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Albion, Medina budgets both pass with big support

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Voters in Albion and Medina school districts gave overwhelmingly support to the school budgets in voting that ended at 8 p.m. today.

Albion’s $33,551,051 budget passed with 346 yes votes and 76 against it. Medina’s $34,479,994 budget passed, 532 to 96.

Polls are open in Holley, Kendall and Lyndonville districts until 9 p.m.

Albion elected a new member to the Board of Education with Wendy Kirby replacing Kevin Doherty on the nine-member body.

Voters picked incumbent David Sidari, 355 votes, and Kirby, 324, for five-year terms. Marie Snyder was elected to finish a one-year term. She received 281 votes. Doherty, a 10-year veteran on the board, received 201 votes.

“They’re all good people,” Doherty said about the elected BOE members. “The continuity of the board will continue.”

The district’s budget increased spending by 0.61 percent, but there was a small tax decrease of 0.1 percent or $7,007 to $8,439,939.

The budget passed with 82 percent support. Residents also approved a bus proposition (357 to 66) to spend up to $440,000. Residents by a 296 to 126 vote also approved $667,070 for Hoag Library.

The district has only raised taxes once in the past eight years while maintaining its academic and extracurricular programs.

“That’s pretty incredible,” said Michael Bonnewell, the district superintendent. “Folks support their school and they see an efficient fiscal program.”

In Medina, 84.7 percent of the 628 voters backed the budget, which increases spending by 2 percent but doesn’t increase taxes.

Residents, 528 to 100, also approved a proposition to spend $200,000 for one 66-seat bus and two 30-seat passenger buses.

Five candidates were running for four seats on the BOE. The three incumbents all received three-year terms with David Sevenski receiving 486 votes, followed by Christopher Keller at 421 and William Keppler at 419.

Renee Paser-Paull was elected to a one-year term with 418 votes. Former BOE member Virginia Nicholson wasn’t elected. She received 344 votes.

No additional state or fed dollars for Albion bridge

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Village officials say bridge demo, blocked-off street likely outcome for Clarendon Street

Photo by Tom Rivers – Rich Perrin (right), executive director of the Genesee Transportation Council, meets with Albion and state Department of Transportation officials this afternoon at Village Hall to discuss the Clarendon Street bridge. Perrin confirmed there wouldn’t be additional state or federal dollars to help with escalating costs of the project.

ALBION – The village of Albion won’t be getting an increase in state or federal dollars to help with the escalating costs of the Clarendon Street bridge replacement, village officials were told this afternoon by Rich Perrin, executive director of the Genesee Transportation Council.

The dollars simply aren’t there, and if there was more money it would go to projects in the region with higher traffic volumes than the Clarendon bridge, which sees 1,600 vehicles a day, Perrin said.

The village was told last week that costs were up nearly $600,000 from what was budgeted for the project, and that increase would have to be paid for with local dollars. The $2 million project was supposed to be an 80 percent share federally, 15 percent share by the state and 5 percent by the village.

But now the village cost could be as high as $775,000 rather than $200,000 in what the village saw as a worst-case scenario.

The local burden has prompted Mayor Dean London and the majority of the board to look at canceling the bridge replacement and demolishing the bridge. The section of the street by the railroad tracks would be blocked off in that scenario.

That would be far cheaper than building a new bridge. State and federal dollars would more than cover those reduced costs, Perrin and DOT officials said this afternoon.

One village trustee, Stan Farone, doesn’t want to see a torn down bridge and closed off street.

“We’re trying to build up our village,” he said at an afternoon meeting today with Perrin and DOT officials. “We’re trying to make our village look presentable.”

Farone said Clarendon Street is an important artery in the village, especially for morning and afternoon school traffic. The street also runs along Bullard Park, which the village wants to see upgraded with new playground equipment. He worries about a blocked off street that would be turn unsightly at the endpoints by the railroad tracks.

“We want to bring people to the village not make it a dump,” Farone said.

The village is working with Bergmann Associates to have a rendering of how the blocked off section could look. The village would like to have that ready by a 7 p.m. meeting June 11 at Village Hall.

