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.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 May 2014 at 12:00 am
ALBION – The villages of Albion and Holley are working on an agreement where Holley would pay Albion to run Holley’s sewer plant.
The village of Elba also has reached out to Albion about possibly running Elba’s sewer plant. That discussion is just in the “exploratory stage,” said Aric Albright, Albion’s sewer plant chief operator.
The agreement with Holley, however, is close to approval. The Village Boards from both communities are working on the language for a contract to have Albion provide the service.
Albion has three employees that work out of the Albion sewer plant on Densmore Street. The village wouldn’t add staff as part of the added workload with Holley.
“It’s a win-win situation for both Albion and Holley,” Albright told the Albion Village Board last week.
Albion would provide the manpower to run the Holley plant. Holley would still be responsible for any maintenance and equipment costs. Holley currently contracts with the Camden Group for sewer personnel.
Albright said the agreement brings revenue to Albion’s sewer plant, and also provides personnel services to Holley at a reduced cost.
“It’s a real possibility that all of these communities could come together and help each other,” Albright told Albion village officials. “This would be a huge benefit to Albion.”
Provided photo – Stacey Kirby, an Albion native who has created many local murals, talks with Holley students about creating a mural design.
Press release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District recently received the 2014 Arts Education Grant from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. This grant enables the district to offer a special program called “Seeing as an Artist” to first grade students at the Holley Elementary School this May.
Artist Stacey Kirby is presenting the week-long program to students, leading them through an artistic process that begins with a nature walk to select an object of study.
“The process the artist uses encourages students to use their five senses to observe nature and sharpen their observational skills,” said first grade teacher Katie Trupo. “Studying a single object in this way requires them to develop focus, patience and attention to detail.”
Kirby met with students on Monday and talked to them about what it is like to be a professional artist. She also used this time to prepare them for their upcoming nature walk when they will be on the lookout for an item from nature that has particular colors, shapes and textures.
The students will create a drawing of something from the nature walk. They will then select a single drawing that the artist will use to create a mural for the school.
The finished mural will be unveiled at a ceremony at the Elementary School on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Kirby created several murals about Holley history that are on display near the gazebo by the village’s Canal Park.
Provided photo – Holley junior Madison Pritchard, center, pours coffee for guests at this year’s annual Senior Citizen appreciation breakfast.
Press release
Holley Central School
HOLLEY – About 130 senior citizens from Holley turned out to enjoy the ninth annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast at the Holley Elementary School on May 1.
The Holley Central School District hosts the event each year as a way to recognize the significant contributions area senior citizens make to the community and in support of Holley schools.
The breakfast menu was prepared and provided by the district’s food service vendor, Personal Touch. High school seniors greeted guests, served coffee and presented each with a long stem rose. For entertainment, kindergarten and high school music students performed.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Program will highlight Carl Akeley, famed taxidermist, on his 150th birthday
Provided photos – Carl Akeley is pictured with a leopard in Africa that he killed with his bare hands after it attacked him.
CLARENDON – The Clarendon Historical Society is planning one of its biggest events ever in honor of the 150th birthday of the town’s most famous son.
Carl Akeley, a world renown taxidermist and inventor, will be the focus of a May 21 event at the Clarendon Recreation Hall. The event starts at 7 p.m. and will include Jay Kirk, author of a book about Akeley called “Kingdom Under Glass.” Copies of the book will be for sale.
The cover of Kirk’s book: “Kingdom Under Glass.” The Clarendon Historical Society will be selling copies of the book on May 21.
Akeley grew up on Hinds Road. He made many safaris to Africa and became an advocate for preserving Africa’s wildlife.
“He is considered the Father of Taxidermy,” said Historical Society member Erin Anheier. “He made it an artform.”
The Cobblestone Society Museum has a fox stuffed by a young Carl Akeley, which will be displayed as part of the May 21 event.
Jay Kirk, author of the Carl Akeley biography “Kingdom Under Glass,” will be the featured speaker on May 21st during a program about Akeley, a Clarendon native.
Kirk, the author, chronicles Akeley’s life during the golden age of safaris in the early 20th Century. Akeley created the famed African Hall at New York’s Museum of Natural History.
