Town Court Clerk Below are two lists: one details the myriad responsibilities that fall within the purview of the court clerk; the other summarizes the knowledge and abilities that court clerks possess or acquire through training. These lists are provided so that a judge and municipality can intelligently discuss the benefits that a court clerk can provide. The items below can also form the basis for a list of job duties should a municipality need to fill a vacancy in a court clerk position. Primary Responsibilities A. Maintain confidentiality of records and information when required to do so B. Prepare court calendar C. Collect monies, reconcile daily receipts, deposit receipts, prepare reports for monthly disbursements, reconcile bank accounts, and prepare administrative reports D. Enter convictions on drivers' licenses and prepare conviction reports electronically transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles E. Enter criminal conviction on NCIC reports and electronically send same to Division of Criminal Justice Services F. Respond to inquiries-in person, by phone, by e-mail and by mail-and provide assistance to lawyers, litigants, media, and members of the public G. Prepare monthly reports that are electronically sent to the Office of the State Comptroller H. Prepare orders, summonses, warrants and other court forms i. Communicate with outside agencies in order to coordinate the Court's activities and provide services to litigants. Such agencies include: ii. Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments, New York State Police, Sheriffs office, FBI and CIA, US Armed Forces, and the Office of the District Attorney; I. Other courts, including superior courts and other local town and village courts; and i. Miscellaneous county agencies, such as Community Service, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Pre-trial Release, Probation, Stop DWI program, Victim Impact Panel, and Youth Court. ii. State agencies that require periodic reporting, including the New York State Unified Court System, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the State Comptroller, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Office of Court Record Retention. J. Examine court documents to ensure their accuracy and completeness K. Receive and file summonses, traffic tickets and other documents for court proceedings i. Assist the Justice at the bench during all Court proceedings Knowledge of: 1. The functions and organization of the Unified Court System ii. Basic legal terminology, codes and abbreviations iii. Court forms, practices and procedures, including those set forth in the Uniform Justice Court Act and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts (22 NYCRR Part 214) 2. Ability to: i. Prepare judicial orders and decisions ii. Effectively communicate information orally and in writing iii. File and retrieve materials, extract data from various sources for entry onto court form iv. Research and interpret laws outlined in court documents and litigants' motions and other papers v. Perform mathematical tasks in order to compile court activity reports, total receipts, accept payments, and verify bills vi. Refer to appropriate documents, statutes, citations or other sources in order to respond to specific questions from attorneys, litigants and members of the general public vii. Interpret policies, statutes, rules and regulations and apply them in specific contexts viii. Establish work priorities ix. Constructively manage conflict with court users Qualifications: Highschool diploma recognized by the NYS Dept of Education or appropriate equivalent. Along with 4 years of college, specialization in criminal justice, law, business administration or related field. -OR- 2 years college with specialization in Business Administration or related field. Please email your resume to abrownell@townofbatavia.com no later than 12/16/2024. Pay is based on experience.
Tractor-trailer rollover accident reported on Thruway
A tractor-trailer rollover accident has been reported on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 400 in the westbound lane.
Pembroke and Indian Falls Fire and Mercy EMS are being dispatched.
UPDATE 10:33 p.m.: The tractor-trailer is upside down, "pretty well demolished," under the Route 77 overpass. No other vehicles apparently involved. There is road construction in the area and construction workers were attempting to make contact with the driver.
UPDATE 10:36 p.m.: It's not a tractor-trailer. It's a dump truck. Mercy Flight requested to the scene. Dispatch reports Mercy Flight was started as soon as the call came in. A fire chief reports smoke coming from the engine.
UPDATE 10:39 p.m.: The westbound lane is being shut down to create a landing zone for Mercy Flight.
UPDATE 10:50 p.m.: Mercy Flight landed.
UPDATE 11:06 p.m.: Mercy Flight is in the air.
Photos: Byron Barns
After completing some business in Byron, I wanted to take advantage of the great clouds in the sky and see what I could find to photograph. The barn and silo above was at the intersection of Bridge and Transit roads. Below, a barn in the village getting a new roof.
