The Sweden Town Board took action on a variety of topics at its October 27 board meeting in addition to adopting the 2021 Budget.
The Board placed a six-month moratorium on the construction of battery storage buildings. The Board intends to reconvene the Solar Farm Code committee to develop a town code to address the appropriate zoning and construction limitations for battery storage facilities. Deputy Supervisor Bob Muesebeck will chair the committee.
The Board approved the SEQR Determination of Non-Significance regarding the proposed Gary Drive Extension to Route 31. Also authorized in relation to the project were the acceptance of a street and utility easement from the property owner and the engineering services for the design of the extension.
Changes to the employee handbook regarding health insurance were approved, Douglas VanDetta was appointed to the Board of Assessment Review, a $12,000 deposit into the Seymour Library Capital Reserve was authorized, and two easements for the Lake Road/Redman Road water line were accepted.
After reviewing a request by the developers of Heritage Square Phase I (80 residential rental units on Redman Road) for support of a COMIDA application, the Board declined to support the application. If approved by COMIDA, the developers would have received a substantial property tax reduction (from school, county, town, and fire district taxes) for 20 years.
In correspondence to the developer, Supervisor Kevin Johnson wrote, “There are a number of considerations that gave rise to this decision, but the primary issue for us is our sense that a project like yours should pay its fair share of the taxes that it takes to keep the schools and various levels of government operating to the benefit of our residents. If residents in our town and other similar developers with projects in our town are required to pay their rightful share of property taxes, we expect you and your project to do the same. “
The Town Board’s November 3 workshop was rescheduled to November 17. The next regular meeting of the Town Board is November 10 at 6 p.m.
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