Mayor, Village Board may add part-time EMTs

MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department once again is pressing the Village Board to add additional full-time staff for the Fire Department, which continues to see an increase in calls.

Those calls are taxing the department’s 13 full-time firefighters who are trained in both fire and ambulance calls, captains Mike Maak and Jonathan Higgins told the board on Monday.

“We’re running bare bones,” Higgins told the board.

The increase in calls also results in higher-than budgeted revenue for the department. Maak and Higgins said that revenue should be used to help add more personnel, which would reduce overtime costs, and could lead to more calls and faster response times.

“The calls are increasing and I don’t see that changing,” Maak told the Village Board.

As of Monday, Medina FD responded to 1,535 calls in 2014, which was up from 1,420 a year ago at the same time, Maak said.

When Medina voted to start the full-time ambulance service in 2007, fire department leaders anticipated anywhere from 1,500 to 1,700 calls for the entire year. The department exceeded that, pushing 1,800 to 1,900 calls in its first year.

In 2012, the Medina FD handled 2,209 ambulance calls and 311 fire calls for 2,520 total, the most ever for the department – until 2013 when it responded to 2,755 calls.

Village Board members want to add staffing for the department to help with the workload, but they aren’t convinced full-time staff is the best choice. Mayor Andrew Meier said the call volumes could drop, and so could the revenue. He doesn’t want village taxpayers to see a jolt in their taxes to help pay for more full-time staff.

He would like the FD to supplement the full-time staff with part-time emergency medical technicians. The EMTs would have regularly scheduled shifts. They wouldn’t respond to fire calls.

“I want as much extra help as you need,” Meier said. “We just need a cost-effective plan.”

Higgins and Maak said it would be difficult to find reliable part-time EMTs. The firefighters’ contract also gives the full-time personnel the first choice for any overtime before the village would turn to part-time staff, Higgins said.

An additional full-time firefighter would cost the village $45,000 to $71,000 a year for salary and benefits. Fire Chief Todd Zinkievich submitted a written report, saying an additional firefighter would reduce overtime by $7,000 to $15,000. Two additional firefighters from the current staff of 13 could cut overtime by $25,000, he said.

The department’s call volume is resulting in revenues that are on pace to exceed the 2014 budget by about $100,000, Higgins and Maak said. The department’s budget could accommodate the added staff without an increase in taxes to the village, they said.

“This would be a wash,” Higgins said.

Meier, however, wants more assurances for the long-term. The board will continue to look at the issue and see if the firefighter contract can accommodate regularly scheduled EMTs.

The department is the primary responder for ambulance calls in western Orleans, and also goes to many calls in Albion and Niagara County. Maak said the village should approach the towns of Shelby, Ridgeway and Yates about a contribution for the ambulance service, perhaps $10,000 a year from each town. That would help with the staffing, and help ensure there are enough personnel for calls in western Orleans and also for the many hospital transfers.

Maak said Medina firefighters often have an ambulance tied up for about two hours while they transfer patients from Medina Memorial Hospital to sites in Buffalo and Rochester.

The Fire Department has been asking for added staff for the past three years. When the ambulance service started in 2007, a consultant forecast $600,000 in revenue from the service. The village has budgeted $1 million in revenue for 2014-15, but is on pace to reach $1.1 million.

Higgins was clearly frustrated at Monday’s meeting, saying the 13 firefighters are exceeding expectations.

“You told us before to come up with money and we did,” Higgins said.

Provided photo

MEDINA – The Sons of the American Legion in Medina donated $500 recently towards a replacement van for veterans. The Sons have given about $2,000 towards vans that are used to transport veterans to appointments at VA health care sites.

The latest replacement van was recently put into service by the Joint Veterans Council Medical Transport service. Pictured, from left, include: Greg Stanton of Stanton Signs, who designed and installed the graphics for the van; and Sons of the American Legion members Treasurer Wayne Hale, Commander Chuck Eaton and First Vice Commander Guy Eaton.

The Sons of the American Legion group is associated with the Butts-Clark Post 204 in Medina. The Sons are not Legion members because they have not served in the military. However, they have had a relative that has served in the military and who has been a member of the American Legion.

“We help the Legion anyway we can,” said Sons Commander Chuck Eaton.

That includes helping with the Legion’s fundraisers and donating to the many causes that the Legion embraces.

“This is the third time that we have donated to the Joint Veterans’ Council for the van service,” Eaton said. “We do all we can.”

