KENDALL – The Kendall community is invited to an open house on Sunday at the fire hall to bid farewell to the ambulance at the fire department.

The Kendall FD ran the all-volunteer service since 1968. It announced in October the service would cease at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Firefighters will still respond to EMS calls, but transports will be handled by Monroe Ambulance and others in mutual aid.

The open house will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the fire hall, 1879 Kendall Rd. Photos will be on display of ambulances through the years. Eric Maxon, a Kendall firefighter for 41 years and treasurer for the ambulance for 23 years, will give a presentation at noon about the history of the ambulance service in Kendall.

The fire department is the last one in Orleans County operating an all-volunteer ambulance service for free.

He said the training requirements and the transports to Rochester hospitals took more time for the volunteers.

“We’ve been known for our ambulance service,” Maxon said today. “But it’s such a burden on volunteers. It’s taken a toll on everybody.”

The fire department didn’t want to continue with the service when it was in doubt there would be a crew to make a timely response.

“We didn’t want a call go out and have nobody show up,” Maxon said.

The open house and decommissioning on Sunday is a chance for the fire department to thank the community for its support for the past 54 years for the ambulance service.

The department will be selling the ambulance and then acquiring a Tahoe that will function as a fly car for basic life support services.

Town Board in Kendall seeks $1,000 annual licensing fee for rentals

Photos by Tom Rivers: Bruce Newell (center) leads the discussion on Thursday about a proposed law in Kendall for regulating short-term rental such as Airbnbs. Newell is also a member of the Orleans County Planning Board, which met in the Orleans County Legislature’s chambers on Thursday. Also pictured include from left Kirk Myhill of Shelby, Paul Schwenk of Carlton, Dan Strong of Carlton (at-large central) and Gary Daum of Yates.

KENDALL – The Orleans County Planning Board last week recommended against a proposed law from Kendall that would regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, in the waterfront district.

Kendall has about 8 or 10 of those sites in the waterfront district, just north of the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

Many neighbors have complained to town officials that the sites in residential neighborhoods are too loud at night, and people staying in the rentals often trespass and don’t take care of their garbage.

“Kendall recognizes these places can operate well,” said Bruce Newell, Kendall’s Planning Board chairman and a member of the County Planning Board. “We’re trying to put a mechanism in place for the problems.”

Kendall wants to ban any new short-term rentals in the Waterfront Residential and Waterfront Development districts. The current short-term rentals could continue but would have to pay an annual $1,000 annual licensing fee with the town, and carry a $3 million liability insurance, stipulations that David Bentley, owner of a short-term rental, said was excessive.

“We aren’t afraid of regulations,” Bentley said during last Thursday’s meeting. “But let’s be reasonable. These are way out of whack.”

There will be a public hearing in Kendall on Jan. 10 about the law. Kendall Town Board would need a super-majority vote of at least four out of five board members after the county voted it down.

Kendall’s proposed law would designate the code enforcement officer to do annual inspections of the sites. The code officer also would be asked to enforce the regulations, and could be called if a neighbor believed a party was out of hand, or if one of the short-term visitors was trespassing.

Some of the County Planning Board members thought that was too much to ask of a code officer. Newell said the town has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office about assistance in enforcing the law.

“We’re very sensitive about the demands it puts on code enforcement,” he said.

Mylynda Kuba, Murray code enforcement officer, said Kendall would need to provide decibel readers to the town code official and establish a standard on where to read them. Otherwise, a noise complaint could be considered subjective.

Newell said the licensing fee would give the town information on who is operating the short-term rentals. Town officials believe some of the sites are under the radar. They may not be reporting their “bed tax,” a 4 percent tax that goes to the county. The bed tax throughout the county last year generated about $80,000.

The $1,000 fee also would bring in some money directly to the town for the short-term rentals because the county currently keeps all of the bed tax.

Ken DeRoller, a former Orleans County legislator from Kendall, urged Kendall officials to work with Carlton and Yates for consistent regulations for short-term rentals among the three lakeshore towns. Carlton and Yates don’t have any regulations for the rentals right now.

