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Photos: Election Day in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens
batavia polling places
Ward 5 and Ward 6 (District 06-01) Ascension Parish, 15 Sumner St., Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens

It's Election Day 2024 across the nation, and all polls are open in Genesee County. 

As one voter noted this morning, with the good weather, there's no excuse not to vote (if you haven't already).

Polls close at 9 p.m.

batavia polling places
Ward 1, The Salvation Army, 529 East Main St., Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia polling places
Ward 3, Senior Center, 2 Bank St., Batavia
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia polling places
Ward 2, Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia polling places
Ward 6, District 06-02, 400 Towers, 400 East Main St., Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens
batavia polling places
Ward 4, ARC Community Center, 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.
Photo by Howard Owens

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of threatening police officer

By Howard B. Owens
jon bush
Jon Bush

Jon H. Bush, 41, of Batavia, is charged with menacing a peace officer, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, and obstructing governmental administration 2nd. Bush is accused of threatening two probation officers with a knife at an unspecified location and preventing them from arresting another person during a home visit on June 28. He was arrested on Oct. 18. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed. Cindy L. Bush, his mother, was also charged with obstructing governmental administration and issued an appearance ticket.

Shawn P. Wolcott, 42, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 3rd, criminal possession of stolen property 5th, and petit larceny.  Wolcott broke into a building on Harvester Avenue and stole property on Oct. 12.  He was arraigned and released.

Carolyn L. Kurek, 82, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful imprisonment 2nd and harassment 2nd. Kurek is accused of blocking another person from leaving a room at an apartment building on West Main Street, Batavia, on Oct. 16. She allegedly struck a person with her cane. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Kamau S. Freeman, 30, of Buffalo, was arrested on Oct. 15 on a warrant. Freeman was previously arrested on July 23 and charged with robbery 3rd, grand larceny 4th, criminal contempt 1st, and criminal mischief 3rd. The warrant was issued after he allegedly failed to appear in court. He was arraigned and released.

Morgan A. Schoonmaker, 28, of Perry, and Jaqulyn A. Dueppengiesser, 40, of Perry, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Schoonmaker and Dueppengiesser are accused of possessing narcotics during a traffic stop on Pearl Street on Oct. 15. They were issued appearance tickets.

Emily D. Shea, 29, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Shea was stopped on Oct. 10 on East Main Street by a Batavia patrol officer for allegedly driving putout headlights. She was issued tickets and released.

Ryan A. Decillis, 32, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Decillis was allegedly caught speeding after Batavia PD received a traffic complaint on Oct. 5 (location not disclosed). He was issued tickets and released.

Kristen L. Kocent, 36, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Kocent allegedly passed narcotics during an investigation on Oct. 13 at an undisclosed location. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Douglas G. Goodwin, Jr., 33, of Alabama, is charged with petit larceny. Goodwin is accused of stealing a gold chain from another person on Sept. 19. He was arrested on Oct. 21. He was arraigned and released.

Alicia M. Lyons, 45, Batavia, is charged with resisting arrest. Lyons is accused of resisting police on Oct. 17 when they attempted to take her into custody on multiple warrants. She was arraigned in City Court and was released.

Tek B. Giri, 46, of Scottsville, is charged with DWI. Giri was stopped on Clinton Street on Oct. 17 after Batavia PD received complaints of an erratic driver. Giri was issued tickets and released.

Mark J. Schultz, 38, of Batavia, is charged with DWI. Schultz was stopped on Oct. 20 on West Main Street by a Batavia patrol officer who reportedly observed him driving without tail lights. He was issued traffic tickets and released.

Francis A. Coombs, III, 57, of Batavia, was arrested on Oct. 16 on a warrant. Coombs was initially arrested on Aug. 25 and charged with criminal mischief 4th. He was issued an appearance ticket but allegedly failed to appear in court. Coombs was arraigned in City Court and released. 

