During a Tuesday night special hearing Ellery officials were asking for public comment before future adoption of Local Law No. 3 to amend the town’s zoning laws that were approved in 2014. Local Law No. 3 would specifically allow for the existence of fire stations in both the Agricultural District and Agricultural Residential District within the town’s jurisdictional limits.

Maps of the town can be viewed at the Town of Ellery main office located at 25 Sunnyside Ave. Additionally, a complete copy of the zoning amendments set forth in proposed Local Law No. 3, can be examined at the office of the Town Clerk in the Town of Ellery Administration Building, during normal business hours. More information can be found at elleryny.org or call 716-386-2521.

During the regular scheduled monthly meeting, which started after the closing of the hearing, Kristen McNitt, the owner and founder of Golden Acres Dog, 3057 Girst Road, was seeking permission to host a fundraising event within the town’s limits which would also be dubbed as a reunion for more than 50 placed therapeutic dogs she’s bred over more than 10 years.

“I’ve been breeding mini-goldens for years,” she said. “My puppies are therapeutic dogs and used for children who have autism, are on the spectrum, and have special needs. I have dogs placed in New York City, Long Island and all over the state. I would like to host a reunion/dog walk/fundraiser, at the town park and this year I’d like to donate the funds to the Chautauqua Christian Academy.”

A copy of the town of Ellery’s Zoning District Map.

Councilman Mark Schlemmer was supportive of the proposal. However, other council members said that McNitt would need to carry insurance and make sure that the dog owners keep their pets on leash and clean up any messes the dogs made.

McNitt said she would like to open the event up to the community.

In other business:

– The board was briefed on the upcoming state requirement that all municipalities websites and governmental sites are required to change to a .gov domain in 2025. New York state legislators voted on June 5, 2024, in favor of Bill No. S3353A, which requires all state counties, cities, towns, villages to maintain an official “.gov” website.