Paul Wagner led emergency management after 9-11, and through radio project

Photo by Tom Rivers – Paul Wagner, director of the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County, poses with a birthday cake for him today on his 68th birthday. The cake was shared before the Orleans County Legislature meeting this afternoon.

ALBION – The leader of the Emergency Management Office in Orleans County will retire on July 18 after seeing through a $7.1 million new emergency communications system.

Paul Wagner, 68, considered retiring sooner but he was committed to waiting until the new digital system was ready and working. Today the county switched from an analog system to the new digital one.

“I didn’t think it was fair to leave somebody else to pick up all of the pieces,” Wagner said today when county officials celebrated the radio system’s success.

He was praised for seeing the project through, while also working with firefighters to keep up with their training for numerous potential disasters, from dirty bombs to hazardous materials to ethanol tankers that catch fire.

“He prepared everyone for threats and worst-case scenarios, including weapons of mass destruction,” said Mike Fuller, chief of the East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company.

Wagner started as a firefighter in 1964, when he joined the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company. He later moved across the county and joined the Clarendon Fire Company, serving as the fire chief.

He was appointed EMO director 14 years ago. Fuller said Wagner has the respect of the firefighters, partly based on a long commitment as a volunteer firefighter and past chief.

“You have to walk the walk before you can talk the talk,” Fuller said.

Three firefighters are vying to replace Wagner as the EMO director. Current Albion Fire Chief Rocky Sidari, Past Albion Fire Chief Dale Banker and Past Holley Fire Chief David Knapp, a current county fire investigator, are all pursuing the job.

The Fire Chiefs Association could recommend Wagner’s successor at its meeting June 5. Legislature Chairman David Callard and the Legislature will fill the opening by appointment.

The Orleans County Conservative Party has endorsed Steve Hawley of Batavia in his re-election effort for the 139^th Assembly District, which includes all of Genesee, most of Orleans and a portion of western Monroe.

Al Lofthouse, the party chairman, said Hawley pushes party principles for a smaller state government.

Hawley met with the local Conservative Party leaders on Thursday and received their support. He has served as Assemblyman since a special election in February 2006.

His district includes all of Orleans except the town of Shelby, which is represented by Jane Corwin of Clarence.

Photos by Tom Rivers – At 10:43 a.m. today, Kevin Doherty switched off the analog equipent and made a digital system the sole system after weeks of testing the new emergency communications system. Doherty is one of the county’s consultants for the project. The analog equipment is in front of Doherty and to his left. The digital equipment is much more compact and represents two racks to his right.

Keith Whitt, a consultant on the new emergency communications system, works in the Civil Defense Center this morning after the new digital system was activated.

ALBION – Firefighters, police officers, highway workers and other first responders in Orleans County now have a new emergency communications system.

The county officially made the switch from an analog system to a digital one at 10:43 a.m. today. The “cut over” was scheduled for 10 a.m., but a fire call in Holley delayed the change. The county wanted to wait until after that call before changing over to the new system.

The county has been working with contractors to test the new system in recent weeks. Users can expect better coverage, especially on the eastern and western edges of the county and along Lake Ontario where there were weak signals and often dead spots.

“I think everybody will be presently surprised,” said Paul Wagner, the county’s emergency management director. “The coverage is spectacular in my opinion.”

The county built the analog system in 1991-92. It included one tower on West County House Road by the Civil Defense Center and Fire Training Center.

As part of the new $7.1 million upgrade, the county added three towers: one by the Clarendon Highway Department near Route 31A, one in Albion by the Civil Defense Center and one in Shelby next to the Medina water tank on Route 31A.

Those towers help ensure nearly blanket coverage in the county, including on the edges. The towers also will expand coverage of the county’s signal into eastern Niagara, southern Genesee and western Monroe counties, where Orleans firefighters often respond for mutual aid calls.

The Harris Corporation is guaranteeing 95 percent coverage in Orleans, but Wagner said tests with radios show the system has about 99 percent coverage.

Paul Wagner, the county’s emergency management director, points to a rack that transmits signals from the radio towers to the consoles and the radios.

Paul Wagner listens to a portable radio while Dennis Rose, left, talks with Keith Whitt. Rose is the project manager for the harris Corporation and Whitt is a consultant on the project.

