OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Town of Dunkirk Supervisor Priscilla Penfold playfully gestures directed at Town Board member Phil Leone during a recent Town Council meeting.

Two Host Community Agreements were accepted by the Town of Dunkirk at a recent meeting to proceed with solar energy system projects.

A two-part community solar project named Dunkirk Solar One and Dunkirk Solar Two – also referred to as Dunkirk Solar A and Dunkirk Solar B – were officially approved in May of 2023. The project spans two parcels of land, each slightly over 20 acres of land, located just off East Lake Shore Drive. The parcels neighbor the Lakeside Park community – the landowner of the project – and are located behind the ImmunityBio building.

The Town approved both agreements on the condition that a Payment in lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement is executed between the solar energy company and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency. The Town is holding off on approving the project’s decommissioning plan until some of the wording of the contract is clarified and approved by Town Attorney Jeff Passafaro. The Host Community Agreements, however, were to the Town’s liking – even more so than expected. Passafaro and Town of Dunkirk Supervisor Priscilla Penfold noted the amount the Town will receive per megawatt exceeded their expectations.

Regarding another solar energy project proposal in the Town, a public hearing regarding the proposed project on Williams Street will be resumed at the next regular meeting of the Town Board. The Town previously adjourned a public hearing on the matter due to concerns with an outdated State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) and other legal matters pertaining to the project. The next public hearing on the matter is set for Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m., with the regular meeting of the Town Board to follow.

In other Town business, Penfold noted that “quite a few” residents have submitted signed easements to allow the Town to proceed with the Shorewood Water District capital project. The Town is hopeful that residents with outstanding easements will submit the documentation in the coming weeks to allow the project to proceed without jeopardizing funding opportunities. The Town of Dunkirk was recently awarded a grant through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation WIIA program in an amount up to $1,377,000 to be applied to the project.

In the month of October, the Town of Dunkirk Justice Court took on 275 cases and submitted $21,376 to the Town for distribution. The Dunkirk Town Clerk’s office collected $2,392, of which $1,425 came from zoning fees. The Town also recently received its fourth quarter distribution of sales tax in the amount of $131,181.74, of which 60% is allocated to the Town’s General Fund and 40% is allocated to the Highway Department.

The Town also officially approved its 2025 operating budget. Included in the budget is an inter-municipal agreement with the Town of Sheridan for shared services, including a shared Highway Department Supervisor, Jeff Feinen. The Town of Dunkirk pays the Town of Sheridan $2,000 per month under the terms of the agreement, totaling $24,000 for the year.

Shortly before adjourning the meeting, Penfold playfully recognized International Men’s Day after Town Board member Phil Leone highlighted the day on the calendar. The next regular meeting of the Town Board, Dec. 17, falls on the same date as several other days of significance, including the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, as well as National Device Appreciation Day and National Maple Syrup Day.