2 Medina trustees say goodbye

Mark Irwin, a village official the past 18 years, attends his last Village Board meeting tonight after opting against re-election on March 18. Irwin has been a village trustee the past six years, and was on the Village Board for 12 years before that. Trustee Mike Sidari is at right.

MEDINA – Two Village Board members were praised for their service tonight, the final meeting of their terms as village trustees.

Both Mark Irwin and Mark Kruzynski opted against re-election on March 18, when Todd Bensley and Owen Toale were elected.

Irwin served three terms over six years. He favored the dissolution of the village government, seeing it as an effective way to lower the tax burden on village residents. A referendum to dissolve the village failed, 949-527 on Jan. 20.

“The dissolution vote was good for the community,” Irwin said during tonight’s Village Board meeting. “It was a good airing out.”

He regretted the Medina community continues to have the highest combined tax rate – village, town, county and school district – in the Finger Lakes region at $57.27 per $1,000 of assessed property. Irwin said that high tax rate devalues homes and drives away potential residents and businesses.

Mark Kruzynski

“Sadly, Medina is still the highest,” Irwin said about the tax rate. “I don’t think that’s anything any one of us can be proud of.”

He wished the incoming board success in bringing down the tax rate. The Village Board will meet with officials from the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway at 7 p.m. on April 15 to discuss shared services. The session will be at the Shelby Town Hall.

“There’s been much talk about shared services,” Irwin said. “I hope it comes to be. So far those talks haven’t been too fruitful.”

Irwin is a retired corrections officer. In his outgoing remarks tonight he mentioned the late Ernie Orgar, Tom White and Marcia Tuohey as dedicated village officials who influenced him, offering encouragement even when they differed on issues.

Kruzynski, Medina’s high school principal, has been on the board for four years, following two years as an alternate on the Planning Board. Kruzynski thanked the village employees and the board members for their dedicated service to the community.

Trustees Marguerite Sherman and Mike Sidari thanked Irwin and Kruzynski for their countless hours on the community’s behalf the past several years.