BUSTI - A new way of looking at zoning codes and laws in the town of Busti has been approved.
On Monday, the Busti Town Board passed a resolution for the codification of local laws by using the service provided by General Code. In November 2010, Loriann Shura, General Code spokesperson, told the board about the service her company provides to update municipal codes and local laws to an electronic, more organized version.
Jesse Robbins, Busti supervisor, said by using General Code, the town has removed a less organized three-ring binder full of laws and codes and replaced it with a more streamline version that can be viewed online.
''There are no duplications, no discrepancies. It is nice and well-organized,'' he said.
General Code will maintain the town's laws and codes, with the available online version residents will be able to look at by going to the town's website, townofbusti.com. Diane VanDewark, town clerk, said there is still some paperwork to be completed before the new law and code book can be viewed online. She estimated by September the new version should be available on the town's website.
Joel Seachrist, town attorney, said there were a few changes to laws and codes to make them more definitive and up to date with other municipalities in the state. The town hadn't updated its local law and code book since 1989. With local laws and codes often being changed, officials felt a change to a electronic version should be made.
The company will charge around $12,000 during a three-year period to organize the codes and laws. Also, there is an annual $1,200 fee to continue using the service. Local municipalities like Jamestown, Chautauqua and Westfield also use the company's services.
In other business, officials discussed changes to a policy on selling property the town owns. The changes included sending letters notifying town residents that live within 250 feet of the property that will be for sale and the board can reject all offers if they feel none give a fair market price. The discussion on changes to the policy revolved around potentially selling six town-owned lots in the Cottage Park area on Second Avenue.