By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – After months of discord over a possible dissolution of the village of Medina, elected officials from two towns and the village are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on July 28.
Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli and Shelby Town Supervisor Skip Draper wanted the meeting to be focused on shared services and cooperation among the three entities. They wanted dissolution off the table.
But Medina Mayor Andrew Meier has persisted, saying dissolution should be on the agenda.
The two town leaders told Meier to set an agenda for the meeting and they would respond.
During Monday’s Village Board meeting, village officials agreed to have dissolution and shared services on the agenda that would be sent to the towns.
The Village Board will have its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the Shelby Town Hall with the joint meeting to follow at 7 p.m. The Town Hall is located on Salt Works Road.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 July 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The first email went out on Friday, an entreaty by Medina Mayor Andrew Meier. He sent several potential meeting dates to village officials and members of the Shelby and Ridgeway Town Boards.
Meier’s email came after a Village Board meeting on June 23 when town officials urged the Village Board to hold off on setting a date for a public referendum on dissolution of the village government. Shelby and Ridgeway officials wanted to first discuss more shared services or consolidation of functions among the entities.
Ridgeway Town Councilwoman Mary Woodruff responded to Meier’s email, saying the full board from the municipalities should all attend. (Members of the media have been copied in these emails.)
“I cannot support partial boards meeting to discuss these pertinent topics,” Woodruff said in an email on Monday. That was the format in past shared services and consolidation talks, she said.
Village Trustee Mike Sidari suggested at the June 23 meeting that two representatives from each board meet to discuss shared services and consolidation. He said the mayor and two town supervisors should be excluded because of a lack of trust and “butt-heading” among the three leaders.
Meier on Monday agreed with Woodruff, saying the full boards should attend the meeting.
“Given the time and resources spent by the village in developing the dissolution plan, and the resources consumed by the towns in discrediting it, we owe our residents an open, transparent, and unfiltered discussion,” Meier said.
That drew a response from Brian Napoli this morning, where he insisted dissolution won’t be part of the discussion, only shared services and consolidation of services.
“As for being discredited, the plan was discredited from the beginning,” Napoli wrote. “Manipulating the choice of committee members, along with placing yourself and Mark Irwin on the committee, was blatant disregard for openness, fairness, transparency, and unfiltered discussion. Then, narrowing the focus of the committee so they could only come to one conclusion…yours.”
Napoli also criticized the Center for Governmental Research, the village’s selection as a consultant for the plan.
“The last joke was hiring second rate consultants to justify your misguided idea,” Napoli said. “The taxpayers in Medina did not get fair value for their money.”
Napoli also alleges Meier used village taxpayer dollars for the “One Medina” campaign “after bragging that it is privately funded without taxpayer money.”
After Napoli’s email at 9:37 a.m., Sidari followed with one at 10:13 a.m. He told the officials to “drop the attitudes, roll up our sleeves and come to a working solution to the problems we are facing.”
He said residents have demanded officials from the village and two towns work together on the community’s problems.
“Wrong has been done on both sides of the lines,” Sidari said. “However both sides are showing a willingness to work on the same goal.”
He urged the elected officials to come to the upcoming meeting with an open mind “and leave the attitudes at the door.”
Sidari also requested the media be excluded from emails about planning for the upcoming meeting.
“I am sure they are thriving on this ongoing showing of remarks and accusations,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 June 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – A dentist is proposing to build a new 3,325-square-foot building at 11065 West Center St.
Dr. Peter Igoe currently works out of 511 West Ave. He is proposing to build a new office with a studio and five examination rooms on the north side of Route 31E. Salt Works Road is the closest intersection.
The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted to support the project, which needs final approval from the Town of Ridgeway.
The site is located in a Light Industrial District. Planners said the project fits in with the character of the neighborhood, a mix of residential and commercial uses.
In other referrals, the County Planning Board:
• Recommended the Village of Albion support amended regulations for signs in the Residential/Commercial District. The amendments would allow monument signs to stand a maximum of 5 feet high, with a maximum of 32 square feet or 16 square feet per side if it’s a two-sided sign. The signs also must be a minimum of 15 feet from the curb.
Planners said the amendments are more restrictive than existing regulations for General Commercial, Light Industrial and some other districts. That makes sense, planners said, because the R-C District needs to strike more of a balance between residential and commercial uses.
