By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 December 2019 at 8:49 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Garbage and recycling on Lakeside Park Road in Carlton hasn’t been picked up the past two weeks. The service is to resume this week.
CARLTON – Modern Disposal has told county officials the company plans to resume garbage pickup on fire lanes this week.
The company didn’t pick up garbage the past two weeks after notifying town officials in Yates, Carlton and Kendall it had safety concerns with employees bringing the big garbage trucks on the narrow roads, which are privately owned.
“Modern will resume service to all residents along Fire Lanes including Sunset Island and Park Ave Extension, the two most critical areas of the Fire Lanes issues,” Joe Hickman, Strategic/Municipal Sales Manager for Modern, said in an email to county officials. “To continue service in these areas, Modern will deploy smaller collection vehicles (collection bodies on a 1 ton chassis platform) which provides our driver improved maneuverability and visibility than that of tradition refuse and recycling collection vehicles.”
The county manages the garbage and recycling contract with Modern. The contract will need to be modified to reflect the company’s increased costs with using smaller trucks for the service, Hickman said in his email.
“Modern recognizes that Fire Lanes are private property maintained by residents and private contractors,” Hickman said. “If the conditions of any Fire Lane become compromised due to weather or other factors, Modern’s drivers will decide on a ‘go or no go’ to service.”
Any “no go” situations will be reported to Modern’s Customer Service Department who will share the information to both county and town officials, Hickman said.
Modern will meet with town and county officials on Dec. 9, with a goal to have an agreement that satisfies all parties’ concerns and requirements. Hickman said the goal is to have a new program serving residents on the fire lanes by March 1.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2019 at 9:53 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved $656,757 in construction bids for four new radio towers.
The Legislature last week accepted a $557,707 bid from Upstate Tower Construction in Bethesda, Md., to erect the four radio towers.
The Legislature also approved a bid for $99,050 to the Orleans County Highway Department to do the site work for the four towers. The project was rebid and the proposal from the Highway Department helped reduce the cost.
Three of the towers will be 180 feet high and they will be located by the Public Safety Building on Route 31 in Albion, Millers Road in Yates near the water tank, and at the Kendall Central School near the bus garage.
The other tower will be 150 feet high and will be near the Holley water tank on Route 237.
The towers are part of a $6 million project to upgrade the emergency communication system in the county. The state awarded Orleans a $5,897,141 grant for four new towers, accompanying communication shelters, technology to connect separate radio systems and new radio channels. The project will strengthen communications between multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
Because the towers are under 200 feet in height, they won’t be lighted, said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management director.
The new towers and equipment are part of an upgrade to the emergency communications system, which serves firefighters, law enforcement, highway employees, probation and some other municipal workers in the county.
The system currently has poor coverage in the Holley area, along Lake Ontario and some other isolated locations in the county, especially in buildings with thick walls.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2019 at 6:16 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The main courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse is pictured recently. The courthouse was built in 1858.
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature and the NYS Unified Court System have approved contracts for the county to provide maintenance and security for the County Courthouse, with the state providing nearly $600,000 in annual funding.
The Legislature last week approved a one-year renewal agreement with the NYS Unified Court System for Court for cleaning and minor repairs for the courthouse for $244,125, which runs from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
The Legislature last month also approved a five-year agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Unified Court System to reimburse the county for security personnel assigned to the county courthouse. The agreement goes from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2024.
The state will pay a maximum $344,704 for security from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2019 at 3:08 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers: The County Clerks Building is located in the historic Courthouse Square in Albion at 3 South Main St. The county in late June moved the legislative offices from the top floor to a new addition to the County Administration Building on Route 31.
ALBION – The vacated space in third floor of the County Clerks Building will soon have be the office space for the Public Defender’s Office.
The top floor for many years served as the meeting room for the County Legislature and the offices for the Legislature, the Legislature’s clerk and the county’s chief administrative officer.
The Legislature in June shifted to the new addition at the County Administration Building on Route 31. That freed up on the third floor at a time when the state is giving more money for counties to expand the Public Defender’s services.
