SOUTHERN TIER WEST REGIONAL PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
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Local Government & Community Assistance

Contact: Sarah Phearsdorf, Community Assistance Specialist
716-945-53401 Ext. 2200 / [email protected]

Southern Tier West's Local Government & Community Assistance Program assists municipal officials to enhance their skills and competencies through technical assistance and training programs. CAP Membership is designed to make it easy and cost-effective for you to participate in our activities.
CAP Membership Services
Southern Tier West's Community Assistance Program (CAP) provides training, capacity building, skill development opportunities for local officials; building and hosting municipal websites, and records management to the region’s units of local government.

​(CAP) Membership is offered to local governments within Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties.  You can obtain the following services through CAP Membership:​​

Basic CAP Membership  $200
Basic CAP Membership provides local governments with discount prices to Southern Tier West training events:
  • ​​Annual Local Government Conference
  • Fall Planning & Zoning Training
  • Powers & Duties of Newly Elected Officials Training
You must purchase Basic CAP membership
​before you can purchase any of the options below:
Municipal Website
Maintenance of a Weebly website through Southern Tier West
$400 per year
Municipal E-mails
Ex. [email protected], [email protected], etc.
​$75 per e-mail per year
Records Management
Hands-on assistance with records inventories; reorganization and disposal of municipal records
$200 per day
View CAP Members
2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025
Resources/Archived Training
Local Government Conference Booklets
2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025
In-Person Training 2025
3/13
Powers & Duties of Newly Elected Officials
​Presenter: Erin Brady Swenson, Brady & Swenson 
​Salamanca BOCES Center
4039 Route 219, Suite 100, Salamanca NY 14779
No recording available / PRESENTATION
4/30
NYS DEC Wetlands Regulations Webinar
​Presenters: Sarah Whiteway and Charles Rosenburg, NYS DEC
VIDEO / PRESENTATION

In-Person Training and Webinars 2024
2/14
Floodplain Management Series 
Post Disaster Floodplain Administrator Response and Flood Insurance Options
Presenter: Bailey Sawyer, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Southern Tier West Offices, 4039 Route 219, Suite 200, Salamanca NY 14779
VIDEO / POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

2/29
Powers & Duties of Newly Elected Officials
Presenter: Katie Hodgdon and Sarah Brancatella,
​New York Association of Towns

Webinar
VIDEO / WELCOME TO GOVERNMENT.pdf / TOWN BOARD TOOLKIT.pdf / ETHICS.pdf

3/14
Floodplain Management Series
NFIP Compliance Issues in NYS
Presenter: David Sherman, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
​PDF PRESENTATION

10/23 and 10/24
Fall Planning & Zoning Training
October 23 - Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Campus
October 24 - Salamanca BOCES Center
Presenters: Eric Cooper and Matt Horn, MRB Group; John Steinmetz, Bergmann Associates; Andrew Reilly, Corrine Brath, and Josh Rogers, Wendel Companies; and Brian Kulpa, Imagine Solutions
  • Why Become A Pro-Housing Community? 
  • 2024 Pro-Housing Community Program Information Guide
  • Planning Boards 101 
  • The Basics of Referrals
  • The Importance of Zoning Boards
In-Person Training and Webinars 2023
3/21
Powers & Duties for Newly Elected Officials
Local Government Public Officials
​Presenter: Christopher Eastman, NYS Department of State

10/25
Floodplain Management Series
An Intro to the National Flood Insurance Program
Presenter: Brienna Wirley, NYS Deparment of Environmental Conservation
VIDEO / POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

11/15 and 11/16 - In-Person
Fall Planning & Zoning Training
November 15 - Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Campus
November 16 - Salamanca BOCES Center
Presenters: Christopher Eastman and Paula Gilbert, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PLANNING & ZONING REFRESHER.pdf / JOINT BOARDS.pdf / SHORT-TERM RENTALS.pdf
Webinars 2022
2/10
NYS Retirement System Updates
Presenter: Colleen Gardner, Office of the State Comptroller

