ALBION – The Pistol Permit “Recertification” Process, also recently referred to in the news as “renewal” of your pistol permit, has been a topic of much discussion and also has caused many inquiries through the Orleans County Pistol Permit Office.
Nadine Hanlon, Orleans County Clerk, would like to provide the following information to make the recertification process easy.
The “New York State Pistol/Revolver License Recertification” is a process handled entirely by the New York State Police Pistol Permit Bureau in Albany. The Orleans County Pistol Permit Office cannot accept these forms for filing.
The recertification process is in addition to the usual local processing of activity on your Orleans County Pistol Permit – it is a summary of your current pistol permit status to Albany, which is mandatory every 5 years.
The Orleans County Pistol Permit Office does not have information on your current recertification status.
If you do not have internet access, please call the NYS Troopers in Albany at: 1-855-lawguns (1-855-529-4867) to determine your recertification status with them, and for further inquiries.
For those with internet access, you can access the New York State Police Pistol Permit website through the Orleans County Pistol Permit website, by clicking here, or search “Orleans County, NY – Pistol Permits.”
From our website, you can then access the following links on the NYS Police Pistol Permit website, as follows:
• Recertification – New York State Pistol/Revolver License Holder: New York State firearms laws require pistol/revolver license holders to recertify their status every five years. Click here for more information.
The status of submitted recertification forms can be conveniently checked by clicking here. You will need to have your New York State Driver License or Non-Driver Identification Card in order to check or complete your recertification status.
Chris Cappetta, chief financial officer of Garden Trends, Inc. speaks during last week’s opening retreat for the 2022 Leadership Orleans. Cappetta is one of 26 members of the class.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 January 2022 at 2:32 pm
LYNDONVILLE – A new group of 26 members has started a one-year leadership program in Orleans County.
The fifth group of Leadership Orleans held the opening retreat last Thursday and Friday at the White Birch Golf Course.
In addition to the opening and closing retreats, the class will participate in 10 “Day Sessions” covering the following themes, with learning outcomes identified for each: Legislative Affairs, Leadership Challenge, Community Health, Tourism & Recreation, Business & Culture, Economic & Workforce Development, Agribusiness, Volunteerism, Education, and Simulated Society.
The members of the 2022 Class of Leadership Orleans (Year 5) include:
Jennifer Ashbery, High School Principal, Albion Central School District
Miranda Bennett, Bookkeeper, Town of Shelby
Dawn Borchert, Tourism Director, County of Orleans
Gloria Brent, President/Owner, MDS Consultants
Gabe Bruning, Owner, Mountain Mule Ciderhouse
Christopher Cappetta, CFO, Garden Trends, Inc., DBA Harris Seeds
Katrina Chaffee, Director of Community Services, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
Cyndi Stumer, Deputy Commissioner of Social Services, County of Orleans
Wayne Wadhams, Board Member, Orleans/Niagara BOCES and Albion Central School
Dave Warren, Board Member, Kendall Central School District
Natasha Wasuck, Owner, The Lockstone
Chris Cappetta, chief financial officer of Garden Trends, Inc. speaks during last week’s opening retreat for the 2022 Leadership Orleans. Cappetta is one of 26 members of the class.
Wayne Wadhams, a member of Albion Board of Education and the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, also speaks during the opening retreat when the class members gave an introduction about themselves. Wadhams is a retired teacher and coach at Albion Central School.
Class members, including Jim Doyle at lower left, work on the “Lizards Activity.” This was among the team building exercises. Other activities show different communication styles, leadership styles, and awareness of others’ styles.
The group is happy and more connected after finishing the Lizards activity.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 January 2022 at 9:24 am
Orleans County is joining 10 other counties in the Finger Lakes in asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to reconsider a vaccine booster requirement for healthcare workers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul
Hochul announced on Jan. 7 that healthcare workers would be required to get the booster within two weeks of being eligible.
County leaders wrote in a Jan. 12 letter to Hochul that their healthcare systems are already short-staffed and overwhelmed, and the booster mandate will further strain the hospital workforce.
