batavia

Two months ago, members of the City Council were unanimous in their support of proceeding with a study of a potential merger between the city's police force and the Sheriff's Office.

Monday night, support for such a study dwindled to three, Adam Tabelski (who wasn't on the council in November), Brooks Hawley and John Canale.

Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian opened the discussion with her change of heart. Christian said she heard from at least 11 of her constituents who support keeping a city police force and she also spoke with officers about how police protection might decline following a merger.

"I want to keep our police department," Christian said. "Crime is going up and there's no doubt drugs are running rampant."

Christian, like several other council members, was also scared off the potential $80,000 to $100,000 cost of a merger feasibility study.

"I don't want a study," Christian said. "It's a waste of money."

Canale tried to argue that most of that expense would be covered by state grants and the city, county and Village of Le Roy, would likely share only 10 percent of that expense.

Canale said he thinks that small expense to the city is a good investment since it could lead to greater cost savings down the road.

Council President Eugene Jankowski pointed out that even if the bulk of the cost is covered by a grant, a grant is still taxpayer money.

For most of 2015, the city was moving toward a proposal to build a new police station, replacing the cramped and dilapidated building the police currently call home, with a police facilities task force making a recommendation for a new station on vacant property on Swan Street.

A new station could cost $10 million.

Once the council received the recommendation, there was board support for the proposal and calls not to "kick the can down the road" any further on the need to provide police with an appropriate and modern facility.

Then at a meeting in November, at least a half dozen members of the local Libertarian Party showed up at a council meeting and blasted the proposal, especially without first studying the idea of eliminating the police department and going to a countywide agency.

Unanimously, the council agreed to explore the idea and instructed a committee to open discussions with the county.

Christian and Kathy Briggs both said they heard after that meeting from their constituents that they didn't want to get rid of the police department.

"In the 5th Ward, when there's a problem, the police are there immediately," Briggs said. "I like that we have a quick police response and I don't want to lose it."

Christian said she feared calling the police only to be told by dispatchers that all of the officers are out on Creek Road dealing with a minor incident and it will take 15 minutes for a patrol to reach her house.

Jankowski pointed out that in a merged department, there are other communities in the county that feel they don't currently have enough police protection and some resources earmarked for the city could wind up in villages and towns.

While at the November meeting Jankowski, a former city police lieutenant, went along with the city request, he also argued for many of the benefits of a local police department and noted many of the cost savings already taking place through multiple shared services.

Monday, he recalled that the last time there was going to be "just a study" of merged services, the city wound up losing its own emergency dispatchers.

The council will take up the issue of a new police facility and how to move forward at its next conference meeting in February.

Businesses with digital signs should be able to change their message every 10 seconds, City Council President Eugene Jankowski suggested during Monday's council meeting.

He wants the city's Planning Board to review that suggested rule change and come back to the council with a recommendation. His fellow council members unanimously concurred.

The current ordinance is interpreted to prohibit a business from changing the message more than once every 24 hours.

Jeremy Liles, owner of Oliver's Candies, raised the issue with the city a couple of months ago after installing a new digital sign outside of his business at Main and Oak streets.

The suggested change, Jankowski said, is an important step toward supporting local businesses.

Two parcels of property that are part of the city's brownfield opportunity area are advancing in the redevelopment process.

The City Council approved resolutions Monday night that will make it possible for the Batavia Development Corp. to take over ownership in order to prepare the property for sale to a private developer.

The transfer is contingent on a successful tax foreclosure process.

Both properties, at 40-52 Ellicott St., the former Dellapenna property, and 56-70 Ellicott St., the former Santy Tire's location, along with other businesses, have been elligible for tax foreclosure for some time, but the city has let the properties sit in limbo to avoid becoming responsible for the expense of environmental cleanup.

City Manager Jason Moliono wouldn't confirm that property title transfer to BDC signals that Economic Development Coordinator Julie Pacette has identified a specific private owner for redevelopment of the properties, but the resolutions passed by the council indicate a developer is waiting in the wings.

The resolutions both say, "the BDC has agreed to accept title to said property and work towards executing agreements with a preferred developer for redeveloment of the site consistent with the accept Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 2 Nomination Plan ..."

The BOA covers all of the city's central corridor and is 366 acres. It affords an opportunity to provide developers with assistance in revitalizing abandoned, blighted and underused properties.

The BDC has been working for years to establish the designation, identify properties for redevelopment and market those properties to potential developers.

There's no information available yet on who the developer might be, what is planned for the property, or when the next steps will be announced.

Press release:

The City of Batavia Water Department will be making a repair on a broken water service line on Washington Avenue Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Water service should not be interrupted to make this repair. Please try to avoid the area between Bank Street and Summit Street as travel lanes may be restricted.