The public defenders have been using their own private offices, as well as an office in the basement of the County Courthouse.
The Public Defender’s Office needs more space as part of the state’s bail reform law, county legislators said.
The Legislature authorized making the third floor of the Clerks Building available for the public defender, and also to make any needed renovations to meet any state requirements. The county’s Department of Public Works is authorized to make any needed renovations to meet the state standards for the space.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2019 at 11:19 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Highway Department, which includes Buildings and Grounds, is now a Department of Public Works.
The County Legislature had a public hearing on the name change last week and on Thursday approved forming a DPW, with the combined highway and buildings and grounds workers.
John Papponetti, the highway superintendent, advocated for the change, saying a DPW better describes the work of the department, which is more than caring for 200 miles of county-owned roadways. Highway workers also maintain other publicly owned lands, including the Orleans County Marine Park. Buildings and Grounds employees take care of county properties, including cleaning the inside of the buildings, clearing sidewalks and maintaining the buildings.
Highway and buildings and grounds used to be separate with their own superintendent. They were combined about a decade ago with the highway superintendent leading both. Together, there are about 30 county employees in those departments.
Papponetti was appointed as highway superintendent on March 27, following the retirement of Jerry Gray. He said the change to DPW should eliminate any confusion in the public, and reflect a streamlined chain of command.
The highway staffs in the local villages are known as DPWs. The towns in Orleans County all call them “Highway Departments.”
With the town highway departments, the superintendents are all elected. The DPW leaders are all appointed by the Village Boards. At the county level, the position is made by appointment of the County Legislature.
Press Release, Genesee-Orleans County Youth Bureau
The Genesee-Orleans and Wyoming County Youth Bureaus have been tasked with helping the Governor’s Office select a young person to represent each county on the newly established Youth Council.
Members of the Youth Council will be offering ideas and solutions to key issues facing young people in New York State to the Governor and other policy makers, including how to have better outreach and communication strategies. This is an incredible opportunity for New York’s youth to represent their county on a statewide level.
The Youth Council will be made up of 62 young people ages 13 – 21, one representing each county and the boroughs of New York City. The Youth Council is youth run and adult supported.
Members will work to identify and prioritize issues that matter to NYS youth. Positive youth development has always been the mantra of local youth bureaus and the Youth Council will assist state and local governments to promote youth throughout all its state initiatives.
The youth bureaus in Genesee-Orleans and Wyoming counties are currently coordinating the county selection process. Applications are available through your local Youth Bureau, on the Orleans County website (click here), Genesee County website (click here), Wyoming County website (click here) and the NYS Governor’s Youth Council website (click here).
The selection committee for each county will be evaluating applications based on 3 areas.
• Candidate Essay: Each candidate must write a short essay response (no more than 500 words) supporting three questions. The essay will be judged for content, clarity and overall quality.
• Public speaking: Each candidate will prepare, deliver and submit a video speech (MP4 or URL link). The video should demonstrate the youth’s passion, interest, expertise and/or experience in one or more of the topic areas. Candidates will be judged on speech content and delivery.
• Overall Application Quality: Clarity, passion, completion of each section and quality of supplemental materials. Candidate’s character will be evaluated through demonstrated qualities such as leadership skills, academic achievement, civic engagement, services to the community and work ethic.
It is also important to note that social media pages will be reviewed and part of the criteria to be evaluated.
If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please call your local Youth Bureau for more information. Wyoming County Youth Bureau can be reached at (585) 786-8850 and Genesee- Orleans County Youth Bureau at (585) 344-3960.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 November 2019 at 9:16 pm
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone spoke at today’s County Legislature meeting and shared concerns over new state laws that will eliminate bail for non-violent felonies and all misdemeanors and violations. (County Legislator Skip Draper, left, and County Attorney Kathy Bogan listen to Cardone’s presentation.)
New discovery laws also mean defendants will be seeing names and addresses of informants and witnesses, and the DA’s Office needs to turn over all documents and body cam video to the defense within 15 days of an arrest. That includes lab results. The DA currently has 45 days to provide all that information and lab results.
