The board of trustees was expected to adopt a moratorium Wednesday night that would halt the proliferation of B&Bs while officials attempt to address the issue during the revision of the village zoning law.

Mayor Carol Waller said Tuesday afternoon that she anticipated the trustees would approve the moratorium by a 6-0 vote in special meeting Wednesday night to continue the review of the zoning law.

Monday night the board listened to comments from the public during a public hearing on the measure, but held off voting on the reccommendation of the New York Conference of Mayors which has advised the village on procedures to adopt such a moratorium, Waller said.

The measure must be approved by the county planning board which took up the issue during its regular monthly meeting at the same time the village was conducting the hearing.

Tuesday morning, County Planning Director Diane Carlton said the county board had approved the moratorium.

Carlton said members believed the moratorium was something which needed to be done.

"It's good for the [village] board to sit down and address the issue and come up with some new zoning language about how B&Bs will be approved," she said.

One of the issues surrounding the growing number of B&Bs, or tourist accomodations, is the loss of affordable housing, Carlton said. She said members of her staff have been having problems finding housing because so many apartments have been converted to B&Bs.

During Monday's hearing, David Blask, a resident of Lakeland Shore who has spoken out against a proposed B&B in that neighborhood said, " Issues regarding rapidly expanding tourist accomodations and their impact on residential enighborhoods and quality of life here in the vilage are coming to a head. The trustees need time to complete and get a handle on ongoing revisions to the zoning law and address issues surrounding tourist accomodations."

Blask's neighbor Barbara Curran, echoed his support for the moratorium.

Realtor Patty Ashley asked what impact a moratorium would have on B&B homes already on the market and was told by Waller that they would be subject to its provisions.

Marjorie Landers, who with her husband, operates the White House Inn on Chesnut Street, said her concern about the moratorium was that it might result in even more property owners operating tourist accomodations without the required special permit.

"It could create further misuse of property without permits if people are not allowed to go the legal route," she said.

Landers also said she would like to see better enforcement of the existing permit requirements.

Waller agreed with her and said that zoning enforcement officer Al Keck spends half his time tracking down illegal B&Bs

Middlefield resident William Dornburgh suggested that the board not neglect to take into account the issue of affordable housing that is becoming scarce as a result of tourist accomodations.

Virginia Weiller pleaded with the board to once and for all to set it all down in stone so the whole town understands the same things about rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of B&Bs.

Former mayor Wendell Tripp commented that he beleived the moratorium was an excellent idea. In the past, he said, B&Bs were operated as a supplement to someone's income, but since the arrival of the Dreams Parks, more and more people are using residences primarily as a place of business.

Philip Gootee, who was one of a group of property owners charged three years ago with operating a tourist accomodation without a special, asked if the intent of the review is to modify the existing permits or affirm what has been properly approved.

"Our intent is not to hurt or penalize anyone who is abiding the law," Waller said.