Ellicottville Village Board Talks Short-Term Rentals, Sidewalk Repairs, and Fall Fest Prep
Ellicottville Village Board Talks Short-Term Rentals, Sidewalk Repairs, and Fall Fest Prep
From enforcing short-term rental rules to preparing for Rock N’ Roll Weekend and Fall Festival, trustees reviewed community priorities and ongoing projects across the village.
The Ellicottville Village Board gathered on Tuesday, August 19th for their monthly meeting, addressing items such as unlicensed short-term rentals, festival preparations and ongoing infrastructure improvements.
Mayor John Burrell began the meeting with “Good News”, sharing that tax collection is coming in strong this year. Also, the village was able to sell a generator which has not been in use, clearing space and bringing in some extra revenue.
BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
Village Historian Ellen Frank reported that more than 1,100 people from over 10 different countries have visited the museum in the past year. She also expressed the Historical Society’s wishes to grow the museum’s collection and hopes to secure additional storage with proper climate control, including the museum’s attic space, through grants and private funding.
Concerns over short-term rentals (STRs) were raised by a residents who noted that a few problematic properties continue to operate without licenses and are not located within the designated zones. Prosecutor Mark Byrne explained that enforcement is a lengthy process and assured residents that the village remains committed to pursuing litigation. Board trustees encouraged residents to keep reporting issues to the local police department, the Village clerk, and mayor. A new STR local law is under review and will return for final consideration at the September meeting.
Looking ahead to Ellicottville’s Rock N’ Roll Weekend and Fall Festival, Barb Pump of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce presented updated event planning and permit forms for both events, which the board approved. Pump expressed that this year’s Fall Festival will include increased safety measures, such as utilizing DPW trucks and fire trucks to block off certain streets.
The board also approved Ellicottville Central School’s annual Fall Fest fundraiser, which lets students staff the Mill Street parking lot and collect fees to support the school’s athletic programs. While the lot is free the rest of the year, the fundraiser has become an important boost for students and their teams. Trustees noted that, although a few visitors expressed frustration with having to pay last year, the board is encouraging residents and visitors to remember that these students give their time to help just one weekend out of the year - and to treat them with kindness and support.
PROJECTS AROUND THE VILLAGE
The DPW crew has been hard at work around the village, tackling sidewalk installations and repairs on Mill and Martha Streets, and partnering with the Town to repave Jefferson Street.
After a resident raised concerns about the condition of the tennis courts located at the Village Park, the DPW team quickly responded by agreeing to schedule weeding and power washing the surface - a temporary improvement that should help extend their use until a full renovation can be planned and funded.
On Elk Street, engineers shared a drainage plan that should help with water issues until a more permanent solution can be put in place. That work is expected to be finished by the end of September.
OTHER UPDATES
The board approved moving all local laws into a digital E-Codes system, making it easier for residents to access village law online. Trustees also reminded businesses to keep alleyways neat and dumpsters closed as part of ongoing beautification efforts.
Another reminder that recycling collection comes first during pickup days, followed a few hours later by garbage collection. The two-truck system, handled by Beichner Waste Services, is designed to keep recycling and trash separate, so residents are encouraged to be patient if the second truck arrives later in the day.
Amy Hayward, Village Clerk, shared that work continues on the village’s new website, which is now live at villageofellicottvilleny.gov. Meeting notices and other village updates are regularly posted both on the site and on the Village of Ellicottville’s Facebook, giving residents multiple ways to stay informed on various village-related topics.
In correspondence, the Huntley House (previously the Wingate by Wyndham) received approval for a 30-day waiver on its liquor license application as the hotel prepares for renovations.
Trustees also reviewed a letter from am an outside party concerned about rising EMS call volumes and delayed response times, which in some cases have required outside services to step in. Currently, 5 municipalities cover the area - which includes two major resorts, with all equipment and manpower being provided by the Ellicottville/Great Valley Service Inc., which is a non-profit organization. While the board discussed possible ways to improve local response, trustees emphasized that long-term funding and staffing solutions will need to be addressed at the county level.
The Village Office will be closed September 15-19th while the clerk’s office and mayor attend NYCOM training, though staff will be monitoring email and voicemail. Because this interferes with the original Board meeting schedule, the next meeting of the Ellicottville Village Board will take place a week later, on Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:00pm.
