Editor:

I am a voting taxpayer and have lived on Ryan Road in the Town of Shelby for over 30 years. After attending the public hearing of the Shelby Town Board Meeting on Sept. 7, I have a few comments on the proposed zoning law changes No. 2 (LL2).

There is no doubt in my mind that the Town Board does not want a stone quarry south of the Fletcher Chapel Road between Sour Springs Road and South Woods Road and north of the Wildlife Refuge.

They must feel that they can’t legally stop the quarry with a standalone zoning restriction so they are trying to make us believe that they are somehow protecting the Refuge by restricting the land usage of a large portion of land bordering the Refuge by the taxpayers that own this land.

I heard nothing at the Sept. 7 public hearing to make me think the quarry or any of the restrictions they want to place on the land owners in this “overlay district” would be detrimental to the Refuge. How can kennels, motor vehicle repair shops, campgrounds, retail businesses, and many other types of businesses they are trying to stop hurt the Refuge?

This proposed law does however hurt the taxpayers in the Town of Shelby by limiting what future projects and businesses might come in to our area to help lessen the high taxes that we taxpayers are currently paying.

I live less than ½ mile from this overlay district. I can understand why some of the landowners bordering the proposed quarry don’t want it there. I’m not sure if I would want it next to my property either.

I also understand why some of the landowners in this Overlay District are against this law. I certainly don’t want anyone telling me what I can or can’t do with my property. I dread what might be coming next.

If the Town Board can limit what the landowners in the Overlay District can do with their land, they may try to limit what I can do with my land. This Overlay District is mostly open farm land. How often have you seen large blocks of farm land sold to a business that brought with them jobs and more money for the tax roll? The Hill Farm on Rt. 31A is the first that comes to mind.

I wouldn’t mind if the Shelby Town Board tried to pass a law banning the Stone Quarry. Let the courts sort it out.

What I do mind is them trying to package other restrictions to hide their true purpose. I personally think this proposed LL2 law will be detrimental to the Town of Shelby, detrimental to Western NY, detrimental to the land owners and detrimental to the residents of this area.

David Schrader

Shelby

Editor:

I attended the Town of Shelby public hearing on Sept. 7, regarding Local Law No 2 of 2016, which creates the Wildlife Refuge Protection Overlay District.

I realize this was meant for the Town Board to hear the comments of  the surrounding community on this proposed law in both the positive and negative light. However, I get the feeling the Town Board has already made their decision on Local Law No 2 and  they were just going through the motions and formalities of a hearing.

First, they would not provide a microphone so the concerned audience could hear these comments and  concerns. The Supervisor, Merle Draper, was obnoxiously rude to the woman sitting next to me when she requested one. This is both appalling and shameful behavior. Secondly, he and the town’s attorney had the audacity to have an intimate conversation while Mr. Mahar was speaking.

He has spent 10 long years on this project and deserves the respect to be heard. This Board does not respect him or any of the members of this community, the citizens for whom they work for.

They should not forget, that they do in fact work for the citizens and taxpayers of the Town of Shelby – period.

This Board has a negative stance towards progress and business, both big and small. They do tend to pull the rug out from under the feet of hard working folks who are trying to make a living and a better way of life to themselves and the surrounding community through the ripple effect and to build commerce.

Instead, they hold this community hostage. This law, as I see it, is to stop the quarry by way of zoning in the name of wildlife preservation. In the meanwhile, other property owners are not able to use or develop the land they worked so hard for and yet pay some of the highest taxes in WNY.

I met a man with a small home with some land that he would rent to farm. He was told by the town, he could not. This would help him pay his $6,000 annual taxes. Taxes this town uses to urinate away by hiring attorneys and other consultants outside the community to defend their zoning decisions and what have you.

This “selective” zoning does nothing but put a burden and create hardship on this community. Since the town discourages business, it allows this area to remain in an oppressive state, with declining property values and with this, it allows poverty and crime to move in. Drug traffic and theft seem to be the only commerce for this sleepy little town.

I strongly feel that any board member who resides in the “overlay” must not be able to vote on Local Law No 2 as it would be prejudiced and biased. Local Law No 2 should be put into the hands of the community, by vote to determine which way this thing should go.

