Press Release, Houseman-Tanner Post 1603

LYNDONVILLE – The Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 of the American Legion will be performing our flag-in in preparations for Memorial Day on Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Lynhaven Cemetery. We have 445 flags to place and could use the help of any interested parties. We will meet near the flagpole & cannon.

Next I want to put out a friendly reminder. The markers that hold the flags (pictured) are purchased by the Houseman-Tanner Post. These markers are meant to be in the ground year round.

Occasionally, family members or friends take these home during winter months. Please note once they are placed in the ground they become property of the cemetery. If you have taken one please make sure it is returned by Thursday.

This is important because without the marker a veteran may be missed and not have a flag placed. Also the cost for the markers has gone up exponentially in the last 5 years. Bronze markers have been priced out of the post’s ability to purchase from $43 per marker in 2019 to over $145 each this year.

To combat that, the post is now purchasing bronze plated aluminum markers. I will add this, no one honestly taking one home, “for safekeeping” will have any problems from myself or the post, so long as the marker is returned to the proper grave.

That said, any person caught stealing markers (Yes, it has occurred elsewhere) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. These veterans gave so very much for us to enjoy our freedoms that many take for granted, please help us honor them with the respect they deserve.

Steve Goodrich

Commander

Houseman-Tanner Post 1603

LYNDONVILLE – The school district is proposing a $17,664,583 budget for the 2024-25 school year that increases spending 4.3 percent.

The budget would raise taxes by 1 percent or by $46,649 to $4,711,576.

District Superintendent Sharon Smith said the budget keeps robust academic and extracurricular programs for students. She noted AP and college classes are available at no charge to students, while music, the arts and athletics remain a priority.

“This budget allows for continuation of important programs,” Smith said in a budget message in the school newsletter.

Eligible voters 18 and older will go to polls from noon to 8 p.m. on May 21 in the school’s Stroyan Foyer.

Smith also noted the budget continues to offer free breakfast and lunch for all students, keeps a school resource officer, and has the district geared up for a capital project that could start in the fall.

State aid covers 71.2 percent of Lyndonville’s budget with the tax levy the second-biggest source of revenue at 26.7 percent.

Lyndonville is Orleans County’s smallest school district with an enrollment of 538 students. The district said enrollment is holding steady and is projected to remain the same next school year.

The district will also present a proposition for funding the local Yates Community Library, with an increase from $124,808 to $135,316.

There are also six candidates for three positions on the Board of Education that are three-year terms. The candidates include George Avery, Megan Bruning, Susan Hrovat, Ted Lewis, Steven Vann and Patrick Whipple.

LYNDONVILLE – There is a big rift between the Lyndonville Teachers Association and some members of the board of education over a health insurance option that teachers say doesn’t include many of their current medical providers, would result in a higher cost to teachers with less coverage.

Steve Vann, a board member who researched and put together the new proposal, says the plan offers comparable coverage and would save Lyndonville over $500,000 a year in reduced health insurance costs. Vann put the savings at $571,000 – which represents 10 percent of the district’s tax levy.

Vann, an executive who helps oversee many Burger King restaurants, said the high cost of health insurance threatens the financial stability of the district long-term. The proposed Lyndonville school budget has health insurance costs at $2,111,909 out of the district’s $17,664,583 total budget or 12 percent of the spending.

Vann and incumbent board members, Sue Hrovat and Ted Lewis, want the district to try to bring down those costs.

The issue has made for a very contentious election for the school board on May 21, and led to acrimony during Monday’s “meet the candidates” forum and then the BOE meeting that followed.

Harold Suhr, a current board member, said in his 65 years in Lyndonville he’s never seen such an atmosphere for the school board elections.

“I’ve never seen so much backstabbing, lying and deceit,” Suhr said during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Gina Marker, an English teacher at Lyndonville since 2002, said changes in the health insurance plan would lead to an exodus of teachers. “I have never felt less appreciated by the board,” she said.

Shane Price, the LTA president, spoke during Monday’s meeting and said the incumbent board members have “vilified” teachers, making them look greedy when they are among the lowest paid in the region and contribute a higher percentage towards their healthcare, 15 percent, than most other districts.

He faulted the district and board for bringing negotiations about employees into the public when the matter should have been private. Teachers also were only given five days to ask questions about the Cigna plan, and 10 days to decide whether to switch, which Price said wasn’t enough time for a review.

Lyndonville’s health insurance is currently part of consortium. Price said no other school districts use Cigna, where he said there are much higher deductibles and a shift away from guaranteed healthcare for retirees who paid into the system.

Price said he checked with his doctors and four out of six are not covered under plan.

