letters to the editor/opinion

Republican-endorsed candidates in Shelby committed to moving town forward

Posted 17 June 2025 at 6:02 pm

Editor:

Good day Shelby Republican voters! Primary election is here and it is important to get out and make your voice heard.

Please utilize early voting at the County Office building (Rt 31 Albion) if you are unable to vote at the Shelby building June 24, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your endorsed candidates are incumbent Scott Wengewicz for Town Supervisor, Mike Moriarty and Vassilious Bitsas for Council member.

As we gear up for another week of slander mailings and Facebook posts let it be known that before the Republican interviews for endorsement, Mr. Heminway (life-long Democrat), Mr. Zelazny (failed to attend interviews for a Republican endorsement or debate on 5/22/25) and Mr. Waters went to the Conservatives to be endorsed, making a Republican endorsement a secondary need. So, are they behind Republican values or seeking to be elected as Republicans in Name Only?

Mike and Vassilious are new to local government involvement. Both have voiced that the constituents of Shelby deserve better than what they have had the last 2-4 years with the bickering and finger pointing from council members who find fault, offering no solutions.

When interviewed to garner endorsement, Mike presented with confidence and spoke well on topics of personnel, budget and business. He is open minded and able to think for himself.

The committee agreed with his thoughts on the direction the town should be going in. He owns a small business and manages a multimillion dollar international produce company. Mike would like to see more business come to Shelby, but that is hard when a board is unwilling to work together.

Vassilious, while soft spoken, processes thoughts before speaking – a rare skill to some most days. He is very astute about his families business. He has the ability to function under pressure, multitask – think outside the box and is a team player showing leadership quality.

We found him engaging and what we thought a council member should bring to our town. Both would be fresh eyes and ears in bringing new ideas to the table. They do not have hidden agendas or a history of grudges with other town council members or supervisor.

Scott has been on an uphill battle since day one as Shelby Town Supervisor inheriting the 2023 budget. Extinguishing problems of personnel issues, harassment complaints, financial software problems, working with department heads & budgeting ARPA funds. Stood up for residents and looked for solutions to water rates while being ignored from Village of Medina and when members of both boards met to negotiate 2 hours later nothing was resolved.

He does the best he can with the limited support from his council members. He is looking forward to and continue working for the residents of Shelby. Scott would like to explore renegotiating the municipal agreement with the Village of Medina so Shelby receives the taxes from Maple Ridge merchants, research funding to rebuild the park in Shelby Center, and continue working on the water lines to form a loop so more dead end areas will no longer need to be flushed.

As we approach voting day June 24th, remember these individuals are our neighbors. Respect their rights to seek a public office. The amount of slander and bullying needs to stop. The residents of our amazing town deserve better.

Thank you,

Dale S. Root

Shelby Republican Chairman

Shelby council member says new leadership, culture change needed on board

Posted 16 June 2025 at 9:30 pm

Editor:

Dear Shelby residents, your voice is important, especially for this primary. It needs to be heard loud and clear so our Town can succeed.

As a council member for just over a year, I unfortunately cannot endorse the current course of action that we are taking, a tax-and-spend approach. When I decided to run for office it was with the intent to help my fellow neighbors, be sure Shelby’s best interests were being represented, and frankly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t voice my concerns.

Too many meetings have come and gone where critical information has been missing, my questions go unanswered, 42 years of experience in finance is dismissed, and all our research is disregarded by the current majority. This is unacceptable going forward.

The lack of transparency throughout the Town Board majority is appalling. It’s frowned upon to inquire about the simplest tasks, let alone major projects like changing our water supplier!

The majority, led by the Supervisor, fails to promote collaboration and shuts down any discussion from board members like myself and Mr. Zelazny. I like to think that we all decided to run for office to better our town, so our actions should speak louder than our campaign promises.

It’s unacceptable when the current majority purchases water at a cheaper rate and six months later, still has no plan to pass the savings onto residents! That’s poor leadership and it happens every day which hurts our families. Our Town deserves better.