The upgrade includes emergency communications equipment at the dispatch center at the Public Safety Building in Albion and the backup location at the Civil Defense Center.

The upgrade also includes 1,100 radios for police, firefighters, Probation officers and other emergency responders. There are also 550 mobile systems that are mounted in police cars, highway vehicles, fire trucks and other vehicles.

The analog system that was at least 22 years old was designed for mobile units and not handheld portable radios. Users found the portable radios were often unreliable, especially when they were brought inside a house.

The new radios on the digital system were tested by firefighters over the weekend, and Wagner said they reported they worked fine inside houses, including many basements.

The county has been working on the upgrade since 2004. It was a challenging project that required permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and its counterpart in Canada.

The county needed to make the upgrade because manufacturers of analog system radios, tower equipment and other infrastructure have notified users that parts will soon no longer be available. The phase out of analog has prompted many municipalities around the country to push for new systems, said Keith Whitt, vice president of consulting services with Trott Communications Group in Irving, Texas.

He has been working as a consultant for the county for about four years, first with its rebanding, or its switch to a new approved signal and system. He has been a technical consultant the past year, inspecting the new equipment and making sure the system serves the county.

“There are still quite a few analogs but there has been a big shift to digital,” Whitt said. “The analogs are all at an end-of-life mode. The part supplies are running out.”

County officials are planning a celebration this afternoon in the Legislature Chambers at 3:45 to mark the transition to the new system.

Photo by Tom Rivers – American flags have been placed on the graves of veterans at Lynhaven Cemetery in Lyndonville.

The community will honor veterans with parades and services throughout Orleans County on Monday.

In Albion, a parade begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Main and State streets. The parade will go south on Main Street before turning east on Route 31 and ending at the front lawn of the Albion Middle School, where a service will follow the parade.

In Holley, a ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the American Legion with a parade then starting at 10 a.m. It will go from the Legion and continue to the VFW on Veterans Drive. After the VFW, veterans will lay wreaths at Holley cemeteries.

In Lyndonville, a parade begins at 9 a.m. on Lake Avenue at the parking lot of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and continues to Main Street where it ends by the library at the Village Park.

In Medina, a parade begins at 11 a.m. on Park Avenue by the Olde Pickle Factory. It continues to State Street Park where a ceremony will follow. Both the VFW and American Legion will serve lunch following the ceremony.

Shelby leads for fire training; Lyndonville tops for EMS

File photo by Tom Rivers – Firefighters from Barre, Shelby and Ridgeway trained last October to douse a tanker on fire at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.

Firefighters in Orleans County topped 9,000 hours of training for fire and emergency medical services last year.

The fire companies and departments were recognized for their efforts during the

Fire Chief’s Association meeting this past Monday at the Barre Fire Company. The County Legislature this Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. will recognize the fire company or department with the most fire and EMS hours.

The Shelby Volunteer Fire Company led the county with 1,163 fire training hours. The Lyndonville Fire Department had the most EMS training hours with 750.

County-wide there were 6,918 fire training hours and 2,589 EMS hours. A husband and wife from Fancher-Hulberton-Murray had the most individual training hours.

Gary Sicurella of FHM completed 217 total fire training hours and his wife Tracey Sicurella completed 192 EMS training hours.

Here are the training hours for each fire company or department: Albion, 563 for fire and 20 for EMS; Barre, 729 for fire and 399 for EMS; Carlton, 337 for fire and 196 for EMS; Clarendon, 410 for fire and 147 for EMS; Central Orleans Volunteer Ambulance, 10 for EMS; East Shelby, 216 for fire and 390 for EMS; Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, 782 for fire and 503 for EMS;

Holley, 586 for fire and 40 for EMS; Kendall, 726 for fire and 42 for EMS; Lyndonville, 593 for fire and 750 for EMS; Medina, 227 for fire and 0 for EMS; Ridgeway, 586 for fire and 32 for EMS; Shelby, 1,163 for fire and 60 for EMS.

File photo by Tom Rivers – A state arts grant will provide $2,500 to the Lake Plains Players to help with the costs of putting on a musical in the fall. The group last October performed Les Miserables. One of the classic songs from the musical includes ‘The Innkeeper’s Song’ (Master of the House).