“This is unchartered territory for us with how our criminal justice system works,” Cardone said during today’s meeting. “These are all new things we’ve never had to deal with before.”
Law enforcement officers and elected officials held many news conferences today around the state, including one in Clarence, urging the state to delay implementing the reforms.
The state hasn’t provided funding to meet the new statues. In Orleans County, four new positions will need to be created – two in the District Attorney’s Office and two in Probation – at an estimated cost of $350,000.
The State Legislature and Gov. Cuomo passed the discovery laws and bail reform as part of the state budget approved on March 31. Cardone said the legislation was snuck into the budget without feedback from the public or law enforcement community.
He worries people will be given appearance tickets and released into the community where they could be a danger to others and themselves.
Many people are arrested for drug crimes and time in jail can often help them get sober and be connected to treatment, Cardone said.
On Jan. 1, they will be released soon after an arrest.
Judges will be releasing most people facing felonies on their own recognizance, with an appearance ticket for an upcoming court date. (Another new requirement: Law enforcement officers need to get contact information from the defendants and send them reminders about court appearances.)
Judges can hold people in jail if they are charged with murder, violating orders of protection, rape and child pornography. Some felonies, such as second-degree manslaughter, illegal drug possession and sales, even second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary won’t have options for bail.
“Our concern is we need to protect our local community,” Cardone said. “These are very serious times and very serious concerns.”
Photos courtesy of Diane Blanchard: Microenterprise Assistant Program graduates and their advisers posed after graduation ceremonies at Tillman’s Villlage Inn. Front row, from left, are Lynne Palmer (Upscale Overstock Store), Jon Costello, SCORE and class consultant; Rachael Hafner (B&R Trailer Repair and Fabrication); Heather Manella (How Sweet it is Bakery on Wheels); and Chelsea Smith, Relentless Construction. Back row, from left, Diane Blanchard, MAP manager; Andrea Dames (Chicken and Rib Food Truck); Karen Boston (Paparazzi Jewelry Consultant); Greg Drake (Drake’s Home Improvement/Handyman); Brad Hafner (B&R Trailer Repair and Fabrication); Dawn Dewey (D&H Welding and Repair; Jacqueline Chinn (Credit Clarity); Josh Smith (Relentless Construction); and Sam Campanella (SBDC and class consultant).
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 15 November 2019 at 3:36 pm
Heather Manella attended the Microenterprise Assistance Program to gain assistance in opening a bakery in Albion. She is one of 12 graduates from the latest MAP class.
ALBION – The latest class of graduates from the Microenterprise Assistance Program brings a variety of innovative businesses to the table, said Diane Blanchard, who manages the Microenterprise program for the Orleans Economic Development Agency.
Nine of the 12 graduates attended graduation ceremonies at the Village Inn last week and shared their plans for new businesses.
This class brings the number of graduates to 518 who have gone through the program since it started in 1999.
Several graduates shared their business plans with the class, including Heather Manella. She is the owner of How Sweet it is Bakery. She is a self-taught baker who enjoys learning new things and taking on new challenges. She has a passion for feeding people good homemade food.
Born and raised in Norman, Okla., Manella and her family moved east to be near her husband’s aunt. She fell in love with the quaint village of Albion and the amazing New York summers, she said.
Manella will be operating out of the certified kitchen at Lockstone Events and Weddings on Main Street in Albion, until she is able to open her own kitchen.
Greg Drake is a handyman who plans to open Drake’s Home Improvement. He offers a wide variety of services, including plumbing, electrical, drywall repair, gutter cleaning, furniture assembly, heavy lifting, interior and exterior painting and pressure washing.
“Whatever your needs are, Drake’s Home Improvement can help,” he said. “If the job is too big or out of the scope of our services, I will work with you to find a contractor to fit the job.”
Greg Drake plans to open a handyman business in Orleans County.
His hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays as negotiated. His targeted customers are anyone needing handyman services, from home owners to property management companies.
