Committee approves routine resolutions on land bank appointments, grants, budgets and agreements

The Chautauqua County Planning and Economic Development Committee voted on multiple routine resolutions at its February 2026 meeting, approving appointments, grant-authority updates and budget amendments.

The committee confirmed a nomination to the Chautauqua County Land Bank Board of Directors by voice vote after noting no representative had appeared to discuss the appointment. The nomination was handled under a single motion; no roll-call tally is recorded in the transcript.

Lauren Sharp, senior planner, presented a resolution updating a 2012 measure (identified in the transcript as Resolution 185-12) to align county practice with current New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation grant guidelines for snowmobile trails. Sharp said the law department recommended the update because the older resolution was more than 10 years old and that the update would authorize the county executive to sign yearly grant agreements and require monitoring of snowmobile clubs. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote.

Staff presented a budget-neutral amendment to the 2025 planning and development budget to clear payroll overages and to record pass-through grant activity. Sam Zafoto, deputy director of finance, told the committee the $101,001.27 contractual increase reflected previously approved activity without a matching amendment and that an amendment would be included in the 2026 budget to fully reconcile the project. Zafoto noted the project was essentially a pass-through and that revenue offsets the expense; he said the county “should have come to you somewhere last year with a budget amendment to clear that up.” The committee approved the amendment by voice vote.

The committee authorized agreements with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County that formalize the county executive’s signature authority on appropriations and contracts the legislature includes in the county budget. The motion passed by voice vote.

Stephanie Nicks, special projects coordinator, described an occupancy-tax grant to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency for a project at the Greater Jamestown River Walk Trail near the Washington Street bridge underpass. The committee approved entering into the agreement by voice vote.

Finally, the committee amended the 2026 budget to recognize $81,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) revenue tied to a micro-enterprise assistance program, closing out a $200,000 program. That resolution passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (voice votes as recorded in transcript): - Approval of January minutes — approved (voice vote). - Confirm appointment to Chautauqua County Land Bank Board — approved (voice vote). - Authorize grant applications/agreements for snowmobile trails (update to 2012 resolution) — approved (voice vote). - Amend 2025 planning and development budget to reconcile pass-through grants and payroll overages — approved (voice vote). - Authorize agreements with Cornell Cooperative Extension — approved (voice vote). - Authorize occupancy-tax award agreement with Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency — approved (voice vote). - Amend 2026 budget for NYS CDBG micro-enterprise program (recognize $81,000 revenue) — approved (voice vote).

The meeting adjourned after the resolutions were handled; transcript does not include roll-call tallies for the votes.