BATAVIA – The new round of state grants for concerts and art projects includes funding for a new canal concert series in Albion and other projects in the county.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council announced the Decentralization Regrant recipients for 2014 in Genesee and Orleans Counties, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.

GO ART! received 27 applications for the Reach Grant Program for total requests of $65,696. With $41,600 available, 26 of the applicants were awarded grants.

In Orleans County, the awards include:

$2,000 to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in medina for the Finally Fridays Music Series.

$1,500 for Yates Community Library for More Than Just Books Music Series.

$1,200 to the Lyndonville Lions Club for Concert Fun for the Summer.

$4,000 to World Life Institute for Voices from the Earth – pottery program.

$2,500 to Lake Plains Players for its production of “Follies” in October.

$1,510 for the “A Tale for Three Counties” community reading project.

$800 to the Village of Albion for a new concert series by the canal.

$775 to Hoag Library for Art for Youth: Acrylics.

$500 to the Cobblestone Society Museum for “Stories at the Cobblestone.”

GO ART! also approved a $2,000 grant for artist Stacey Kirby to work with Holley first graders to create a mural for the school.

GOP candidate for governor says state is biggest enemy to business

Photos by Tom Rivers – Rob Astorino, the Westchester County executive, talks with reporters this afternoon after touring Precision Packaging Products in Holley. Astorino is the Republican candidate for governor against Andrew Cuomo.

Precision Packaging Products VP of Sales Steve Langdon, left, and Andrew Moreau (chief financial officer for Precision) show some of the plastic packaging the company makes for bakeries and the produce industry. Rob Astorino, second from right, toured the factory with State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, right.

Rob Astorino, front left, gets a tour of Precision Packaging Products from Steve Langdon, the company’s vice president of sales.

HOLLEY – Rob Astorino said the state’s high taxes, burdensome regulations and costly worker’s compensation in the state are causing an exodus of residents out of New York.

The Westchester County executive is making a more business-friendly state a focus in his run for governor against incumbent Andrew Cuomo.

Astorino made three stops in Orleans County today and he saw three success stories: Precision Packaging Products in Holley, Western New York Energy in Medina and the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina. The three have all made major investments in the county.

“They’re winning despite the odds,” Astorino said. “Businesses are begging for relief. New York is the worst in the country for taxes and corruption. The state policies that have been enacted are driving out residents and businesses.”

The state ranks 50^th or dead last in taxes in the country, and Astorino said 400,000 New Yorkers have fled the state in the past three years.

“It’s no secret it’s very hard to do business here,” he said. “The state has become the enemy.”

New York needs to get its tax burden to be less than other Northeastern states, which are competitors for businesses and residents, Astorino said. Then NY needs to push to have its tax burden below Texas and North Carolina, he said.

At Precision Packaging the company has done four major expansions in Holley in 12 years. The company now has 110 employees and 180,000 square feet of space. The company was acquired in March by the Waddington Group in Kentucky. The new owner has the resources to grow Precision in Holley, perhaps doubling the workforce in the next five years, said Andrew Moreau, the company’s chief financial officer.

He said the state can be a challenge for the company, particularly working through the “maze” of worker’s compensation. But Holley has proven a good site for the company, providing lower-cost municipal electricity. The company has room to grow in Holley and the local workforce has stepped up to meet the company’s personnel needs, said Steve Langdon, the company’s vice president of sales.

Astorino has twice been elected as county executive in Westchester where Democrats are far in the majority. He said the county dropped unemployment, added jobs and is in a much stronger position now that he’s in his second term as county executive.

“In Westchester County we lowered taxes,” he said. “We went from losing to winning.”

“We’ve had a net job loss in Western New York,” he said. “I’ll ask Western New Yorkers: Do you think we’re winning?”

Photos by Tom Rivers – Former State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt, left, joined State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. George Maziarz for the unveiling of a sign this afternoon that notes Route 98 is the Genesee and Orleans Veterans Memorial Highway. Another sign near the Genesee-Wyoming border in Alexander will be unveiled Friday morning.