City firefighters on are scene at Woodstock Gardens Apartments where they responded to a report of smoke in Apartment #24. They found a smoking pan of food on the stove and no one home. They removed it from the apartment. They are ventilating. The complex is located at 219 N. Spruce St.

UPDATE 11:29 a.m.: Command reports no damage to the apartment. The assignment is back in service.

Philip Michael Molina Sr., 30, of Slade Road, Medina, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd, and aggravated unlicensed operation of motor vehicle, 2nd. Molina was arrested following an investigation into a shoplifting complaint at Walmart involving a female companion. Molina was allegedly found in possession of metal knuckles and driving on a suspended driver's license. He was jailed on $15,000 bail or $30,000 bond.

Thomas C. Williamee, 45, of Clay St, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Williamee is accused of shoplifting from Tops Market in Le Roy. He allegedly stole $8.11 in merchandise.

William A. Andrews III, 36, no permanent address, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged aggravated criminal contempt. Andrews allegedly violated a complete stay away order of protection. He is accused of punching the protected party in the face at 1:55 a.m. Aug. 23 while on West Main Street, Batavia.  Andrews charged with another count of aggravated criminal contempt for allegedly being with the protected party at the time of his arrest at 11:23 a.m. Friday. He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Justin T. Pahl, 31, of Perry Road, Le Roy, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Pahl allegedly punched out a window during an incident reported at 8:30 a.m. Friday at a location on Thomas Avenue, Batavia, causing shards of glass to scatter in a room where there were two children, ages 2 and 6.

Amanda R. McDonald, 34, of Pearl Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to pay restitution stemming from a December 2013 incident. McDonald was arraigned and released on her own recognizance with the balance due on her restitution by her next court appearance, March 24.

J'Shon K. Naegely, 19, of Montclair Avenue, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 5th. Naegely is accused of possessing and selling a video game console and video games that did not belong to him.

Allison Josephine Minnick, 22, of Maple Ridge Road, Medina, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, speed not reasonable and prudent. Minnick was arrested following an investigation by Deputy Chad Cummings into a motor-vehicle accident reported at 5:16 a.m. Saturday on Route 262, Byron.

A 17-year-old resident of Judge Road, Alabama, is charged with aggravated harassment, 2nd. The teen allegedly sent threatening text messages to a female victim causing annoyance and alarm. 

Cheryl A. Baker, 32, of Rochester, is charged with forgery, 2nd, falsifying business records, offering for file a false instrument, criminal impersonation, 2nd, and driving on a suspended registration. Baker was arrested by State Police for alleged criminal activity in the Town of Pembroke. She was jailed on $15,000 bail. No further information available at this time.

Matthew D. Chojnacki, 80, of Akron, is charged with DWI. Chojnacki was stopped at 1:23 p.m. Friday on Route 33, Bergen, by State Police.

A rollover accident with injuries and entrapment is reported at the intersection of Park Road and Oak Street. City firefighters are responding along with Mercy medic #1.

UPDATE 1:55 p.m.: The city's third platoon is requested to stand by in fire headquarters.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: A female is being transported to UMMC. Another patient was just extricated from the vehicle.

UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: Two vehicles were involved, a sedan and a minivan with Kentucky plates. Both have heavy front-end damage. The female driver of the sedan was transported to UMMC. The female driver of the minivan was extricated and is now is an ambulance awaiting transport to a hospital; she is conscious and alert but said to be in a lot of pain. The minivan she was trapped in, landed on its side. Firefighters had to cut off the vehicle's roof to get to her.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m.: Batavia Police Sgt. Dan Coffey said preliminary findings indicate a Chevy Cruze, which is a compact sedan, had a green light as it traveled northbound on Oak Street (Route 98). A Nissan Rogue, which is a compact SUV, was southbound on Oak Street with a green light when the driver attempted to make a left turn onto the Thruway entrance. Coffey said it appears the driver of the Nissan failed to yield the right of way. A driver may be cited, pending completion of the investigation. Impairment from drugs and/or alcohol is not a factor in the accident. The driver of the Nissan was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, primarily for precautionary reasons, Coffey said. Although the Nissan had Kentucky plates, the driver is a local resident and the Nissan is believed to be a rental, Coffey noted.

The Thomas Rocket Car has been sandblasted down to bare metal as it continues through the process of restoration by a group of local antique car buffs who will donate the fully restored vehicle to the City of Batavia.

The car was designed by former Batavia resident Charles Thomas as a prototype of a car he was hoping Detroit would build in the late 1930s, but the car was considered too far ahead of its time and then the war came, so the Thomas Rocket Car is truly one of a kind.

It was built in Batavia.

The sandblasting was completed by Hillcrest Coating in Attica. 

Old World owner Dick McClurg said next he will fabricate a new front, driver's side fender.

"I always do the hardest part first," he said.