Gina Marker, an English teacher at Lyndonville since 2002, spoke at the board member in response to what she said were “blatant lies and contradictory statements” from board members about the health insurance issue.

If Lyndonville made the change, it would drive away younger and veteran teachers, she said.

“I have never felt less appreciated by the board,” she said. “The school district will not run well using a model by a fast-food restaurant.”

The issue has been shelved for now, but the board said the district needs to find ways to rein in the health insurance costs, even if it’s within the current consortium. Vann said that group hasn’t invested any of the money paid for health insurance from Lyndonville in the past 28 years. Investing some of those funds would have generated more money and lowered Lyndonville’s costs, he said.

“There are better ways of doing business,” Vann said. “There’s a lot of money on the table we’re wasting.”

Vann said “scare tactics” from the LTA have prevented a robust discussion of the issue, and also interfered with the election. He said some teachers who have long been his friends have said they are told to keep campaign signs off their yards for the three incumbents who wanted to look at health insurance costs.

“Some of the employees are afraid to put my sign in their sign,” Vann said during the candidate forum. “Are you kidding me? In Lyndonville, NY.”

Sue Hrovat said the pressure to not put out signs for some candidates is “bullying” and an effort to disrupt the democratic process.

She sees the health care plan researched by Vann as a “win-win” for the district, but acknowledged it could have used better communication in the rollout.

Hrovat has 12 years on the BOE. She said she and other board members are more involved than a typical BOE and some schools, trying to provide oversight.

“It’s important to have experienced members at the helm,” she said.

Current Lyndonville board members spoke during Monday’s meeting, including from left: Board President Ted Lewis, Sue Hrovat and Steve Vann. They said the Lyndonville Teachers Association leadership isn’t being honest with all of its members. Vann said the LTA is using “scare tactics” to stymie discussion about health insurance.

Ted Lewis, the board president the past 11 years, responded to claims that the board is not transparent enough with some decision-making. Lewis said some of the decisions, especially involving personnel, are confidential and information shouldn’t be shared publicly.

Lewis said Lyndonville is a thriving small school with rising student academic scores, and increased student participation in athletics, music and extracurriculars.

He noted the board and the school administration were able to find a way to keep in-person education during the year of Covid restrictions in 2020-21, when many other districts were on a hybrid schedule with students out of the school setting three days a week or fully remote. Lewis praised the teachers for making that possible in Lyndonville.

Lewis said he worries about public schools in the country, with pressure from the state and federal governments to impose social policies. Teachers unions also wield tremendous power, and Lewis said he is concerned Lyndonville will find itself under pressure from many forces.

That’s why he wants to see a strong Board of Education that advocates for local control of the district.

He said the LTA wants more influence in the district, even though he said only about 15 percent of the teachers live in the Lyndonville community.

“Our teachers’ union has been quite vocal and aggressive in this election,” Lewis said.

He sees a shrinking student population in most local and upstate districts, and financial pressures could threaten the small districts in the future. That’s why Lyndonville should look at ways to maximize efficiencies and reduce some costs.

“The local school board is the last bastion of local control with our schools,” he said.

Patrick Whipple, a former Lyndonville elementary principal and administrator, said the board should provide more rationale for its decisions.

Patrick Whipple, a candidate for the board, said the BOE needs to be more transparent in its decision-making so the public and district employees know how conclusions are reached.

Whipple has been endorsed by the LTA, which isn’t backing the incumbents. But Whipple said he isn’t a “yes man.”

“I will go with the facts and the evidence,” he said. “There’s always compromise.”

Following procedure and policy “will take the emotion out of it” when it comes to making decisions, Whipple said.

He said the board would benefit from some new perspectives. He said the current group is often “an echo chamber.”

While he praised the board and administration for being “excellent financial stewards,” he said the district needs a easier to use website as well as social media to make residents more informed about the district.

The candidate discussion also included brief comments from Megan Bruning and George Avery, who did not comment on the health insurance issue.

Bruning said many of the school policies are vague and should be made clearer. Avery has been on the PTSA and a parent rep on hiring committees. He said the school district remains a very important foundation for the community.

Other board members addressed the health insurance topic during the regular board meeting following the meet the candidate event.

Jerod Thurber, a board member whose wife is a teacher at Lyndonville, said he supported looking at health insurance options, but didn’t expect it to move so fast. He said the plans aren’t comparable with the new proposal “slapped together” and “contrived.” It would leave him and his children not covered by their current doctors. He said the issue has brought undue uncertainty and tension within the district.

“This unfortunately ended up as a battle,” Thurber said. “It should never be on the table again or go public. It needs to be dropped. It needs to be done.”

