Sharon Springs Updates All Around

SHARON SPRINGS — The Village of Sharon Springs Board gathered for their regularly scheduled monthly board meeting on Thursday February 15th at 6:00 PM in the Sharon Community Building. Many of the regular Village residents were present with a larger audience than usual on this evening.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, a representative from SEEK took to the floor to explain the new grant available for a new “placemaking curb appeal program” that just opened in February. The grant is a 50/50 match up to $5,000 with a minimum of $1,000. The grant has access to architects and designers onboard for those within the Village. Any commercial business may apply, including tenants, as long as the owner gives permission. The deadline is March 29th, 2024.

The next order of business was the Mayor's report with an announcement of a new joint planning board alternate appointment to replace Arianna Parsons (who joined the Village Board) as Ted Huggins on Chestnut Street. Mayor Kelley said “he is very excited to be on board.”

For a NY Forward Update, the Department of State has “taken a little longer than expected” as the estimate has now been pushed back to “late winter or early spring”. 

There was an update on the need for a handicap parking spot for Main Street with the SW corner of Main and Division in front of Klinkhart in consideration. The Village Board was asked to make and pass a resolution to amend the parking regulations and then send that to DoT to get started. The motion was made and passed without objection.

Jennifer Hill with Tobacco Free Communities Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie was a speaker for this meeting regarding the new Marijuana Regulation and Taxation act and the effect on smoke and vaping use in the outdoor municipal and country spaces including worksites as well. Due to the broad way the current laws are written, they do not cover the banning of vaping, specifically in parks for example. The speaker suggests the same banning of cannabis use as it does for tobacco and to specify the banning of vaping as well.

Mayor Kelly made reference to the concerns of those residents during the Meeting with Cannabis Management last year on the regulation of smoking use of public places and those potential impacts on the community. She also mentioned the no smoking sign in place in the Village Park.

There was a quick update on Tree City from Board Member Joyce Slater. The application for Tree City was approved at the state and regional level and is now at the national level for hopeful approval. Look out for more updates on the 2024 Arbor Day event.

SCHOPEG was present recording this meeting. Please check out Schopeg On Demand at www.schopeg.vids.io for the full video available now.

The regularly scheduled Village Board Meetings are on the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm, located in the Sharon Community Building at 129 Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. Please call (518) 284-2625 for more information.