The community, including the school district, should weigh in on the impacts of blocking off the street. Perrin said it will create a 2/3 mile detour to McKinistry Street. With 1,600 vehicles each day that is about 1,000 extra miles daily for Albion drivers due to the detour, he said.

The village has been working on the Clarendon Street bridge replacement since 1999. That’s when the project was first on the GTC radar. Money was appropriated for the project but it didn’t get done within the 10-year window established for the projects.

The village reapplied and was awarded the funding again in 2010. But construction, which was set for this fall, now is in limbo. Village officials either need to forge ahead with construction or a demolition, said Rick Papaj, local projects unit supervisor for the DOT.

There can’t be more delays or else Albion could lose the $1.3 million set aside in state and federal money for the project, he said. The DOT and GTC want the village to pick a plan by August.

Perrin said he sympathizes with the village. Sometimes the budgeted amount is approved and then the costs jump for projects that are years in the making. The state and federal government haven’t allocated additional funding to help with those increases, he said.

He expects to see more closed off or demolished bridges due to dwindling funds.

“We’re dealing with a managed decline,” he said about the region’s infrastructure. “Bridges are being posted or closed on a regular basis. Eventually you can’t Band Aid major wounds.”

The DOT faulted the village for a series of delays with the project. The village in 1999 said it intended to have a new bridge built, but then looked at taking the bridge out and establishing an at-grade crossing at the railroad tracks.

The village abandoned that when it was told it would have to remove two other at-grade crossings in the village. It also previously looked at removing the bridge and blocking off the street.

Papaj, however, said the village was in an unusual spot. Most bridges the size of Clarendon Street are owned by counties, which are accustomed to the process of working with the DOT and GTC to move the projects along. Counties also have more cash flow to handle the financial demands of the projects.

Bigger municipalities also have a full-time manager or engineer that can keep the projects moving forward, Papaj said.

Village trustees Eileen Banker and Gary Katsanis said the village needs to move on the demolition, or risk losing the federal and state dollars. They both said the local share – at nearly $1 million – is too much for the village.

“It’s do or die,” Banker said.

98 will be dedicated as Genesee/Orleans Veterans Memorial Highway

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 May 2014 at 12:00 am

POINT BREEZE – There will be two formal dedication ceremonies this week declaring Route 98 in Orleans and Genesee counties as the “Genesee/Orleans Veterans Memorial Highway.”

The ceremony in Orleans County will be 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Point Breeze Exit off Lake Ontario State Parkway.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. George Maziarz are scheduled to attend the dedication ceremony, which is open to the public.

“In memory of the soldiers who gave their lives to defend our freedoms, we are dedicating the Genesee/Orleans Veterans Memorial Highway,” Hawley said. “As we enter Memorial Day weekend, I hope that people will take time to reflect on the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers and commit their lives to the service of their neighbors. This is how we can truly honor their memory.”

Genesee County will have a dedication ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Friday in Attica at the Genesee-Wyoming County line on Route 98 at 11281 Alexander Rd.

Brockport man escapes injury after pulling in front of train in Hulberton

Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos courtesy of Jimmie Jo Neary – A pickup truck driven by Lee D. Sietmann is on fire after a collision with a train this morning in Hulberton.

Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess

HULBERTON – A Brockport man escaped serious injury this morning when the pickup truck he was driving struck a moving train in the town of Murray.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. in the 3600 block of Hulberton Road at intersection with the Falls Railroad.

Lee D. Sietmann, 24, was the sole occupant of a 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. He was traveling south on Hulberton Road, when the vehicle struck the west bound 3-car freight train, operated by Genesee Valley Transportation Co., Inc., of Batavia.

The train was already on the “at-grade” crossing when the collision occurred.  Upon striking the locomotive, the impact spun the truck into one of the crossing warning-light poles after which the truck struck the train a second time, before coming to rest on the north/west corner of the crossing.

