Village Board Moves Forward on Tax Updates and Code Enforcement
Village Board Moves Forward on Tax Updates and Code Enforcement
Following a public hearing with no public comment, occupancy and gross receipts tax changes were approved as officials address compliance issues and planning priorities
The Ellicottville Village Board addressed several financial, regulatory, and planning matters during its January meeting, including approval of updated tax measures, special event planning, and next steps on code enforcement issues.
Following a public hearing with no public comment, the Board approved updates to both the village’s Occupancy Tax and Gross Receipts Tax (GRT). One amendment to the GRT clarified language in the law by removing the word “entity” from a section of the code before final adoption.
In other updates, Mayor John Burrell shared that he has been invited to participate in a regional roundtable focused on brownfield areas in Cattaraugus County, contributing to broader discussions around redevelopment and future planning efforts.
The Board also approved the annual Mardi Gras event for 2026. The application was presented by Deputy Mayor Doug Bush, in the absence of the Chamber’s executive director, Barb Pump, due to weather conditions, with no proposed changes to the longstanding event. Board members briefly discussed parade logistics, including the possible use of fire trucks as street blockades.
A significant portion of the meeting included discussion related to an ongoing refuse and compliance issue involving a local downtown business. Village officials reported a lack of response to certified correspondence that was sent to the property owner. After consultation with the Village Attorney, the Board agreed to move forward with enforcement actions as permitted under village code.
Department reports were presented from Planning, Engineering, Public Works, Water, Wastewater Treatment, Code Enforcement, Police, Parks, and Beautification. Trustee Sean Lowes also thanked the Department of Public Works for removing holiday decorations from the 1887 Building.
Village Clerk Amy Hayward shared a proposal from G&G to provide grant-writing services during the 2026-27 budget cycle. The potential contract would focus on 6 to 8 grants tied to priorities such as wastewater treatment, workforce housing, village infrastructure, the comprehensive plan, and parks and recreation.
Hayward also noted that budget preparation discussions with department heads are expected to begin in early February, along with a review of shared expenses between the Village and Town. Additionally, she raised concerns about recent discrepancies identified in water and sewer billing in regard to classification of properties/number of meters at locations. Next steps for reviewing and/or adjusting the current classification process will be explored further.
The Ellicottville Village Board will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 6:00pm at the Town Hall, 1 W. Washington St. Additional details can be accessed at villageofellicottvilleny.gov.