New leadership is desperately needed. We need representatives like those who have shown up to Town meetings for years, and stayed up to date with issues, not ones who just take marching orders at a meeting.

Council members are not supposed to be “yes” people. A culture change is needed, a new majority without ties to the status-quo should be our path. Town government should work by being professional, inclusive, and fostering discussions which lead to solutions – values our current town supervisor does not promote.

Shelby needs us to raise the bar for Town Government. We need more people like myself and Mr. Zelazny to take a deeper look into the financials and make sure they get sorted out. We don’t have a revenue problem in our Town; we have a spending problem. Every budget this Supervisor has done has been riddled with financial mismanagement that sets Shelby deeper into chaos.

Residents of Shelby, please read these words and help change our town for the better. It takes a new majority and new leadership, not an endorsed status quo.

Councilman Zelazny and I need help to fight against this mismanagement. Return him to office with other new faces who have come to Town meetings for years, offer a fresh perspective on Town issues, and did this before some committee handpicked them to run for office. We need a better plan than the current tax and spend.

You have a chance in the upcoming June 24th primary to make a choice for change. Respectfully,

Linda Limina

Shelby

Heminway has proven experience as successful business executive

Posted 16 June 2025 at 7:48 am

Editor:

I don’t have a horse in this race as I’m not one of the 4,800+ people that live in the Town of Shelby. However, I do know a strong manager and have worked with Jim Heminway for over 9 years, initially as a colleague when he was the Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Digital Alert Systems (formerly known as Monroe Electronics) in Lyndonville and currently with his continued efforts as a board member for our company.

When considering someone for the position of Town Supervisor for Shelby, the ability to work with people is key. I’ve seen Jim work in a professional manner, remain calm during tense situations, have the intellectual strength to work through complex laws/rules governing our industry, understand the need for strong fiscal responsibility and hold the trust of our employees.

All these attributes will make him an excellent Town Supervisor, yet please allow me to describe the man beyond the manager.

Jim is excellent at listening to people’s points of view, whether he agrees with them or not. He is willing to listen and consider if he is missing a particular point that would improve a decision. He is not a “my way or the highway” kind of guy.

He is quick to ask, “How is your day” and mean it. If someone is struggling, Jim steps up with an attitude of cooperation, listening to their needs, offering alternative paths to move forward and rolling up his sleeves to assist.

Jim is quick to share a story and interacts with individuals with ease. He is sharp-witted but never sharp-tongued. He genuinely cares about the people he works with and seeks to elevate people rather than tear them down.

Jim is able to hold people accountable for doing their jobs but with a tone of guidance and respect.

The role of Town Supervisor is one of management but also one of heart. Jim Heminway has both.

I hope you will do Jim Heminway the honor of casting your vote for him as Town Supervisor of the Town of Shelby.

Anne Wakeman

Executive Vice President

Digital Alert Systems, Inc.

Lyndonville

Republican-endorsed candidates in Barre present priorities for town

Posted 14 June 2025 at 3:11 pm

Editor:

The Town of Barre has a Republican primary this year.  We need all registered voters to turn out as in a small town, every vote matters.

We are the candidates endorsed by the Republican party: Steven Coville for Town Supervisor; Dave Allen and Wes Miller for Town Board.

We seek to represent our community with integrity, commitment and common-sense leadership.  While there are other Republicans in the race, we believe our priorities, vision and dedication to practical solutions set us apart as the best choice  for our town’s future.

Our many years of voluntarily serving on the planning and grievance committees and serving on the zoning committee demonstrates our commitment to serving this community.

Agriculture is the backbone of our community and we fully support our local farm businesses and ag-related businesses. We understand the challenges they face from regulations to marketing and we will be a strong advocate for protecting and expanding our ag economy.

Clean reliable drinking water should never be a luxury. All residents should have safe and secure access to clean drinking water. This is a quality-of-life issue. Portions of our town are without public water or internet access.

