WELLSVILLE — Two major postponements marked Monday evening’s village board meeting — one involves 100 people in a political action group while the other could cost more than half a million dollars.

After being informed it had received a permit inquiry, the village board is wondering who are the Freedom Writers. The discussion came about when Mayor Randy Shayler asked if anyone in the room knew of the group. It seems a member of the group called the village clerk to find out if they need a permit to occupy the walking bridge over the arterial that leads into Island Park.

They are saying that 100 people with signs want to occupy the walking bridge for a time on July 17.

The answer to the original question was, yes, they need a permit, but the weight capacity of the walkway and as to who the group is were also called into question. There was also a concern expressed that July 17 is the day before the Great Wellsville Hot Air Balloon Rally launches and vendors, concessioners and campers will likely be using the bridge.

With so many questions, Village Clerk Wendy Seely was told to call the inquirer back and tell them they will have to have a permit and to also find out more about the group.

Patty MacEwan, a member of Freedom Writers New York in Allegany County, informed the Olean Times Herald that the group writes postcards that are distributed to independent women voters in swing congressional districts in New York and in other states urging them to vote for Democrats. The group also sends postcards to women voters in other high-interest elections, such as the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race earlier this year that was won by a Democrat.

In 2024 the group wrote 25,000 postcards and worked with another group to produce 50,000 more that were distributed to women voters in what were considered swing congressional districts in New York, MacEwan said. They also worked independently on governor and U.S. House and Senate races in other states.

Also postponed to the next meeting was a $500,000 request from Director of Public Works Dean Arnold, who asked the board to purchase a new vacuum truck for his department. The village’s current vacuum truck, which was purchased used in 2009, is currently out of commission and cannot be repaired by the village. He said it would have to be sent out for replacement or repair of the blower and replacement of a gasket for an estimated cost of $450,000 for the blower and $3,000 for the gasket — without including the cost of labor.

He further estimated that it would take between 90 and 100 days to be repaired or about the same time it would take to get a new truck.

The new truck would cost $577,569. The board estimated, “It’s the same cost as buying 10 new police vehicles or a fire engine.”

The Vac-Con model truck is a combination sewer and vacuum truck used in sewer repair. The village recently hired a vendor with a similar machine that cost $5,000 a day.

A new truck will be more efficient, cut down on time spent on the job and would keep laborers and the vehicle out of the roadway, said Trustee Gary Pearson, who is the board liaison for the Public Works Department.

The board decided to postpone any decision for the next board meeting until it can obtain more information. In the meantime, Shayler told Arnold, “You have the green light to take care of any emergency that you would use the truck for. We should be able to make a decision within two weeks.”

The board approved the purchase of a new vehicle and upfit kit for the police department, for a cost not to exceed $57,000, subject to a permissive referendum if required.

At the start of the meeting a visitor inquired as to the age of Electric Department’s billing system. “It must be a 1990s DOS based software system that’s been updated a couple of times,” she said, adding, “I don’t think it’s safe.” She explained that she makes payments on her bill and that and has trouble deciphering the bill when she tries looking it up online.

The board decided to look into it, with the mayor noting that for the past 10 years that he’s been on the board, nothing other than updates has been done to the system.

Before adjourning, the board approved adding Zachary Roberts and James Kozlowski’s names to the rolls of the Grant Duke Hose Company #1.

The board also promoted Austin Crawford to Working Supervisor of Streets and Matt Van Vlack to the streets crew of the DPW. Both appointments are contingent upon the positions being vacated at the end of the month.

The next board meeting will take place at 6 p.m. July 14 in the village hall.