Photo by Tom Rivers: Devon Albone, left, and Rob Luff get the Albone Spray Foam booth ready on April 5, 2025 at the Home, Garden & Outdoor Show at Dubby’s Tailgate. Albone was one of 40 vendors at last year’s show.
Press Release, Orleans County Chamber of Commerce
ALBION – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome the community to the annual Home, Garden & Outdoor Show, taking place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dubby’s Tailgate, 165 S. Platt Street in Albion.
This two-day event brings together local businesses, industry experts, and families for a weekend filled with inspiration, education, and fun. Attendees can explore a wide variety of home improvement and landscaping vendors, discover new ideas for spring projects, and connect directly with local professionals.
In addition to vendor exhibits, the event will feature two educational workshops led by Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners:
Dahlia Tuber Demonstration on Saturday at 1 p.m. Master Gardener Sue Starkweather Miller will demonstrate how to divide and pot dahlia tubers to extend the growing season and maximize blooms.
Partnerships in Nature – Commensalism Presentation on Sunday at 1 p.m. Master Gardener Erica Joan Wanecski will explore how plants, insects, and animals work together to create thriving ecosystems.
The Home, Garden & Outdoor Show is also designed with families in mind. Children can enjoy a variety of activities throughout the weekend, including a kids’ activity table, scavenger hunt, and special visits with the Easter Bunny (Saturday from 1:30-4, Sunday 1-4), making it a fun and engaging experience for all ages.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 March 2026 at 10:06 am
Medina fire chief highlights report – ‘The funding model is broken’
Photos by Tom Rivers: Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley shows a slide detailing a 21 percent in ambulance calls for the Medina Fire Department from 2008 to 2025. He also provided an overview of a 90-page report from the New York State Rural Ambulance Services Task Force. Cooley spoke during Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities at the Fair Haven Inn. About 25 attended the meeting.
ALBION – It’s a recipe for a crisis: more calls for service and a declining numbers of responders. And it’s a situation that could get more dire without changes in the funding model for emergency medical services.
A 90-page report from the New York State Rural Ambulance Services Task Force paints a grim picture for EMS services in rural areas. Many agencies have been run by volunteers, but many of those ambulance squads have gone out of service or are not able to respond to a growing number of calls.
In Orleans County, Kendall Fire Department was the last volunteer-run ambulance. It ceased operations after on Dec. 31, 2022. COVA also went out of business in late 2022 after 44 years of service in central Orleans County.
Now the Medina Fire Department and Mercy Flight EMS are handling most of the calls in the county. Those organizations face high operational costs, with low reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare.
The Rural Ambulance Services Task Force released a report earlier this month calling for immediate state action to increase reimbursement rates and provide grants for rural ambulance services.
The Task Force said a state-level public health emergency should be declared to direct resources to areas struggling to provide timely service to residents in crisis.
Medina Fire Chief Steve Cooley highlighted the report as well as data for the Medina Fire Department during a presentation on Tuesday evening. Rural areas have seen many of their hospitals close or shot down services such as maternity. Locally, hospitals have closed in Albion and Brockport, and Medina no longer delivers babies.
Those changes have ambulances driving farther out of county. That ties up ambulances often for several hours, and can result in overlapping calls where there are delays because ambulances are all in service.
A Medina Fire Department ambulance is shown on East Center Street on Thursday at the Main Street intersection. The ambulance headed to Route 63 and out of Orleans County. The Medina FD responds to over 2,000 calls a year.
Cooley started as a volunteer in 1990 at age 16 with Tri-Town Ambulance in Gasport. He has worked with Medina Fire Department as a career firefighter/paramedic since 2010, and has been the fire chief since last year.
“Volunteers were once the backbone,” Cooley said about the local ambulance service. “But there are no volunteer transporting agencies left.”
He said the Task Force report was a five-year effort and it makes 38 recommendations to strengthen rural EMS care.
“This is not a future problem,” he said. “It is already impacting response times, coverage and patient outcomes in communities like ours.”
Orleans County had 5,521 ambulance calls in 2025, which was up from 4,965 in 2024, according to the Orleans County Emergency Management Office. Medina responded to 2,416 of those calls, with most in western Orleans – Village of Medina and towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates.
