Grand Island historic-preservation panel votes to seek $5,000 annual pay for town historian; discusses cemeteries, Nike base mapping and moving historic house

At a meeting of the Grand Island Historic Preservation Board, members voted to ask that the town increase the annual stipend for the town historian, Jody, to $5,000 and discussed several preservation priorities including cemetery stewardship, outreach around the former Nike base, and options to relocate or otherwise protect an at‑risk historic cottage and other structures.

Board members said the raise for the historian is intended to cover basic compensation and travel costs for conferences and record‑keeping. The board chair asked for a motion “that we should ask for an increase in Jody’s salary to $5,000 per year.” A board member seconded the motion and the board voted in favor. The motion also directed that the increase be submitted as a budget request to the town supervisor’s office for the 2026 budget cycle.

The board discussed several other preservation matters that members said warrant a focused effort. Members reported ongoing efforts to inventory and steward multiple local cemeteries and to develop an exhibit or public program about them; the board debated whether to prepare exhibits one cemetery at a time or a combined display covering all sites. One member noted the state has a “division of cemeteries,” and the group discussed the administrative responsibilities that come with cemetery stewardship, including annual reporting.

Members discussed outreach to residents and volunteers for routine maintenance and landscaping at cemetery sites. The board said it will consult a master gardener for planting recommendations and intends to coordinate work with local volunteers who currently help maintain some sites.

The group also talked about research and mapping of the former Nike missile base. A long‑time resident who has offered to draw maps and share recollections was cited as a potential resource; the board agreed to follow up with that person informally rather than pursue a formal letter of intent at this stage.

A recurring preservation concern raised at the meeting was a privately owned cottage in Ferry Village whose physical condition and current rental use members said undermine its historic appearance. Members discussed negotiating conditions with the owner if the town engages in incentives or other actions, and several members said that any long‑term arrangement — for example, donation or transfer of the structure to the town or a nonprofit — should be codified so the town’s obligations and the site’s upkeep are clear.

Separately, the board considered relocating two small historic outbuildings (an icehouse and a smokehouse) from their present site. One member reported a contractor estimate of roughly $50,000 as a possible minimum cost to move a stone structure. The board discussed potential funding sources, including grants and outreach to state representatives, and the logistical and legal steps that would be required if the town took ownership or assisted with relocation.

Members urged a narrower, prioritized approach rather than pursuing many small projects at once. Suggestions included identifying one visible, achievable project to pursue for state funding and working with the town supervisor’s office to submit budget requests. Several members described that the board needs to formalize who will steward individual properties if they are moved to town land or a nonprofit site such as Sanborn Farm or another conserved parcel.

Other items on the agenda included announcements about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events: a public hike referenced for a Sunday at noon (day and month not specified in the meeting record) and a Riverly cleanup scheduled for a Saturday morning (day and month not specified). The board also discussed confirming an alternate appointment to the board (Alice Gerard was named by participants as the appointed alternate; several members said the town office would resend official notice to her). The meeting included prolonged discussion of next steps for applications to the town board and the timing of budget requests to the town supervisor in advance of the supervisor’s budget deadline.

Members closed by agreeing to pursue a focused preservation project, to gather rough cost estimates for moving structures, to follow up with the resident who offered to map the Nike base sites, and to submit a formal request to the supervisor’s office to increase the town historian’s compensation and to include related expense requests as part of future budget planning.