“He was concerned about saving animals, especially the giant gorillas in Africa,” Anheier said. “He collected and stuffed the animals for scientific purposes.”
Akeley’s adventures connected him with Theodore Roosevelt, P.T. Barnum and George Eastman. Akeley died in 1926 and is buried in Africa.
“We were talking about programs for the year at the Historical Society, looking at what’s unique about Clarendon,” Anheier said. “Carl Akeley is the most famous person ever from Clarendon.”
A historical marker on Hinds Road notes that Carl Akeley grew up in Clarendon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – Congressman Chris Collins is asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to sell eight houses that have been off the tax rolls and vacant for about a decade.
The houses were feared to be contaminated by a chemical leak in January 2002 by the former Diaz Chemical, which has gone bankrupt.
The EPA acquired the sites. It’s testing has shown no harmful on-site contaminants remain at the eight properties, Collins noted in a letter on Tuesday to Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator.
Village officials want them back on the market. The houses are on Jackson, Geddes, Van Buren and North Main streets. The houses could boost the local tax rolls by $700,000 and eliminate vacant properties in the community, Collins said in the letter.
Collins’ staff toured the properties last week with village officials, who were told the sites would be put on the market more than 2 ½ years ago.
“With 2014 upon us, I would like to request the EPA take swift action in addressing the concerns of the Village of Holley and place the suitable properties up for sale,” Collins wrote to McCarthy. “This action is in the best interest of the Village of Holley, the EPA, and the taxpayers.”
Photos by Sue Cook – Michael Fahey stands with his Gary Fisher bicycle. He has had four total bikes since he took up riding. He has also owned a French racer, a Trek 730 Hybrid and a Giant. Fahey estimates he carries about 70 pounds of gear with him on his bike when he going for a long ride.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
HOLLEY – Holley resident Michael Fahey began his journey during hard times. When his wife of 27 years, Ruth, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fahey took up cycling as a hobby. He also served as her caregiver.
In 1995, Ruth passed away at age 48. Fahey has used cycling since then to raise money for cancer research. He said he has raised “thousands” for the cause.
Fahey started cycling in the early ’90s. He said he was a little overweight at the time.
“My wife was a nurse practitioner. She said ‘You need a physical. You haven’t had one since you left the service.’ So I had one and they thought I had a problem with my heart,” Fahey said. “So the cardiologist said ‘You need to lose weight and exercise. So I started walking, and I got up to 10 miles, but it just took too long. So I bought this cheap road bike from Toys ’R Us and rode that for a while. Then my brother came to visit from Chicago and left his bike, a French racer, and I rode that and that’s how it all got started.”
Ruth supported Fahey’s efforts to exercise through bicycling. “In the last six months before she passed away, that’s where I did my riding.”
Fahey’s rides, in America and foreign countries, were for raising breast cancer research money.
“The fundraising was done in the United States through talks, advertisements, word of mouth,” he said. “When I finished the United States, 3,000 miles in 38 days, I said what the heck, let’s do the rest of the world.” That was in 1996.
“I would just get a map of the countries I wanted to go to and plot out my trip, and I always tried to find a community that I was stopping in that had a youth hostel in it.”
In his worldwide journey, he has met with some misfortunes, including lost bikes and luggage. His Trek bicycle that he took to Ireland and England, didn’t fare so well when it was brought home.
“That lasted for one year and the Canadian airlines crushed it on the way back from England,” Fahey said. “I’ve been very fortunate. All my problems with bicycles and transportation has been on the return. I’ve had my bicycle lost for awhile going over, but not damaged.”
Hi daughter Shari cycled across the United States with him. She got out of bicycling, but then she got back into doing triathlons. His other two daughters, Kathy and Shannon, are not into the sport, but support Fahey.
Fahey has ridden on six out of the seven continents. In 2013, he followed a route known as The Way of St. James, which stretches from Paris, France to Santiago, Spain. It was a well-traveled Christian pilgrimage from medieval times that follows the route of St. James bones to their burial in Spain.