Carolyn L. Kurek, 82, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful imprisonment 2nd and harassment 2nd. Kurek is accused of blocking another person from leaving a room at an apartment building on West Main Street, Batavia, on Oct. 16. She allegedly struck a person with her cane. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Arnold B. Colopy, 67, of Batavia, is charged with criminal trespass. Colopy is accused of unlawfully entering an apartment on School Street on Oct. 19. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Kelly Marie Zwolinski, 45, of Broadway Road, Darien, is charged with criminal mischief 3rd. Zwolinski is accused of damaging the property of another person at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at a location on Broadway Road, Darien. The value of the property is reportedly in excess of $250. He was held pending arraignment.

Harold Phillip Duell, 62, of Perry, is charged with felony DWI, open alcohol container, license restricted, driving on shoulder, and aggravated unlicensed operation. Duell was stopped at 1:24 a.m. on Oct. 28 on Richmond Avenue by Deputy Matthew Wesolowski. He was released on tickets.

Paul William Zeches, 36, of Liberty Street, Batavia, is charged with sex offender failure to report a change of address. Zeches was arrested on Oct. 30. He was jailed on the charge.

Nathaniel Ashton Finta, 20, of North Main Street, Oakfield, is charged with assault 2nd and criminal mischief 4th. Finta is accused of burning another person's clothing and of striking that person in the face with an open hand causing an injury. Finta was held pending arraignment.

Photos: Legends and Stars opens at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
legends and stars batavia downs

It's Legends and Stars Weekend at Batavia Downs, which includes a memorabilia show in the Parks Place Events Center and autograph sessions for several retired sports stars.

The show opened Friday evening and will continue on Saturday.

The new CEO and president of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, Byron Brown, was on hand Friday, mingling with guests and vendors. This visit was documented by a video crew, capturing footage for planned future TV commercials promoting Batavia Downs as an event center.

Here's Saturday's autograph session lineup:

  • Mark Recchi, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
  • Pierre Turgeon, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Brett Hull, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
  • Scott Norwood, 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
  • Chris Chelios, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Howard Ballard, 1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Bruce Smith, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
  • Eric Wood, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Cornelius Bennett, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
  • Darryl Talley, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Photos by Howard Owens.

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legends and stars batavia downs
legends and stars batavia downs
legends and stars batavia downs
legends and stars batavia downs
legends and stars batavia downs

Spirits of Halloween alive and well in local government offices

By Howard B. Owens
Remote video URL
Submitted video: DMV Ladies Have S'more Fun

It's become quite the tradition in Genesee County government departments -- staff members coordinate a theme for Halloween, with each department competing for the best costumes of the day.

We have no word on who won but here are pictures of a few of the departments that joined in this year.

dmv ladies have s'more fun
Submitted photo: DMV Ladies Have S'more Fun.
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It's all in The Adams Family at the Clerk's Office.
Photo by Howard Owens
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Offices of the County Manager, County Attorney, and Legislature in the Old Courthouse.
Submitted Photo
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Probation Department
Submitted Photo
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Office for the Aging.
Submitted Photo
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Public Works
Submitted Photo
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Information Technology
Submitted Photo

Photo: St. Paul student wins ride to school in fire truck

By Howard B. Owens
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Josephina Varland, a student at St. Paul Lutheran School, got a ride to school on Thursday morning in Batavia Fire's Engine 12.

The ride was Varland's reward for winning CIty Fire's safety coloring contest for her school.

Photos by Howard Owens.

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Photos: Harlem Wizards entertain capacity crowd at Oakfield-Alabama

By Howard B. Owens
harlem wizards at OA

The Harlem Wizards visited Oakfield-Alabama High School on Wednesday and put on a show, demonstrating their trick ball handling, shots, and high-level basketball skills while playing a game against a team comprised of OA teachers and staff.

The Oakfield-Alabama PTO hosted the fundraiser. During half-time, souvenirs were on sale, and players autographed items. Half-time was followed by a three-minute game between O-A elementary school students.

Photos by Howard Owens.

harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA
harlem wizards at OA

Boys Soccer: Bees set to defend Section V title against East Rochester on Saturday

By Howard B. Owens
byron-bergen soccer

Byron-Bergen/Elba is moving onto the Section V Class C1 finals after beating Geneseo on Wednesday 2-1.

The Bees, the #2 seed, will face #1 seed East Rochester at noon on Saturday at Honeyeo Falls/Lima.

