St. Mary’s at 20 Ellicott St. is made of rusticated Medina Sandstone and is the oldest Catholic church building in use in Batavia.

BATAVIA – The Buffalo Diocese on Wednesday announced more recommendations to close churches in the region, including in Elba, Batavia and Bergen.

The news followed the Diocese plan announced on Monday to close St. Mark’s in Kendall and St. Stephen’s in Middleport.

The Diocese of Buffalo proposals are recommended changes and are not final, said Joe Martone, Diocese spokesman. Parish families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15, Martone said.

The Genesee plan announced on Wednesday includes closing St. Mary’s in Batavia, Our Lady of Fatima in Elba, St. Brigid in Bergen, St. Maximilian Kolbe of Corfu and East Pembroke, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Darien and Bennington, and both locations of Mary Immaculate in East Bethany.

The Diocese will keep St. Joseph’s open on East Main Street in Batavia, Ascension parish on Sumner Street in Batavia, as well as St. Padre Pio Parish on Maple Avenue in Oakfield and Our Lady of Mercy on Lake Street in Le Roy.

The 8-county Diocese of Buffalo announced on May 28 it will work to reduce the number of parishes by 34 percent in the eight-county region, which includes Orleans and Genesee.

“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” Bishop Michael W. Fisher said on May 28. “This plan resulted from the lessons learned as we brought parishes together in the parish family model and determined rather quickly that scaling back the number of parishes would best allow us to use our limited resources to help reenergize a spiritual renewal in the diocese.”

ALBION – The village and town have approved an agreement for a shared code enforcement and zoning officer. As part of the contract between the two municipalities, Chris Kinter will work about 75 percent of his full-time workload for the village and 25 percent in the town of Albion, outside the village.

Kinter has been a part-time employee for the town and village as the codes officer. He is state certified and also passed the Civil Service test. He started two years ago with the town. Dan Strong also continues in a limited part-time basis for the town.

The contract approved on Monday by the Town Board calls for him to spend about 10 hours a week for the town and 30 hours for the village.

He will attend town board meetings, planning and zoning meetings, and any court sessions when there is an enforcement action.

Kinter will process building permits from initial permitting to issuance of certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance. He will process and respond to code violations and complaints.

The contract between the two municipalities also has him doing fire inspections for the town, and being available for 24 hours for building-related emergencies.

The town will pay the village 25 percent of the expense for having a full-time codes officer. In 2024 the total cost for salary and benefits is projected at $88,379.44. The town will pay $22,094.86. Any additional training or vehicle maintenance expenses will be on a 75-25 percent ratio between the village and town.

The town will pay the village in two installments each year, in June and November.

The contract is a year-to-year agreement. Any increases above 3 percent will need approval from both the village and town boards.

“Hopefully it works out for everybody,” said Town Supervisor Richard Remley. “It’s an attempt at shared services.”

The two municipalities used to have different code officers, with the village in a full-time role and the town’s codes officer working part-time. But Kinter more recently has been working for both the village and town in the same position with the village cutting back some of the hours away from a full-time position.

Opening celebration, dedication Mass set for July 11

Press Release, Orleans Niagara East Catholic Community

HOLLEY – The Orleans Niagara East Catholic Community (ONE Catholic) has announced that the opening and dedication of the Saint Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Holley on July 11 at 4 p.m.

“The St. Gianna Molla Pregnancy Outreach Center in Holley will be the 8th center in the Diocese of Buffalo,” said Father Mark Noonan, Pastor of ONE Catholic. “We are grateful to be able to serve families by providing material, emotional and spiritual support to mothers, fathers and families in need during and after pregnancy.”

The July 11 opening celebration will begin with a dedication Mass at 4 p.m. in St. Mary’s Church, followed by the blessing of the new center in the St. Mary’s Parish Ministry Center next to the church. A reception will follow, and all are welcome.

The namesake of the outreach center, Saint Gianna, was born in 1922 in Milan, Italy.  As a young woman she became a pediatrician and wife. She and her husband, Pietro, had three children, and yet Gianna was able to balance the demands of motherhood, wife and doctor.

