Last week the Seneca Falls Town Board held its annual reorganization meeting, approving a slate of appointments, policies, and committee assignments for 2026, before moving into regular business that included multiple resolutions, public comment on town parks and liability concerns, and a lengthy debate over creating a new police detective position.
The meeting opened with the reorganization portion, during which the board approved 2026 appointments for town attorney, special counsel, labor counsel, engineering, financial consulting, deputy clerks, tax collection, court clerks, and other administrative and advisory roles. Additional appointments included deputy supervisor, highway and water department deputies, recreation commission members, planning and zoning board members, historic preservation commission alternates, cemetery positions, and town auditor. All appointments were approved by board vote.
The board also adopted 2026 meeting dates, confirming that regular meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., and designated official banks, newspaper, and media outlets. Mileage and per diem reimbursement rates were set to match current Internal Revenue Service standards.
Board members then approved the 2026 procurement policy and adopted Robert’s Rules of Order and updated rules of conduct for town board meetings and public hearings. During discussion, the board amended the conduct rules to give the police chief discretion to issue a warning or pursue charges in cases of disorderly conduct at meetings. The amended rules were approved by vote.
Committee assignments for 2026 were also approved, with chairs and alternate members named for assessment, economic development, recreation, highway, waste management, personnel, public safety, public works, court, water and sewer, zoning, and other committees.
During the regular meeting portion, the board opened privilege of the floor. One resident raised concerns about town liability related to alcohol consumption during the annual “It’s a Wonderful Run” event and questioned whether the town carries adequate insurance. The same speaker suggested selling Vincenzo’s Park, citing what he described as low usage and the age of the pool, and proposed using the proceeds for housing development and a centrally located public pool.
Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter responded that the town has been exploring long-term options for relocating recreational facilities closer to downtown, including potential grant opportunities and preliminary engineering work. He said selling or closing a park requires state approval and emphasized that no final decisions have been made.
Another resident suggested that Vincenzo’s Park could be considered for future cemetery expansion, noting limited availability of burial plots. Schmitter said the town is considering options and public input would be part of the process. Privilege of the floor was then closed.
The board approved minutes from five prior meetings held between Nov. 6 and Dec. 29, 2025, and accepted department reports and communications as listed on the agenda.
In new business, the board adopted a resolution supporting the Morehouse Boat property as a future Bridgeport visitors center and museum, citing its historical significance. The board also approved a transfer of funds to the cemetery buildings and grounds account, amended to remove language referencing a county error, and authorized the release of funds to the Seneca Museum.
Additional resolutions authorized the Department of Public Works to execute a contract for HVAC mechanical services for town buildings, extended the appointment of the current town manager until a new manager is appointed and onboarded, and expressed support for Congressman Nick Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act while opposing government-mandated natural gas bans.
The board also waived the 30-day notice requirement for a liquor license application involving an existing business changing ownership, accepted the resignation of the zoning officer, authorized the hiring of a part-time zoning officer, and approved a short-term training appointment for the former zoning officer. A resolution authorizing the purchase of a copier for the Seneca Falls Police Department was also approved.
A proposed resolution to create a detective position within the police department for narcotics investigation prompted extended discussion. Several board members objected, noting the position had been removed during budget deliberations and raising concerns about increased personnel costs and the recent tax increase. Other members argued that narcotics enforcement is a priority and questioned whether the change represented a new position or a reclassification. The board deferred further discussion to executive session.
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