Colin Rea scored in the first half with an assist from Jack Farner, then with 8:50 left in the game, Craig DiQuattro scored, assisted by Jadiel Amaro. 

Photos Jennifer DiQuattro.

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byron-bergen soccer
byron-bergen soccer
byron-bergen soccer
byron-bergen soccer

Photo: City Fire gives John Kennedy student a lift to school

By Howard B. Owens
city fire coloring contest

Eight-year-old Amara Thomas got a ride in City Fire's Ladder Truck 15 to school at John Kennedy on Wednesday.

Amara was the John Kennedy winner in the department's annual fire safety poster contest, sponsored by IAFF Local 896.

Photos by Howard Owens.

city fire coloring contest

Photos: Fall Festival at St. Anthony's

By Howard B. Owens
city-church-fall-festival-2024

For the eighth year, City Church hosted its annual Fall Festival at its St. Anthony's campus on Liberty Street in Batavia.

Photos by Howard Owens.

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Law and Order: Woman accused of grand theft from local store, accompanied by child

By Howard B. Owens

Brigette K. Thornton, 33, of Glenhaven Drive, Amherst, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th, grand larceny 4th, and act in a manner injurious to a child less than 17. Deputies responded at 5:41 p.m. to a report of a larceny in progress at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Veterans Memorial Drive. Deputies were told the suspect fled in a white Nissan Sentra. Deputies located a vehicle matching the vehicle description within moments of the initial report. Thorton was allegedly found in possession of stolen goods with a child in the car.  The value of the stolen goods was not disclosed. Thornton was issued an appearance ticket.

Johnathan David Fuhrman, 37, of Covington Road, Leicester, is charged with criminal mischief 4th, harassment 2nd, and menacing 3rd.  Fuhrman was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 28 in connection with an incident reported at 10 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2023, at a location on Park Road, Batavia. He was held pending arraignment. 

Janell M. Sauer, 48, of West Main Street, Pembroke, is charged with burglary 34d and petit larceny, and Sean M. Conway, 47, of Indian Falls Road, Pembroke, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th. On Oct. 23, deputies responded to a report of a theft in progress at Walmart. Sauer allegedly walked out with $101.71 in stolen merchandise. As an asset protection agent approached her, Sauer reported walking away and dropping the bag. Conway is accused of picking up the bag, knowing it contained stolen merchandise, and leaving with it.  Batavia patrol officers later located Conway on Lockport Road. Sauer had previously been barred from Walmart property. Conway was released on an appearance ticket. Sauer was located the following day, arrested, and held pending arraignment.

Marissa Bea Torres, 34, no address provided, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Torres is accused of possessing Fentanyl and drug paraphernalia at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 17 at a location on West Main Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Peter Joseph Mancuso, 36, of Deerfield Drive, North Tonawanda, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Mancuso was arrested based on a complaint received at 9:56 a.m. on Oct. 19 at a location on X Main Street, Batavia (whether it was East or West Main was redacted from the report). No narrative was provided regarding Mancuso's conduct. He was held pending arraignment.

Susan Marie Da Silveira, 43, no permanent address, is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and trespass. Da Silveira is accused of harassing employees and customers at a gas station on Park Road, Batavia, at 6:36 p.m. on Oct. 10, and she allegedly tried to prevent deputies from arresting her. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Clarence Arthur Johnson, 66, of Griswold Road, Le Roy, is charged with a sex offender, failure to appear for a photo. Johnson was arrested on Sept. 20 on a warrant and held pending arraignment.

Joseph William Freeman, 40, of Oak Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Freeman is accused of reentering Batavia Downs after being barred from the property at 8:52 p.m. on Oct. 19. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Juan Luis Figoura, 21, of Willow Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st. Figoura was the subject of a traffic stop at 2:21 p.m. on Oct. 23. A person he was ordered to stay away from was allegedly in the vehicle. He was held for arraignment.

Candace De Dibartolomeo, 27, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Dibartolomeo is accused of failure to properly take care of a child after deputies responded to a complaint at Big Tree Glen at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 24. Dibartolomeo was released on an appearance ticket.

