The wait, is for a public hearing scheduled next month.

Everyone will see what happens after that, Rogers said.

The Town Board voted unanimously Nov. 12 to withdraw from the joint town/village ZBA, and to consider a local law that would establish a new, three-member board next year.

The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing during the Town Board meeting on Dec. 10.

The Village Board discussed the issue in executive session last week, but took no action.

Rogers said he generally favors consolidation. Reestablishing a village ZBA after a decade without is “not the direction we really wanted to go,” he said.

“If they decide to go that route, we’re going to have to have our own Zoning Board of Appeals,” Rogers said. “But we’ll wait until they finalize it before we come up with a plan of action.”

At the very least, a new ZBA would add a line to the village budget.

Town Supervisor Steve Barbeau said depending on what the Town Board ultimately decides, separate ZBAs could cost less money overall.

The Le Roy ZBA generally meets once a month. Each of its five members is paid $45 for each meeting, and the chairperson is paid $10 extra.

The secretary, who does not vote, is paid $65 a meeting.

The cost is currently part of the town budget, paid out of the town-wide “A” fund. A separate town ZBA would be paid out of the “B” fund, which is supported only by taxpayers of the town outside the village.

Barbeau said town and village ZBAs may be able to meet only alternate months. Ultimately, that would slightly reduce costs to both the town and village residents.

Why in the world is there a business sitting next to two private homes in the City? Why do the City’s code enforcement officers allow one property owner to build onto a structure and yet deny another? If these are the kind of questions you find yourself asking as you drive through the City of Batavia, you may be the perfect person to fill an opening on the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

The ZBA needs City residents who are curious about and interested in zoning regulations as it relates to buildings and structures.

The ZBA is responsible for hearing and determining appeals of refusals of building permits or certificates of occupancy when the denial is based on zoning requirements. The ZBA has the authority to change the application of the zoning regulations relating to buildings and structures and helps to address practical difficulties and unnecessary hardships to ensure proper zoning in the City.

The board meets once a month and requires a time commitment of approximately 12 hours per year of its volunteers. Residents interested in applying can obtain an application from the City Clerk’s Office or can visit our website at www.batavianewyork.com and download a Committee/Board Volunteer Application under Documents.

Applications are due to the City Clerk’s Office by Nov. 30.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (585) 345-6305 or:

Office of the City Manager

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, New York 14020

Phone:   (585) 345-6330

Fax:     (585) 343-8182

E-mail:   jmolino@batavianewyork.com