Editor:

We feel compelled to respond to a letter published in the Orleans Hub on July 25, 2016 written by Mr. Joe Sidonio.

While we respect Mr. Sidonio’s Constitutional right to criticize the policies and practices of this Town Board and Town Boards of the past, we are concerned when his statements attack the personal character of any one individual within the Town of Murray. While Mr. Sidonio may not like the employment conditions of our Highway Superintendent (Mr. Ed Morgan), let it be known that Mr. Morgan has done nothing wrong and simply receives the compensation and benefits that are rightfully due him in his many positions.

It’s well known that Mr. Sidonio plans to run for public office in November 2017, and has publically stated his interest in becoming the next Supervisor of the Town of Murray. It’s unfortunate that he chooses to attack a single individual in this Town in his belief that such allegations will strengthen his candidacy for this position. Perhaps the behavior and comments made by political candidates at the national level has also become the model for accusations that can be made here in Orleans County and the Town of Murray.

While we will no longer debate Mr. Sidonio in this, or any other publication, we do understand he can make comments as he chooses. We only ask Joe, that you keep your remarks focused on the workings of the Town Board rather than any one individual working within the Town. Is that too much to ask?

Town Board of the Town of Murray,

John Morriss, Supervisor
Ed Bower, Councilman
Kathy Case, Councilwoman
Lloyd Christ, Councilman
Paul Hendel, Councilman

Editor:

In January I wrote of the 15.5% Murray Town Tax Rate increase we experienced. At the 2016 budget hearing Supervisor John Morriss stated “it’s the best we could do”. Highway Superintendent Ed Morgan added “It’s really not that bad” and Councilman Paul Hendel commented “we are going to either raise taxes or cut services in 2017 because we spent all our savings.”

The most recent New York State Comptroller’s Audit Report is clear. “The Supervisor did not adequately oversee and monitor the book keeper’s work, which resulted in significant problems with accounting for and reporting of capital project activity, as well as the use of certain debt proceeds.” A representative of the Attorney General’s Office described our situation as the result of “fiscal mismanagement and or irresponsibility.”

Town Governments are beginning to think about budgeting and I’d like to suggest a simple way to save the taxpayers a few bucks. STOP FRIVOLOUS SPENDING. For example:

Our Highway & Water Superintendent earns a salary of $89,307.00 including a stipend of $1,200.00 a year for his private cell phone and collects his pension of $37,370.00. He has been absent at four Town Board Meetings this year perhaps as he is a member of multiple boards including Soil and Water and Regional OTB Board of Directors. OTB Board of Directors receive a nice five figure salary to boot.

Our Superintendent receives a payment in Lieu of health insurance stipend of $5,000.00 per year for not taking the Town of Murray’s health insurance. The Town of Murray enacted a local law providing the payment. In documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, Orleans County pays a maximum of $2,500/year for their stipend. Here in the Town of Murray we pay double that to our Highway Superintendent. It’s worth noting he is the only highway person to receive such a generous benefit by our Town while his highway workers are now required to contribute to their insurance policies, essentially taking a pay cut.

The $5,000/year payment wouldn’t be under such scrutiny if his spouse wasn’t an appointed official at the County eligible to cover his health insurance needs. Well there’s your taxpayer funded double dip. Our Town tax dollars pay him not to take health care while our County tax dollars can cover him. But let’s not stop there.

There’s a triple dip on the menu. Both are covered by the third taxpayer owned entity Off Track Betting. Our Superintendent is entitled to lifetime health care on the taxpayer as a member of the OTB Board of Directors. It appears that our elected highway superintendent has multiple opportunities to obtain taxpayer funded health care. Why then does the Town of Murray pay him $5,000 not to take our health plan? Simple: fiscal mismanagement and or incompetence.

To think the Murray Town Board rewards so generously its Highway Superintendent who’s water department has budgeted for a $66,000 loss this year is unfathomable. Furthermore, the Town has been overtaxing water district residents for years as acknowledged by Supervisor John Morriss in April. The Town owes its water district residents a refund for over taxation since the Town didn’t use the money for its intended purpose.

