ALBION – Lynne Johnson received unanimous backing today for a fourth two-year term as chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature.

Johnson has led the seven-member Legislature for six years. She was praised by the other legislators for keeping the group informed and involved in managing the county government.

“She is very organized,” said John Fitzak, who is starting his second term as legislator. “She is very knowledgeable.”

Bill Eick also was backed by the group to stay as vice chairman. Fitzak said Johnson and Eick have built a strong team among the legislators.

“They are very observant of all of our strengths,” Fitzak. “They assign us to committees to play to our strengths.”

Fitzak just finished his first two years as a legislator after being on the Carlton Town Board. He said the county government, with a $92 million budget, is far more complicated and time-consuming than when he was a town councilman.

“Being on the legislator is much busier,” he said. “It’s a much bigger operation.”

Nadine Hanlon administers the oath of office to seven county legislators including three in the photo, from left: Skip Draper, John Fitzak and Fred Miller.

Fred Miller, the lone Democrat on the Legislature, said Johnson and Eick have served the county well in their leadership roles.

“They are doing a fine job,” Miller said. “I don’t see a reason for a change.”

Johnson was willing to stay the chairwoman because she wants to see several projects to completion. That includes moving the treasurer’s office to the former Bank of America building on South Main Street, and shifting Probation and the District Attorney’s Office from the Public Safety Building to the former GCC campus on West Avenue.

In September the Legislature approved spending $250,000 for the former Bank of America site at 156 S. Main St. It will become the treasurer’s office this year. That building has a drive-through and is more easily accessible than the current office on East Park Street.

The Legislature in October also approved spending $975,000 for the former Genesee Community College site on West Avenue in Albion.

“We’re in the middle of so many projects,” Johnson said after today’s meeting. “We’ll be relocating some of our departments.”

She said the county has been diligent in recent years working to upgrade its infrastructure, including the completion of a broadband internet project.

If Johnson completes the fourth term, she would tie the late Marcia Tuohey of Medina for the longest leadership tenure for the Legislature at eight years. Tuohey served in the role from January 1996 to December 31, 2003.

These legislators raise their right hand and take the oath of office. From left include Bill Eick, Ed Morgan and Don Allport.

Bill Eick has been on the Legislature for 18 years, after 20 years on the Shelby Town Board. A retired dairy farmer, Eick said he has the time to devote to the county.

One of his main goals is moving forward on a new emergency management office. The county has been awarded a $2 million from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand towards that project, which is expected to cost about $12 million. The county is also seeking state funding towards the center, which would double the space from the current setup that was built in the 1960s in an underground bunker as a bomb shelter.

The legislators are receiving 2 percent pay increases in 2024. The salaries include $20,021 for the chairwoman, $15,138 for the vice chairman and $13,347 each for the five other legislators.

Photo by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Murray Joint Fire District Chief Rick Cary, left, and Mark Porter, the fire district chairman, are shown with the district’s new fire engine. The pumper-tanker carries 1,000 gallons of water and also has a capacity to pump 1,500 gallons a minute.

It replaces a pumper-tanker from 1992. The new truck was manufactured by Spartan in South Dakota. The fire district picked a white color for the truck, instead of red as part of an rebranding effort for the joint district, which includes the former Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray districts.

Murray also has a refurbished rescue truck in service that functions as a mini-pumper. It holds 300 gallons and has a capacity to pump 1,500 gallons a minute.

Voters in the Murray Joint Fire District on Feb. 21, 2023 approved spending up to $900,000 for the new pumper-tanker fire truck and a refurbished rescue truck that will serve as a mini-pumper – with $680,000 for the new pumper-tanker and $220,000 to convert the rescue truck into a mini-pumper.

Mark Porter, the district chairman, said the joint fire district had $200,000 in reserves towards the trucks, and will borrow about $700,000 through a bond.

Sales Tax Task Force needed to pump up revenue in Orleans County

Orleans County, despite recent gains in its sales tax revenue, ranks last among small counties in per capita sales tax.

Among counties with 50,000 people or less, Orleans took in $560 per capita in 2022, or $22.5 million in a county with a population of 40,148.

Other similar-size counties bring in much more sales tax, key revenue that can offset property taxes and allow local governments to provide more services or tackle infrastructure and other projects.

Essex County in northeastern New York, for example, has fewer people than Orleans with 37,314. Yet the county’s sales tax collections hit $41.0 million in 2022. Its per capita sales tax of $1,099 is the highest among counties under 50,000 people.