Lastly, in my view, I have lost all trust and confidence in the Board and question their integrity, competence and motives. They cannot be trusted with the health and well-being of this community and is a poor representation of the people and the republican base of this county.

It is sad to know that a majority of the public have no idea what is going on around them while the “good ole’ boys” run amuck and carry on with business as usual.

Kim Weatherbee

Shelby

Editor:

This letter is in response to Marilynn Miller’s Letter to the Editor: “Gaines Republicans should seek new GOP Committee Members”

Although I have several opinions and could easily express my own thoughts in response to the information in Ms. Miller’s letter, I will only address the statements that are false; ones that I have been involved with personally.

This is not an election year for me. The outcome of the upcoming elections will not affect my employment nor my commitment to fulfill my duties as Gaines Highway Superintendent.

As far as being the “beneficiary of an improperly negotiated union contract…” Some background: Mrs. Culhane was not the Town Supervisor during this time period.

While Mrs. Culhane may not agree with the results of the decisions made before her tenure, these decisions were made and sanctioned by the Town Board that was in place, not by me. A representative of the Town Board, a union representative with two union employees negotiated a contract. This was signed by the town supervisor, town attorney, the union attorney and the Town Board (please note I was not involved).

This contract was also agreed upon by the Town Board. Once the contract was in place, union and non-union employees were approached to propose a monetary reimbursement if they did not take the medical insurance offered by the Town of Gaines.

Fiscally, this was a cost saving move for the town and would benefit the tax payers; the employees (myself include) agreed.

Family medical insurance costs approximately $15,000 per year for an employee. The negotiated contract offered $10,400 as reimbursement (from Jan. 1, 2011 thru Dec. 31, 2013).

After that date to this current date, the highway employees (2 individuals) received $8,000. The Highway Superintendent (me) received the same reimbursement ($10,400 from Jan. 1, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2013). From January 2014 to present, I have received $3,000/year medical reimbursement ($5,000 less than other stated employees). Unlike the other town employees, I have not been offered the opportunity to receive medical insurance from the Town of Gaines since Jan. 1, 2014.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Mannella

Gaines Highway Superintendent

Editor:

I feel compelled to reply to you and your readers to address Ray Burke’s letter of Sunday.

Let me just say that I am barely acquainted with Mr. Burke. We’ve met in passing at Town Board meetings, but to my recollection, have never been introduced. I’ll outline some facts and then draw some conclusions from them.

My interest in politics is a long one. My involvement with the Republican Party has been steady, essentially since I turned 18. A little over 5 years ago, I moved to Orleans County, and I’ve lived in Gaines a little over 4 years. After I met some new people, I wanted to become involved here, and lend my experience and thoughts to the community, and one way to do that was to become involved in the Republican Party.

Earlier in 2016, I expressed an interest in serving on the Town Committee to the Chairman, Guy Smith. Much to my dismay, I hear nothing from him about this, but at the same time hear about new people preparing to run for these positions. This is when I took it upon myself to circulate petitions. I circulated MY petitions. No one did it for me.

Some facts and questions about Ray Burke and the other candidates:

– Ray Burke has lived in town a lot longer than me. Why the sudden interest in the Town Committee?

– David Alchin didn’t even circulate his own nominating petitions. Carol Culhane, Gaines Town Supervisor, circulated every one of his. Is he even actually interested? Or will he be a proxy for Mrs. Culhane?

– Jim Hood circulated his petitions. In fact, everyone in my home signed his when he stopped by! I guess this is proof that I support an open and honest dialog to get the best people involved!

– All three of them have the exact same “Committee to Fill Vacancies” members named, and are in the same handwriting. One of the members of that committee currently serves on the Town Board.

All of these facts together clearly indicate a plan, and the head of that plan sure looks like the Supervisor, amongst others.

As for my wife, Lori, I quite honestly don’t know how it is relevant or why you chose to bring her into this discussion. But, since you brought it up, I’ll share some additional facts.

Lori was appointed Deputy Clerk in October 2015. She put in 15-20 hours per week at a minimum to get trained and ready to take over for Clerk Klatt during a scheduled vacation. These hours were on top of her full time job. In the spring, she was sent to the New York State Town Clerks Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY by the town. She volunteered her time to attend this training.