In 1961 she became pregnant with their 4th child, but learned early in the pregnancy that she had cancer. Gianna, herself a doctor, refused to take any steps that would place her child in danger. Accepting the risks that carrying her child to term meant for her, she insisted in the days prior to giving birth, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child – I insist on it – save him.”

On April 21, 1962, Sr. Gianna gave birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, and despite all efforts to treat St. Gianna, she passed away a week after giving birth. She was canonized a Saint by Pope St. John Paul II on May 16, 2004.

The daughter for whom she gave her life, Gianna Emanuela Molla, will be attending the dedication Mass and opening on July 11 in Holley.

“We are so incredibly blessed to have St. Gianna’s daughter be a living witness to the heroic virtue of her mother at our dedication and opening,” said Kathy Schumacher who, with her husband Bob, are directors of the center. “We hope to provide a caring and compassionate atmosphere to assist families from pregnancy through the first years of life.”

Once the Holley center is established, ONE Catholic plans to open a satellite office to meet with families at Holy Trinity Parish in Medina.

Provided photo: State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, alongside Assembly members Mike Norris (right) and Angelo Morinello, address local media about recently passed legislation for the oversight of the Lockport Cave and Boat Tour. A boat at the Lockport Cave & Under Ground Boat Ride capsized a year ago on June 12, sending 29 people into the water with one person dying.

Press Release, State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

LOCKPORT – New York State Senator Rob Ortt, alongside Assembly Members Mike Norris and Angello Morinello, on Wednesday discussed the passage of Senate Bill S.9241 and Assembly Bill A.10399.

The legislative action clearly defines that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is tasked with the oversight of the Lockport Cave and similar businesses.

The bill also provides that an inspector from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will at least annually inspect any vessel operated on privately or publicly owned underground, non-navigable waterways with no navigable inlet or outlet that carry passengers for compensation.

In addition, the bill also makes technical corrections and related provisions, and adds penalties for non-compliance.

“In the course of the investigation of this tragic incident, it came to light that there is no state agency tasked with overseeing these types of attractions. One of my top priorities this legislative session was to change that, ” said Senator Ortt. “With the passage of this legislation, we’re ensuring patrons can safely enjoy this unique attraction in the City of Lockport and I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate as well as in the Assembly for passing this important legislation.”

“This legislation closes a blind spot in safety oversight. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Ortt, Assemblyman Morinello and my colleagues in the state legislature to pass this common-sense bipartisan bill to improve safety for consumers and operators along the Canal,” said Assemblyman Norris.

The bill received wide support in both houses and now heads to the Governor’s office.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Congratulations to the Health Occupations Technician (HOT) students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center! Teacher Debra Dittmer is thrilled to announce that they had a 100% pass rate on the Prometric exam!

“Successfully passing the Prometric test and earning a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification marks a pivotal moment for students dedicated to healthcare,” Dittmer said.  “This achievement reflects their comprehensive understanding of crucial patient care practices, including vital sign monitoring, patient mobility assistance, and infection control.

“The certification process, validated by the challenging Prometric exam, ensures that CNAs are well-prepared to meet the demands of their roles with competence and compassion,” Dittmer said. “This milestone not only enhances their professional credentials but also signifies their readiness to deliver high-quality care, making a positive impact in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare environments.”

Dr. Taweepon Farrar will succeed Dr. Clark Godshall, who is retiring after leading the local BOCES for 24 years

Dr. Taweepon Farrar

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES has announced its new district superintendent. Dr. Taweepon “Pon” Farrar, current superintendent at West Valley, will succeed Dr. Clark Godshall, who is retiring after leading the local BOCES the past 24 years.

The O/N BOCES, with 30,000 students, is the 13th largest BOCES out of 37 statewide. The local BOCES includes three districts (Albion, Lyndonville and Medina) in Orleans County and 10 other districts in Niagara County.

The career and technical center for BOCES is in Medina on Shelby Basin Road. The program currently serves 1,700 students in CTE classes and another 500 in other special programs.

“Dr. Farrar has a proven track record of implementing strategic initiatives to improve student outcomes, enhance teacher performance and foster a positive learning environment,” according to an announcement on Wednesday from BOCES Board President Colleen Osborn and Board VP Wayne Wadhams. “She prides herself on being a visionary leader with a commitment to educational excellence, stakeholder engagement and community collaboration.”