We also believe we are stronger when we work together. That’s why we will actively seek partnerships with neighboring communities to tackle challenges to the benefit of everyone.

Fiscal responsibility is not a campaign promise for us, but it’s a guiding principle. Every dollar must be used wisely and transparently. We will prioritize budgeting that reflects the needs and values of our residents, not waste or politics.

Mostly we will listen. We believe in hearing from all sides, considering every viewpoint and then making a decision that is truly in the best interest of our entire town.

This election is about who can lead with clarity, fairness and a commitment to all residents.  We are ready to do the work and ask for your trust and vote on June 24th.

Thank you.

Your Republican candidates,

Steven Coville

Dave Allen

Wesley Miller

Barre

Heminway would be a proven leader as Shelby town supervisor

Posted 13 June 2025 at 6:18 pm

Editor:

When I first learned that Jim Heminway was seeking an elected office, my immediate reaction was, “Why?” He’s retired, go fishing!

But before that thought had fully formed in my brain, the answer was right there. The why is simple; he’s looking to make a difference in his community — a genuine, if not noble, chance to give back to an area and people that he truly respects.

It’s that last word, “respect,” that carries the most gravitas. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Jim for over 16 years. I can say without exception that he is the consummate manager, one who earned my trust and respect by always acting with the utmost professionalism regardless of the individual or the situation. Whether he was dealing with the vice-president of a multi-billion-dollar corporation or a tiny little radio station, each was treated the same way – with respect.

Beyond his personal actions and self-accountability, he recognizes that success isn’t built by one person — that a team is what breeds ultimate success. To this end, Jim possesses an uncanny ability to understand how the right talent can be leveraged to achieve results.

Through his enviable management style, he creates an environment that fosters the best in each individual and provides the right words of direction or encouragement to keep even the strongest personality types on the right track and avoid unnecessary and detrimental conflict.

Jim provides the perfect mix for a town supervisor. Someone with years of top-level management over million-dollar budgets, hundreds of people, and dozens of disciplines. His proven track record of successes is further testament to a leader who asks for and gets results, as well as a person who can be trusted to say what they will do and do what they say. When you combine those attributes with someone who wants to do the job, you’re poised for the best possible outcome.

I sincerely hope the voters in your community take this unique opportunity to elect Jim as Town of Shelby Supervisor. He has, and always will have, my full endorsement regardless of whatever role he seeks.  I encourage your voters to elect Jim Heminway and watch things get done!

Respectfully submitted,

William G. Robertson

VP Business Development

Digital Alert Systems in Lyndonville

Republicans should stand up for clean energy initiatives being gutted by Trump

Posted 10 June 2025 at 5:40 pm

Editor:

The Inflation Reduction Act is under attack! This policy serves to spur private investment, clean our electric grid and reduce costs for consumers. Our district benefited from this when Plug Power invested $387 million for their facility in the STAMP industrial park.

Sadly, the budget bill passed out of the House shackles NY energy, increases costs for consumers, jeopardizes the economy and our energy security and puts us at a dis-advantage on the world stage due to the fact that it guts the clean energy provisions of the IRA.

These cuts will stall innovation in advanced energy technologies like nuclear, geothermal, and long-duration storage, increase our climate pollution and put $500 billion in investments in our energy supply at risk. Gutting the IRA would be a de-facto tax on energy.

I hope that Congresswoman Claudia Tenney will follow in the footsteps of Republican environmental giants of the 20th century like Teddy Roosevelt and Richard Nixon and support solutions to address environmental problems by restoring the clean energy provisions of the IRA.

As a lifelong Republican and a member of Citizen’s Climate Lobby, I know that Conservation is Conservative!

Rob Johnson

Medina

McKenna says he has served Barre well on Town Board by asking questions, seeking answers

Posted 9 June 2025 at 4:51 pm

Editor:

I have decided to continue to run for a second term in office; to be a voice of reason, fairness, and integrity.