When Clerk Klatt announced her retirement, Lori was told by the Supervisor that they would “advertise and interview” for a replacement. She wrote letters to the Board and the Republican Committee members indicating her interest. Lori never heard a single word from the Supervisor after that first discussion about the position. The board appointed Ms. Harding to the empty position without notifying Lori of their choice. She found out when the board made the appointment. What kind of leadership is that?

To make matters worse, the Supervisor wasn’t honest with how they came to make that selection. She indicated they were told the most senior clerk had to be appointed. The fact is, according to the NYS Association of Towns, the Town Board can appoint anyone to the position. The icing on the cake? A letter to Lori from Sharon Harding, before she even took over as Town Clerk, indicating that Lori’s services would no longer be needed.

So, not only do you appoint someone under a veil of secrecy, you get rid of the one individual who was fully trained in all of the duties of the Town Clerk. If that doesn’t reek of political backstabbing and back door deals, I don’t know what does.

As you can guess, Lori’s decision to no longer be interested in being Town Clerk is a smart one. Who would want to work in that role in an environment where you’re treated like this? Not to mention the public harassment the previous Town Clerk and current Highway Superintendent have had to endure. You’d have to be crazy to take that job with the current Town Board.

So, Mr. Burke, I do want open government. I want active participation. I want good leadership at the head of the Town Committee. I want good leadership with the Town Board. The best thing we can do is stop things like what I’ve described from happening, and start over with a revitalized committee with an active Chairperson. Only then can we nominate honest, hardworking candidates to fill the elected positions in our Town.

Thank you,

Joseph Grube

Town of Gaines

Editor:

If the Gaines Republican Committee is dysfunctional, our chairman, Guy Smith, should be held responsible.

Carol was a Democrat most of her life; Culhane wasn’t a registered Republican until she needed the support of the committee. Despite concerns, she was first endorsed by the Republican Committee. When Carol came for the next endorsement, the feedback from the residents of Gaines made us question which direction she was heading; and for whose best interest she was truly working?

Mrs. Culhane was reluctantly endorsed; she had no opposition. This past term, Culhane was not endorsed by the Republican Committee.

Mrs. Culhane runs an open door policy with her “coffee pot on”, ready to discuss questions/concerns. This policy seems only to be in effect during regular business hours, in the privacy of her office. During public board meetings, Mrs. Culhane fails to respond to questions and defers to the Town Attorney for answers.

Chairman Guy Smith scheduled an interview meeting with Sharon Harding (for Town Clerk position). The deadline date was June 3rd (the day BEFORE the scheduled interview). As chairman, he should have known the deadline date, and followed protocol. This Chairman’s blunder required Sharon Harding to carry her own petition.

The Town Board invested approximately $1,500 in training for the Town Clerk’s position, which Lori Grube attended. However, in a surprise move, the Town Board appointed Sharon Harding to the position of Town Clerk. Shortly after, Lori Grube received a letter stating she was no longer needed.

Ron Mannella, Highway Superintendent, has 20+ years of experience and has been endorsed by both major parties for the last 3 terms. Mannella’s impeccable work ethic and dedicated employees need no protection. Just ask former Supervisors Bill Lattin and Dick DeCarlo Sr.

Dave Allchin ran for Highway Superintendent. Because of his lack of experience, Mr. Allchin did not receive our endorsement.

In answer to Guy Smith’s comment of “vested interest”, he neglected to mention his wife, Sue, is a Gaines Councilperson. He did not recuse himself for his wife’s interviews. (Who is protecting whom?)

Ray Burke owns a building/business managed by Carol Culhane. (Vested interest, perhaps?)

Lorienda Smith has been a free thinker and leader for the past 15 years, and has probably attended more board meetings than the whole Town Board put together. Her interest and participation never wavers.

At Board Meetings, Lorienda asks questions; she also requests FOIL information. Although this may cause elected officials some worry, it is Lorienda’s civic duty. Gaines residents elected her to do just that. Lorienda is motivated and capable to stand up for what is right for the taxpayers of Gaines.

Mr. Guy Smith stated, “On Tuesday, September 13th, the voters will decide what kind of people they want to represent them on the Republican committee. We need honest, independent-thinking individuals that have the town’s best interest in mind.”

