OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Town of Portland Supervisor Rich Lewis spoke in opposition of a potential sale of the Sugar Hill Golf Course to the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

PORTLAND — A state agency recently eyed a piece of prime real estate, but the Town Board is not in favor of the idea of a sale.

Supervisor Rich Lewis and the Town Board engaged in approximately seven minutes of discussion at a recent meeting after the Town received interest from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation regarding a purchase of Sugar Hill Golf Course.

Before any other member of the Board spoke on the matter, Lewis said, “I’m opposed to it.”

He was not alone, as the Board all took the same position throughout the discussion.

Lewis noted the Town already has approximately 58% of its properties exempt from taxes, including the sizable property utilized for Lake Erie State Park. Losing another substantial property from the tax roll would result in more than $20,000 of taxes overall to be shouldered by the remaining taxpayers in the Town and the School District. Lewis stated the property as it stands now accounts for $7,216.20 in Town and County taxes and $13,328.36 in Brocton Central School District taxes.

“Since they already own a huge property down by the lake in our town, if they would like to make another one tax exempt, maybe they should think about sending us a check every year to compensate us for that,” Lewis said.

Lewis said another avenue of development of the property would be much more beneficial to the Town, such as a housing development, especially given its prime real estate location along Lake Erie. The Town was unaware of what the State had in mind with the property in question.

“They have a considerable amount of land in our Town already,” Lewis said. “Spread the wealth. Go somewhere else and take some land over.”

The Board was much more receptive to an Eagle Scout project proposal from Westfield’s Mason Maring, who presented his plans to the Board. Maring asked for the Board’s approval to proceed with a restoration of the memorial flag pole behind the Portland Highway Department. Board member Tammy Thompson commended Maring’s detailed plans that were submitted to the Board. After discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of authorizing his efforts to proceed.

Regarding other improvements throughout the Town, Lewis detailed the final report of the Town’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, which expire by the end of 2024. All projects are either completed, in progress, or under contract to proceed. Lewis noted extensive repairs and upgrades to the Town’s Museum totaling nearly $50,000, along with HVAC improvements to the Town Hall and Court, a new meter pit being installed on Route 5, a survey of Patterson Lane to facilitate a capital improvement project, the purchase of a new lawnmower to handle the Town’s mowing on its own, and office renovations to the Highway Department building, as well as security camera installation. Also included with ARPA funding is a copier purchase, a website update, and re-roofed pavilions at Community Park.

“We did a lot of good projects that we probably would not have been able to tackle without that money,” Lewis said. “… It’s a pretty extensive list of things that were accomplished with that money.”

However, federal funding for the Town of Portland does not appear to stop even with ARPA funds expiring. The Town is also set to accept a grant of $71,000, with a loan surpassing $100,000, from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Town’s capital project pertaining to Water District 2 is wrapping up its final stage of work. The Town applied for grant funding to offset the cost of the project, but the Town’s efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, the Town’s 2025 budget surpassed the tax cap due to the cost of the project.

The Town has also involved its attorney, Joel Seachrist, in discussions regarding payments owed to the North County Water District upon the Town’s exit of an agreement with Chadwick Bay Intermunicipal Water Works (CBI).