Farrar joined West Valley Central School as superintendent in March 2021. The district is in Cattaraugus County.

Prior to West Valley, she served in multiple roles at Akron Central School: Director of Educational Services and District Data Coordinator, Director of Special Education, and High School Assistant Principal.

Prior to her roles in administration, Farrar was a school counselor and a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. Dr. Farrar served for five years in the United States Navy.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in School Administration and Supervision from Canisius College, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN.

“The Board would like to welcome Dr. Farrar to the organization and we look forward to a bright future!” Osborn and Wadhams said in the letter announcing Farrar’s hiring.

Angela Waldriff built successful business that withstood Walmart, online retailers and Covid

Photos by Tom Rivers: Angela Waldriff, owner of Ashlee’s Place at 116 East Center St., announced she will be closing the business the end of this month.

MEDINA – Angela Waldriff built a women’s clothing business in a small town and withstood the challenges from Walmart and Big Box stores, the emergence of online retailing, and the challenges of Covid, when the business was closed to in-store customers for about 10 weeks and then had to try to keep customers at least six feet apart.

Waldriff has decided to close Ashlee’s Place the end of this month. The reason: she wants warmer weather and is moving to South Carolina.

“It’s the next stage of my life,” she said at the store, located at 116 East Center St. “It’s time for a change.”

Waldriff has owned and managed the store for 33 years. She started Ashlee’s in 1991 when she was 29. She is often inside Ashlee’s, helping customers find the right outfit.

Waldriff has the business next to the former Corky’s Bakery, which was run by her late father Corky van den Bosch, and her late brothers Dennis and Jeff.

Her father was a role model as a entrepreneur. He also had Corky’s Bakery & Snack Bar in Albion (at the former Apollo Restaurant) and in Lockport.

Waldriff grew up working in the bakery. After college, she was employed at stores in malls in Rochester and Buffalo. She wanted to be in Medina close to home, especially when she had children. When her two sons were babies, she had them with her while she ran Ashlee’s.

Although Medina remains a busy downtown, Waldriff said it was even more bustling when she started her career. There were several stores for clothes and shoes. The businesses together were a big draw, she said.

Gradually, most have closed and have been replaced by other businesses. Waldriff believes Ashlee’s is the second-oldest retailer in the downtown, behind Blissett’s.

Angela Waldriff said she has enjoyed meeting her customers and being in Medina’s downtown. Her store is next to the former Corky’s Bakery, which was run by her father and brothers.

Waldriff is a volunteer business advisor with SCORE, and she tries to help new entrepreneurs flesh out business plans and develop a marketing strategy. For Ashlee’s, she sends monthly newsletters to her customers, highlighting new inventory, deals and some of what’s going on in her life.

On Facebook, she posts pictures on some of the dresses, blouses, pants and other clothing items. Brielle Lederhouse, a store employee for six years, often models the clothes in the Facebook posts. Many customers will see those posts and order the clothes, and Waldriff will ship the items. It’s one way she’s been able to compete with the online retailers.

Ashlee’s has regular promotions during the year, including in May when a portion of the sales go towards breast cancer awareness and research.

Waldriff used to go to New York City twice a year on clothes-buying trips, but she hasn’t done that in nearly a decade. Now the companies send her photos of what’s available.

Waldriff would rotate her stock four times a year. She would purchase inventory with her customers in mind, thinking of what they like and how the clothes would look on them.

“You have to know who that person is who steps into your store,” Waldriff said. “You have to know their taste, their price range. It can’t be what you would wear. You have to know who your person is.”

Waldriff said she will miss her customers, many who have been dedicated to Ashlee’s for years.

“I’ve become good friends with so many,” Waldriff said. “We’ve been through so many things together.”

Noah Magee was driving the wrong way on McNamar Road when he fatally hit Roger Kingdollar

Photo by Tom Rivers: Emergency responders and law enforcement are shown at the scene of a fatal collision on McNamar Road in Barre near Angevine Road on Feb. 8.

ALBION – A Brockport man, formerly from Albion, was arraigned in Orleans County Court this morning on second-degree murder.

