A grant from the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance has been issued to cover potential herbicide treatment of Chautauqua Lake this year. The grant was discussed during a meeting of the Lakewood Village Board this week. P-J file photo

LAKEWOOD — Village Mayor Randy Holcomb announced in his report to board members this week that the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance has issued a grant covering potential herbicide treatment of Chautauqua Lake in 2021.

The village had approved submitting its application for herbicides to the the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at its previous meeting, but had noted that there were not currently budget funds available for treatment this year, should it be approved.

“Lakewood, along with six other participating municipalities, is pleased to be part of a $90,000 grant awarded by the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance,” Holcomb said. “The grant has been awarded for herbicide treatments to target curlyleaf pondweed and/or Eurasian milfoil. Our share will be determined based on the results of the New York State (Department of Environmental Conservation) permitting process.”

Municipal finances everywhere continue to be impacted by COVID-19, including the withholding of sales tax for distressed healthcare provider assistance.

Lakewood officials continued to discuss the finances of compensating a manager for its farmers market, and set public hearing for budget discussions on April 12 at 6:45 p.m.

“So far the budget this year, just for sales tax is down $66,400,” Trustee Rich Fischer said. “Looking at Lakewood Fire Department’s budget for this year it is up $21,000, and basically all of that is necessity. Stuff that they need.”

The board also set a public hearing for 6:45 p.m. on March 8 for the purposes of combining its zoning and planning boards, and authorized the village clerk to advertise for bids for the weekly collection of household garbage and recyclables.

The current 3-year contract with Beichner Waste Services of Sinclairville expires on May 31, 2021.

In other business the village boundary and annexation survey has been completed and the village approved its agreement with the Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation for the coming year.