Ellicottville Village Board Notes | July 15, 2025
Ellicottville Village Board Notes | July 15, 2025
Board approves fundraising for baseball field improvements; addresses community concerns following recent vandalism
At its July 15th meeting, the Ellicottville Village Board shared news of a major state grant award, while moving forward on several community initiatives, including discussions on improvements to the local baseball field, plans for sidewalk replacement, and efforts to address recent acts of vandalism.
Starting the meeting with good news, Mayor John Burrell announced that the Village has been awarded a $1 million infrastructure grant from New York State, as confirmed in a press release from Governor Hochul’s office earlier this month. The funding is aimed at the 1887 Building, located on the historic four corners of downtown Ellicottville, to prepare the building for workforce housing and commercial storefronts, as outlined in the grant.
“We’re honored to have received this grant,” said Burrell, but it’s not a quick process. And, it’s tied to pro-housing development, which means we can’t build things like a senior center or a theater, as suggested by some members of the public.”
The Village is beginning the initial steps required to access the grant funding for the 1887 Building, which has sat vacant for 12 years. The mayor explained that there is still significant work to be done before the funds are released and renovations can begin.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEAD BASEBALL FIELD EFFORT
Residents Sam Nelson and Bryan VanBuren presented a phased plan to improve the baseball fields located at the Village Park, starting with the construction of dugouts. Nelson shared with the board a rendering of the proposed dugouts and said that a couple of local contractors have already stepped up to the plate, offering their assistance.
The second phase would involve grading the field, replacing fencing, and cleaning up the grandstands to help make the facility suitable not only for our local youth, but also for hosting tournaments.
“Our kids have had a number of games cancelled this summer due to flooding on the fields,” Nelson said. “It’s frustrating - not just for the players, but for the families and coaches who’ve worked hard to make this season happen. We would also love to host tournaments here in Ellicottville, but we’re not able to because of the current condition of the fields.”
VanBuren added, “Travel baseball is thriving throughout the region - everywhere but Ellicottville. If we were able to host tournaments here, it could be a huge benefit for our local economy. Tournaments draw in teams and families from across the state, bringing in thousands of dollars in local spending. It would be a great thing for our community.”
During the discussion, Nelson asked board members whether offering naming rights for the grandstands could be used to help fund the project. The Mayor responded by noting that the Village spent $10,000 last year on structural steel to reinforce the stadium. He also recalled that years ago, there was a hot dog stand located on the backside of the structure. “I would love to see it taken back to its original state,” he said.
Village Attorney Richard Stanton clarified that while the fundraising committee does not have the authority to sell naming rights, the Village Board could. Code Enforcement Officer Kelly Fredrickson stressed that the grandstands require extensive work and added that there are restrictions on how the space beneath the structure can be used for concessions, storage, and other purposes.
Nelson and VanBuren expressed to the board that they would like to move forward with fundraising efforts to pay for improvements. The Board approved their request to begin fundraising and seek sponsorships.
ADDRESSING VANDALISM AND BEAUTIFICATION CONCERNS
The Alley Katz beautification group nearly walked away from their volunteer efforts after widespread vandalism took place a couple weekends ago, according to Mayor Burrell. Water Department staff found damaged plants and flowers over the weekend, prompting a discussion about how to prevent future incidents, as this isn’t the first time this has happened.
Ideas included placing signage near the planters that say “DO NOT TOUCH”, raising the hanging planters to limit access, or installing security cameras. Trustee Sean Lowes plans to bring the issue to the Chamber of Commerce Board to ask for their help in raising awareness among local businesses and residents. Mayor Burrell and the Village Trustees made it clear that if anyone is caught vandalizing, the Village will pursue prosecution to the fullest extent.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
PLANNING: GI Threads submitted an application seeking retroactive approval for a door they installed without prior authorization. Because the building is located within the historic district, a zoning permit is required, and any exterior replacement must comply with historic preservation regulations. By installing the door without approval, the business was in violation of Village law.
DPW: Work is underway to improve drainage on Mill Street after recent flooding. The Village is also working on sidewalk repairs, weed control, and road paving. A new bucket truck that was recently purchased will be sent to Syracuse for warranty-covered repairs.
WASTEWATER: The DEC conducted an inspection in late June, which the facility passed. However, it was noted at the board meeting that these routine inspections are now beginning to monitor phosphorus levels. If future treatment is required to address elevated phosphorus, it could come with a significant cost. Currently, Ellicottville’s phosphorus levels are acceptable.
WATER: The Village is in the process of addressing inconsistencies related to its water metering system. A total of 45 meters have shown irregular readings, prompting the start of six-week interim reads to monitor usage more closely. While the cause of the issues is still being determined, the department has ordered 15 replacement meter heads to begin with, at a cost of $323 each.
CODE ENFORCEMENT: A cleanup order has been issued for the property at 41 Washington Street. Concerns were also raised about the former Signore property, which has not been mowed and is “becoming an eyesore.” The Village has contacted the property owner, Iskalo, to remind them of their responsibility to maintain the site.
REFUSE: A couple of property owners in the village reported that their garbage is not being picked up, even though neighboring properties are being serviced. Village Clerk, Amy Hayward, explained that Beichner Waste is now running separate trucks for recycling and regular garbage. The recycling truck comes through first, followed by the waste truck once the recycling route is complete. It's possible that some residents are mistakenly pulling their garbage bins back in after the recycling pickup, thinking they were missed. Hayward encourages residents to leave both bins out until all collection is complete. Any issues with garbage pickup should be directed to the Clerk’s office at 716-699-4636.
NEW BUSINESS
A motion to raise parking ticket fines from $50 to $75 was approved.
A motion was made to pursue a standardized speed limit of 25 mph throughout the village, which means updated street signage would need to be purchased and installed. All agreed that this would be the most cost effective solution.
The Board discussed the potential purchase of a radar speed tracking system but decided to table the decision until next month. A company representative is expected to attend the August meeting to provide a demonstration. The Board is requesting that Officer-in-Charge Jim Bouchard be present.
A resolution was passed to put the village’s surplus generator up for auction, with the sale amount to be applied toward the cost of a previously rented pump.
Mayor Burrell and staff are also preparing to attend the NYCOM (New York Conference of Mayors) Fall Training School in Lake Placid this September, continuing their focus on key aspects of municipal government.
The next meeting of the Ellicottville Village Board will take place on Tuesday, August 19th at 6:00pm upstairs at Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information, visit ellicottvillegov.com.
