Photos by Kristina Gabalski

CLARENDON – Before the Clarendon Town Board members held their regular August meeting at the Historical Society Museum Barn on Tuesday evening, community members enjoyed free hot dogs and drinks, and were treated to a concert by the band, Brick.

The Clarendon Historical Society served up the food provided by the Clarendon Gazebo Committee.

“It’s a very nice event for the town,” Clarendon Town Board member Allen Robinson noted during the meeting, following a comment from a resident praising the annual event as a time for the “small community to come together, sit down and relax.”

During their meeting, board members set workshop dates of Sept. 21 and 22 for budget preparation. The town must have its 2016 tentative budget in place by Sept. 30, officials said.

Grant Moy, left, and Garrett Moy, grandsons of Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy, help out at the grill Tuesday evening outside the Historical Society Museum Barn. The Historical Society served free hot dogs and drinks provided by the Clarendon Gazebo Committee from 5 to 7 p.m., preceding the monthly meeting of the Town Board which was held in the museum. Those attending enjoyed food as well as entertainment provided by the country/oldies/classic rock-n-roll band, Brick.

Brick performs outside the Clarendon Historical Society Museum Barn.

HOLLEY – William Murphy on Sunday submitted his letter of resignation, effective Sept. 1, as chief for the Holley Police Department. Murphy has been the lone full-time officer in the department that includes 10 part-time officers.

Murphy said he wanted to continue as police chief. But he resigned following a decision on the Village Board not to seek a pay waiver for his retirement.

Murphy was retired from the Greece Police Department when he joined Holley as chief 7 ½ years ago. The Village Board needed to seek a waiver from the State Comptroller’s Office for Murphy twice a year because he was paid over the $30,000 limit for retirees receiving a police pension.

The board always sought the waiver until a board meeting on July 30, when the majority of the board opposed seeking the waiver again.

Murphy was paid $42,000 as Holley chief. Without the waiver, his pay would be capped at no more than $30,000. He is already close to that threshold this year, nearing the end of August. Murphy said without the waiver not only is his pay capped at $30,000, but he would see his pension decrease.

Mayor John Kenney said some members of the board are against the waivers. The mayor said Murphy said done a “great job” for the community, running a professional department.

He said village officials will discuss the next steps for finding Murphy’s successor.

Murphy has been out since July 28 due to back surgery. Robert Barton has been serving as officer-in-charge, but he will done in two weeks to return to his full-time teaching position.

Murphy said the department’s part-time officers impressed him with their commitment to the job.

“We were stepping up patrols,” Murphy said. “They are dedicated.”

Murphy, an Albion native, started his law enforcement with Holley in 1985. He also worked at the Albion, Rochester and Greece police departments and then retired. However, he took the chance to return to Holley as police chief.

“The people are the main reason I stayed,” he said. “The residents there are great. They’re like your family.”

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley village officials say some of the sinking bricks in the Public Square are a tripping hazard.

HOLLEY – Members of the Village Board are concerned about the condition of some of the bricks which line the walkways and center of the Public Square.

Board members say they are working the Department of Public Works to begin a program of fixing the problem.

At the Tuesday board meeting, trustees discussed the fact that some of the bricks are sinking and creating a tripping hazard.

“Where the bricks come to the sidewalk, they sink,” Trustee Stanley “Skip” Carpenter said.

He noted that no one has been hurt yet, but trustees decided to inspect the business district and begin the work of leveling the bricks off one section at time around the square.

“It’s an easy thing to do,” Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said. He explained that the bricks are set in sand.

Trustee Carpenter said the village encouraged the state Department of Transportation to use stamped cement when the Route 31 reconstruction project was completed about a decade ago. Carpenter said the village might consider eventually replacing the brick with stamped cement.

He explained that the sidewalk area outside Dan and Monica Seeler’s building on the east side of the square should be addressed before their new restaurant opens for business, which is expected to happen at the end of this year.

In other business, Mayor John Kenney, Jr. reported that he has signed the agreement between the village, the Village of Holley Development Corporation and the EPA which will allow the eight “Diaz homes” in the village to become the property of the VHDC. There is no word yet on exactly when the turnover of the properties will occur.

Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said the process is now in the hands of officials in Washington, DC.

