by Terri M. Bahne

     At the conclusion of the regular Perrysburg board meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 21, a public hearing took place. The issue at hand was the village’s Animal Ordinance, which has been two years in the making.

     Various residents expressed their concern, not for the ordinance itself encompassing dogs and the circumstances surrounding them (such as issues regarding noise control, property damage, and licensing, among others), but the fact that the law does not include cats.

     “We hold dog owners accountable to a certain degree,” one resident stated, “why should we (have to) put up with the aggravation (of cats wandering around the neighborhood)?”

     Another resident stated that his neighborhood is being besieged by cats and that they are getting to be a problem. Other residents concurred and asked the board for assistance.

     Village Clerk Laurie Kazimer advised the public that she had checked into the matter, asking adjacent municipalities about their laws. Only two towns, she found, included cats in their enforcement policies.

     Mayor Tony Kota intonated that cats should be considered in the current ordinance, and will be revisited, but at a later date.

     The board approved the Animal Ordinance as it stood with a promise to hold additional public hearings and gather more information before adding cats to the law.

     Prior to the public hearing, the board held its regular meeting at which it commenced with a public comment session.

     One resident expressed his gratitude to the board for contacting the Sheriffs department in regard to speeders on his end of town. An electronic speed register placed at the side of the road has assisted in slowing down the traffic.

     Unfortunately, another resident pointed out, speeding has continued on the other end of town - the side without the register.

     Other pertinent items include:

   •  Dog Warden Kathy Hagner stated that two stray dogs have been running loose in the village, but she has been unable to catch them.
   •  Village Clerk Laurie Kazimer reported that the water bills have been mailed out and that village taxes are due by the end of October. (A heavy trash pick-up is scheduled for the near future; a set date will be published in the Gowanda PennySaver/News.)
   •  Trustee Michael Cooper reported that work has been done on the ditches in the area, cleaning them out. Guard rails will also be sanded, painted and extended.
   •  Mayor Tony Kota advised that the town has been looking into purchasing a postage meter and asked the board if they could adopt it as well. The motion was granted.
   •  Water/Sewer Superintendent Robin Clark reported that there has been trouble with the lift station during heavy rains. He went around looking for places that the water had come in. Consequently, Superintendent Clark put caps in the manholes and put silicone on them to alleviate the problem. He also fixed the generator on Main Street, as well as located a couple of shut-offs (repairing and then turning them back on).
   •  Building Code Enforcer James Pacanowski stated that Habitat for Humanity has begun their project on the corner of Buffalo Street and Peck Hill Road and has put in the foundation already.

     He also reported looking at the retention pond on the east end of town, stating that it was clogged again. The bottom of the discharge pipe should be at the same elevation, but was dug deeper than what was laid out in the drawing.

     Next month, Pacanowski continued, he will be following up with the compliance of the fencing of village pools.

   •  As per the approval of the board, the village will be splitting the cost of sending Pacanowski to a Fire Marshall’s inservice training seminar with the town.
   •  A public hearing date for the water/sewer project with the town will be set. More information to follow at a later time.
   •  The board is still in need of a trustee, and the planning board has two vacancies. Any interested parties should contact Kazimer at the town hall.
   •  A motion was made by Kota to appoint David Smith to the Zoning Board of Appeals for the remainder of the term; the motion was unanimously passed.

     The next regular Perrysburg Village Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 19.