• Recommended the Town of Kendall reclassify four adjoining parcels at 1750 Kendall Rd. from Residential/Agricultural and General Business to Light Industrial.
The parcels are part of the former Ho-Jack railroad right-of-way on the northern edge of the Kendall hamlet.
The land is owned by the same owner, Michael Crupi, and comprises 14.7 acres. The land runs from Kendall Road to Center Road, about 5,200 feet. The rezoning would help facilitate a woodworking operation, county planners said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Mayor will seek joint session with town leaders
Photos by Tom Rivers – Ridgeway Town Supervisor Brian Napoli said promised state aid for a village dissolution shouldn’t be counted on. “A state guarantee means nothing,” he said.
MEDINA – A dissolution plan won’t be going to a vote by village residents until the Village Board can meet with town leaders in Shelby and Ridgeway.
“I don’t think at this point the public is ready for that,” said Village Trustee Mark Kruzynski at Monday’s board meeting.
Kruzynski and Michael Sidari pushed for a joint meeting with the towns, noting the dissolution discussions have been polarizing in the community and haven’t included the town officials.
Sidari first suggested the meeting among village, Shelby and Ridgeway officials exclude Mayor Andrew Meier, and town supervisors Brian Napoli of Ridgeway and Skip Draper of Shelby.
“There is a lot of butt-heading going on and a lack of trust,” Sidari said about the trio of leaders.
Meier said the mayor and town supervisors should be a part of the discussions because they are the chief executive officers with a big knowledge base of their respective governments.
“That would be a pretty big doughnut hole to have them be absent,” Meier said.
Village attorney Matt Brooks said it wouldn’t be legal to ban elected officials and residents from such meetings. The full Village Board authorized Meier to extend an invitation to the Town Boards to discuss the dissolution plan.
Village Mayor Andrew Meier said the current village government with high tax rates and a shrinking tax base is “unsustainable.” He is pictured next to Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman.
Meier welcomes the conversation, but he doesn’t want dissolution to be dragged out. He wants village residents to have a say on the issue in a public referendum.
Town leaders from Shelby and Ridgeway attended the Village Board meeting on Monday and urged the Village Board to look at ways for more shared services with the two towns, rather than just dissolving and having village functions passed to the towns, taxing districts or local development corporations.
The village tax rate is about $16 per $1,000 of assessed property. Dale Stalker, a Shelby town councilman, said about $10 of that rate is driven by emergency services – police, fire and ambulance – with the other $6 in services that are duplicative of the towns.
Stalker said there are ways to share those services and reduce costs to the community.
Ridgeway Town Councilman Jeff Toussaint also urged the Village Board to look closer at its budget and services to find ways to reduce costs.
Meier said the village has cut positions in DPW and police in an ongoing push the past 15 to 20 years to run a lean government. Meier said DPW has half the staff it did two decades ago.
The village faces an “unsustainable” model: its tax base is shrinking while its tax rate escalates, he told about 50 people during the board meeting.
Ridgeway Town Councilman Jeff Toussaint said the Village Board can reduce village taxes with better management of its budget and village staff, including making some hard choices about services already provided by the towns.
Medina’s combined village and town tax rates are about $20 per $1,000. With dissolution, it would fall to $14.30 in Ridgeway and $13.10 in Shelby.
Outside-village residents in Ridgeway currently pay a $6.71 rate for town, lighting and fire protection. That would rise 46 percent to $9.83 if the village dissolves and services are picked up according to the dissolution plan.
Shelby residents would see a 10 percent increase with dissolution with the current rate for outside-village residents going from $8.36 per $1,000 of assessed property to $9.17.
Toussaint said the towns shouldn’t have to subsidize the village, but Meier said the current system makes the village subsidize services to the towns with village residents double-taxed for many services. Dissolution would make the rates more equitable and fair, narrowing the gap between the village and outside village, Meier said.
Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman was elected in March. She doesn’t see dissolution as the answer. She sees more taxing districts if dissolution goes through, with less representation on the boards for the taxing districts and LDCs.
“I don’t want to give up on this village yet,” she said.
Meier said the dissolution plan shouldn’t be viewed as the village giving up. The plan brings balance to the tax rates, making Medina more affordable and attractive for residents and businesses, he said.
“I’m certainly heavily invested in the village,” he said. “I’m far from giving up on it.”
