The evening of 2026-01-20 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls Board of Trustees.
Tonight was also a meeting of the Mendon Town Board. Alas, both groups broke from the regular pattern for their Monday meetings (second and third, respectively). And then both picked the same night to move their meetings to. While I would have preferred they picked different nights, it is there choice to make. Unfortunately, there were a few people that got confused and went to the wrong meeting.
This meeting opened by honoring the memory of the three service members who died in a helicopter crash a few years back. Not the sort of thing that usually happens here, but Dan (Deputy Mayor) gave a nice speech.
The ~$9 million Pro Housing Grant for the Waste Water Treatment Plant was formally accepted. Which was an obvious choice. Of course we want the money, we don’t want to raise taxes to cover the project. Yet requiring acceptance makes sense. Offers a check for any strings that could be attached to a gift. In any case, only another $8 million or so to go for this project.
Selling the old Critics property continues along that process. By the sounds of it, the Village is looking to auction off as much of the remaining items as they can before selling the land. I got the impression the focus is more on items like benches and wall hangings, than memorabilia. But, as Rick (Mayor) put it, better to find a home for items than toss them in a dumpster. Hopefully the Village will share a link (or similar) when the time comes. In case residents want to bid on a bench (or whatever).
Review of the start of construction time code continues on. Appears that 7AM is both industry standard and what nearby municipalities do. Which doesn’t mean we have to match, as was pointed out. There was also talk about not using dB as a measurement, as other municipalities also avoid that. Even as that was said, there was question about how often these other municipalities enforce their noise code. Personally, I’ll be glad when the code as written and enforced are in closer alignment.
A cannabis dispensary is expected to open at either the end of this month (which means next week?) or next month. The deciding factor was a meeting with the State. Which has the cynic in me thinking it might still be a few months before the place opens. Either way, there was talk about adding a line to the budget to track tax revenue from this source. And considering earmarking it for emergency services. Which illustrates the problem with taxing vices. A use for the income will quickly be found. Making it all the harder to push back against vices, as the money is ‘needed’.
Budget workshop dates were set for Saturday March 7, 14, and 21 at 8:00 AM. Open to the public, but not technically for the public to comment at. Even as I share these dates, I wonder if I’ll make it. Considering the past few years… I’m going to predict a snowy evening of March 6 / morning of March 7.
There was a Public Hearing regarding an unlicensed vehicle at 83 Rodney Drive. A few neighbors showed up to share how the vehicle’s presence upset them. Also highlighted rats living under/in it as a health concern. Fair concerns, I suppose. But the whole process feels a bit over-regulatory. Not that I spoke up during the Hearing.
At the end of the Hearing, the Board affirmed the Code Enforcement Officers action. Which sets the stage for, as outlined in Village code, the confiscation and selling of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, almost immediately after the Board finished this agenda item, the vehicle owner showed up. They had gone to the Town meeting by mistake. I will give Rick credit for being flexible and giving the owner a chance to speak. She was understandably upset. Hopefully, now that the CEO has the authorization to confiscate the vehicle, she finds a way to remove it.
And on a HAPpier note, Harry Allen Park was reserved for what will hopefully be a HAPpy wedding. Not in the immediate future, best to plan these things out and reserve venues in advance. I’m sure the snow will be gone by then, right?
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the January 20, 2026 meeting of the Honeoye Falls Board of Trustees.