His philosophy is to treat every customer as his most important customer.
Jacqueline Chinn also feels her anticipated business, Credit Clarity, which offers credit counseling, credit repair and credit building, is one which is badly needed in Orleans County.
“Orleans County has a lot of low-income families and individuals on public assistance,” Chinn said. “I’d like to work with them to develop a budget and show them how to stay on a budget. Everyone deserves an opportunity to become independent.”
Lynn Palmer of Middleport plans to open an overstock store on Main Street in Medina.
“Much like Ollies and Big Lots, Upscale Overstock will sell brand name general merchandise at less than retail prices,” Palmer said. “This will allow customers to purchase merchandise they may not otherwise be able to afford.”
Palmer’s goals for her business are to grow the business enough to move into her own building, be able to hire approximately five employees and to sell online. She will initially open Nov. 29 at 339 North Main St., the space formerly occupied by Zambito Realty.
She feels her chances of success are wonderful, since there aren’t any companies like this in Orleans County.
Palmer has five years of college under her belt, as well as 13 years experience as a supervisor in the retail department at Darien Lake, six years of business management experience, two years of retail experience at Dollar Tree and one year at Walmart.
Her daughter Samantha will work in the store on days Palmer has to work at Walmart. Samantha is also a crafter and many of her crafts will be for sale in the store.
Palmer will also utilize her store to promote worthy causes in the county. On opening day, customers who bring in supplies to donate to PAWS can enter to win a Christmas Movie Night raffle basket.
Other graduates were Andrea Dames, who plans to run a chicken and ribs food truck; Karen Boston, Paparazzi jewelry consultant; Brad and Rachel Hafner, B&R Trailer Repair and Fabrication; Dawn Dewey, D&H Welding and Repair; and Josh and Chelsea Smith, Relentless Construction.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2019 at 9:18 pm
Tax rate would actually drop 23 cents due to rising assessments
ALBION — The tentative budget for Orleans County would increase taxes by 2.63 percent, however, the tax rate would drop by 23 cents, from $10.10 to $9.87 per $1,000 of assessed property.
Taxes are increasing but the rate is falling due to rising assessed values in the county, up 4.93 percent or by $85.7 million – from $1.74 billion in 2019 to $1.82 billion in 2020.
The overall budget includes $71,711,638 in spending, which is up 1.0 percent from the $71,031,480 in 2019.
There will be a public hearing on the budget at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers, 14016 Route 31 West, Suite 200, Albion. This is in the new addition of the County Administration Building.
Chuck Nesbitt, the county’s chief administrative officer and budget officer, released the tentative budget today. This is his final one as the county’s CAO. He leaving the position next month after 14 ½ years to take a job in the private sector.
Nesbitt said the budget meets a goal of county officials in keeping staying within the property tax cap, while maintaining services provided by 430 full- and part-time employees. The budget keeps school resource officers at Kendall and Lyndonville school districts. (Those districts reimburse the county for providing officers at the schools, which started in 2018.)
The county budget also invests in infrastructure and tourism growth, Nesbitt said in a budget message.
The county is adding two full-time positions in the District Attorney’s Office – a DA and a clerical position – to meet new duties as part of the state’s criminal justice reform mandates.
The county also is budgeting a $150,000 increase in community college chargebacks.
The budget keeps the same level of funding in 2020 as 2019 for several agencies that provide services in the community: Cornell Cooperative Extension, $240,000; Orleans Economic Development Agency, $190,000; Soil & Water Conservation District, $92,500; four public libraries, $10,000 combined; Sportsmen’s Federation, $4,000; and Geneses-Orleans Regional Arts Council, $3,000.
The fee for solid waste and recycling service will be $212, which is the same as 2019. That cost is holding steady as the county transitioned to larger recycling totes this year, which are picked up every two weeks instead of weekly.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 November 2019 at 6:35 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jennifer Thom, one of the organizers of the 5k Operation Honor on Saturday, presented a $4,000 check today to Orleans County Joint Veterans Council Van Service. Thom is handing the check to Dave Kusmierczak (right), chairman of the Joint Veterans Council. Steve Johnson, left, is the group’s treasurer.