Our Highway Superintendent is also Chairman of the Orleans County Republican Party. It seems hypocritical to represent Orleans County Republicans at the Republican National Convention in Ohio carrying the flag for less government, low taxes and free enterprise while using our cell phone and knowing back home the taxpayers of Murray and Orleans County are paying handsomely for the triple dip on health care.

To add insult to injury our Highway Superintendent refuses to have Town of Murray decals on his new 2016 pickup truck. Since he is authorized to use it for personal use at our expense you would think he’d at least acknowledge the Town of Murray taxpayers who bought it for him while cruising around in his political circles.

Status Quo….Where your Taxes Go!!

Joe Sidonio
Republican
Town of Murray

Editor:

I wish to thank the Orleans Hub for providing a closure article to compliment your original article on the Circle of Love Memorial Garden. Your news coverage really helps the gap in local coverage!

I would also like to thank the the gals who pushed through and brought the Garden to completion. Your dedication was remarkable. Thank you for including me as the concept originator. I have to give credit to Tim Bensley, his wife and the Kid Corp! The young people who worked for Mr. Bensley did the majority of the heavy lifting, spreading and leveling stone and filling the gardens with dirt.

I would be remiss in not mentioning Ms. Hannah Pollard who organized and ran a large fund raiser to benefit the Garden, as well as, letting her business be a drop off point! Laura Fields created and maintained collection jugs in local businesses to raise money as well. Renee Lama for creating the labels for collection Jugs. Local businesses Medina Lumber for discounts on wood for entry way, Shelby Stone and Art Hill Construction for materials. Of course, Jenn Thom who got the charitable status for the Garden. Our plaque maker, JC, and goodness knows how many community members who gave change and more serious donations to make this Garden a reality. Lynn Stanley for the Angel and the late Irwin Mattoon for the birdhouse (currently occupied)!

It truly takes a community to undertake a project like this. There where hiccups, however, it is done and it is beautiful. Praise the Lord.

Dayton Hausman
Medina

Photo by Tom Rivers – A big crowd watches the fireworks in Lyndonville on July 4, 2016.

Editor:

The Lyndonville Lions Club held its 42nd Annual Independence Day Celebration on Monday, July 4th. The fireworks display, which culminated the festivities, was by far the greatest expense for the Lions Club on this day.

It is only with the response and support of area businesses, organizations and the general public that these fireworks are possible. I would like to thank each of the nearly 50 businesses and organizations that contributed to this year’s show.

In addition, thanks to all those individuals who bought raffle tickets throughout the year, who placed money in the Lyndonville Lions Club Independence Day Firecracker Cans and who donated money in the firecracker barrels on the LCS grounds.

Again, without the tremendous community-minded support of each and every one of you, a display such as this would not be possible. With your continued support, I hope for an even bigger show next year.

Sincerely,

Wes Bradley
Lyndonville Lions Club
Fireworks Fundraising Chairman

Editor:

I wanted to thank the Orleans Hub for your coverage of Mr. Evoy. I’m an Albion High School alumnus from class of ’94 now living and working in Tokyo, Japan.

Mr. Evoy was my social studies teacher senior year, I believe it was. This would have been when he was in his late 20s. My younger sister also had him for Social Studies. My mom, still living in Albion, forwarded the sad news this weekend. It is a tragedy indeed to hear of Mr. Evoy’s passing and it stirred some memories of my interaction with him.

A story about Mr. Evoy:

Mr. Evoy and I started off in a bit of an adversarial relationship around 1993-94 when we met. I was a bit of an instigator in high school, though I was a high honor roll student. In my senior year we had to write a long essay for social studies. I ended up writing a 42-page essay on government corruption. Mr. Evoy gave me a B+ on it. I remember going to his room after school and challenging him on my grade.

I contended he gave me a B+ because he didn’t agree with my paper, not because of the merit of the paper itself – the time spent, the citations, etc. I asked him how long his Master’s thesis was, and I think he answered, perhaps, 20 something pages – it as a number a bit below my figure.

