Grand Island board completes annual reorganization, adopts $9 million capital reserve and approves playground grant

The Town Board of Grand Island on Monday completed its annual reorganization and approved a package of administrative actions including a $9,000,000 capital reserve for future water‑meter replacement and acceptance of a $50,000 State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant for a new playground at Veterans Park.

The board, led by Town Supervisor Peter Marston, approved 48 reorganization items that included reappointments to advisory boards and town offices, designation of the Tribune Sentinel as the town’s official newspaper, and the IRS mileage reimbursement rate of $0.70 per mile for town officials performing town duties in 2025.

The reorganization package also designated Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (M&T Bank) and JPMorgan Chase Bank as depositaries for town funds; Councilmember Christian Belida recused himself from that vote because one designated bank is his employer, the board recorded.

Why it matters: The board’s resolution creating a capital reserve fund — described by the town attorney as subject to a permissive referendum — sets a maximum funding cap of $9,000,000 to be held for replacement of the town’s water meters. The board adopted that measure by roll call vote.

In other finance actions, the board set utility rates for 2025 at $6.30 per 1,000 gallons for sewer and $3.55 per 1,000 gallons for water, and authorized routine payables totaling $449,211.37 across general, highway, sewer, water, capital, lighting and refuse funds.

The board also voted to accept a $50,000 SAM grant for playground equipment at Veterans Park. The total playground cost is $54,339; the town will pay a $4,399 local match from the Parks and Playgrounds equipment line in the 2025 budget. The board authorized the supervisor, a second town officer and the town attorney to sign required certificates with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York so the grant disbursement agreement can be completed.

Personnel and operations decisions included the promotion of Carl Finn to maintenance worker in the sewer department at $29.02 per hour effective Jan. 5, 2025; authorization to sell designated surplus highway equipment through Auctions International; and a request by the justice court to carry over eight hours of vacation into 2025, which the board approved with a requirement the time be used in the first two weeks of January.

Land‑use and permitting actions were limited. The board referred a property at 1437 Ferry Road to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board for review and approved a special‑use permit renewal for a bed‑and‑breakfast at 800 Kirkwood Drive after an inspection found the property in compliance.

The board also rescheduled a public hearing — cited as not having appeared in the paper in time — to Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. and set regular 2025 meeting dates for the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 8 p.m., with workshops at 6:30 p.m.

Quotes from the meeting were procedural. Highway Superintendent Richard Crawford, speaking during public comment about an agenda placement issue, told the board, “You don’t need our permission,” when clarifying that one appointment belongs on his agenda rather than the town board’s.

The board adjourned after approving the reorganizational items and routine business and observed a moment of silence for several community members.