Noah Magee, 19, was driving a pickup truck the wrong way on McNamar Road on Feb. 8 when he hit Roger Kingdollar who was driving a dirtbike. Kingdollar, 24, died from the collision.

Magee was initially charged with reckless endangerment 1st degree (D felony), leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident (D felony) and other vehicle and traffic infractions.

After more investigation in the incident, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder, an “A” felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Magee showed reckless conduct and a depraved indifference to life.

The DA asked that bail be increased from the $2,500 which was set at the lower town court level and be increased to $250,000 in cash. Cardone also asked for five orders of protection for family and witnesses who he said are being harassed by Magee, who allegedly frequently drives by their homes, sometimes slowing down and stopping in front of the houses.

County Court Judge Sanford Church declined to increase the bail, keeping it at $2,500, which drew loud outbursts in the courtroom from Kingdollar’s friends and family. Some of them yelled “f—ing murderer” and “bulls—” when Church said the bail would remain at $2,500.

When the expletives continued, Church had security escort about 20 people out of the courtroom.

The judge kept the bail at $2,500 because he said Magee has made all of his court appearances. Magee’s lawyer, Paul Vacca Jr., also said Magee is hard-working and has no prior arrests. Vacca said Magee wouldn’t be able to come up with $250,000.

Judge Church issued five temporary orders of protection and told Magee not to drive by the homes or linger near them. The judge issued those orders of protection despite Vacca saying there is “no reasonable basis” for issuing them.

“He is not the type of individual they allege,” Vacca said about Magee.

State Police charged Magee on Feb. 8, saying a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Magee was eastbound on the north shoulder, which is the wrong way of travel.

After the collision, Magee continued eastbound on McNamar Road, leaving the scene, State Police said.

Kingdollar was driving a Honda CRF450R Dirt Bike. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

There were two uninvolved four-wheelers traveling with Kingdollar, State Police said.

Cardone said in court there remains animosity from Magee towards the victim’s family.

“This is an extremely volatile situation,” Cardone told the judge in court.

Magee is due back in court on July 3 for a conference, with motions to be filed by July 29  and motions to argued on Aug. 7 or for Magee to take a plea that day.

If the case goes to trial, Church tentatively set Nov. 13 for it to start.

The judge asked Cardone, who is retiring on Dec. 31 after 33 years as DA, if he wanted the trial to start before or after he retires. Cardone said he wanted it to happen before he leaves office.

“I’m most familiar with the case and I want to see it through,” Cardone said after the court appearance by Magee.

Keynote speaker: Students from Orleans County take ‘grit’ with them to college, new careers

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ted Lewis, president of the Lyndonville Board of Education, gives the closing message during the banquet on Tuesday. “A heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you,” Lewis said. “Thank you for inspiring your classmates, your teachers, and this entire community. Go forth, and make us proud. Leave your mark on the world, but most importantly, never stop learning, growing, and reaching for your dreams.”

LYNDONVILLE – The Top 10 graduates for the Class of 2024 in Orleans County’s five school districts were honored at a banquet on Tuesday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.

Albion returned to the event for the first time in more than a decade, joining Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina. Albion stopped being part of the Top 10 because the district did its own academic honors convocation celebration for students with GPAs at 90 or above. The district, however, wanted to get back to being part of the Top 10 dinner with the other schools in the county.

Callie Updike, a 2021 Holley graduate, gave the keynote address at the 38th annual Orleans County Academic Excellence Awards Dinner at the White Birch Golf Course. Updike has completed three years at Columbia University, an Ivy League college where she is studying film and creative writing. She plans to graduate in 2025 and then pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

The students, who will all graduate later this month, were praised for their hard work, and often late nights of study.

“We celebrate the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and a thirst for knowledge,” said Ted Lewis, Lyndonville’s Board of Education president. “You’ve pushed boundaries, excelled in your academics, and left your mark on your school and on this county.”

The keynote speaker for the event was a recent Top 10 grad. Callie Updike was the salutatorian for Holley in 2021. She was the class president, Student Council president, and was heavily involved in the school music program. She just completed her third year at Columbia University, majoring in film and creative writing. She expects to graduate from the Ivy League college next year and then will pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

Updike said she was only 16 when she was accepted into Columbia in New York City on a full-ride scholarship. She and 12 percent of her classmates come from rural areas.

