Press Release, Orleans County Board of Elections

ALBION – Orleans County Board of Elections Commissioners Michael Mele and Janice Grabowski today announced information related to the June 25th Primary Elections in Orleans County.

There are only primaries for the Republican ballot line and as such, under New York State law, only registered Republicans can vote in these primaries.

There are countywide primary contests for District Attorney and Coroner. For District Attorney, the election is between Susan M. Howard and John S. Sansone.  For County Coroner, voters can choose 3 candidates between Kevin P. Dann, Julie A. Woodworth, Rocco L. Sidari and Scott M. Schmidt.

There is a primary in the 24th Congressional District between Claudia Tenney and Mario Fratto.

There is also a primary for Carlton Council member for a one-year term to fill a vacancy between John L. Olles and Jeffrey A. Gifaldi.

The remaining elections are for members of the Republican County Committee. In Shelby District 3, choose two between Bruce R. Schmidt, Alana J. Koneski and Stephen J. Seitz, Sr.  In Shelby District 4, choose for any 2 between John H. Pratt III, Benjamin D. Flansburg and Thomas J. Winans.

In Yates District 2, choose for two between Terry L. Chaffee, Jr.,  William C. Jurinich,  Lynne M. Johnson and Steven A. Colon.

Those who are not currently registered but wish to enroll to vote in the June primary elections must do so by June 15. Early voting begins on Saturday, June 15 and runs through Sunday, June 23 at the Orleans County Board of Elections Office, 14016 State Route 31 in Albion.

Dates and hours are as follows:

• Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 18, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 19, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those with questions can contact the Orleans County Board of Elections at (585) 589-3274.  For more election information, click here.

Howard wants people to decide issue in referendum

Photos by Tom Rivers: John Sansone, a candidate for Orleans County district attorney, passes out candy during a parade in Carlton on Saturday.

John Sansone, an assistant district attorney, is breaking from DA Joe Cardone in a high-profile issue in Orleans County.

Cardone has been pushing in recent years for a district court that would serve multiple towns. Cardone would like to see a county-wide district court that would handle most of the cases at the town court level.

“The current district attorney is a person I respect very much,” Sansone said. “I know that we disagree on this issue. We have different points of view based upon our sincere beliefs. I am happy the will of voters will decide this issue.”

Cardone said state aid should cover most of the cost of a district court. The county provides the facility and the state is expected to cover the salaries for judges, clerks and security.  Cardone said having the cases be handled by a full-time court would move matters more expeditiously through the courts system. He said it would be a savings for the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender and law enforcement by having a centralized court, rather than a patchwork of 10 town courts.

But Sansone sees a lot of negatives with the proposal.

“In addition to the potential financial burden on taxpayers, the creation of a district court eliminates local town oversight of its residents to their detriment,” Sansone said in a news release. “The current system of criminal justice ensures the vast majority of cases begin in a person’s residential locality.”

Sansone faces a June 25 Republican primary against Susan Howard for Orleans County district attorney. Cardone isn’t seeking re-election after 32 years as the county’s top prosecutor.

Sansone joins a chorus of opposition to the district court, which includes the Orleans County Magistrates Association and some of the town boards. The local town justices and many of the board members say the current system is closer to the people, operates at a low cost and the state funding in uncertain, and could ultimately lead to a higher local expense.

“Our current court system has some very important elements to safeguard fairness and one of them is that all issues are local in their nature,” Sansone said. “Our county is not like many in our state. We are a county of many differences based on where you live and what you do and I believe that for the justice system to work best, knowing, recognizing and protecting that localness is very important. Town courts do that, and I believe the structure should remain the same to the benefit of all.”

Howard was one of 13 on the District Court Committee. Three of the members – Albion Town Justice Joe Fuller, Carlton Town Justice Kevin Hurley and former Barre Town Justice Richard Decarlo – cast votes dissenting from the recommendations of the committee. Dean Puleo, a layer who works with village and town courts for the 8th Judicial District, abstained from an opinion on the report, and so did Sheriff Chris Bourke.

Howard is listed as accepting the report recommendations. Others who cast affirmative votes include DA Joe Cardone, Public Defender Joanne Best, Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson, Legislator Skip Draper, Legislator John Fitzak, Susan Howard, former Gaines Town Justice Bruce Schmidt, and County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch.

Click here to see the report.

Susan Howard passes out candy during Carlton’s parade.

Howard said she ultimately wants to have the issue go to a public vote where the community decides the issue.

“I don’t oppose it, but I’m not pushing for it either,” she said.

Howard believes a district court will eventually be mandated by the state and required for the county.

“It’s coming,” she said. “We know it will be shoved down our throat.”

She said the county could get ahead of a state mandate and try to implement a district court, or it could wait until there is a state decree in the future.