Thom and Sarah Levanduski-Surdel started Operation Honor last year with a 5K in Medina as their first event. Last year the race raised $3,000, which was given to the Warrior House in Shelby. The Warrior House provides a hunting retreat for veterans.
Thom and Levanduski-Surdel want to use the proceeds from the 5K to support veterans’ programs in the community. David Thom, Jennifer’s father, is a volunteer driver for the van service.
Jennifer Thom said the community was generous in sponsoring the event, which also included 40 participants who paid a $25 each to run or walk the course. The union for state corrections officers, NYSCOPBA, was the biggest sponsor at $1,500.
“This is a great shot in the arm,” Johnson, treasurer for the Joint Veterans Council, said about the $4,000 donation. “It will really help us.”
The Council has five vans. They purchased a low-mileage vehicle this summer for about $18,000. Johnson said the $4,000 from the 5K will go into a fund for the next vehicle.
The Joint Veterans Council runs the all-volunteer program, which has 27 drivers and 13 office volunteers.
The van service has taken 1,712 veterans to medical appointments this year, on 1,304 trips, through Oct. 31. Last month, the volunteers took 178 veterans to medical appointments.
Most of the trips are to VA healthcare sites in Batavia and Buffalo. The eras of the veterans served include 6 from World War II, 176 from Korea, 810 from Vietnam, 266 from the Persian Gulf and 454 from peacetime, according the Joint Veterans Council.
The vans so far this year have travelled 42,475 miles with volunteers putting in 4,694 hours.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Kevin Foley, plant manager of Baxter Healthcare in Medina, accepts the “Award of Excellence” for Baxter’s role as the top fundraiser for United Way in recent years. Baxter also received a “Caring Company Award” for matching employee contributions.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 November 2019 at 12:58 pm
Bellavia gives keynote speech, praising Orleans as a caring community
Provided photo: David Bellavia is pictured with Kendall Junior-Senior High School Principal Carol D’Agostino and Kendall Boy Scouts – Brian Shaw, Jayden Pieniaszek and Ryan Barrett. Those Scouts, plus Noah Rath, built a war memorial in Kendall as part of the Eagle Scout projects for the four. They each took a different piece of the project, which was dedicated on Sept. 29. Scouting is one of the local programs that receives funding from the United Way.
LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County United Way kicked off its annual fundraising campaign last week at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. There were 150 people at the event, which included a keynote speech by Lyndonville native David Bellavia, who was presented the Medal of Honor on June 25 by President Trump for acts of valor on Nov. 10, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.
He led an infantry squad clearing houses of insurgents, saving the lives of the members of his unit. He is the first living Iraq War veteran to receive the nation’s highest honor for military service.
Bellavia praised his experience in the Army. He now travels the country encouraging people to enlist and serve. He said military service brings together people of varying backgrounds, beliefs and skin color, uniting them in a common goal.
“It could be Philadelphia or Colorado or Medina, no matter where you’re from we are one team,” he said.
Bellavia said Orleans County has a history of people who serve willingly in the military and in their local communities.
“I’m super proud to be part of this community,” he told the crowd. “You raise patriots out here.”
Bellavia said Orleans County has always valued veterans and put them “on a pedestal.” He sees that pride in the country and for its veterans at the annual Fourth of July celebration in Lyndonville.
Bellavia said small-town Orleans County has hard-working people who strive for a greater good, despite differences.
“There is a standard here,” he said. “Democrats and Republicans we don’t hate each other much in Orleans County. We’re all neighbors.”