“Our hospital systems are facing severe staffing shortages coupled with increasing patient loads caused by the Omicron surge,” according to the letter from county officials in Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Steuben, Livingston, Schuyler, Yates, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne and Monroe. “We have significant concerns that if even a handful of healthcare workers are dismissed for their refusal to receive the booster within the designated timeframe, it could exacerbate an already tenuous situation.”
The counties tell Hochul that each county “fully supports the value of vaccinations and has worked tirelessly to administer vaccinations to our citizens.”
The coalition of counties asked Hochul to offer a test-out option on a temporary basis for vaccinated healthcare workers who don’t have the booster in the timeframe put forth by the governor. That option could just be “until the Omicron wave subsides and the hospital capacity crisis abates,” according to the letter from the counties.
“Our concerns are the potential negative impacts to an already beleaguered healthcare workforce at a time when our communities can least afford it,” the letter concludes.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Eight of nine graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, who received special grants for their businesses, are shown at The Lockstone in Albion. Seated, from left, are Jenna Chevier, Lynn Palmer, Jackie Chinn, Nickie Poler Girardo and Sarah Ebbs. Standing are Dorothy Daniels, MAP instructor; Natasha Wasuck, Margie Steffen, MAP coordinator Diane Blanchard, and Kim and John Woodams. Absent is Laura Kemler.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 14 January 2022 at 7:00 pm
Provided photos: Laura Kemler stands in her store at 45 North Main St., Albion, Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods. Her business was boosted by a $20,000 grant through the Microenterprise Assistance Program.
ALBION – Nine graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, who received special grants of $10,000 to $20,000, celebrated at lunch Tuesday at The Lockstone in Albion.
Lockstone’s owner, Natasha Wasuck, was one of the graduates and grant recipients. She said buying the site of The Lockstone, a former automotive and carpet store, has proven to be quite a venture.
Wasuck, who is also a realtor, took the MAP class in 2019 because she wanted to educate herself in all aspects of business, she said. Her business is a wedding and event venue, with an ice cream parlor during the summer.
Her $12,000 grant enabled her to buy a bar cooler and furniture for her wedding venue. She called the MAP an asset to the community.
“A lot of small businesses which might have struggled have been able to start up, because of MAP,” she said.
Margie Steffen, who owns Studio 11 Hair Salon at 11 East Bank St., Albion, has been in business for 22 years, but still found she learned how to better her busienss in taking the MAP class.
“I had also taken it eight years ago and took it again in April last year, because I still thought I could benefit from it,” she said. “I wanted to refresh my business skills and find out if there were any new opportunities available. I learned having a business plan is essential.”
One of those opportunities available to graduates was applying for the state GOSC/OCR grant. Steffen received $15,000, which enabled her to give her shop a facelift and buy new barbering and spa equipment.
John Woodams, who owns a hops farm with his wife Kim in Kendall, attended the MAP class in 2021. With their $15,000 grant, they were able to buy 2,500 more hops plants, bringing their total to 8,000.
John said the class was a big help to them.
“Learning how to develop a business plan was the most beneficial,” Kim said.
Sarah Ebbs has been baking with her grandmother and mother since she was 13, so having her own bakery is a dream come true. Her mom Pam Jenks first started the bakery and it really took off after they opened Pretty Sweet Bakery in 2019 at 117 North Main St.
Ebbs took the MAP spring class in 2021. With her $15,000 grant she was able to revamp the bakery, purchase new equipment and inventory and create seating options for customers. She said the MAP and grant availability were great opportunities for a new business.
Sarah Ebbs, one of the graduates of the Microenterprise Assistance Program, has been approved for a state grant to expand her business, Pretty Sweet Bakery, at 117 North Main St., Albion.
Nickie Poler Girardo is a mixologist who runs a mobile bar tending service. She will create a personalized menu for any event, including weddings, holiday parties, private gatherings or corporate events. She will create signature cocktails, and brings staff and all supplies with her.
“I take the guesswork out of bar service for an event,” she said.
Her $15,000 grant enabled her to purchase a new enclosed trailer, new equipment, beverage refrigerators and a generator for the trailer.
