MAYVILLE – Chautauqua town officials have decided to, at least for now, leave its membership from the county’s Chamber of Commerce.

In June, town officials tabled a motion to renew its membership. In July, the town board voted not to renew it.

“This all stems from the discontinuance of their interest in the Ice Castle Extravaganza,” said Supervisor Don Emhardt. “They have done very little in the community lately.”

Over the winter, the CHQ Chamber announced it would no longer be hosting Mayville’s annual Ice Castle Festival, which is held Presidents’ Day weekend. They cited a lack of volunteers as well as an increase in insurance costs.

Shortly after the announcement, Inspire Good of WNY stepped up and sponsored the annual event.

The festival ended up having the biggest ice castle in recent memory with large crowds.

The Chamber also changed its music concerts in the village. It changed the weekly sponsorship of the Thursday night concerts at Lakeside Park to having three concerts in the Village Green, which is in the center of the village. Chamber representatives said they wanted to have concerts that would generate more foot traffic to the downtown.

After the vote to end its membership, town Councilman Tom Carlson responded, “Maybe this will throw a spark. … Now that they know we’re paying attention.”

In other business, the town board voted to make a “Pro-Housing Community Pledge” but rejected applying for the Climate Smart Communities Planning Grant.

Councilman Scott Cummings said both items were recommended as part of the town and village’s Comprehensive Plan, which it is currently updating.

Cummings said by being a Pro-Housing Community, it would help them be eligible for various grants for housing.

For the Climate Smart Communities Planning Grant, Cummings said that if they got that grant, they would be required to have a certain amount of renewable energy, particularly with solar. “After talking to the public with our Comprehensive Plan, I don’t think it’s something we should look at. Our town just isn’t set up for that,” he said.

Taking Cummings’ recommendation, the board rejected seeking the Climate Smart Communities Planning Grant.