The Empire Village Council held a work session on January 8, 2026, where key decisions included the acceptance of the DPW Superintendent's resignation, approval to update the job description for the DPW Superintendent position, and discussions regarding the upcoming 2026-27 budget. The Council reviewed various budget requests, including those for parks and water infrastructure, and decided to further refine the budget draft for review at the February work session.
Public comments
No public comments were made during the session.
Affordable housing initiatives
No discussions related to affordable housing initiatives occurred during the meeting.
Parks and recreation matters
Dye reviewed budget requests pertaining to parks. Specific needs for funding or improvements were discussed; however, further details were not provided regarding specific projects or allocations beyond the budget approval process.
Infrastructure projects
Discussions concerning infrastructure included the budget for drain and catch basin cleanouts, which are scheduled for semiannual cleanouts at the Lake and Niagara infiltrator, and ongoing maintenance as needed. Water Fund requests were reviewed but specific decisions regarding infrastructure improvements will be determined as the budget is finalized.
Other Business
The meeting included additional agenda items such as the approval of previous meeting minutes and the adoption of the amended agenda. The Finance Officer, Clerk Smith, led a discussion on budget requests and changes.
Financial Summary (if applicable)
The Council discussed the 2026-27 budget requests, which included a projected 3% wage increase and a 14% health insurance increase. Other financial elements concerned adjustments to the budget draft based on the reviews of budget requests for parks and water infrastructure. No specific financial figures or allocations were voted upon beyond these discussions.
Action Items
- The Personnel Committee is to update the job description for the DPW Superintendent position.
- Changes to the budget draft will be made based on discussions, with a new draft to be reviewed at the February Work Session.
- Follow-up on the SCADA system will be undertaken by Council Member Rademacher.
- A request for updates regarding shared driveway issues to be pursued by Councilor Walton.
Source Document
This summary was AI-generated from the official meeting record. The full source document is the authoritative version.