Elba man loses another appeal trying to get Amherst job back
An Elba man's attempt to keep his job with the Town of Amherst was blocked by an appeals court ruling last week, reports the Buffalo News.
James I. Johnson was the town's assistant engineer when officials figured out he was living in Genesee County, apparently violating the town's strict residency requirements for town employees.
Johnson has filed numerous suits and appeals over the years to regain town employment.
“The determination that the petitioner is a domiciliary of Elba rather than the town (of Amherst) is supported by substantial evidence,” stated the decision of the five-judge panel.
Scott Doll may take prison contraband charge to trial
Scott Doll has no intention of pleading guilty to a promoting prison contraband charge, according to his attorney.
The case may go to trial, said Dan Killelea outside of the courtroom this afternoon.
Killelea helped represent Doll in his murder trial.
Doll was convicted of killing Joseph Benaquist in May and jailed immediately. During his processing, Doll was apparently searched and allegedly a green balloon was found hidden on his body. A lab test indicated that ground-up aspirin was the powdery substance the Sheriff's Office said was found in the balloon.
Doll appeared in court today sporting a new beard.
Killelea was granted more to prepare his case and file motions.
The case will be called in City Court on July 27.
Doll is scheduled to be sentenced Friday on the murder conviction.
(via WBTA)
Gas spill reported at Arrowmart on Clinton Street Road
A gas spill has been reported at the Arrowmart, 5267 Clinton St. Road, Batavia.
A caller reports a large amount of gas in the parking lot.
Town of Batavia Fire is being dispatched.
UPDATE 9:08 p.m.: A first responder reports only two or three gallons spilled, but spread over the parking lot.
Two-vehicle accident with minor injuries at West Main and Lyons
A two-vehicle accident with minor injuries is reported at West Main and Lyons streets. One of the vehicles reportedly rolled over.
The overturned vehicle needs to be uprighted ASAP to stop fuel leakage, says a firefighter on scene.
City Fire and Mercy EMS are responding.
Top photo submitted by Tim Walton. Bottom photo submitted by Chris Charvella.
Local artist's duct-tape prom dress on display at GO ART!
Sarah Scott's creation for the "Stuck-at-Prom Scholarship Contest" (stuckatprom.com) is now on display at GO ART!, Seymour Place, 201 E. Main St., in Downtown Batavia.
Stop in to take a close-up look at the incredible detail involved in the over 100 handmade roses, 65 feet of vines, 89 hand-cut/shaped leaves and over 200 feet of duct tape-turned ruffles.
First round of elimination for the national contest is Wednesday, June 30, so vote for this Pavilion High School senior's entry (#5217) at www.stuckatprom.com.
She intends to go to Michigan State University in the fall, majoring in zoology and minoring in art.
For more information contact GO ART! at 585-343-9313, <info@goart.org, www.goart.org>.
Sarah Scott and her prom date, James Kutter, are among the Top 10 finalists and are hoping to win to earn college scholarship money.
East Pembroke fire training house burns down a little before its time
It was a house that was going to be burned to the ground at some point anyway, but East Pembroke Fire Chief Bob Yungsleisch didn't want to see it go like this -- in an unplanned bonfire.
For more than a year, area firefighters -- and even Batavia's SWAT team -- have been using a vacant house at 2881 Pratt Road as a training structure (here's a video we did last year of a training exercise at the house, which was donated by the previous owner specifically for training purposes).
On Monday, members of the East Pembroke Fire Department went to the structure to try a new helmet they've acquired. In order to create the right smoky environment, they put some straw in a burn barrel (a barrel intended to contain flames, but allow smoke to fill a training room), and lit it up.
After the helmet tests were completed, Yungsleisch said the fire in the burn barrel was doused with water and everybody left.
About 45 minutes later, Yungsleisch said a call came in -- probably about 9 p.m. -- that there were flames inside the house.
When he arrived, he found the flames contained to the burn barrel, and he extinguished the fire himself and notified dispatch that, "it's just the burn barrel."
As he and another person stood outside the house the other person wondered why there was so much smoke coming out of a second-floor window.
When Yungsleisch investigated, he found some papers on the second floor had ignited. He figures an ember had floated up there.