We couldn’t agree more!

On September 13th, please vote: District #1 – Susan Heard & Lorienda Smith; District #2 – Joe Grube; District #3 –Lisa Mannella & Donald Allport.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Heard, Lorienda Smith, Joe Grube, Lisa Mannella and Lorraine Oakley

Editor:

The behavior I have witnessed over ten years of attending Gaines Town Board meetings and helping campaign for honest representation certainly favors the depiction put forth in Chairman Guy Smith’s recent letter to the editor.

Two years ago when Carol Culhane ran for Town Supervisor, despite having exposed and corrected a slew of wrongdoings, lack of ethics, and improprieties by town officials, she was denied Republican Party support by certain members of the GOP Nominating Committee.

Those members, currently seeking re-election, are Lisa Mannella (whose husband, as Town Highway superintendent, was beneficiary of an improperly negotiated union contract to the tune of $10,400 for each of three years), Susan Heard (who, despite learning that the then Town Clerk was exposed in a forensic audit for double billing the Town, accused Supervisor Culhane at a public meeting of “bullying” that clerk), and Lorienda Smith who seems to be led along by these others.

As for Joe Grube, his wife was denied an upgrade from Deputy Clerk to Town Clerk because Supervisor Culhane followed Town Law for the State of New York, and not the “good old boys” network.

There is a history of self-serving behavior and disregard for honest and hard-working taxpayers. Much has been cleaned up in the recent past, but if the old Nominating Committee continues to exist, it is an uphill battle to keep honest and genuine representation in the forefront.

Marilynn Miller

Town of Gaines

Editor:

Take it from the chair of our Republican Committee: the party is dysfunctional.

Gaines GOP Chairman Guy Smith’s letter to the editor says quorums can’t be met and there’s poor communication. The committee fails to even endorse candidates.

Isn’t that exactly what it’s supposed to do?

According to Joe Grube and his letter, this is all perfectly fine. In fact, he wants to “maintain” such “independence” and “credibility.”

Something not adding up?

Well it doesn’t stop there. He then puts down candidates for committee as “cronies.” I’m not sure if this is an attack on us candidates, or the Town Board. I do know it’s odd to “embrace robust participation” in one breath, and then dismiss those who seek to participate as mindless hacks in the next.

Wait, there’s more. He belittles elected officials trying to control the committee. Then, he says the voters should elect a whole list of public office holders (or their spouses) for committee.

It seems that Joe Grube says one thing, but does another.

We are thrilled that Gaines GOP voters actually have a say in who serves on the committee for once. This election isn’t about control or “cronies.” All the candidates running are good people.

But the time has come for a change. Plain and simple.

I hope Gaines Republicans vote to end the dysfunction and put-downs. That’s the status quo, and I just don’t think Joe Grube sees it.

But I see it. Guy sees it. And I think every day Gaines residents do, too.

I would appreciate your support for me, Guy Smith, David Allchin and Jim Hood on September 13th.

Respectfully,

Ray Burke

Gaines

Editor:

This letter is for the members of the Republican Party who live in the Town of Gaines. I would like to set the story straight with what has been going on for the last two years within your nominating committee. Your committee has become dysfunctional.

In 2015 we were seeking candidates for the position of Town Supervisor. We only had one person interested in the position, Carol Culhane, who was seeking endorsement for a third, two-year term. Some of those on the committee thought she was doing a good job and her heart was in the right place. However, they did not want to endorse her because she wasn’t running the town their way.

The current nominating committee wants to be able to control town officials. Carol Culhane had to pass her own petitions to get on the Republican ticket.

In June of this year our committee held interviews for Town Clerk. The interviews took place on June 4 at Tillman’s Village Inn. I was expecting six of the eight committeemen to interview and possibly endorse a new town clerk for the 2016 election. Five minutes before the interview was to begin Lisa Mannella sends me a text message stating she could not make the interview, then two minutes after that Lorienda Smith sends me a text message stating she could not attend as well. I was left with a committee of three people and one proxy from Susan Heard because she was going to the Republican Ball that night and did not want to spend all day Saturday doing Republican business.