Toussaint also said the projected savings with dissolution aren’t very much. The plan identifies $277,000 in savings spread over three budgets that total about $11 million. That’s less than 3 percent. Toussaint said those savings would only be achieved if everything went according to the plan perfectly.
Toussaint and Brian Napoli, the Ridgeway town supervisor, questioned the $541,000 in additional state aid that has been identified for the dissolution. They doubt the money will be long-lasting. Napoli said the state has reduced promised funds for highway maintenance and assessing services.
“A state guarantee means nothing,” Napoli said about the additional aid with a dissolution.
About 50 people attended the Medina Village Board and many aired their views about a possible village dissolution.
Sherman said there is no certainty for residents that the dissolution plan, as proposed, would be followed by the two towns. She worries about service cuts for villagers.
“There’s no guarantee services will continue year to year,” Meier responded. “If we do nothing there is no way we can continue our level of services, unless we tax our residents into oblivion.”
Nathan Pace works as a local attorney. He was chairman of a previous committee that looked at shared services and consolidation among the village and two towns. The group favored dissolving the village and then merging the two towns.
He was critical of all the bickering among the village and towns, and their reluctance to sit down and discuss how to strengthen the overall community.
“It’s irresponsible,” Pace said. “Please come together. We have to sort this out. It is not that hard to sit down and come together.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 June 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – A committee studying the dissolution of the village of Medina is handing off its plan to the Village Board.
The Medina Dissolution Committee approved a plan last week that would cut taxes for village residents. Property owners outside the village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway would see an increase in their town taxes as the two towns pick up some of the services currently provided in the village, according to the plan.
The Village Board will discuss the plan during its 7 p.m. meeting on Monday at the Shelby Town Hall on Salt Works Road.
Village residents would see a drop in taxes ranging from 27 percent in Ridgeway to 34 percent in Shelby. The rate in Ridgeway would drop from $19.49 per $1,000 of assessed property to a projected $14.30, according to the plan. That $5.20 reduction would save a homeowner with a $70,000 house $363 a year in taxes.
Village residents in Shelby currently pay a combined $19.80 rate ($16.45 to the village and $3.35 to the town). That would drop 34 percent to $13.10 and would cut the tax bills from $1,386 for a $70,000 house to $917.
Dissolution Committee members say the ultimate goal is to dissolve the village and then merge the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway. That would bring additional state incentives and provide more efficiencies, committee members said.
If the two towns don’t merge, their residents outside the village would see their taxes go up if the dissolution plan is followed by the towns. Town officials from both Shelby and Ridgeway have said the towns don’t have to follow the plan. The two towns haven’t said how the towns would handle services if the village dissolves.
Ridgeway residents outside the village currently pay a $6.71 rate for town, lighting and fire protection. That would rise 46 percent to $9.83 if the village dissolves and services are picked up according to the plan.
Shelby residents would see a 10 percent increase with dissolution with the current rate for outside-village residents going from $8.36 per $1,000 of assessed property to $9.17. That would raise taxes for a $70,000 home from $585 to $642.
The plan sees $277,000 in cost savings and $541,000 in additional state aid for $818,000 in overall benefit.
Village residents will have the final say in dissolution in a public referendum if the Village Board decides to put it on the ballot or if residents force a public vote through a petition.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – An old barn that collapsed months ago has been removed from near the northeast corner of routes 104 and 63 in Ridgeway, with the demolition of a house at the corner imminent.
Ledge Creek Development in Clarence was doing site work at the property today.
Development Unlimited of WNY LLC of Buffalo is building a new 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store at the corner of routes 63 and 104. The driveway will be about 200 feet north of 104 on Route 63. The store will have 30 parking spaces.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 June 2014 at 12:00 am
Volunteers will have rebuilt 3 of 4 walls
Photos by Tom Rivers – Volunteers work on removing a wall at a log cabin at the 4-H Fairgrounds. A new wooden wall will be built in a tongue and groove style.
KNOWLESVILLE – A team of volunteers are at the 4-H Fairgrounds today, chipping away mortar and removing sections of large logs in a 40-year-old cabin.
The Orleans County Sportsmen Federation has worked the past three years to save the cabin. Two of the four walls were torn out and replaced about three years ago after the wood had rotted. The west wall is now the group’s focus and it should be removed and replaced in time for the opening of the annual 4-H Fair, which starts July 21.