HOLLEY – In an effort to protect neighborhood property values, prevent damage to the village’s underground infrastructure, and stop the degradation of the aesthetic appearance of residential areas, the Holley Village Board on Tuesday passed a new parking law prohibiting the parking of motor vehicles, water craft, and non-motorized campers or trailers on front yard lawns.

Trustees unanimously adopted Local Law 3 of 2015 during their regular meeting, following a public hearing at which no residents spoke.

Under the “Prohibited Yard Parking Program,” vehicles must be on an approved driveway or parking pad if they are parked in a front yard (defined in the law as between a line drawn parallel to the street from the point of the front line of the structure that is closest to the street and the improved road surface).

Improved parking pads or driveways must be a minimum of 10 feet wide, maintained in safe and sanitary condition, and shall not contribute to soil erosion or tree damage, according to the law.

The law further states that parking spaces and driveways must be built with a hard, all-weather surface, such as asphalt, concrete or brick; grass and dirt areas will not be acceptable for parking spaces and driveways.

Violators are subject to a $250 fine for each violation.

Trustee Stanley “Skip” Carpenter asked village attorney John Sansone if the law affects those in the village with existing gravel/dirt driveways. Sansone responded that the law covers only, “things that are new,” and in the defined “front yard” area of a property.

Village code enforcement will enforce the law, officials said.

Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – A crew from the State Department of Transportation was out filling cracks and potholes on Route 31 in the Village of Holley today.

The area’s roadways paid a price after the brutally cold winter.

HOLLEY – “The wheels are turning slowly,” Village of Holley Development Corporation Board President Daniel Schiavone told board members Monday evening.

He said changes made in an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency have been given a “blessing” by the village’s attorney – meaning village leaders should now be ready to sign the agreement allowing the eight “Diaz homes” in the village to become the property of the VHDC and then sold.

The EPA has owned the houses for about a decade. The houses were vacated by residents following a chemical leak from the former Diaz Chemical in January 2002. They have been cleaned and tested by the EPA and deemed safe, with the exception of high lead levels. Village officials want them back on the tax rolls.

“The agreement (to which minor changes were made) just came through today,” Schiavone noted during the board meeting.

“It is an involved process, don’t expect things to happen overnight,” Schiavone warned.

“It will happen,” he said, regarding the transition in ownership of the properties, “We’re just going to have to be patient.”

Schiavone also announced that the village has agreed to mow the lawns of the homes while the VHDC is in possession of them.

“That takes a great burden off our shoulders,” he said.

Questions were raised regarding any possible tax liens on the properties which might date to before the EPA purchased the homes. Additionally, board members briefly discussed options for selling the properties, including listing them with a realtor or selling them at auction and whether or not the properties need to be insured.

Board members hope to have answers to their questions in time for their next meeting, which they set for Aug. 31.

“This is gonna happen, they’re gonna be ours,” Schiavone said regarding the properties. “The wheels of the EPA will turn slowly, but they will turn. We need to be prepared to keep the ball rolling.”

CLAREDNDON – Residents had their say Tuesday evening regarding proposed amendments to Clarendon’s zoning ordinance regarding travel trailers, campers and recreational vehicles.

A public hearing on the changes was held just before the Town Board’s regular monthly meeting and three residents expressed concerns regarding several sections of the ordinance.

Charles Kinsey said Section D, which states that no more than two travel trailers or campers/recreational vehicles can be parked on a private lot at the same time might be too restrictive.

He noted homeowners who had the “good fortune” to have more than two campers/recreation vehicles could find themselves, “out of compliance.”

Mark Marsh and Eric Bradshaw both said they have difficulty complying with Sections E and F which require campers, trailers and recreational vehicles to be positioned in a side yard or rear yard of a lot and must comply with setbacks required for residential buildings.

Regarding his 33-foot camper, Marsh said, “There is no way to put it in a side or backyard.” He noted there are other residents, including an elderly neighbor, who have small lots that don’t allow for camper/recreational vehicle storage in side or rear yards.

Bradshaw explained that the arrangement of his property would make it impossible to comply with setback requirements.

Town Board members did not vote on the changes. They agreed to add wording that would give the town’s zoning officer the authority to issue non-compliance letters when hardship issues arise.

