Westfield board accepts assessor resignation, sets hearings on wind and solar, and approves budget moves; warrants audited

The Westfield Town Board on July 2, 2025 handled a series of administrative actions and set future hearings.

The board accepted the resignation of Assessor Bonnie Rae Strickland effective June 30, 2025 and confirmed the appointment of Kenneth Shearer to serve as Assessor beginning July 1, 2025 through September 2025. The resolution acknowledging Strickland's resignation and Shearer's appointment (Resolution No. 52) passed unanimously; the motion was offered by Councilmember David Spann and seconded by Councilmember David Brown.

The board also set public hearings to extend moratoria on certain energy projects. Resolution No. 53 establishes a public hearing to consider extending a moratorium on Wind Energy Systems on Aug. 6, 2025 at 7:20 p.m. in Eason Hall; Resolution No. 54 sets a public hearing the same evening and location to consider extending a moratorium on Commercial Solar Energy Facilities. Both motions were adopted unanimously. The resolutions set only the hearing dates; no policy language extending or modifying the moratoria was adopted at this meeting.

Financial actions included adoption of Budget Revision #6 for 2025, which reallocated $4,382.15 from fund balance to record Route 5 Water District #2 contractor expenses and moved other amounts between assessor personnel and contingent accounts to reflect personnel changes. Councilmember David Spann moved the budget revision and Councilmember David Brown seconded; the revision passed unanimously.

The board audited warrants dated July 2, 2025 (Vouchers #380–446, with voids noted) totaling $73,311.43 across General, General-Part Town, Highway, Highway Part-Town, Forest Park Sewer and North Town Water-Shorehaven funds, and authorized the Supervisor to draw the necessary checks to cover the audited warrants. The motion to audit and to issue checks passed with recorded unanimous ayes.

At 8:15 p.m. the board entered executive session to discuss a personnel matter related to the Highway Superintendent and a property-acquisition matter with the Town Attorney; it returned to open session at 8:45 p.m. and adjourned. The meeting record lists several upcoming community events and a July 22 informational session for the Route 5 East Lake Road Water Project No. 2.

What happens next: hearings on the two moratoria are scheduled for Aug. 6, 2025; administrative staff will carry out the budget transfers and process the warrants.