POINT BREEZE – A new sign, proclaiming Route 98 as the Genesee and Orleans Veterans Memorial Highway, was unveiled today near the Point Breeze exit off the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

Several veterans and local and state officials gathered for the unveiling of the sign near the entrance of the Orleans County Marine Park.

“It’s a great tribute to the veterans,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Another sign will be unveiled in Genesee County on Friday morning near the Genesee/Wyoming border. Hawley said he will push the state Department of Transportation to put up additional signs in Genesee and Orleans counties besides the first two.

State Sen. George Maziarz is pleased the signs are up before Memorial Day.

“We’re honoring the men and women who did not come home,” he said. “This is just a small way to say thank you.”

This is the second state route to be dedicated to veterans in Orleans County. Route 104 has signs in Jeddo and at the eastern edge of Murray declaring it as the American Legion Memorial Highway in Orleans County.

Paul Fulcomer, director of the Veterans Service Agency, said the designations are appreciated by veterans.

“It’s always nice to see a veterans’ memorial highway,” Fulcomer said.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley speaks at the dedication.

Astorino will visit sites in Holley and Medina on Thursday

The Republican candidate for governor will make three stops in Orleans County on Thursday.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will first be at Precision Packaging Products in Holley at 2 p.m. for a tour of the manufacturing plant. He is scheduled to tour Western New York Energy’s ethanol plant in Medina at 3 p.m. He will then go to tour the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina  at 3:45 p.m.

Astorino was endorsed by Republicans last week to challenge incumbent Andrew Cuomo as governor.

A poll released today shows Cuomo has a commanding lead over Astorino, 57 to 28 percent. Cuomo today announced former Congresswoman Kathy Hochul was his choice for his running mate for lieutenant governor. Hochul represented a district that included Orleans County.

Astorino will spend nearly the entire day in Western New York on Thursday with an 8 a.m. meeting with Rochester area business leaders at the Rochester Business Alliance. After visiting three locations in Orleans County, he will be in Niagara Falls for dinner with the Niagara County Republican Party.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is a snapshot of each district:

Albion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holley

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

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

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

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

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

Kendall

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

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

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

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

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

Lyndonville

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Medina

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

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

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

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

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

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

ALBION – The letters keep coming in, about five a week since around March 1.

Residents write to state legislators, Orleans County legislators and Carlton town officials, expressing concern about the bridge and road maintenance with the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The county has received 66 so far about the Parkway’s condition.

“Restriction detours, Bridge Closure and Road Maintenance continue on a downward path, which is having a very negative influence on safe and efficient flow of vehicle travel, which is vital to our Orleans County well being,” according to one letter about the Parkway.

County and town officials have urged residents to write to State Sen. George Maziarz and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley about the Parkway.

“LOSP is a very key resource in the North Country of Orleans County supporting our Tourism and Residential travel,” according to a prototype letter sent by several residents.

The County Legislature and several Town Boards have passed formal resolutions requesting the state not divert funds from the NYS Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. Keeping that money for intended purpose would allow the state to better maintain its roads and bridges, the local government leaders have said.

Gia Arnold has the Orleans County Conservative Party’s official endorsement in her campaign for the State Senate against George Maziarz.

The Conservative Party Committee endorsed Arnold on Tuesday. Allen Lofthouse, the party chairman, said Maziarz, a 19-year-incumbent, is “a good man.”

But the party leaders like Arnold’s passion. The 24-year-old from Holley runs a tree service with her husband Jeremy. Mrs. Arnold is a state-wide leader of New York Revolution, a group that wants to repeal the SAFE Act. She has led rallies around the state against the gun control measure.

“She comes on strong,” Lofthouse said. “She is pretty passionate about her beliefs. She is real focused.”

Lofthouse said Maziarz has been an advocate for school funding, but hasn’t done enough for Orleans County.

“Nineteen years is a long time,” Lofthouse said about Maziarz’s career in Albany. “We’ve been pushing for term limits.”

Lofthouse first met Arnold through their involvement in the Tea Party movement in Orleans County. Arnold is making her first run for elected office.

“I know she’s young but I don’t think it hurts,” Lofthouse said. “Maybe she can draw more young people to be interested.”

Arnold is running for the 62nd Senate District that includes all of Orleans, most of Niagara and a portion of western Monroe counties.