Sietmann was able to escape the vehicle before it burst into flames and was totally consumed by fire. He was transported as a precautionary measure by Holley Volunteer Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

The train travelled approximately 50 yards west of the crossing before stopping.  The engineer is identified as Neal D. Keirn, 56, of Middleport in Niagara County.  The conductor is identified as Lawrence X. Zablonski, 49, of Lackawanna in Erie County.

They were the only individuals on board at the time of collision and neither was injured. The two freight cars each contained about 130 tons of fertilizer. Neither one of the cars/contents was compromised.

The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Deputy E.N. Fuller, Sergeant D.W. Covis, and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan.  Deputies were assisted by the Holley and FHM (Fancher-Hulberton-Murray) Fire Departments and Monroe Ambulance.  Representatives of Genesee Valley Transportation and the Falls Railroad were also on-scene.

The investigation will continue in an effort to determine what factors contributed to the crash. Charges against Lee Sietmann are pending.

Clarendon native was world-renowned naturalist

Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

CLARENDON – One of Clarendon’s most famous citizens was Carl E. Akeley, a noted taxidermist, naturalist, sculptor and author.

Here he is in his studio shortly before he died in 1926.

The Clarendon Historical Society will celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth on May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Clarendon Rec Hall.

Special guest speaker will be Jay Kirk, author of “Kingdom Under Glass.”

He will present a program on Akeley, who is known for creating African Hall at New York’s Museum of Natural History.

A historic marker on Hinds Road notes where Akeley was born and grew up.

An early example of his work dating to around 1880, a stuff fox, is on display at the Cobblestone Museum in Childs.

Rochester man sentenced to 6 months in jail for selling drugs in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Rochester man was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years on Probation after he sold cocaine from the Burger King in Albion on Nov. 22.

Kamerin Burroughs, 23, of Normandy Street pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He is a first-time offender. His attorney Steven Sercu asked for no jail time, citing Burroughs had no prior criminal history and was raised in a supportive two-parent household.

“This isn’t the way Mr. Burroughs was raised,” Sercu told Orleans County Court Judge James Punch this afternoon.

The CPCS charge carries a maximum of 2 ½ years in state prison. Punch said Burroughs involvement in selling in heroin and cocaine warranted time behind bars.

“This is not a tiny amount of cocaine and heroin,” Punch said. “This is serious stuff.”

Burroughs was asked to cooperate in a drug investigation by the Rochester Police Department, but Burroughs declined, saying he feared retaliation. Punch said that fear shows how far Burroughs had sunk in associating wth dangerous people.

“I would like to apologize to you and your community for coming out here with this garbage,” Burroughs told Judge Punch.

The judge said Burroughs has a lot of potential.

“I hope you turn things around starting right now,” Punch told Burroughs.

In another local drug case, a Medina man pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Kimberly C. Dillon, 57, of 135 State St. could face up to six months in jail as part of a plea deal. If the sentence exceeds six months, he can withdraw the plea and go to trial.

In court today Dillon admitted he sold hydrocodone and acetaminophen from his house on Nov. 25, 2013. He will be sentenced on July 21 at 2 p.m.

Dillon initially was charged with three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and one count of welfare fraud in the third degree.

He and six others were arrested in January following a six-month investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription narcotics and marijuana in the village of Medina, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported at the time of the arrests.

Dunkin’ is going up in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The new Dunkin’ Donuts building is taking shape on Main Street by the railroad tracks in Albion.

The new building will be 2,000 square feet with a 230-square-foot freezer next to the building.

Dunkin’ had a warehouse taken down to make room for the new building. There will also be 46 parking spaces and driveways on Main and Platt streets.

Most school districts avoid tax increase

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Voters will weigh in on budgets, candidates and propositions on Tuesday

Residents will go to the polls on Tuesday to vote on school budgets, propositions for buses and library funding, and also to elect members of the Board of Education.

Two of the districts will actually cut taxes, two will maintain the same tax levy and one is proposing a small increase.

Here is a snapshot of each district:

Albion

The district is proposing a $33,551,051 budget that increases spending by 0.61 percent from the $33,349,049 in 2013-14.

Albion is proposing a small tax decrease – a drop of 0.1 percent or $7,007 to $8,439,939.

