By David Tyler
DeWitt is considering the next step for its deer culling program.
The town has been notified that there will be no funding from Onondaga County for its deer control program, which costs about $35,000. DeWitt is also facing a financial crunch, which could jeopardize the program.
Last year was the least effective year for the deer culling program, both because of the weather and because of human intervention.
“There’s an active group that tries to … disrupt the effectiveness of the deer control,” DeWitt Supervisor Ed Michalenko said.
The general consensus of the board was to move forward with at least a “minimal” deer control program this year.
“I think we need to do something,” said town councilor Kerry Mannion, to broad agreement from other board members.
Meetings to go hybrid
Beginning with the meeting of Oct. 26, the board will move to having a hybrid model for board meetings. Board members and members of the public that want to attend in person will be allowed to do so, but the meetings will also be available via Zoom for anyone who can’t attend in person or feels uncomfortable doing so because of health concerns.
Prior to the pandemic, virtual meetings were prohibited because of the state open meetings laws. A waiver to those laws has been in effect allowing government bodies to meet virtually if public access is made available. That waiver expires on Nov. 3, but it is expected to be renewed.
The town is also considering streaming its meetings over Facebook.