She sees that as an advantage. Most of her classmates haven’t ridden a four-wheeler or seen a cow. Many of her classmates come from tremendous wealth, with parents paying $60,000 a year – for kindergarten.

“Even if they have a fancier education than me, I would not change a single thing about the way I grew up,” Updike said. “My work ethic, my grit, my ability to relate to people, my appreciation for life and the opportunities I’ve been given because of growing up in Orleans County give me an advantage.”

She remembered attending the Top 10 dinner three years ago, and feeling a sense of fear – “the fear of letting people down, of growing complacent, of living a life I’m not proud of.”

Even now, after three years at Columbia and internships in NYC, some feelings of fear creep in, Updike said.

But her Orleans County roots steady her, and motivate her to not only pursue her dreams but want to help lift up other people.

“You are going to make beautiful, successful and happy lives for yourselves, as long as you believe you will and trust your determination will take you all the way,” Updike said. “There are things out of your control but if you take all the things you can control and make the best of them, as you have done so far, you will get where you need to be.”

The Albion Top 10 include, from left: Erin Weese, Gina Sidari, Lucy Rivers, Ella Papponetti, Meganne Moore, Kevin He, Jett Conn, Kayla Burgio and Jason Anstey. Missing from photo: Finnegan McCue.

The Top 10 in Medina include, from left: Scott Schultz, Baileigh McAdoo, Iyla Lilleby, Sawyer Kingsbury, Emma Jacobs, Layne Hodgins, Camryn Eick, Conor Crandall, Caiden Class and Alexander Balaban.

Kendall honored its Top 11 – 10 seniors plus a junior graduating early. From left include Nathaniel Smith, Hunter Richards, Christopher Nettles, Sarah Laitenberger, Lucas Jones, Paige Hardenbrook, Megan Gates, Louis Conte, Noah Clark, Hannah Brundage and Sophia Barnard-DeCann.

Lyndonville’s Top 10 include, from left: Tisha Zeitz, Elizabeth Whipple, Hannah Songer, Hailey Skowneski, Jocelyn Mack, Bradley Jisa, Austin Gardner, Katelynn Breeze, Daniel Barry and Madalynn Baker.

Holley’s Top 10 include, from left: Ryleigh Weader, Leigha Walker, Layne Walker, Kayla Neale, Gabriel Lindsay, Grace Fuller, Caitlin Dobri, Cavan Bennage and Jasmine Apicella. Missing from photo: Isabella Thom.

Leigha Walker to be recognized by Brockport Fire District for quick response

Photo by Tom Rivers: Leigha Walker is shown today outside the Holley Junior-Senior High School, where she is an honors student and three-sport varsity athlete.

HOLLEY – Leigha Walker, 18, is used to staying calm and being decisive in stressful situations.

Leigha is a three-sport athlete at Holley, a team captain. She also rides horses. She can decide in a millisecond whether to pass the ball or fire off a shot, or whether to guide a sprinting horse to the left or right an obstacle.

Provided photo: Leigha Walker juggles a busy school schedule with shifts at the Brockport Subway. She has worked there since February. On Sunday she did CPR on a man who was unconscious after crashing into a support beam in front of the Subway.

On Sunday morning, while working at the Brockport Subway, she faced a life-or-death situation. She had just put bread in the oven at the Subway at 10 a.m., when a man crashed his blue pickup truck into a support beam for an overhang outside the Subway.

Leigha immediately called 911. Then she ran outside the store to check on the man. Two customers and a co-worker joined her. Another driver got out of his car.

The driver, an older man, was unconscious at the wheel. But the truck was locked.

Leigha ran back in the store to get a wooden rod used to prop open the back door when employees take out the garbage. That rod was used to smash in the passenger side window. Another man reached in and unlocked the vehicle cutting his arm from the jagged glass.

Another Subway employee grabbed the driver and pulled him out of the truck. Leigha had his feet. They set him down carefully. Leigha rolled up a blanket as pillow underneath his head.

He gasped for air. She checked his vitals. He had a slight pulse.