Bruce Kirby, a County Planning Board member from Gaines, operates a short-term rental that he said generates about $6,000 in profit a year. He thought a $1,000 fee was too steep.

Kirby said he thought Kendall was trying to do too much with the proposed law.

Dan Strong, a member of the County Planning Board, said the law was “a good starting point” that gets all of the short-term rentals “playing by the same rules.”

Kendall isn’t cracking down on short-term rentals outside the waterfront districts because Newell said those locations are more spread out, and the town hasn’t received complaints from neighbors there.

In the waterfronts districts, the houses are much closer together, he said.

The town’s proposed law would be the first attempt in Orleans County to regulate Airbnbs or other short-term rentals, which became much more popular during the Covid pandemic, with many people from cities seeking a brief escape to a more open rural area.

Some of the highlights of the proposed law in Kendall include:

• Kendall will continue to allow the pre-existing short-term rentals, but will prohibit them at a location if they are discontinued for six months.
• Can operate as legal non-conforming uses.
• Transient occupancy considered when living or sleeping accommodation provided for compensation for less than 30 continuous calendar days
• No new transient or short-term rentals allowed in the waterfront districts, excluding bed and breakfasts which require a separate special use permit.
• All applications for a short-term rental license need to include site plans for the property with parking spaces, property lines, driveways and outdoor gathering areas, such as patios and decks.
• The town also wants to see floor plans containing the areas for transient space, a list of the owner(s) of the property as well as the manager with contact information, the number of permanent residents at the site (if any), the number of available parking spaces for transient use, a copy of the house rules provided to transients, and a list of neighbors within 150 feet of the property.
• The short-term rental owner needs to pay $1,000 to apply for the license and then $1,000 for each annual renewal.
• The town can enact penalties for violations that could include improper property maintenance – exposed garbage or litter on premises, failure to return trash containers to their storage location on the day of pickup, failure to maintain property or grounds in a neat and orderly fashion, parking vehicles in undesignated spots such as the lawn, parties that exceed the number of people authorized to be there in the license, failure to adhere to quiet hour restrictions between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., occurrence of excessive noise or nuisances at any other time, and occurrences of transients trespassing on other properties.
• If the STR commits two or more offenses, the code officer can recommend to the Town Board that the license be revoked and a hearing can be held to consider the revocation.

Standards

• A maximum of two people per sleeping or no more than 8 people total in the STR.
• no recreational vehicles, campers, trailers or motor vehicles larger than a one-ton pickup truck, other than trailers for boats or jet skis to be launched at nearby ramps.
• No rental shall be above the second floor unless there is a sprinkler system.
• The locations used as rentals shall not have exterior signage indicating they are a rental. The short-term rentals “shall from all exterior indications be indistinguishable from any conventional dwelling.”
• The rental shall be limited to registered guests, and no commercial activities, public or private parties, receptions, meetings or similar social gatherings will be permitted. The site shall maintain a register of all transients staying there, including their permanent addresses and dates of their stay. That register shall be made available to the code enforcement officer or Sheriff’s Office if there are complaints about the transients’ behavior.
• Owners of the rentals shall reside within 30 minutes of the sites so they can quickly respond if there is a complaint. If an owner can’t respond within 30 minutes of a complaint, the owner needs to appoint a manager who can be onsite to answer a complaint within 30 minutes.
• Owners of the rentals need to provide proof to the town of general liability insurance of at least $3 million with respect to personal injury or death, and at least $300,000 with respect to property damage.
• The owner needs to provide proof to the town that the septic system is in good working order and has been pumped in the last three years (for sites not on a central sewer system.)
• Any violations can result in maximum fines of $3,000, with each continued violation a separate and additional offense.

KENDALL – Tony Cammarata, the Kendall town supervisor, insists the town was smart to not take action on a contract with Monroe Ambulance.

Kendall was initially part of a seven-town consortium in Orleans negotiating a contract for ambulance services with Monroe Ambulance. The agreement was for $200,000 to be shared among the seven towns, with the amounts based on their share of projected call volume.