Consequently we had a unofficial interview, but we could not endorse Sharon Harding because I was left without a quorum. Sharon Harding had to pass her own petitions to get on the Republican ticket, which is part of our committee’s jobs.

Why did Lisa Mannella and Lorienda Smith not want to endorse Sharon Harding? They wanted to endorse Lori Grube, who was also a deputy clerk for our previous Town Clerk, Jean Klatt. Lori is also, you guessed it, Joseph Grube’s wife. I spoke with Lori and she told me she was no longer interested in the Town Clerk position and did not want to have an interview.

As you can see some of our committee people have a vested interest in the town government. Lisa Mannella announced at a meeting that she was on the committee to protect her husband Ron Mannella, your highway superintendent. At the last interview for highway superintendent she did not recuse herself while we interviewed Ron.

This spring I collected a full sheet of signatures for Bruce Blanchard and myself because he and I represent District 2. Then I picked up our committeemen’s petitions for the Town of Gaines. However, Bruce Blanchard did not collect any signatures. He told me he did not want to be on the committee because he didn’t have enough time, his kids were still young.

I told Bruce he would have to decline his position in order to get off the committee. I called to remind him to go to the Board of Elections to decline his position of Republican committeeman, but he was conveniently out of town.

I believe when you are on a committee, a person needs to think for themselves. Lorienda Smith is a person who follows the crowd even though they are going in the wrong direction.

On Tuesday, September 13, the voters will decide what kind of people they want to represent them on the Republican committee. We need honest, independent-thinking individuals that have the town’s best interest in mind.

Guy D. Smith

Town of Gaines Republican Chairman

Editor:

As a land owner and long-time farmer in Shelby, I am opposed to new Local Law #2 of 2016. This law was proposed by Shelby’s Town Board only days after a judge ruled in favor of Frontier Stone’s quarry project – which is to be located on my private property on Fletcher Chapel Road.

Local Law #2’s restrictions on property in my district would destroy all our property values and render properties nearly worthless.

The DEC recently granted a permit for the quarry project and a judge ruled against the town and three opponents of the project, denying them party status, because they failed to identify “any significant or substantive issues” that the project would harm the refuge. The ALJ found all their claims to be “without merit.”

Over the years, my family has been called greedy and we have been accused of trying to divide the community. Shelby’s Town Board has done more to divide this community in not making themselves available to collaborate on the project and by proposing LL2.

The town has deliberately targeted other private property owners near our land as a way to block the project; that is discriminating. Town officials have been moving the goalpost on this project for over 10 years and spending thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars to do it.

Most recently, over $52, 000 was spent in four months by the town and they did not produce one expert witness or submit any studies to contradict any of Frontier Stone’s expert witnesses or verifiable scientific data. There is zero evidence to support the quarry will pose a threat to the refuge or the environment.

The town even inserted a stipulation to Local Law #2 that if a court renders it unconstitutional, the town would over-ride the court’s ruling. Really? Even Obamacare can be repealed. And this law can’t? That’s pretty big over-reach on the part of the town.

Town council members who reside or own property in the proposed district should also abstain from voting on the law. Does the town expect us to pay to have thousands of acres of land resurveyed to create the boundaries for LL2, when land owners in Shelby who own 68% of the acreage in the proposed district filed a protest petition against it?

Will the town install a chain-link fence to show the boundaries of the overlay district? How about razor wire on top of that? We can call it The Great Wall of Shelby.

Is the property in LL2’s “Wildlife Refuge Overlay Protection District” going to be subject to the same criteria as the refuge? In that case, all the property in the overlay district should be tax exempt – no county tax, no town tax, no school tax.

Edward Zelazny

Shelby

Editor:

The Town of Gaines is having a rare event this Primary Day, which is Tuesday, September 13th: An election for members of the Town Republican Committee!

I embrace robust participation in government and politics. High levels of participation lead to better government, and one that is open and that truly works for the people.

However, there is a plan that has been hatched by a small group of current town officials, who have the goal of extending their control from the town government into the Gaines Republican Committee. They seek to manipulate participation in town government by hand-picking cronies as candidates and appointing only ardent supporters to vacant positions.