Firefighters soon arrived from the Brockport Fire District. While they were getting out an AED, a firefighter urged someone to do CPR.

Leigha started doing compressions. She is certified in CPR. She did at least 30 compressions.

Then the medic from the fire district shocked the man with the AED. Monroe Ambulance arrived and transported him to a hospital.

The whole response took about 12 minutes, from the 911 call to the man being taking away by ambulance. Leigha put her headset back on and was greeted with irate customers who were in the drive-through, angry about the wait. They didn’t realize what was going on.

Leigha took their orders, pulled the bread out of the oven and worked four more hours.

Later, she received a message from the driver’s brother-in-law, thanking her for his quick action. He told her the man is alive, recovering in an ICU.

Leigha received another message from the man’s granddaughter, thanking her for making a difference for her grandfather.

Leigha is still processing what happened. It was all so fast.

“I just jumped into action,” she said today during an interview at the school. “It helps to know he is doing OK.”

She is grateful she received training in CPR at Holley. It was part of the Sports, Safety and Fitness class taught by Renee Wolf, who is also Leigha’s soccer coach.

Leigha was one of 15 Holley students to take the class last year. She is certified in CPR. She also learned the Heimlich maneuver and other first aid.

Jose Medina, chief of the Brockport Fire District, said Leigha improved the outcome for the driver in the accident. She and the other people got him out of the truck, saving firefighters time in the response. And the CPR also was likely critical, Medina said.

“The measures that she and other people took made a difference in him being alive,” Medina said.

The chief said if there are bystanders at a scene they are typically gawking, and not offering any assistance.

The Brockport Fire District wants to recognize Leigha for her “outstanding acts.”

Medina said he was able to do life-saving CPR on a person a couple years ago. He was trained to do it and felt like it was his responsibility as a firefighter.

He was amazed on Sunday to see a high school student working at Subway step forward and render aid.

Leigha is planning to attend Morrisville State College to play soccer and study equine management. The response on Sunday makes her want to take more EMT classes so she can better respond if there is ever an incident at a horse show or in the horse barn.

Dan Courtney, the Holley assistant principal, said the district feels very proud of Leigha and her response. Holley has been offering the CPR training through the Sports, Safety and Fitness class for about a decade.

“With CPR you never know if you’ll need it,” Courtney said.

Leigha had this advice for others: “Learn CPR.”

Fire Department soon faces replacement of 2 fire trucks at cost topping $3 million

Photos by Tom Rivers: Paul Roberts, a resident of Allen Road in Albion, speaks during an informational meeting on Monday about a proposed joint fire district for Albion and Gaines. Roberts asked if the village intends to keep the fire hall and lease it to the district. Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said the fire hall would be available to the fire district likely for free or for a dollar. The village wants to keep the building because it is the only village-owned building along the canal and the property could be valuable if the fire district chooses to build a new fire hall in the future. 

ALBION – The public was given a breakdown of an anticipated budget for a joint fire district serving Albion and Gaines, with the expenses expected to go from about $350,000 currently for the Albion Fire Department to $750,000 for a fire district.

Those numbers have been sought by many community members, including people who pushed for a petition to put the district up to a public vote. That referendum will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Hoag Library. Registered voters in the towns of Albion and Gaines will be eligible to cast a ballot.

During an April 24 public hearing on the district, residents could ask questions on the district, but no answers were provided which bothered many in the crowd. The fire department leaders followed the advice of an attorney to not answer questions, and Deputy Chief John Papponetti said during Monday’s meeting that he would have preferred to respond to the questions back on April 24.

Richard DeCarlo Jr., co-owner of Heritage Estates mobile home park, said the lack of responses from the fire department and elected officials at the hearing gave off an air of secrecy and made many distrustful of the people pushing the district.

That then fueled the effort to get petitions to force a referendum on the issue.

But after Deputy Fire Chief John Papponetti spent an hour going over an outline of the fire district budget, DeCarlo said he felt more comfortable with the fire district.

(Left) Resident Jason Dragon said village residents have paid more than their share of the fire department budget for years, especially when the Town of Gaines was given a big discount. Up until 2016, Gaines was paying the village $33,860 for fire protection. That amount is now $120,422 for 2024, about a third of the department’s $350,000 budget. The Town of Albion and village each pay about a third. (Right) Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said major expenses for the fire department will be too much for village property owners to bear. She favors a fire district to spread out the costs among the towns of Albion and Gaines. The village is ins parts of the two towns.