Jenna Chevier of Kendall Road, Holley, has put her knowledge of event planning and digital marketing to work to form her business, Eventageous Media Marketing.
“I wanted to take the things I enjoy most and do them for other people,” she said.
She has taken some courses, but most of what she knows she learned from experience, including website design. In event planning, she caters small to medium size weddings and entertainment conventions.
With her $12,000 grant, she was able to buy equipment to facilitate her marketing for small businesses.
Jackie Chinn took two things she is passionate about and turned them into her business, Lyric and Lizzy Boutique, located at 335 North Main St., Medina. Her store sells clothing for children from infant to size 12 and treats, toys and accessories for dogs and cats
She recently added a new feature, Lincoln Bear and Buddy, where children 3 and older can made their own bear in the store. She has also introduced a Book and Bear concept for parents or grandparents who want a unique gift for their child. It includes a book, tee shirt, craft, stickers and a toy.
Chinn took the MAP class in 2019, before opening her business in 2020. Her $15,000 grant enabled her to buy new merchandise and shelving for her store.
Lynn Palmer’s $15,000 grant enabled her to increase her inventory and purchase new shelving for her store, Upscale Overstock, at 50 North Main St., Albion. At the recent MAP graduation, she shared her story of rising from poverty to becoming a self-sufficient, successful businesswoman.
The last recipient, and one of the most successful MAP graduates, is Laura Kemler, who owns Laura Loxley Vintage Inspired Goods at 45 North Main St., Albion.
She produces unique handmade and hand dyed fabric goods. A $20,000 grant enabled her to purchase inventory and equipment. She has returned several times to talk to MAP graduates about what the program has done for her.
Two Microenterprise Assistance Program classes are held annually. The next one is scheduled April 5 to June 14 at the Arnold Gregory Building. Anyone wishing to enroll may contact coordinator Diane Blanchard at (585) 589-7060.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 January 2022 at 10:56 am
ALBION – The Orleans County made several appointments during an organizational meeting last week and also gave final approval for 2 percent raises for the legislators, the same rate as the county employees and department heads.
Legislator Don Allport cast the lone vote against the pay increases for legislators, saying local taxpayers are already seeing big hikes in inflation, driving up costs for purchases and shouldn’t have to shoulder any more increases.
With the 2 percent increases the salaries for the legislators for 2022 includes $19,243 for the chairman, $14,550 for the vice chairman and the five other legislators at $12,828 each.
The appointments and designations approved by the Legislature include:
Lisa Stenshorn to continue as Clerk of the Legislature
Kathy Bogan to continue as County Attorney for a term of two years
The Daily News of Batavia designated as official newspaper for legal notices
Don Allport designated by the Republicans as Majority Leader of the Legislature and that Fred Miller is designated by the Democrats as Minority Leader of the Legislature.
The 2022 regular meetings of the County Legislature will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the months of January through October at 4:30 p.m. at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers. The November meeting will be the third Wednesday and the December meeting will be the third Monday.
The Legislature appoints the following delegates and alternates to the InterCounty Association of Western New York to represent Orleans County, effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023: Skip Draper, John Fitzak, William Eick, Lynne Johnson, Jack Welch and Lisa Stenshorn.
Appointed the following county legislators to board of directors for Orleans Economic Development Agency: Skip Draper of Medina and John Fitzak of Carlton.
Appointed the following as members of the Soil and Water Conservation District Board: county legislators Bill Eick and Ed Morgan, Ridgeway town highway superintendent John Olinger.
Appointed the following the sportsmen and legislative representatives to the Fish and Wildlife Management Act Board, terms effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023: county legislators Ed Morgan and Bill Eick, and Murray resident Neil Valentine.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2022 at 2:51 pm
The garbage collection today in the village of Holley and towns Albion and Murray is delayed until Saturday. The Albion section includes residents on Route 31.
“The unintended consequences of the Covid-19 rise in positive cases has affected the collection of our solid waste as scheduled,” said Jack Welch, chief administrative officer for Orleans County.
