captions Language: en Now 7:30. So I am going to call to order the town board meeting of August 20th, 2026. Would you all please rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Miss Maher, would you like to do roll call? >> Supervisor Sheldon >> here. >> Councilman Cahill >> here. >> Councilwoman Wright here. >> Councilman Hunter >> here. >> Councilman Wagner >> here. Attorney for the town Taylor >> here. All right. Uh where did that go?
We will begin with our open to the floor uh section for those of you who signed in. Just remember a few rules. You are speaking before the board. Please speak to the board, not the audience. Public comments are limited to 5 minutes to keep the meeting progressing. Uh at four minutes, you will see me either wave my hand or I will mention that you are at four as a cue to wrap it up. uh questions will not be answered, but we can get back to you in email. Um and I ask that everyone please respect the speaker. Even if you disagree with what they have to say, they have a right to say it, and threatening statements will not be tolerated and may involve you being removed from the meeting.
Up first, we have Mark Stock. Good evening, town board members, and thank you once again for allowing me the opportunity to speak this evening. My name is Mark Stock. I'm a combat veteran and a proud resident of the town of Webster. During my last two visits to this podium, I spoke about the American flag and the pledge of allegiance. Tonight, I'd like to build on those remarks by talking about something I believe is equally as important, civic leadership and public service. I'd like to begin with one simple question. What is the single most important responsibility of a local government? Some might say it's public safety.
Others might say it's maintaining our roads, being responsible of taxpayer dollars, or even providing quality services to our residents. Those are all important responsibilities, but I believe they all depend on one thing, the trust of the people. Trust does not exist because everyone agrees with every decision. That would be impossible. Trust exists when people believe those elected to serve them are acting and in the best interest of the decision to raise the pride flag on town property is what first brought me to this podium. Regardless of where where anyone stands on that issue, I believe it revealed something important.
It showed how quickly public trust can be challenged when that local government should remain focused on the principles and symbols that unite every resident. Government should exercise sound judgment whenever it acts in an official capacity. Its role is not to promote one cause over another, but to serve every resident equally. Public officials should be careful not to let their personal convictions uh be perceived as the official position of the local government. When people begin to question whether everyone is being treated equally, trust begins to erode. Throughout my military service and the leadership roles I've held throughout my career, I've learned that great leadership unites people around a common purpose.
Regardless of our backgrounds, our beliefs, or our life experiences, the responsibility is the same. To treat everyone fairly, lead with professionalism and respect, and keep the mission bigger than any one individual. True leadership is about putting the needs of others ahead of personal pref preferences and individual causes. Trust that. That's the kind of leadership that earns the trust of others. I believe public service demands that same standard. The moment someone accepts public office, they also accept the responsibility to represent every resident equally. Every decision should strengthen public confidence and remind citizens that their elected leaders serve the entire community.
Our town is made up of people with different beliefs, different experiences, and different perspectives. That's simply the reality of a free society. The question isn't whether we will disagree. The question is whether our government will emphasize the things that unite us or the things that set us apart. Today it often feels like we are encouraged to focus on what divides us. Politics, social media, and even the news often reward conflict more than cooperation. I believe local government has an opportunity to set a better example. Not by choosing one side or another, but by demonstrating fairness, professionalism, and equal respect for every resident.
Leadership matters because every leader uh whether they intend to or not, sets an example. As a veteran, I've learned the great leadership isn't about everyone thinking alike. It's about earning the trust of others by treating everyone fairly, standing on shared principles, and keeping the mission bigger than any one individual or any one cause. My hope for West Webster is not that we will always agree because disagreement is a part of a healthy democracy. My hope is that every resident, regardless of their beliefs, backgrounds, can trust that their government represents them fairly, impartially, and without favoritism.
I believe that's what public service should look like. Thank you for your time, your service to our community, and for allowing me to continue this conversation with you. God bless you. God bless the town of Webster, and God bless America. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Up next is Charles Stewart. >> Good evening. Uh Whoa. Uh hi. >> Hello. My name is Charles Stewart, but people call me Snake the Bigfoot Hunter. And in 2024, I came across the remains of a Bigfoot specimen in Aderrond Park. And I have some proof here. That's me in the Bigfoot body, which I call Dak. And this is 8 foot 300 lb.