Christopher James Johnston, 48, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with trespass. Johnston allegedly entered Batavia Downs at noon on Oct. 26 after previously being barred from the facility. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Jennifer Lynne Fraser, 36, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Fraser is accused of stealing $51.20 in merchandise from Walmart at 4:17 p.m. on Oct. 28. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Photos: Pink Hatters Night Out at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
pink hatters 2024

UMMC and the Cancer Services Program of Genesee & Orleans hosted their annual Pink Hatters Night Out at Batavia Downs on Thursday.

The event supports those battling cancer, admires survivors and honors those who have passed.  

Photos by Howard Owens. (Apologies if we didn't use a picture we took of you -- many good pictures were lost because of photographer error.)

pink hatters 2024
pink hatters 2024
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pink hatters 2024

OTB approves consultants’ plan for executive reorganization, approves jobs for two former Brown staffers

By Howard B. Owens
byron brown
CEO Byron Brown during Thursday's OTB board meeting.
Photo by Howard Owens

Shortly after the board of directors for the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. approved Steve Casey as the first chief of staff at Batavia Downs on Thursday, his new boss, Byron Brown, reiterated that he had no involvement with Casey getting a job in marketing before Brown was named the new president and CEO of the corporation.

"I did not know he applied for a gaming license," Brown told a gaggle of reporters after Thursday's board meeting. "I did not know he was hired at Batavia Downs prior to me applying for the position.”

Casey's new position was created by an executive reorganization based on recommendations from consultants at True North. The board on Thursday approved a payment of $30,000 to True North for their consulting work.

Based on those recommendations, the board created a new executive organization with the following job titles:

  • Chief Executive Officer 
  • Chief Administrative Officer/Chief of Staff 
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Vice-President of Operations
  • Vice-President of Business Development
  • Vice-President of Human Resources
  • Executive Office Manager
  • Director of Communications
  • Executive Business Administrator

The board eliminated the following job titles:

  • Director of Marketing
  • Director of Human Resources
  • Executive Chef

In addition to Brown as CEO and Casey as Chief of Staff, Ryan Hasenaurer was promoted from marketing director to vice president of business development. Danielle 
Fleming was named VP of Human Resources. Michael J. DeGeorge, who handled communications in the office of Mayor Byron Brown, was named director of communications at a salary of $130,000.

timothy callan
Timothy Callan
Photo by Howard Owens

Brown said that based on the reorganization plan, he recommended Casey and DeGeorge for their new positions, which the board approved. Erie County's representative on the board, Timothy Callan, voted against the reorganization measures.

A number of media outlets have mistakenly reported that Brown hired Casey. On Wednesday, outgoing CEO Henry Wojtaszek told The Batavian he hired Casey not long after Casey first contacted him about a job back in May, months before there was an announced plan to replace Wojtaszek. Wojtaszek told Casey he would need to get a gaming license, which he did. Casey started working in marketing at Batavia Downs before the board hired Brown to replace Wojtaszek.

In an exclusive interview with The Batavian on Thursday, Casey confirmed that series of events with some additional details.

At 58, Casey said he started thinking about his retirement and that perhaps he should try to get back into the state's retirement system. While he's never been close with Wojtaszek, he's known him cordially for years, so in May, he decided to give Wojtaszek a call.

Casey said, "I'm thinking, 'Okay, it might be time to get back in. Where would I like to do that?' I think you saw a bit of chaos in Erie County. So I'm thinking, 'Where would a good spot be to go?' I knew Henry. We weren't close, but Henry and I, over the years, crossed paths, and I know him pretty well, so I reached out to Henry. 'Hey, any openings? I'd like to get back in the pension system.'"

Getting a gaming license normally takes weeks. Casey's was approved in about a week. Casey wasn't ready to start that soon so he didn't start working at the casino until September.

One of the issues Erie County reporters have raised regarding Casey is a wire fraud conviction against his former consulting company, LSS Strategies, in 2021. That came after a five-year FBI investigation that resulted in a $69 fine. 

"That application was the most comprehensive document I've ever seen," Casey said. "I literally sat with my attorney, and together, we went through it, answering all the questions, disclosed everything we possibly could so they could then make a decision. And fortunately, they came back and said, there's nothing there.”