Fahey calls this his ‘bragging jacket.’ There are patches all over it from the countries he has been to and embroidered with the dates of when he was there.
Fahey’s favorite country to travel through was China. The people were more than willing to help a stranger.
“I was in China three times to get across and the Chinese people in the countryside were so good to me. If I broke down, the village would come out to try and help.”
The Chinese gave Fahey fresh water as he rode out along his trip through the country.
“If I ran out of water, all I needed to do was stop some place and say ‘water’ to people,” Fahey said. “I ran out of water on my first day. The first time, I was passing a construction utility truck. They were parked there taking a break. I said ‘water’ and they filled up everything I had with water. The next time, I ran out of water again and a motorcycle club came by and I said something about being short of water. They all go and get their water and they filled my water up.”
Fahey continues to ride and focuses his talks and fundraising locally for now, though he is planning to move out of the area soon.
On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Geneseo United Methodist Church in Geneseo, he will be giving a free talk put on by Geneseo Young at Heart. It is open to the public and Fahey plans to focus mostly on talking about cycling and his journey. However, he says he will also talk about his wife because she was the inspiration for him to make these trips and perform fundraising efforts.
Fahey has also written a book. The first chapter focuses on his wife. The rest of the book is about his bicycling. The book is titled “Biking to Save My Soul: America, Ireland, and England.” It is $15 and $1 of each purchase will go to the American Cancer Society. To order a book from Amazon, click here. To buy directly from Fahey, e-mail PROSRV95@gmail.com.
HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District has been awarded $441,000 in the first year of a multi-year federal grant called the Carol White Physical Education (PEP) grant. This grant promotes both physical fitness and nutrition.
Monies provided by the grant will enable the district to focus on after-school, Saturday, and summer recreation and nutrition-based activities involving partnerships with the Holley Recreation Program, the Orleans County Cooperative Extension, Orleans County Mental Health and the district’s own food service vendor, Personal Touch.
This is the second time Holley Central has been awarded the PEP grant. The last time was in 2003 when the district received $392,000 for its “Holley Achieves Wellness and Knowledge” initiative which focused on fitness and life-time activities.
“The link between good nutrition, physical fitness and academic performance cannot be denied,” said Holley District Superintendent Robert D’Angelo. “There is no doubt about it – these are the factors that impact student success and that’s why we pursue opportunities like this so aggressively. We operate on a philosophy that requires us to continually find ways to supplement taxpayer’s dollars in meaningful ways and that’s why we do so with special emphasis on fitness and nutrition. These are the things that greatly matter when it comes to academic success.”
Holley recently received a three-year General Mills grant which helped the district fund a new fitness test called the Fitnessgram. This test will help the district fulfill the evaluation phase of the Pep Grant.
“We are moving in the right direction and teaching students about fitness and nutrition in a way that sticks with them and influences their choices so they’re getting the nutrition and fitness they need to succeed,” said Lisa Campbell, Health and Physical Education chairperson at Holley Central. “Without our superintendent’s support and knowledge in nutrition and fitness to improve learning, we would not have succeeded in receiving this grant.”
Once the PEP money is received later this year, the district will begin to implement programs outlined in its application program which was entitled “Fit 4 U”. The “Fit 4 U” program will serve approximately 1,200 students in Pre-K through grade 12 for up to three years. Programs will take place at Holley Elementary School and the Middle School/High School and will focus on increasing students’ daily activity as well as their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
“Our goal is to keep building on past successes, one after the other, so we can continually move forward,” added D’Angelo. “Thanks to dedicated staff like Lisa Campbell who spearheaded this effort, we are making great strides in positively impacting student success.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2014 at 6:05 pm
Albion man hospitalized after crash near Hulberton Road
Photos by Tom Rivers – A tractor-trailer rolled over and came to a rest in the front lawn of Roy and Marlene Kenyon at 16305 Route 31.
Press release, Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess
MURRAY – An Albion man is hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash this morning involving his car and an 18-wheeled tractor-trailer truck.
The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. at the intersection of State Route 31 and Hulberton Road in the town of Murray.