During the informational meeting on Monday the library, Papponetti went over an anticipated budget for the fire district, spending an hour going line item by line item. If the district is approved in the referendum, five fire commissioners would be appointed (two by the Gaines Town Board, two by the Albion Town Board, and one by the Village Board). The commissioners would ultimately set the budget, and numbers presented by Papponetti could change, he said.

“The commissioners will finalize the budget,” Papponetti said. “This is what we feel we need to move forward.”

DeCarlo said the community should know who is expected to be appointed as fire commissioners if the fire district goes through. The five commissioners would serve about five or six months before there would be an election in December.

Deputy Mayor Joyce Riley said she would push for a diverse board of commissioners, and not just five with ties to the fire department. She wants the fire department to have the resources it needs to serve the community, but Riley said it can’t be “spend, spend, spend.”

The fire district budget outline includes an apparatus reserve fund at $315,000 a year. That fund would cover anticipated payments for two new fire trucks: a ladder truck and an engine.

A new ladder truck (to replace one that is 27 years old) is expected to cost $2.2 million. It would likely be bonded over 20 years at a 7 percent interest rate with an annual payment of $208,000.

A new fire engine (to replace one 32 years old) would likely have a purchase price of $1.1 million. It would be bonded over 20 years with an annual payment of $104,000 a year.

The fire department in the district budget also suggested reserve funds with $75,000 annually towards the fire station, $50,000 annually towards a land purchase, $20,000 annually in an equipment reserves, and $10,000 annually towards air packs.

The total spending for reserve funds would be $470,000 under the budget plan.

Richard DeCarlo, a co-owner of Heritage Estates mobile home park, said he appreciated all of the budget details provided on Monday for the fire district. DeCarlo said the budget may not provide enough in reserves to replace the aging equipment and facility for the fire department.

While the fire department needs to soon get the process started for replacing two of the older fire trucks, Papponetti said a new fire station is less urgent.

“It is not our intent right now,” Papponetti said about a new fire hall. “That’s a down, down, down the road scenario.”

The fire department has been part of the village budget, and many of its expenses were somewhat hidden in the village budget, Papponetti said. For example, the department could use the village mechanic who is a DPW employee. It could use village office supplies, and its electric and utilities were part of the bill for the village office.

The district needs to break out every service in its own budget, from cleaning expenses, legal services, to paying a mechanic, accountant, treasurer and supplying its own office materials. That has resulted in a budget line for “professional services” going from 0 in recent budgets through the village to $40,000 as a fire district.

“Parts and Repairs” which were in the village DPW budget goes from 0 last year for the fire department to $30,000.

Papponetti and fire department leaders also would like 10,000 budgeted for training (currently 0) and $15,000 for recruitment and retention (currently 0).

Village attorney John Gavenda said the village would be in a bind if the fire district fails in a public vote on Aug. 6. The fire department should soon start the process of replacing two old fire trucks, but the village doesn’t want to be stuck with the debt on those trucks. Gavenda is advising the village not to move forward with purchasing new fire apparatus until there is a fire district and the costs can be shared by the towns of Albion and Gaines.

The outline of the fire district budget also would double fire prevention efforts for students and community members from $750 to $1,500.

There is an increase almost across the board for many of the line items, from tires, cleaning supplies, hoses, air packs, insurance and gas.

After the budget presentation, Papponetti and Village Board members took questions for another hour. There is another informational meeting at 6 p.m. on June 17 at Hoag Library.

The biggest factor in the dramatic rise in costs: establishing reserve funds for fire trucks.

The fire department has a roster of 40 to 50 members. One set of turnout gear can cost $5,000. Papponetti said the department has been buying three sets each year but would like to go to five sets to replace aging gear and have new gear for new members. Buying five sets a year would allow the department to get in a schedule where every 10 years the gear is replaced.

With the current fire department budget of about $350,000, the two towns pay a fire contract to the village for fire protection. With a $350,000 budget, the village pays $113,456 (32 percent), the Town of Gaines contributes $120,422 (35 percent) and the Town of Albion pays $116,122 (33 percent).

