The Penn Yan Village Board appointed Justin Hamm as temporary police chief and approved a contested change to the village's abandoned-vehicle law during a special meeting Aug. 28.
Hamm will begin the temporary post Sept. 8 at an annual salary of $119,600. The appointment followed a 19-minute executive session and received unanimous support from all seven board members.
The board also accepted Deputy Director of Public Works Brian Sutton's resignation, effective Sept. 11, and authorized the village to begin recruiting his replacement. That action was also approved unanimously.
Abandoned-vehicle amendment passes 5-2
The board adopted Resolution 63-2026, amending Chapter 186 of the village code covering abandoned vehicles. Mayor Patricia Christensen and trustees Brenda Travis, Ronald Dailey, Robert Craig and Dan Henries voted in favor, while trustees Teresa Hoban and Kevin McLoud voted against the measure.
Village Attorney Ed Brockman told the board the amendment would affect properties zoned as commercial repair shops and licensed by New York state. According to the minutes, the change is part of a settlement responding to a civil rights lawsuit brought by a village resident and addresses the village's abandoned-vehicle rules as well as the status of a street.
Board members discussed the distinction between a repair shop and an automobile junkyard. Police Chief Thomas Dunham cited state rules regulating automobile junkyards and said village requirements must be applied alongside New York law.
Brockman reported that the Yates County Planning Board found no significant countywide impact from the proposed amendment. Trustees also considered whether the property at issue could be grandfathered under the prior rules.
Brockman said the village did not use that option because properties with the same commercial repair-shop license should be held to the same standard. Board members said they wanted to protect the village's appearance and keep enforcement consistent with the village plan.
Christensen said Code Enforcement Officer J. Marshall would review the code and make enforcement a priority. Brockman also warned that failure to adopt the local law at the special meeting would require the village to restart the adoption process.
Public works vacancy and fall event noted
The board voted to accept Sutton's resignation after returning to open session. The minutes do not provide a timeline for hiring the next deputy public works director beyond authorizing recruitment to begin.
Hoban also announced that the village's Trunk or Treat event is planned for Oct. 24. An event application is expected to be submitted later.
The meeting began at 8:30 a.m. in Village Hall and adjourned at 9:45 a.m. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period.
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