Ellicottville Town Board Adopts Dog Licensing Law, Reviews 2026 Budget
Ellicottville Town Board Adopts Dog Licensing Law, Reviews 2026 Budget
October’s Town Board meeting highlights include a new dog licensing law, early budget talks, and updates across town departments.
The Ellicottville Town Board met on October 15, 2025 at Town Hall for its regular monthly meeting. The evening included a public hearing on the Town’s new Dog Licensing Law, preliminary discussions on the 2026 Town Budget, and a series of departmental updates following a successful Fall Festival weekend.
Dog Licensing Law: A public hearing was held to consider Local Law No. 3 of 2025, known as the Dog Licensing Law. After a brief discussion regarding fees and enforcement, the Board voted to adopt the law with minor amendments.
Under the new law, licensing fees will be set at $10 for spayed or neutered dogs and $20 for unspayed or unneutered dogs. A late fee will apply to renewals submitted more than 30 days after expiration, and impoundment fees have been increased to help offset boarding costs. The updated law takes effect January 1, 2026.
Preliminary Budget Discussion: Supervisor Matt McAndrew reported that the Town’s accountant, Andy Toth, had suggested several minor adjustments to the preliminary 2026 budget. A public hearing on the proposed budget was officially scheduled for November 5, 2025 at 6:00pm at the Town Hall, where residents will have an opportunity to comment.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Department: Officer-in-Charge Jim Bouchard praised his department, along with the Village DPW, County Sheriffs, State Police, and Fire/EMS personnel, for their cooperation during the Fall Festival weekend. Bouchard noted that safety was the top priority, with cameras provided by Emergency Services placed on downtown rooftops for 24-hour surveillance. The State Police also deployed bomb-sniffing dogs before the event, and barricades were supplied by Homeland Security. “The teamwork across all agencies made for a smooth and safe weekend,” Bouchard said.
Highway Department: Highway Superintendent Scot Brumagin announced the resignation of Austin Woodarek and introduced Adam Gassman, who was hired as a Commercial Driver (Class B) effective October 6th. Brumagin reported that crews have been patching roads and preparing equipment for the upcoming plow season.
He also recommended restricting heavy truck traffic on Bryant Hill Road, citing significant wear caused by non-local through traffic. The Town recently invested nearly $500,000 in repaving the road, and Brumagin said a “No Trucks” sign (similar to Franklinville’s) would help preserve the investment. The Board directed Attorney Seth Pullen to draft a resolution and determine necessary notifications for implementation.
Code Enforcement & Building Department: CEO Kelly Fredrickson reported that short-term rental (STR) applications continue to come in, and 212 letters have been sent to known property owners who have yet to apply.
He also congratulated Greg Keyser on passing his Code Enforcement Official Certification exam. Keyser assisted Fredrickson with inspections over Fall Festival weekend. There were no major violations, though one establishment briefly exceeded its occupancy limit before quickly complying.
Fredrickson noted the need for a more permanent electrical solution for event vendors currently using outlets from the Town Hall and Post Office, saying he would explore options before next year’s festival.
Engineering Department: Engineer Ben Gross presented an analysis of metered water billing since 2022 and reported that, barring unexpected expenses, water rates will remain stable for 2026.
Gross also discussed options for replacing the Town Center’s aging copy machine. Both Toshiba and Usherwood representatives recommended purchasing rather than leasing. Gross will gather cost and maintenance details before making a final recommendation.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The Board reappointed Harry Weissman as Town Assessor for another term.
Supervisor McAndrew shared updates on the Ellicottville-Great Valley (EVGV) Trail project. The regional trail committee met on October 8th to review financials and design submissions. A 5K run fundraiser at HoliMont is being planned for May 2026 to support continued progress on the trail.
The next regular meeting of the Ellicottville Town Board will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6:00PM at Town Hall, 1 W. Washington Street. The public is encouraged to attend. Additional information can be accessed at townofellicottvilleny.gov.
