LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood Village Board met Monday and approved the Memorandum of Understanding in regards to Chautauqua Lake.

The MOU was unveiled May 5 by County Executive PJ Wendel in a press conference in Mayville. The MOU is an update to the 2019 Chautauqua Lake agreement, which expired at the end of April.

The purpose of the MOU is for the numerous Chautauqua Lake stakeholders to work together to keep Chautauqua Lake economically and ecologically healthy. As was the case with the MOA, the MOU will have a two-year term.

The MOU was sent to the village board prior to Monday’s regular meeting, and the board unanimously agreed for Mayor Randy Holcomb to sign and execute the MOU.

The board also approved the hiring of Josh Schauman of Sinclairville as a part-time officer for the Lakewood-Busti Police Department starting May 11. Schauman was recommended by Lakewood-Police Police Department chief Christopher DePonceau.

The resignation of deputy clerk Jackie Hyser was accepted by the board. Her resignation will go into effect May 19.

“She has been our village deputy clerk for a couple years now,” Holcomb said. “For reasons of other employment and family she has decided … she will resign with the village of Lakewood.”

The board also moved to appoint Julie Toennis to the vacated position of deputy clerk and deputy treasurer, but board member Douglas Schutte questioned the appointment.

“Understanding that she is a family member of our clerk … are we able to fill a position without posting it?” Schutte said. “She might be a great hire, and I’m sure she is, but we should make sure we do it the right way.”

The mayor called an executive session after the regular meeting to discuss the matter.

Holcomb and village board member Ellen Barnes attended a Busti Town board meeting May 3 concerning the legalization of marijuana and the local opt-out option regarding retail sales. Should the village wish to opt-out, officials have to pass their own opt-out local law, subject to permissive referendum, on or before Dec. 21, 2021.

In other business:

¯ the board authorized treasurer Apryl Troutman to increase the Natural Resource — Stormwater Grant revenue and expenditure accounts by $41,846.20 to close out the Chautauqua Avenue Green Street Retrofit Grant for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

¯ the board authorized Troutman to make a mid-year budget transfer from Street Maintenence — Contractual to Street Maintenence — Water Fees for a budget shortfall.

¯ the board authorized Lakewood DPW to participate in the local BOCES – Ashville conservation internship program this spring.

¯ DePonceau reported 362 calls handled from April 26 to May 10.

¯ village DPW supervisor Tom Pilling reported the Chautauqua Avenue project is moving forward “slightly on schedule.”

¯ the fire chief reported 297 alarms to date for the Lakewood Fire Department.

¯ code enforcement officer Jeff Swanson reported the construction of Ollie’s in the Chautauqua Mall is moving forward at a rapid pace.

¯ the mayor reported the resignation of Phyllis Sorenson of the Zoning Board of Appeals due to personal reasons.