Orleans County is working on its own EMS and fire services report, which is expected to be complete next month.
County Legislator John Fitzak said he expects there will be conversations among officials throughout the county once the report is out about EMS and the fire service in the county.
“Everybody is thinking about this and we’re looking for answers,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting of the local officials.
Cooley said “the funding model is broken” for EMS, with the reimbursement rates too low with Medicaid and Medicare. The ambulance providers also can’t bill unless there is a transport, and many people receive care at the scene but decline to be transported.
“We should be paid for care and not just transportation,” he said.
Cooley said EMS should be classified by the state as an essential service, on par with police and fire service.
Cole Hardenbrook, a member of the Kendall Fire Department, takes the radio out of the Kendall ambulance in this photo from Dec. 31, 2022. The fire department ceased providing service at 11:59 p.m. that day after 54 years. Kendall was the last volunteer-run ambulance squad in the county that did transports. Kendall responded to 9,700 calls over those 54 years.
It recent years it was getting harder and harder for volunteers from to meet the training requirements and give up the time to respond to a call and then make the transport to a Rochester hospital. Often the ambulance would have to wait at the hospitals to drop off patients. It could take five hours to go on some of the calls.
“In New York State, the reliability of the EMS system has significantly declined in recent years due to various challenges,” the EMS report states in the executive summary. “These challenges include a decrease in volunteerism, insufficient and lack of public funding to cover readiness costs, staffing shortages, escalating operational expenses, inadequate insurance reimbursement, increased call volumes, absence of performance standards, limited awareness of the EMS system among elected officials and the public, the influence of NYS home rule, and a lack of transparency and accountability for EMS agencies.
“In some instances, these systems receive public funding, but in many communities, they are not financially supported. This results in a patchwork system with local municipalities or fire districts throughout the state opting for different approaches to provide EMS coverage.
“EMS response is often at the mercy of time of day, day of week, proximity of an ambulance within a geopolitical boundary, and the availability of staff. Response times vary from minutes to more than an hour in many locations.”
Click here to see the full report from the Rural Ambulance Services Task Force.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calling for an investigation into reports that certain nonprofit organizations may have violated federal law by engaging in prohibited partisan political activity.
Recent reporting revealed that hundreds of 501(c)(3) organizations in New York may have made political contributions or engaged in electioneering despite longstanding federal prohibitions on such activity.
According to the report, more than 1,000 contributions from at least 650 nonprofits totaled over $400,000, with many organizations certifying to the IRS under penalty of perjury that they were not involved in political campaigns.
These actions, if confirmed, would represent a clear violation of federal tax law, which bars tax-exempt charities from supporting or opposing political candidates. In her letter, Rep. Tenney urged the IRS to investigate these allegations and take appropriate enforcement action, including revoking tax-exempt status where warranted.
“As founder and chairwoman of the Election Integrity Caucus, I am deeply troubled by the findings of this report. Federal law is clear that 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from participating in partisan political activities,” Tenney said. “Organizations that violate this prohibition are not only subject to revocation of their tax-exempt status but are also liable for excise taxes on every dollar of those illegal political expenditures. The IRS has both the authority and the obligation to act to protect the integrity of our electoral process and hold 501(c)(3)s to the standards set out under the law. I have referred this matter to the IRS for further investigation and urge the agency to fulfill its enforcement obligations if it finds wrongdoing on the part of any of the 501(c)(3)s implicated.
“The integrity of our elections depends on a level playing field. When tax-exempt organizations, which are subsidized in part by the American taxpayer, pour money into campaigns and endorse candidates, they are corrupting the democratic process.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2026 at 10:07 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Tuesday issued three proclamations to bring awareness to causes and initiatives in the community.
County Legislator John Fitzak, right, presents a proclamation about “Donate Life Month” in April to Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon. The DMV is one way people can get on the registry to be registered for organ, eye and tissue donations.
Hanlon said Orleans County has one of highest percentage in the state of people on the Donate Life registry for organ and tissue donations.
“A single individual’s donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives,” legislators stated in the proclamation. “A donation of tissue can save and heal the lives of up to 75 others.”
