Town of Porter readies for 2026

Board approves appointments, procedural items

Staff reports

The Porter Town Board set the stage for 2026, with its annual reorganizational meeting held Jan. 2 and at the board’s first regular session on Jan. 12. Both meetings saw a number of resolutions and routine procedural items approved.

Among the approvals Jan. 2 were appointments, the town’s holiday and standard workday schedules, official designations, and the naming of town officials to various positions/duties along with their salaries. Actions included:

•Attorney Michael Dowd was reappointed for 2026 at a salary of $32,400, with his duties to include serving as town attorney and prosecutor, plus duties on the Planning and Zoning boards.

•The town’s holiday schedule includes Monday, Jan. 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Monday, Feb. 16, President’s Day; Friday, April 3, Good Friday; Monday, May 25, Memorial Day; Friday, July 3, Independence Day (observed); Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day; Monday, Oct. 12, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day (observed); Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, Thanksgiving Day weekend; Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve; and Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas.

•Town Board meetings will take place at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month (excluding October) at Town Hall. The schedule includes Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 13 (Tuesday), Nov. 9 and Dec. 7.

•Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston was reappointed as the town’s budget officer for 2026. Others named were Glenn M. Calvery, storm management control officer; and G@G Consulting and Grant Writing as the town’s grant writer on a $675 monthly retainer.

Financials

•The board approved the town’s procurement policy for 2026. KeyBank was designated as its official bank and various officials were authorized for purchases. The town’s IRS mileage rate was set at 72.5 cents per mile. It also approved a number of salaries of elected/appointed officials.

•The board set Johnston’s salary at $46,555 and $1,971 as budget officer. Other 2026 salaries include Town Clerk Kara Hibbard, $52,806 (salary), $8,278 (town registrar), $7,041 (water collections), $3,915 (sewer collections) and $3,860 (tax collector); Highway Superintendent Dave Burmaster, $85,596 (salary); and town justices Wayne Pollow and David Truesdale, $21,701 each. Also, Jeff Baker, $606, deputy supervisor and $8,595, council member; and Jipp Ortiz, Tim Adamson and Larry White, council members, $8,595.

•The Town Board approved new water/sewer adjustments for 2026. Effective Jan. 1, water rates are: 0-7,000 gallons, $24.85 minimum; 7,000-100,000 gallons, $3.55 per thousand; and over 100,000 gallons, $2.80 per thousand (irrigation rate).

•The board set the New York State Parks water rate at 0-193,240 gallons, minimum charge of $405.80; and 193,240-999,999 gallons, $2.10 per thousand. The Village of Youngstown water rate was set at $2.30 per thousand.

•Approved sewer rates include Village of Youngstown, $1.61 per thousand; Fort Niagara State Park, $5.31 per thousand; and Town of Porter, 0-7,000 gallons, $66.92, and over 7,000 gallons, $9.56 per thousand.

•The town announced the treatment rate to the Town of Lewiston water treatment plant at $3.70 per thousand gallons. Infrastructure costs include the town’s lift station upgrade bond, 0.68 cents per thousand; and manhole replacement bond, 0.63 cents per thousand.

All water bills will be charged an additional 10% surcharge to build up the town’s water reserve account for anticipated water infrastructure needs.

Appointments

•Supervisor’s committees include Baker, deputy supervisor; insurance, Hibbard and Boyer; water; Burmaster and Baker; sewer, Burmaster and White; and land, all Town Board members and Jeffery; refuse, Hibbard, Boyer and Baker. Also, Audit Committee, Adamson and White; drainage, Burmaster and Baker; GIS, Burmaster and Boyer; employee compensation, Hibbard, Boyer and White; and Parks Committee, White and Adamson.

•The Town Board approved a number of liaison appointments: CWM (Citizens Advisory Committee) – Johnston, Baker and Anthony Collard (Planning Board); Village of Youngstown – Johnston; Recreation Department – Larry White; Niagara Falls Area Chamber of Commerce – Baker; libraries – White; fire companies – Truesdale (Youngstown) and Baker (Ransomville); human relations – Johnston, Kimberli Boyer (budget officer) and Dowd; highways – Burmaster, Adamson and White; and buildings – Truesdale, Johnston and Peter Jeffery (town building/code enforcement officer).

•Wrapping up, the Town Board approved a number of 2026 contacts as budgeted: Inter-Community Services Inc., $2,500; Industrial Development (NICAP), $4,000; American Legion O. Leo Curtiss Post, Ransomville (maintenance), $2,500; VFW Post 313, Youngstown, $2,500; Niagara Gospel Mission, $1,000; Ransomville Rural Retirees (services), $1,700; Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce annual contract, $7,500; Youngstown Free Library, $72,100; William J. McLaughlin Free Library (Ransomville), $72,100; Ransomville Historical Project, $2,000; Old Fort Niagara Association, $5,000; Town of Porter Historical Society (program maintenance), $2,000; Ransomville Country Faire (Ransomville Historical Project), $1,000; Ransomville Lighting of the Wreaths (Ransomville Historical Project), $2,000; Ransomville Business and Professional Association, $1,500; Youngstown Business and Professional Association, $1,500; Ransomville Garden Club (flowers), $800; Youngstown Garden Club, $800; Niagara Pioneer Soccer League, $500; Wilson Youth Baseball program, $500; and Programs for Aging (Ransomville Rural Retirees) $3,000.

For more information on the town’s various reorganization approvals, visit www.townofporterny.gov.

Shared services update

In news from the Town Board’s regular meeting, held Jan. 12:

•The board approved a resolution to cease “the shared services of the Town of Porter/Village of Youngstown building inspector and code enforcement officer,” effective Jan. 6. The motion stated the change is in “total agreement between Supervisor Johnston and Deputy Mayor (Richard) Stortecki.”

“The village will hire their own building inspector/code enforcer as of January 2026,” Johnston said. The board indicated it would be working with the village on this matter as the transition continues.

For more information on Village of Youngstown building and zoning permits, residents should contact the village office at 716-745-7721.

•On a related matter, Jeffery said discussions were continuing on the future of the former Rite Aid pharmacy in Youngstown.

“(We’ve) had good conversations with the developers, Broadway Group, that are working to bring Dollar General into the old Rite Aid store in Youngstown,” Jeffery said.

He noted parking issues were under discussion between the Broadway Group, the village, DeGuilio interests (current Rite Aid property owners) and adjoining businesses for the Lockport Street property vacated by Rite Aid last year.

“It’s all still in the works and they’re moving forward. It’s not as smooth or fast as everyone likes.”

Jeffery said he had no updates on the Rite Aid store in Ransomville or the Masonic Temple property in the hamlet, which are also facing future sale.