Data from U.S. Census Bureau and State Comptroller’s Office, with per capita calculations by Orleans Hub.

Closer to Orleans, Wyoming County has nearly the same population with 40,338. But Wyoming’s sales tax is $2.3 million more in 2022 – $24.8 million compared to $22.5 million.

Orleans County has experienced a big increase in sales tax revenue in recent years, jumping 27 percent or by $4.8 million from $17.7 million in 2019 to $22.5 million in 2022.

That increase, partly fueled by sales tax on internet purchases, has helped the county tackle capital projects, especially culvert and bridge projects, while staying below the tax cap.

The county keeps 94 percent of the overall amount and shares 6 percent with the 10 towns and four villages.

But why is Orleans lagging compared to other smaller counties? That is a question our local officials should wrestle with. If Orleans could match Wyoming, that would be $2.3 million more to offset property taxes. Orleans Hub posted a story on Jan. 3 that Orleans has the highest  effective property tax rate at 3.40 percent, compared to a state average of 1.62. That rate is determined by taking the median household tax and dividing by the median home value. In Orleans, that is $3,445 divided by $101,400.

In Wyoming, the median property tax is $3,114, more than $500 cheaper than in Orleans. The effective tax rate in that county is 2.62 percent. Wyoming benefits from the presence of Letchworth State Park and the county has numerous signs directing people to the park.

Orleans County should step up its signage directing people to Lake Ontario and other attractions. The County Legislature should share more of the sales tax with towns and villages so they have more incentive to improve their signs and offer more amenities to bring people into the community and to stay longer. The county hasn’t increased the sales tax share to the towns and villages since 2001. Many of those municipalities have continued to upgrade parks and try to improve the quality of life despite no increase in the sales tax.

The Legislature was smart to create a full-time tourism director position and boost its efforts with sportsfishing promotion. But the numbers show there is more work to be done. The county needs a sales tax task force that looks at the successes in these other smaller counties, and seeks to replicate them here.

The task force should include representatives from villages, towns, the county, the Chamber of Commerce and others in the business community. The county should put out an RFP for an impartial consultant to help brainstorm ideas, look at the other counties for inspiration and come out with a better system for sharing the money.

At the very least, let’s do a “Shop Local – and lower your taxes” campaign. The Chamber could take the lead with that.

More sales tax means more revenue to offset our high property taxes, and also reflects a more dynamic local economy with people spending more at businesses in Orleans County. Everyone would win if we can make bigger strides with sales tax, especially if the county shares more of the money with the villages and towns. It would knock down our tax rates and create more job opportunities.

The village of Albion put in a new splash pad at Bullard Park that opened in 2022. The splash pad has been popular among local families, and draws people from outside the community. It is part of about $800,000 in Bullard Park improvements that also include an amphitheater, pavilion with bathrooms and a walking trail.

LYNDONVILLE – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is planning its annual legislative luncheon where residents and the business community can hear from local and state elected officials.

Legislators from the county and state government are expected to give an overview of local projects and legislation that may have an impact on the community.

The luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the White Birch Golf Course.

RSVPs are requested by Jan. 20. For more information email director@orleanschamber.com or call (585) 301-8464.

Press Release, Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month.

According to the EPA, an estimated 1 in 15 homes in the United States have high radon levels.

“Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that seeps into your home through cracks in the foundation, walls and joints,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “It can also be found in well water and in dirt floors. Whether your home has a basement, sits on a slab, is old or brand-new, radon can build-up and go undetected.”

Living in a home with high radon levels can be dangerous for your health. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and is estimated to cause 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.  According to the EPA, because radon and tobacco smoke damage the lungs, high radon levels are especially dangerous for people who smoke. The risk of lung cancer is 10 times higher than for non-smokers.

Here are a few things you can do to protect your home and family from radon during National Radon Action Month:

• Test your home for radon. A limited number of test kits are available for Genesee County residents at no charge to them. Call the Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555. For residents outside of Genesee County, you can purchase a short-term test kit at your local hardware store.
• Contact your local schools to encourage radon education in school.
• Consider quitting smoking. Call the New York State Smoker’s Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 and talk to a Specialized Quit Coach today.

For more information about National Radon Action Month, click here.

For more information about how to test your home or where to find a test kit, call the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).

