The Albion Village Board took steps Wednesday evening to address deteriorating properties in the downtown business district while moving forward with significant upgrades to the village’s water and sewer infrastructure. During the workshop meeting held at Village Hall, Deputy Mayor William Gabalski presided over a session that included a public hearing on code changes, the approval of hefty construction contracts, and the annual list of unpaid property taxes. Addressing the Board during the public forum, John Fitzak, a business owner on East Bank Street, urged trustees to consider implementing time limits on zoning decisions. Fitzak argued that delays in the zoning process hinder property improvements. Following his comments, the Board officially closed a public hearing on Local Law §161, Section §161-14 (Permits). The Trustees voted unanimously—4-0, with Mayor Angel Javier Jr. excused—to approve changes to the permit code. While the minutes do not specify the exact nature of the code revision, the agenda item followed directly on the heels of the public comments regarding zoning efficiency. The Board also turned its attention to the village’s recreational facilities. John Grillo, Director of Parks and Recreation, suggested the Board pursue the installation of lighting for the basketball courts at Bullard Park. No formal vote was taken on the proposal, but the topic was referred for consideration. In financial matters, the Board authorized the payment of monthly bills totaling $113,131.85, covering general, water, and sewer expenses. More significantly, the Board tackled a series of budget adjustments connected to the Water Improvement Impact Act (WIIA). These moves authorize over $200,000 in capital projects. To facilitate water system upgrades, the Board approved payments to STC Construction totaling $107,526.18 under WIIA 2, and additional payments totaling $56,447.77 under WIIA 1 for work performed by Wendel, STC Construction, and Bernard P. Donegan, Inc. On the streets, the Board approved the purchase of a new salter for the Department of Public Works, allocating $10,750 from the equipment reserve fund. They also approved $873.82 from HRA reserves for a "Santa Sign" and other materials from Lake Winds Metalworking and Albion Ace. In the Police Department, Chief David Mogle successfully petitioned the Board to surplus a collection of outdated electronics and found property. The list of items declared surplus included retro gaming systems such as an Atari, a Nintendo GameCube, and a PlayStation 2, as well as administrative equipment like a Sony Handycam and a BNC digital video recorder. The Board also approved a small quality-of-life expenditure for the Code Enforcement division. Trustees voted to allow the installation of a remote car starter on the Code Enforcement Officer’s vehicle. The $400 cost will be covered by the department’s current budget. Looking ahead to 2026, the Board set the logistics for the upcoming village election. Voters will cast their ballots on March 18, 2026, with polls open from noon to 9:00 p.m. at Village Hall. The meeting concluded with the enforcement of tax collection laws. The Board voted to forward 38 unpaid tax bills from the current fiscal year to the Orleans County Treasurer. These delinquent taxes, totaling more than $50,000 in principal and interest, will be added to the January 2026 town and county tax rolls, a preliminary step toward tax foreclosure proceedings. The Board of Trustees will hold its next meeting on Dec. 17 at Village Hall.