Frank Kania IV, 18, was the sole occupant while operating a 1993 Ford Escort travelling south on Hulberton Road. Kania failed to yield right-of-way and entered the intersection into the path of the east bound tractor-trailer truck.
The truck driver took evasive action but was unable to completely avoid striking the car. Following the collision, the truck ran off the north side of the roadway into a ditch, struck a utility pole, and over-turned on its side.
Lyons Collision from Medina is working to get the truck upright and removed from the scene.
Kania was transported by Monroe Ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
The driver and sole occupant of the truck is identified as Zdenek Smykal, 43, of Palatine, Ill. Smykal was not injured. The truck is owned by Vodik Transport Inc., of Deerfield, Illinois. The enclosed refrigerated trailer was loaded with blueberries and frozen food. It is not yet known if the load was compromised by the crash.
In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident brought a response from the Holley, Clarendon, and FHM (Fancher-Hulberton-Murray) fire departments.
State Route 31 between Hulberton and Lake roads remained closed at 5:45 p.m.
The incident remains under investigation by Deputy A.L. Jenks, assisted by Deputy K.J. Colonna, Sergeant D.W. Covis, and Investigator D.E. Foeller Jr.
A section of Route 31 between Hulberton and Lake roads has been closed since about 10:30 a.m. Crews were still at the scene at about 5:45 p.m. today.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Provided photos – A 1993 Ford Escort was damaged after a crash this morning in Murray. Frank Kania IV, 18, was the driver and escaped serious injury.
MURRAY – A section of Route 31 in Murray that was closed for about 10 hours reopened about 8:30 p.m. today.
Route 31 was closed between Hulberton and Lake roads after a crash about 10:30 a.m.
Frank Kania IV, 18, was the sole occupant while operating a 1993 Ford Escort travelling south on Hulberton Road. Kania failed to yield right-of-way and entered the intersection into the path of the east bound tractor-trailer truck, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Kania was hospitalized following the accident, but firefighters on the scene said he wasn’t seriously injured.
The truck driver tried to avoid Kania, was able to completely avoid striking the car. Following the collision, the truck ran off the north side of the roadway into a ditch, struck a utility pole, and over-turned on its side.
A truck hauling produce lies on its side in the front lawn of Roy and Marlene Kenyon at 16305 Route 31.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
CLARENDON – The top photo shows the Holley water tank on Route 237. The picture was taken looking through one of the stained glass windows in the chapel at Hillside Cemetery in Holley.
Not too many people get inside the chapel at Hillside Cemetery. I was given a tour recently. The Clarendon Historical Society may soon launch a fund-raising campaign to upgrade the chapel, which was built in 1894.
The Historical Society would like to see the building used for more community events. The bottom photo shows one of the big trees on the lawn by the chapel.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Heritage Hero: Erin Anheier
Photo by Tom Rivers – Erin Anheier is pictured at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon with a chapel from 1894 in the background. Anheier wrote the application to get the site on the National Register of Historic Places. She said a fund-raising campaign may be needed to refurbish the chapel, particularly some of the window panes that are rotting.
CLARENDON – When Erin Anheier retired as personnel director for Delphi in Michigan, she wanted to come back to her roots.
In 2008, she and her husband Russ Bosch bought a cobblestone house on Bennetts Corners Road. It’s not too far from where she grew up on West Sweden Road, just across the Orleans County line.
Anheier’s house was built in 1849 and the masonry includes lake-washed cobblestones.
“They are very carefully sized and arranged,” she said. “You can see the skill in the masonry and it’s spectacular.”
Anheier wanted to recognize that effort and she applied to have the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It made the list in 2010.
Anheier was content to live in her old home and be back in the area with her family.
“I’ve always loved it here,” she said. “The area is beautiful. I like the change of seasons and the topography.”
But her experience working on the National Register application, and her heightened awareness of local historical resources, soon came into play.
Courtesy of Erin Anheier – When Anheier moved back to the area in 2008 after a career with Delphi in Michigan, she and her husband picked this cobblestone home on Bennetts Corners Road. They made repairs to the house and got it listed on the National Register.