MEDINA – In January Chris Keller stepped in as president of the Board of Education after Carol Heiligenthaler resigned from the position due to increasing job responsibilities as the business administrator at Barker Central School.

Keller impressed his colleagues on the board in the past six months. Last week they supported him for a full year as board president in 2014-15.

The board also elected David Sevenski as vice president. Keller, a teacher at Albion, served in that role until he became president of the BOE in January.

The board also welcomed a new member during its organizational meeting last week. Renee Paser-Paull was elected to a one-year position in May. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Rosalind Lind.

Provided photos by Walt Disney Company – Students at the Dance Theater in Medina perform July 3 on the Waterside Stage in Downtown Disney in Orlando, Fla.

MEDINA – A group of 20 dancers from Dance Theater in Medina performed before several thousand people on July 3 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The Medina dancers performed eight upbeat dance numbers including, “Singing in the Rain.” The group performed on a professional stage with professional sound and lighting.

“It was an amazing experience for the kids,” said Brandon Johnson who teaches the students with assistance from Amy Johnson. “It was very exciting and thrilling, not only for me but for my dancers.”

The Medina group spent July 3 in the Disney Performing Arts Program. The next day they watched the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom.

Johnson said Disney performing arts personnel praised the Medina dancers for their choreography, spacing and ability to keep the show moving.

Johnson has watched them do the routines hundreds of times. They were at their best in Florida.

“I’ve never seen them perform so well as they did at Disney,” Johnson said this afternoon. “It was a proud moment for me.”

The Medina dancers travelled about 1,200 miles for the half hour performance. They were able to put on their makeup in Disney’s dressing rooms and were treated like cast members, Johnson said.

Dance Theater has competed at national events at Atlantic City; Hershey, Pa; and Wildwood, NJ. They have brought home national titles through StarQuest and DanceXplosion. This was their first time at Disney.

They performed in three age levels: minis at 7 to 9 years old, juniors at 9 to 12, and seniors at 13 to 17.

Provided photo – Habitat for Humanity put new steps on this house on South Main Street in Medina.

MEDINA – An agency that has built 12 houses and done major rehabs on two others in Orleans County is starting a new program that focuses on smaller repairs.

Orleans Habitat for Humanity has launched “A Brush With Kindness” program this week with the construction of a new set of outdoor stairs for a home on South Main Street in the Village of Medina.

“These will be shorter-term projects,” said Barbara Filipak, a board member for Habitat.

The agency started in Orleans in 1992. It could use more volunteers, Filipak said.

The smaller projects, such as repairing windows and steps and painting, can be completed in a few days, making it less onerous for the volunteers.

The agency is still committed to building a new house or doing a major rehab at least once every three years, she said. Habitat typically will select a family first, and then work on building them a home. The family assumes the taxes and insurances, and pays back Habitat an interest-free mortgage.

With the first “Kindness” project on South Main Street, Young Enterprises partnered with Habitat to re-roof the garage and repair fascia on the front porch of the same residence.

The “A Brush With Kindness” program works with financially qualified homeowners in need of minor to moderate exterior repairs to their home or yard. The repairs may then allow the homeowner to meet code, insurance or safety requirements, Filipak said.

Financial responsibilities of the homeowner are reviewed by the Family Selection Committee and approved by the organization’s Board of Directors.

Orleans Habitat may be contacted at 585-798-0953 or by letter at Orleans Habitat for Humanity, Inc., P.O. Box 288, Medina, NY 14103. The agency has an office at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Medina.

MEDINA – The Village Planning Board will review a proposal for the first winery in downtown Medina.

The proposal for 810 Meadworks is actually a meadery, which uses honey in producing wine.

Larissa and Bryan DeGraw and their friend Morris Babcock are working to establish 810 Meadworks at 113 West Center St., Suite 1. That spot was most recently used for barbershop next to the Shirt Factory Café in the R.H. Newell building.

The Village Planning Board accepted the site plan as complete for the project during its meeting last week. Now the plan will go before the Orleans County Planning Board at 7 p.m. on July 24 and will be back before the Village Planning Board for a public hearing at 7:05 p.m. on Aug. 5.

The board will take residents’ comments on the proposal and could vote that night whether to approve the site plan and a certificate of appropriateness for the project in the downtown historic district.

The Village Board last month voted to update the zoning in the downtown and business districts, making it easier for wineries to open in Medina.

The DeGraws and Babcock want to have 810 Meadworks open in late November, in time for Medina’s holiday events.

