Cassadaga Village Clerk Annette McChesney described the need for fire inspections to be done on short-term rental properties in the village. P-J photo by Braden Carmen

CASSADAGA — Now that a short-term rental law in the village of Cassadaga has been passed, the safety of buildings throughout the village is at the forefront of the minds of Village Board members.

As part of the special use permit application to operate a short-term rental, the village requires a safety and fire inspection from its code enforcement officer. But what about short-term rentals located in the business district that do not require a special use permit?

“I think that we want a registration of all of the short-term rentals, whether they are in the business district or not,” said Village Trustee Cindy Flaherty.

Rather than requiring a permit for short-term rentals in the business district, the village is asking all short-term rental owners to register their property with the village. Rental properties in the business district will not count against the limit of short-term rentals in the village, and will not need special use permit approval, but are still required by law to pass a fire and safety inspection.

As part of a lengthy discussion at a recent Village Board meeting, Village Clerk Annette McChesney described the need for fire inspections to be done by Code Enforcement Officer Jason Luce.

“If every short-term rental just fills out an application, because they are businesses, if they are in the residential district, he’s going to do a fire inspection and they are going to count towards the (short-term rental limit.) If they are in the business district, he’s going to do a fire inspection because that’s what he’s required to do, but they are not going to count towards the (limit),” McChesney said.

Short-term rental permit applications and the local law itself are available at the Village Clerk’s office, and both are posted online on the village website, cassadaganewyork.org

“All we need is a red flag that says it’s a business so it can be inspected,” Village Deputy Mayor Bill Astry said. “… I think it needs to be implemented. I think it should be part of the process.”

Also of note in the village, partial demolition of the Bathhouse at the Beach has begun. The village is still formulating a plan for the remaining work.

Fire Department Chief Robert Frank Jr. was appointed as Village Disaster Coordinator. The village also received the latest copy of the Chautauqua County Hazard Mitigation Plan prior to its submittal to the state.

The village’s Tree Committee is planning to plant trees on Frisbee Road on Oct. 14. The village will utilize $1,000 to purchase trees to plant, with $1,500 designated for tree removal needs that arise in the village throughout the year. The committee expects to hear back soon from the US Forestry regarding a grant that was submitted for Tree Inventory and Management.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat hours in the village were set for 5-7 p.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31, with a Halloween Parade to follow immediately at the Cassadaga Fire Hall.