SHERMAN — The village of Sherman will soon advertise the water system improvement project for bids having received board members’ approval at their meeting this month.

Resolution 2021-02-03.16 authorizing the clerk-treasurer to advertise the project, at the discretion of the mayor, passed unanimously.

Village Mayor Colleen Meeder said, “This is very exciting.”

Meeder told board members that Matt Zarbo, project engineer from Barton & Loguidice, said everything is ready to move ahead. She said they hope the bids can be accomplished this month.

In the fall of 2019, the village applied for grants to complete upgrades for the water system. These grants were made possible because the village was classified as a “great hardship” by the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC).

In a related matter, the Wastewater Treatment Plant project continues to make progress. Clerk Jeanette Ramm reported that the village closed on short-term financing with the EFC and received $235,499 with which it repaid a $300,000 loan from Greene Bank.

Meeder explained that the village borrowed the funds as a bond anticipation note until the WIIA grant through the EFC was processed. This amount has been repaid and there should be no more need to borrow funds throughout the project, she said.

As the project progresses, the village will submit all warrants and receipts to the EFC, which, in turn, will place the funds from the grant in a special account from which the loans are repaid.

In a solemn moment, the board recognized the passing of long-time Sherman employee Russell C. Babcock, who died at the age of 95 on Jan. 27. Babcock served as village clerk-treasurer for more than 30 years, from 1963 to 1993, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the 1970s.

Meeder noted that Babcock had served with several mayors and many trustees.

“I wish to express my sympathy to the family and a great deal of gratitude for the number of years he dedicated himself to serving the community of the Village of Sherman,” she said.

In her address, Meeder also expressed her appreciation to Jim Fincher, president of Chautauqua Rails to Trails, and to Mark Pearsons, Sherman town supervisor, for their letters of support regarding the Green Innovation Grant Program application.

In other business, the board approved a resolution for the village to keep, not return, a second set of LED lights which were received for the holiday display. The bill for the lights, in the amount of $807.25, has already been paid, Meeder and Ramm noted.

Board of trustee members also approved two resolutions which were discussed at a public hearing earlier in the evening.

They first approved the application through the Consolidated Funding Application to the Office of Community Renewal for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $1,250,000 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Trustees further approved the application through the CFA to the OCR for a Community Development Block Grant for a 2020 Community Planning Grant in the amount of $50,000, with a village match of $2,500.

In matters not related to the public hearing, trustees approved the application to the USDA Department of Rural Development for the purpose of providing marketing and promotional opportunities to village businesses and to support the area’s economic development. The estimated project amount, Meeder said, is $25,000, with a village match not to exceed $6,500.

Irwin explained to board members that placing signs on Interstate 86 is not an option for the village because of the cost, as well as the regulations and stipulations set forth by New York state.

“New York state has their own department for signage,” he said. “A sign on I-86 is out of our range.”

Meeder added that this grant will meet a need that has been brought up by residents and local businesses; however, the application is due Feb. 26, so there is limited time to work on it.

“This was really a need coming to us,” she said.

In another matter, board members approved three resolutions relating to Village equipment, including the purchase of a 3-yard capacity bucket for the 621F Case Loader for $6,160 from Monroe Tractor, the declaration of the 2.5 yrd bucket as surplus equipment and the advertising and auction of the 2015 Case 621G Loader with 2.5 yard bucket.

Trustees also approved raising the wage of all employees to a minimum of $12.50 an hour, in concert with New York state’s minimun wage, which went into effect on Jan. 1.