The budget maintains existing programs and sets aside about $130,000 more for computer hardware, software and bandwidth upgrades in anticipation to a transition to on-line testing.

Four candidates are running for three positions on the Board of Education: two five-year terms and one one-year term. The top two vote-getters will get the five-year terms while the candidate with the third most votes gets the one-year term.

Kevin Doherty and David Sidari are both finishing five-year terms. They are running again. Marie Snyder, another incumbent, had a break from the BOE but was recently appointed to fill a vacancy from Melissa Osburn.  Her term has one year remaining. Snyder will be on the ballot. Wendy Kirby also is running for the BOE.

Propositions include $440,000 to spend for buses and $667,070 for Hoag Library. The library money is up 2.0 percent from the $654,000 in 2013-14.

Voting is from noon to 8 p.m. at the elementary school’s conference room A.

Holley

The 2014-15 operating budget is proposed at $25,070,000, a 9.11 percent increase over the 2013-14 budget of $2,093,571. The budget figure represents the addition of all-day kindergarten, four instructional staff positions and the elimination of short-term debt.

Other propositions include: establishing a $2.5 million capital reserve fund; reducing the size of the Board of Education from seven to five positions (If approved, it becomes effective, July 1, 2015); and raising $104,705 in taxes for the Community Free Library, which is up 2.0 percent from the $102,652 in 2013-14.

Three candidates are running for three positions, with the top two candidates getting three-year terms and other receiving a two-year term.

John Heise, the former BOE president, is running again after choosing not to a year ago. Other candidates include incumbents Robin Silvis and Salvatore DeLuca Jr. Another incumbent, Norman Knight, has opted not to seek re-election.

The vote will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley Middle School/High School foyer.

Kendall

Residents will vote on a budget from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the elementary school gymnasium. The $14,826,116 budget increases spending by 5.5 percent from $14,051,383.

The new budget doesn’t cut existing programs. It adds a student services coordinator and two special education teachers, one each at the elementary and high school levels.

The new budget follows one from 2013-14 that cut $1 million from property taxes. The 2014-15 budget will increase taxes by 1.36 percent. The tax levy will slightly rise in the new budget, from $4,606,613 to $4,669,245. That is about $110,000 below the district’s tax cap.

Voters will also weigh in on a proposition to spend up to $250,000 from the district’s school replacement reserve fund.

A new member will also be elected to the Board of Education. Lucille Welch has decided against seeking re-election after 10 years on the board. Chaley Swift is the lone candidate for the five-year term.

Lyndonville

The $13,188,750 budget increases spending by 0.72 percent, but doesn’t raise taxes.

The budget maintains existing programming for students. The budget also includes $100,000 in capital projects, including varsity gym lights, masonry upkeep and dock stairs and hand rails.

Residents will also spending money from a transportation reserve account, which includes $105,000 for a new bus and $38,000 for a new pickup with a plow.

Another proposition asks voters to approve creating a new capital reserve account that would have up to $2 million. The money can only be expended with voter approval.

The Yates Community Library is seeking voter permission for $84,637, a 2.59 percent increase.

Only one position is open on the Board of Education after voters last year approved shrinking the board by two seats. Incumbent Susan Hrovat is unopposed in seeking a three-year term.

Voting will be from 1 to 9 p.m. at the PEI Library.

Medina

The district is proposing a $34,479,994 budget that increases spending by 2 percent from $33,805,130. The budget does not increase taxes, keeping the tax levy at $9,044,280.

The budget maintains existing school and extracurricular programming, including modified sports.

Residents will be asked to approve a $200,000 proposition to buy one 66-seat bus and two 30-seat passenger buses.

There are five candidates seeking four positions on the Board of Education. The top three candidates will receive three-year terms while the candidate with the fourth most votes gets a one-year term. The one-year term will fill Rosalind Lind’s vacant position.

Three incumbents – Christopher Keller, William Keppler and David Sevenski – are seeking re-election. Other candidates include Renee Paser-Paull and former BOE member Virginia Nicholson.

The vote will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the District Office board room next to Medina High School.