In my 4 years I have voted against raising the tax cap, questioned expenditures, and voiced concerns about needless spending. I have found extra revenue in exploring our previous exceedingly low interest revenues, resulting in a shift from approximately $3,000 a year, to now over $60,000 a year in additional interest revenue.

As a successful business owner of a Barre business for over 35 years, I bring a different look at spending and our budget. I have worked to get Water District 10 installed, but only if the majority of residents show interest and are able to afford it. I plan to speak against proceeding until then, while pushing for grant money to help make it more affordable.

I desire to hear from the residents of Barre and give them a voice. When I ran 4 years ago updating the comprehensive plan was a main task I ran on. I had requested and pushed for this while serving as an alternate on the planning board, as the survey (where we hear from Barre residents) was over 10 years old. Despite opposition to updating the comprehensive plan, I have represented the board and chaired the committee, and the survey was completed to hear from the residents of Barre.

I will continue to put forth the time and energy to review and actively participate in all parts of serving on the Town Board. I have continued fighting for the health and safety of our residents in dealing with New York State and Heritage Wind. I still have concerns about infrasound, shadow flicker, continuously blinking lights, decreasing property values, and visual blight that will have a negative effect on our residents.

These concerns are supposed to be offset by money coming into the town from the project. Unfortunately, the 60-million-dollar campaign over 30 years’ promise of a few years ago now stands at less than 20-million-dollars for over 20 years because of past boards who were in favor of the project or didn’t mind either way.

Additionally, the decommission costs could sit at well over 20 million dollars in 20 years. Where is the benefit? Yes, the project has been approved but with the right voices on council questions that should be and need to be answered can be demanded to be answered by New York State and not just look the other way so lease holders and residents being paid by Heritage Wind can continue to collect their money while the rest of their neighbors suffer the consequences. Questioning and ensuring that companies do what they say they will, and looking to the future can and will benefit all residents of Barre, including leaseholders.

It is probably because of these views that the Republican Committee of Barre, which is composed of three lease holders, did not endorse me. They would not provide me with a reason even after requesting one multiple times.

I am aware of the costs to the town when holding a primary and I had said that I wouldn’t force one if I were the only one running alone. Thankfully I am not running alone. Scott Burnside agreed to make the commitment of running to serve as our Town Supervisor and he truly cares about all residents of Barre.

My wife, Iva, as a strong business person, specifically in human resources, and well versed in what is currently facing the Town of Barre stepped up to run. She has attended most meetings with me for the past four years.

Iva is dedicated, understanding, empathetic and a strong leader. She also knows what it takes to serve our community as she served on the Albion School Board for 8 years. We did seek and request others to run for town council; but everyone who we asked had legitimate reasons for not seeking election.

We took the necessary steps to ensure that this is legal. No, we will most definitely not agree on everything, but we have been a good team for over 40 years, and we do have a combined residency in Barre of over a hundred years. There is no question that she will be attentive to your concerns and protect your rights. You can rest assured knowing that she will be a strong voice for you.

We request that you vote Scott Burnside for Supervisor, George McKenna and Iva McKenna for Town of Barre Councilmembers in the primary on June 24.

Thank you for your vote for a better Barre.

Dr. George McKenna

Current Town Councilman for Barre

Collaborative solutions needed to address housing gaps in Orleans County

Posted 5 June 2025 at 7:37 am

Editor:

I am writing in response to the recent letter published by Tim Elliott regarding the potential for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the Village of Medina. His thoughtful proposal illustrates exactly the kind of community-driven, flexible thinking that will be required to solve the housing crisis here in Orleans County.

At the United Way of Orleans County, we have been working to elevate housing as a critical priority through collaborative, inclusive, and data-informed strategies. On May 15, we hosted the county’s first-ever Affordable Housing Summit—Building Pathways: Collaborative Solutions for Housing Development in Orleans County—bringing together over 70 stakeholders, including local officials, developers, nonprofit leaders, staff from three area charitable foundations, and interested residents.