For more information on GO Health programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

• Orleans County: 585-589-3278
• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555

Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – Firefighters check a trailer after a fire this evening at 11089 Roosevelt Highway in Yates. The homeowner, Donald Snider, was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester to be evaluated for smoke inhalation.

Snider told firefighters he was sleeping when he awakened to smoke in the trailer, which he recently moved to.

The fire caused the most damage to bathroom and bedroom, said Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director. Fire investigators want to speak with Snider to hear more about the beginning of the fire. Niederhofer said the cause was accidental, and remains under investigation.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at about 7:30 p.m. Lyndonville Fire Chief Mike Heideman said Lyndonville were assisted at the scene by Ridgeway and Medina firefighters. They were able to limit the fire from spreading throughout the structure.

“They did a really good job stopping the fire,” he said.

Route 18 was closed to traffic between Route 63 and Marshall Road.

Firefighters were able to keep the fire from tearing through the entire structure.

ALBION – A Clarendon man, age 50, acknowledged in Orleans County Court today he has struggled to stay out of trouble since he was 16.

Wade Murphy

Wade Murphy said he hopes he can make better decisions. He was sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison today by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Murphy was sentenced for third-degree criminal possession of stolen and also criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. That time will be served concurrently with a strangulation charge in Genesee County. Murphy was sentenced to six years in prison on that charge.

“I’m too old for this,” Murphy told Judge Church today. “I have some serious crazy issues.”

Murphy said he will go stretches where he makes good decisions, then slips up. He said he would benefit from mental health counseling and drug treatment.

“I don’t know exactly what’s wrong with me but something is wrong,” Murphy said. “I want to do something to change the future and not just repeat the past.”

Murphy was charged after allegedly having a stolen UTV, zero-turn lawn mower, utility trailer, jet ski, and a large tow behind camper. The items have been returned but District Attorney Joe Cardone said a jet ski sustained $5,000 in damages. Murphy agreed to pay restitution when he is released from prison.

In other sentencings today:

Chasity Zinnate, 42, of Medina was stenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. She allegedly stole $8,200 worth of items from a business on Main Street in Medina and attempted to break into another location. As part of her sentencing today, she needs to pay $3,999 in restutition.

Steven Johnson, 22, was sentenced to 1 /2 to 3 years of additional time in state prison for promoting prison contraband at the Orleans Correctional Facility, where he was incarcerated in April 2022 and possessed a sharpened plastic handle with a metal wire. Johnson has been in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in Queens in 2020.

Cesar Morales, 36, is a former Orleans Correctional inmate who also was sentenced to another 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison for promoting prison contraband. He is in prison for attempted robbery in Suffolk County.

Anthony Disanferdinando

ALBION – A Clarendon man was sentenced to five years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Anthony Disanferdinando, 28, of Hindsburg Road pleaded guilty on Oct. 4 to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a firearm.

He could have faced six years in state prison. His attorney, David Morabito, asked the judge to sentence Disanferdinando to probation only. Disanferdinando possessed many of the firearms from his stepmother, who gave them to Disanferdinando after his father died.

Disanferdinando said he kept the firearms, including many that were loaded, out of concerns for his safety. He acknowledged he sold and used drugs.

“This is classic example of someone selling drugs to buy drugs to self medicate,” Morabito said.

Disanferdinando needs treatment for drug addiction and mental health, his attorney said.

“He’s not a menace to society,” Morabito said. “He’s not a danger to the community. He just needs rehab.”

District Attorney Joe Cardone said law enforcement seized over 10 ounces of cocaine from Disanferdinando. The Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force also seized a quantity of LSD, a quantity of prescription narcotic pills, THC wax, THC vapes, over 5 pounds of high-grade marijuana, $8,000 in cash, four loaded semi-auto pistols, 24 rifles and shotguns, scales, numerous packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.

Disanferdinando is paralyzed and in a wheelchair due to injuries from a car accident on Dec. 18, 2021. Morabito said the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is concerned about meeting Disanferdinando’s medical needs and daily care in prison, but DOCCS did not send a letter stating that.

Church declined to adjourn the case to get an official response from DOCCS. He noted the sentencing was set on Oct. 4, three months ago.

Disanferdinando apologized for the crimes, and said he intends to work on his mental health and sobriety.

“I am deeply remorseful for my actions,” he said. “ I acknowledge my actions were wrong.”

Press Release, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments

A necessary stop for all drivers, gas stations provide consumers with more than just fuel. With an increased number of gas stations providing food, clothing, children’s toys and everyday household items, the need for customer awareness rises.