County Legislator Fred Miller reads a proclamation about “Child Abuse Prevention Awareness and Family Strengthening and Support Month.” He presented the proclamation to DSS Child Protective Services Supervisor Judianne Gearing, Senior Caseworker Sharon Nenni, and caseworkers Shelley Sherman, Isabella Gibbs and Maria Strathearn.
“All children need love and care to support their healthy growth and development, and they deserve to be raised in an environment that keeps them safe from potential forms of harm including verbal, sexual, emotional and physical abuse, exploitation, malnourishment, and neglect of other basic needs,” the proclamation states.
People can report suspected child abuse or maltreatment to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment, the state’s child abuse hotline, which is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week by calling 1-800-342-3720.
Paul Pettit, public health director in Orleans and Genesee counties, accepts a proclamation from Legislator Don Allport. That proclamation was for “National Public Health Week” from April 6–12. The theme of the week is “Ready. Set. Action!”
The proclamation highlighted these services from the local Health Department:
Community Health Services team protects public health by monitoring disease trends, supporting mothers and children, administering immunization clinics and conducting 1,862 communicable disease investigations in 2025.
The Children with Special Needs Program ensures children with or suspected of having developmental, physical, or special health care needs have access to essential services and resources that support healthy growth and development, serving approximately 330 children in 2025.
The Department of Weights and Measures is responsible for testing and inspecting all commercial devices used to weigh or measure various commodities and tested 364 devices and evaluated 49 fuel quality samples in 2025.
Health education initiatives engage residents through presentations, training sessions, community events, and public communications, equipping community members with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, prevent disease, and foster a healthier, stronger, and more resilient Orleans County.
The Emergency Preparedness program strengthens community resilience by equipping residents and partners for emergencies through training, education, drills, and coordinated response efforts, providing 68 individuals with training and contributing 72 hours of service and training through the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) in 2025.
The Environmental Health protects Orleans County residents by conducting 253 food service inspections, collecting and analyzing public and private water samples, responding to 149 rabies investigations last year and upholding the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act.
The listed items touch on a portion of what is offered by the Public Health Department, Pettit said.
“Public health plays a critical role in protecting and improving the health, safety, and quality of life of all residents of Orleans County,” the proclamation states.
WASHINGTON – In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump’s signature will appear on future U.S. paper currency along with the Secretary of the Treasury, marking the first time in history for a sitting president.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than U.S dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial.”
“As the 250th anniversary of our great nation approaches, American currency will continue to stand as a symbol of prosperity, strength, and the unshakable spirit of the American people under President Trump’s leadership,” said Treasurer Brandon Beach. “The President’s mark on history as the architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival is undeniable. Printing his signature on the American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved.”
The DEC released this map that shows no parts of upstate are considered in a drought watch. Only the Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk are in a drought watch.
Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that all upstate drought regions have returned to “Normal” status.
In cooperation with the State’s Drought Management Task Force, DEC updated the drought status from “Drought Watch” to “Normal” in State Drought Regions II through VIII after assessing recent precipitation and elevated levels of ground and surface water. The Long Island counties of Nassau and Suffolk (State Drought Region I) remain in a Drought Watch.
“Precipitation and recent snowmelt have improved stream flows and groundwater levels, resulting in upstate drought regions returning to normal status,” said Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “DEC experts will continue to monitor conditions in coordination with the State Drought Management Task Force and update the public of any changes. DEC encourages communities and individuals to always be mindful of their water use and practice water conservation measures all year long.”
While regional hydrological conditions have notably improved, localized dry conditions may persist and despite encouraging hydrological conditions, New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water use and waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures.
New York State drought Region IIA, which includes New York City and Westchester County, remains in normal status due to the satisfactory storage levels and refill probability of the New York City reservoirs. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the city’s reservoirs are at more than 95% capacity. DEC continues to work closely with DEP to monitor reservoir conditions and encourage responsible water use, especially outdoors, regardless of the hydrological conditions or season.
New York State encourages ongoing water conservation to ensure adequate supply for all emergency use. To protect water resources, homeowners are encouraged to voluntarily reduce water use and follow these tips:
Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants.
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Fix leaking pipes, fixtures, toilets, hoses and faucets.
Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
Take shorter showers or fill the bathtub partly.
Install water saving plumbing fixtures.