The Sportsmen Federation wants the site to be a showcase of local wildlife resources and conservation practices. But the group worried that the cabin, with many rotted logs, might become unsafe and unsightly.
The cabin was first completed in 1976 and is used for many hunter safety classes, and conservation programs. A new wall is at left while the wall at right will be removed with a new one to be erected by the opening of the fair.
“We want it to continue on,” said Mike Donahue, the group’s president and long-time member. He helped with the construction of the original cabin. “We don’t want the thing to fall into total disrepair and be an eyesore up here.”
The Federation has raised money to help replace the walls and also has received $5,000 in county dollars to bolster the site.
Legislature Chairman David Callard supported the county contribution. He also was at the site today, helping to remove mortar from the west wall.
“This log cabin gives a unique taste to the fairgrounds,” he said. “It serves a good purpose. It really is a living history.”
Bob Fox chips away mortar in the log cabin. He is one of several volunteers working on the project. David Callard is behind him.
The cabin was originally built with logs from Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area. They were sawed at Ed Egloff’s mill in Barre. The cabin was built from 1974 to 1976 mostly by members of the local conservation clubs. The idea for the cabin was proposed by Gene Tuohey, the local conservation officer at the time.
Donahue said many groups use the cabin, including the Sportsmen Federation, Soil and Water Conservation District, Orleans County Bluebird Society, the Clay Crushers and other conservation groups.
When the west wall is done that will give the cabin three new walls. Donahue said the front wall seems to be fine. The other walls had rotted logs. Donahue said the new logs are in a tongue and groove style that is more “weather tight” and should keep out water.
Mike Donahue, president of the Sportsmen Federation, shared these photos from the dedication program for the log cabin in 1976. Don Cook, who was an active local conservationist, took these photos.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The committee looking at a possible dissolution of the village of Medina government will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday at City Hall. It will be the committee’s first meeting since a May 6 public meeting, when most speakers were strongly against dissolution.
The committee will weigh public comments as it works to craft a final document that will be presented to the Village Board. Don Colquhoun, the committee chairman, said he expects the committee will be able to complete its work with another meeting after Thursday.
The Medina Dissolution Committee accepted a draft of the plan in April. It faced its first public scrutiny on May 6 when about 300 people attended a forum at the middle school. Many of the speakers at the May 6 meeting lived outside the village in the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby. They don’t want to see their taxes go up as part of the dissolution.
Outside-village residents in Ridgeway would see a 46 percent increase in their town taxes while Shelby residents outside the village would see a 10 percent increase in town taxes, according to the plan.
Dissolution would reduce the current rate for village residents in Ridgeway from $19.49 per $1,000 of assessed property to $14.30. That $5.20 reduction would save a homeowner with a $70,000 house $363 a year in taxes.
In Shelby, village residents currently pay a $19.80 rate for village and town taxes. That would drop by $6.70 or 34 percent if the dissolution plan takes effect.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier sees dissolution as the first step of a two-step process for a leaner government. The tax increase outside the village could be reduced if the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby merge into the town of Medina, Meier has said.
Meier and others in the community are pushing “One Medina” as the ultimate goal for town/village government in the community.
If the village dissolution goes to a public referendum, only village residents will be eligible to vote.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2014 at 12:00 am
In a Stanley Cup wager, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s has offered California’s governor a “Taste of NY” gift basket that includes award-winning ice wine – The 2011 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine from the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina.
Jerry Brown, California’s governor, can sip that wine if the Los Angeles Kings defeat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings won game 1 on Wednesday, 3-2.
If the Rangers win the series, Brown will send Cuomo: “California: A History” by Kevin Starr and lightly salted Lundberg Organic Brown Rice Cakes.
If the Kings win, Cuomo will ante up the “Taste NY” gift basket that features products from local businesses across the Empire State.
