Olean Planning Board Reviews Site Plan for Long-Delayed Dugan Road Solar Farm
The Town of Olean Planning Board met last week to go over the site plan for Delaware River Solar's proposed 5-megawatt array on Dugan Road, a project first pitched three years ago that has wound through zoning appeals and a lawsuit against the town. The roughly 43-acre hillside site, owned by Joseph and Patricia Bohan, would carry nearly 11,800 sun-tracking panels set back 250 feet from the road. Board members raised questions about visual impact, glare and the need for a fuller landscaping plan before signing off. The board is working under an Oct. 1 deadline tied to a settlement in which the developer agreed to drop its state Supreme Court suit against the town in exchange for the project moving forward, along with a $150,000 host community fee.
Olean Common Council Passes Ban on Public Camping, Encampments
The Olean Common Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to approve an ordinance banning camping and encampments on public property citywide, including parks, streets, the Allegheny River and the Allegheny River Valley Trail. The measure sets escalating penalties, from a warning up to a $50 fine for a first offense, up to $100 for a second and up to $250 for a third. Council members stressed the ordinance targets conduct on public land rather than criminalizing homelessness or housing status, and requires the city to coordinate with outreach organizations to connect people with shelter, housing assistance and behavioral health or substance-use resources before any scheduled non-emergency removal. Several council members also called for the city to pursue additional, longer-term steps to address homelessness locally. The ordinance takes effect once filed with the state Secretary of State.
Ellicottville Holds First Public Input Meeting on Downtown Revitalization Bid
The Village of Ellicottville held its first public input session Aug. 22 at the Town Center on Parkside Drive as it prepares an application for the state's DRI Round 9 / NY Forward Round 4 downtown revitalization funding. Residents, business owners and other stakeholders were invited to weigh in on the village's vision for downtown, a proposed project boundary, and potential "transformative" projects the application could pursue. The village hired G&G Municipal Consulting, led by grant writer Scott Burto, to prepare the submission; the firm also held private sessions that afternoon for interested property owners. Village officials say community feedback from the meeting will help shape which projects ultimately go into the application.
State Senate Candidate Victoria Guite to Hold Angelica Town Hall
Victoria Guite, a candidate for the 57th State Senate District, will hold a town hall from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Angelica Free Library. Organizers say the session will be live-streamed for residents who can't attend in person, with questions accepted from the online feed as well as the room. Guite is challenging 12-year incumbent Sen. George Borello for the seat, which covers western Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Wyoming and Genesee counties. The event is billed as a chance for constituents to raise concerns directly with the candidate ahead of the race.
Allegany Town Board Steps Up Enforcement of Property Maintenance Law
The Allegany Town Board is ramping up enforcement of its Property Maintenance and Sanitation Law, according to Town Supervisor Chris McPherson. Officials say the stricter approach follows a rise in complaints about debris and belongings accumulating on private property, some of it linked to unhoused individuals camping in areas such as the Allegheny River Valley Trail and along the border with the city of Olean. McPherson framed the move as an effort to keep neighborhoods clean and address public health and safety concerns raised by residents. The law gives the town's code enforcement office broader authority to cite property owners and, where necessary, order cleanup of affected sites.
Assemblyman Sempolinski Holds Town Hall in Fillmore
State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski held a town hall meeting at Fillmore Central School on Wednesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Sempolinski, who represents the 148th Assembly District, said he wanted to update residents on activity in Albany and hear their concerns directly. The session gave Fillmore-area constituents a chance to raise local issues with their state representative in person. It's part of a broader circuit of town halls Sempolinski has been holding across the rural district.
Wellsville Town Supervisor Alsworth Resigns Mid-Meeting After Seven Years
Shad Alsworth stepped down as Wellsville Town Supervisor just 15 minutes into the Aug. 12 town board meeting, ending a seven-year tenure in the role. In a resignation letter read at the meeting, Alsworth said the demands of the job had taken too much time away from his family and professional life, and that he no longer had the capacity to fully commit to the office. After submitting his resignation, he left the board table and took a seat in the audience for the rest of the session. Deputy Supervisor Patricia Graves stepped in to run the remainder of the meeting alongside board members Greg Day, Nicolas Gunning and Justine Dodaro. No timeline has yet been announced for naming a permanent successor.