The Old Stone Store, a mainstay at the corner of routes 31A and 237 since 1836, was going to be demolished. Town officials and many residents saw the building as an eyesore.
But Anheier saw it as an important part of the town’s history and identity. She helped to rally support for the building. The town held off on the wrecking ball, while Anheier and other volunteers cleaned up some of the site.
She connected with the Landmark Society of Western New York, which worked with Anheier to get the building on the National Register. The Landmark Society also teamed with the town to market the property. The Old Stone Store is one of the oldest stone commercial buildings in the region.
Joe and Sue Fertitta bought the Old Stone Store and have been renovating it. They expect to have a tenant living in the upstairs and the first floor available for offices. Besides gutting and renovating the building, the couple plans to put on a front porch to match the building’s original look.
“This shows it can be done,” Anheier, chairwoman of the Old Stone Store Preservation Committee, said in October during a town meeting. “These buildings can be saved.”
File photo by Tom Rivers – The Old Stone Store was nearly demolished in 2011 after residents and town officials complained of its shoddy shape. Erin Anheier and other residents worked to clean it up. The site from 1836 was added to the National Register in 2012 and is currently being renovated with a front porch to be added to match its original look.
Anheier said the building will make Clarendon distinctive, with such a historical building at its main corner. She praised the community for coming together to keep up the site.
Anheier will be presented with a “Heritage Hero” award on Friday at 7 p.m. during a ceremony outside GCC’s Medina campus. Five “Heritage Heroes” will be honored during the Civil War Encampment.
Anheier was picked for leading several preservation projects, and for helping to change the culture in Clarendon, making preservation a priority.
She also sees potential in Hillside Cemetery. That site used to be owned and managed by a not-for-profit cemetery association, but was turned over to the town of Clarendon about a decade ago.
Anheier said Hillside is a great Victorian cemetery, a fitting final resting place for community residents. However, the site needs some upgrades, especially the chapel built in 1894 from local Medina sandstone.
Anheier wrote the application that landed the cemetery on the National Register last year. The designation should help the town secure grants for restoration projects.
“I also knew if we got it on the Register, the town would recognize we have a treasure here,” Anheier said.
File photo by Tom Rivers – The chapel at Hillside Cemetery could use some repairs. The cemetery was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
She is secretary of the Clarendon Historical Society. The group would like to mount a fund-raising campaign to restore rotted window panes, repoint mortar and make roof repairs. Anheier would like to see the chapel used again for services and community events.
Anheier is working on other preservation projects. She wrote the application for the National Register designation for the John and Chauncey White House, the White Farm Bed and Breakfast, on White Road in Brockport. She expects that will be approved soon.
She also is working on the application for the North Star School, Hamlin District No. 11. That will be reviewed for the State Register in June. She is in the early stages of researching the Spencer-Sommerfeldt House, a stone house on the west side of Route 237, just north of New Guinea Road in Clarendon.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 April 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – About 30 people lined up to fire a shot at noon today at the Holley Rod and Gun Club. Gun owners around the country fired a shot at noon as part of the “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
HOLLEY – John Carpenter considered going to his family’s property in Clarendon and firing a shot at noon as part of a nation-wide observance by gun owners today.
But Carpenter, 33, of Holley wanted to join other local gun owners. He was one of about 30 people to fire a shot at noon at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
“It’s symbolic of our freedom,” Carpenter said about participating in the “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
The event is in honor of the original shot heard around the world during the American Revolution.
“It’s a way to celebrate our independence and to honor those who fell at Lexington,” Carpenter said.
Registration forms to register assault rifles were used as targets during the event at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
The Holley Rod and Gun Club hosted a ceremonial shot today for the first time. Gun owners feel their rights are under attack since the NY SAFE Act was approved in January 2013. Locally, the New York Revolution has about 50 active members. That group formed soon after the SAFE Act passed the state Legislature 15 months ago.
NYR is pushing gun owners to register to vote and join SCOPE, the Shooters Committee on Political Education. The Holley club raised $121 for SCOPE with the event on Saturday.
Carpenter said the SAFE Act has pushed gun owners to reach out to each other and look for ways to be more involved politically.