The bounty includes:
Original Anchor Bar Buffalo Wing Sauce, Erie County
Two award winning Ice Wines: The 2011 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine from the Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Orleans County and the 2012 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine from the Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards in Schuyler County
Lupo’s Spiedie Marinade, key ingredient for Binghamton’s famous Spiedie Sandwich, Broome County
Gianelli Hot Italian Sausage, Onondaga County
Sammy and Annie Food’s Chicken Riggie Pasta Sauce Starter, Oneida County
Parker’s Pure New York Maple Syrup, Parker Family Maple Farm, Clinton County
America’s First Kettle Chip, Saratoga Chips, Saratoga County
Apples from Fishkill Farms, Dutchess County
Red velvet cupcakes from Make My Cake, Harlem, Manhattan
Oysters harvested off of Long Island’s shore, Braun Seafood Company, Suffolk County
Cuomo also offered a commemorative hockey puck from the 2013 “Hat Trick” of three on-time budgets in a row.
“While 2014 is already a banner year for New York State hockey teams with Union College and Clarkson University as national college champions, the true icing on the cake would be a triumphant return of the Stanley Cup to the Empire State,” Cuomo said.
RIDGEWAY – A 57-year-old old woman escaped serious injury and her 3-year-old grandson was not injured following an ATV accident Sunday night in the town of Ridgeway.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. on private property in the 10300 block of Mill Road.
Debra R. Miller, 57, was operating the all-terrain vehicle on her own property. Her grandson was also on board when she rode up an incline near the residence and the machine flipped over backwards. The child was thrown clear while Miller was pinned underneath. Neither was wearing a helmet at the time.
Miller was flown by Mercy Flight helicopter to Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, where she was treated and released.
The incident was investigated by Deputy J.W. Halstead. Ridgeway firefighters and Medina Fire Department ambulance personnel also assisted at the scene.
Photos by Sue Cook – Lisa Beam, 8, tells Jellybean “over” to get him to hop over the obstacle. Instructor Sue Meier helps Lisa learn the technique for the leash.
The senior group lines up their dogs as if presenting them for a judge.
By Sue Cook, staff reporter
KNOWLESVILLE – Today 21 4-H’ers and their dogs attended a first-time Dog Camp at the 4-H Fairgrounds and the handlers worked with their dogs to be more agile and obedient while learnig other skills.
The morning lessons were agility, competition, grooming and handling. The afternoon included emergency care, rally, basic care and fly ball.
Cornell Cooperative Extension organized the Dog Camp. The Extension works to create programs in the community to provide education, including programs for other 4-H groups that train or raise other animals.
Garrett May, 15, has his Siberian husky, Cruise, walk up a plank under instructor Susan Meier’s instruction. Cruise was reluctant to complete the walk, but with each practice run the dog would become more successful.
4-H’ers from ages 8 to 18 enrolled in the camp for the opportunity to learn more about the care and training of their dogs. Most of those enrolled in the program are working to show their dogs in shows and competition. A benefit of showing a dog through 4-H is that participants build friendships with others who share the same interests and may live outside of the area in other counties.
“It’s all about improving their relationship with their dogs, learning correct training, learning basic dog care and some of these kids do go on to compete in fairs,” said Pat Leight, leader for Canine Companions, one of the county’s three dog groups. “It’s our first year doing it, and next year we’d like to have it as an overnight camp.”
Rachel Muller, 15, trots her corgi, Teddy, to a cone and back. It requires controlling with the leash to make sure the dog keeps its head up and trots straight.
Lilianna Hanning, 12, has been in a 4-H dog group for one year. She brought her black lab with her who has won Reserve Champion at the state fair.
“We had trained Jack, but he wasn’t very good and we didn’t do competition. I went to a 4-H open house and I saw that other kids had their dogs and I thought this would be really fun. I’m glad that I joined. Today, we have to work on our agility,” said Hanning, who was excited for the day’s events.
The morning began with the kids breaking into groups based on skill level. Dog Camp students with very little experience with their dogs were put in the junior group, regardless of age.
Instructor Kathy Zipkin assisted the 4-H’ers with obedience training. “I like to try and teach kids the correct way to start obedience and hopefully build enthusiasm to stick with it.”
Jordan Crowley (front), 15, rewards Goldie for focusing her attention where he wants.
Zipkin explained that dogs are often trained with food until the behavior is established, then they are weaned off of requiring treats to perform the desired command.
Melanie Uderitz brought her son Andrew to dog camp today to work with Tank, their yellow lab.
During obedience training, Tank sat like a good boy for Andrew Uderitz, 9.
“He really wanted to join and do agility especially, so he joined the Canine Companions 4-H club. Tank gets excited to come and Andrew gets excited to come. Tank is a fast learner,” she said.