Kendall is different from the other seven because it already had ambulance coverage in 2023 at no charge to the town as part of a deal with two fire districts – Kendall and Hamlin-Morton-Walker.

Cammarata spoke with the fire district leaders and they didn’t see a need to commit town funds for an ambulance contract when Monroe already offered to cover the fire districts in the town.

Tom Coyle, the Monroe president and owner, said during Carlton’s Town Board meeting on Tuesday that Cammarata “misconstrued” the contract and the services offered by Monroe.

The new contract with the seven towns would have an ambulance stationed on Holley that would serve Kendall.

But without Kendall not in the contract with the other Orleans towns the ambulances serving Kendall will come from Monroe County. Monroe officials said they plan to have three ambulances available in western Monroe next year. They currently keep ambulances stationed in Brockport which can be routed to Kendall for EMS calls.

Mike Schultz of the Kendall Fire Department said Kendall will be covered and should receive good service as part of the contract with Monroe.

Cammarata insists paying the $18,000 would have been an unnecessary expense for the town in 2023, when it already had coverage from the contracts with Monroe from the fire districts.

Those contracts expire after 2023. Cammarata said Kendall will likely have to pay with town funds in 2024.

KENDALL – The Town of Kendall won’t be spending money for ambulance services in 2023, Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said today.

A proposal from Monroe Ambulance sought $18,000 from Kendall as part of a seven-town consortium for ambulance services in Orleans County. Monroe is seeking $200,000 from the seven towns in a contract in an agreement that would have Monroe stationing two ambulances in the county – one in Albion and one in Holley.

But Cammarata said there are already agreements in place for ambulance services in Kendall for 2023, without costing the town.

The Kendall Fire District has a contract with Monroe Ambulance as the primary ambulance provider. That fire district covers Kendall from the Carlton town line heading east to Norway Road.

The Hamlin Morton Walker Fire District includes the rest of the town from Norway Road to the Hamlin town line, and also includes Hamlin. That district has an agreement with Mercy Flight for ambulance services at no cost, Cammarata said. Mercy Flight recently took over for COVA, which was operating in Hamlin.

“I’m very happy because I don’t have to pay $18,000 and we’re getting coverage,” Cammarata said.

The town supervisor said he spoke with leadership with the two fire districts and they said the town didn’t need to do an agreement on its own with either Monroe or Mercy Flight because there are already existing contracts through the fire districts.

“It was a very easy decision to make once I had all the factual data,” Cammarata said.

Four of the seven towns in the consortium – Albion, Barre, Clarendon and Murray – have approved a contract with Monroe for 2023. Carlton and Gaines officials have scheduled a joint meeting for 6 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Carlton Town Hall to discuss ambulance services.

Kendall is the last town in Orleans County to lose its volunteer-run ambulance. The Kendall Fire Department announced in October it would cease its ambulance service on Dec. 31 and look to sell its ambulance. That volunteer squad in recent years would respond to about 200 calls a year.

“This was a difficult decision that we did not take lightly. Due to lengthy transport times and lack of staffing, we are unable to offer a service that lives up to the standards we believe that Kendall, and the surrounding communities, deserves,” according to a letter to the community in October from Kendall FD President Bryan Hardenbrook and Fire Chief Dan Schultz.

Beginning on Jan. 1, many 911 calls in Kendall will still have Kendall personnel on scene to start treatment. An ambulance will respond and people will be transported, if needed, to a hospital, Hardenbrook and Schultz said.

Cammarata said the Monroe and Mercy Flight agreements with the fire districts are for 2023, and will be re-evaluated next year.

He said Kendall is in a different situation from the other six towns negotiating the ambulance contract because Kendall has the two fire districts, including one that stretches into another town and county.

“2024 will be a whole new decision-making process and we’ll look to start that early,” Cammarata said. “Next year, it may be that the consortium is the way to go. For now, in 2023, we will have ambulance coverage. This is our best decision for now. The other towns can meet and decide what’s best for them.”

