Deputy Mayor/Trustee Ted Farnham, Trustee David Chertoff, Mayor Jeff Molnar, Trustee Maureen Stahley and Clerk/Treasurer Brittany Mulkins conduct business at the Bemus Point Village Board meeting, Tuesday Night at the Bemus Point Village Hall. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

BEMUS POINT – Village trustees gave a big thumbs-down to a new wetlands designation for Chautauqua Lake.

The Bemus Point Village Board of Trustees Tuesday approved a measure that opposes the New York State DEC draft regulations submitted in 2022 to amend the Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975. Village Trustee David Lipsey was absent.

“Our primary responsibility is to represent our constituents,” said Trustee Maureen Stahley. “I’ve not heard one person in the village say they are in support of the lake becoming a wetlands.”

Stahley’s sentiments were echoed by other trustees as well.

“This designation could have long-lasting, negative effects on our community,” said Trustee Ted Farnham, who is also the village’s deputy mayor. “Properties could lose their value, local businesses could and probably will be hurt. I oppose this and we should too. I know there’s other villages and towns around the lake that have already opposed our lake becoming a wetlands.”

As previously reported by The Post-Journal, the village of Lakewood and other municipalities have already passed resolutions opposing the state wetlands designation at the Lakewood Village Board meeting, Trustee Ellen Barnes stated.

The 2022 Wetlands Law amendments and 2023 draft regulations can regulate the use of significant portions of the lake and adjacent shoreline with major negative impacts on tourism, commercial interests, property values, and ultimately, property, school, and sales tax revenue.

Jim Wehrfritz, a longtime advocate on Chautauqua Lake issues, who earlier this year began raising concerns about the new wetlands designation and its potential impact on Chautauqua Lake. Concerns initially focused on the Burtis Bay area of Chautauqua Lake in the town of Ellicott and village of Lakewood. Wehrfritz has said the new regulations could affect the entire lake. Homes along Chautauqua Lake’s shores makeup more than 25 percent of the county’s total taxable value.

The village board passed resolution No. 24-0, officially opposing the New York State draft regulations submitted in 2022 and amended the Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975.

In other business:

– Mayor Jeff Molnar informed the board that the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission was looking at updating some of the language, regulations and ordinances that it currently has on the books – the last time there was an update was in 1982.

– The Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department’s chief briefed the village board that the department responded to more than 97 calls for service in June, including more than 55 calls for emergency medical services, six fires and several accidents on the I-86, Veterans Memorial Bridge.

– Kelly Marker, executive director for the Bemus Point Business Association, briefed the board on upcoming scheduled events, like the village’s Lake Days extravaganza, Aug. 2-4. This year’s theme is tropical/ pirate-themed she briefed.