Duties and Responsibilities:
- - Town Supervisor
- - The Town Council
- - Town Clerk
- - Town Justice
- - Town Assessor
- - Constable
- - Town Historian
- - Dog Enumerator
- - Highway Superintendent
- - Fire Wardens
- - Zoning Enforcement / Fair Housing Officer
- - Town Attorney
- - Voting Machine Custodian
- - Youth Recreation Director
- - Planning Board
- - Zoning Board
Ellen M. Grant
Office Phone: 585-591-2157
Residence: 585-937-9913
Fax: 585-591-1830
benn-supervisor@rochester.rr.com
Bookkeeper Carol McEwen
Phone: 585-535-7365
The Supervisor in every town is its Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer and presides as Chairman at all meetings of the Town Board. The Supervisor is elected for a two year term of office and must be a resident when elected and during the term of office. He or she performs official duties solely in the public interest.
The Supervisor is the treasurer and fiscal officer for the Town and must keep a complete and accurate record of all money received and spent. These accounts are public records, are kept in the Town Hall, and may be inspected in the Supervisor’s presence. The Supervisor’s Office is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Town, including such functions as accounting, budgeting, payroll and personnel.
The Supervisor also prepares the Town Budget, which must be completed by September 30th. The Town Board must then have a public hearing on the proposed budget before the Thursday following the general election, and it must be adopted before November 20th. The Supervisor is also responsible for filing the Comprehensive Annual Report, which is audited and then reviewed by the Government Finance Officers Association.
Our Supervisor also serves as a member of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors, representing the town's interests and perspectives on county issues.
The Supervisor participates in committee meetings as well as the monthly board meetings held on the second tuesday of each month at 2 PM at the Government Center in Warsaw NY.
Ellen M. Grant, Supervisor
Bernard Frounick, Councilman
Michael Gadd, Councilman
Joyce Mohun, Councilwoman
Michael George, Councilman
The council meets with the Supervisor for work sessions on the 2nd wednesday of each month and the monthly Board meeting is held that same day.
The councilmen are elected for a four year term performing duties such as Audit of Claims, development of new programs, negotiating services, awarding bids for purchasing, policy development and providing support to town officials.
The Councilmen and Supervisor are responsible for passing Town Local Laws which include zoning changes, allocation of public funds as well as other issues that pertain to the financial and well being of the community.
Judy Brown
Office Phone: 585-591-2157
Residence: 585-937-9749
Fax: 585-591-1830
benn-clerk@rochester.rr.com
Our Town Clerk has served this community since 1980. She is a "Jack of All Trades", providing services on: Taxes, Marriage Licenses, Dog Licenses, Sporting Licenses, Clerk for the Water District, Notary Public Services, Park Reservations, Park Rules & Regulations, Handicap parking permits, and Recycling Center permits. She is the Town regestrar for Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates. She also answers geneology inquires. She is the secretary for the Grievance Committee. In addition, she is the Clerk of the Town Board and the custodian of all Town records. In the year 2006 she adds "Tax Collector" to her duties. Please refer to the "Calendar" link or to the "Town Clerk" link for her office hours and to get detailed information on provided services.
Arlene Brown
Contact the Court Clerk
Mark Linsey
Contact the Court Clerk
Court Clerk - Christa Dake
Phone: 716-652-5585
The Town Justices hold Traffic Court Sessions every Monday at 7PM in the town hall, located at 905 Old Alleghany Road in the town of Bennington. They also conduct arraignments, jury trials, hold small claims court and can perform marriages.
Kandace Wittmeyer
Office Phone: 585-591-2157
Residence: 716-864-3442
assessor@benningtonny.com
The assessor is the official who estimates the value of real property within the town’s boundaries. This value is converted into an assessment, which is one component in the computation of real property tax bills. The assessor maintains the assessment roll - the document that contains every property’s assessment. To do this, the physical description, or inventory and value estimate of every parcel of real estate in the municipality is kept up-to-date. The property inventory is available for inspection by appointment before the filing of the tentative assessment roll. The assessment roll shows assessments and appropriate exemptions. Every year the roll, with preliminary, or tentative, assessments is made available for public inspection. After the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) has acted on assessment complaints and ordered any changes, the tentative roll is made final.
What Kind of Property is Assessed?
All real property, commonly known as real estate, is assessed. Real property is defined as land and any permanent structures attached to it. Some examples of real property are houses, gas stations, office buildings, vacant land, shopping centers, apartment buildings, and restaurants.
How is Real Property Assessed?
