From left, Deputy Mayor Ted Farnham, Trustee David Chertoff, Mayor Jeff Molnar, Trustee David Lipsey, and Trustee Maureen Stahley conduct village business Tuesday night at 13 Albertus Ave. P-J Photo by Christopher Blakeslee

BEMUS POINT – The Bemus Point Village Board has said no to joining a lawsuit that the Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association is set to file against the state Department of Environmental Conservation later this month.

Since announcing the CLPOA’s intent to sue the DEC during a public meeting in mid-March, Jim Wehfritz, CLPOA director, has attended town and village board meetings around Chautauqua Lake trying to line up support. So far, only the town of Ellery and the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier have signed on.

Wehrfritz said the CPLOA is preparing to ask the courts for a declaratory judgment regarding the Wetlands regulations, as they are being implemented and administered by the DEC, as irrational, arbitrary, and/or unconstitutional. The suit will include affidavits and amicus briefs from individuals/organizations, and they may assist with additional DEC action-specific claims or class action suits later and in support of other such legal actions.

While the Bemus Point Village Board has declined to join the CLPOA legal action, the board has supported North Carolina State University’s Lake Management Plan, which the CLPOA has also endorsed.

The Trustees also had copies of the village’s working budget for meeting attendees to view.

The budgetary fact sheet presented the village’s proposed tax levy for 2025-26 at $127,850, an increase from the 2024-25 levy of $102,355, or a net increase of $25,495. Village spending is $838,650 and fire department spending is $159,900, for a total appropriation of $998,550.

The Board of Trustees is proposing a fire levy of $52,762, an increase of $6,882, or a 21.8% increase for this year’s operating budget. The Bemus Volunteer Fire Department is scheduled for additional expenses and appropriations this year, which accounts for some of the budgetary line items.

Some of the proposed Fire Appropriations include $119,900 for contractual and equipment, $40,000 for EMS (ambulance) expenses, $132,000 for truck replacement and reserve fund, and $291,900 for a total of $291,900. Anticipated Fire Revenues include a $52,762 Fire Tax Levy, a $132,000 Town of Ellery Fire Service Contract, EMS Billing Revenues, $15,000, and $92,138 from line-item reserves.

In other business:

– Andrew Carlson, representing the Bemus Point Business Association, briefed the trustees on possible upcoming events within the village.

“So far, we have seven vendors signed up for our Farmer’s Market, and we hope to add more,” he said. “We also like to host a Summerfest, Aug. 2-3, in the village park. We want live bands, a beer tent, inflatables, and other vendors to attend. Since we still hold the record for the most wings sold, this event will replace last year’s event.”

Bemus Point Mayor Jeff Molnar touted the creation of a blue water trail for the 2025-2026 season, which is set to start at Long Point State Park and end in Ellery.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, a blue water trail, or a ‘blue way,’ is a route on a waterway designated for recreational use, especially by non-motorized watercraft (such as canoes and kayaks) and often for environmental protection.