Webster Town Board
July 2, 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:
Police Chief ...............................................................................Dennis Kohlmeier
Town Engineer .............................................................................. Keith Mortimer
Also in attendance was Barbara Hollands, Animal Control Officer and Maria Dewar,
Administrative Assistant for the Director of Community Planning and Development.
***
Police Chief Dennis Kohlmeier and Animal Control Officer Barbara Hollands provided the
Board with a comprehensive update on the Town’s ongoing challenges in meeting New York
State Department of Agriculture and Markets dog-sheltering requirements.
The Town currently utilizes a single kennel located within Town Hall, approved only for 24-hour
holds. Due to the lack of alternative options, a recent case required housing a dog in this kennel
for 17 days. High temperatures created unsafe conditions in the non–air-conditioned space,
resulting in the dog becoming distressed. Staff relocated the kennel to a different equipment bay
with access to air conditioning; however, this area overlaps with the designated prisoner-intake
path, creating operational conflicts. Temporary ventilation measures are in place. This situation
illustrates the Town’s limited capacity and the need for a compliant, long-term sheltering
solution.
Until 2023–2024, the Town relied on local veterinary clinics for short-term boarding. Those
services ended when many clinics were acquired by corporate owners who discontinued
municipal sheltering. At the same time, the State increased sheltering standards and established
an educational compliance period ending in December 2025. After that deadline, daily civil
penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 may be imposed, and the State may suspend the Town’s
authority to shelter animals.
Beginning in early 2024, the Town explored two long-term options: constructing its own shelter
or entering into an intermunicipal agreement (IMA). Working with MRB Group, the Town
evaluated several capital concepts, including a standalone building behind the courthouse,
construction in the Town Hall parking lot, retrofitting the Highway Department Administration
Building, and repurposing Police Department holding cells following the County’s move to
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centralized arraignments. The Town secured a $400,000 State grant with a 10 percent match;
however, developable land is limited due to parkland restrictions, and estimated construction
costs ranged from several hundred thousand dollars to nearly one million dollars. The Board
initially prioritized an IMA to avoid a large capital expenditure.
Staff contacted surrounding municipalities but found no viable partners. Penfield could not take
additional municipalities into its new facility. Irondequoit, which had initially expressed interest,
determined after a leadership change that it lacked space. Wayne County’s centralized shelter
serves only its own municipalities. Private boarding facilities and dog daycares declined
participation due to liability concerns tied to unvaccinated or potentially dangerous animals.
Staff concluded that no external sheltering arrangement is currently feasible.
Historical sheltering data was reviewed. Intake volumes vary annually, and while most dogs are
ultimately returned to their owners after licensing and vaccination requirements are met, some
remain in custody for extended periods due to legal holds, lack of identification, or difficulty
securing rescue or foster placements. Some stays lasted up to 30 days.
The Town remains out of compliance with State requirements and lacks any partnership option
that would achieve compliance. With only a single 24-hour kennel available, staff advised that a
capital investment now appears to be the only dependable long-term solution to avoid State
penalties or suspension of shelter authority.
Councilman Wagner inquired about how other municipalities handle the requirement. Chief
Kohlmeier responded that most neighboring towns—including Greece, Irondequoit, Brighton,
and Penfield—have built their own shelters. Chili and Hamlin share shelter services, but
Webster’s limited part-time staffing makes regular transport across the county impractical.
In response to Councilman Cahill’s questions, Chief Kohlmeier explained that the Animal
Control Unit consists of two part-time primary officers and three additional part-time staff
providing 24/7 on-call coverage. Staff currently visit the kennel three times daily. If dogs were
housed off-site, personnel would need to travel there multiple times each day, which is not
operationally sustainable and would likely impact staff retention.
Regarding whether partner municipalities could provide daily care for a fee under an IMA, Chief
Kohlmeier explained that no municipality has agreed to such an arrangement. A similar effort
with Irondequoit was unsuccessful. Discussions with Hamlin suggest they may consider a
short-term IMA to help Webster remain compliant past the December 15th deadline while a
long-term solution is developed. However, Hamlin will not commit to a long-term agreement
and requires that Webster remove its dogs whenever Hamlin needs the kennel space. Both
public and private shelters in the region are operating at or beyond capacity.
Councilman Wagner also asked what occurs if the Town is found non-compliant and must cease
shelter operations. Chief Kohlmeier explained that Agriculture and Markets may issue daily
fines and may suspend the Town’s authority to shelter animals. Because the Town is legally
obligated to provide animal control services, a suspension would create significant uncertainty in
how the Town could meet its statutory responsibilities.
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When asked whether Animal Control keeps a list of all entities previously contacted, Ms.
Hollands explained that she has reached out to every available resource. With 40 years of
veterinary experience and strong regional connections—including serving as a primary contact
for State training—she has exhausted all professional avenues. Shelters, rescues, and veterinary
hospitals are overwhelmed due to nationwide staffing shortages, burnout, and an increasing
number of abandoned animals. Rescue groups have long waiting lists, and even emergency
cases face placement challenges. Ms. Hollands emphasized that if the Town loses its sheltering
authority, residents who find stray dogs may be forced to house them themselves.
Councilman Wagner acknowledged the lack of good alternatives and the financial impact of
building a shelter. Ms. Hollands explained that a shelter would not only address the compliance
issue but would also provide an opportunity for community support programs, including food
assistance and vaccination clinics—services the Town cannot offer with only a 24-hour holding
area. She noted that many residents already seek help for basic pet needs, underscoring the value
a shelter could provide.