I have something else. This is the footprint of Dak. This is 14 in. Okay. This specimen that I found has been verified by the Six Nation Indian tribes right down the road from us. The Ana Anandaga, Onida, Tashora, Senica, and Mohawk tribes. Um, this creature is 8t tall and 300 lb and is capable of extreme violence. Okay. The specimen that I found appears to have been bludgeoned to death by a different Bigfoot. This could have been over mating, reproduction, um possibly territory resources. So, why am I here talking to you guys? Well, it's about safety. up here near Chimney Bluffs and off 104. We've seen a lot of activity lately and there's been a string of accidents.
Now, some people who I've spoken to have said they have seen a large bipedal hairy creature roaming in this area, and that would not be uncommon. So, what I'm asking you to do is to do something about this. This could be as simple as some signage along 104 um indicating that this could be um Bigfoot crossing area. I'm asking you to also potentially put something up on your website and ultimately use me as a resource. I am in your backyard. I'm somebody who has found one. I have been known to track them down. I'm good working in a team uh setting. So, I implore you to not dismiss this. This is a red alert situation top um here in Webster in your backyard.
Um my email is on the signup sheet, so feel free to reach out to me there. I'm also available at 518302 1614. Thank you guys. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, those were the only two that had signed in. Um would anybody else like to speak? [clears throat] very much normally remembered to assign in today just hi folks Kevin Lockart. Um tonight I'm on a mission to return value to Webster's investors town supervisor candidate. [laughter] I'm messing with you guys. No, but for real I am. Uh residents should understand that the controversy surrounding the Webster Solar Garden at the Xerox property 750 Phillips Road comes down to a gap in how Webster zoning code describes the permitting process for large scale solar industrial large scale solar developments in an industrial district.
Chapter 155 of the town solar code specifically regulates solar energy. Under 155-6, large-scale solar in a residential district requires a special use permit along with the applicable site plan process. The section also establishes the pathway for large-scale solar in commercial districts, but 155-6 does not expressly state the approval pathway for large scale solar in an industrial district. This is significant because the Xerox property is in Webster's industrial district. The town therefore relied on 350-22, the industrial district provisions and treated the project as requiring an industrial use permit or IUP in addition to planning board site plan approval.
In September 2025, Montante Solar brought forward a proposed 6.63 megawatt approximately 20 acre solar project at the Xerox property. On January 6th, 2026, the planning board granted conditional final site plan approval and recommended an industrial use permit. On March 26, Montates attorneys formally argued that the applicable pathway was planning board site of plan approval plus the industrial use permit under 350-22, not the special use permit uh governed by the solar energy code. On April on April 2nd, the town board granted the industrial use permit. On April 7th, the planning board approved an amended project of approximately 5.2 megawws, 8,800 panels, 16 inverters, and 19 acres with the solar development removed from the area involving the landfill cap.
Resident Debbie Rice then challenged the town's interpretation before the zoning board of appeals, raising the question of whether the project should have use permit under the interaction of 15-6, 350-22, and 350-101 subsection D number one. Finally, on July 14, 2026, the zoning board of appeals upheld community uh Josh Josh community director Josh Tuso's interpretation and determined that this project did not require a special use permit because it was located in the industrial district. The takeaway for residents is that the zoning board of appeals declared the project um did not declare the project improperly approved.
It did the opposite and upheld the town's interpretation. Um the policy issue that the town is that I feel the town needs to address is that developers need to go through is that the zoning law needs to be clarified so that developers and town hall don't have to be involved in this dispute at all to begin with. 155-6 of the town code expressly addresses large-scale solar in residential and commercial districts, but does not expressly spell out the industrial district pathway. The town board can clarify that uncertainty by amending chapter 155 to state plainly whether industrial large scale solar requires an industrial use permit, a special use permit, both or another defined process.
