Victor Town Board members questioned whether shipping containers belong permanently in residential neighborhoods Tuesday, while leaving room for businesses that need temporary storage. They scheduled an Oct. 26 public hearing on proposed rules and asked staff to keep revising the draft.
The board also appointed Michael Stockman as parks and recreation director, accepted Brian Emelson’s retirement after 23 years and approved employee benefit changes. During public comment, a longtime Fishers Fire Association member challenged the town’s fire protection arrangements and the future of the volunteer organization.
The container discussion took place during a workshop before the Oct. 13 regular meeting. No container restrictions were adopted Tuesday. The next step is a public hearing, followed by further board consideration and county planning review.
Container rules draw questions about homes and businesses
Code Enforcement Officer Adam Ryczek said containers have been appearing more frequently around town, often without the permits or site plan approvals required for other storage structures.
Some occupy parking spaces or fire lanes and obstruct visibility, he said. Others have been approved through existing procedures and would remain legally established under the proposed law.
The working draft distinguishes temporary moving and storage units, such as portable pods, from containers placed permanently on a property.
It proposes a permit exemption for residential moving containers used for up to 60 days within a 12-month period. Other exemptions would cover qualifying construction activity, agricultural uses and containers used to transport a business’s products.
A temporary permit generally would allow a container for up to 90 days in a calendar year. Longer placement would trigger requirements for permanent accessory storage, including setbacks and, where applicable, site plan approval.
Those provisions remain subject to revision.
Councilmember Alexis Ogra opposed allowing permanent containers on residential properties, saying residents already have options to build sheds or garages.
“A shipping container in a residential area really doesn’t fit in with … the character of the neighborhood,” she said.
Councilmember Drew Cusimano also favored temporary residential use over permanent placement, but urged flexibility for businesses with seasonal storage needs.
He questioned whether new restrictions could leave an owner unable to keep an existing container and unable to build an alternative because of lot size, parking requirements or other zoning limits.
“It wouldn’t be my effort to try to restrict that business owner from being successful,” Cusimano said.
Ryczek said containers already occupy parking spaces regardless of whether they have approval. Any permanent placement would need review for traffic safety, fire access and other site requirements.
The discussion also exposed a separate issue in the light industrial district, where Ryczek said existing zoning does not generally permit accessory storage sheds. Board members asked to see a possible amendment allowing more modest storage buildings without requiring a full addition to an existing business.
The draft includes a 180-day transition period for unapproved containers to obtain any available approvals or be removed. Containers already issued certificates of compliance would remain legally established, Ryczek said.
The town attorney also recommended clarifying language about easements and property restrictions so the town would not be drawn into private disputes between owners or homeowners associations.
Officials said the proposed law requires referral to the county planning board. Unless that board responds sooner, a 30-day review period could prevent Victor from acting immediately after the Oct. 26 hearing.
Stockman succeeds Emelson in parks leadership
The board accepted Emelson’s retirement effective Oct. 16 and approved a proclamation recognizing his work developing Victor’s parks, trails, recreation programs and long-term parks master plan.
Supervisor Jack Marren read the proclamation, crediting Emelson with helping build a recreation system serving children, families, adults and seniors.
Stockman’s appointment takes effect Oct. 17 at an annual salary rate of $93,031.10. The appointment resolution credits him with 19 years of town service.
The board also held a public hearing on changing membership requirements for the five-member Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Committee.
The proposed amendment would reduce the required number of village residents from two to one, allowing the other seat to be filled by either a town or village resident.
Marren said the town had advertised the vacancy four times since November 2025. He said the change would make it easier to maintain a full committee while retaining village representation through a required village member and a village liaison.
No one spoke at the hearing. The board closed it without a separate vote on adopting the amendment at the meeting.
Fishers volunteer challenges fire protection arrangements
Cory Masseth, a life member of the Fishers Fire Association who said he has worked and volunteered in fire service since 1990, criticized how the town has handled protection in the former Fishers Fire District.
Masseth said contracting for coverage through fire protection districts leaves residents without the ability to vote for or serve as commissioners of the Victor Fire District, which he said will provide coverage under a five-year agreement beginning Jan. 1.
He questioned how the two Fishers stations would be staffed and whether the town had obtained an independent professional assessment of staffing, equipment, training, response times and local hazards.
Masseth also said Fishers volunteers had been told to join Victor individually rather than retain their association’s place in the fire service. He said the association had been directed to leave its remaining station space, with records and equipment dispersed among storage facilities and members’ homes.
He urged the board to recognize the association’s more than 100 years of service.
Marren responded by pointing to anticipated tax relief. He said he expected the fire protection tax rate in the former Fishers area to decline by 94 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and come within roughly 6 or 7 cents of Victor’s fire district rate.
“Certainly, we are well on our way to having equal tax rate townwide,” Marren said.
The exchange did not produce a new fire protection vote or a detailed discussion of station staffing.
Benefits approved, budget hearings set
The board approved the preliminary 2027 budget for public review and scheduled Oct. 26 hearings on the budget and special assessment roll. Approving the preliminary budget moves it to the hearing stage; it does not constitute final adoption.
Members also approved Excellus retiree health coverage, MVP employee health coverage, employee contribution rates, health savings account funding, vision insurance and dental rates for 2027.
The benefits resolutions list a 12.5% increase in MVP costs and a 9.7% increase in Excellus retiree coverage costs.
Eligible employees who decline town health coverage will receive a $5,000 annual buyout instead of $1,000 beginning Jan. 1, provided they meet requirements for other coverage.
Permanent part-time employees will receive paid holidays when they fall on scheduled workdays and vacation based on hours worked. Temporary and seasonal employees are excluded.
Marren thanked employees for responding to a survey that helped inform the benefit changes.
Other approvals included two-year professional services contract extensions, highway personnel reassignments, a Monroe County Water Authority easement and an agreement with Rochester Junior Amerks Hockey.
The board also increased the road improvement budget by $48,687.24 to reflect additional state highway funding, according to the resolution packet.
Members formally acknowledged the conclusion of the Modock Springs Value Protection Plan. The resolution states that eligible claims have been resolved, final payments distributed and no further claims can be submitted.
The board approved $755,849.54 in bills. Major payments included road materials and striping, legal and engineering services, retiree benefits, fuel and plow equipment.
Residents will have their next opportunity to address the budget, district assessments and proposed container rules at the Oct. 26 hearings at Victor Town Hall, 85 E. Main St.
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