He urged residents in the affected areas to leave out their bins and Modern Disposal will collect the solid waste on Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 January 2022 at 8:44 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services is launching the Lilypad, a Safe Harbour program that is designed to be a safe place for teens (12-18 years of age).
The Lilypad is a place for teens to land where they are supported and educated prior to launching into their future. The program will be run by the Department of Social Services staff with guest speakers and presenters.
The goal of the Lilypad is to identify youth who have been trafficked, sexually exploited, or who are at risk of victimization and to meet identified service needs of these youth.
“Orleans County DSS is aware that young people are faced with incredible challenges today,” DSS said in a press release. “As a county we would like to be able to provide information and resources to Orleans County teens about Sex Trafficking, and Sexual Exploitation, which includes online safety, grooming, commercial exploitation, etc.”
In addition to providing education and awareness, the Lilypad will be providing lessons in life skills to promote a strong foundation to help children launch into their future.
The Lilypad will be located within the Hoag Library from 4 to 6 p.m. on the following dates: March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19 and April 26. Advance registration is required. A raffle ticket will be earned for each session that a teen completes for an opportunity to win a 14-day trip to Outward Bound.
Please contact Sharon Nenni at DSS for more information, or to register your teen, contact Sharon.Nenni@orleanscountyny.gov or 585-589-3136.
If you suspect that a child or adult is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 January 2022 at 11:18 am
2 new legislators – John Fitzak and Ed Morgan – start their terms
Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon, back to camera, administers the oath of office to the seven Orleans County legislators on Wednesday. Pictured from left include Bill Eick, Ed Morgan, Lynne Johnson, Don Allport, Fred Miller, John Fitzak and Skip Draper.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature will continue to be led by Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville.
The owner of an accounting business was unanimously picked by the other legislators to remain as chairwoman. She has been in the role the past four years and was backed for another two-year term.
Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville was picked by her colleagues on the Legislature to remain their leader. She has been chairwoman the past four years and was backed for another two-year term. She was re-elected by voters in November for a district that includes Yates, Ridgeway and small part of Shelby.
She has been a county legislator for 14 years.
Fred Miller, the only Democrat on the seven-member board, said Johnson serves the county well in the role.
“I’m happy with what she’s doing,” Miller said.
Johnson had the added responsibility of serving as interim chief administrative officer for over three months in between when Chuck Nesbitt left for a different job and Jack Welch started in March 2020.
Johnson also represents the county in weekly phone calls with an 11-county Finger Lakes group working on responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Johnson, Welch and Public Health Director Paul Pettit represent Orleans in those discussions.
Legislator Skip Draper said Johnson is an effective advocate for the county, pressing for more resources, whether vaccines, Covid tests or other funding.
“She’s done an outstanding job since she has been chair,” Draper said.
He praised her for pushing through important projects, including needed infrastructure, especially a wireless broadband expansion that has been a decade in the works.
Johnson said the Legislature is a great team. Bill Eick is the vice chairman and he has stepped up even more since he retired as a plant operator at Western New York Energy.
“I’m honored to continue as chairman of the Legislature and intend to lead our efforts on moving our community forward from the pandemic, even as we must continue to deal with new strains of the virus,” Johnson said. “We must rebuild and expand our economy and provide services to those in need. The key is to work together within the Legislature and with our partners outside county government to make the best uses of our resources.”
Johnson assigned legislators to the following committees:
Public Safety (Sheriff, Emergency Management, District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation and Courts) – Draper, Allport and Johnson
Health (Mental Health, Public Health) – Allport, Miller and Johnson
Highway (Department of Public Works) – Eick, Morgan and Johnson
Home & Community Services (Planning & Development, Tourism, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Soil & Water Conservation District, Historian) – Eick, Morgan and Johnson
Economic Assistance & Opportunity (Social Services, Office for the Aging, Veterans, Youth Bureau, Elections, and Job Development Agency) – Miller, Fitzak and Johnson
Administration & Finance (County Clerk, Real Property Tax Services, Computer Services, Employee Assistance Program, Personnel & Self Insurance, Treasurer, County Attorney, and Economic Development Agency) – Draper, Fitzak and Johnson
Legislative (Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk of the Legislature, Fire Advisory Board, Off-Track Betting Corp., and Safety Committee) – Eick and Johnson
“You have a lot of work in front of you,” Johnson said after announcing the committee assignments.