Our keynote speaker,  David A. Smith of the Affordable Housing Institute, shared some simple principles for successful development of real estate in a rural community.  Starting with a slide of the old county Poor House in Albion, he encouraged the audience to think about what the community needs and has to offer, not about what the government could provide.

“What you need is: Land, Money, and Helpful Friends,” he said. “They’re the ingredients of successful real estate developments. If you have enough of any one of them, you can turn it into the other two.”

He pointed out that rural churches often have land and helpful friends (both congregants and the extended community of local elected officials). They also have a natural community of trust in each other, which can turn into effective demand, in-kind contribution of services that reduce total development cost, and access to credit that lowers the cost of capital.

We also welcomed the Assistant Commissioner at the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal, Leonard Skrill, who emphasized the opportunities available to “Pro-Housing Communities” through state support—opportunities Medina and other communities in Orleans County could explore with modest zoning reforms like those Mr. Elliott proposes. He encouraged anyone with questions to contact him, and he would make an appointment with them to review their project and offer suggestions for obtaining funding.

Our Housing Action Strategy, presented by former Legislator Ken DeRoller and housing consultant Nick Coulter, identified key challenges such as aging housing stock, affordability gaps, and declining population trends. Their presentation culminated in five core priority interventions that United Way and our partners see as a feasible step forward to begin to address the shortage of affordable housing in our communities:

  1. Launching a Landlord/Property Owner Upkeep Incentive Program
  2. Expanding senior and workforce housing opportunities
  3. Supporting housing models that address homelessness
  4. Promoting the development of multi-household housing
  5. Assisting local municipalities in achieving Pro-Housing Community certification

Mr. Elliott’s call to action aligns perfectly with these priorities. ADUs, when properly regulated, are one practical step toward building housing diversity that benefits seniors, caregivers, and young families alike.

Now is the time for all of us—government, nonprofits, developers, and citizens—to work together toward practical, community-centered solutions to meet the growing need for multiple types of housing.

We believe we can secure support from charitable foundations to assist in this effort.  If you are interested in learning more, or being involved in our Housing Action Task Force, please reach out to us.

  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Sincerely,

Nyla Gaylord

Executive Director of United Way of Orleans County

Medina Sports Boosters appreciate sports photography volunteer

Posted 4 June 2025 at 7:01 am

Editor:

Chad Kroening is a mainstay at Medina games, taking photos of students and coaches.

Photography has the incredible ability to freeze moments in time, transforming them into treasured memories.

Medina Mustang Sports Boosters is fortunate to have an instrumental volunteer, Chad Kroening, to capture these moments. Chad is a father of four with a full-time job and still finds time to donate numerous hours to the organization.

Rain, shine, wind or snow, he travels around the campus to attend home games of all of the sports throughout the year as well as multiple away games. Mr. Kroening spends countless hours capturing, editing and sharing photographs. He ensures that families get the best possible images of their children and posts on the Mustang Sports Boosters social media for all families to enjoy, free of charge.

In addition to his photography skills, Chad creates a sense of belonging in the Medina community. His work helps highlight the dedication of not only the athletes but also the coaches and supporters behind the scenes. The impact of his work goes far beyond the photographs themselves; it strengthens bonds among families and friends.

Chad’s impact on the Medina Mustang sports programs is truly invaluable. He embodies the spirit of community and youth sports. The board of directors of the Medina Mustang Sports Boosters are incredibly grateful for his time, energy and unwavering support and appreciate his Mustang Pride.

Board of Directors for Medina Sports Boosters

Albion students hosting discussion June 4 on issues in community

Posted 3 June 2025 at 2:10 pm

Editor:

We are three Albion High School students who want to make a difference in our community. We are trying to reach out to as many people who have the same goal as us as possible.