Train hits truck in Hulberton

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

HULBERTON – A train hit a pickup truck at about 10:30 this morning in Hulberton. Nobody was injured in the crash, but the vehicle burst into flames not long after the accident.

The train engine operated by Genesee Valley Transportation sustained superficial damage and was back in service at about noon. GVT officials on the scene said the train will need some repairs.

The photo above shows a service truck from the train company. The damaged vehicle had already been towed from the scene at about noon.

The stanchion on the north side of the railroad tracks, which supports the flashing lights, was knocked down and its base uprooted.  That will have to be completely rebuilt, GVT said.

Firefighters were on the scene to put out the truck fire. The Sheriff’s Department is expected to soon put out a press release with the driver’s name.

The crossing on Hulberton Road doesn’t have crossing arms, but one witness said the lights were flashing and the train was blaring its horn when the driver pulled in front of the train.

It’s Conservation Field Day time for sixth graders

Posted 19 May 2014 at 12:00 am

One activity urges public to take precautions against rabies

By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department

This is a big week for Orleans County 6th graders. Today and Wednesday all 6th graders will have the opportunity to participate in the Annual Orleans County Conservation Field Days at the 4-H Fairgrounds. The event is organized by the 4-H Youth Development Program of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

This year the Orleans County Health Department will be playing an interactive game called Rabies Alert. Rabies Alert gives the students an opportunity to take on different “identities” such as wild and stray animals, domesticated (pets) animals and people who are possible pet owners.  After a brief discussion about what rabies is, the students shake hands with each other for a minute and then the fun begins.

Once the students have had contact with each other they are then broken into 4 separate categories – wild animals, stray animals, domesticated animals and people.  Health Department educator then walks the students through a mock investigation of a potential rabies exposure.

Each step of the “investigation” is explained and the end result encourages students to make sure their pets are safe and vaccinated against rabies regularly and to stay away from all wildlife as we can never be sure if animals have rabies.

So what is rabies and how do you protect yourself, family and pets?  Rabies is a deadly virus that attacks the nervous system and all mammals, including humans, can get it.  Rabies may or may not show clear symptoms such as staggering, dragging of hind legs, excessive drooling of saliva as the animal or person cannot swallow, fear of water, nocturnal (night active) animals out in the daylight, no fear, the animal may appear tame or have excessive rage and will attack anything including known predators.

Rabies is spread through saliva and nerve tissue of infected animals and is most often seen in skunks, bats, raccoons and foxes. Because bats have very small, sharp teeth, teeth marks may not be noticed or felt, especially if someone was sleeping, is an unattended child or is disabled. Therefore it is important NOT to release bats found in homes that may have had contact with a human or pet. Contact the health department for instructions on how to safely contain a bat.

If there is a possible exposure to rabies, the animal must be tested. The brain tissue of the animal must not be damaged.

If the animal cannot be tested and a potential exposure has occurred, the individuals and domesticated animals are evaluated to determine the risk of infection. Exposed individuals may have to receive a series of shots and the animals will either receive a booster (if vaccinations are current) and period of confinement or, if the animal doesn’t have current vaccinations, it may have to be euthanized (put down).

It is important to report a possible exposure as soon as possible to your doctor and your local County Health Department to determine what steps to take. Immediately wash bites and scratches with soap and water to prevent the virus from spreading to the nervous system and call your doctor. To report bites or scratches from potentially infected animals, call your local County Health Department or after hours, your non-emergency Sheriff’s Department number.

The majority of exposures received at the Health Department are due to carelessness. To protect yourself and family members avoid touching ALL wildlife and stray animals, including baby animals, and assume they could be infected with rabies.

If your pet has had contact with a wild or stray animal do not touch your pet as it may have saliva on its fur. Use rubber gloves and confine your animal to avoid contact with its fur.

Protect your animals and home by not leaving food and water where wild animals and strays can have a free lunch.  Fix all openings in your home and outbuildings and tightly cover garbage cans so animals can’t get access. Make sure your animals have current rabies vaccine. Do not allow your animals to roam, as they are at increased risk of exposure.