Town Board
What is the Town Board?
Local governments exist for the purpose of providing services and
public facilities to the people who live within their jurisdiction. In
New York State, everyone who lives outside a city or an Indian
reservation lives in a town. There are more towns in New York
State than there are cities and villages combined. In New York State, towns are organized with an elective legislative body known as the Town Board. Town government is run by the Town Board which acts as the executive, administrative and legislative body of the town.
As a group, the Town Board serves as the executive head of the town government, there being no true executive in town government comparable with a mayor of a city or village, or with the governor of the state. No Town Board Member has more or less authority than any other Board member. The Town Board consists of a Supervisor and four Town Board Members.
What are Town Board Member Requirements and Terms of Office?
Town Board members, as elected officials of the Town, must be "electors" of the town at the time of election and throughout their terms of office. An elector is someone who could register as a voter in the Town, whether they actually have or not. Registration has three components - residency, age and citizenship. Residency equates to the legal term "domicile" and is defined in law. The age qualification is 18 and United States citizenship is also required. Town Board members have a term of four years. The WheatlandTown Supervisor has a term of two years. Town elections are held in odd numbered years, with new terms starting the following January 1.
What does the Town Board do?
As the legislative body of the local Wheatland Town Government, the Town Board's responsibilities include the power to appoint officers, commissions, boards and other personnel necessary to administer the town's affairs; to appropriate funds, to adopt ordinances and local laws affecting the public health, safety and welfare and to provide penalties for the enforcement of the town; and to formulate overall policy. The local laws, ordinances and certain resolutions of the Town of Wheatland are known collectively as the “Code of the Town of Wheatland,” or in short form the "Town Code".
The Town Supervisor is the administrative head of town government, presides at the meetings of the Town Board and may, from time to time, appoint one or more committees consisting of members of the Board to aid and assist the Board in the performance of its duties. The Town Board is advised in legal matters by the Town Attorney regarding the legal implications of contemplated policy, rules, regulations, legislations, administrative decisions and other actions.
Town Board Meetings
A meeting agenda is published in advance of each Town Board meeting by the Town Clerk. A majority of the Town Board Members must be present in order to constitute a meeting quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of each Board member upon every question is recorded in the official minutes of the meetings. An affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Town Board is required for the adoption of any action, motion or legislation.
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Regular Board Meeting – The public has the right to attend and listen to the board deliberations. The public may participate upon the invitation of the board. Regular Town Board meetings are held at the Wheatland Municipal Building, located at 22 Main Street Scottsville, New York.
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Public Hearing – The public is invited to speak. The board is not obligated to answer questions or render a decision.
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Public Information Meeting – A presentation is given to the public in order for the public to gain information on a specific project or topic. Following the presentation, the public is given the opportunity to ask questions. The presenter may discuss follow-up actions.
See Town Board FAQs for answers to common inquiries.
Town Supervisor
Linda Dobson
Phone
(585) 889-1553 Option 9
Office Hours
By Appointment
Term Expires
December 2023
My family and I came to Wheatland 35 years ago. Having grown up in a small northeastern Pennsylvania railroad community and receiving my nursing education in a city environment, it was time to settle back into a “small community setting” and become part of a community that is able to still maintain that “small town feel” in a fast paced society.
My professional experiences have been in the areas of Public Health Nursing. I recently retired from a department head position in a local 565 bed skilled nursing facility. Professionally and personally, my philosophy has always been one of “giving back to the community”. As such, I have held a number of volunteer, nominated, appointed and elected positions serving the broader community:
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Leadership positions in a local Scottsville Church
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Monroe County Supervisor’s Association officer positions, including President.
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Elected as Wheatland Town Councilwoman from 1998 to 2004.
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Elected as Wheatland Town Supervisor from 2004 to present.
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Vice President of the Monroe County Board of Health, appointed member.
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Voting member of the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council.
I look forward to using my experiences, knowledge and insight to continue working with the Town Board and constituents to help take our community in a positive direction into the future. Our team strives to be efficient, cost effective, responsive and relevant to the needs of our home owners, businesses, other governments, civic groups and education entities. It takes communication skills, knowledge, and the combined effort of everyone to keep our community an attractive place to live, work, raise a family, and do business. I look forward to working with you and for you.
Town Board Member & Deputy Supervisor
Howard (Chuck) Hazelton
Phone
(585) 889-1553
Office Hours
By Appointment
Term Expires
December 2023
Chuck has lived his entire life in the Wheatland Community. He has been married to his wife Beverly for 40 years and is blessed to have two children and six grandchildren. Chuck worked for the Town of Wheatland highway department for 31 years, including serving the community as the elected Town Highway Superintendent for 24 of those years. He retired from the Town of Wheatland enabling him to enjoy spending more time with his family and supporting his family's alpaca farm business, Ms. B-Haven Alpacas is located in the Town of Wheatland. Chuck was elected to the Town Board in 2019 and is interested in enhancing Town facilities and helping plan for the long term future success of the Wheatland community.
Town Board Member
Edward Shero
Ed has served on the Town Council since 2004. He is a graduate of Wheatland Chili and a life long resident of the Town of Wheatland, as were both his parents. Ed brings a unique perspective to the Town Council and believes that town government is the most accessible level of government to our citizens and the only level of government most people have personal contact with. He believes that the Towns primary responsibilities is to ensure the safety of our residents, provide good fiscal management of the towns budget while balancing growth in a small rural community. Most important, Ed is dedicated to being accessible and available to the towns constituents. Please fell free to contact him with any concerns.
Town Board Member
Tim Davis
TBD
Town Board Member
Carl Schoenthal
Phone
(585) 889-1553
Office Hours
By Appointment
Term Expires
December 2023
I am honored to be serving the Wheatland community. My wife and I are fortunate to be raising our three children in a small town where people know their neighbors and there is plenty of room to explore the outdoors and enjoy our small town character. My professional education, training and experience is in the engineering field. In particular, I specialize in municipal infrastructure planning, capital improvements and project management. On a personal side, I have established two small successful businesses in Wheatland in the past ten years. I have also been a member of the Greater Wheatland Chamber of Commerce and served as a volunteer on Town and Village committees. I look forward to offering my skills and interests to further advance and secure the future of our Town and the satisfaction of our residents.