Chief Kohlmeier added that a new Agriculture and Markets Construction Grant is expected to
open later in the year, and an ASPCA Equipment Grant is currently available. Although capital
costs remain significant, the lack of IMA partners leaves the Town with limited alternatives.
Councilman Cahill asked whether further conversations had taken place with the Irondequoit
Police Chief. Chief Kohlmeier explained that the Town explored scaled-down designs, but
estimates remained near $1 million. Although Irondequoit was initially open to a shared project,
they ultimately pursued their own expansion and are now at full capacity. They are not
interested in a joint project or IMA.
Councilwoman Wright expressed concern about rising costs, noting that shelter construction
estimates now range between $1 million and $1.5 million. She emphasized the need to balance
this unfunded mandate against other major capital commitments and suggested the Town seek
competitive engineering proposals.
Further discussion highlighted that Webster’s animal control workload has increased
significantly, with 17 dogs taken in by mid-year compared to far lower historical numbers.
Other municipalities are likewise facing overwhelming demand, strained veterinary resources,
and an increase in abandoned pets. Even with long-term strategies to reduce intake, the Town
still lacks a viable option for housing dogs beyond 24 hours.
The Board acknowledged that State requirements create a difficult circumstance, and while all
options should continue to be explored, the Town may ultimately need to undertake a capital
project to ensure compliance. The workshop concluded with agreement that additional cost
information will be gathered from other municipalities and that a full RFP process will be
required if the Town proceeds with constructing a facility. Chief Kohlmeier requested Board
direction to establish a clear path forward.
***
Maria Dewar, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Community Planning and
Development, came before the Board to provide a presentation on the Monroe County
Community Climate Action Fund Pilot Program Grant, which supports municipal projects aimed
at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program offers a total of $200,000 in funding, with
individual municipalities eligible for up to $10,000, or up to $15,000 for partnered applications.
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The grant requires a minimum 50% matching contribution, and applicants can earn additional
scoring points by exceeding that match. The application is due July 8th. While the Town
initially planned not to participate due to tight timelines, the County later extended the deadline,
allowing the Town to reconsider and bring forward a proposal on short notice.
The proposed project involves converting approximately 3.4 acres of Town-maintained grassy
right-of-way into low-mow native planting areas. These sites, identified by Highway
Superintendent Pat Stevens, have been a source of resident complaints regarding appearance, as
the Highway Department can only mow them twice per year due to limited staffing and budget
constraints. Replacing turf with low-maintenance native species would reduce mowing
frequency, fuel use, and staff time, resulting in an estimated annual savings of approximately
$2,000. Additional benefits include reduced emissions, improved ecological support for
pollinators and native wildlife, and enhanced aesthetics through seasonal color while maintaining
traffic visibility.
To support plant selection and ensure ecological suitability, the Town consulted with Color
Webster Green, which provided recommendations for low-growing native species such as Little
Bluestem, Wild Petunia, Plantain-leaved Pussytoes, Dwarf Cinquefoil, and Three-toothed
Cinquefoil. The grant team includes Town staff, members of the Conservation Board, and Color
Webster Green volunteers.
Next steps require the Town Board to vote on a Resolution authorizing submission of the grant
application and determining the amount of the required match. If approved, staff will finalize the
application and submit it prior to the July 8th deadline.
Once the presentation was turned over for questions, Board members asked several clarifying
questions regarding the scope, cost, and feasibility of the proposed native-planting project under
the Monroe County Climate Action Fund Grant. Board members expressed support for
improving the appearance of the identified right-of-way areas but requested more information on
project costs, including labor, materials, procurement of full plants rather than seeds, and
long-term maintenance needs. Initial estimates from the Highway Department indicated
approximately $3,900 in labor for two days of work to prepare the sites, though full project costs
are still being developed.
Ms. Dewar explained that the complete budget will depend on the match amount determined by
the Board, as the grant application requires a detailed and fixed budget aligned with the approved
match. The Board discussed potential match levels, including a recommended 75% match,
which would strengthen the application by providing additional scoring points. The group also
acknowledged that fewer than seven sites could be included if needed to remain within budget.
Board members raised concerns about establishing a budget before all costs are known, the
possibility of rejecting the project if the final budget exceeds expectations, and the implications
of accepting but later returning grant funds. Ms. Dewar clarified that full cost estimates—
including plant pricing, labor, and potential volunteer support—will be finalized before
submission, and the Town will not exceed the Board-approved match.
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Questions were also raised about plant maintenance, particularly watering during the first year.
Ms. Dewar noted that watering plans would be developed with the Highway Department as part
of the final work plan. Board members asked whether taller plant growth might pose visibility
concerns, and it was clarified that the selected native species were chosen specifically for their
low mature height.
Board members also asked whether alternative project ideas had been considered, and Ms.
Dewar explained that this project was selected because residents frequently report aesthetic
concerns about current mowing practices in these right-of-way areas. The proposal aligns with
community feedback as well as grant eligibility criteria.
***
Originally planned for the Workshop Meeting was a presentation by Keith Mortimer, Town
Engineer, on a proposed request for disability signage. However, due to timing constraints, this
will be rescheduled for a future Workshop.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:34 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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