Which board has jurisdiction? What findings are required? And what public hearing and notice requirements apply? This town needs to make Webster's zoning laws understandable before the next application arrives. We need to clarify the code and define the process. This will allow standards for developers and clarify how the town can avoid can avoid costly dis disputes and litigation in the future. Thanks. >> Thank you very much. All right. Is there anyone else that would like to speak? I just ask that you state your name and if you have a question you would like answered, your email address, please.
>> Thank you very much. Uh, my name is Father Michael Nicicoia. Um, I'm a retired priest at Mary Magdalene Ecumenical Catholic Church in East Rochester, but I and my husband live here in uh, Webster. Um when we moved back to New York State um last year um we were comfortable doing that because we felt that this was a place of belonging. Um so it was very much um disheartening when the pride flag came down. Um, I totally see people's point that uh it was misplaced in either taking the place of the American flag or being higher than it. Um, but the taking it to and and I understand that the decision to take it down was in a spirit of trying to be fair and equitable to all of the residents.
Um, I want to talk about the optics though. The optics of taking it down has been received by the LGBTQ plus community as a sign that some of our neighbors don't think that we belong here. And optics are very important. Um, and I think that it's uh the job of local government uh to stand on the side of marginalized communities. And I'm afraid that this action uh even if it wasn't meant to, the optics of it are that um it's pushing the community even further to the margins. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Anyone else? No. All right, that will close up and open to the floor. We will now move on to regular town business.
Uh, this one is uh just a teeny tiny hair unique as uh our clerk informed me that we hadn't typically done minutes for budget workshops in the past and we've had not only her but the deputy clerk. So, um I have reviewed the minutes the July 30th uh budget one. I would make a motion that we submit uh that we approve the minutes as submitted by deputy town clerk. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright >> I. Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> All right. And then uh I would also make a motion that for the August 6 budget workshop number two, which was submitted by the town clerk, uh that we move to approve those minutes as well.
>> Second. Supervisor Sheldon. >> I, >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Cahill, >> hi. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> I move that we uh approve the minutes for the August 6th town board meeting as submitted by the town clerk. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Cahill, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. >> Councilman Wagner, >> I. All right. Uh, Councilman Cahill, you had the honors and the bills. >> Yes, I did. I did review the and I would move that uh we pay the bills as submitted by the director of finance. >> Second, >> Councilman Cahill.
>> I, >> Councilman Wagner, >> I, >> Supervisor Sheldon, >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright, >> I. >> Councilman Hunter, >> I. I will now move that we approve the prepaid warrant as submitted by the director of finance. Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> I would also move that we approve purchase orders as submitted by the director of finance. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. I. >> Councilman Wagner.
>> I. >> All right. So, moving on now. We have a license agreement. So the uh homeowner for unle approach uh for those of you who are not aware um there's storm water easements, drainage easements, all kinds of stuff. And so what has to happen is that uh when somebody a homeowner has to apply and go through the town um because you know we have a process and it's technically town owned land for the easement. Um but I just want to verify with you that you do understand what you're agreeing to. >> Yes, I do. And that if with the town needs to destroy the privacy fence to get to this easement at any point in time that it will come down.
>> Yes. >> Okay. And we will not be responsible for repairing it. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Then uh Josh, do we have a letter of support from the highway superintendent? >> Yes, we do. >> All right. Then I will move that we approve license agreement to allow a 6-ft tall vinyl privacy fence within a town storm water drainage easement at 989 John Leo Drive. Second. Oh. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. Councilman Hunter. >> Hi. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right. We have a another license agreement.
Is the uh property owner for Glendin Terrace here? >> No. All right. Josh, have you spoken to the owner? >> Yes. Uh we've been communicating. It's [clears throat] very similar to the last application in which they're proposing to locate a 6-ft privacy fence within a drainage easement. Um that Pat has been out to the site and has evaluated it and provided a letter of support for the application and uh I will if approved we'll work with the applicant to execute the license agreement. >> Okay. Uh then I will move that uh we approve the license agreement allowing the installation of a wooden privacy fence in a town stormwater drainage easement located at 1620 Glendin Terrace.
>> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright >> I. Councilman Hunter. >> I All right. Five weeks ago we received uh the presentation on local law number three. We held a public hearing. Uh there were no questions previously uh during the workshop. There were no public comments. Uh would anybody like to ask any followup quickly with our town engineer who drafted this? >> I have no questions. All right. >> No, I think there were good changes. >> Yeah. Needed. >> Yeah. I mean, Keith, anything that's come up since the traffic has gone live?
Any changes? Anything? No. >> Perfect. No, I think we're good. >> All right. Then I will move that we enact local law number 36 to amend sections 320-1 320-4 and 320- Webster town code relating to traffic regulations. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> I. >> All right. Up next is the big one for the evening. uh resolution to approve a petition to annex a portion of the Xerx campus from the town to the village. >> Supervisor, before you proceed with this resolution, there should be an accompanying resolution that has to take place prior in which the town board uh because this is an unlistit action under seeker.
Um just make a determination classify it as unlisted action. the town board will act um presumed to an uncoordinated review and then uh make a determination of significance or non-significance depending on the um how the board assesses uh take a vote on that motion and then proceed to the uh the motion that's on the agenda. >> Okay. Um so I will move that this is an unlisted action under seeker u and will not have any adverse >> will not have any will have no adverse effects on environmental impact. Second. Supervisor Sheldome. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> Hi. >> Councilman Hunter.
>> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> Hi. >> All right. Now, this is a big one. Um, we are this is the last board meeting we have before uh the 90day from the joint public hearing that we had um with the village. So, if we do not vote tonight, it will default to a yes automatically. Uh we there was a talk of basically exchanging some land via a referendum through the village and the town through here. The village referendum did not pass the public so it is now on us. Uh for those of you who are not aware the parcel of Xerox um actually the municipal line between the town and village goes directly through the middle of it making it a little undesirable for a developer to come in and want to purchase and revamp that property.
um this they would have to deal with two zoning boards, two planning boards, IMAS, all of that. So the idea right now is that we move the west campus into the village um to deal with one municipality. We did discuss uh with uh Dwayne H Dwayne Hilfiker, the sewer easement, they are on board with the village taking the waste. Um >> it's not a done deal. >> No, not yet. But they are often uh what was discussed was they leave the village line the town line open if they want to do it for the town but the village is okay taking it >> was basically all that was discussed but this is >> well primarily dependent upon the development of that area >> we don't know what yeah we don't know what's going to be there >> yeah let me understanding which we're going to start talking about currently and moving forward So essentially, we're going to cross that bridge a little bit before we get to it.
So we're both the village and the town are on the same playing field with respect to this goes. >> Yeah, I think that's an important part with this. You know, there's a lot of moving pieces. This is a project that started at the end of 2019 and it's gone through many hats and many keepers and many different hands in the process. And the goal is galaxy, they want it to be in one municipality to make development easier. So having everything in the village but the sewer in the town means it's still in two properties and it causes confusion. So yes we this activity there nothing changou. So this way if nothing happens for 6 years both boards which should be new at that point have a record which shows here was the intention is we want this all to be in the village subject to making sure the village can handle the sewage discharge.
>> Right. Um, so I think that's something we just want to make sure we need to do. >> No, it's very, very important that we put this memorandum of understanding together. And, um, you know, I, like I said, I spoke with the mayor today and he's more than willing to sit down and have this discussion and put it on paper. So, to your point, future, they know what the they can move forward in a manner will be needed to to happen. Do >> you think we can get I don't see why we couldn't I don't see that be nice to get that like off the table and done and like we've all agreed and this project can now be done.
I think the other part that's important to talk about with this because there's been some discussion publicly about it is originally there was a misunderstanding that we were swapping land with the village in the town because we lost this parcel we would lose real estate taxes and the village would gain. And so therefore, the village had to give us parcel back to make it equal. And that's kind of why there was a swap. And as we learned this year, that that was simply a misunderstanding. It's been confirmed by all parties that >> it's not a swap. >> Correct. Parcel is in the town. It will still be in the town.