David Bellavia addresses 150 people at the United Way event. His photo is on a banner than includes another Medal of Honor recipient from Lyndonville, Forrest Vosler. Bellavia said Vosler was “an absolute stud” for his actions in the World War II. Vosler was assigned as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed the “Jersey Bounce Jr.” with the 358th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group stationed out of England. On Dec. 20, 1943, the Jersey Bounce Jr. was on its 28th combat mission. Vosler was hit with an exploding shell in the chest, face and eyes while in flight. He continued to deliver defensive fire upon German aircraft until the attacks subsided. After the aircraft plunged into the frigid waters of the North Sea, Vosler crawled out of the aircraft onto a wing as other crewmembers pulled a fellow solider out of the craft. Realizing that the unconscious soldier would slip into the cold water, Vosler grabbed him by the waist and held him in place until inflatable dinghies were ready for use.
The neighbors theme was focus of the United Way kickoff.
Mary Yockel, retail floor supervisor for Main Street Store run by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, said Community Action has been instrumental in her gaining job skills. She offered one of the testimonials during the kick-off rally last week.
“It’s neighbors helping neighbors, that’s what the United Way does,” said Dean Bellack, the United Way executive director.
“I want to add one more thing to that: It’s neighbors helping neighbors because you never know. You never know when your neighbor will be in trouble. You never know when you’ll be in trouble.”
He shared from a personal experience how a United Way-funded agency, Hospice of Orleans’s bereavement program, assisted his family with the recent loss of a loved one.
The United Way campaign directs funding to 14 agencies: 4-H, Arc of Orleans for Camp Rainbow and Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts, the Community Kitchen at Christ Church in Albion, GCASA, the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, Hospice of Orleans, Orleans County Adult Learning Services, Orleans County YMCA, 2-1-1 WNY (which directs people in crisis to agencies), Senior Citizens of WNY, and the Town of Yates Recreation Program. (Other agencies can receive funding if the donor designates.)
Dean Bellack, executive director of the United Way in Orleans County, said the organization has more companies doing workplace campaigns to raise money for the United Way. Bellack said the organization also has increased its visibility in the community in the past year.
Bellack used the kick-off celebration as a chance to recognize businesses for ongoing support, and some for recently running workplace campaigns for the first time.
Baxter Healthcare was recognized with the “Award of Excellence” for running ambitious campaigns for several years. Baxter employees have been the leading donors for United Way.
Baxter was also presented with a “Caring Company Award” for matching those employee contributions.
Roush CPA PC in Medina also received the Caring Company Award.
The following were recognized with “Welcome Awards” for starting new workplace campaigns: Lake Ontario Fruit, a packing house on Route 104 in Gaines; Orleans Ford in Medina and Bidleman Chevrolet, Buick GMC in Albion; Hinspergers Poly Industries in Medina, Saint-Goblin Adfors in Albion; and Pride Pak in Medina.
The Albion school district was presented with a “Commitment Award” for the school employees’ long-standing support of the United Way. Bullock said about 110 school employees give to the United Way.
David Green, the retired Orleans County sheriff, received the volunteer of the year award for his efforts to raise money for the United Way with 50/50 raffles at the Classic Car Cruises in Medina. Green has been helping with those events for many years.
The United Way also recognized Chris Leavitt, 14, of Medina as a top volunteer. Chris helped Bellack prepare floats to be in local parades this past year.
For more on the United Way of Orleans County, click here.
Some of the award winners recognized by the United Way at the kick-off celebration include, front row, from left: Dean Bellack, United Way executive director; Kevin Foley, plant manager for Baxter Healthcare in Medina – Award of Excellence and Caring Company Award; Chris Leavitt, Volunteer of the Year; Marlene Garza, human resources assistant for Lake Ontario Fruit, Welcome Award; and Melinda Edwards, human resources supervisor for Lake Ontario Fruit. Back row: Greg Budd, general manager for Hinspergers Poly Industries in Medina, Welcome Award; David Green, Volunteer of the Year; Holly Roush of Roush CPA PC, Caring Company Award; and Tina Moule, administrative assistant for Lake Ontario Fruit, Welcome Award.
Provided photo: Susie Miller (center), assistant director of the Office for the Aging in Orleans County, accepts the County Employee of the Year award on Thursday. She is joined by Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature, and Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director.