“We really appreciate a small town that embraces its history,” Mr. DeGraw told Orleans Hub in May. “And from a business standpoint, Medina is in the center of the Niagara Wine Trail. That is an absolutely great place to be.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – A “One Medina” sign is displayed along West Center Street. The campaign seeks to dissolve the village of Medina and merge the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway into one town.

MEDINA – Mayor Andrew Meier is refuting claims from the Ridgeway town supervisor that village tax dollars have been used for the “One Medina” campaign.

Brian Napoli, the town supervisor, criticized Meier in a chain email for not telling the truth about the funding for One Medina “after bragging that it is privately funded without taxpayer money.”

Meier has been critical of Ridgeway and Shelby for hiring a PR consultant and attorney to oppose a dissolution plan being considered by the village. He said the village hasn’t spent money on “One Medina.”

“Absolutely no taxpayer dollars have been spent on One Medina projects,” Meier said in a mass email to village and town officials, as well as to local reporters. “It is a private group that has no affiliation with the village whatsoever.”

Meier sent the first email on Friday to village and town officials, as well as the reporters. He is trying to set up a meeting among the village and two towns to discuss shared services, consolidation and possibly dissolution. Napoli said he wants dissolution off the agenda.

Village Trustee Michael Sidari has asked Meier and the other officials to remove reporters from the emails. But Meier, in an email this morning, wants reporters to stay in the loop.

“This is a very important policy discussion, and the people deserve access to the substance of our communications,” Meier said. “Inclusion of the press promotes transparency and is wholly appropriate.”

Village wants to encourage wineries, microbreweries

Photo by Tom Rivers – Cindy Robinson, president of the Medina Business Association, speaks in favor of new regulations making it easier for wineries to open in the village’s business districts.

MEDINA – The Village Board approved new zoning regulations for wineries and microbreweries that are designed to encourage the operations in Medina while giving the village more oversight on the businesses.

The revised regulations state that wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries and meaderies will all be allowed uses in the Downtown Historic District. The village doesn’t want to limit those businesses to the downtown. They would also be allowed in the General Business District as well as the Light Industrial and Industrial Zones.
The owners of the businesses will need to secure a Special Use Permit. That will give the village more say in the operations for odor, storage, noise and other issues.

The Village Board approved the new regulations in a 4-0 vote. Mayor Andrew Meier abstained from the vote and discussion about the issue. He owns 113 West Center St., the R.H. Newell building.

Larissa and Bryan DeGraw and their friend Morris Babcock are working to establish 810 Meadworks inside that building in Suite 1, where a barbershop was most recently located next to the Shirt Factory Café.

Mr. DeGraw addressed the board on Monday, urging the village to approve the new regulations. A meadery, which combines some of the arts of making wine and beer, also uses honey in its product. DeGraw believes the meadery will be a draw, bringing visitors to other businesses in the community.

Cindy Robinson, president of the Medina Business Association, spoke in favor of the new regulations, saying the microbreweries and wineries would make the downtown and business districts a bigger attraction.

Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman asked if the wineries could hurt other businesses by consuming too many of the parking spaces.

Robinson said the MBA puts on many events that draw hundreds and sometimes thousands of people to the downtown. Those visitors find spots to park.

“Parking won’t be a huge issue,” she said.

Martin Busch, the village code enforcement officer, said the size of the available downtown buildings will limit the size of the breweries and wineries. The village doesn’t have too many sites where the projects could work.

But there are some buildings that have potential for the projects. He sees them as a lift for the other downtown businesses by drawing young adults or “millennials.” Right now that age group is a coveted consumer.

“The millennials are not looking for the cookie-cutter product,” Busch said. “They want a real product and a microbrewery fits that.”

Busch said the village has several large municipal parking lots that can accommodate more customers for the downtown.

“They might have to walk a block,” he said. “The impact would be more foot traffic. You would have people walking by other businesses.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Worthington Industries will keep its Medina plant open until July 31 on Bernz-O-Matic Drive.

MEDINA – A manufacturing company that makes torches will stay open in Medina a little longer.

Worthington Industries will continue production until July 31 in Medina. The company most recently set June 20 as its last day in Medina.

In December, Worthington officials said the plant would shut down on May 1 and put 152 people out of work.

The shutdown dates have been pushed back due to increased production, company leaders have said in letters to the Medina Village Board. Mayor Andrew Meier shared the latest letter during Monday’s board meeting.

Worthington operates the former Bernz-O-Matic and is shifting production from Medina to a site in Wisconsin. Many of the employees have worked at the plant for decades.