At that point, tankers from Oakfield, Pembroke, Batavia and Corfu were requested to the scene.
But Yungsleisch figured there was only one thing to do at this point -- let it burn. The firefighters called to the scene were there merely in defensive roles, to protect one nearby structure and the trees near the house.
It wasn't worth risking any firefighters to try and actually put out the fire, which burned for about two hours.
“It was a great house," Yungsleisch said. "I would have loved to have kept it another month or two, but I wasn’t about it send anybody inside.”
Photos by Destin Danser.
Staff and Batavia council see plumbing inspector issue differently
Current State law requires the City of Batavia to have a plumbing inspector, and some of the City Council want to see the job filled.
At Monday's council meeting, City Manager Jason Molino called the requirement for a plumbing inspector an antiquated law and City Attorney George Van Nest argued that the city has done everything it can to fill the position, which is all it's required to do.
Council members Tim Buckley, Rose Mary Christian and Bob Bialkowski all urged City staff to fill the position.
Bialkowski called it a "public health issue."
"Even though state law says code enforcement can do it, you’re not a plumber," Bialkwoski said. "You don’t know what you’re looking at."
Not necessarily, Molino said.
Currently, the city's code enforcement officers are performing plumbing inspections. Molino said they are trained and licensed by New York for such inspections and in towns and villages across the state, code enforcement officers handle plumbing inspection duties.
Only cities, under current state law, are required to have a certified plumbing inspector.
The Town of Amherst, Molino noted, which is larger than Batavia, uses code enforcement officers for plumbing inspections.
"There is no public health risk," Molino said.
Van Nest noted that there are efforts underway to get the state law changed.
"It’s not like there are some safety issues there that are going unaddressed, because these people are certified code enforcement officials for New York State with all licensing and training," Van Nest said.
The topic was opened in public comments by Batavia resident David Pero, who said he has 40 years experience in plumbing.
"Plumbing has to do with public health," Pero said. "Do the right thing council, put back what is right. We are a city, therefore protect our taxpayers. Plumbing inspecting should be done by a qualified master plumber."
After Barb Toal retired as the city's inspector, Ron Toal stepped in on an interim basis, but then quit June 2. Molino issued an emergency declaration to allow the city's code enforcement officers to take over the duties since no certified inspector had been identified.
Grand Jury Report: Woman accused of stealing from bank in Batavia
Michelle A. Parker is indicted on four counts, including grand larceny, 3rd, petit larceny, grand larceny, 4th and perjury,1st. Parker is accused of stealing in November 2006 from a bank branch in Batavia and making a false statement related to the case. The amount of the alleged thefts exceed $4,000.
Gerardo Pineda-Sanchez is indicted on a count of assault, 2nd, a Class D felony. Sanchez is accused of stabbing a victim with a knife April 28 in Elba.
Theodore R. Cooper is indicted on one count of grand larceny, 3rd, a Class D felony. Cooper is accused of stealing property valued in excess of $3,000 sometime between Dec. 30 and Feb. 3 from a Batavia resident.
Scott Stine (aka Scott Campbell) is indicted on a count of DWI. Stine is accused of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Lovers Lane Road, Batavia, on May 1.
Ami L. Blackmore is indicated on three counts related to driving while intoxicated. Blackmore is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and driving with a BAC of .18 or greater. Blackmore is accused of driving a car while intoxicated on Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, on Jan. 22.
Jamie R. Montgomery is indicted on two misdemeanor counts and one felony count related to an alleged DWI. Montgomery is charged with a misdemeanor count of DWI and a misdemeanour count of driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. She is charged with a Class E felony of aggravated unlicensed operation. Montgomery is accused of driving intoxicated on Route 5 in Stafford on March 17.
Reader tips help lead to arrest of larceny suspect
An arrest has been made in the alleged theft of credit cards from parked vehicles earlier this month.
Det. Pat Corona of the Batavia Police Department said local media reports about the alleged theft and use of the cards, along with surveillance photos of the alleged suspect, turned up numerous tips leading to the arrest.
Taken into custody and charged with grand larceny, 4th, was Kyle C. Monroe, 20, of 43 Washington Ave., Batavia.