The bottom photo is of a print made by Pete Whyman from a glass plate negative of a photo taken by his father, Walter Whyman, sometime around 1941. The photo was taken in Williams Park. Pete Whyman showed up at McClurg's shop recently with the photos. Until then, nobody knew the color photos existed. The car must have been repainted shortly after Thomas completed it in 1938, because the vehicle was originally maroon and in the photos it's red.

For previous rocket car coverage, click here.

Terry M. Roth, 40, and Michelle Hamill, 48, both of Batavia, are charged with third-degree grand larceny. Roth is also charged with second-degree forgery. Hamill is accused of stealing a credit card from the wallet of an elderly victim who was under her care as a healthcare aide in the victim's residence. The victim is presently under 24-hour care. Roth, accompanied by Hamill, allegedly made $23,000 in unauthorized purchases in Genesee, Erie and Monroe counties. These alleged purchases were documented through surveillance video at the stores, according to State Police. Roth was jailed on $25,000 bail. Hamill was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Kyle Robert Ratulowski, 19, of Elenore Place, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Ratulowski is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Nicole Marie Capretto, 32, of Lewiston Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Capretto is accused of stealing $100 from the cash register of the Pembroke Arrow Mart along with a 12-pack of Bud Light beer.

Alissa Marie Eastridge, 18, of Summit Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Eastridge is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Ryan James Sundown, 35, of Meadville Road, Alabama, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th, criminal obstruction of breathing, endangering the welfare of a child, and resisting arrest. Sundown allegedly choked the victim, threw her phone to prevent her from calling for emergency assistance and attempted to leave the scene in his truck, striking another vehicle with his son in the backseat. Sundown was allegedly intoxicated.

One person has just been taken into custody on Walnut Street after a search by multiple police officers for a group of subjects that were first spotted running across the footbridge connecting Walnut with West Main.

The names of two of the individuals were used by officers and we believe they are warrant suspects, though that is not confirmed.

The subjects apparently tried to hide when they believed they were spotted by a police officer.

There is a search continuing for at least one other individual.

Josiah C. Yantz, 16, of North Main Street, Oakfield, is charged with third-degree rape. Yantz is accused of non-consensual sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl on two separate occasions. Yantz was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Gregory P. Hamm-Johnson, 25, of Brookville Road, Alexander, is charged with felony driving while impaired by drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, uninspected motor vehicle, broken windshield and no driver headlamp. Hamm-Johnson was stopped at 4:12 p.m. Jan. 15 on Water Street, Village of Attica, by Officers James Prusak Jr. and Brian Marsceill. Hamm-Johnson was jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond.

Tonya Houseknecht, 33, of East Yates Center Road, Lyndonville, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 5th, and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 5th. Houseknecht allegedly sold a quantity of lisedexamfetamine dimesylate to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force on two separate occasions. 

Christina M. Sakran, 32, of Kenilworth Terrace, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on an aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd, ticket. Sakran was turned over to Batavia PD by the Orleans County Sheriff's Office. She was released on $300 police bail.

Gregory S. Yark, 51, no permanent address, Rochester, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to appear on a criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, charge. Yark was released on his own recognizance. He also faces charges of criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Michael P. Murphy, 31, of State Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to pay a fine on an overnight parking ticket. Murphy posted cash bail and was released.

Jeffrey M. Anauo, 28, of Main Street, Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, three counts of driving drunk with a child in the car, aggravated unlicensed operation and following too closely. Anauo was reportedly involved in a motor-vehicle accident at 8:05 p.m. Sunday on Walnut Street, Batavia. Anauo was jailed without bail. The accident was investigated by officers Christopher Lindsay and Stephen Cronmiller.

Darryl Robinson, 52, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Robinson allegedly punched another person.

Eric M. Smith, 30, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and petit larceny. Smith was arrested on a pair of warrants. Smith was jailed on an unspecified bail.

Jessica Lauren Ford, 24, of Perry Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, a felony. During a traffic stop, Ford was allegedly found with a person in the car she was barred from contact with by court order. She was jailed on $5,000 bail.

The owner of a former vapor shop in Batavia was sentenced in Federal Court yesterday to two years probation and six months home detention for selling counterfeit goods at his store.

Scott Scaccia, 34, of Rochester, owned A Plus Vapes & Deals on Ellicott Street until it was raided by federal authorities in April.

Investigators found that Scaccia was selling counterfeit tobacco vaporizers that were manufactured and distributed from China. Authorities said Scaccia obtained the merchandise from his brother in California and through a Chinese Web site.

Authorities seized 90 counterfeit vaporizers.

Photo: File photo.

Press release:

At a Special Meeting of the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) early January, President Ray Chaya thanked fellow Board Member Gregg Torrey for serving eight years as a director of the City’s economic development agency. The BDC instituted term limits during Torrey’s tenure. He has represented City business development efforts since June 2007 and served many years as an officer of the organization.