Don’t run the tap to make water hot or cold.
Wash cars less frequently.
State Drought Index
Drought stages are calculated using the State Drought Index, which evaluates whether several drought indicators have reached critical thresholds. DEC experts track and evaluate drought conditions based on stream flows, lake and reservoir storage levels, and groundwater levels.
These factors, and the duration of the dry period, season, and other information such as past and forecasted precipitation, weather patterns, and local conditions, are used by DEC to evaluate drought conditions across the state. The State Drought Index is attuned to the specific attributes of New York and may differ moderately from some national technical drought assessments.
DEC and the U.S. Geological Survey are partners in evaluating hydrologic conditions across New York State. In addition, DEC supports efforts by local governments and stakeholders to undertake water conservation measures based on specific local circumstances.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2026 at 9:28 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: The video gaming center at Batavia Downs has been a money-maker for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., which shares its profits with 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.
Orleans County is seeing a near doubling in its share of the profits from Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.
The county received $189,607 from WROTB in 2025, up from $101,097 in 2024.
WROTB is owned by 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo. Batavia Downs Gaming has proven to be a money-maker for WROTB, averaging about $7.5 million in profit or “net win” a month with NYS receiving 39 percent of that total.
The WROTB revenues shared with the member municipalities increased from $6,705,049 in 2024 to $12,865,737 in 2025, a 92 percent increase.
“WROTB closed fiscal year 2025 with record-breaking results, marking the most successful year in the corporation’s history,” President and CEO Byron Brown wrote in a letter to Lynne Johnson, chairperson of the Orleans County Legislature.
WROTB paid out $251 million in winnings, up from $243 million. The organization also saw net win for the organization total $93 million, an increase of $4.7 million over 2024 and year-over-year growth of 5.4 percent, Brown said.
Orleans County was an original member when WROTB formed over 50 years ago. Since 1975, Orleans has received $3,180,777 from WROTB, Brown stated in his letter to Johnson.
Here are the revenues paid to Orleans County each year since 2020:
2020: $6,975 (Covid restrictions shut down operations for several months before reopening with restrictions.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2026 at 8:57 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Albion village trustee Joyce Riley and mayor Angel Javier Jr. both are finishing four-year terms on the Village Board.
ALBION – The Albion Village Board meeting on Wednesday was the last one for Angel Javier Jr. as mayor and Joyce Riley as village trustee. They both are finishing four-year terms.
Javier, 36, didn’t seek re-election. He said he is moving outside the village and will be living in the Town of Albion. He wouldn’t have been eligible to be mayor.
Riley, 77, narrowly lost to Tim McMurray for mayor, 209 to 202, during the election on March 18.
Village residents also elected Jami Allport and Kevin Sheehan as trustees on the board with terms starting on April 1.
Riley, during Wednesday’s meeting, said she enjoyed the four years as trustee and has a deep admiration for the village employees.
“It has certainly been a learning moment,” Riley said about her time on the board. “Thank you for giving me these four years.”
With the election of McMurray, Allport and Sheehan, Riley said the village “is ready for a new look.” Her goal is the village will continue to offer all of its services, although “it may look a little different.”
The fire department, for example, now operates out of the Albion Joint Fire District rather than through the village budget with elected fire commissioners providing the oversight, not the Village Board.
Code enforcement officer Chris Kinter praised Riley for her work securing grants for the village. He also thanked Javier for his efforts as mayor.
John Grillo, the Albion recreation director, thanked both Riley and Javier for their service to the village.
After the meeting, Javier said he feels a sense of accomplishment during his four years as mayor.
“We brought in millions of dollars that is spread around through our water infrastructure and grants for the police and grants for our recreation department,” Javier said.
He also cited the land acquisition to allow for a future expansion of Mount Albion Cemetery. The village paid $250,874.58 to Patricia Nelson for the land that is next to Mount Albion’s southwest corner. That is about $7,000 an acre. The sale was finalized on Nov. 8, 2024 after about two years of effort.
A good chunk of Javier’s and Riley’s tenure involved the closing of the Main Street lift bridge. The bridge shut down to traffic on Nov. 14, 2022 for what was expected to be about 18 months for a major rehabilitation. But the project faced several delays and finally was complete on Sept.19, 2025.
