🏛️ Town Board
Town Board Approves $1M Snowplow Purchase, Sets Hearing on Recreation Fees
The Clay Town Board authorized the purchase of three new Western Star snowplows for over $1 million and advanced a local law establishing fees for park pavilions and athletic fields during their March 2 meeting. Meanwhile, a proposed credit union on Taft Road moved forward following a public hearing.
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved purchase of three 2027 Western Star 47X snowplows for Highway Department (not to exceed $1,044,425; 5-0 vote)
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Scheduled public hearing for March 16 to establish Recreation Department fees for athletic courts and pavilions (5-0 vote)
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Authorized joint grant application with Onondaga County for Oak Orchard Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades (5-0 vote)
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Closed public hearing for Summit Federal Credit Union zone change and special permits for 4955 West Taft Road
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Adjourned public hearings for Nexamp Inc. and Carson Power LLC special permit cases to March 16 (5-0 votes)
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Approved easement agreements with utility companies and a private landowner for snow removal turnaround (5-0 votes)
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Scheduled public hearing to amend noise ordinance regarding construction in Industrial 2 (I-2) Districts (5-0 vote)
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Scheduled public hearing to require special permits for gas stations in shopping centers (5-0 vote)
CLAY — The Town Board unanimously approved a significant investment in winter infrastructure during its regular meeting March 2, authorizing the purchase of three new snowplows at a cost not to exceed $1.04 million.
The resolution, introduced by Councilor David Capria, secures three 2027 Western Star 47X vehicles for the Highway Department under an Onondaga County contract. The vote was 5-0.
"We rely on these trucks to keep our roads safe," Capria said, seconded by Councilor Ryan Russell.
In other business, the board took the first step toward monetizing the town’s recreational facilities. Board members scheduled a public hearing for March 16 to discuss Local Law No. 1 of 2026, which would formally establish fees for the Recreation Department.
If adopted, the law would implement a 5% program fee on total income collected, as well as specific rental fees: $15 per hour for athletic field and court rentals by non-profits (for-profit entities would pay $30), $15 per day for gazebo rentals, and $25 per day for pavilion rentals.
**Wastewater and Infrastructure**
The town is moving forward with improvements to the Oak Orchard Service Area Wastewater Treatment Plant. Councilor Courtney Gauthier introduced a resolution to execute a joint grant application with the Onondaga County Office of the Environment.
The application aims to secure funding for necessary upgrades and expansion at the facility. The board also moved to formalize an easement agreement with Donald J. Gabor. This easement legitimizes an existing vehicle turnaround located on the northern portion of property at 8150 Morgan Road, which the town uses to facilitate snow removal and maintenance operations.
**Summit Federal Credit Union Proposal**
The board closed the public hearing for three applications related to the Summit Federal Credit Union’s proposed new branch at 4955 West Taft Road. The project requires a zone change from O-1 to O-2 and two special permits to allow for a credit union with drive-thru services.
Tim Coyer, representing the applicant, noted that the proposal remains unchanged from the previous hearing. He addressed concerns regarding traffic volume, estimating 90 to 100 cars per day.
Councilor Capria, who lives near the area, questioned the traffic estimates, suggesting they seemed high. Coyer stood by the projections, noting they are consistent with the branch’s location on Allen Road.
Board members also discussed traffic flow and landscaping. Deputy Supervisor Joseph Bick confirmed that ingress and egress would face Carriage Parkway. Coyer added that the project would utilize a mix of existing vegetation and new shrubbery to create a buffer. The Planning Board has issued a favorable recommendation on the applications.
**Adjournments and Upcoming Hearings**
Several high-profile applications were adjourned to the March 16 meeting at the request of the applicants. These include cases #1243 and #1244 involving Nexamp Inc. for battery storage facilities, and case #1245 involving Carson Power Supply.
The board also set public hearings for two additional local laws:
- **Local Law No. 2**: A technical correction to the noise ordinance, moving exemptions for construction noise in Industrial 2 (I-2) Districts to the correct code section (152-4 H).
- **Local Law No. 3**: A zoning change that would require a special permit for gas stations located within shopping centers in the Highway Commercial (HC-1) district.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Deputy Supervisor Joseph Bick. All board members were present, with the exception of Deputy Supervisor/Councilor Damian Ulatowski and Councilor Eugene Young.
Coverage of the Town Board meeting on 2026-03-02,
Town of Clay, NY.
