Albion code officer says event for candidate at former library couldn’t go on because no C of O for building

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2018 at 7:31 pm

Doherty blames Vendetti for ‘smug bullying’

ALBION – A planned meet and greet with Kevin Doherty, a candidate for Albion mayor, will not go forward on Sunday at the former Swan Library.

Ron Vendetti, the village code enforcement officer, told the building owner, Chad Fabry, that a public assembly wasn’t allowed at the site. In fact, Vendetti said Fabry doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy for the former library at 4 North Main St.

Fabry believes he has a certificate of occupancy because it has never been revoked. He said he needs to modify an upstairs bathroom to be handicapped accessible to have full use of the building. He received a building permit for that in November 2015. The permit is to widen the door by an inch and move a toilet another inch away from a wall.

Fabry, who is the Clarkson code enforcement officer, said he has been delayed on the bathroom changes but wants to get it done soon.

Fabry believed a meet and greet would be permissible for the building which is now zoned for office use.

Vendetti said the building doesn’t have a certificate of occupancy and he couldn’t allow a public assembly at the site.

“I had no choice to do what I did,” Vendetti said. “I can’t let them go in without certificate of occupancy. We’re not going to put a bunch of people in a building without a certificate of occupancy.”

Fabry spoke with Doherty on Thursday and the event planned for Sunday was cancelled. Doherty took out an ad on the Orleans Hub today notifying the public that the event was cancelled “by the village codes officer.”

Vendetti said Doherty had many options in the community for hosting the meet and greet. Just last weekend he held an event at Hoag Library.

Doherty, on his website – kevindohertyformayor.com – criticizes Vendetti on the issue.

“It’s typical of the smug bullying that has virtually eliminated new development in the Village of Albion,” Doherty writes. “Why would anyone invest their own time and money for the privilege of being both bullied and prevented from marketing their properties? The incumbent trustees own this attitude and its consequences.”

Vendetti said he has helped bring development to the village. KeyBank is planning a $180,000 renovation, and a new Save-A-Lot operator will be renovating the site at the plaza on Route 31, Vendetti said about two upcoming projects. He also said four business owners have recently utilized a downtown rental subsidy program run by the village.

Vendetti admitted he is a frequent target of criticism, which he sees as unfair.

“This propagates a myth that has nothing to do with the facts,” he said. “In only serves to divide the community.”

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