Another public hearing (if it proves necessary) was scheduled on that change for the board’s Aug. 18 regular meeting which will be held at the Clarendon Historical Society.

There were no comments regarding changes to the law. Amendments proposed include forbidding the use of travel trailers, campers and recreational vehicles in lieu of a permanent residence; a 30-day limit per calendar year for occupying campers and recreational vehicles on a private lot on an overnight basis.

Other regulations state that campers and recreational vehicles occupied on an overnight basis must be equipped with self-contained potable water and sanitary sewage collection; “gray water” or sewage cannot be drained or dumped from any camper except into collection vehicles or septic disposal systems approved by the county health department; and trailers, campers and recreational vehicles must maintain and display a current license/registration/inspection as required by the State of New York.

Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy said the amendments will help the town address a number of “neighborhood issues,” regarding the use of campers and recreational vehicles. “There are lots of issues,” he said.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – A deteriorated sidewalk is shown on Thomas Street looking west toward South Main Street in Holley.

HOLLEY – Calling many sidewalks in the village unsafe, Jay Smith told Holley Village Board members during their regular meeting on Tuesday that they should designate annual funding to replace a section of sidewalk on a yearly basis.

Smith said he owns rental property in the village and he worries about the condition of the sidewalks.

“It’s dangerous,” he told board members about the sidewalks along streets just outside the main business district. He said one of his tenants recently twisted an ankle walking on a sidewalk.

Trustee Connie Nenni said sidewalks have been a concern of hers since she ran for office.

“It’s big on our list,” she said of the situation. “It’s one of those things that really bothered me.”

However, she explained that under village law, homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks in front of their property.

“I don’t know if the board is willing to take on the expense,” she said.

Nenni explained there are no “teeth” in the village law to make homeowners replace sidewalks.

Board members discussed the possibility of looking into grant money that could help cover some of the cost of replacing sidewalks.

Mayor John Kenney said areas with poor sidewalks have been identified.

“We are looking into ways to keep sidewalks safe,” he said, adding that even in places where sidewalks are in good condition, some residents continue to walk in the street at their own risk.

“If you do nothing it’s only going to get worse,” Smith responded. “I wanted to bring it to you attention.”

He noted sidewalk replacement is “… a large expense. I don’t see homeowners being able to pay.”

Trustee Skip Carpenter noted work has been done to improve sidewalks on some streets including Batavia Street, High Street and East Avenue. Sidewalks along South Main Street from the bridge to Jackson Street will be replaced when water main work is done there in the coming months, he said.

“We will continue to talk about it and try to do something about it,” Nenni told Smith.

‘Dog’ was looking for escaped convicts

Provided photo from Maria Strathearn – Duane “Dog” Chapman, star of a reality TV series, poses with Aaron Strathearn at a gas station in Saranac Lake. Aaron, 14, of Holley was headed to camp and Dog was looking to track down a prison escapee.

HOLLEY – Aaron Strathearn, 14, was leaving for a week-long camp in Saranac Lake, the rewards for being on the High Honor Roll and being active in his 4-H Club.

There was a glitch: The camp in the Adirondacks was close to the manhunt for prison escapee David Sweat, a convicted cop killer. Sweat, 35, and Richard Matt, 49, broke out of Clinton Correctional Facility and had been on the loose for about three weeks.

Matt was tracked down on June 26 and fatally shot by a federal agent.

Aaron was heading to camp while Sweat was still on the run.

“I was a bit nervous sending Aaron to camp with the manhunt focusing 40 miles away,” said Aaron’s mother, Melissa.

On the way to Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, the Strathearns stopped at a gas station. They met a famous person, Duane “Dog” Chapman. He is a star of a reality TV series that shows him kicking in doors and capturing wanted people. Click here for more on Chapman’s show.

Dog gave Aaron a high five for being on the High Honor Roll.

When they made it to Saranac Lake, the Strathearns saw vehicles racing with lights and sirens, on the main road across the lake. While walking to Aaron’s cabin, they saw a helicopter fly overhead.

“When we got back to the car we learned that David Sweat had been captured,” Strathearn said.

Aaron went on to have a great week at camp, his mother said. At the DEC camp, he went canoing, fishing, birding, swimming and was able to try archery and build a shelter.

“He made a lot of friends,” his mother said.