Town of Lancaster, New York
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In This Section
Departments & Offices
Town Clerk
Contact Information:
Johanna M. Coleman
Address:
Town Hall
21 Central Avenue
Lancaster, New York 14086
Phone: 716-683-9028
Fax: 716-683-2094
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Main Function of Office:
The Office of the Town Clerk is considered to be the center of town government. This is the office which is responsible for recording activities of the town government and is the repository of the vital documents of its town residents.
The Town Clerk provides the following services:
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Hunting and Fishing Licenses
- The Town Clerk is the licensing and sales agent for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- Persons sixteen (16) years or older must have a fishing license in order to fish in New York State.
- Hunting licenses can be obtained by providing identification, a hunter training certificate or a previous hunting license.
- Identification such as a New York State driver's license is required to obtain hunting and fishing licenses.
- Senior hunting and fishing licenses are available to persons sixty five (65) years or older.
- Jr. hunting licenses are available for twelve (12) year olds who have taken the hunter training course and are accompanied by a parent or guardian. For first time Junior Hunting Licensees a copy of their birth certificate is required.
- Bow hunting licenses are available to persons providing proper identification, a current hunting license and a previous bow hunting stamp or bow hunting training certificate.
- Jr. Archery licenses are available to fourteen (14) year olds who have met all of the Jr. Hunter requirements and possess a Bow Hunter Training Certificate.
- Non-Resident licenses are available to persons who have met the eligibility requirements and produce photo identification.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the Town Clerk and must be obtained at least twenty four (24) hours prior to the ceremony and are valid for up to sixty (60) days. There is a $40 licensing fee for marriage licenses. Identification such as a driver's license and a birth certificate are required. Both parties must be present together in order to apply for a marriage license and must each take an oath. If either party was previously married, a death certificate or divorce decree must be provided to the Town Clerk as evidence that the marriage has been legally dissolved. After the marriage ceremony is performed the completed license is returned to the Town Clerk by the official who performed the marriage. The Town Clerk will mail the Marriage Certificate directly to the couple. Additional certified copies are available to the couple for a fee of $10.
Genealogy Requests
Birth and Death records are available as far back as 1884; Marriage records are available dating back to 1883. These records are part of the Town Clerk's data base and are simple to locate. The Town Historical Society may have additional historical information and can be reached by phone at 716-681-7719 or writing to:
Lancaster New York Historical Society
40 Clark Street
Lancaster, New York 14086
Bingo & Games of Chance Licenses
The Town Clerk issues licenses for Games of Chance (Bell Jar, Raffles, and Casino/Vegas Nights) and Bingo. Any bona fide non-profit organization can apply to New York State Racing & Wagering Board for an identification number and then apply to the Town Clerk's Office for a license for each occasion.
Dog Licenses
All dogs in New York State must be licensed by the age of four (4) months. Proof of a current rabies vaccination indicating its expiration date is required. Spayed and neutered dogs are licensed at a reduced fee upon presentation of a veterinarian's certification. The license fees are $20, for a spayed or neutered dog the fees are $12. The license is renewable annually.
Birth Certificates
All births that occur in the Town of Lancaster are filed with the Town Clerk and a birth certificate is issued. Our birth records date back to 1884. The fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate is $10.
Death Certificates
All deaths which occur in the Town of Lancaster are filed with the Town Clerk. Death records date back to 1884. Certified copies are available to immediate family members for a fee of $10 per copy.
Town Board Meetings
The Town Clerk attends all meetings of the Town Board and must keep a complete and accurate record of the official actions of the Town Board. Regular meetings are held at 8:00 P.M. on the first and third Mondays of each month and are preceded by a work session beginning at 7:00 P.M. Meeting agendas are available in the Office of the Town Clerk by 4:00 P.M. on the Friday preceding the Monday Board Meetings. Agendas are also available at the Town Police Headquarters, 525 Pavement Road, Lancaster and the Lancaster Library, 5466 Broadway, Lancaster.
Notary Public
The Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk and Director of Finance are available during regular business hours to notarize documents for Town residents. Photo identification must be presented and the person whose signature is to be notarized must sign the document in the presence of the Notary and must take an oath or make an affirmation as to the truthfulness of the information contained within the document. There is no charge for this service.
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Public Officers' Law Article 6, provides that all records are accessible, except records or portions of records that fall within one of the nine categories of deniable records. Further information is available by contacting the Town Clerk. Requests must be submitted to the Town Clerk in writing, forms are available in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Handicap Parking Permits
The Town Clerk issues Temporary and Permanent Handicap Parking Permits. A Physician Form must be completed verifying that an individual is in need of a Handicap Parking Permit. This form or a letter from the physician on his or hers letterhead must be presented to the Town Clerk as well as a Government issued photo I.D. License plates are issued through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
Yard Sales
Every person holding a sale of personal property of any kind where the public is invited onto a residential site must obtain a permit from the Office of the Town Clerk. An application must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk at least 48 hours prior to the sale date. There is no fee for this permit. This ordinance is designed to provide a mechanism to obtain information regarding the dates and locations for yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, auctions or other sales in order that the town may put in place the appropriate traffic control and public safety measures the Town Police department deems advisable. A sale at any one location shall be limited to no more than two times in a twelve month period and at least 30 days apart. A sale occasion may be no longer than three (3) consecutive days.
General & Primary Elections
The Town Clerk is responsible for the conduct of the Primary Election held in September and the General Election held every November as well as the Presidential Primary every four years.