He is open to working with the current consortium to see if there are savings but doesn’t want to see a radical change.

Kristin Nicholson, a board member, said she would never support a “subpar” health insurance option for teachers and staff. She said she was disappointed at Monday’s candidate event, when she said at least one teacher was loud and “heckling” the incumbents when they were speaking.

“This whole thing has come down to mudslinging,” she said about the election and health insurance issue.

Despite the dissension, Nicholson said the teachers have stay committed to their jobs with their focus on the students.

“We have fantastic kids who are flourishing because of what you’re doing,” she told the teachers who packed the board room in the library on Monday.

(Editor’s Note: This story was updated from the original version that stated 50 percent of the teachers live in Lyndonville. Board President Ted Lewis said it is actually 15 percent.)

Press Release, Yates Town Board

LYNDONVILLE – The Town of Yates will be holding a special election to decide whether or not the Town Board should be authorized to purchase NYS Electric and Gas (NYSEG) land to expand the Yates Town Park on Lake Ontario.

The vote will take place on Thursday, June 20, from noon to 8 p.m., at the Yates Town Hall, 8 S. Main St.

The ballot referendum will read: “Utilizing grant funds, shall the Town of Yates be authorized to purchase 153.3 acres from NYSEG for $700,000 to expand the Yates Town Park?  YES or NO”

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to expand the town park as it was originally envisioned 25 years ago,” said Russ Martino, the former town supervisor responsible for obtaining the original 6-acres of the current park.

He emphasized that from the beginning the planning efforts have called for a much larger park.

“Our original 2002 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) and our 2003 Western Orleans Comprehensive Plan (WOCP) strongly supported a 120-acre park,” he said.

According to Jim Simon, the current town supervisor, the updated LWRP is at the NYS Department of State for final review, and it includes the Yates Town Park expansion goal.  “In addition to the LWRP, our 2019 update to the WOCP, which included a survey of town residents and two public hearings, features a primary goal of expanding the Yates Town Park,” he said.

Only Town of Yates registered voters will be allowed to vote in the special election. The registration deadline with Orleans County Board of Elections is May 28.  Absentee ballot applications must be requested from the Yates Town Clerk no later than May 28, and absentee ballots must be postmarked to the Yates Town Clerk no later than June 20.

There will be two public meetings open to all and attended by town board members to discuss the proposal and to answer questions: Thursday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the Yates Town Hall; and Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Yates Town Park (north terminus of Morrison Road).

Details regarding the proposal – including an informational flyer, the final draft of the purchase agreement, and a map of the proposed expanded park – can be found at the town website: townofyates.org.

One of the important conditions in the purchase agreement is that the town has two years to obtain grant funding for the $700,000 purchase. If the town does not find grant funding for the purchase, the agreement is void and the town’s escrow will be returned.

“Even if we get the grant funding, does that mean there is no impact on the Yates’ taxpayers? No,” Simon said. “There will be some costs for environmental review of the land, for town insurance, and for upkeep.”

Many ideas have been suggested about what to do with the additional land, but according to Simon, two things are certain – that it will always remain parkland by virtue of the purchase agreement, and that any other development of the land (like a nature trail) would be based on the recommendations to the Town Board by a committee comprised of town staff and residents (to be formed should the voters approve the proposal).

Another factor town voters will need to weigh is whether or not the decrease in tax levy from NYSEG will be outweighed by the positive economic activities, the enhanced recreational opportunities, and the improved health benefits of people visiting an expanded park.

The Yates Town Board believes that increasing free public access to the wildlife, forest and natural Lake Ontario shoreline is worth the investment.

Supervisor Simon encourages people to attend the public forums, to email him (jamesjsimon11@gmail.com), or to call him (716-946-2075) to learn more about this proposal.

“This is not so much about us as it is about our children and grandchildren – it is a chance to preserve one of the last stretches of open space on Lake Ontario for all our current and future residents to enjoy,” he said.

LYNDONVILLE – The Yates Town Board set June 20 as the day for Town of Yates registered voters to say whether the town can acquire 153.3 acres from NYSEG for $700,000. The referendum states the town will use grant funds for the acquisition of a land next to the 6-acre town park on Morrison Road.

The Town Board on March 14 voted to buy 153.3 acres of land from NYSEG for $700,000. Town officials envision the site to stay undeveloped with walking trails.

But town residents Paul Lauricella, Bill Jurinich and Steve Colon circulated petitions wanting the matter to go to a public vote. On April 11 they turned in petitions signed by 200 residents.

Town Supervisor Jim Simon said the petitions and signatures met the threshold to force a public vote. On Thursday he commended the effort of the local citizens to bring the issue to a referendum.