Patrick Macaluso, 14, has his terrier-mix, Zoe, show her teeth. Instructor Joanne Dohr explains how dogs need to be comfortable having their faces touched so that their teeth can be presented to a judge.
Instructor Sue Meier guided 4-H’ers on the agility course.
“There are a lot of new kids. They’ve never been acclimated to agility. They’re doing very well,” she said. “The handlers are handling them great and usually the dogs pick up on it really quick. Today, I’m teaching them how to make their dogs focus because agility is all about focusing and listening to the handler.”
The junior group learns about “stacking” their dogs from Joanne Dohr. Stacking means the dog stands straight. Their trainer adjusts their legs if needed to make them stand in a natural, squared-off position.
Dogs in 4-H shows are not required to be purebred or owned by the person training, which allows any child with any dog to participate, even with a borrowed one.
Enrollment is encouraged by the 4-H leaders because they feel it brings a stronger bond with the dog, but also provides an outlet to find new friends. It also raises confidence as kids are able to get the dog to listen to commands better over time.
4-H accepts new members throughout the year. To ask about joining 4-H, call the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-798-4265 or e-mail orleans@cornell.edu.
Press release, Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith
MEDINA – A Medina woman is hospitalized after being struck by a car this afternoon in the Town of Ridgeway.
The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m., in the 10800 block of Telegraph Road (State Route 31-E). Marilyn E. Bell, 85, was crossing the highway in front of her residence, to retrieve the mail, when she was struck. She was transported by Medina Fire Department ambulance to Medina Memorial Hospital.
Bell was struck by a westbound 2012 Chevrolet sedan was operated by Jean P. Bruning, 79, of Middleport. Bruning was the sole occupant of her vehicle and she was not injured.
The on-scene investigation was conducted by Deputy J.W. Halstead, assisted by Deputy T.C. Marano, Lieutenant C.M. Bourke, Investigator D.E. Foeller Jr., and Chief Deputy T.L. Drennan. The Ridgeway Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Claudia Dreschel, a freshman from Holley, shows sixth-graders a heritage sheep, a Navajo Churro, as part of the 46th annual Orleans County Conservation Field Days today at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
About 500 sixth-graders from the Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts attended the conservation event on Tuesday and today.
Kim Hazel from the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and master gardener Michael Klepp tell students about composting. It was one of 13 conservation stations.
Tom Hicks, a salesman for Bentley Brothers in Albion, tells students about a four-tiered engine, which has less emissions and is better for the environment.
Dennis Kirby, district manager for the Soil and Water Conservation District, talks about soil health and erosion control.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 May 2014 at 12:00 am
The towns of Shelby and Ridgeway were part of investigative piece by Channel 4 News in Buffalo today that looked at taxpayer dollars being spent for public relations.
The two towns hired Andina Barone of Mindful Media Group to fight the effort to dissolve the village of Medina and shift some of those village services and tax burdens to the two towns. A dissolution plan sees a 46 percent increase in town taxes in Ridgeway and 10 percent in Shelby.
The towns have each spent about $3,000 for communication consulting, establishment of 24-hour call line, March print media buy, “Town messaging and dissemination,” art supervision, 5,000 stickers and 5,000 cards, according to a documents obtained by Channel 4.
A big crowd turned out last week at a public meeting about the dissolution plan, and most speakers opposed the plan.
“When each taxpayer is going to see a possible 46 percent increase in their taxes, the town has to spend resources in order to protect its taxpayers and they believed at the time that it was a prudent use of resources,” Emilio Colaiacovo, an attorney for the towns, told Channel 4.
The nearly $6,000 cost to Mindful Media Group doesn’t include the printing and mailing costs for at least three town-wide mailers about the dissolution. One mailer accused Medina Mayor Andrew Meier of mismanaging village finances. Another mailer faulted the Orleans Hub for being “unethical.”
The Channel 4 report highlights that Barone is the daughter of Gabrielle Barone, vice president of the Orleans Economic Development Agency. She is also an influential member of the Republican Party.
Colaiacovo said there is no conflict of interest with the towns hiring the younger Barone, who also does work for the EDA.
“The person you’re speaking of is an employee of the IDA. She has no vote. She has no say. She reports to the CEO of the IDA, so she can tell the CEO everything she would want him to say, he ultimately has the final say on IDA decisions along with its board,” Colaiacovo said.
