[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583123,"mediaKeyId","3075986-694b3b7626ace36431803223d1342bfc","parentId",3075986,"title","Votes at a glance: Grand Island board adopts banner program, staffing and permits; approves bills totaling $205,661","audioSeconds",1740,"startMs",2293000,"endMs",4033000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3075986-694b3b7626ace36431803223d1342bfc&start=2293&end=4033","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3075986-694b3b7626ace36431803223d1342bfc/thumbnail_2293000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583123/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Grand-Island-board-adopts-banner-program-staffing-and-permits-approves-bills-totaling-205661","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583123-36c8b58240663d99687866aff08c0659/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195774&Signature=bk0IpkCA69FNU2~Pxz5Lp2~YNOHEpEV2kxlZql0jhqMWpywyiPmsaHkzH0KAWbxLgNIS~nloD8AJE2hamLU8O343VAtpflZv2dosEr4tced9QDab93irCTI-I32EgCG6MYosftqX20TBIxGsPVjc7DcBXen8jjAzS8Eltw2o9Kespnen6m0pjlaANkaYGSu1mKnP3CZ3rZbQVguA5TrqYEHaUDmNZ0bsIQmkzh4g1SZAAppVyD-5HH0mv2iUPDeS00FVV4T71a1Ez2Gr~bmRH8Mggx7iSQz3Dsj4x5AD7MGTD-atcGol5yAWRC0OO-eld1E7Y16PMhipN0eQGz-IrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Island, NY","date","2025-04-22T02:25:05.747Z","article","The Town Board of Grand Island took a series of routine and programmatic votes on April 21, approving a veteran banner program, staffing actions, assorted hires, site-plan and permit items, and the payment of bills.

Key outcomes

- Hometown Heroes banner program: The board approved a program to install 30x60-inch banners honoring town residents who served and were honorably discharged from the U.S. armed services. The Town will facilitate installation and removal; the VFW and American Legion will cover banner and bracket costs. (Roll call: ayes recorded.)

- Amendment to employment agreement for shared-service systems engineer/IT director: The board authorized an amendment to the employment agreement to formalize the engineer’s role as the town’s IT director. (Roll call: ayes recorded.)

- Memorandum of understanding (MOU) expanding duties for the senior billing account clerk: The board authorized a memorandum of agreement with the CSEA to permit the senior billing account clerk, Elaine O'Neil, to take on additional grant-administration and project-management duties with a stipend equal to the difference between CSEA grade 7 and grade 8 hourly rates, subject to attorney approval.

- Hires and personnel approvals: The board approved multiple part-time, seasonal, seasonal and full-time hires and a promotion in the highway, recreation, parks and engineering departments, including hiring Ryan Zalowski as principal engineering assistant (conditional/permanent basis) and multiple seasonal hires for recreation and parks.

- Planning and zoning items: The board renewed a special-use permit for a community solar array (Grand Island B Land LLC) and approved a negative declaration under SEQRA and the site plan for an automobile service shop on Grand Isle Boulevard, contingent on Planning Board recommendations and any required DOT approvals for driveway access; it also approved a special-use permit for keeping agricultural animals on 5.5 acres (3 animals) at 1750 Easter Road.

- Bills: The audit committee motion to pay bills passed; the board approved payment from multiple funds for a total of $205,661.26.

Procedural notes: Most votes were recorded by roll call and registered as affirmative; the meeting record shows ayes for the listed items. The board also handled routine consent-agenda minutes and board committee minutes.