Olean Mayor Proposes Code Changes to Address Homeless Encampments
At Tuesday's Olean Common Council meeting, Mayor Amy B. Sherburne asked council members to consider updating the city's code of ordinances on camping and encampments on public property. She cited a rise in complaints about encampments along the Allegheny River Valley Trail, in city parks, and along the riverbanks, saying clearer rules would let the city clear sites faster while connecting residents to shelter and services. Council President Lawrence "JR" Bennion referred the resolution to the council's next meeting for further discussion. A resident who has organized past encampment cleanups told the council he had volunteers ready to begin one that weekend using city-supplied trash bags.
Olean Council Overrides Mayor's Veto, Advances War Vets Pool Repair Contract
Olean's Common Council voted unanimously to override Mayor Amy B. Sherburne's veto of a resolution accepting a roughly $1.09 million bid from Tonawanda-based Patterson-Stevens to repair the city pool at War Veterans Park. The council had originally approved the bid on a 4-1 vote, covering work such as replacing the pool's original sand filter system and piping, filling in the small youth pool, and replacing the deck and portions of the pool lining and tile. Sherburne's veto called the council's plan "irresponsible," arguing the cost estimates left out required structural work, including repair and replacement of the pool walls. With the two-thirds override vote, the council cleared the way for the renovation contract to move forward despite the mayor's objections.
Wellsville Village Board Hears Update on Still-Closed Railroad Avenue Building
The Wellsville Village Board's Aug. 10 meeting included an update on the partially collapsed former Phuntner building on Railroad Avenue, which has kept part of the street closed since the building's roof and a wall came down earlier this year. Officials said the site is still awaiting demolition and remains a concern for nearby residents and businesses. The same meeting brought better news, including word that the village has received a state cybersecurity grant and a rundown of plans for that Saturday's America 250th anniversary celebration on the David A. Howe Library lawn. No timeline was given for when Railroad Avenue would reopen to normal traffic.
Olean Launches MakeMyMove Partnership to Draw Remote Workers to the City
City officials announced Olean has formally launched its partnership with MakeMyMove.com, an online platform that markets communities to remote workers looking to relocate. The program offers a combined $20,000 in cash incentives meant to attract five remote workers or job seekers, along with their families, to move to the city, with eligibility tied to minimum household income thresholds. The initiative follows the Common Council's approval in May of a roughly $50,000 contract with TMPA, the firm that operates MakeMyMove, to promote Olean nationally as a relocation destination. Supporters on the council have framed the effort as a low-cost way to grow the city's population and tax base by drawing remote-work households rather than competing for traditional employers.
Ellicottville's Nancy Rogan Honored with County Planning Leadership Award
The Cattaraugus County Planning Board has presented its Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award to Nancy Rogan, longtime chairperson of the Village of Ellicottville Planning Board. Rogan has led the village's planning board for more than three decades, guiding it through zoning amendments and development reviews as Ellicottville grew into a major tourism destination. The award recognizes her work balancing continued economic growth with preservation of the village's historic character. Rogan was also recently recognized by the American Planning Association's Western New York Section with its Citizen Planner Award.
Humphrey Asks Residents to Weigh In on 2026 Comprehensive Plan
The Town of Humphrey is gathering community input as part of an update to its 2026 Comprehensive Plan, the long-range document that guides land use and development decisions. Residents can respond to a town survey by mail to the Supervisor's office, in person at Town Hall, by email, or through an online version posted on the town's website. Town officials are framing the plan update as a chance for residents to help shape future growth and land-use priorities in the small Cattaraugus County town. The survey remains open for response as the town compiles feedback to inform the plan.
