community visions. With total project cost
of $109,950, a New York State Comprehensive Plan Grant Award of $100,000 and a matching
local contribution of $9,500, the project aims for a new Comprehensive Plan by mid-2026. This
plan is expected to guide land use, zoning, and capital improvements for years to come.
Following the presentation, a general discussion took place.
***
Chris Bilow, Director of Parks and Recreation, provided an update on the long-anticipated
Sandbar Park Restaurant Project. Despite enthusiastic bids and community support, financial
feasibility has proven challenging. While the original restaurant concept may not move forward,
other seasonal or flexible food service options are under consideration. Food trucks, pavilions,
or scaled-down facilities might still bring vibrancy to Sandbar Park without the hefty price tag.
Following the presentation, a general discussion took place.
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:42 p.m.
___________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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