Our goal is to maintain independence, open-mindedness, and credibility within the Republican Party. This will ensure that the Party seeks out, selects, and supports only the very best individuals for elected positions, rather than the closed door, back-room approach being taken by others.

I ask that Gaines Republicans in District 1, 2, and 3 get out and vote on September 13th from noon to 9 p.m.

Please support the following candidates for the Republican Committee in Gaines: District 1 – Susan Heard and Lorienda Smith; District 2 – Joseph Grube and Bruce Blanchard; District 3 – Lisa Manella and Donald Allport.

Thank you,

Joseph Grube

Gaines

Editor:

The Town of Murray has a plan and it’s a good one. It’s the Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2008 by volunteer citizens committed to the future of our town. The plan describes who we are and where we would like to be in the future. An entire chapter is dedicated to implementation to achieve those goals.

Unfortunately, since 2008 no significant effort has been put forth to accomplish the goals. The future is now, we must come together to move our town in a positive direction meeting the challenges ahead with prepared confidence.

I have entered the political spotlight this year questioning civic leaders on budgets and policy that our neighbors shared with me. It has been met with entrenched opposition. Hopefully, my efforts prove that I am capable of standing firm for our beliefs and what we think is in the best interest of our community.

I believe Supervisor Morriss to be a good and honest man. Those of you who know him better than I would likely agree. It’s a tough job and he’s given it a good go.

However, our property tax rate increases are rising faster than any other town in the county. Our Water Department is losing money and showing signs of significant water loss while town spending hasn’t decreased. We seem to be stuck in the status quo.

Since 2014 efforts have been made by the town to implement local laws penalizing businesses and residents through increased code enforcement violations. You cannot attract nor maintain vibrant businesses or move a community forward by penalizing its residents and businesses with oppressive code enforcement policy or self-serving government.

I have represented the Town of Murray for over 10 years at the County Planning Board and for several years on the Town of Murray Planning Board. I believe in proper planning for things to come and taking the necessary steps to work towards goals. To date what has our town’s leadership done to move this community forward?

The Town Board discussed recently that the town doesn’t need to form a committee of interested residents to update our Comprehensive Plan. They can handle it. I respectively disagree.

Community involvement is what our town needs now more than ever. We should set aside personal differences and come together to work towards a brighter future. We have many great resources here and fine people with bright minds to move us forward. If we all give a little we will accomplish a lot.

Without action we merely exist in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. The September 13th primary election is a very important milestone in our community. It is our chance to elect a new representative for our district to the Republican Party, a chance for us to have a new voice.

Of particular importance is the fact that representatives nominate and endorse candidates for election in our town and village. I’m proud to force this primary. I’m proud to give you a choice in representation.

Without a challenge, representatives may simply re-appoint themselves to their positions without election and continue the self-serving political government that plagues America.

I would say that is why they simply don’t want me involved. I say to you … that is why I’m running!

Kindly vote for change.

Joseph Sidonio

Murray

Posted 7 September 2016

Editor:

While my job exposes me to a lot of criticism, I generally do not respond. In this case I am responding to Mr. Lofthouse.

To clear the record, I am a civil service employee, not appointed or elected. I have worked for municipalities for over 20 years. I am very proud that I have been able to improve the quality of the housing, the quality of life and have assisted with the economic development in the communities I’ve worked in.

While I’m not universally liked, I have the respect of the professionals I work with. I do my job. I am NOT judge, jury and executioner. I am a Code Enforcement Officer.

Mr. Lofthouse seems to believe that some laws should be followed and others ignored. I enforce codes, laws written by local, state, and federal legislators. If there is a violation I let the person know and if they don’t correct it they get a ticket and go to see the JUDGE, as far as I know nobody has ever been executed.

I’ve seen Mr. Lofthouse pontificate on the Town of Murray before. John Morris (Murray town supervisor) never said the taxpayers were being overtaxed. I would venture that every Comptroller’s report cites issues or concerns. That doesn’t mean anyone has done anything wrong. Sometimes it’s just a different approach.

For a guy I’ve only seen at a Town of Murray once, Mr. Lofthouse speaks with great authority about what goes on there. One can only wonder where he gets his information.