Channel 4 also noted other public entities that pay for PR, including the Niagara Falls Water Board, Erie County Water Authority and the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 May 2014 at 12:00 am
Opinions run gamut, but most speakers oppose dissolution
Photos by Tom Rivers – Neil Sambovski of Ridgeway, outside the village, speaks against a dissolution of the village because it would drive up taxes for residents in the town outside Medina.
MEDINA – It’s been a topic of conversation for months in coffee shops and the community.
“Everyone has an opinion,” Don Colquhoun, chairman of the Medina Dissolution Committee, said about a plan to dissolve the village’s government. “If you talk to anyone in the village or in the towns, you have an opinion.”
Tonight residents were welcome to air their opinions in public, and many seized the opportunity.
“They’re diverting the tax from people in the village to people outside the village,” said Hannah Brant, a village resident with property in the two towns. “It’s driving a lot of fear into the community.”
Brandt was one of 300 people who attended a public meeting at Wise Middle School about the draft dissolution plan. It calls for dissolving the village of Medina and having its government services picked up by the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby, and other taxing districts or entities.
Colquhoun and the Medina Dissolution Committee approved a draft plan last month. Many residents spoke at the nearly the 2 ½ hour meeting and were against the village dissolution – for many different reasons. Their comments will be considered in any changes to the plan that would then go to the Village Board.
Don Colquhoun, chairman of the Medina Dissolution Committee, said the group will next meet in late May or early June to consider residents comments and whether the draft dissolution plan should be altered.
The Village Board will have public hearings if it decides to proceed with dissolution. It would then go to a public referendum for village residents only.
Several residents outside the village in the two towns said outside-village residents should have a vote as well. One resident called the plan “taxation without representation.”
The plan shifts some of the current villages expenses to the two towns, in particular to Ridgeway. Outside-village residents in Ridgeway would see a 46 percent increase in their town taxes while Shelby residents outside the village would see a 10 percent increase in town taxes. More village streets happen to be in Ridgeway, and so is Boxwood Cemetery, which would become the responsbilty of Ridgeway as part of the plan.
“If my taxes go up 46 percent, I’m leaving Orleans County,” said Neil Samborski of Ridgeway. “We can’t afford it.”
Village resident J.C. Hobbs said village residents have long been overburdened with taxes. He said there needs to be a push to reduce the village taxes.
“It’s all about fairness,” he said.
Village resident J.C. Hobbs said village residents pay too mch in taxes, especially compared to outside-village residents.
Village residents would see a drop ranging from 27 percent in Ridgeway to 34 percent in Shelby. The rate in Ridgeway would drop from $19.49 per $1,000 of assessed property to a projected $14.30, according to the plan. That $5.20 reduction would save a homeowner with a $70,000 house $363 a year in taxes.
Village residents in Shelby currently pay a combined $19.80 rate ($16.45 to the village and $3.35 to the town). That would drop 34 percent to $13.10 and would cut the tax bills from $1,386 for a $70,000 house to $917.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said the current taxing structure artificially makes the village taxes about 20 percent higher than those just outside the village borders. Dissolving the village would make the tax rates more equitable.
He worries the current system funnels too much tax burden on village property owners. It is chasing away residents and investment, leading to blight and shrinking tax assessments.
“A healthy town requires a healthy village,” Meier said.
Even with dissolution, village residents will pay about $4 more per $1,000 of assessed property than the outside-village residents. The village debt would stay with the village property owners until it is paid off in abut a decade. That accounts for $2 of that projected tax rate. A new fire district also is suggested to maintain the Medina Fire Department.
The Ridgeway residents outside the village currently pay a $6.71 rate for town, lighting and fire protection. That would rise 46 percent to $9.83 if the village dissolves and services are picked up according to the plan.
Shelby residents would see a 10 percent increase with dissolution with the current rate for outside-village residents going from $8.36 per $1,000 of assessed property to $9.17. That would raise taxes for a $70,000 home from $585 to $642.
Medina Mayor Andrew Meier said village residents are unfairly burdened with high taxes.
The committee is suggesting a new debt district, two lighting districts, a water/sewer local development corporation, and a new fire district. Ridgeway would take over a town police force that would be contracted to include Shelby, according to the proposal.
Former Mayor Marcia Tuohey said she expects taxes would increase overall because of the new layers of government that are less accountable to residents.
