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Fredonia holds public hearing on state CDBG grant used to renovate White Inn
Summary
Village trustees held a public hearing on a New York State Community Development Block Grant that supported renovation, equipping and furnishing of the White Inn; patrons and project staff spoke in support and trustees formally closed the hearing.
A public hearing in Fredonia on Feb. 18 heard public comment on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project that funded renovation, equipping and furnishing of the White Inn at 52 East Main Street.
The hearing was opened by Eric Ferguson, who said the village received CDBG funding through the New York State Office of Community Renewal. Rosie Stramberg, project manager for the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation, said the hearing was held to meet program requirements and that the project is complete and opened in November 2024. Stramberg asked attendees to sign in and invited comments on construction, financing or employment opportunities resulting from the project.
Longtime patron Michael Barris, of 154 Center Street, described attending family events, political events and community gatherings at the White Inn for 75 years and said the interior appearance had been maintained. Barris said he regretted the inn’s seven-year closure before renovation and welcomed its reopening in February 2024. Mayor Mike Ferguson and other trustees thanked project partners and noted additional exterior work planned for spring.
A resident asked whether the grant created any village financial obligation; Stramberg replied the funding was a grant from the Office of Community Renewal and that the village acted as a pass-through. With no further public comment, a trustee moved to close the hearing; the motion was seconded, and trustees voted in favor to end the public hearing.
The hearing record includes the project completion date (opened November 2024) and contact directions Stramberg provided for submitting written comments prior to the hearing. No formal change to village budget or additional financial commitments were recorded at the hearing.
The board reconvened for its workshop and regular meeting after the hearing.