The village dedicated the Erie Canal Park on Sept. 28, 2024. The new park includes a lamppost and a bench made from repurposed steel from the Main Street lift bridge when it was originally constructed in 1914. Bill Schutt, left, is the artist from Batavia who made the lamppost. A Go Art! grant paid for Schutt to make the lamppost. Albion Mayor Angel Javier Jr. is next to Schutt and then Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley is on the bench that was made by employees in the sewer plant, the Joint Pollution Control Facility. Village employees Ric Albright, Kyle Piccirilli and William Malone worked on the bench, which also includes a time capsule to be opened on Sept. 28, 2059. Albion students also were part of the day’s celebration which included the unveiling on a monument to the 15 people killed in the Main Street bridge collapsed on Sept. 28, 1859. A huge crowd gathered on the bridge that day to watch a tightrope walker.
Javier worries about the affordability in the village. He led a public hearing on June 11, 2025 to get a conversation started about possible dissolution of the village and consolidating many of the services in the village with the towns of Albion and Gaines. That idea has been seriously pursued at this point, but Javier said village residents might want to consider that in the future.
“I think it will be very difficult for any municipality at this time to operate,” he said after Wednesday’s meeting. “You’re really going to have to look at what your residents want. The residents are going to have to make a decision. If you want this it’s going to cost money. If you don’t want it, you’re going to have to tell the governing body.”
Javier said the village has been able to expand programs in youth recreation program through grants. He praised recreation director John Grillo for bringing in significantly more funding to expand that program. Other department heads also are being proactive pursuing grants, Javier said.
Overall, he counts many successes in Albion in the past four years.
“It was the village that did it, not necessarily me,” he said. “We all worked together to move forward.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2026 at 8:40 pm
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted to increase the maximum exemptions for low-income seniors from 50 percent off their property taxes to 65 percent.
The Legislature approved the change on Tuesday. While the cap is going higher, the Legislature isn’t increasing the income limits for people 65 and older to be eligible for an exemption. That will remain at a $24,700 threshold.
Here are the new exemption levels based on income:
$16,000 or less – 65 percent exemption
$16,000.01 to $16,999.99 – 60 percent exemption
$17,000 to $17,999.99 – 55 percent exemption
$18,000 to $18,999.99 – 50 percent exemption
$19,000 to $19,999.99 – 45 percent exemption
$20,000 to $20,999.99 – 40 percent exemption
$21,000 to $21,999.99 – 35 percent exemption
$22,000 to $22,899.99 – 30 percent exemption
$22,900 to $23,799.99 – 25 percent exemption
$23,800 to $24,699.99 – 20 percent exemption
Gov. Kathy Hochul in December signed legislation to allow local municipalities to increase the size of the exemptions from a maximum 50 percent to 65 percent.
“No New York senior should lose their home because they can no longer afford their property taxes,” Hochul said on Dec. 6 in announcing the higher exemption levels. “By signing this legislation, we are working to make New York more affordable for our seniors on fixed incomes and empowering them to age in place, at home, in the communities they know and love.”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 March 2026 at 4:36 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Pastor Joe Szalay, right, of Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek chats with Ken Ryan and Jim McHenry about an upcoming benefit for an orphanage in Uganda. All three are also musicians and will entertain in the benefit April 18 at the church on the corner of Johnson Creek Road and Route 104.
MIDDLEPORT – The Community Fellowship Church at 3146 Johnson Creek Rd. will sponsor an afternoon of food and music on April 18 to benefit an orphanage in Uganda.
The church’s pastor, Joe Szalay, said they learned of the orphanage three years ago from Steve Giroux, owner of several pharmacies in Western New York, including Middleport Family Health Center and Rosenkrans’ Pharmacy in Medina. Giroux and his wife had visited Uganda several years ago, where they learned of the orphanage and its pastor Paul Musisi. When Musisi visited here, Giroux introduced him to Szalay.
Musisi shared his life growing up an orphan himself. As a child he was asked if he wanted to go to church and he replied he did, because he knew he would get milk there. When Musisi grew up and became successful, he built a new orphanage, which is now home to 1,200 orphans. In addition, there are 150 widows there who help care for the orphans.