“In the long run we’d be abdicating a lot of our services for more money,” she said.
Marguerite Sherman, a new village trustee, also said dissolution would result in less efficient government, trading one layer for up to five.
She and Mike Sidari, another new trustee, made a point of saying they aren’t necessarily in support of dissolution. Sidari said he moved to the village 29 years ago because of the police protection and other services, which he said naturally results in a higher tax burden compared to the rate outside the village.
“If the village goes by the wayside, there will be less control and who knows where the taxes are going,” he said.
The plan sees $277,000 in cost savings and $541,000 in additional state aid for $818,000 in overall benefit. But with combined budgets of more than $10 million, the $277,000 was called a small amount in operational savings.
The number could have been higher, but the Dissolution Committee didn’t want to eliminate any jobs or curtail services.
Village resident Todd Bensley doesn’t think the savings are enough to warrant dissolution of the village. He thinks the tax burden could be cut with more shared services with the two towns, and a push to become the City of Medina. That would result in siginifciantly more in state aid. Right now Medina receives about $45,000 in state aid as a community of about 6,000 people. Similar-size cities, such as Salamanca, get nearly a $1 million in state aid.
The City of Sherrill has half as many people as the village of Medina, but gets nearly $400,000 in state aid, Bensley noted.
The average village property owner would see $363 in tax savings, according to the plan.
“That sounds good, but look at all of the things we’re losing,” he said.
Bensley serves on the Village Planning Board, which he said has been committed to preserving the downtown historic district, while also welcoming businesses.
“The residents have worked hard to make the village what it is and I want it maintained,” Bensley said. “The mayor is asking us to get rid of a village with a 182-year-old tradition to save a few hundred dollars.”
Bensley also said he didn’t like that the village’s reduction comes with an increase to residents outside the village.
“I don’t want to save money on the backs of my neighbors,” he said.
Dave Kusmierczak said state and federal policies have hurt small-town upstate New York, providing too little aid and too many mandates.
Several residents were critical that the Dissolution Committee didn’t include more representation from outside-village residents. Only Cindy Robinson, a downtown business owner, lives outside the village. Other committee members include Colquhoun, Meier, Village Deputy Mayor Mark Irwin, Charlie Slack and Thurston Dale.
Meier said village residents are also town residents. The committee acted with the best interest of the community at heart, he said.
Leaders from the two towns and village met often in a consolidation and shared service study in 2011. The group suggested the village and two towns merge into one government entity. Meier and village officials wanted to make that happen, and town leaders said then a village dissolution would need to be the first step.
Meier said the bigger savings will come if the two towns join into one town, after the village dissolves. There would be more state aid and more cost efficiencies, bringing down the community’s overall, tax rate, Meier said.
In the mentime, he has sought concessions to village residents from the towns. Meier said village residents pay to plow and maintain village streets. They also are taxed for town streets. He wants an exemption in that portion of the town tax bill, which he said could knock $1 off the tax rate for village residents.
He cited the reconstruction of Gwinn Street, a popular thoroughfare in the village used by school buses and other traffic. Village taxpayers footed the entire $900,000 cost for improvements to that street, depsite its widespread use by motorists outside the village.
Residents enter the gymnasium at Wise Middle School. They walk past a display showing the tax savings annually for residents in the village, depending on the assessment of the property. About 300 people attended the meeting.
Kit Trapasso is a retired psychologist at Medina Central Scool. He lives in the village and has witnessed an exodus of residents, not only from the village but Orleans County and Western New York. (The eight WNY counties all had a population loss from 2000 to 2010.)
Schools have experienced significant drops in student enrollment, prompting some districts, including Medina, to close a school. The Towne Primary School closed about two years ago.
“In New York State we are taxing ourselves to death,” Trapasso said. “I hope as a community we’re willing to work together to say let’s be in for a change.”
Trapasso said he favors dissolving the village and merging the two towns because it has the most savings and promise for reduced tax bills.
Tom McGrane, a retired teacher, said the dissolution process hasn’t gone well. The two towns have sent out information “that has been dividing us.” McGrane said Meier as mayor, Skip Draper as town supervisor of Shelby, and Brian Napoli as town supervisor of Ridgeway need to get over “turf wars” and find a solution for the high taxes.
“We need to really sit down and say let’s do it for the community,” McGrane said.