Town of Alma Sets August 11 Hearings on Three New Local Laws
The Alma Town Board scheduled public hearings for Tuesday, August 11 at 6 p.m. at Alma Town Hall to gather resident input on three proposed local laws before voting on adoption. One measure, a road preservation law, would set new standards for maintaining town roads. A second would govern utility work permits and protections for town highways, and a third would formalize a franchise agreement with Spectrum for telecommunications service in the town. All three hearings are open to the public before the board acts on the proposals.
Olean Council Names Bennion President, Confirms New Police Chief
The Olean Common Council selected Ward 1 alderman JR Bennion as its new president following the resignation of former president Vernon Robinson. At the same meeting, the council also voted to approve Blovsky as the city's new chief of police. The moves fill two significant leadership vacancies in city government within the same session. The changes come amid broader turnover on the council this summer.
Two Seneca Nation Councilors Launch Bids for Nation President
Seneca Nation Councilor Odie Porter announced her candidacy for Nation President on July 28, running on a five-point platform covering economic development, quality of life, language and culture preservation, environmental and water protection, and resolving the decades-long dispute over the New York Thruway's path through Seneca land. A four-year councilmember and vice chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Porter previously managed a $333 million budget as budget director at the University of Kansas; if elected, she would become the Nation's first woman president. Current President JC Seneca and former President Todd Gates both endorsed her bid. Fellow Councilor Tina Abrams also entered the race the same day, setting up a contested field ahead of the Nation's September 18 caucus and November 3 general election.
Mary Kehoe Fay and Dr. Stephen Carlson were sworn into the Olean City School District Board of Education at the board's annual reorganizational meeting. Both took their oaths of office at the start of the session, joining the board following the district's most recent school board election. The reorganizational meeting marks the formal start of the new school year's governance cycle for the district. District officials welcomed the new members as they begin their terms.
Friendship Holds Hearing on $2 Million Water System Grant Bid
The Town of Friendship held a public hearing on July 15, 2026, at GAR Hall Community Center to gather resident input on community development needs ahead of a possible Community Development Block Grant application. Town officials indicated they intend to seek roughly $2 million in CDBG funding for Phase II improvements to the town's water distribution system. The funding would come from a statewide pool of about $45 million New York State has set aside for eligible municipalities this cycle. The hearing gave residents a chance to weigh in before any formal grant application is submitted.
Ellicottville Town Board Approves Moratorium on Battery Storage and Data Centers
The Ellicottville Town Board approved a 12-month moratorium on new battery energy storage systems and data center facilities during its July 15, 2026 meeting, following a public hearing. Town Supervisor Matthew McAndrew said the pause is meant to give officials time to research the technologies and develop zoning and safety regulations before any projects move forward. Resident Nadine Saviano spoke during the hearing about potential environmental impacts of such facilities. The moratorium halts new applications while the town studies land-use, safety and environmental questions tied to the emerging industries.
Olean Council President Vernon Robinson Announces Resignation
Vernon Robinson Jr., president of the Olean Common Council and the first Black alderman in the city's history, announced he would step down before the end of July 2026. Robinson, who has represented Ward 6 since being appointed in 2020 and was elected council president in 2025, cited the difficulty of balancing his demanding job as a National Grid warehouse manager with council duties. He did not detail all his reasons for leaving but said he hoped his successor could improve communication between the mayor's office and the council. His resignation took effect July 28, 2026.
Delevan Residents Push Back Over Cancelled Summer Recreation Program
At the Village of Delevan Board of Trustees' June 2 meeting, resident Rose Dodge pressed board members over the cancellation of the summer recreation program without input from residents and families. Village officials clarified that the decision was actually made by the Town of Yorkshire rather than the village itself, and Village Treasurer Chris Edmunds said officials were already working on revamping the program for next year, though she said she was unable to discuss the specific reasons behind the cancellation. In other business, the board approved an intermunicipal wastewater treatment agreement with the Village of Arcade and reimbursed residents for 179 garbage stickers.
