Grand Island planning board discusses training and membership lapse; introduces new secretary

Members of the Grand Island Planning Board said the board's membership in the New York Planning Federation lapsed in January 2024, which has prevented some members from receiving certificates for certified training courses.

A board member said a planning course taken in August did not yield a certificate because the board is not listed as a current member. Members discussed identifying a contact at the New York Planning Federation and arranging certified modules, with the goal of meeting the typical annual training target of roughly four hours of certified instruction for new members.

The board also introduced Crystal (last name not provided), who will serve as the planning board's new secretary. Crystal said she currently works at the Niagara County Supreme Court and previously served as a Grand Island town clerk; she told the board her prior experience includes meeting minutes and clerking tasks. "I currently work at Niagara County in Supreme Court, so I'm in felony court all day," Crystal said. "Previously to that, I was a Grand Island town clerk. So I used to do the meeting minutes for the town board."

Long-time planning board member Arlene, who said she started serving on the zoning board in 1973, was thanked by members for her years of service. Board members asked volunteers to contact the New York Planning Federation, arrange certified training modules (stormwater and site-process modules were suggested) and report back at the next meeting. No formal vote was recorded on training; the introduction of the new secretary was presented as an administrative announcement during the meeting.