Casey said the Gaming Commission was "100% fully informed."

"The most important factor was Steve Casey, as an individual, I don't have a point on my driver's license. I don't have a misdemeanor. I don't have a felony. There's nothing against me as an individual,” he said.

Casey said he didn't learn that Brown was a potential candidate for the job until August or September.

"I've kept in touch with the mayor over the years since I left city government, but when I first came here, it was not based on whether the mayor would come here," Casey said. "He was still in the middle of his budget stuff in May. You're looking at April, May, June. So, my coming here solely had to do with me looking at opportunities for my pension and getting back into government."

Casey is excited, he said, to take on his new role at the OTB and is already impressed by the quality of the people he will be working with.

"I can tell you, I started at the bottom level here," Casey said. "I was seeing everybody on the floor, talking to all the employees here. They didn't know who I was. They didn't know my background. Extremely professional, incredible staff, very talented. 

I'll tell you one specific example," Casey added. "The CFO here. I've worked in Albany, in Albany for nine years and in government for 24 years. I've seen some of the best budget directors you've ever seen, from the speaker's budget director to the governor's budget director. Jackie Leach is by far one of the single most talented CFOs I've ever seen. She knows everything about this place, the institutional knowledge, and her ability to do what she does here. I mean, it's a top-notch staff, and I'm looking forward to working with such a talented staff."

Previously: Information provided by OTB leaders contradicts widely reported accounts of staff hiring at Batavia Downs

steve casey
Steve Casey, new chief of staff at Batavia Downs.
Photo by Howard Owens.

BREAKING: OTB board names former Brown aide as chief of staff

By Howard B. Owens

Steve Casey, former deputy mayor in Buffalo under Byron Brown, has been appointed chief of staff for Western Regional Off-Track Betting. 

The board approved creation of the position and hiring Casey as part of an executive restructuring plan. 

Casey applied for a job with OTB in May and obtained a part-time job.  He was deputy mayor under Brown, until 2015.  Brown was recently named CEO of OTB.  

Casey is receiving a one-year contract worth $190,000. 

Michael DeGeorge, also a former assistant to Brown, has been hired by the board as director of communication, at a salary of $130,000.

More TK

Information provided by OTB leaders contradict widely reported accounts of staff hiring at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens

Byron Brown had no involvement at all in Steve Casey landing a part-time marketing job at Batavia Downs, said Henry Wojtaszek on Wednesday night.

Wojtaszek is the outgoing president and CEO of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., and Brown, a former five-term mayor of Buffalo, is his successor.

Steve Casey, until 2015, was Brown's deputy mayor.

Multiple media outlets in Erie County and Genesee County reported over the past few days that Brown either hired Casey or implied that Brown was involved in the decision to give Casey a job.

Both Wojtaszek and Brown provided information that contradict those reports.

"I had no influence in hiring Steve Casey at all," Brown told a gaggle of reporters outside a closed committee meeting at Batavia Downs on Wednesday.

Wojtaszek said that while he's not friends with Casey, they've known each other for several years. In May, Wojtaszek said, Casey asked about a job, saying he wanted to get back into the state retirement system. After going through the application process for the job, Casey applied for a state gaming license and received his license about a week later, Wojtaszek said. He started work in late July or early August. Casey received his harness racing license in August.

In late July, the OTB board voted to negotiate a buyout of Wojtaszek's employment contract and announced the formation of an executive search committee.

Board Chairman Dennis Bassett refused to share the names of candidates with reporters throughout the search process, even while there was speculation that Brown was a candidate. Brown said he didn't even consider applying for the job until he learned of Wojtaszek's eventual departure (Wojtaszek's last day is Dec. 31).

Wojtaszek told The Batavian that Bassett even kept the names of candidates from him. He didn't know Brown was a candidate until Brown's name was brought to the board in September for a vote.

Media reports suggest Casey is a controversial hire. In 2015, the FBI launched a five-year investigation into an allegation that he stole funds from one of his political consultant candidates, Charles Swanick. The result of the investigation? A conviction for wire fraud with no jail time and no probation. He was ordered to pay a $69 fine and fork over $8,283.59 in restitution. The crux of the dispute, according to a report by WGRZ: Swanick thought Casey had agreed to work for free.

