Perinton Board OKs $2.2 Million in Sidewalks

Town Board · Meeting of September 9, 2026

PERINTON — The Perinton Town Board approved two sidewalk capital projects worth about $2.2 million and raised its digital media coordinator's pay. The board authorized an $880,500 capital project for the Whitney Road sidewalk and established the $1.3 million Turk Hill Road sidewalk project, which includes a $307,000 reimbursement from Monroe County. Coordinator Scott Diamond's salary rose from $62,693 to $71,188 effective Sept. 14 as his duties shifted toward Recreation and Parks programming.

Members also authorized $10,000 for an electronic access control system at park buildings and $6,313 for a new water bottle filling station at the Bushnell's Basin docks. Town Supervisor Jen Townsend recommended pursuing a fenced, Monroe County-run dog park at Spring Lake Park, saying "we've had a lot of people get bit by dogs." The board set an Oct. 5 hearing on two proposed development moratoriums and a Sept. 21 hearing on new board-term limits.

In the full story:

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Source: the Town Board meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

PERINTON — September 9, 2026 — The Perinton Town Board voted unanimously Wednesday to establish two sidewalk capital projects worth a combined $2.2 million, raised the pay of its digital media coordinator and scheduled public hearings on two proposed development moratoriums.

Town Supervisor Jen Townsend presided over the meeting, which also included a staff recommendation to turn Spring Lake Park into a fenced, Monroe County-run dog park after years of complaints about off-leash dogs.

The Full Story

The board voted to raise the salary of Digital Media Coordinator Scott Diamond from $62,693 to $71,188, effective Sept. 14. Townsend told the board the role has shifted from photography and videography toward supporting Recreation and Parks marketing, including the town's expanded quarterly newsletter. The change reallocates existing funds and does not increase the town's 2026 budget, officials said.

"Scott is excellent. The way he's promoted our programs and services is something that we never would have envisioned," [00:08:19] — Jeff Nutting, Commissioner of Recreation and Parks.

In other business, the board voted to refer a conservation easement release request from property owner John DeSane, covering land at Wilkinson and Pinnell roads, to the town's Conservation Board for review before any decision is made. Separately, staff told the board that a seven-member review committee had selected a Fairport-area nonprofit partnership, working with production company Backbeat Live, to run the amphitheater's paid concert series starting next season, capping the summer lineup at five ticketed shows. No board vote was required on that item.

The board also authorized $6,313 to replace the drinking fountain at the Bushnell's Basin docks with a combination water fountain and bottle-filling station, funded through the town's recycling fee fund balance, and approved a $10,000 project to install an electronic access control system at Potter, Perinton, Fellows and White Brook park buildings and the Parks Operations Center, with material costs estimated at $9,173.64.

The board's largest actions involved sidewalks. Members established an $880,500 capital project, funded through the sidewalk reserve, to replace roughly 2,200 linear feet of asphalt sidewalk along Whitney Road and build a pedestrian bridge over Thomas Creek; the total project, including previously authorized engineering, is expected to cost about $975,000. The board also established the Turk Hill Road sidewalk project, which will add about 4,600 feet of sidewalk connecting Summit Street in the village of Fairport to the Perinton Community Center and Town Hall. Monroe County has committed $307,000 toward the $1.3 million project. Both projects are expected to begin construction in spring 2027.

"There's two additional projects that are currently in various states of progression. One is O'Connor Road." [00:32:00] — Jason Kennedy, Commissioner of Public Works.

Townsend also recommended the town pursue an inter-municipal agreement with Monroe County to add Spring Lake Park to the county's fenced dog park system, citing safety concerns after staff said they were afraid to mow lawns near off-leash dogs and after a dog was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot earlier this year. No vote was taken; Townsend said staff will study costs, grants and a future agreement for board consideration.

"We've had a lot of people get bit by dogs. We have staff members on our park staff who are afraid to mow the lawn and do their job and maintain the parks because they get chased by dogs." [00:36:17] — Jen Townsend, Town Supervisor.

The board also voted to schedule public hearings for Oct. 5 on two proposed six-month moratoriums on residential projects of five or more units, one covering the Bushnell's Basin sub-area and one covering the Erie Canal Conservation Overlay District, as the town completes sub-area planning work. A separate hearing was set for Sept. 21 on a local law that would set three-year terms for the Conservation Board, Board of Ethics, Recreation and Parks Advisory Board and Sustainability Advisory Board, and five-year terms for the Planning Board.

Why It Matters

The two sidewalk projects extend pedestrian routes between Fairport village, the Perinton Community Center, Town Hall and Spring Lake Park, with construction set for spring 2027 and partly paid for by a competitive $307,000 Monroe County grant. Residents who oppose or support five-unit-or-larger development near Bushnell's Basin or the Erie Canal corridor have until the Oct. 5 hearing to weigh in before the board considers freezing new projects there.

The Spring Lake Park proposal would end the park's current off-leash, unfenced setup in favor of a Monroe County-style fenced dog park, a change officials say is driven by dog-bite incidents and staff safety; no agreement or cost estimate has been finalized.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Digital Media Coordinator salary adjustment for Scott Diamond ($62,693 to $71,188) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Refer Wilkinson/Pinnell Road conservation easement release request to Conservation Board Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Authorize Bushnell's Basin water bottle filling station ($6,313) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Authorize $10,000 transfer from Parks Improvement Fund for park building access control system Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Establish Whitney Road sidewalk capital project ($880,500) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Establish Turk Hill Road sidewalk capital project ($1.3 million total, including $307,000 from Monroe County) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Schedule Oct. 5, 2026 public hearing on Bushnell's Basin residential development moratorium Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Schedule Oct. 5, 2026 public hearing on Erie Canal Conservation Overlay District moratorium Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Schedule Sept. 21, 2026 public hearing on board term-length local law Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Perinton's community access TV: Town Board meeting, September 9, 2026