As a result, Rowley proposed a resolution at the latest Board meeting to not proceed with submitting an application for NY Forward Grant funds this year. After several minutes of discussion, the board elected to table the resolution until April 1, at which point the Village Board will determine whether to continue dedicating time and resources toward another application. The village was unsuccessful in securing NY Forward Grant funding in its last proposal in 2024.

“I feel we should not take any action on a NY Forward application in 2026,” Rowley stated.

Rowley claimed there is not “a shared vision” between committee members and village leaders. The focus of some voices on the committee has been directed toward senior living and early childcare facilities, while others prefer businesses targeted at economic growth in the village.

Rowley also highlighted key vacancies within the village, including Department of Public Works superintendent and village clerk, as priorities for the village that should come before submitting another grant application.

Pictured is Nancy Wickmark, a key member of Cassadaga’s NY Forward Grant Committee.

After the resignation of Village Clerk Annette McChesney and Deputy Clerk Roxanne Astry not being reappointed, the village has been redefining the duties and expectations of the role of village clerk. With interviews already being held, the board expects to hire a new village clerk within the coming weeks.

With an eye on major purchases that will be needed in the future, the village is evaluating several options for consolidation and/or shared service agreements. The most pressing of such pertains to the Department of Public Works following the resignation of former superintendent Sam Alaimo. Abersold stated discussions with several neighboring municipalities are ongoing.

One vacancy in the village was filled recently, however, as Nathan Pownall was appointed to the Cassadaga Planning Board. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Pownall had also worked in corrections in Pennsylvania. He is a native of Angelica, N.Y.

The Village Board also recently denied a request from former Trustee Cindy Flaherty to be designated as the village’s events coordinator. The Village Board stated that with Flaherty serving as president of the Citizens for a Better Cassadaga community organization (CBC), there is not a need to award her the title of events coordinator, nor as a member of the Planning Board.

According to the Village of Cassadaga official website, cassadaganewyork.org, there still remains one vacancy on the Ethics Board and one vacancy as a Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate.

The village was recently made aware that its recently updated local zoning law was not filed with the State of New York within the allotted timeframe. Village Attorney Joe Calimeri advised the Board to attempt to file the law again. If rejected by the State, the village will need to hold another public hearing for more discussion on the matter.

Beginning on April 1, the village will be holding its meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, rather than the second and fourth Wednesdays.