Here are the highlights from the July 1, 2008, Town of Canandaigua Board meeting.

There were no public hearings.

The Fire Committee reported that the City of Canandaigua and the Town are still in discussions concerning our joint fire protection agreements. The City has applied for a grant to add one full time firefighter and additional funds to support the volunteer force. There was a discussion concerning whether it was appropriate for the Town to start to investigate alternatives for our fire protection. The Supervisor stated, and the Board agreed, that until the results of the grant application are known and the City finalizes the costs involved to upgrade the Fire Department, we will not know the impacts to our Town. The Fire Committee is due to make a final report to the Town Board in the fall. We still have over two years left in our current contract with the City.

There was a discussion involving the upcoming permissive referendum vote to purchase the development rights to the Wyffels farm land on Middle Cheshire Road. Councilperson Fuller suggested that the Town should take measures to inform the public what a PDR (purchase of development rights) is before the vote on August 20, 2008, at the town hall from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. All registered voters in the Town are eligible to vote. The Supervisor did not feel it was the Town's responsibility to educate the public on what a PDR is. There was no action taken to put a measure in place. (If you go to this Web site's Useful Links page and click on "Town of Canandaigua Comprehensive Plan"—under the heading "Town of Canandaigua Government"—you will find references to the use and description of PDRs as one of the options the Town could use to preserve open spaces. We are preparing a detailed description of a PDR that will appear on this Web site. More to follow.)

The Board will conduct interviews on July 7, 2008, to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board. There are 10 people who have applied. The Board voted not to include the Planning Board Chair and Planner in the interviews.

There will be a workshop with the Town Board and Planning Board on August 4, 2008, to discuss the proposed Park and Recreation fee changes.

The Town Planner reported that the Planning Board voted to accept the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the RSM development on West Lake Rd. This is in regard to the German Brothers Marina and Johnson properties. (The DEIS [new window] can be read on the Town's Web site.) There will be a public hearing on July 21, 2008, at 6:30 PM, at the Town Hall. This will be your opportunity to comment and have the applicant address your concerns.