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Related Town Board Meetings
2026-03-16
School District Warns of $17M Deficit as Clay Board Approves New Credit Union
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved Zone Change for Summit Federal Credit Union (7-0)
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Adopted Local Law No. 1 adding fees for Recreation Department rentals
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Adopted Local Law No. 2 correcting clerical error in noise code regarding I-2 zones
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Adopted Local Law No. 3 requiring Special Permits for gas stations in HC-1 districts
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Heard presentation on Liverpool Central School District’s proposed $17M deficit budget
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Approved Special Permit for Summit Federal Credit Union drive-thru service (6-0)
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Adjourned public hearings for NEXAMP and Carson Power cases
2026-02-02
Battery Storage Proposal Sparks Fire Safety Concerns at Town Board Meeting
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Public hearings opened for Nexamp BESS projects on Wetzel Rd and Longbranch Rd (Case #1243, #1244).
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Public hearings opened for Summit Federal Credit Union zone change and special permits (Case #1240, #1241, #1242).
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Multiple public hearings adjourned to March 2, 2026, to allow for Planning Board review.
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Residents voiced strong opposition to battery storage sites citing fire risks and volunteer firefighter strain.
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Board directed Nexamp to provide a decommissioning plan for the battery sites.
2026-01-21
Clay Town Board Approves Major Rezoning for Taft Road, Sets Public Hearing for Battery Storage
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Approved rezoning (Case #1236): 29.1 acres at 5300 W. Taft Road changed from R-10/LuC-2 to R-7.5/O-2 to allow residential and office development (Vote: 7-0).
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Scheduled Public Hearing (Case #1240): Summit Federal Credit Union seeks zone change from O-1 to O-2 at 4955 W. Taft Rd for new construction (Hearing: Feb. 2, 2026).
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Scheduled Public Hearing (Cases #1243 & #1244): Nexamp seeks permits for battery energy storage systems (BESS) on Wetzel Rd and Long Branch Rd (Hearing: Feb. 2, 2026).
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Renewed License: Madison Village Mobile Home Court license renewed for 2026; park reports 52 new homes added in the past year.
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Created Civil Service Positions: Established three full-time positions: Account Clerk 1, Deputy Comptroller, and Senior Recreation Leader.
2026-04-20
Clay Town Board Moves to Regulate Battery Storage, Set Rules for Smoke Shops
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Scheduled a public hearing for May 4 to adopt a new law regulating Battery Energy Storage Systems (Local Law No. 4).
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Scheduled a public hearing for May 4 to require special permits for new smoke shops in commercial districts (Local Law No. 5).
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Scheduled a public hearing for May 4 regarding a special permit for a Community Bank drive-thru at 4000 State Route 31.
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Authorized the Supervisor to apply for a FEMA grant to install a generator at Town Hall, requiring a 25% local match.
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Adopted the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan to maintain eligibility for federal disaster assistance.
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Scheduled a public hearing regarding CDBG funding for street repairs on Steelway Blvd. South.
2026-01-05
Clay Town Board Sets 2026 Priorities: Salaries, Legal Retainers, and Zoning Updates Approved
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Key Actions & Decisions
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Annual Salaries Set: Board approved 2026 salaries ranging from $21,218 for councilors to $137,500 for the Commissioner of Planning & Development (Vote: 7-0).
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Meeting Schedule Adjusted: Regular meetings moved to the first and third Mondays at 7:30 PM; three meetings (Feb 16, July 6, Aug 3) were cancelled (Vote: 7-0).
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Legal Services Retained: Germain & Germain retained as Town Attorney and Zoning Board counsel; Bond, Schoeneck & King retained for Planning Board at $36,000 (Vote: 7-0).
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Engineering Services: C & S Engineers retained for town services and zoning map updates (Vote: 7-0).
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Deputy Supervisor Named: Councilor Joseph Bick appointed as Deputy Supervisor (Vote: 7-0).
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Planning Board Appointments: Michelle Borton reappointed as Chair; Harold Henty appointed to a seven-year term expiring in 2032 (Vote: 7-0).
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Zoning Map Adopted: Board accepted the revised Official Zoning Map dated Dec. 12, 2025 (Vote: 7-0).
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Board of Ethics: Town Clerk Jill Hageman-Clark appointed Chairperson for a five-year term (Vote: 7-0).
2026-05-04
Regular Meeting — May 4, 2026
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