RIPLEY — Members of the Ripley Town Board in May learned from attorney Ben Wisniewski that the revised permit application of ConnectGen has been deemed complete by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

This allows the proposed South Ripley Solar Project to be closer to becoming a reality, Wisniewski said. ORES had 60 days to put together a draft permit, which would then be submitted to Ripley and Chautauqua County for review.

Wisniewski noted that the draft permit could contain “defined conditions,” which are general conditions that apply to any project of this sort, or ORES could include specified conditions “if they think there are any unique local problems that need to be addressed.”

In a related matter, Wisniewski also updated board members on the Clean Choice Solar Energy Project. LaBella’s analysis determined that the project is on track to finalize the State Environmental Quality Review.

In other business, board members approved three resolutions. The first was to approve Ingalls Planning & Design to bring the comprehensive plan project to completion. Town Supervisor Doug Bowen received authorization to sign any necessary agreements.

Bowen also introduced a resolution to approve a planning study proposal submitted by Clark, Patterson, Lee. The planning study is funded by an Engineering Planning Grant of $30,000 from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation. The town is contributing matching funds of $6,000 toward the study.

Town council members also approved a resolution introduced by Bowen to seek a $25,000 grant from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. The grant, which will include matching funds of $8,333 from the town, is designed to create a farmland protection plan. Bowen added that the town’s share of the cost may be reduced with in kind services.

In another matter, Highway Supervisor Jim Spacht told board members that the culvert by the substation will have to be replaced because it is collapsing. The project will cost about $30,000, he said.

Spacht noted, however, that about 100 feet of the culvert runs through the yard of a property owner and he questioned whether or not the town is responsible for that portion of the culvert. Bowen said he would refer the matter to the town attorney.