We have set up a meeting at Dubby’s Tailgate on June 4 at 7 p.m. in order to discuss how we can do that. There will be food and drinks available for purchase.

We will bring statistical data to show how the students at Albion feel about their community. We are trying to have an open and honest conversation with anyone willing to help about how we can fix problems in our community.

Anyone who would like to attend is welcome to.

Zackary Baron, Sawyer Brigham and James Earl Ruiz

Albion

Farmworkers deserve respect, not unwarranted hostility especially when at the grocery store

Posted 3 June 2025 at 1:47 pm

Editor:

A few days ago, some Mexican workers from our farm were food shopping at Save A Lot in Albion. They were approached by a very agitated man who said, “you m—– f—— should go back to Mexico where you belong, I’m calling immigration on you.”

This vulgarity is one that is especially hurtful to those of Hispanic culture. This man was also taking pictures of them, their van, and possibly doing video.

Some background on the workers, many of them have been coming to our farm for ten years or more. They come through the federal H2A program which makes it totally legal for them to be in the US and to work for up to ten months.

These are loyal, hardworking, good men. We value their dedication to our farm operation, their knowledge of what it takes to grow top-quality apples, and their willingness to work alongside us every day. These jobs are not easy, require long hours, sometimes in bad weather, and they have to leave their families for extended periods.

We could not grow apples without the high-quality work they do. In the H2A program, the farm owner has to offer these jobs to local workers and hire them if they apply and qualify.  We have had about four local people apply for jobs in the last ten years, none of them lasted more than a week.

To the man who yelled obscenities at our guys and made them be afraid of what might happen, please think before you berate good people again. Our guys took a video of you during your tirade. You appear quite well fed and had a bag of groceries.

The vital workers on our farm, and others like them across the country make sure grocery bags like yours are full of made in the USA produce.  You should be thanking them, not cursing and abusing them.

Jeff Smith

Medina

Solar projects consume too much precious land locally

Posted 28 May 2025 at 9:39 am

Editor:

The push for solar energy is often framed as a victory for the environment. But here in rural New York, what’s happening on the ground tells a very different story. Many solar developments are quietly stripping our farmland for profit while hiding behind a “clean energy” label.

Here’s how the process unfolds:

1. Landowners are lured with lease offers—20–30 years of “passive income.” But the fine print often includes surrendering soil rights, which most landowners don’t realize.

2. Once signed, developers strip the land of its topsoil, the living layer essential for farming. In its place, they truck in engineered sand—crushed rock that supports panel installation but kills the biology beneath.

3.  Solar developers then collect state and federal tax breaks, all funded by us, the taxpayers. Meanwhile, local resources are degraded.

4. The stripped soil isn’t just discarded—it’s sold. At $30–$50 per cubic yard, just 2,500 acres of topsoil can generate $75–$125 million in side profit for these companies. This isn’t renewable energy. It’s a resource grab.

5. Water runoff becomes a major issue. Engineered sand doesn’t absorb water like real soil. Rain now rushes off the land, causing erosion, flooding, and ecological damage across adjacent properties.

6. After 20 or 30 years, what’s left? Degraded, compacted land with no life in it. There is no guarantee of reclamation or restoration. The panels are obsolete, the companies are gone, and the land is ruined.

This is not a future we should accept. Solar, done right, can help us transition to sustainable energy. But what’s happening here in our region is nothing short of a soil heist—and it’s happening with our tax dollars.

We must demand better. That includes soil protection clauses in leases, local oversight of decommissioning plans, and transparency about what really happens to our land under solar projects.

If we lose our soil, we lose our ability to grow food, to hold water, to pass on land that’s worth something to the next generation.

Solar is a soul heist. Don’t let your legacy get stripped and sold off in the name of progress.

Gina L. Miller

Carlton, 100-acre land owner

Shelby candidate says volunteers provide inspiration for community service

Posted 22 May 2025 at 10:09 am

Editor:

Since I announced my candidacy for the position of Town of Shelby Supervisor, I have had the opportunity to visit with the members of the Shelby and East Shelby Volunteer Fire Companies.