Below are tips for your next fuel stop:

• Do not smoke near fuel pumps
• Always remove fuel cans from vehicle before filling
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Drive with caution and slow down in parking lots
• Make sure the fuel nozzle is correctly returned before driving off
• Do not overfill your tank
• Do not wedge objects into the nozzle trigger to provide continuous flow
• Take advantage of store reward/loyalty programs

Click here to see local saving opportunities.

“We often see unsafe practices while inspecting gas stations. These potentially dangerous acts of negligence put everyone in the area at risk,” stated Ronald P. Mannella, director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) Weights and Measures Program. “Our goal of consumer protection reaches beyond your wallet. We seek financial as well as overall health and safety for all customers.”

If an incident occurs, notify a store employee as soon as possible. A swift response in an emergency may be the difference between a minor incident and major disaster.

For more information about the GO Health Weights and Measures Program, click here.

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today announced that the county has successfully extended the term of a New York State grant that helps low-to-moderate income residents acquire residential broadband equipment and services.

The effort is run through Connect Orleans, a collaborative of Orleans County, the United Way of Orleans County, Orleans Digital Literacy Initiative and Ambient Broadband.

According to Johnson, qualified residents in the towns of Albion, Gaines and Shelby, as well as the villages of Albion, Holley and Medina, have until February 15 to sign-up and take advantage of a subsidy that could cover the full cost of broadband equipment and the installation of broadband service at their home.

“The Orleans County Legislature has long been focused on getting the infrastructure in place to extend access to cost-effective broadband across our county and we have been making tremendous steps in doing so,” said Johnson.  “With our partners in Connect Orleans, we want to spread the word about funds that could get you hooked up at no charge as well as educational opportunities on the use of technology.”

Residents are encouraged to visit www.connectorleans.net to learn more about the program as well as available broadband service packages. Interested residents who complete the contact form on the website will be contacted by a member of the Connect Orleans team to confirm service availability as well as applicant eligibility for the subsidy program. Residents can also call Connect Orleans at (585) 493-6014.

When combined with the separate federal Affordable Connectivity Program, qualified residents may be able to receive high-speed broadband at their homes for as low as $0 for equipment and installation as well as $0 for monthly service.

“Even those who do not qualify can still choose from very affordable monthly packages for high-speed, reliable internet service so I encourage people to visit the website and learn more,” Johnson said.

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced today to six months in the Orleans County Jail and five years probation for driving recklessly and drunk on May 8 in a crash that resulted in the death of his brother.

Todd Sands, 57, was apologetic and remorseful in court this morning before Judge Sanford Church.

“I take full responsibility for what happened,” Sands said during sentencing. “I caused a lot of damage for my brother’s wife, children and grandchildren who will never be able to see him again.”

Todd Sands was driving up to 94 miles per hour on Route 31A when he went off the road and struck a tree. Both he and his brother were ejected from the vehicle with Timothy Sands killed in the crash.

Todd Sands is disabled from injuries from the accident, his attorney Gregory Colavecchia said. He asked that Sands not be incarcerated and be sentenced to probation.

“He accepts responsibility,” Colavecchia told Judge Church. “Internally, emotionally and mentally he is serving a life sentence.”

Colavecchia submitted letters to the court that sought leniency for Sands. The widow of Timothy Sands also sent in a letter, asking for treatment and counseling for Todd Sands, and not jail.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said incarceration was warranted given that Todd Sands “was driving in a very reckless manner.” Cardone said other motorists were endangered that day.

The district attorney said Sands has three prior DWIs, but none since 2002.

Judge Church in his sentence noted that Sands had a BAC of 0.175 percent, more than double the legal limit, and also tested positive for THC, while driving more than 90 miles per hour without wearing a seatbelt.

This map lists the mobile office hours from Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office in the 24th congressional district in 2023.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney  

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released her 2023 Year End Report today, which highlights her office’s legislative and constituent services accomplishments throughout the past year.

Claudia Tenney

“Our office hit the ground running this year, starting off the 118th Congress by introducing 54 bills, cosponsoring 324 pieces of legislation, and returning over $13,000,000 in benefits back to our community,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “It has been an honor to represent New York’s 24th Congressional District for an entire year now, and I remain as dedicated as ever to serving our community. I am eager to continue working on your behalf to deliver lasting results to our sprawling district and restore transparency and accountability in Congress. I encourage you to read our report, and as always, please contact my office with any questions. We are here to assist you.”

