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ASHVILLE -- The town of North Harmony is looking to address recent nusiance complaints.
At their meeting this month, Supervisor Robert Yates said he has received letters and phone calls from residents about all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles in the residential areas in the town. Some residents are suggesting North Harmony adopt an ordinance regarding the vehicles, as many reportedly are operated without lights or registrations on Route 394.
During the Town Board's July 10 meeting, Yates said the ATVs and dirt bikes are being used late at night and are noisy. He said the unlicensed vehicles are becoming more of a problem and inquired if the board felt any official action should be taken.
Councilwoman Louise Ortman said complaints also note that the unlicensed vehicles are being operated close to people's homes, are going too fast and are loud.
Councilman Steve Senske asked how the town would be able to enforce an ordinance if one were adopted. Yates responded that residents can call the police to report a problem, though Senske said that's already the case.
Councilman Richard Sena said noise and nuisance complaints are a tough subject; he noted that kids are trying to have fun. Sena suggested the town look at ordinances already in place in other municipalities for comparison.
Yates said he didn't want to "dismiss" the complaints and agreed that research be undertaken on a possible ordinance.
Kelly Johnson, town attorney, said the town cannot control what people do on their own property, but did say noise ordinances and curfews were an option. She said the town should look into a nuisance ordinance if it wanted to address the recent complaints.
In other town business:
¯ Yates believes there are eight rental properties listed on at least two popular rental websites that are in violation of the town's law on transient property rentals. He has asked that the town's attorneys "draft a letter to send to the websites letting them know Airbnbs are illegal in the Town of North Harmony," minutes from the July meeting states.
Yates said he would like to have the letters sent to local real estate agents as well.
Johnson said letters sent to property owners also need to be sent to the town's code enforcement officer.
¯ Yates said a light pole located in the parking lot of the town hall on Stow Road is "in a bad position." He said the pole has been hit a few times and needs to be moved. The town supervisor said he'd like to get bids to have the pole moved to the grass, and would like to have the project completed before the end of summer.
¯ Johnson suggested the town change its procurement policy from always accepting the lowest bid to allowing the lowest bid with best value. The board voted to have the town attorney rewrite the bidding section of the procurement policy to "fit the town's needs."
¯ an application will be submitted for a Water Quality Improvement grant to have a culvert replaced on Carpenter Pringle Road.
A resolution taken up by Town Board members states: "the town of North Harmony and the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance are partnering to complete a replacement and upgrade according to current engineering requirements for failing stream culvert on Carpenter Pringle Road, which ultimately drains to Ball Creek, within the town that will have a positive impact on the town's infrastructure and the environmental health of Chautauqua Lake."
The town will utilize Highway Department personnel and town equipment in addition to grant funds toward the replacement project.
Two additional resolutions tied to the project were passed -- one calling for an engineering feasibility study/design report for the culvert replacement and the other retaining EcoStrategies Engineering and Surveying PLLC to undertake the study.
Yates said the town will pay for the study, and if the grant is awarded, the town will be reimbursed. He also said the study should be useful for the Highway Department in the future should the town not receive the grant funding.