The Village of Penn Yan Board covered a wide range of business during its July 15 meeting, including major infrastructure projects, personnel moves, and updates to village law.
The board opened with unanimous approval for two closed-door sessions—one with legal counsel and another concerning the work history of an employee. No public comments were made during the open floor portion of the meeting.
Board members approved waiving rental fees for Indian Pines Pavilion for the 2025 Conservation Field Day, a sixth-grade educational event hosted by the Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District. A peddler’s license was also retroactively approved for Shaka Shave to operate in Red Jacket Park through September.
The board discussed a proposal from Lakeside Trolley Tours to park near Village Hall for beverage tour pickups. The motion lacked a second and did not move forward after it was clarified the business would use Microtel’s parking lot instead.
The resignation of Gary Reagan from the Zoning Board of Appeals was accepted, and updates to the village code moved ahead. One change involved a court-mandated amendment to the Notifications of Defects chapter. Another—Local Law K of 2025—would allow up to 30 feet of residential land to be incorporated into commercial zones via lot line adjustments. A public hearing is scheduled for August 9.
The board also approved five motions from the Municipal Utilities Board, including a $34,200 change order for lead service line excavation, sewer forgiveness for a resident, and a $12,368 adjustment for water main replacement on Main Street. All costs are grant-funded or reconciled based on field conditions.
The administration committee authorized a $133,019 drawdown for a wastewater treatment project and passed a $1.32 million bond resolution for interceptor sewer replacement. Other personnel approvals included hiring a new part-time police officer, appointing a deputy clerk, and upgrading an employee’s pay scale following a completed probationary period.
Updates to public safety included converting Plaza Drive into a two-way street, contingent on installing no-truck signage. The fire department received permission to declare an aging fire truck as surplus, with its sale planned after a new unit is equipped and operational. Surplus tires will also be sold via online auction.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is progressing, with excavation at Lake Street Park uncovering buried foundations. Change orders totaling $6,300 were approved to address the site conditions.
The board entered closed and executive sessions before ultimately voting 5-2 to authorize the mayor to sign a retainer agreement related to PFAS litigation. Trustees Teresa Hoban and Brenda Travis opposed the measure.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].