While Giroux and his wife were in Uganda, they helped feed the orphans, Szalay said. He said their allowance of food for one day is a small bowl with corn meal paste, a few beans and soup over that.
“We decided to make the orphanage our mission to start a fundraiser to ensure those children get two meals a day,” Szalay said.
This year the church has raised $2,000 in January, $1,500 in February and $1,500 to date in March for the orphanage, Szalay said. Their goal for the April 18 benefit is to raise at least $5,000, and hopefully $8,000. In Uganda, $25 will feed a child for a month.
Pastor Musisi will be visiting here in April and will preach at Community Fellowship Church on April 12. He will not be able to remain for the benefit, however. The public is invited to attend worship at 10:45 a.m.
Szalay, a son of the late Joseph and Carol Szalay of Harrison Road, Medina, has been pastor of the Community Fellowship Church for 12 years and praised the congregation.
“When they get going on something, the enthusiasm is contagious,” he said.
April 18’s benefit will begin with a spaghetti dinner from noon until sold out. Cost is $12 per person.
In addition, baked goods will be available for sale throughout the afternoon until gone.
A basket raffle is also planned from noon to 4 p.m., with tickets drawn at 5 p.m.
Music will be provided throughout the afternoon by Alexander James, Creekside Classic Country, Two Guys and a Beard, McHenry and Baz and Ken Ryan and the Professionals. In addition, Pastor Szalay plays guitar and sings in his own band, in which his sister Catherine Zagmester, formerly of Medina, plays bass guitar and sings backup. They will also entertain with a few numbers, Zagmester said.
Anyone who would like to make a donation for the orphanage in Uganda can send a check payable to Community Fellowship Church, 3146 Johnson Creek Rd., Middleport, and designated for Uganda orphanage.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2026 at 3:35 pm
RIDGEWAY – The state comptroller has released an audit of the Town of Ridgeway that faults the Town Board and Town Supervisor for overpaying health insurance premiums by $236,885 over seven years.
Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said the Town Board agrees with the findings and will implement recommendations from the comptroller’s office to ensure no overpayments in the future.
“As Ridgeway taxpayers themselves, the Ridgeway Board is committed to using taxpayer funds efficiently and appropriately,” Napoli wrote in a Feb.19 letter to Melissa Myers, chief of municipal audits in Buffalo for the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
“In the future, we will be cognizant of these findings when updating, implementing, and monitoring policies,” Napoli wrote. “We appreciate the time and thorough efforts of the auditors that will assist the Town Board in the continued managing of the finances of the Town of Ridgeway.”
Napoli said the town’s work rules were updated in 2024 to begin the process of clearer and more definitive language regarding employee and elected official benefits. The state general municipal law allows towns to pay health insurance upon retirement to employees and elected officials, Napoli said. The town’s policies will be utilized in a proper way to administer those benefits, he said in his letter.
The comptroller’s office, in its report about Ridgeway, reviewed town health insurance payments since from Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2024.
The report (click here to see it) was filed March 13 and faulted town officials for the following:
Finding 1 – The comptroller’s office reviewed all health insurance premium payments paid by the Town for certain former officials totaling $198,102. “We determined the Supervisor approved payments of post-employment health insurance benefits for three former officials and their spouses totaling $179,325 that they were not eligible to receive,” the report states.
Finding 2 – The comptroller’s office reviewed health insurance premiums from January 2018 through December 2024 totaling $207,911 for one current Town Board member, the current Board member’s spouse and the Supervisor, to determine whether contributions were made in accordance with the Policies. “We determined the Supervisor did not ensure the Clerk collected health insurance premiums totaling $52,659 from one Board member who was required to contribute toward their health insurance premiums,” the report states.
Finding 3 – The comptroller’s office reviewed all disbursements made to individuals for reimbursement of health insurance premiums totaling $4,901 from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2024. “We determined that the Board issued reimbursement checks totaling $4,901 to a former Clerk’s spouse for Medicare Part B health insurance premiums over 31 months, from April 2021 through November 2023, without documentation authorizing the payments,” the report states.
Audit Summary
The Town Board did not authorize or monitor health insurance benefits for current and former officials, according to the report.
