SHERMAN — The village of Sherman will be festive and bright year-round, board members decided at their recent meeting.

Jay Irwin, chief wastewater operator, explained to board members that he and streets superintendent Doug Crane have discussed using the Christmas light strands for other seasons. He said they are considering pastel colors for Easter; red, white and blue for July; and orange, yellow and black for the fall.

Irwin also noted how dark Main Street is now that the Christmas lights have been removed. He suggested that white LED lights could also be put in, especially in the winter, to help light Main Street.

“There are a lot of options,” he said.

Irwin told the board that the process of changing the bulbs is much easier and about four times faster now because the village can use its new loader and forks in conjunction with the county’s basket. He noted that the hooks are up, the light strands have been repaired and the LED bulbs that have been purchased are made from an acrylic plastic that is much more durable than glass.

Sherman Mayor Colleen Meeder affirmed the idea and noted that the hooks which hold the light strands are very taut and, therefore, the lights will not be dangling in the wind.

In other business, board members reviewed the village’s comprehensive plan and agreed to apply for several grants through the consolidated funding application. Meeder told board members that last year’s consolidated funding money was delayed because of the COVID pandemic. Therefore, the current applications are for funds dated in the year 2020.

“There’s still work being done behind the scenes on the comprehensive plan,” Meeder said. She told board members that B&L is finalizing their findings and preparing a presentation to be given to the community in the spring.

Meeder said it is necessary for a municipality to have information on demographics and on the specific things that make a community special in order to identify and qualify for additional programs.

“We can say ‘this is Sherman and this is why we need this,’ ” she said.

“Also, the comprehensive plan needs to be in place in order to update our zoning laws.”

Board members approved a resolution to apply for a New York Main Street – Technical Assistance grant for $20,000. This grant requires the support of the village and property owners on Main Street both in expressed interest and matching funds, she said.

Also as part of the comprehensive plan, the village will continue to pursue a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant that would be used to evaluate and create a strategy for the four village-owned properties on Main Street.

Meeder also updated board members on the stormwater project. There are three aspects to the project, she said. The village is seeking long-term financing through the USDA RD APPLY, she said, and this does not have a grant component.

The village will also apply for a grant from the Green Innovation Grant Program, which comes through the DEC/EFC. The Main Street component of this is expected to cost $2.3 million, Meeder said.

“This is critical from a stormwater perspective and for our streetscape,” she said. The village is also waiting for word on a water quality improvement project grant to become available, she added.

Regarding the sewer improvement project, the village is waiting for word on a CDBG co-funded infrastructure grant for $1.25 million, Meeder said.

“The wastewater treatment plant project cannot move forward without first being awarded this grant,” she said.

Meeder said engineering for the project is nearly complete and bids should concur with the CDBG award.

As a part of the wastewater treatment plant project, the village is seeking an Engineering Planning grant for $30,000 with a village committed match of $6,000 in order to study the feasibility of building a composting facility. Irwin noted that a facility would be able to accept biosolids from other plants in the area and convert them into Class A reclamation solids.

“Essentially, it would turn biosolids into dirt. You can do anything with it,” Irwin said. “This would be a money-making endeavor and would provide two new jobs in Sherman.”

In other business, the board passed a resolution to close the New York State Special fund checking account and reestablish a new New York State Special Fund checking account for the sole purpose of electronically receiving funds from New York State grantors, as required by the grantor.

The board also approved a resolution accepting a $15,000 donation from the Wake Family Charitable Foundation for the George Edmunds Memorial Park, and to establish a Park and Recreation fund and an Edmunds Park as a sub-fund of Parks and Recreation. This will enable the village to account for and allocate the donation to the designated purpose of maintaining and improving Edmunds Park.

Board members further approved a village of Sherman checking account for Parks and Recreation in order to deposit the $15,000 donation and to organize a committee of George Edmund’s decedents to determine the best use of the donation.