These visits have prompted me to reflect more deeply on my view of “community” as a group of people with shared values. In the case of the fire companies, it does not matter what your political party is, what your religious beliefs are, whether you live in the village or out of village.  They may not always agree with each other but when the call is made, they come together for the good of the residents.

Most in our community do not become firefighters. Some give by coaching youth sports, becoming a teacher or joining another civic organization. For me I have decided to run for this position, using my 40+ managerial experience, to make a difference.

Make no mistake, we are facing that emergency call for our community. Taxes keep going up, vital services like the ambulance are in the balance, housing has become more expensive, a scarcity of good paying jobs and unless we act it will only get worse.

I am sure many of you are wondering how much longer you can afford to live here. Instead of looking to work with our neighbors for solutions, we have a town board where the 3-to-2 majority views the 48% of Shelby residents that live in the village adversaries. Last year they spent $141,000 in legal fees, of which tens of thousands were spent pursuing other board members or town employees.

My goal in running for office is to restore the element of trust in our local town government. In short, take the model of these volunteer organizations, working with others to reshape the Shelby Town Board to better serve our community.

Jim Heminway

Medina

Medina urged to allow accessory dwelling units to help fill housing need

Posted 22 May 2025 at 9:50 am

Editor:

This letter is addressed to the Medina Mayor and Village Board: With limited housing availability and an aging population, it is increasingly important to support affordable, flexible living arrangements that help families stay close.

Current zoning regulations in our village often prohibit multiple dwellings on a single property. However, we encourage the board to explore modest zoning changes that would allow accessory dwelling units—such as in-law suites (like a converted carriage house)—under tightly controlled conditions.

Several New York communities have already adopted similar measures successfully:

  • Hyde Park, NY allows attached or detached ADUs up to 35% of the primary dwelling’s floor area, with owner occupancy required and no extra parking mandates.
  • Kingston, NY permits ADUs up to 650 sq ft or 50% of the main home’s size. It requires owner occupancy and replaces any lost parking within zoning limits.
  • Rhinebeck, NY enables ADUs up to 750 sq ft, with owner occupancy and off-street parking requirements to maintain neighborhood balance.
  • Saugerties, NY caps ADUs at 600 sq ft or 25% of the building’s habitable space, and requires additional off-street parking.
  • Tarrytown, NY allows ADUs up to 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the primary home’s size, with a six-month minimum lease term and parking provisions.

These communities have implemented ADU policies with safeguards that ensure these units are not abused and fit within the residential character of their neighborhoods. Similar regulations could benefit our village by expanding housing options for seniors, caregivers, and extended families, while maintaining the integrity of our zoning framework.”

I ask respectfully request that the Village Board consider tasking the Planning Board with reviewing these possibilities and bringing forward recommendations that align with the needs and values of our community.

Tim Elliott

Medina

Drastic action needed to stop the frequent accidents at Butts Road underpass in Albion

Posted 16 May 2025 at 4:51 pm

Editor:

What can be done to stop this?

I have written previous articles about the Butts Road railroad underpass and the many accidents that have happened over the years involving vehicles impacting the underpass or getting wedged underneath it.

In the last two weeks the underpass has been impacted three different times, a local farm owned bus, a pickup truck, and now today’s accident that shut the underpass down to traffic for almost two hours.

I witnessed multiple vehicles down here trying to get through and had to turn around and some even tried to go under just after they got the underpass cleared.

People don’t seem to pay attention to the height clarence signs of 7 feet, 2 inches or the speed down here its clearly marked 40 miles per hour.

My honest opinion is the Butts Road underpass should be sealed and turned into a dead end to avoid someone getting seriously hurt or killed.

With the way the accidents keep occurring it’s not a matter of if but when.

Aaron Vosburgh

Albion