Joel Zarpentine gives instructions to the gun owners before they went outside to fire their shot.
“The one positive of the NY SAFE Act is it has brought people together,” he said.
He joined the New York Revolution, which he said “is all about networking. We’re pushing voter registration big time.”
One of the NYR leaders, Gia Arnold, is running for the State Senate in a district represented by George Maziarz. Arnold said she would push hard to repeal the SAFE Act.
New York Revolution is gaining momentum throughout the state, said Mattie Zarpentine, WNY regional director. She was in Hartland last night when 60 people showed up at the fire department looking to start an NYR chapter in Niagara County.
There are about 25 county chapters so far and more are showing an interest, Zarpentine said.
Gun owners get ready to fire the shot at the Holley Rod and Gun Club.
She was pleased with the turnout at the Holley Rod and Gun Club. About 30 fired a shot and another 20 people stood in support.
“Many people have told us they would fire a shot in their backyards,” Zarpentine said.
One SAFE Act deadline passed on April 15. The state set that date for gun owners to register assault weapons. Zarpentine said few gun owners complied with the deadline.
“It was largely ignored,” she said, calling that SAFE Act decree “a dismal failure.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The Holley Rod and Gun Club is welcoming the public to the club on Saturday at noon to fire a “Shot Heard Around the U.S.” in support of the Second Amendment.
The club and participants plan to fire one legal safe shot. Gun clubs around the country will be doing similar events at noon on Saturday.
There will be a $1 charge to participate and that money will go to a legal defense fund for SCOPE (Shooters Committee on Political Education).
The club will open at 11 a.m. It is located at 4189 Pumping Station Rd. Participants are encouraged to be there before 11:30 so everyone can be lined up for the big “shot” at noon, said Gia Arnold of Holley, who is a state-wide coordinator for New York Revolution.
“This is on the anniversary of the original shot heard around the world back during the American Revolution and it signifies our important fight for our 2nd Amendment freedom,” Arnold said. “The whole country will be participating and I thought it was really important to make sure we were participating locally. We are hoping to have new faces.”
The NYR formed soon after Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature passed the SAFE Act in January 2013. The NY Revolution sees the gun control law as an attack on Second Amendment rights.
Many gun clubs and NYR members fired a “Shot Heard Around NY” in January on the one-year anniversary of the SAFE Act. Locally, the event was held in Arnold’s backyard in January. She is thankful the Holley club is participating in the event on Saturday so there is more public access.
“It’s open to non gun-owners as well if they would like to show up and support the effort,” Arnold said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2014 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The Village Board wants to encourage more downtown building owners to be like Bill and Joanne Billotti, who operate a business on the first floor and live upstairs.
But the Billottis say a new village policy, charging a parking fee to use a municipal lot, will discourage people from living in the downtown.
The fee is only $25 for the year. But Mr. Billotti told the Village Board on Tuesday it would be better to exempt building owners who live in the downtown from the fee.
The new policy went into effect on April 1. Village Trustee Brian Sorochty said the parking permit was intended to ensure spots for people who live in the downtown and to make it easy for police to see if the right people – those with permits – are using the municipal lots.
“The fee is minor at best,” he said. “It just covers our administrative cost.”
The Billottis suggested designating spots for downtown residents in owner-occupied buildings, but the board didn’t want to do that.
The village owns two municipal parking lots – one between the library and the old high school, and the other by the fire hall.
Holley used to require two parking spots for any downtown apartment, but did away with that because it seemed a challenge for building owners trying to offer downtown apartments.
Sorochty said the board may consider waiving the $25 fee for downtown residents.
In other action on Tuesday, a village resident objected to a new village policy that doesn’t allow parking by the curb near the Franklin and Ray Street intersection.
The board approved the no parking signs in February for the intersection and also at the West Union and Orchard Street intersection.
Franklin Street resident Tony Carbone said the decision was made without input from residents. He said he believes the move was made as retribution after he complained about snow plowing for his street, that too much snow ended up piled in his driveway.
“This is not fair or equitable,” he said about the no parking policy.
Mayor John Kenney said the board members would discuss the no parking area for Franklin Street.