Bill Eick signs the oath which was administered by County Clerk Nadine Hanlon. He represents a district that includes most of Shelby and towns of Barre and Clarendon. Eick was picked to serve as the Legislature’s vice chairman. He is a retired dairy farmer who then worked 10 years as an operator at Western New York Energy’s ethanol plant.
Ed Morgan signs the oath of office while his wife Dorothy is next to him. Morgan is retired as Murray’s highway superintendent. He serves in an at-large position which is countywide.
Don Allport signs the oath. He is also an at-large legislator, covering the entire county. There are three at-large legislators, one who lives in the east side of the county (Ed Morgan), one from central (Allport), and one from the western side (Skip Draper).
Fred Miller, a retired hardware store owner in Albion, signs the oath. His district includes the towns of Albion and Gaines. Miller is the lone Democrat on the Legislature. He previously served as an Albion village trustee.
Skip Draper signs the oath. He is the Orleans County Republican Party chairman and former Shelby town supervisor.
John Fitzak signs the oath. He is joined by his sons, Alex (left) and Nick. Fitzak will retire in May as a corrections officer at the Orleans Correctional Facility. He also has owned the Albion Redemption Center the past 19 years and is working to put in fuel and marina services at the site to serve boaters along the Erie Canal. Fitzak also served five years on the Carlton Town Board.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2022 at 8:53 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature meets this afternoon to determine the seven-member group’s leader for the next two years.
Lynne Johnson of Lyndonville has served as Legislature chairwoman for the past four years, twice chosen by her peers to two-year terms.
Bill Eick of Shelby has been the group’s vice chairman the past two years.
The Legislature will make other appointments during today’s meeting at 4:30 p.m., including the Legislature clerk and county attorney.
During the organizational meeting today, legislators will also vote on their salaries. The agenda calls for 2 percent raises with the chairperson to be paid $19,243, the vice chair’s salary at $14,550 and the other five legislators to be paid $12,828.
Legislators also are due to be reimbursed mileage for attending meetings and tending to other duties as a legislator.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. from Michigan dredges the Oak Orchard Harbor on Aug. 26. The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the Oak Orchard channel. The harbor last was dredged in August 2014, when it was done for the first time in 10 years.
Posted 31 December 2021 at 12:30 pm
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of Phase II of New York State’s $15 million Regional Dredging Project.
The dredging project is part of the State’s $300 million Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) effort to repair and build resiliency in communities recovering from damage caused by high water levels and flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
“Communities along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River have endured so much already at the hands of flood waters and our dredging operations are playing a critical role in creating more resilient shorelines,” said Governor Hochul. “With this work now complete, residents and tourists alike will benefit from enhanced access of these critical waterways, helping to bolster local economies and promote safe recreational boating.”
The objective of the REDI Regional Dredging Project, established in 2019, is to provide a comprehensive approach to ongoing dredging needs for harbor navigation channels used primarily for recreational boating and refuge.
The dredging removed built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterways to allow for continued safe harbor and passage of watercraft. Through two phases, the project tackled maintenance dredging of 20 harbor navigation channels. Over 75 percent of the dredged sediment was beneficially reused in a variety of ways including beach renourishment, littoral placement, and general fill.
Dredging undertaken as part of the REDI Regional Dredging Program included:
Olcott Harbor, Golden Hill State Park (Niagara County)
Oak Orchard Harbor, Johnson Creek (Orleans County)
Sandy Creek, Braddock Bay, Long Pond Outlet, Irondequoit Bay (Monroe County)
Bear Creek Harbor, Pultneyville, East Bay, Port Bay, Blind Sodus (Wayne County)
Clayton French Creek Marina, Henderson “The Cut” (Jefferson County)
Ogdensburg “City Front Channel,” Morristown Navigation Channel (St. Lawrence County)
Little Sodus Bay (Cayuga County)
“On behalf of all the member counties of the Lake Ontario Regional Dredging Management Council (formed as a shared services initiative by the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance), our sincere appreciation goes to the Governor and all of those who made this vital economic-generating project possible,” said Orleans County Legislative Chairman Lynne Johnson.
