Webster Town Board
May 21, 2026
A workshop meeting of the Webster Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Scialdone at
6:30 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:
Community Development Director ................................................. Joshua Artuso
Town Engineer .............................................................................. Keith Mortimer
Highway Superintendent ................................................................... Pat Stephens
Communications Director ............................................................. Bridget Harvey
Also in attendance was Rick Kenealy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator.
***
David Kubiak, Project Manager for the Monroe County Department of Transportation
(MCDOT), came before the Town Board to discuss the Bay Road Lane Diet. The MCDOT
plans to complete roadway improvements on Bay Road, between NY-104 and Lake Road in the
Town of Webster, during summer 2026. Initial project information was distributed in April
2025, proposing a “road diet” that would reduce the four-lane roadway to three lanes, including a
center two-way left-turn lane. A public open house was held in May 2025 to gather community
feedback. In August 2025, MCDOT announced a revision shifting the starting point of the
proposed road diet north of the Bay Meadow Drive/Wellington Road intersection.
Following that update, Town leadership requested that MCDOT reconsider applying the road
diet along the entire corridor from NY-104 to Lake Road. The project has generated extensive
public discussion. Both the Town and MCDOT remain committed to a fact-based evaluation to
determine the safest and most effective roadway design.
Studies show that road diets can improve safety by reducing speeds, minimizing conflict points,
and improving traffic flow. Under the current four-lane layout, turning vehicles and stopped
service vehicles often contribute to congestion and safety concerns. The widened shoulders are
intended to improve safety and provide space for bicyclists, pedestrians, service vehicles, and
delivery trucks to pull out of traffic.
Community concerns have focused on possible increases in travel time. However, traffic
volumes along Bay Road fall below Federal Highway Administration thresholds for road diet
implementation—approximately 20% below the threshold near NY-104 and roughly 46% below
the threshold near Bay Meadow Drive/Wellington Road.
1
05-21-2026
Webster Town Board
The dedicated center turn lane would reduce the risk of rear-end and sideswipe crashes by
removing turning vehicles from the travel lanes. Historical crash data referenced two fatal
incidents in the past 25 years, including one where a vehicle waiting to turn left was rear-ended
and pushed into oncoming traffic.
Based on traffic data and safety considerations, MCDOT plans to implement the road diet from
NY-104 to Lake Road as part of the upcoming milling and resurfacing project.
Following the presentation a general discussion took place. Town Board members discussed the
recent change in the Bay Road improvement plan, noting that a revised design was
communicated without sufficient notice to the Board or many affected residents. MCDOT
representatives explained that the Town Supervisor contacted them in February requesting a
reconsideration of the original full-corridor road diet. After reviewing updated traffic and speed
data, MCDOT determined that the full road diet provided stronger safety benefits, including
reduced crashes and lower speeds, and returned to the original proposal. A follow-up notice was
sent on April 20 to adjacent property owners and posted on MCDOT’s website and social media,
though the Board noted that this outreach did not reach all nearby neighborhoods.
Board members expressed concerns about communication gaps, both internally and with the
public, and emphasized the need for improved coordination going forward. MCDOT
acknowledged the breakdown and agreed to strengthen communication with the full Town Board
in future projects.
MCDOT reiterated that wider shoulders and a dedicated center turn lane would improve safety
for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. They referenced past crash history and noted frequent
speeding complaints along Bay Road. The Board also discussed prior compromises, differences
in public feedback, and the challenge of balancing varied resident concerns.
The Highway Department confirmed that the lane reduction will result in a small decrease in
winter plowing reimbursement, estimated at $5,000–$10,000 annually, but not significant
relative to the overall plowing budget.
MCDOT reported that construction is scheduled to begin around June 15, with an estimated
duration of five to six weeks, concluding in early August, weather permitting.
***
Rick Kenealy, Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator and Dwayne Hilfiker, Assistant
Chief Operator from the Wastewater Treatment Plant, came before the Town Board to provide
an update on the current Wastewater Treatment Plant project timeline on the construction. The
project, initiated after the preliminary engineering report in July 2021, has undergone phased
design and construction to meet both existing needs and increased capacity requirements driven
by the incoming fairlife facility.
Design work progressed through 2022, and construction began in June 2023. Although several
components experienced delays due to equipment manufacturing issues, shipping problems, and
prioritization of fairlife-related work, the plant met fairlife’s required August 2025 readiness
date. Final project completion has been extended by one month to incorporate additional
value-engineered items.
2
05-21-2026
Webster Town Board
Key system upgrades were reviewed, including:
•
•
•
•
Now fully operational, resulting in significant
improvement in ammonia removal, with levels reduced from 13 mg/L to approximately 1
mg/L.
Equipment is installed and functioning, though some
sensors and components are still being adjusted to ensure consistent operation.
Equalization tanks and associated systems
are online. The facility has already begun accepting fairlife waste, generating revenue in
late 2025 and early 2026, with significant increases expected as flows ramp up.
Ferric chloride storage, upsized sludge lines, administrative and
laboratory building improvements, influent screening, clarifiers, digester systems, and
underground electrical service upgrades.
It was noted that improvements in plant operations, energy efficiency, and regulatory
compliance, as well as enhanced employee morale are due to the new administration and lab
facilities. Several components were deliberately delayed to ensure all fairlife-critical systems
were completed on time.
The project remains close to budget, with anticipated revenue offsets from waste receiving as
volumes increase throughout the year.
Following the presentation a general discussion took place.
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:06 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
3
05-21-2026