The BDC also elected three new members:

· Mary Valle, second generation Valle Jewelers business owner, active Vibrant Batavia volunteer and former Business Improvement District director;

· Steve Pies, fourth generation Max Pies Furniture business owner and past Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Board president;

· Pier Cipollone, former City Councilman and past BDC Board president.

Fellow Board members include Ray Chaya, Susie Boyce, Peter Casey, Kathy Ferrara, Jay Sackett, Barb Shine and ex-officio member, City Manager Jason Molino. The Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. in City Hall.

A car vs. tractor-trailer (or maybe a tow truck) accident is reported in the area of 200 S. Swan St., Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS responding.

Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 10:29 p.m.: An SUV hit a parked tow truck. The vehicle's passenger side was peeled open bow to stern like a sardine can, but there were no injuries. The accident is under investigation and it's yet to be determined if there will be any charges. What caused the vehicle to hit the truck, whether the driver didn't see it, or the driver swerved for some reason, is unknown at this time.

Batavia PD is seeking the pubic's assistance in locating Aleesha D. Johnson, 15, of Batavia, who is a missing teen and possible runaway.

She was last seen in the City of Batavia on Jan. 7.

She may be in Batavia or Rochester.

She has communicated with others via an untraceable phone number stating she is in Rochester. 

Batavia warns that anybody who knowingly impedes the return of a missing child is committing a crime. 

Batavia PD has been sharing information with Rochester PD.

Aleesha is 5'5" and 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She is African-American.

Anybody with information are asked to call Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350.

UPDATE: Aleesha was located in Rochester and is safe.

A possible commerical building fire is reported at 12 Center St. The smell of smoke is said to be in the building and smoke is reportedly visible in the office. City fire is responding. The location is an accounting office next to Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.

UPDATE 12:21 p.m.: A responder on scene says its possibly a wood-burning stove; no fire found. Continuing to investigate. 

After the injury to point guard Maddy McCully that put her out for the season, Batavia's Head Coach Marty Hein said the Lady Blue Devils would be a team in search of a new identity.

That thought was back on Hein's mind last night after Batavia narrowly escaped with its 13th win, 58-55, over Irondequoit.

Batavia surrendered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, allowing Irondequoit to put 25 points on the scoreboard and with less than a minute left, pulling within a point of the lead.

"(McCulley was) the floor general at any given point in time," Hein said. Ryann (Stefaniak) and Tiara (Filbert) are doing a super job, but when the chips seem to be falling a bit, there was always, 'OK, Maddy, you run the point now.' That was freeing up Tiara to do whatever. She doesn't have to bring the ball up. Now, it's kind of that little identity crisis of, OK, when things start going south, who is going to be that step-up person to take that role. We played a good 24 minutes of basketball, and then the last eight..."

Filbert scored 18. Taylor Stefaniak added 16, including dropping three buckets from behind the arc. Ryann scored 14 and Sam Cecere had seven.

For Irondequoit, Megan Dano scored 16, Kylee Kanealey, 12, and Quinn Melidona, 13.

To purchase prints, click here.

Press release:

The Batavia Business Improvement District (BID) would like to announce the merger of the Downtown Batavia Public Market and the Genesee Country Farmer’s Market. The joint venture would consolidate the markets and their vendors into one large farmer’s market located Downtown at the corner of Bank Street and Alva Place.

The market would retain the name Downtown Batavia Public Market and would be run by the Genesee Country Farmer’s Market Board, in which Executive Director of the BID, Laurie Oltramari, was named as a board member.

With the City’s approval, the market would increase its operations to be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. After visiting surrounding businesses to get their feedback, the increase of operations was well-received by area businesses who enjoy using the market to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and more.

The markets' merger addresses the City of Batavia’s “highly distressed” census tracts to have access to essential goods for healthy living. The public market is located with the City of Batavia’s BOA plan and with the City in its process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, which is focused on smart growth and sustainable practices, the merger was a well-timed collaboration.

The Downtown area has had a walkability audit to record the needs of both walkers and drivers. Within the immediate vicinity of the downtown public market is senior housing, healthcare facilities, the historic downtown core, and the bordering neighborhoods. With this mix, it lends itself to the greater success of the Downtown Batavia Public Market.

The BID envisions the market growing and it is excited to have the Genesee Country Farmer’s Market ready and able to take on the new venture. The Genesee Country Farmer’s Market enjoyed being at the Batavia Downs parking lot and thanks them for their support through the years, but the new move will reinforce the sustainable model for the farmers and tap into the trending desire to be located in downtowns.

If you would like more information regarding the merger of the markets or the BID in general, please contact Laurie Oltramari at (585) 344-0900 or e-mailLOltramari@DowntownBataviaNY.com. If you are interested in volunteering or being a vendor at the Downtown Batavia Public Market, please contact Bob Austen atRobertAusten@frontiernet.net.