Final sediment disposal and site restoration is ongoing. The harbors included in the Regional Dredging Project along the southern shore of Lake Ontario are estimated to generate $94 million in economic activity, with $3.8 million in state tax revenues and an additional $3.8 million for local communities annually. These harbors support more than 1,350 local jobs.
The REDI Regional Dredging Project was managed by a multi-agency team made up of the Office of General Services, Department of State, Department of Environmental Conservation, and New York Power Authority, with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
During Phase III, anticipated to take place in 2022, the state will transition program management to the counties and provide the information they need to update, expand and implement an existing Regional Dredging Management Plan to keep the channels operational in the years to come.
The State’s initial support for the REDI Regional Dredging Project was designed to give Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River counties the time needed to develop long-term operational, maintenance, and funding plans to maintain recreational navigation channels in the future.
“Their leadership and funding will help keep our waterways safe and navigable,” said Niagara County Legislature Administration and Finance Chairman David E. Godfrey. “In doing so, our lakeshore counties can continue to attract sport fishermen and boaters both locally and internationally.”
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said, “The small towns and communities along our lakeshore are heavily dependent on access to Lake Ontario, and the ability to navigate along the waters stemming from the lake has a direct economic impact on these lakefront communities. The completion of Phase 2 of the REDI Commission’s regional dredging project will mean a more sustainable long-term future for the Lake Ontario waterfront region, and I applaud New York State for recognizing how important each of these 20 dredging sites are for their respective areas.”
Assemblyman Michael Norris said, “The completion of Phase II the REDI Regional Dredging Program is a critical component to ensuring the protection of our harbors, providing continued access for boaters and fishing charters, and enhancing key economic activity along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. I am proud to support the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative and commend Governor Hochul for her partnership and investment in these important infrastructure projects.”
Assemblyman Stephen Hawley said, “The completion of these critical dredging projects throughout the 139th Assembly District and the western portion of our state is fantastic news for the future of our area, ensuring that these waterways can be safely accessed for generations to come.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2021 at 12:42 pm
Provided photo
ALBION – Kim DeFrank, left, and Melynda Brown took the oaths of office this morning from Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon.
DeFrank was elected in November to second four-year term as county treasurer. Brown is the deputy county treasurer.
DeFrank of Murray has worked in the treasurer’s office for 27 years. Brown of Knowlesville has worked there for nearly 22 years.
DeFrank said she enjoys working with the public in her job as treasurer. Her office functions as an accountant for the county, keeping the financial books and tracking all of the funds in the county government.
DeFrank said she has pushed to keep the office open to the public, even during the Covid area. That has been accomplished by putting in a Plexiglass barrier at the front desk.
The Covid pandemic has changed one important function of the treasurer’s office – the annual property tax auction. That is usually held in May but has been pushed back by the state to November the past two years. DeFrank said she looks forward to that going back on a spring schedule so there is more time to close out the transactions within the same calendar year.
DeFrank also was recently appointed treasurer of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association. She said that state-wide association offers many resources county treasurers around the state.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2021 at 9:38 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved 2 percent raises for the management team in county government for 2022 and 2023.
One legislator, Don Allport, opposed the raises during a meeting last week, saying these are uncertain economic times and taxpayers are already getting hit with high inflation.
Other county officials said Orleans needs to be competitive to keep its department heads and other members of the management team. The raises are at the same rate as employees in the CSEA and other unions.
In other action, the Legislature:
• Approved spending $10,175 audiovisual equipment in the legislative chambers at the County Office Building. The county is adding cameras and equipment. The room opened in June 2019 as part of a new addition to the County Office Building. At that time, county officials didn’t foresee public meetings would go remote during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The county’s Computer Services Department will work with Audio-Video Corporation of Albany for the upgrade in the meeting room.