Surprisingly, after some discussion he agreed I was right about his being biased, and he asked me what grade I thought I deserved. I wasn’t expecting him to actually admit bias, so I replied that an A-minus would be sufficient. I felt at the time it was a symbolic victory, but later realized it probably didn’t really matter. Perhaps he was just being kind by changing my grade, but I was struck by his integrity.

Mr. Evoy later asked me if I’d like to join Mock Trial. He was leading the team. I suspect he thought that my spunky attitude might be constructively used there. I ended up joining Mock Trial and we competed in the Orleans County Courthouse. I ended up really liking Mr. Evoy over the course of that. He turned me from an adversary into a team mate!

Even with a somewhat difficult student like me, that he could have easily dismissed, he found a way to turn it in a positive direction and open up an opportunity for me to no benefit of his own. It’s quite remarkable.

I’m happy to say I went back to the school and visited him again after I finished college and got married, in about 2003, and introduced my wife to him. He was working in the middle school at that time. Mr. Evoy was a lefty, politically speaking, and at the time I was a righty, but now, 13 years later, I’m a lefty, like he was. I’m sure if I had had the chance to meet him again, we would have finally found common ground after 22 years. I’m sad I’ll never get that chance.

When you’re a teenager, it’s just a different world you’re in. You think you’ve got it figured out, but you don’t. It takes a long time to figure it out. It’s often many years later, as an adult, that you really realize how good some of your teachers were, how amazingly tolerant they were, and how selflessly they afforded opportunities to us.

Goodbye, Mr. Evoy. You will be missed. May you rest in peace.

Sincerely and respectfully,
Joel Beckwith
Tokyo, Japan

Editor:

Bald Eagles are exciting to see and appropriate to celebrate as July 4th nears. Along the lake in Yates there have been juveniles as well as adult birds seen. There was just one pair of nesting Bald Eagles in New York State in the 1970’s, now it has become more common to see a Bald Eagle soaring over our beautiful landscape. The species survived and is thriving.

Doug Domedion has written several times this year in the Lake Country Pennysaver about the growing presence of the eagles and describes nests at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the discovery of new nests.

Industrial wind turbines have had permission to kill eagles from the federal government, called a “take.” The administration is revising a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that allows industrial wind companies to operate their turbines and sanctions up to 4,200 bald eagle deaths and injuries per year without a penalty.

They also propose a change for the killing of golden eagles, based on efforts the companies take in that case to minimize the losses. The current law states that industries can apply for a “take” permit that would essentially give permission for them to incidentally kill a certain number of eagles in the operation of their business. The permit can be given for a time period of up to 5 years.

One of the problems with the current law is that it is voluntary and so wind corporations are not applying for it. The government agencies have limited resources to go after industries that kill eagles. In this situation it is unlikely that wind industry employees would ever volunteer numbers about how many eagles they are killing each year in the operation of the wind turbines.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service revised rule will offer a special option for wind corporations to incidentally kill more eagles and to do so for up to 30 years instead of 5.

The director of Fish and Wildlife is quoted as saying the proposal will “provide a path forward” and is “a great tool to work with to further the conservation of two iconic species.” There are now three proposed industrial wind turbine sites in the area: along the lakeshore in Yates and Somerset, in Alabama and in Barre.

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s birthday, let the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service know your thoughts regarding these proposed revisions to the bald and golden eagle regulations, which it administers under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act).

There is an open comment period through July 5th. Here is the link: Eagle Permits: Revisions to Regulations for Eagle Incidental Take and Take of Eagle Nests. On the right hand side of the page you will see a “Comment Now” button or scroll down and use the listed address to mail your comments. Help protect our nation’s symbol of freedom, the Bald Eagle.

Georgette Stockman
Town of Yates

Editor:

This won’t even attempt to do justice to the life of Jeff Evoy and the respect, regard, and genuine affection so many of us had for him. He will be missed as one who devoted himself to serving others.

Never have I felt so disappointed that a visit to someone I admired was not undertaken. So many people around Genesee and Orleans counties must feel utterly despondent that such a wonderful human being has died.

On those occasions when our paths crossed, there was no mistaking the goodness, commitment to others, and genuine compassion for people of all ages that Jeff personified.

