Hiring of Consultation for Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex Amenities Tabled

Lily Byrne, X101 News:

On Wednesday night, the Cortlandville Town Board discussed a $13,900 proposal for CHA Consulting, Inc., to provide professional services for the Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex amenities.

This funding would cover the remaining work for the Environmental Protection Fund Parks Grant, including making sure shade structures and trees are in the right places, Town Attorney Fran Casullo said.

The $501,000 grant included a concession building, trees, a trail system and shade structures, Board Member Kristen Rocco-Petrella said.

“I look at this and I wonder why we need an engineer to tell us where to plant trees, and where to put benches,” said Board Member Sunday Earle.

“If we added the trail system, which I thought was a good idea, it would put us over the top,” Leach said. “It may still happen sometime in the future… We’ve got to live within our means.”

“I’m not going to try to defend why we’re spending $13,900 for professional services,” Casullo said. “It could be that the grant might have a condition saying that they want to make sure these are being placed in the proper spots.”

“I want to know where we’re at financially, from ‘this is how much money we were given,’ to ‘this is how much money we have spent,’” Board Member Glenn Reisweber said. “We need that data to make an informed decision…. I’m frustrated.”

The discussion was tabled.

“I think we need to continue to try and find outside sources to provide sponsorship money to give further financial money to the town for that park,” Casullo said.

Also at the meeting, the board unanimously passed their budget, and discussed having Cortlandville Town Board meetings take place at 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. in 2026. A poll will likely be held on the Cortlandville website, and the discussion was tabled.

“It was suggested to me by a member of the public,” Board Member David Donlon said.

“It may give more people an opportunity to come to the meetings,” said Board Member Kristen Rocco-Petrella. “It’s also dinnertime, so maybe people won’t come.”

A discussion was also tabled on Catholic Charities establishing a short-term transitional community residence on Starr Road. The Cortlandville Town Board was granted an extension on their decision, due to not having time to review it during budget season, Casullo said.