• Appointed the following to the County Planning Board: Daniel Strong (at-large central) of Kent, Darryl Sanford (at-large central alternate) of Albion, Christopher Kinter (Town of Albion) of Albion, Kevin Parker (Town of Albion alternate) of Albion, and David Knapp (Town of Murray) of Holley.
• Approved an agreement with Lynne Menz Designs of Kent to provide Tourism Coordinator Services to Orleans County in 2022 at a cost not to exceed $18,720. The Legislature also approved an agreement with Lynne Menz Designs to provide design services to Orleans County in 2022 at a cost not to exceed $22,000. This agreement includes costs associated with advertising design, publication design, social media, photography and video production to be paid on a project basis.
• Authorized a $2,500 stipend for Dawn Borchert, the county’s tourism director, to perform the functions of a Marine Park Manager.
• Approved an additional $20,000 for the County of Orleans Industrial Development Agency (COIDA) for economic development services for 2021. This is extra to the $190,000 the county allocated for the agency in the county budget. The $20,000 comes the federal American Rescue Plan and will be used to advance small businesses.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2021 at 8:51 am
ALBION – Orleans County will continue to work with lobbying firm in 2022 at a cost of $90,000 for the year, the same rate as 2020 and 2021.
The County Legislature last week agreed to pay Park Strategies $5,000 a month for government affairs services at the federal level and $2,500 a month for government affairs services at the state level.
Park Strategies was founded by Al D’Amato, the former U.S. senator from New York. The firm has given Orleans County a “louder voice” at the state and U.S. capitols, county officials said.
The firm assists county officials in setting up meetings with representatives from the state and federal governments. Park Strategies also makes the county aware of legislative that could be helpful or harmful to the county, and brainstorms ways to pursue funding for critical projects in the county, including expansion of high-speed internet.
This will be the eighth year the county has contracted with Park Strategies. County officials believe the relationship has benefitted residents.
Park helped make the county’s case to the state Department of Transportation for canal bridges to be repaired. The state spent about $10.7 million recently to fix seven bridges.
The state also has repaved portions of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, committed to dredging harbors on Lake Ontario and also allocated funds to protect lakeshore properties from flooding.
The county also will receive $7.8 million from the federal in American Rescue Plan money, with some of those funds going to expand broadband internet.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 December 2021 at 8:33 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved the 2022 sales tax apportionment with the 10 towns and four villages in Orleans County.
The annual apportionment shifts some of the sales tax given to the towns and villages. The county divides the village taxable value by the town taxable value to determine the percentages due to the town and village.
If a town’s tax base grows at a greater percentage than the village within that town’s borders, the town gets more of the sales tax and vice versa. The four towns without a village – Barre, Carlton, Clarendon and Kendall – stay unchanged for a decade because the sales tax apportionment once every 10 years is set based on population. For towns with villages the shares are then modified each year after based on changes in the tax base.
The apportionment in 2021 broke a trend in previous years where the village share grew – at the expense of the towns. But 2022 shifts more sales tax to the towns.
The county receives about $20 million in sales tax annually, and shares $1,366,671 with the four villages and 10 towns. They have been frozen at that level since 2001.
The sales tax has been on a big growth swing the past two years with more online sales tax being captured. This year’s growth also is fueled by the higher gas prices.
Once a decade the town and village amounts are set based on local population. However, each year after that the share is modified based on the assessed values of towns with villages.
The villages have seen their share take a hit by nearly $30,000 from 2013 to 2022, falling from $404,661 in 2013 to $375,620 in 2022.
In Albion, the village hit a high of $211,669 in 2004. In 2022, it will receive $165,688, which is $45,981 less than in 2004.
In Holley, the village hit a high of $62,549 in 2002 – 20 years later it’s down to $45,051, a cut of $17,498.
Lyndonville was at $18,592 in 2002 and has dropped to $15,243 in 2022.
In Medina, the village received a high of $173,592 in 2002 and will be at $149,638 in 2021, a decline of $23,954.
The county is using some of the local sales tax to pay $290,000 in AIM payments to towns and villages that were funded by the state. The state also takes $190,274 in the county sales tax and diverts it to “financially distressed health facilities.”