Monroe was located allegedly hiding in the backyard of 131 State St.
He is accused of taking the credit cards from a parked vehicle on Gateway Drive on June 14 and using them to purchase a variety of items at local retail stores, including a laptop computer, electronics and clothing.
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation.
Additional charges may be pending and the investigation is continuing.
Monroe was jailed without bail.
Police Beat: Woman accused of making false report
Melody Lynn Neal, 20, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd. Neal is accused of contacting Genesee County Dispatch and claiming that a person had contacted her by phone threatening to do her harm. An investigation allegedly revealed that the harassing phone calls never occurred.
Steven B. Ellis, 46, of Wyoming, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Ellis was stopped by State Police in the Town of Batavia at 6:43 p.m., Sunday.
Accident Update: On an accident we reported Sunday that partially closed Route 63 for several hours, the State Police blotter contains the following information. The accident occurred at 1:52 p.m. It was a single-car accident with one injury. The driver is reported as Roy A. Park, 50, of Batavia. No further details were released.
Truck vs. car accident closes Route 20 at Route 77
It may be a minor injury accident, but responders are requesting that Route 20 be closed at Route 77.
Alexander Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene of what was reported as a truck vs. car accident with minor injuries.
UPDATE Tuesday, 9:53 a.m.: We've received the accident report on this incident.
A tractor-trailer was westbound on Route 20, reportedly driven by Rashpal S. Jhutty, 43, of Alabaster Road, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada, when the truck apparently strayed into the eastbound lane.
Wendy Green, 52, of Alexander, pulled her 2003 Pontiac sedan out of a driveway in the area of 3082 Route 20.
Her vehicle was struck on the side, the back driver's side area and knocked off the roadway.
The cargo on the truck was reportedly not securely fastened and spilled onto Route 20.
No injuries were reported.
Jhutty was issued three citations, including one for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road.
The accident investigation was handled by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.
Vacant house on fire on Pratt Road, Pembroke
A vacant house is reportedly on fire at 2881 Pratt Road.
East Pembroke Fire was initially dispatched.
Tankers from Batavia, Corfu and Oakfield requested to the scene.
UPDATE 9:18 p.m.: Fire police requested to shut down Pratt at Powers and Miller roads.
UPDATE 9:48 p.m.: Alabama tanker requested to the scene.
UPDATE 9:52 p.m.: Alabama tanker not available. Pembroke and Indian Falls tankers requested to the scene.
Buffalo station reports on Latina's gull problem
Naturally, Tom Lewin wasn't available to talk with WIVB.
Car-pedestrian reported on West Main Street, Batavia
A pedestrian has reportedly been hit by a car on West Main Street, Batavia, in front of Batavia Marine, near Tops.
Moving Wall closes stay in Batavia
Rain forced the closing ceremonies for the Moving Wall at the VA Center inside today, but dozens of people showed up for the short service. Bill Davis thanked all of the volunteers and donors who made bringing the wall to Batavia possible.
Afterward, a couple of dozen people spent time at the Wall before its removal.
Batavia councilman reportedly plans to change parties
Batavia City Councilman Bill Cox is planning to bolt from the GOP and join the Conservative Party, WBTA reports this afternoon.
Cox reportedly sent a letter to GOP City Chairman Joe Gerace on Friday and said the local Republicans have no platform and do not stand for anything.
WBTA reports that Cox said he believes the direction of the United States needs to be changed, and that change begins at the local level.
The local GOP is "not doing anything significant to help turn things around," Cox reportedly wrote.
Cox has been a Republican for 47 years.
UPDATE 1:48 p.m.: The Batavian has obtained a copy of the letter.
In it, Cox writes:
Our country is in a mess. The majority party in control of Congress has violated our Constitution and individual rights repeatedly; they make up any rule they want to push through legislation; they make unethical and punitive back room deals; they are bankrupting the country with massive spending, and they refuse to listen to the people.
He says he has already submitted the paperwork to change parties, and adds, "The conservative Party has been at the fore front of trying to counter this along with the Tea Party movement. We need to change things now."
He vows to continue to support Republican causes and candidates who stand for conservative principles.