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

2/27
The American Rescue Plan (ARPA)
Presenter: Gregg Evans, The Bonadio Group

PDF PRESENTATION / ARPA AND CRRSA GUIDANCE.pdf

3/24
Safeguarding County Systems, Services, and Infrastructure
Presenter: Christopher DeSain, NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services

PDF PRESENTATION

3/31
Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure and the NY Charge Program
Presenter: Jason Zimbler, NYSERDA

PDF PRESENTATION
Webinars 2021
2/10
Skills That Make Great Board Members
Presenters: Ebony Mapp and Paula Gilbert, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

2/17
Planning Board Training - Get What Your Community Deserves
Presenters: John Steinmetz and Molly Gaudioso, Bergmann PC

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

2/24
Planning for A Community Food System
Presenter: Kimberly LaMendola, Southern Tier West

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

3/10
Administration and Enforcement of Your Zoning to Protect Community Character
Presenters: Gary Palumbo and Richard Stanton, Ellicottville NY

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

3/17
Experiences With Battery Storage With Solar and Stand Alone

Presenter: Andrew Reilly, Wendel Companies

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

3/24
Tips for Regulating Telecommunications Facilities
Presenters: Christopher Eastman and Paula Gilbert, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

3/31
Innovations and Best Practices for Planning and Zoning Boards
Presenter: Lance Brabant, MRB Group

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

4/14
Real Property Revals
Presenter: Daniel Martonis, Cattaraugus County Real Property

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

4/21
Project Management: How to Efficiently Complete A Project
Presenter: Brooke Mayer, MRB Group

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

4/28
Board Members Municipal Ethics
Presenter: Sarah Brancatella, New York Towns

PDF PRESENTATION

5/5
NY​STCA and IIMC Certification for Municipal Clerks
Presenter: Allison Vento, Town of Pomfret

VIDEO  / PDF PRESENTATION

5/12
Internal Controls and Best Practices for Tax Collection
Presenter: Leslie Richard, Office of the State Comptroller

PDF PRESENTATION

5/19
​Governmental Accounting Essentials 
Presenters: John Savash and Barbara Smith, NYS Government Finance Officers Association

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

5/26
Governmental Accounting Essentials Continued
Presenters: John Savash and Barbara Smith, NYS Government Finance Officers Association

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/9
Zoning - An Introduction
Presenter: Christopher Eastman and Ebony Mapp, NYS Department of State
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/23
Process for Re-Writing and Changing Zoning Laws
Presenter: Shaun Logue, MRB Group
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/30
Trail Towns - Gateways to Growth
Presenters: Carl Schoenthal, Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway and Nicole Manapol, Letchworth Gateway Villages
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/7
Historical Preservation for Municipalities
Presenter: Ryan Jarles, Lanmark Society of WNY
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/14
Overcoming Your Top Municipal Land Use Difficulties
Presenters: John Steinmetz and Molly Gaudioso, Bergmann PC
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/28
Overview of ORES Siting Process and NYSERDA's Resources Available for Local Governments
Presenter: Bill Oberkehr, NYSERDA
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

​11/4
Living with Short-Term Rentals in Your Residential Neighborhood
Presenters: Gary Palumbo & Richard Stanton, Ellicottville NY
​VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

12/2
Enhancing Transparency and Effectiveness in Planning Proceedings
Presenter: Matt Horn, MRB Group
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

12/9
Solar Energy Regulations
Presenter: Ian Latimer, NYSERDA
​VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION
Webinars 2020
9/9
Planning Board Basics
Presenter: Wendy Salvati, WWS Planning
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/16
Zoning - Getting It Right for Your Community
Presenter: John Steinmetz, Barton & Loguidice
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/23
Site Plan Review
Presenter: Jane Nicholson, MRB Group
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

9/30
Ethics for Water and Wastewater Personnel
Presenter: Paul Chatfield, MRB Group
VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/7
SEQR Basics and New Regulations
Presenters: Ebony Mapp and Patricia Burke, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/14
Zoning Laws for Solar
Presenter: Andrew Reilly, Wendel Companies

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/21
Affordable Housing
Presenters: Anurupa Roy and Paula Gilbert, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION

10/28
Land Surveys 101
Presenter: Steve Boddecker, Fisher Associates

PDF PRESENTATION

11/4
Sign Regulation
Presenters: Christopher Eastman and Paula Gilbert, NYS Department of State

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION 

11/18
Team Building for Municipal Sewer & Water
Presenter: Paul Chatfield, MRB Group

PDF PRESENTATION

12/2
Collaborative Opportunities for Small Drinking Water Systems
Presenters: Heather Himmelberger and Hayley Hajic, Southeast Environmental Finance Center

VIDEO / PDF PRESENTATION
.gov Municipal Websites
Municipal Website Requirement – Chapter 609
A fourth bill requiring municipal websites, which NYCOM initially opposed, was approved by the Governor but with amendments recommended by NYCOM that make it much less onerous, particularly by exempting many of our smaller members who may not be able to comply with this requirement.  In its final form, Chapter 609 requires municipalities with a population exceeding 1,500 to maintain an official “.gov” website and post specific information that would be of interest to their residents, including hours of operation, public hearing notices and an annual financial report. Cities and villages that host their websites on another municipality's “.gov” website will satisfy this new requirement, which took effect on December 21, 2025.


Southern Tier West provides step‑by‑step resources to guide municipalities in applying for and launching a .gov domain. The following links are .pdf format:

  • Legislative Information | New York State Assembly
  • Step-By-Step Process
  • Info Needed to Complete the Domain Request Form
  • Considerations in Choosing a Domain Name
  • Authorization Letter Template
  • .gov E-Mail Options
  • E-Mail Options for GoDaddy (Office 365)
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Corporate Sponsorship

Corporate Sponsorship is offered to our local businesses allowing them to partnership with STW, enabling them to market their products and services to local governments face-to-face.  
  • ​2025 Corporate Sponsorship Online Registration
  • 2025 Corporate Sponsorship Letter and Invoice

CORPORATE SPONSOR  ​$1,000  ​​
At this level of participation you will receive:
  1. Advertisement and recognition in the Southern Tier West Annual Report
  2. Link to your website on Southern Tier West’s website homepage
  3. Advertisement, reserved exhibit space, and free registration at Houghton
CORPORATE SUPPORTER  ​$275
​At this level of participation you will receive:
  1. Advertisement and recognition in the Southern Tier West Annual Report
  2. Link to your website on Southern Tier West’s website homepage
  3. Advertisement and reduced exhibit price of $250 at Houghton 
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​   SOUTHERN TIER WEST

​     Center for Regional Excellence
     4039 Route 219, Suite 200
     Salamanca, NY 14779
     716-945-5301  
     ​Fax 716-945-5550

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STW Offices are CLOSED on the following Holidays:   

​January 1, 2025: New Year’s Day
January 20, 2025: Martin Luther King Day
February 12, 2025: Lincoln’s Birthday (Closed to the Public)
February 17, 2025: President’s Day
May 26, 2025: Memorial Day
June 19, 2025: Juneteenth
July 4, 2025: Independence Day
September 1, 2025: Labor Day
October 13, 2025: Columbus Day
November 11, 2025: Veterans Day
November 27, 2025: Thanksgiving
November 28, 2025: Day after Thanksgiving
December 24, 2025: Christmas Eve
December 25, 2025: Christmas
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Committees
    • Counties We Serve
    • Affiliations >
      • STEDO
      • STERA
      • STW Angel Fund
      • STW Development Foundation
    • Designations
  • Funding
    • ARC Funding
    • EDA Funding
  • Programs
    • ARC Area Development Grant Program
    • Clean Energy Communities
    • Climate Smart Communities
    • Economic Development
    • Geographic Information Systems
    • Water Source Management
    • Local Government
  • Training
    • Local Government Conference
    • Fall Planning & Zoning Training
    • Powers & Duties of Newly Elected Officials
  • CEDS
    • CEDS About
    • CEDS Engagement
    • CEDS Background
    • CEDS Action Plan >
      • Natural Environment
      • Built Environment
      • Business & Industry
      • Human Capital
    • CEDS Data Visuals
  • Publications
  • Links