Worthington bought Bernz-O-Matic in 2011. Bernz-O-Matic had operated in Medina since 1969, making torches. Worthington makes cylinders for the torches in Wisconsin. By shifting the torch production to Wisconsin, the company says it can do everything at one site, saving in transportation costs.

Worthington planned to ramp up production in Medina, to have extra product while the company shifts production to the site in Wisconsin.

Photo by Tom Rivers – David Barhite, a former Medina village trustee, addresses the board on Monday and asks that village residents have a say in a public referendum whether the village government should be dissolved.

MEDINA – Several former village trustees for Medina are urging the current board to put the issue of village dissolution to a public vote.

“We know first-hand how difficult it is to maintain services while holding taxes steady,” according to a letter signed by several of the trustees that was read during Monday’s Village Board meeting.

David Barhite, a trustee until he wasn’t re-elected in March, shared the letter on Monday. The former trustees have service dating back 30 years. They said the current village government and tax structure is not sustainable unless there are rising home values, new construction or enlarged village borders through annexations.

Otherwise the village faces a declining tax base that will push tax rates even higher unless there are cuts in services and personnel.

A dissolution plan would reduce village taxes by about 30 percent while preserving current services.

Former Medina Mayor Marcia Tuohey doesn’t support dissolution. She said village taxes could be reduced with more cuts in the village budget.

“We urge the Village Board to put the plan up for a public vote so that the people – not the politicians – can have the final say,” the letter states.

The letter was signed by Barhite, James Hobbs, James Lustumbo, Judy Szulis, Bernard Amos, Wilson Southworth, Kelly Kiebala, Patricia Crowley, John P. Anderson, Robert Rice, Adam Tabelski, Norma Huth, Susan Squires and Timothy Cooper.

Wilson Southworth, a former village trustee, said villagers are double taxed for services. They pay both a town and village tax. If Shelby and Ridgeway exempted village residents for some services, such as snow plowing and highway, that would be a significant savings, Southworth said.

“To me it’s quite simple: don’t charge people for double,” he said. “It’s simple and it’s fair. Just let us pay for the services we receive.”

Southworth said the current unsustainable model in the village “will only get worse” without significant changes. He fears the tax base will continue to drop and taxes rise if the village doesn’t get some relief.

Not all former village officials favor dissolution. Marcia Tuohey, Medina’s mayor about 25 years ago, said the community could lower its taxes by reducing village expenses, including new equipment purchases, contingency, and other costs, such as trees, municipal dues, tourism and economic development.

The dissolution plan eliminates some village positions, mostly low-paid or volunteer ones on Planning and Zoning boards and other village committees. The village could do away with some of those posts right now to save some money, Tuohey said.

“If you support this plan eliminating them, why not have the guts to do it now and start saving tax dollars,” she said during Monday’s board meeting.

Village officials should also work with the towns for better coordination of services to benefit the village and towns of Ridgeway and Shelby, Tuohey said.

“I believe because the mayor and Village Board focused on the dissolution issue, the financial responsibilities and management of services have been neglected,” Tuohey said.

Resident also arrested on weapons charge

Press release, OC Major Felony Crime Task Force

MEDINA – After a several-month investigation into the possession, sale and distribution of marijuana in the village of Medina, two people were arrested on Friday and police are searching for a third suspect.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, along with the Medina Police Department and the Orleans County Multi-Agency Swat Team executed three search warrants in Medina.

Police executed two search warrants at 510 West Ave. apartments A7 and A5A and the third search warrant at 228 Eagle St.

Police seized over a pound of marijuana, a stolen loaded 22-caliber handgun, a 22-caliber rifle, more than $2,500 in cash, scales, packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.

Rodrick Griffin

Kelly Moriarty

The following were arrested:

Rodrick S. Griffin, 31, of 238 Eagle St., Medina. He was charged with one count of criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, four counts of criminal sale of marijuana in the third degree, five counts of criminal sale of marijuana in the fourth degree.

He also faces four counts of criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana.

Kelly A. Moriarty, 34, of 238 Eagle St., Medina. She was charged with one count of criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree and one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.

Both Griffin and Moriarty were arraigned in the Town of Ridgeway Justice Court by Town Justice Dawn Keppler. Griffin was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $75,000 cash bail or bond. Moriarty was committed to the County Jail on $10,000 cash or bond.

Both were to return to the Ridgeway court this morning at 9 a.m.

Further arrests and charges are pending in this investigation, the Task Force reported today.