Perhaps his issue is with the Highway Superintendent, because he is the Republican Committee Chairman. Mr. Lofthouse has never held office where he has had to make a decision and live with the consequences. As chairman of the Conservative Party he’s elected exactly no candidates. Not the first person I’d look to for advice.

He uses “scuttlebutt” as information. Whose minds have to be eased? Where in the NYS Health Code does it say where the backflow preventer has to be placed or what type has to be there? Apparently you rely on one source for your information. Thanks for your concern, but as a Town of Murray resident please take care of your own issues and let us take care of ours.

As for the “overzealous” comment, I have pictures of every violation I cite. It is my job to enforce the code, thank you for noting that I do it well. Off-street parking is required for businesses in every zoning ordinance. This is also involves the health, safety and welfare of the community.

Mr. Sidonio is running a primary to get on the Town of Murray Republican Committee. The “say no to Joe” signs are disappearing. I wonder who’s responsible for that?

That election will cost the Town of Murray +/- $1,000. Maybe you could get him on the Conservative Committee for free.

I don’t need any of your advice or comments with or without salt.

Ron Vendetti

Holley

(Mr. Vendetti is code enforcement officer in the villages of Albion and Holley, and the Town of Murray.)

Posted 6 September 2016

Editor:

A huge crowd of local residents, which some estimated to be 500 strong, gathered in the rain at Golden Hill State Park Boat Launch Facility in the Town of Somerset on Aug. 25 to voice their opposition to the Apex “Clean Energy” Project Lighthouse Wind.

This gathering was planned and promoted by the locally organized and funded grass roots organization, Save Ontario Shores (SOS).

Lighthouse Wind is a proposed Industrial Wind Turbine Complex comprised of approximately 71 monstrous wind turbines (650 feet high) to be strung along 12 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline in the townships of Somerset and Yates. These will be the largest industrial wind turbines to be sited on land.

Local leaders updated the group on their efforts to scuttle this project. The size and enthusiasm of this gathering demonstrated what is already known, and that is, Lighthouse Wind is not welcome in our community. Three prior independently conducted surveys have previously shown this to be the case. Numerous signs were displayed saying APEX GO HOME!

The Apex “Clean Energy” public relations machine has placed a spin on the public rejection of this project by alleging that we “fear the unknown” and the project “is in the best interests of the community.” These are blatantly false statements, as those of us who oppose this project have done our homework and are deeply concerned by what we do know.

As examples:

We know individuals owning property, whose value has dropped as their community became the location of industrial wind turbines.

We know and have been in contact with individuals whose houses and property have been severely damaged due to the construction and operation of industrial wind turbines.

We know and have been in contact with individuals who are forced to draw their blinds during portions of the day to avoid the annoying flicker produced by the rotating blades of industrial wind turbines.

We know of situations where electromagnetic interference from the operation of industrial wind turbines was severe enough that cable was required to restore reliable local television service.

We know individual property owners who claim the industrial wind turbines make much incessant, intolerable noise and vibration.

We know of individuals who claim sickness and distress when industrial wind turbines operate.

We know and have been in contact with individuals whose animals are affected when industrial wind turbines operate. And the list continues!

As to proposed Project Lighthouse Wind being “in the best interests of the community,” the source is someone who does not live in our community, probably never will, and draws a paycheck from Apex.

Regardless, why should we, as a community support Lighthouse Wind and gamble our future and wellbeing as a community on this project? The answer is, we should not! We have done our homework!

Project Lighthouse Wind should proceed no farther and be canceled. APEX GO HOME!!

James C. Hoffman

Town of Somerset

Posted 6 September 2016

Editor:

The Murray Town Board should place less emphasis on harassment of businesses, i.e. parking etc. and homeowners, i.e. cut your grass etc. by an overzealous code enforcement officer who thinks he is judge, jury and executioner. Instead, place more importance on the municipal water system known as the water districts, per the economics and operational aspects of such.

Since municipal water involves the life, health and safety of the people in the Town that frequent the restaurants and businesses every action should be taken with the utmost care. Even the appearance of impropriety should cause concern. It is serious business and should be treated as such.

Let’s visit the economic side first. In the spring of this year Mr. Joe Sidonio addressed the NYS Comptrollers report which stated the shortcomings of the accounting of Capital Projects mainly in the water districts. All spring Mr. Sidonio showed facts and figures supporting his claims that indeed the people in Murray were being overtaxed for the water districts.