“I’m leaving it up to the people to decide,” she said. “I will implement whatever they decide.”

Howard, the first assistant DA, said she wanted to be an active member on the District Court Committee.

“I try to keep myself educated and informed because I feel that’s my job,” she said.

There will be a second public hearing this Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the district court. The hearing is in the second-floor legislative chambers of the Orleans County Office Building at 14016 Route 31 West, Albion.

Sansone says the county report doesn’t take the full costs of a new court into account.

“I know that the idea of a district court has been described as a cost saving measure, however, I have not seen studies of substance to substantiate that contention,” he said. “Many financial aspects related to the creation of district court are speculative and fail to account for costs such as improving the current condition of buildings to required state standards for courtrooms and costs related to transporting defendants from the jail for court appearances, to name a few.”

Sansone said the state funding isn’t guaranteed. He said there is no evidence the state will force counties to implement district courts.

“Quite to the contrary, only two downstate counties have created district courts in the 1970s,” he said. “None of the remaining 60 counties have implemented a plan for a district court in over 40 years.”

If the state mandates a district court in the future, Sansone said the county should respond then.

“At that time, issues will be clearer, such as what the state will require for courtrooms, staffing, salaries, etc., and most important, who will be paying for what,” Sansone said. “In my opinion, there is absolutely no benefit to create something of this magnitude now only to have to change to satisfy New York State later on. Proceeding under that reasoning doesn’t make sense.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Bill Larkin, left, receives a plaque and certificate from County Legislator Skip Draper and Sheriff Chris Bourke in appreciation for a 48-year career with the Sheriff’s Office.

Draper noted that Larkin gave him his first speeding ticket soon after Draper starting driving as a teen-ager. Larkin spent about 25 years on the road patrol, as well as four years as a criminal investigator and then part-time on the Marine Patrol since 2005.

“I don’t know if there is a person in Orleans County who hasn’t received a ticket from Bill Larkin,” Bourke joked while giving Larkin a plaque on Tuesday during the County legislature meeting.

Larkin for 15 years also was a part-time police officer for the Village of Lyndonville until 2021.

The plaque from Bourke included the words: “Your tireless work ethic and professionalism has set the tone for the rest of the department. You will always have a home here. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors!”

Draper and Bourke also presented a plaque and certificate of appreciation to Larry Manning for a 48-year career with the Sheriff’s Office. Manning worked as a deputy, and then was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant. After retiring from full-time work, he started part-time with the Marine Patrol in 2002.

“I hate to say good-bye,” Manning said during the Legislature  meeting.

His career actually started in 1971 as a volunteer with the auxiliary police. When he was hired as a deputy sheriff, he was paid $8,400 the first year.

Bourke said Manning and Larkin have both been mentors for him. “I learned so much from Bill and Larry,” Bourke said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s schedule for Saturday included a day off and she chose to spend it in Orleans County.

The governor rarely gets a respite and on Saturday she spent the day relaxing in Orleans County.

She didn’t have any public appearances and there are no official photos from her being in the county, a spokesman from the governor’s office said today.

When Hochul was the lieutenant governor, she often came to Medina and Orleans County with her husband Bill Hochul. They rented a canal boat on one outing.

Orleans County may be able claim the governor’s preferred place for some R & R.

The unemployment rate in Orleans County was 4.0 percent which continues a gradual decline from the start of the year, according to the state Department of Labor.

In Orleans County so far this year, the unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in January, then 5.2 percent in February, 4.9 percent in March and 4.0 percent in April.

The labor force is smaller compared to April 2023 when it was 17,100 total – 16,600 employed and 600 unemployed, according to the DOL. In April 2024, the labor force was 16,900 with 16,300 working and 700 unemployed.

Unemployment rates in WNY counties for April include 3.9 percent in Erie, 4.3 percent in Niagara, 3.8 in Livingston, 3.7 in Monroe, 4.0 in Orleans, 3.5 in Genesee, 4.2 percent in Wyoming, 4.2 in Cattaraugus, 4.2 percent in Chautauqua, and 4.1 in Allegany.

In the United States, the unemployment rate from April 2023 to April 2024 went from 3.1 percent to 3.5 percent. The U.S. has 515,000 more people working in that year for a total of 161.59 million last month.

In New York State, the unemployment rate from April 2023 to April 2024 went from 3.6 percent to 3.9 percent. The state has 19,300 fewer people working for a total of 9.28 million last month.

In New York, the unemployment rate has been trending down since the start of the year, form 4.3 percent in January, to 4.5 percent in February, 4.2 percent in March to 3.9 percent in April.

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today announced the county will be hosting a paint recycling event on Saturday, June 15th.

Oil-based, acrylic and latex paint, urethanes, varnishes, shellacs, lacquers, primers and clear coatings are all accepted at no cost in the event which is funded by the state’s PaintCare program. Anyone is welcome to attend.

