Mayville leaders are debating if more public docks should be permitted in the village. Photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE – Village leaders are debating whether or not there should be more public docks along Chautauqua Lake.

During the Mayville Village Board workshop, officials discussed the possibility of issuing a Request For Proposals for a public/commercial dock space. No formal action was taken.

Earlier this year the village issued an RFP for dock space. Brian Pender, who owns the former Watermark Restaurant submitted a proposal, but the village did not accept it.

The previous owner of the Watermark Restaurant had a lease with the village to place a dock on public land near the restaurant.

That lease expired before Pender purchased the property.

Pender sought to renew the lease, but the village leased the space out to some other individuals.

When Pender submitted his proposal, the village responded by suggesting his dock be installed by the Mayville Depot, but Pender said that it would be costly for insurance because it’s so far from the restaurant.

The former restaurant is not operating but Pender is actively marketing the property for a lease.

During the workshop, Trustee Mark Perry said he would be open to having a village rent more docks so it could make more money.

“We don’t have many ways to generate funds. This is one of them,” he said.

He also believes additional docks would help businesses, residents and enhance the waterfront. The village has 25 dock spaces which it rents out and has a waiting list of about 26 more people. The village charges $1,000 a year to rent a dock for village residents and $1,500 a year for non-village residents. Mayor Rick Syper said he doesn’t want to have a number of docks that would impact the view of the lake on Route 394.

“That’s a million dollar view, coming down South Erie Street,” he said.

Trustee Bill Ward said he is open to considering adding more docks, but agreed with Syper that he doesn’t want docks to affect the view. Ward noted the village board has been discussing this for a while.

“It’s time to fish or cut bait. Do we want to create anymore dock spaces?” he asked.

Village board members decided they will hold a special meeting where they will discuss the Request For Proposals further. A date was not set at the meeting. During the public portion of the meeting Pender said his desire to put a dock out in front of the Watermark is really to help the community at large.

“We very much want to work with the village to accomplish shared goals. Whatever the goals are for the village in getting more people coming to the village and more commerce happening at all locations is a positive,” he said. “We’re not in this for only our own purposes. We truly think that a viable public dock for community purposes is a positive for the entire community.”

Other residents who spoke stated they agreed with Syper in wanting to protect the view off of Route 394 and not clutter the entire Lakeside Park with docks.

In other business, board members voted 3-2 for amending the State Environmental Quality Review for its water supply improvements project.

Voting in favor were Syper, and Trustees Dan Roush and Janelle Webb. Voting against it were Perry and Ward.

During the workshop held just prior to the vote, Syper said at the building where the water is treated to remove the PFAS, the discharge must be sent to the sewer system.

Perry noted that in the SEQR still states that the village is looking for a new water source, which it no longer is. He wanted that section of the documents be removed, but Syper said he wasn’t comfortable altering it.

Syper offered to schedule a special meeting if the board wanted to. He didn’t want to slow up the project.

Perry noted the resolution doesn’t have any dates in it and suggested tabling the resolution, but the board did not vote to do that.