Perrysburg Solar and Agrivoltaics Project Clears Environmental Review
The Perrysburg Town Board issued a negative declaration under state environmental law for a proposed 4.36-megawatt community solar project with an agrivoltaics component, meaning the project can proceed without a more extensive environmental impact review. Developer Omni Perrysburg LLC's proposal, sited at 11065 West Perrysburg Road, calls for an access road, a concrete equipment pad, utility poles, and underground electric line trenching, alongside farming activity maintained on part of the site. The determination was published in the state's Environmental Notice Bulletin. Town Clerk Tamara Utley is listed as the local contact for residents with questions about the project.
Farmersville Town Board Weighs Ban on Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities
The Farmersville Town Board held a public hearing on June 10, 2026 on proposed Local Law 5-2026, which would prohibit cryptocurrency mining facilities within the town. Town Clerk Bridget Holmes issued the legal notice announcing that residents would have a chance to speak for or against the measure before the board acted. The proposal reflects a wider trend among small Western New York towns weighing whether to restrict energy-intensive crypto mining operations. The public notice did not indicate an outcome, leaving the law's fate to be decided by the board following public comment.
Leon Road Closing in New Albion for Culvert Replacement
The Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works announced it will close County Road No. 6, known locally as Leon Road, in the Town of New Albion to replace a cross culvert. The closure is part of routine infrastructure maintenance managed by the county's public works department rather than the town itself. Drivers who normally use Leon Road were advised to plan alternate routes while the work is underway. A follow-up notice later in the summer confirmed the closure remained in effect as the project continued.
Gowanda's Historic Armes Block Getting $3.5 Million Makeover
The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency approved tax incentives for a $3.5 million renovation of the historic Armes Block building at 1 West Main Street in downtown Gowanda. Developer White Haven Holdings plans to convert the property into ground-floor commercial storefronts with residential apartments above, along with space for a barber academy. CCIDA Executive Director Corey Wiktor said the project builds on downtown revitalization efforts already underway in Gowanda through New York Forward funding. County officials framed the investment as part of a broader push to support recreation, infrastructure, and downtown redevelopment across Cattaraugus County.
The Allegany Town Board formally approved a new comprehensive plan in mid-May 2026, capping roughly two years of work by town officials and residents. The document is meant to serve as a guiding framework for future development, land use and infrastructure decisions in the town over the coming years. Town officials described the plan as the product of extensive community input gathered through meetings and public feedback sessions. It replaces an older planning document and is expected to inform zoning and capital-project decisions going forward.
Village of Cattaraugus Names Five Projects for $10M State Revitalization Award
Governor Kathy Hochul's office confirmed the Village of Cattaraugus as the Round 8 winner of New York's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, unlocking roughly $9.7-10 million for local projects. Village officials identified five projects to receive funding, including a $4.2 million restoration of the Crawford Hotel into a boutique hotel with restaurant and event space, a $1.5 million conversion of the former railroad depot on Mill Street into mixed-use space, streetscape accessibility upgrades on Main and Washington streets, a new community gathering space with an amphitheater on Main Street, and a small matching-grant fund for local business renovations. Mayor Anthony Nagel pointed to recent new businesses like RocketCup Coffee and Revolution Rail as signs of momentum, and said the village aims to complete the funded projects within five years.
Route 62 Bridge Repairs in Conewango Clear Environmental Review
The New York State Department of Transportation completed its environmental review for a project to repair three bridge crossings along US Route 62 in the Town of Conewango, covering spans over Conewango Creek, a state drain ditch, and the Conewango overflow near the NY 83 intersection. State officials issued a negative declaration, finding the work would not cause significant adverse environmental impact, and a related historic-preservation review found no adverse effect on a nearby historic property. The determination clears the way for NYSDOT to move forward with the bridge work. Residents with questions were directed to NYSDOT project contact Matthew Minotti.