“This is an opportunity to get rid of those old paint cans that are taking up space in your basement and garage, and do so in a way that is environmentally friendly, keeping these materials out of our landfills,” Johnson said. “I want to thank our Planning and Development Department for putting this event together.”

What won’t be accepted at the event include spray paint, paint thinner, solvents, cleansing agents, adhesives, roof patch, drywall mud, auto or marine paint.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the former GCC campus in Albion at 456 West Ave.

Registration for this event is not required, but is encouraged so participants can choose their time. For more information about registration, click here.

Staff will be on hand to unload vehicles so drivers can stay in their vehicles.

The event is being done in partnership with GreenSheen, a paint company founded in 2010 with operations in the Albany area. GreenSheen has developed their own innovative process to refine recycled paint to create a premium latex paint for reuse.

Those with any questions about the event should call the Orleans County Planning and Development Department at (585) 589-3198.

Office for Aging honors Shirley Walter and Charlene Wisnewski for volunteer service

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Charlene Wisnewski, right, of Medina accepts a “Volunteer of the Year” award today from the Office for the Aging. Wisnewski is joined up front by Melissa Blanar, OFA director, and County Legislator Skip Draper who presented Wisnewski with a citation from State Sen. Rob Ortt.

The OFA held its annual Spring Jubilee luncheon today and about 160 senior citizens had lunch at the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. The 160 is the biggest crowd for the event since before Covid-19 hit in 2020.

Wisnewski is a retired civilian worker from the Albion Correctional Facility. The past two years she has volunteered as a driver for the OFA, taking seniors to appointments.

Wisnewski last year drove seniors to 55 appointments, logging 952 miles. She said she took about 15 different people, including three veterans. Two of those veterans are legally blind.

“You meet so many wonderful people,” Wisnewski said about volunteering as a driver.

Shirley Walter of Barre also was recognized as a “Volunteer of the Year.” She is shown being presented with an award by State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Walter is retired after a career as an accountant and bookkeeper. She also served on the Barre Town Board.

She has volunteered with the OFA at a new Caregivers Connections Respite program, which started in July at the Albion Academy on East Academy Street in Albion where the Meals on Wheels program is based. The respite program offers a break for caregivers of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays each month.

Walter faithfully is there spending time with people who have dementia or Alzheimer’s. She has lunch with them, does crafts together, and chats.

“It is rewarding just to listen to them,” Walter said. “They have a lot to say.”

Walter also joins other volunteers in helping the OFA prepare the agency’s monthly newsletter, The Friendly Carrier, that goes to about 3,200 addresses.

Office for the Aging and Arc GLOW staff hold a paper chain that was intended to show how the group of 160 were all connected, with no one alone.

The luncheon was part of the OFA’s annual celebration in May of “Older Americans Month.”

County Legislator John Fitzak read a proclamation about the month. This year’s theme for the month is “Powered by Connections.”

“May is Older Americans Month, a time for us to recognize and honor Orleans County older adults and their immense influence on every facet of American society,” Fitzak said in reading the proclamation. “Whereas, through their wealth of life experience and wisdom, older adults guide our younger generations and carry forward abundant cultural and historical knowledge.”

Vicki Havholm, nutrition program manager for Arc GLOW, emphasized the message that senior citizens aren’t alone and there are many services and opportunities to stay connected in the community.

Kristina Suski-Jewell sings “Sweet Caroline” while entertaining the crowd before the luncheon. She sang for about 45 minutes.

Press Release, Orleans County DSS

ALBION – Orleans County Social Services Commissioner Holli Nenni today said she has been alerted by the state that New York’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system is expected to be unavailable on Sunday, May 19, between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 11 a.m. The actual outage may be shorter or last longer than expected.

Benefit recipients can check www.otda.ny.gov on May 19 to find out when the EBT system is back up and running.

Nenni said that New York’s EBT system will be changing over to a new EBT vendor during this timeframe. Cardholder access to EBT benefits will not be available during the changeover. This includes access for food and cash purchases or cash withdrawals, as well as access to the EBT toll-free customer service helpline, mobile app, and online client portal.

“While the system will be down for a short period of time, we want benefit recipients to be aware and plan any necessary food purchases or other transactions accordingly,” Nenni said.

For more information on the new system, click here.

ALBION – The first of two public hearings on a proposed district court will be 7 p.m. Tuesday in the legislative chambers at the Orleans County Office Building, 14016 Route 31 W, Albion.

A second hearing will be 7 p.m. on June 4 at the County Office Building.

Proponents of the court say it would offer better service at a lower local expense. But opponents say there will be less local control, and a reduced local expense isn’t guaranteed.

Orleans County voters will likely be asked this November in a public referendum whether the county should create a district court that would be staffed full-time and could include multiple towns in the county.