“Due to the lack of controls and oversight of health insurance benefits, the Town Supervisor did not ensure officials were eligible to receive post-employment health insurance benefits or paid all required health insurance premium contributions owed to the Town, and the Board did not have support to authorize health insurance premium reimbursements to a former official’s spouse,” the report states.
As a result, the Town incurred $236,885 more for health insurance premiums than it should have during the audit period. This amount accounts for approximately 34 percent of the Town’s total health insurance premiums over the seven-year period. When health insurance benefits are not provided in a manner consistent with Board-adopted policies, it may result in unnecessary costs to taxpayers, the auditors stated.
Recommendations
The comptroller’s identified 14 recommendations for the Town Board and Town Supervisor:
Update the policy to provide clear guidance for who is eligible to receive post-employment benefits and require the Supervisor to develop procedures to help determine and verify eligibility for post-employment health insurance benefits.
Consult with the attorney for the Town to review the current post-employment health insurance benefits being provided by the Town, and, if appropriate, discontinue post-employment health insurance benefits for officials who are ineligible for such benefits.
Consult with the attorney for the Town to determine what action, if any, should be taken to recover the $179,325 in health insurance premium amounts paid by the Town that should not have been.
Review all health insurance invoices monthly to verify all officials, including former officials, are authorized and eligible to receive post-employment health insurance benefits.
Develop written procedures to ensure compliance with the Policy, including eligibility for post-employment health insurance benefits, and specify who is responsible for each part of the process.
Review and authorize post-employment health insurance benefits for eligible officials prior to enrollment.
Review the bookkeeper’s accrued sick leave conversion calculations for accuracy and verify the amounts are supported by leave records.
Update the current Policy to provide clear guidance on what contributions are required of elected officials when they choose to receive health insurance through the Town.
Consult with the attorney for the Town to determine what actions, if any, should be taken to collect the $52,659 in required health insurance premiums owed by the Board member.
Periodically review the Policy and make necessary updates to help ensure the Policy is clear and consistent with the Board’s intentions.
Review monthly health insurance invoices and payments, including officials’ health insurance premium contributions, to help ensure accuracy and compliance with the Policy.
Develop procedures to help ensure compliance with the Policy, including the collection of required health insurance premiums from officials, and specify who is responsible for each part of the process.
The Board should consult with the attorney for the Town to review the reimbursement payments made to the former Clerk’s spouse and determine what actions, if any, should be taken to recover the $4,901 in reimbursement payments.
The Supervisor should verify that all payments are adequately supported and made in accordance with the 2024 Policy before authorizing the payments.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2026 at 2:24 pm
ALBION – An incarcerated man at the Orleans Correctional Facility had 2 to 4 years added to his sentence in Orleans County Court today.
Callin LeMon, 36, was sentenced for promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a weapon.
LeMon on April 29, 2025 had a black ceramic razor blade and a leafy substance. He is currently serving an 8- to 10-year sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon. He is from Ulster County.
County Court Judge Sanford Church gave LeMon the agreed upon sentence as part of a plea agreement.
In other cases in County Court today:
• Chantel Savage, a former inmate at Albion Correctional Facility, was arraigned for allegedly having a piece of iron and striking a corrections officer with it in the head on Jan. 1, 2025.
Savage was arraigned for assault in the second degree, promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a weapon.
Her attorney asked for a competency exam and Judge Church agreed to have her assessed for whether she is mentally competent to aid in her own defense.
• Elizabeth Jackson, 31, an inmate at Albion Correctional Facility, was arraigned for promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having 20 pills of meth that were disguised to look like Flintstone vitamins.
Jackson is from Broome County and in prison for grand larceny in the third degree on a sentence of 3 ½ to 7 years.
• Jose Casiano, 69, of Gaines was scheduled to be sentenced to up to six months in the county jail plus probation after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and driving while ability impaired.
But Casiano has been arrested twice in the past week. A stipulation of his plea agreement on Jan. 7 was not to have any additional arrests.
Casiano on March 20 was charged with criminal possession of a controlled in the seventh degree and on March 24 was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
Judge Church will have an Outley hearing on Friday with Casiano, a hearing for someone who is arrested after a plea agreement has been reached. Church said Casiano could be sentenced to up to 2 ½ years in state prison.