KENDALL – The Kendall Town Board didn’t vote on Tuesday whether to approve a contract with Monroe Ambulance for EMS services.

Kendall town officials first want to talk with leaders of the two fire districts – Kendall and Morton.

Monroe Ambulance has proposed a one-year contract with Kendall for $18,000. Monroe would station in ambulance in Holley and Albion as part of the agreement. Right now, Monroe is the primary ambulance provider in Kendall, but Monroe doesn’t stage an ambulance in eastern Orleans County.

Mercy Flight EMS also wants to provide services for Kendall. Mercy Flight on Sunday took over the COVA operations in Albion and Hamlin. Kendall is next to Hamlin and Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata wants to see how Mercy Flight’s close presence in Hamlin could impact services in Kendall.

“This is an expedition that no one thought we would be doing,” Cammarata said. “We want to do the right thing for our people.”

Kendall will next meet on Dec. 6.

KENDALL – The elementary school has been approved for a grant to establish raised beds for a garden.

Terra Science and Education, based in Syracuse, announced the $903.60 grant for Kendall’s “Pumpkin Patch Problem Solving” project, led by teacher Wendy O’Hearn.

The project will involve K-12 students in the school district establishing raised beds for a garden located at Kendall Elementary School. A garden offers an ideal area for teaching and learning about plant science, biology, chemistry, soil science and math. Students will develop a deeper understanding of the natural world when they are actively engaged in scientific inquiry.

Kendall Elementary School is among 16 organizations across New York State awarded 2023 Capacity Building Grants from Terra Science and Education. For the 2023 grant cycle, Terra received 28 applications requesting more than $115,000 in grant funds. Terra awarded a total of $57,468 in grants to increase educational opportunities for students throughout the state.

Terra Science and Education is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the quality of life through investment in those involved in education and innovation. For more information about Terra Science and Education or the Capacity Building Grant Program, email info@terraed.org or visit the website at www.terraed.org.

KENDALL – The state announced a $1,763,835 grant on Friday to assist with a new sewer facility in Kendall and Hamlin.

The money gets Kendall and Hamlin closer to moving forward with the $15 million project, but Tony Cammarata, Kendall town supervisor, said the two towns are still seeking about $4 million more in aid to make the project affordable for residents.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the $1,763,835 for the project as a Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) grant. It was among $300 million state-wide for water and sewer projects.

“Grants are crucial to helping communities undertake environmental infrastructure projects that are vital to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, the resiliency of shoreline communities, and economic development that supports industry, businesses and homeowners,” Hochul said in a statement. “We are proud to support municipalities with a historic level of funding for water infrastructure improvements, and we’ll continue our efforts to modernize our infrastructure and provide safe, reliable water systems for generations to come.”

Kendall and Hamlin are working on a new sewer system to serve about 350 residences along the lakeshore.

The state committed to paying 95 percent of a $9,053,000 project as part of the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. However, the project has topped those estimates from 2019. Cammarata said supply-chain issues for materials have pushed the costs up significantly.

Cammarata said the cost is now about $15.6 million. The state is unwilling to increase its REDI contribution for the project and has urged Kendall and Hamlin to look for other funding sources.

“We appreciate this very much,” Cammarata said about the state grant announced on Friday.

Kendall and Hamlin were seeking about $2.8 million in the WIIA grant.

“We’re still short,” Cammarata said. “We’re going to see if there are other opportunities. We got our feelers out.”

Kendall and Hamlin could seek another WIIA grant, or a state program for infrastructure near the shoreline, he said.

He wants to keep the total amount as low as possible for the local taxpayers.

“This is the largest project Kendall has ever gone after,” he said. “This is a blue-ribbon project we’re trying to bring to fruition. This includes two towns, two counties and the Hamlin Beach State Park.”

While the towns look for additional funding, Cammarata said they will be doing surveying work and working on other government approvals for the project.

“If we can get more money that would really accelerate it,” he said about construction for the project.

KENDALL – The fire department has announced it will disband its ambulance service at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31.