The issue almost went to a vote last year, but was withdrawn as a referendum to allow more time to complete a study on the financial implications, and other pros and cons of the court.

County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson was part of a committee that has been studying the district court. She believes the committee’s report “leaves no doubt this is the best path forward.”

She said the district court would represent collaboration and cooperation among local governments, while bringing down court costs and increasing services.

“Are significant cost savings, better use of resources, streamlined court management and making better use of law enforcement personnel’s time enough to overcome the inertia of ‘things are fine the way they are?’” Johnson said during her state of the county address in March. “We are certainly going to find out.”

The Orleans County Magistrates Association has been steadfastly opposed to a district court. The town justices and court clerks at the town level have all signed a resolution last October saying they are opposed to a district court in Orleans County.

“The Magistrate Association of Orleans County is opposed to any efforts to eliminate the local and convenient access to justice by our citizens and find that the Town Courts of Orleans County provide a meaningful and necessary presence within our community for judicial resolution of conflicts, continued public safety of our citizens, and the protection of constitutional guarantees for all of our citizens,” according to the resolution signed by the justices and court clerks.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A Monroe Ambulance is parked near the scene of a fatal Albion fire at Oak Orchard Estates in the early morning hours of April 15. Monroe became the primary ambulance responder in central Orleans County after COVA Ambulance ceased operations in December 2022.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature is backing a package of state legislation that officials believe will help make emergency medical services more sustainable financially and with personnel.

The county said EMS providers are in crisis due to rising costs of care and high demand for increasingly complex services.

Locally, COVA Ambulance and the Kendall Fire Department both ceased their ambulance services after 2022.

The seven towns in eastern and central Orleans now are contracting with Monroe Ambulance to keep an ambulance in the county and be the primary responder. That contract is for $300,000 in 2024. The towns weren’t paying anything for the service in 2022. The Medina Fire Department handles most of the calls in western Orleans.

“EMS is a form of healthcare and is subject to the same escalating costs as the rest of the healthcare industry,” county legislators stated in a resolution on Tuesday. “Municipalities that operate EMS departments, or contract for services with those that do, feel the ongoing financial strain of these costs that are far outpacing inflation.”

Legislators said local governments are hindered by the current laws in collaborating on joint EMS services across municipal and county boundaries. The laws prohibit counties and local municipalities from creating joint taxing districts for EMS services.

“Orleans County urges the State Legislature to amend the General Municipal Law to allow flexibility within local governments to help solve the issues within the EMS crisis and to consider EMS an essential service,” legislators stated in the resolution.

The current law should be changed to allow for joint taxing districts, property tax exemptions, EMS medical reimbursements, income and property tax credits and increase of tax income credit, legislators said.

The County Legislature said it is in “full support” of the “Rescuing Local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Package” proposed by the New York State Association of Counties.

The NYSAC package includes:

• S.4020-B (Mayer) / A.3392-B (Otis): Special Taxing Districts & EMS Being Deemed an Essential Service. This comprehensive legislation package allows special taxing districts to be created to fund EMS services. In addition, this legislation would recognize EMS as an essential service and provide reform to the Emergency Medical Services Council.
• S.5000 (May) / A.4077 (Lupardo): Property Tax Exemption for EMS Services. This Legislation would remove EMS services from the real property tax cap, which would allow local municipalities to expend and better support their local EMS services. This measure is needed in the short-term while other solutions are being discussed.
• S.8486 (Hinchey) / A.9102 (Kelles): Authorization of the Reimbursement for Treatment in Place and Transportation to Alternative Destinations. This Legislature authorizes Medicaid reimbursement to emergency medical services (EMS) agencies for providing Treatment in Place (TIP) to a patient at the point of response; as well as Transportation to an Alternate Provider (TAP), getting a patient to the most appropriate health care setting other than a hospital, such as a mental health clinic rehabilitation facility or urgent care.
• S.6630 (Mannion) / A.6274 (Barrett): Income tax and Property Tax Credits. This legislation allows volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers’ personal income tax credit from $200 to $800 for eligible individuals and from $400 to $1,600 for eligible married joint filers.
• S.3223 (Sanders) / A.9237 (Hevesi): Targeted Medicaid Rate Increase for EMS Providers. This bill would create a methodology for ambulance reimbursement under Medicaid that more closely approximates the cost of providing services. Ambulances are required by law to pick everyone up, including Medicaid patients. It is unfair to require these ambulances companies to accept Medicaid patients and then not fairly reimburse them for the costs of providing services to these patients.
• S.6645 (Comrie) / A.6136 (Eachus): Thruway Permits for EMS Vehicles. This legislation requires the thruway authority to issue emergency services permits to EMS vehicles as is already done for fire apparatus, which would exempt EMS from being required to pay tolls while transporting patients on the NYS Thruway.