Village of Andover Passes 2026-27 Budget With No Tax Increase
The Andover Village Board unanimously approved its 2026-27 budget on April 21, 2026, following a public hearing, holding the line on village taxes for residents. Newly elected Mayor Tom Davis chose to forgo his own salary, redirecting those funds into other budget lines to help balance the books without a tax hike. Davis said the budget reflects a balance between fiscal responsibility and community needs, pointing to blight cleanup, code enforcement and inter-municipal cooperation as continuing priorities. The no-increase budget comes as the small Allegany County village works to manage costs while maintaining services.
Yorkshire Town Board Cancels Summer Recreation Program, Families Push Back
The Yorkshire Town Board voted 5-0 on April 20, 2026 to cancel its 2026 summer recreation program, citing staffing shortages and an inability to compete with other area programs. The free, grant-funded six-week program had typically served about 50 children with weekday activities and meals from early July through mid-August. Parents and children rallied afterward, with program director Jodie Perrington saying, "We would just like to know answers," while parent Michelle Ferrington called the board's decision "cold and heartless." Families said they would be willing to raise funds or pay fees to keep the program running, but Town Supervisor Marcia Lexer declined to offer further explanation for the cut.
The Village of Little Valley is moving ahead with a water system improvements project to replace aging water mains, install a new well and well house, and demolish outdated well facilities. Village officials say deteriorating pipes have caused significant water loss and left the system without backup supply capacity, making the upgrades essential to reliable service. The plan also includes replacing water meters and services and adding a remote telemetry system to monitor storage tank levels. The village, acting as lead agency, determined in an April 2026 environmental notice that the project will not cause significant adverse environmental impacts, clearing a key regulatory hurdle.
Belmont Voters Re-Elect Mayor DeTine, Choose Two New Trustees
Village of Belmont voters returned Mayor Raymond DeTine to office for another four-year term in the March 20, 2026 village election, with DeTine defeating a handful of write-in votes. In the race for two open trustee seats, Republican Linda Healy and Democrat Shannon Harding won four-year terms, edging out fellow candidate Vince Evans. The results keep continuity in village leadership in Belmont, the seat of Allegany County government, as officials continue work on infrastructure and economic-development priorities for the coming term.
Randolph Secures $1 Million in Federal Funding for Sewer System Upgrades
U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy visited Randolph to formally deliver $1 million in federal funding earmarked for improvements to the town's sanitary sewer system. The money is intended to help modernize aging wastewater infrastructure serving the town. Langworthy secured the same amount for a separate infrastructure project in Olean, and met with officials from both communities to announce the awards. Town officials said the funding will support ongoing efforts to upgrade sewer system components that have needed attention for years.
Angelica Electric Pauses Disconnections as Winter Bills Spike
The village-owned Angelica Electric utility said it would temporarily halt service disconnections until summer 2026 after customers saw bills double or triple their normal cost during January and February. Officials attributed the spike to statewide factors outside the utility's control, including rising electricity demand, reduced generation capacity, high natural gas prices and a stretch of extreme cold weather that pushed grid costs to record highs. Mayor Claypool addressed residents directly on local radio to explain the situation and encourage anyone struggling to pay to contact the village office for payment arrangements or HEAP emergency assistance through Allegany County. The utility expected rates to ease once the temporary market conditions passed in spring.
Caneadea Zoning Board Weighs Variance for Boat Storage Building
The Caneadea Zoning Board of Appeals held a public hearing at Caneadea Town Hall on a variance request from William and Mary Ellen Heitzenrater, who want to build a 12-by-35-foot two-story structure for boat and dry-goods storage on their Tate Road property. The application asks for relief from the town's setback rules governing distance from neighboring properties and roads, as well as its 20 percent cap on how much of a lot can be built upon. The board scheduled the hearing for 6:30 p.m. on January 14 to take public comment before deciding on the request. The notice was published under the town's standard legal-notice process for zoning matters.