Ending: Several items remain tabled for more information, and the board scheduled follow-up workshops and referrals where noted during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 21, 2025 Town Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 21 meeting the Town Board unanimously approved a hometown heroes banner program, several staffing actions and hires, permit renewals and other routine items; the board approved payment of bills totaling $205,661.26.","taxTitle","Grand Island, Erie County, New York","taxId",54969,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583128,"Grand Island residents press town board to pause 2025 property reassessment; board schedules workshop, tables suspension motion",2453,838000,3291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3075986-694b3b7626ace36431803223d1342bfc&start=838&end=3291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3075986-694b3b7626ace36431803223d1342bfc/thumbnail_838000.jpg","/articles/6583128/Grand-Island/Erie-County/New-York/Grand-Island-residents-press-town-board-to-pause-2025-property-reassessment-board-schedules-workshop-tables-suspension-motion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583128-e117bb5dae498700bd26128854117980/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195774&Signature=dBV9YOKs~OisypwIZIdqFfkCRrdBvv7I3aQlUbGk5C4DPkav~wB3pVXkfqsS5~Jierz6vU0xKO~3i-wE9LX7fpdfikwvcAL8YSlVJeQ-6bOf5xmTpNgjSzShHFmSA8DncVpwE9Cn1-y6yKj8S8s67ZtlSBPNTSYrgeB3dFKsyJjgwxiTdHFFaEM~KaMrEKH9l5uM9bZjBceh5LJqh6FKouYoysYEPB0WNc7YtDUMciPzReTBz5OcYpGmA-7Vtq4zRfe-cyEqXEQ~r0DNUflzO2wYH4HHh9mDtCT-kHUQaqsJuFUm11tFS8Gk0knagiqDzpqEvXVbmJnTqrQdZx8DXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A large group of Grand Island residents told the Town Board on April 21 that the town should suspend its 2025 property reassessment amid what they described as hundreds of apparent errors and large, unexplained valuation swings.

The most detailed public comment came from Mike Madigan, a Grand Island resident, who said the town has received “over 700 complaints so far” and that the assessor’s office has already made roughly $17,000,000 in adjustments. He and several other residents said many similar houses on the island received widely different reassessments and that commercial-to-residential shifts in assessed value are increasing the residential tax burden. “Nonresident commercial properties, 205 out of 250, saw tax decreases…shifting over $700,000 onto residents,” Madigan said.

Why it matters: The reassessment affects tax bills across the island. Several speakers said older residents and others with limited ability to appeal could be disproportionately harmed if the reassessment is certified without further review.

Councilman Daniel Kilmer, who led the board discussion on the topic, presented data he said showed a sharp increase in complaints and adjustment dollars compared with the last reassessment. Kilmer moved to suspend (\"toss\") the reassessment and asked the board to halt certification while anomalies are investigated. He said, “I’ll make a motion to suspend the reassessment until we get the answers that we’re looking for.”

Board response and next steps: Other board members pressed for more information from the assessor’s office and the contractor handling the reassessment before taking a final, formal vote to suspend. After extended discussion about the available data and the legal/timing consequences of either suspending or certifying, the board voted to table Kilmer’s suspension motion and immediately schedule a public workshop with the contractor and the assessor so members could hear the vendor’s explanations and ask questions. The board’s stated intention was to hold that workshop as soon as notice rules allow and, if necessary, vote from that special meeting.

Residents’ concerns summarized: Speakers described a range of problems, including apparent data-entry mistakes (wrong number of bedrooms/bathrooms), what one resident called AI-generated or non-visual imagery used by the contractor, large percentage increases for otherwise unchanged homes, and an apparent pattern where some commercial properties fell in assessed value while many residential properties increased. Speakers said the appeal process places the burden on homeowners to prove errors rather than on the assessor to validate assessments.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt a formal suspension of the reassessment at the April 21 meeting. Instead the board tabled the suspension motion and instructed staff to arrange a workshop where the assessor and the contractor will present and answer questions. The board said it may vote at that workshop or return the matter to a subsequent regular meeting for action.

Ending: The Town Board asked the assessor’s office to make comparables available to residents who request them, and the board said the upcoming workshop will be livestreamed so residents can observe the discussion. The board set a short-term schedule goal to convene the workshop as early as legally possible so members could decide whether to suspend, amend, or certify the reassessment after hearing the contractor and the assessor.","Multiple Grand Island residents urged the Town Board to suspend the 2025 reassessment, citing hundreds of complaints and large, unexplained assessment swings; Councilman Daniel Kilmer moved to suspend but the board tabled that motion and scheduled a workshop with the assessor and contractor for more information.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Grand Island board adopts banner program, staffing and permits; approves bills totaling $205,661

Grand Island residents press town board to pause 2025 property reassessment; board schedules workshop, tables suspension motion