CASSADAGA — After more than a year of deliberation, the Cassadaga Village Board officially passed Local Law 2 of 2023 to regulate short-term rental properties in the village. The vote was 4-0 in favor of adopting the law.

The decision came after receiving a referral letter from the Chautauqua County Planning Board. The Village Board felt that all points made by the Chautauqua County Planning Board were addressed in the law’s current state.

The debate regarding a law pertaining to short-term rental properties lasted well over a year. In August of 2022, members of the public commented on the proposed law at a public hearing that lasted one hour and 24 minutes. The hearing featured multiple personal attacks to the character of various Village Board members. Since that public hearing, two of the Village Board members at that time have resigned and since been replaced.

One of the two new trustees, Danna DuBois, was absent from the recent meeting as the law was voted on. The other voting members of the board all voted in favor of the law, including Cathy Cruver, who spoke as a resident during public comments regarding the topic leading up to her appointment. Local Law 2 of 2023 will take effect once it is officially filed with New York State.

The only guest in attendance to speak at the recent meeting when the law was passed was Village Historian John Sipos. He discussed his recollection of Sept. 11, 2001, and also commended Trustee Cindy Flaherty and the volunteers that contributed to Labor Day weekend festivities in the village.