Click here to read the full report here and view highlights from each section below.

Constituent Services

• Returned over $13,000,000 in earned benefits
• Closed over 1,500 constituent cases
• Hosted 20 Mobile Office Hours
• Organized nine seminar sessions with federal partners
• ​​Announced $9,266,122.72 in federal grants and awards for NY-24

Accessibility and Transparency

• Explained more than 500 votes publicly on the website
• Launched three advisory committees, including the Agriculture Advisory Committee, the Service Academy Review Committee, and the Second Amendment Advisory Committee.
• Replied to more than 43,000 messages from 28,000 constituents
• Attended 285 community events
• Hosted three Farm Bill Roundtable Listening events
• Released seven detailed legislative plans

Delivering Results for NY-24

• Introduced 54 bills
• Cosponsored 324 bills, 47 of which passed the House
• Backed five bills that were signed into law
• Organized the Congressional Family Business Caucus

3.40% property tax rate more than double state average of 1.62%

Source: SmartAsset

In Orleans County, property owners pay the highest effective tax rate among all 62 counties in the state, according to a ranking by SmartAsset, a financial technology company that publishes articles and guides about personal finance.

In Orleans, the average effective tax rate is 3.40 percent, more than double the state average of 1.62 percent. That rate is determined by taking the median annual property tax payment of $3,445 and dividing that by the median home value of $101,400.

Other nearby counties are close to the 3.40 percent effective property tax rate in Orleans. Monroe is at 3.21 percent, with Genesee at 2.76, Niagara at 2.89 percent and Erie at 2.63 percent.

In Orleans, the median property tax isn’t that high compared to other counties, and is lower than some of its counterparts. The primary driver for Orleans having the highest effective property tax rate are low property values compared to the other counties.

The $3,445 median property tax in Orleans is much lower than the $4,874 median in Monroe. However, Monroe has a median home value of $152,000 – about $50,000 higher than in Orleans.

The Orleans median annual property tax bill of $3,445 is very close to the $3,456 median in Genesee County, the $3,654 median in Livingston and $3,114 median in Wyoming County. Those are the four rural GLOW counties.

Orleans tops them with the highest effective tax rate because of the lower median home value. The $101,400 median in Orleans compares to $125,200 in Genesee, $134,000 in Livingston and $118,800 in Wyoming.

The $101,400 is among the lowest in the state. In Western New York, the values are lower in Allegany at $78,400, Cattaraugus at $90,200 and Chautauqua at $92,900. The property taxes, however, are also lower in those counties compared to Orleans with Allegany at $2,574 (3.28 percent rate), Cattaraugus at $2,665 (2.95 percent rate) and Chautauqua at $2,622 (2.82 percent rate).

New York City has the lowest effective property tax rate at 0.98 percent, but the median property tax bill is also the highest at $10,000, according to SmartAsset. However, the median home value is $1,024,500 – about 10 times the value in Orleans County.

Rates higher in towns that haven’t done reassessments

Orleans Hub chart with data from the Orleans County Real Property Tax Services and the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services.

ALBION – The tax bills arriving for property owners around Orleans County have varying tax rates due to the towns not all doing town-wide reassessments the same year.

The towns used to do reassessments every three years, except in Barre which did a re-evaluation every year.

But only four of the 10 towns did an updated reassessment in 2023. Carlton, Kendall, Ridgeway and Shelby all are at 100 percent valuation and their county tax rates range from $7.52 to $7.57 per $1,000 of assessed property. (The county budget for 2024 increases the tax levy by 3.25 percent.)

Some of the towns are at least four years from their last town-wide reassessment. Murray is only at 70 percent of market value and that town has the highest county tax rate at $10.83 after the equalization rate is factored in.

The state imposes the equalization rates so towns that aren’t at full valuation are paying their fair share in property taxes.

Albion, Gaines and Yates are at 74 percent value and they pay tax rates from $10.18 to $10.23. Barre and Clarendon, which did reassessments in 2022, are at 90 percent value and they pay county tax rates of $8.40 in Barre and $8.43 in Clarendon.

Some of the towns have held off on town-wide re-evaluations to see if a hot real estate market would slow down. But the prices haven’t cooled off. Some of the towns also have new assessors and have put off the ambitious task of re-evaluating 2,000 to 3,000 properties.