The budget doesn’t include any reserves. Any money for reserves would have been added to the village’s share of the budget, which is likely why no money has been set aside over the years for equipment and apparatus.

DeCarlo said he is concerned the dollar amounts for the reserves may not be enough, and the budget could see a significant increase in the future beyond the $750,000.

Deputy Mayor Riley said the reserve funds “are a start.” The Village Board favors the fire district, she said, partly because of the big costs coming with the debt payments for the two new fire trucks. Riley has been a village trustee for two years. She wishes there had been money saved for the fire trucks.

“My biggest concern on this board is we didn’t even have $5 set aside,” she said during the meeting which was attended by about 40 people.

Jim Tabor of Carlton is a sales rep for Firematic Supply Company, working with fire departments and districts in eight Western New York counties. He said the cost of new fire trucks is up 65 percent since 2020. Manufacturers are dealing with a shortage of parts and labor, while the orders keep coming in.

Fire trucks used to have a 9-month turnaround from when they were ordered to when they were delivered. Now it may be three years or longer, Tabor said.

Village attorney John Gavenda said he is concerned about that time frame. The fire department should begin the process of replacing at least two fire trucks. But Gavenda said he doesn’t want the village to incur the debt for the trucks. That debt can’t be passed to a fire district.

The town contracts have about two more years on them. If the fire district fails in the referendum, the town contracts will need to be renegotiated at a much higher amount to help pay the bond payments on the fire trucks.

“The village can’t assume $3 million in debt for apparatus,” Riley said.

Gavenda said the fire district really doesn’t change much with the fire protection for the community.

“The firemen are still from the Town of Gaines, the Town of Albion and the Village of Albion,” Gavenda said.

Deputy Fire Chief John Papponetti, right, goes over budget numbers for a joint fire district serving Albion and Gaines. From left is Fire Chief Jeremy Graham and Village Trustee Tim McMurray.

ALBION – The Town Board has formed Water District 10 to serve a small section of Butts Road and Moore Street.

The entire cost of about $70,000 for the waterline and other materials will be paid from some of the town’s American Rescue Plans Act funds. There won’t be any debt service for the new district that will serve seven parcels of land, which currently includes four houses. The waterline will increase the chances the vacant land would be developed in the future.

The town highway department will install the water district, with construction expected to take about two weeks and hopefully be done in July, said Michael Neidert, the town highway superintendent.

The district will be about 1,000 feet long with the pipe going on Moore Street from near the village line going east to Butts Road, and then a small section of Butts Road. Neidert said the project will also include valves, hydrants, a meter pit and service connections.

The town will tie into the new waterline near the former Braley Street, now Riley Place on Moore Street.

Town Supervisor Richard Remley said the waterline will help residents where wells are often low in quantity and some of the water is of poor quality.

Although there is no debt service for the district, the water bills are expected to average about $277.50 annually. There also is a hook-up fee for the water meter that cost $478.55, and the cost of running a line from their house to the curb.

Press Release, Medina Central School

MEDINA – The Medina Central School District Board of Education would like to inform its residents of board member vacancy. Debra Tompkins resigned her position on the school board.

If you are interested in serving, submit a letter of interest by June 18 to District Clerk Julie Kuhn, jkuhn@medinacsd.org. The letter of interest must include:

• Name and address
• A little bit about yourself
• Why you want to be a school board member
• What you think are the top issues facing the district.

Candidates will be considered and possibly interviewed at a Special Board of Education meeting later in June. The Board plans to appoint the new member soon thereafter formally.

A normal term is three years. Since this is due to a resignation, the board will appoint an individual to serve until the next regular election on May 20, 2025.

Commitment?

Attend monthly board meetings, participate in board committees, be visible at district events, and review policies and documents for meetings.

What are the qualifications?

In order to be on a Board of Education in New York State, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• Able to vote in the Medina Central School District
• At least 18 years old
• A legal resident of the Medina Central School District for at least the last 30 days.

For further questions, please contact District Clerk Julie Kuhn at 585-798-2700 option 6 or jkuhn@medinacsd.org.