The public vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall. Simon and the board will have public information meetings about why the board wants to acquire the land for pu lic use. Those meetings will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 6 at the Town Hall and then 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 at the town park.

“This is about our kids and grandkids and an opportunity that won’t come around again,” Simon said during Thursday’s board meeting.

The land owned by NYSEG was at one time eyed for a power plant. That project ended up at Somerset.

Town Supervisor Jim Simon is shown near the shore of Lake Ontario at the Yates Town Park in August 2022. He would like to expand public access to the lakefront.

Simon said the land purchase is contingent on grant funds covering the purchase. He acknowedged there will be some ongoing expense for the town with some maintenance and insurance.

The sale would also take about $25,000 in property taxes – town, county, school and fire district – off the tax rolls.

One resident, Bob DeMallie, said he doesn’t see the need for the town to own the NYSEG property.

“I’m opposed to it because I think the cost will be too much,” DeMallie told the Town Board about the ongoing maintenance.

He also thinks the location is isolated and could attract crime.

“I think it will bring out an unwanted dimension of people who will do who knows what,” DeMallie said.

Simon said the land has long been eyed by the town for recreation near the waterfront. It was included in a local waterfront development plan from 2002, Simon said, and a more recent town comprehensive plan.

“We didn’t willy nilly pull this out of a hat,” Simon said.

Paul Lauricella, a Yates resident and the Conservative Party chairman for the county, said he spent about three weeks talking to residents, and collecting signatures for the petition. He worries about the ongoing cost to taxpayers.

“This is pure legacy-building at the taxpayers’ expense,” Lauricella said after the meeting on Thursday evening. “The public has had enough of politicians taking tax-paying properties off of the tax rolls. The bottom line is this: your taxes will go up to maintain this forever.”

YATES – The Yates Town Board on March 14 voted to buy 153.3 acres of land from NYSEG for $700,000. Town officials envision the site to stay undeveloped with walking trails. It is next to a 6-acre town park on Morrision Road by Lake Ontario.

But town residents Paul Lauricella, Bill Jurinich and Steve Colon want the sale to have voter approval. They submitted petitions signed by 200 residents on Thursday.

That should meet the threshold to force a public referendum, Town Supervisor Jim Simon said. The petitions are being reviewed for valid signatures, and town officials are checking the local law for how soon the referendum will be held. It may be before the Nov. 5 election day.

“This is the American way,” Simon said Thursday after the Town Board meeting, responding to the petitions filed that morning at the town hall.

Lauricella, a Yates resident and chairman of the Orleans County Conservative Party, said he wants the community to have the final say in whether the land is purchased, and to be aware there will be ongoing maintenance and costs beyond the purchase.

“We thank the people for entrusting us with their signatures,” Lauricella said after Thursday’s Town Board meeting. “This gives them a voice.”

The town’s purchase is dependent on Yates receiving grants to cover the purchase of the land, Simon said. Yates has two years to line up grants and state funding for the acquisition. The town had to put down $5,000 to hold the land, and that money will be returned if the town ultimately doesn’t go forward with the project.

Simon said there are no immediate plans for the land, except to develop nature trails and possibly add a gazebo or a pavilion. The best use for the property may be keeping in a mostly wooded state without development, Simon said.

Town officials have eyed the land for years, and wanted to use state funds through the REDI program to acquire the land and make it more accessible to the public.

The state created the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative or REDI in response to historic flooding along the shore in 2017 and 2019. Yates received a $2.5 million grant from the state to make improvements to the 6-acre town park, including a playground, pavilion with bathrooms, a kayak launch, a crusher-run walking trail, a new parking lot with sidewalks and a pier that extends into the lake.

The town initially sought $4.5 million in REDI and that would have included buying the NYSEG land and doing some improvements, but NYSEG wasn’t ready to sell it in 2019, when the REDI funds were approved by the state.

Simon said the town’s local waterfront development plans include expanding the town park to the NYSEG site.

When the board voted March 14 to acquire the land for $700,000, there was then a 30-day window for a permissive referendum to file petitions to put the purchase to a public vote. Lauricella, Jurinich and Colon had voiced concerns about the purchase for several months.

They say it will take $25,000 in property taxes – town, county, school and fire district – off the tax rolls, and also result in increased costs for the town with maintenance and insurance.

Jurinich said he’d like to see a portion of the land be available to develop houses. That would boost the town’s tax base.

The town will have public meetings about the purchase leading up to the referendum, looking at the pros and cons, Simon said.

He sees an expanded park, open and free to the community, as a big asset for local residents that would also likely bring visitors to the community.

“This would preserve a beautiful stretch of land,” Simon said.