ALBION – The Orleans County Employee of the Year has shown her dedication to senior citizens for many years. Susie Miller, assistant director for the Office for the Aging was honored last Thursday during an employee luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn.
The employees of the month were also recognized at the luncheon. From the monthly honorees, a county committee picked the Employee of the Year.
Miller started working as a Community Service Worker in the OFA and two years later was promoted to Aging Services Specialist. She became the Assistant Director in January 2015.
In her time as an Aging Services Specialist and Assistant Director she has worked with thousands of older adults to navigate through health insurance options.
Information, education, counseling, and assistance may be given about health insurance including Medicare, Medicaid, employee coverage, Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap policies, Medicare Part D, EPIC, Medicaid Managed Care, and Medicare Fraud & Abuse, said Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director.
Regular changes in the health insurance industry, and the growing baby boomer population, continue to result in a constant demand for health insurance counseling services. In 2018, the county estimated a savings of $1,129,000 to older adults in Orleans County through health insurance counseling from Miller and the county’s other health insurance counselor.
“These are dollars saved for older adults on limited budget to spend in the county to live,” Welch said.
Miller also volunteers to speak at public events to spread the word about what Office for the Aging has to offer. She has spoken at churches, civic groups, community events and summer picnics.
“This employee will tell you she loves what she does and is committed to the work she does every day,” Welch said. “She truly is an advocate for the clients that she serves.”
She also assists clients with conflict resolutions on medical claims that were not billed correctly. This can take hours and many phones calls. The numbers of clients served continues to rise yet the county funding remains stagnant.
Miller created a comparison meeting during open enrollment to be able to serve more clients that we could not fit in for a one on one counseling session. She also accepted the challenge of creating a schedule for a newly hired aide so that clients could get services sooner than later.
“It is not easy trying to schedule slots when certain clients request certain days and times, and also trying to schedule our aides to be in the same area of the county on the same day,” Welch said. “By changing up the schedule we will see some mileage savings in the future.”
Miller also was an important part of a large grant Office for the Aging received to start a volunteer transportation program in 2018. Office for the Aging was granted $70,000 over a three-year period to make a needed service into a reality. That program now has 18 trained volunteers and 30 riders. There have been more than 100 rides given in seven months.
“She is a team player and is always asking what she can do to help out,” Welch said. “She keeps office morale up and truly cares about staff.”
The Employee Assistance Committee also recognized employees of the month. The EAP Committee receives nominations from fellow employees and department directors and then the nominations are reviewed and discussed by the committee and a selection is made.
The employees of the months for the past year were:
• October 2018: Scott Snook (Computer Services)
• November 2018: Torry Tooley (Sheriff)
• December 2018: Joanne Marek (County Clerk),
• January 2019: Jeffrey Gifaldi (Sheriff)
• February 2019: Ronald Mannella (Weights and Measures)
• March 2019: Elizabeth Jubenville (Social Services)
• April 2019: Rebekah Karls-Judd (Office for the Aging)
• May 2019: Susan Miller (Office for the Aging)
• June 2019: Wayne Krull (Highway)
• July 2019: Katie Harvey (Personnel & Self Insurance)
• August 2019: Danielle Figura (Mental Health)
• September 2019: Jennifer Szalay (Social Services)
Photo by Tom Rivers: Two leaders of the National Guard on June 2 discuss a plan for putting sandbags by this cottage in Carlton. The building is on the end of a peninsula that faced rising water from Lake Ontario and Johnson Creek.
Posted 6 November 2019 at 6:03 pm
Applications to assist secondary homes open Nov. 6 through Dec. 10
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the application period for the 2019 Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Flood Relief and Recovery Program is now open to qualifying secondary homeowners directly impacted by historic Lake Ontario flooding from Jan. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2019.
The 2019 Flood Relief and Recovery Program will allocate up to $8 million to assist qualifying secondary homeowners and is administered through New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
Residents with second homes in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne counties are now eligible to apply to receive up to $50,000 in state funding to help offset damages to their residences. Applications for second homes will be accepted from Nov. 6 through Dec. 10.