Asked about the conviction on Wednesday, Brown defended Casey's employment at Batavia Downs.

"When you look at Steve Casey's actual record, he has no record, so there is no prohibition to him being able to work here, as I understand it," Brown said. "He was hired prior to me being hired, and he has a gaming license, which I understand he got before me getting one."

Pressed to discuss the conviction, Brown said the issue is more complex than sound bites can convey.

"Again, I'm not going to go into those details in a sound-bite fashion," Brown said. "It would be unfair to that individual. There's a lot more to it than that. I don't think it would be fair for me to try to discuss in, you know, a 20-second soundbite." 

For those questioning whether Wojtaszek, a Republican, would hire Casey, a Democrat, Wojtaszek said party affiliation is not part of the hiring process.

"Honestly, I can tell you this -- I mean, I know Steve is kind of a high-profile guy -- but I have no idea what the political affiliation is of the people we hire," Wojtaszek said. "I have no idea."

He said that outside of one staff member Wojtaszek has known for years, he never talks politics with his staff.  

"I have no idea what they're registered," he added. "I believe that this organization is not a political organization. That's why I love Dennis (Bassett). He's like, 'I'm a Democrat. That's my ideology. But when I come here, we don't, we don't discuss that.' He says, 'I know where you come from. You know where I come from, but let's work through this thing.'"

Brown told reporters on Wednesday that he has no idea what future position Casey might hold at Batavia Downs. There was no promotion or switch to full-time proposal before the board at Wednesdays meeting.

"As I move forward, I would certainly consider him for a position," Brown said.

Previously: Reports of Byron Brown hiring former staffer are incorrect

OTB board continues discussion of hotel expansion at Batavia Downs

By Howard B. Owens
batavia downs hotel
Batavia Downs Hotel
2016 file photo by Howard Owens.

Expanding the Batavia Downs Hotel seems like a good idea to Byron Brown, who discussed the idea in his first board meeting on Wednesday since starting his new position as president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.

"The board has started looking at expanding the hotel, certainly predating me," said Brown. "I have been in a number of briefings on the hotel; there are several outside consultants and expert entities who have been hired to help the board evaluate the potential of expanding the hotel. From what I have been able to see and review, it looks like it makes sense to me."

Brown did not disclose any specifics on the proposals the board is reviewing. Wednesday's discussion took place behind closed doors. Brown said the expansion would take place on the current Batavia Downs property. The board has not discussed purchasing additional property he said.

"A lot of questions came up in the executive session that the board went into to discuss the hotel," Brown said. "I thought the questions were right on target, and I think the board will make a sound decision about whether to expand the hotel or not to expand the hotel."

After Kmart closed in 2018, WROTB attempted to purchase the property but lost out to Benderson Development. While Benderson built space and leased it to three franchise operations, the main Kmart building remains vacant. Brown said he has not heard any talk of WROTB attempting again to purchase the property.

The 84-room luxury hotel opened in 2016. It was originally constructed and operated by ADK Hospitality, a Buffalo-based company. It costs ADK $5.4 million to build the hotel. The OTB purchased the hotel in 2021 for $8 million.

The purchase, Brown said, "has led to this corporation becoming a lot more profitable. So purchasing the hotel in the first place was a very good decision. From my perspective, just being able to evaluate this during the week that I've been here, I think expanding would be a good decision as well. But again, I don't want to try to speak for the board."

 

 

Reports of Byron Brown hiring former staffer are incorrect

By Howard B. Owens

Contrary to reports in other media outlets, Byron Brown, the new president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, says he did not hire a former mayoral office staffer at Batavia Downs.

Steve Casey, a former deputy mayor in Buffalo, does work for Batavia Downs but he was hired by Henry Wojtaszek before Brown even applied for the job, Brown told The Batavian between committee meetings at the casino on Wednesday.

Brown said he did not have details about Casey's employment and referred those questions to Wojtaszek. Wojtaszek said he would answer questions after he has a chance to brief the board of directors on the matter.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.

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