Before assessing any parcel of property, the assessor estimates its market value. Market value is how much a property would sell for, in an open market, under normal conditions. To estimate market values, the assessor must be familiar with all aspects of the local real estate market. A property’s value can be estimated in three different ways:
- Market approach - the property is compared to others similar to it that have sold recently, using only sales where the buyer and seller both acted without undue pressure.
- Cost approach - calculate what the property would cost, using today’s labor and material prices, to replace the structure with a similar one. This method is used to value special purposes and utility properties.
- Income approach - analyze how much income a property, like an apartment building, a store or factory, will produce if rented. Operating expenses, insurance, maintenance costs, financing terms, and how much money owners expect to make on this type of property are considered.
Once the assessor estimates the market value of a property, its assessment is calculated. New York State law provides that all property within a municipality be assessed at a uniform percentage of market value. Everyone pays his or her fair share of taxes as long as every property in a locality is assessed at the same percentage of value.
The Assessor is in her office at the Town Hall from 5PM to 6PM on Wednesdays and from 10AM to 1PM on Saturdays.
For more information, click on the "Assessor's Office" menu link on the home page.
Joe Heller
Phone: 585-591-1118
Acts as the Court Bailiff, serves summonses and performs other duties as designated by the Town Board.
Jean Rudolph
Phone: 585-591-2959
Keeps the town's documents on occuring events. Is curator for the Historical Museum.
Carolyn Mruczek.
Phone: 585-591-1427
Provides the Town of Bennington with a dog census on a bi-annual basis.
Rick Jensen
Phone: 585-591-2664
Supervises the construction, maintaining and repair of the Town's roads. Supervises department staff in mowing road side brush, snow plowing and maintaining other town property. Supervises the installing of culverts in new construction driveways. Is responsible for the performance of County contracted maintainence and plowing of County roads within the town.
Joeseph Pomana
Phone: 585-937-7063
Keith Huber
Phone: 585-591-1175
The Town Supervisor must serve as the "Superintendent of Fires." The Superintendent of Fires has the power, under the provisions of the Enviromental Conservation Law, to employ and/or appoint Fire Wardens for the purpose of preventing and extinguishing forest and/or muck fires.
The Fire Warden is becoming an "endangered species" as the number of fire wardens has dwindled from 2000 or 3000 in the 1960's to only a few hundred in 2005.
Kari Kelly
Phone: 585-591-4669
zoningofficer@benningtonny.com
Reviews any zoning permit applications. Signs applications for perk tests. Investigates zoning complaints. Answers residents questions about lot requirements and set back. Provides information and complaint procedures to residents regarding housing discrimination.
Eric Dadd
Phone: 585-591-1100
Councils the town on any legal matters.
Jean Perkins
Phone: 585-591-1205
The Custodian oversees the maintenance of town voting machines, sets up the machines prior to primaries and elections and officially closes the machines following voting to ensure compliance with state election law.
Terri Beal
Phone: 585-591-3972
rec@benningtonny.com
The Youth Recreation Director oversees the planning and operation of programs in the town for youth up to the age of 18. The Director works with the Recreation Committee and sports program coaches to provide a variety of programs throughout the year, including t-ball, softball, skiing, and holiday parties.
The Planning Board serves as advisors to the Town Board in matters pertaining to the Zoning Law, reviewing and recommending changes, applications of the Town's Comprehensive Plan and on Special Use permit applications.
The Planning Board Meets the 3rd Wednesday of Month at 7PM. The members are:
| NAME | PHONE # |
| Chris Hickey | 585-591-1893 |
| Carl Wuest | 585-591-0621 |
| Bob Gadd, Chairman |
585-591-2517 pbchair@benningtonny.com |
| Chuck Dusel | 585-937-3483 |
| Deb Kipp, Secretary |
585-591-2451 pbzb-secretary@benningtonny.com |
| Deb Nye - Alternate |
716-913-1541 DebNye@kw.com |
The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews and makes judgement on variance applications on issues pertaining to zoning applications.
The Zoning Board meets on the 1st Wednesday of the Month at 7PM. The members are:
| NAME | PHONE # |
| Roger Chudzik | 585-591-8006 |
| Gary George, Chairman | 585-591-1868 |
| Mike Magrum | 585-652-8497 |
| Jeri Mazur | 585-591-1888 |
| David Best | 585-591-0007 |
| Deb Kipp, Secretary |
585-591-2451 pbzb-secretary@benningtonny.com |
| Sue Poplielinski, Alternate | 585-547-3576 |
Updated 4/2/08