“The aftermath of historic flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River has had a disastrous impact, and we are fortunate to have the resources available to aid repairs on both primary and secondary residencies,” Governor Cuomo said. “As we embark on regionally-significant rebuilding and resiliency projects across the region, it is equally important that New York provide financial assistance to help homeowners in these communities with their recovery efforts.”
Application criteria for homeowners includes:
• Homeowners who were impacted by flooding Jan. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2019.
• Second homeowner applications will be accepted from Nov. 6, 2019 through Dec. 10, 2019.
• Second homeowners with a qualified gross income of less than $275,000 may apply. However, priority will be given to those with a qualified gross income of $175,000 or less.
• Funding to address damages to secondary homes will be considered following fulfillment of primary residence applications, which will be given priority. Primary homeowners must have applied by the Oct. 31, 2019 deadline.
Applications, including the full list of eligibility criteria, are available on the New York State Homes and Community Renewal website (click here).
The funding complements Governor Cuomo’s creation of REDI, which includes a multi-agency commission that has been studying ways to strengthen infrastructure along Lake Ontario’s waterfront while bolstering the region’s local economies. Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to rebuild the shoreline, as well as improve resiliency in flood prone regions along Lake Ontario.
Photo by Tom Rivers: Voters make their choices on Tuesday at Hoag Library, where Albion voters cast their ballots.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 November 2019 at 8:29 am
The turnout for Tuesday’s election was below the voter participation in recent local elections, including 2017 and 2015, when the town and county positions were on the ballot.
There were 8,084 voters at the polls for the latest election, which includes 374 during 9 days of early voting. That’s out of 23,183 registered voters in the county for a total turnout of 34.8 percent.
Many of the positions on the ballot were uncontested with only one candidate.
The position of sheriff was likely the most profile race, but only one candidate, Chris Bourke, was on the ballot. He received 78.4 percent of the vote and withstood a write-in campaign. Brett Sobieraski lost a close Republican Primary to Bourke on June 25. Many of his supporters pushed him as a write-in candidate. There were 1,570 write-in votes. Bourke received 5,693 votes.
Of the seven county legislator seats, six were unopposed. Don Allport of Gaines was challenged by Chase Tkach, a Libertarian Party candidate. Allport received 87.8 percent of the vote.
There were hotly contested races in Barre for town supervisor and Town Board seats, in Ridgeway for town supervisor, in Shelby for highway superintendent, in Gaines for Town Board positions and in Murray for town supervisor and the Town Board.
But several towns – Albion, Carlton, Kendall and Yates – didn’t have any contested races.
Four years ago, there was a hotly contested race for sheriff, between Randy Bower and Tom Drennan. That highlighted the local elections that year, when turnout was 38.2 percent (with no early voting option). That election had 8,431 voters go to the polls out of 22,069 registered voters.
Two years ago there was another local election and turnout was again at 38.2 percent – 8,693 voters out of 22,739 registered.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 November 2019 at 10:26 pm
Chris Bourke
ALBION – Chris Bourke was elected sheriff of Orleans County today, receiving nearly 80 percent of the vote against a write-in campaign for Brett Sobieraski.
Bourke, the current undersheriff, won a narrow Republican primary against Sobieraski in June. Bourke seemed to be coasting to the election. He also was on the Conservative and Independence lines.
But in the past month, many of Sobieraski’s supporters pushed the write-in campaign. The Rochester Police Department sergeant lives in Carlton and heads a drug task force for the RPD.
Bourke received 5,693 votes today and with early voting for 78.4 percent of the total. There were 1,570 write-ins. Those ballots will be counted on Thursday.
There are also 398 absentees that went out, with 264 returned so far, Board of Elections officials said.
Bourke has worked 35 years in the Sheriff’s Office, starting as a part-time corrections officer and working his way up as a deputy sheriff, K9 officer and lieutenant.
He will succeed Randy Bower as sheriff. Bower didn’t seek re-election. Bourke said the current chief deputy, Michael Mele, will become the new undersheriff starting Jan. 1.