Kendall is the last volunteer fire department in Orleans County to run its own ambulance. It responds to about 200 calls a year. Clarendon, Holley, Carlton, Albion and Shelby have all disbanded their ambulances.

“This was a difficult decision that we did not take lightly. Due to lengthy transport times and lack of staffing, we are unable to offer a service that lives up to the standards we believe that Kendall, and the surrounding communities, deserves,” according to a letter to the community from Kendall FD President Bryan Hardenbrook and Fire Chief Dan Schultz.

Beginning Jan. 1, 911 calls in Kendall will still have Kendall personnel on scene to start treatment. An ambulance will respond and people will be transported, if needed, to a hospital, Hardenbrook and Schultz said.

The Kendall ambulance – a 2012 Ford F450 with 38,000 miles and a road rescue box – is for sale and the Kendall FD will accept sealed bids through Dec. 1. The ambulance comes with Stryker power stretcher including batteries and charger, and a Stryker stair-chair.

Those with questions about the ambulance or who want to inspect it, can contact Mike Schultz at Mschultz@kendalfire.com or call/text 585-354-2966.

Sealed bids can mailed to: Attn: Ambulance Bid, 1879 Kendall Rd., PO 387, Kendall NY 14476.

The department also will make records available for anyone served by Kendall EMS or transported by the ambulance. Call (585) 659-8082 to obtain those records.

Kendall FD continues to seek volunteers. Those interested in joining can reach out to a member, go to Kendallfire.com, or call 585-659-8082.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Taylor Czeh, 6, of Kendall gets her face painted by Melissa Salatino on Saturday during the Kendall Community Scarecrow Festival at the Town Park.

The scarecrow fest has been an annual tradition since 2010. It drew several hundred people for many free activities on a sunny, warm fall day.

George Castaneda of Hamlin helps his son Sebastian, 4, paint a pumpkin. Panek Farm sin Albion donated about 200 pumpkins. Many businesses and sponsors donated to make the event free to the community.

Some of the decorated pumpkins are on display.

The scarecrow decorating contest was with a theme of “favorite outdoor activity.” There were nine entries. Some of the entries included scarecrows playing baseball, fishing, bow hunting, relaxing by the water and doing other activities.

There was also a station where people could build their own scarecrows.

The band Rebel’s Posse played country, southern rock and classic rock music at the gazebo.

Jeffrey Cook of Fairport carves a bear with a chainsaw. He owns Critters 3D, a chainsaw-carving business.

Emily Schmitt assists her son Barrett in the “Gun Smoke Shootout” activity where foam balls were fired at targets.

Becky Charland is the chair of the planning committee for the scarecrow festival. She is shown with a scarecrow with a bow hunting theme. Charland helped start the first scarecrow fest in 2010.

She praised the community for the support of the event and for the big turnout. Other committee members include Linda Kludt, Wendy Becker, Robin Schepler, Maggie Whelehan, Cheryl Werner, Candi Mael, Donna Dangler and Rene Cliff.

These kids enjoy pony rides.

There also was a wagon ride through town, including to the firehall where there was a farmer’s market with several vendors.

Provided photos

KENDALL – John Patt, a member of Troop 94 in Kendall, celebrates becoming an Eagle Scout during a ceremony on Monday.

Patt earned 51 merit badges. He also earned two Silver Palms, the highest of the three Palms available. One Silver Palm is for each additional merit badge above the required 21.

Patt took his Eagle Scout oath at a Court of Honor at the pavilion he built for his Eagle Scout project by the Erie Canal in the Holley Canal Park.

He plans on staying active with his Troop and Scouting so he can share his experiences and knowledge with the younger boys.

Many Eagle Scouts were in attendance to support Patt as he joined the exclusive rank. He also was joined by many family, friends, community members and current and former scouts.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Jack L. Hall of Brockport waves to the crowd while he drives a 1953 Massey-Harris tractor during Friday’s Kendall Firemen’s Carnival parade.