Murray Town Supervisor John Morriss seemed to be surprised at the figures that Mr. Sidonio was in possession of and wanted to know where he had gotten his information from, continuously denying that the allegations were true. Mr. Morriss, being Murray’s Chief Financial Officer and by municipal law required to fill out monthly financial reports, should have been on top of the issues.

Maybe he relied on Mr. Edward Morgan who is in charge of the water districts to supply him with information. After 6-7 months with personal character attacks printed and vulgar names said behind Mr. Sidonio’s back, Supervisor Morriss finally admitted that indeed the taxpayers are being overtaxed by the Town.

Mr. Sidonio has maintained an adult composure while dealing with apparent adolescence. It most likely will take another 6-7 months to get answers to questions on how the overtaxation, mismanagement and the operational financial loss in the water department will be corrected. Enough of the economics.

With the picture of the firehose hooked up to a hydrant – with what looks like no water meter or backflow prevention valve – on Fancher Road being circulated and as serious a health risk as it is, Water Superintendent Morgan and Councilman Lloyd Christ (who used the municipal drinking water supply for irrigation) have put the citizens of Murray in a bad situation.

The article “Murray does not let farmers steal water” posted on the Orleans Hub mentions Councilman Lloyd Christ by name. It does not mention Edward Morgan. Why? The scuttlebutt is that Mr. Morgan loaned Mr. Christ the hose and approved the connection.

To ease the minds of the people the Water Superintendent should show the signed register showing the meter readings and serial number of the unit and the serial number of the back flow prevention device. Those items are the property of the Murray Town taxpayers have to be accounted for in the inventory.

A sheet of requirements should show the hookup procedure for the meter and backflow prevention device. Seems to me it would be asking a lot to have the meter reader traipse 300-400 yards out into a field to read the meter. To remove all doubt, the meter and backflow should have been placed on the hydrant in the first place as required by NYS Health Code.

After taking so long to address Mr. Sidonio’s concerns and immediately jumping on this situation anything that comes from the Murray Town Board I tend to take with a grain of salt. Mr. Morriss, as a side note, when Mrs. Carol Culhane first took office she inherited a complete mess in the Gaines Water Department and was able to straighten it all out with very little help.

Al Lofthouse

Kendall

(Mr. Lofthouse is chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party.)

Editor:

Frontier Stone would like to create a controversy where none exists. Recently circulating not one, but two fliers, they are attempting to get residents to oppose proposed Local Law #2.

They want you to believe the law is government overreach. In fact, the Town of Shelby, Proposed Local Law #2 is an amendment to the zoning regulation that addresses all of the concerns the town’s residents have raised at every single public hearing over the past 10 years regarding the proposed stone quarry.

The Town Board listened to your concerns and addressed them with this proposed zoning regulation amendment. They are trying to protect what you, the town’s residents, have said is worth protecting, regardless of what the DEC thinks.

All towns have a Comprehensive Plan to address where, in the town, business and industries are best situated to allow for economic growth, and at the same time, to protect the quiet, rural, residential nature of the town for the residents who live there.

Allowing business or industry to pop up wherever anyone feels like planting them, does not allow a town to maintain its identity and the very reason people choose to live here as opposed to an industrial park.

In the Town of Shelby we have the Maple Ridge Corridor which has been planned and developed with input from the Orleans County Economic Development Agency so that industries and businesses would have a place to set up shop with easy access, and at the same time, not infringe on the rights of town residents to a peaceful place to call home.

The public hearing regarding this zoning regulation is just that, an effort by the Town Board to hear the public. Please bring your thoughts and concerns to the hearing (7 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Town Hall), but don’t allow Frontier to stir up controversy where it doesn’t exist.

Don’t allow them to divide a town that is completely united in our opposition to this quarry being placed next to our wildlife refuge.

And don’t lose sight of the fact that the refuge itself is an economic advantage to our area as well. It brings thousands of tourists from all over the state and the country to hunt, fish, hike, observe endangered species, and to utilize the restaurants and businesses in town, just to name a few.

Wendi Pencille

Town of Shelby

President of Citizens for Shelby Preservation