It will also be in the village. So this parcel will now pay town taxes and village taxes. Town taxpayers have no negative impact on this. Village taxpayers get a little more tax base. So that's something that's been misunderstood. But just to make correct on the record, if there's no impact to residents, taxpayers, our tax base does not decrease. >> I think we're going to have to have further discussions on get vote what happens with that borderline which is also running right through um the buildings of the Xerox complex. So >> we'll have that discussion. Well, I think luckily we've learned that over the past seven years, some of the incorrect assumptions we've made along the way of not understanding tax impact, right?
Not thinking ahead of sewers ahead of time because I always laugh in this project. The the the summary sheet for this project, step two, was understand sewers. >> And uh it took us seven years to do step two, hence why we're doing at the end instead of being done. So yeah, it's a long project, but it's good for the well of Webster. And as someone likes to say, the development of Webster means more possible tax base, right? >> Sure does, >> you know. >> Yeah, sure does. But I, you know, the East Campus, other than that one parcel has the line through it that was going to be swapped. And I do think it's important that >> swap.
>> What? Not swap. Whatever. >> Yeah, we got to stop using that word. >> Okay. Not swap. that that that piece also needs to be untangled so it's all in one municipality. >> Correct. Yeah. >> And I think for that one if that stayed in the town because the rest of the campus is in the town >> and I would agree with you. We also have we have engineering, we have the the the building inspectors, we have the resources available for that. But we can cross that one again next year. Um, but I do think that it's it's been a long time coming that this needs to happen. Um, someone needs to make the first move.
I'm af I I would like to think that that's what the hiccup was was people afraid that we were going to try and take from the village and not give back. So, I'm I'm happy to make a motion to approve the petition to annex a portion of land on the Xerox campus from the town of Webster to the village of Webster. >> Second. >> Supervisor Sheldon. >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Hunter. >> I. Councilman Wagner. >> Hi. >> All right. After that, Miss Maher, would you like to give business liquor authority on premises 30-day notification period? >> Sure. So, I think, not that I'm keeping track or counting, but I think this is the third one this year.
Um, this is just general housekeeping. Um, for those of you that might not know, there's a New York state law. Imagine that. >> Go figure. [laughter] where if there is a business owner that is primarily in the bar industry or the restaurant industry, they have to notify the municipality that the restaurant or bar is located in um to not give them a 30-day advanced notice before they go to the New York State Liquor Authority to apply for their liquor license. Um they have the option that they can wave that 30 days. Um, and what I have done is I've confirmed with community planning and development that there's no zoning issues and there's no other issues that would arise.
Um, all of the supporting documentation has been provided to the board and they can make their determination from there. >> All right, Councilman Wagner, this is your liaison ship. >> Oh, cuz it's a clerk's office. Look at that. All right. I'm going to make a motion to as requested from the town's clerk's office to wave the New York State Liquor Authority on premise alcohol bever's license 30-day notification period requirement for United Buffet 941 Inc. located at 941 Hard Road. >> Second. Councilman Wagner >> I. >> Councilwoman Wright I. >> Supervisor Sheldon >> I. >> Councilman Cahill. >> Hi.
>> Councilman Hunter. >> Hi. >> All right. everybody's favorite portion of the assets and Councilman Hunter. Uh so a couple of total vehicles in the department. So make to approve the following total for salvaged items and auctioned items from the police department. Two vehicles asset tags total and went to salvage and asset tag 07367 which went to auction. Second. >> Councilman. >> Hi. >> Sheldon. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman Wright. >> I. >> Councilman Wagner. >> Hi. >> All right. I would love to say that we managed to wrap an entire board meeting up before 8:00, but uh I will make a uh motion now that we will be going into executive session uh pursuant to public officers law section 105E for labor and personnel.
inviting the town board, uh, the town attorney Kyle Taylor, director of finance Paul Adams, highway superintendent Pat Stevens, chief of police Dennis Colemire, uh, a director of human resources Kelsey Feny, and the town's labor attorney Kel Carly Balanos. Is she here? She is. She is outside with Kelsey right now. Okay. All right.