Wendi Pencille’s heartfelt remarks were mirrored by those of newly elected Medina School Board member Brenda Lindsay, with whom I spoke recently.  They were repeatedly affirmed by three other current and former members of the Board.

Anyone who was inspired, or in any way moved, by Jeff’s example of selflessness and dedication to the well-being of others would be served well to recommit themselves to greater service to others as a living legacy and tribute to the life of a wonderful man.

Though I always found him extremely humble, it would be the ultimate honor for those serving Medina Central School in any capacity to ask themselves in difficult times, “What would Mr. Evoy have wanted?”

With deepest sympathy to his family,

Gary Kent
Albion

Editor:

This letter is in regard to Mr. Riggi’s latest Letter to the Editor on the Orleans Hub.  I noticed that same letter was filed on to the Department of Public State Docket on behalf of the Town of Yates. (Click here to see letters on Public Service website about Lighthouse Wind.)

Was this truly a statement from the Town Board?  Did the Town Board pass a resolution to post this opinion as that of the Town of Yates?

It seems Mr. Riggi is using his status as town councilman to serve his personal opinion and agenda rather than the people of the town, his constituents. This is entirely inappropriate.

The role of a councilperson is to represent the town as a whole, but only through decisions made by a majority of town board members.

As a taxpayer, I sincerely hope Mr. Riggi is not presenting statements on behalf of the town without working with the council as a whole. Correction needs to be made to the Department of Public Service website to clarify if that is a personal opinion, if the board did not vote on this before it was posted.

Respectfully,

Howard Pierce
Lyndonville

I do a LOT of driving. In my line of work, I can put between 100-180 miles on my car on every given weekday. I do mostly “off the Thruway” driving and encounter some of the most infuriating driving situations, and some of the most deadly.

I am never so inclined to bother the Editor with what I call “Road Etiquette,” but an incident last week was appropriate as ever to address this to the community.

We have a ton of 4-way stops in Orleans, Monroe, Genesee and Niagara counties. And I’ve seen just about everything, to be sure. Last week was the most terrifying ever, because my son was in the backseat when it happened.

We were at the stop sign at East Shelby Road and 31A, and a FedEx truck was on the opposite side. He was trying to take a right, I a left. He had the right-of-way and 31A traffic was at 4 p.m., with people in a hurry to get home via speeding.

I patiently awaited the FedEx truck to take his right turn, so that I could safely take my left. And then he waived me on wanting me to take my left, no doubt feeling “gracious” and not considering the dangerous situation he was putting me in. This happens to me ALL OVER Western New York, and infuriates me to no end.

People waiving other drivers to go against the right-of-way unwittingly put them in danger, and they may not be aware of it; they just think they are being “nice” and want people like me to simply trust their judgment via hand gesture that it is “Alright Miss, go ahead, I will wait for your turn first since yours, the left, is the most tricky. I can’t assure you 100 percent that it is safe to go against the rules, you just have to trust me.”

So like a dummy, frustrated because the truck would not take his right turn until I took my left while traffic on 31A was flying by, I took the bait. And we, my son and I, nearly got killed because I did not see the green car to my left flying toward me due to my line of sight being low in my small car.

And how we did not get hit by this car is only a miracle from God. That car missed mine by milliseconds, honked loudly and I peeled out when I saw him by gunning my gas HARD. And the Fed Ex guy then went straight because he realized that because he was “Just being a nice guy,” he nearly caused a deadly car wreck. And the worst of it is, I know better.

Understand, drivers: Had I been hit, the fault would have been MINE.  Had my child been killed by ME agreeing to IGNORE the Rules of the Road, I would have been devastated and the guilt alone would kill me.

I would have been complicit in the FedEx driver’s negligence in going against the rules, and legally, there would be no recourse to me. Do you understand now, gracious drivers who think they are doing others a favor by “The Waive”?

Please, people, if you have the right-of-way just TAKE IT.  Spare the rest of us the guess work, the misplaced trust in your gracious hand gesture to “trust” you. You could save a life, simply by following the rules. Think about it. Would the gratuity be worth it if target of your grace got killed?
Thank you,

Kimberly Kennedy
Medina

Editor:

I read, with great interest, Mr. Pierce’s commentary on the “Who Has the D” opinion piece submitted to and published in The Orleans Hub, The Buffalo News and the NYS Department of Public Service site.