Hall also participated in the Hilton parade on Thursday. “I have antique tractors and I enjoy showing them,” he said.

Betty Wilson is celebrated as Kendall’s most senior resident at age 102. She gave enthusiastic greetings to the crowd.

She is also known as “Grandma Buttons” and the “Peanut Butterball Queen.”

The Alexander Firemen’s Band makes its way down Kendall Road in Friday night’s Kendall Firemen’s Carnival parade.

People were lined up on both sides of the street for the parade.

A member of the Alexander band focuses on his music while marching and playing the trombone.

A Kendall fire truck makes its way down the parade route. Many children eagerly looked for candy to be tossed their way.

These members of Lone Oak Stables in Kendall ride horses in Friday night’s Kendall Firemen’s Carnival parade.

This boy keeps a smile despite being on the cleanup crew following the horses.

Hamlin firefighters ride on old Ward LaFrance fire truck in the parade.

La’Ron Singletary, a former Rochester police chief, marched in the parade. He is running for Congress as a Republican in a newly drawn 25^th Congressional District.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley tosses small frisbees to kids along the parade route.

Raymond McMillion and firefighters in the Murray Joint Fire District make a dignified procession in the parade.

The Gates Police Pipe & Drum Band performed in the parade.

Warren Kruger, the Kendall highway superintendent, rides in his 1929 Ford pickup.

Kendall Town Councilwoman Margaret Lynn Szozda gets a ride in a 1959 Thunderbird with former Town Supervisor Jack Gilman.

Today’s schedule at the carnival includes a corn hole tournament starting at noon, lawn mower pulls at noon, a ride matinee from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m., a chicken barbecue at 4 p.m., the community band at 5 p.m., music by Highway 31 at 9 p.m., fireworks at dusk and a $1,500 giveaway after the fireworks. (There is also a car cruise in from 4 to 7 p.m. with best of show award and door prizes for cruise participants.)

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The Kendall Firemen’s Carnival returned today for another three-day run of fun. The top photo shows people riding the Super Trooper, one of several classic midway rides. They are set up at the Kendall Fire Department’s grounds on Kendall Road behind the fire hall.

The annual carnival is a big fundraiser for the fire department with proceeds paying the department’s bills, including buying EMS equipment and materials for the ambulance and other expenses.

“we look forward to it every year,” said Kendall Fire Chief Dan Schultz. “We appreciating the community spending their money and supporting us.”

A big group of volunteers, including many from outside the fire department, put on the annual event.

Vinnie D’Agostino, center, tries a ring toss game. He was joined by several of his teammates on Kendall’s U15 baseball team. They won their game before heading to the carnival.

Kaylynn Villane, 7, of Brockport rides the Sky Fighter, a ride that resembles an old fighter plane.

Julie Kludt, right and Stephanie Holland make waffles that would be covered in powered sugar. Kludt has been working in the booth for at least 20 years.

“We can’t keep up with them,” she said about the waffle demand. “We go through a lot of batter.”

Troy Legault, 16, of Brockport, left, and Gabe Loran of Kendall serve up an order of a dozen steamed clams. Troy’s mother is a teacher at Kendall. Gabe is an incoming high school senior working on his community service for the school.

Kendall has 1,200 dozen of the steamed clams ready for the carnival.

The Who Dats performed tonight at the carnival. John Borello plays the guitar at left and Lonnie Froman is the lead singer. Other band members include Alona Kuhns on guitar, Ed Hilfiker on guitar and Alex DeSmit on drums.

Alex DeSmit performs with the Who Dats.

Friday’s schedule is highlighted by a parade at 7 p.m., a ride matinee from 6 to 10 p.m. and the band 7th Heaven from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday’s schedule includes a corn hole tournament starting at noon, lawn mower pulls at noon, a ride matinee from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m., a chicken barbecue at 4 p.m., the community band at 5 p.m., music by Highway 31 at 9 p.m., fireworks at dusk and a $1,500 giveaway after the fireworks. (There is also a car cruise in from 4 to 7 p.m. with best of show award and door prizes for cruise participants.)