By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

Brandon Wolferman recently stepped up and applied for an open position on the Syracuse Board of Zoning. He was appointed to the board and has already been through his first meeting.
He hopes younger people will become more involved on the various town boards. Wolferman is a native of Syracuse.

SYRACUSE — Brandon Wolferman is a native of Syracuse who loves his hometown.

“I consider Syracuse a wonderful town, but we can always improve,” he said. “I want to make a difference.”

Noticing some small things that could be changed, Wolferman decided to step up and applied for an open position on the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals.

He was appointed and recently had his first meeting on the board. “I’m very excited (to be on the board). It was interesting to see how the mechanics work,” he said.

Some of the small things he’d like to see better addressed include the possibility of moving the crosswalk across SR 13 at the Syracuse Town Hall and Crosson Mill Park back to the corner of the park’s parking lot and the town hall, closer to the fire station.

He’d also like to see an event, such as a summer lake day, in town that offers a more interactive environment for all residents.

Wolferman is the first to admit he isn’t what most people expect when it comes to serving on a town board. At 27 he has long hair, pierced ears and tattoos. “I’m young. I think I can bring something to the town,” he said. He has a background in construction, which he believes will be an asset on the BZA board.

He believes growing up in a conservative home, but moving around a lot, being exposed to different people and cultures will help him as a BZA member. He said he felt the diversity of the town wasn’t bad, but could be better. He noted as the generations change, the town will, too; if so, it can continue to flourish.

He’s lived on both coasts and traveled extensively before coming back to Syracuse. When he came back, he had a question about a fence so he called the county planning office in Warsaw about whether a permit was required. Then the Syracuse BZA told him something different.

“I can see the confusion, the way things are explained,” he said. He wanted to help residents who want to do the right thing but are confused about the rules.

Wolferman was a pro BMX athlete for 12 years, his last tour being right before COVID shut everything down.

Wolferman aspires to eventually become town manager of Syracuse. He is married to Jenna. The couple recently welcomed their first child, a son named Callahan.