Mr. Pierce is mistaken in his belief that the piece represented the opinion of Yates Town Board. The piece was signed: John Riggi, Councilman, Town of Yates. It was not signed: John Riggi, Representing the Town Board of Yates. As such, Mr. Pierce can rest assured that the Town Board view was not represented in the opinion piece.

As always, I am available to all constituents to speak directly on any questions they may have.

John Riggi
Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

This is NOT a personal attack on any one writer but rather a generalized comment on the types of thinking that is probably occurring in the readership audience. All letter writers are to be complimented for their interest in issues of the day and their effort to voice their opinions.

In reading the “Letters to the Editor” on the subject of Apex and whether or not wind turbines should be installed in the Somerset/Yates area, there were two types of generalizations made that are disturbing in a democracy such as America is supposed to be.

Several statements were made that the citizen meetings had “rude” and “disrespectful” interactions with some of the Apex “speakers.” A democracy requires its citizenry to be dogged in their questioning of those who are telling others what they should and should not do.

Speakers come into a group with certain expectations of how they want to influence the group. The motivation behind these people taking the microphone may be as deep-seated as their own employment.

Get the “job done” or you lose your job or you may lose a “bonus” that would be significant. People from outside the community are especially protected because they do not have to live with the direct consequences of their own beliefs. Such outsiders to the community may live in a workplace bubble where there develops an “echo-chamber” of talk on what is right and what is wrong.

It can take “tough questioning” to break into the “insularity of beliefs” of leaders and so-titled “experts” to get to the reality of the situation. Some people may look upon this questioning as “disrespectful”. A democracy can only thrive if its citizenry is engaged and sometimes relentless in its quest for answers that make sense.

A second worrisome statement was made by a letter writer that “the military” should automatically be trusted. “The military” is a HUGE bureaucracy riddled with politics. I respect America’s military tremendously but it is unwise to automatically “trust” that the military will always “make decisions that are in our best interest.”

People make up any bureaucracy. People are motivated by all sorts of things and are not better or worse than people in any employment. All sorts of people work for the military and the entire spectrum of human behavior and intelligence is found therein.

Two of my favorite TV shows are Matlock and Colombo. The lead characters are annoying, bungling, and, disrespectful at times. By the end of the show, however, one realizes their tenaciousness has solved the mystery. I suspect some of the Yates and Somerset citizenry have a bit of Matlock and Colombo in them. These may be down-to-earth, country folks at their best.

In reading the letters to the Orleans Hub on the wind turbine controversy, to me it seems that the citizenry of Yates and Somerset are to be commended for their time and energy fighting to keep their democratic rights alive.

Elizabeth Storch
Middleport

Editor:

I wanted to thank the Shelby Women’s Auxiliary for putting on a great Father-Daughter Dance on June 4.

It was good old-fashioned fun and, unlike a prom and weddings, 95 percent of the attendees danced the whole time. It was nice to see all the supporting fathers having quality time.

For $20, I was able to have a wonderful evening with my daughter that she will always remember and even got to hang out with couple friends in the process. In closing I hope this will be an annual event, as I would like to hope we started a new tradition. Thank you.

Tim Elliott
Proud Father
Medina

Editor:

I am writing in concern to the two consecutive years of theft and vandalism at Boxwood Cemetery.

It is a difficult time for anyone who has to visit their lost loved ones at a cemetery; the memories, the tears and the pain of losing them is hard enough. It is even more distraught to fathom that two years in a row someone has stolen the flower arrangements that you took your time and money to place on the headstone in remembrance of your loved one. This makes you lose faith in humanity and the community in which we take so much pride in growing up in and living in.

I ask our community to pay attention to your surroundings while visiting your loved ones at a cemetery and take action if you see something out of the ordinary. I have faith in believing that what comes around goes around but it still behooves me that someone, in their right mind, finds it acceptable to rob the deceased and their family members of a place we try to find peace for our loved ones.

Sincerely,

Tricia A Nudd-Mroz
Medina