city council

Former Batavia PD lieutenant Eugene Jankowski was honored Monday night by the Batavia City Council for his 34 years of service to the city.

Among Jankowski's many accomplishments was creating the Emergency Response Team (commonly referred to in other jurisdictions as SWAT).

Jankowski was forced to retire earlier this year when the lieutenant positions were eliminated from the Batavia police force.

Two weeks ago, the City GOP committee endorsed Jankowski for one of the three at-large council positions up for election in November.

Elect Laura Russell-Ricci for City Council at Large this November 6th. Invested in Batavia--Past, Present & Future!

I am asking for your vote to be your representative on the Batavia City Council. I care deeply for this community and feel that I can offer fresh ideas and a younger perspective to help move Batavia into the future. Batavia is the community where I was raised and where my husband Phil and I have chosen to raise our family. I believe in safe streets and safe activities for our youth. I also believe in a stable tax rate for everyone, especially our seniors, who struggle on fixed incomes.

• Lifelong Batavian
• Wife & Mom of 3 great children
• Licensed Social Worker
• MS Roberts Wesleyan
• BS Keuka College
• Proud U.S. Army Veteran
• Employed by Mental Health Association

Please consider me as you go to the polls on November 6th. I thank you in advance for your support. Contact: Laura4batavia@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Russell-Ricci-for-Batavia-City-Council-at-Large/416887225015119?ref=ts&fref=ts

Paid Political Advertisement. Paid for by Laura Russell-Ricci.

On a vote of 6-3 Monday night, the Batavia City Council approved a $1,500 annual raise for themselves.

Council pay will bump from $2,000 annually to $3,500.

It's the first pay raise for the council in 20 years.

New council members Brooks Hawley, Chris Doeringer and John Canale voted against the raise.

Batavia City Council members deserve a pay raise, veteran Council Member Rose Mary Christian said to kick off Batavia's budget session Monday night, according to WBTA.

Christian, who represents Ward Six, didn't say how much the raise should be and apparently there wasn't much support from the nine-member council, which includes six new members.

Currently, council members are paid $2,000 per year.

The council is reviewing a proposed budget that would raise property taxes 4.2 percent and also increase water rates and fees more than $13 a year for the average customer.

The son of our State Assembly representative and a former city council member are the two people recommended by the city GOP committee to fill two vacancies on the Batavia City Council.

The city's charter provides that vacated seats be filled by appointees from the party of former seat holders.

Awaiting council approval are Brooks Hawley, son of Assemblyman Steve Hawley, and James Russell, a former council member.

They will replace, if approved, Frank Ferrando and Marianne Clattenburg, at-large members elected in November to seats on the Genesee County Legislature.

There was praise all around in Batavia City Council chambers Monday night as five council members commemorated their final meeting and their colleagues thanked them for their service.

Leaving are Frank Ferrando and Marianne Clattenburg, who were elected to the Genesee County Legislature, and Sam Barone, Bill Cox and Bob Bialkowski.

"The majority of this body is leaving and the majority of the body will be new and most of them are here (tonight)," Bialkowski said. "I can only wish them well. I commend them for their interest and dedication to serving the community."

Nearly every council member spoke about how tough it was to serve on the council a few years ago -- Ferrando said it wasn't fun to come to meetings -- but how much has changed in the past couple of years.

"Whenever we've left a meeting, we always left respecting every one's opinions and we will always be friends," said Rose Mary Christian. "I want to thank you all for serving our city."

Ferrando said the council has done some good work over the past few years that all members can take pride in.

"I think one of the good  things that happened is what we’re sitting in right here," Ferrando said. "What happened with this building is that it transformed our Main Street. I think that’s a very positive thing. It’s going to be more obvious as the years go on."

Photo: Front, from left, Frank Ferrando and Marianne Clattenburg; back, Sam Barone, Bill Cox and Bob Bialkowski.

Announcement from the City of Batavia Republican Committee:

The City of Batavia Republican Committee is accepting applications from city residents interested in filling one of the two city council at-large positions that will be opening up at the beginning of the year.

Letters of interest and resumes can be dropped off or mailed to the attention of Joe Gerace at 16 Vine St., Batavia. Letters of interest are due by Monday, Nov. 28.

The City of Batavia Charter requires these positions to be filled by individuals currently registered with the Republican Party, as this was the party of the two outgoing at-large city council members.

This information is provided by Geoff Redick of WBTA.

After absentee ballots have been counted, Democrat Pierluigi Cippolone has officially won the election for Batavia City Council Ward 4.

Cippolone wins the election over Republican incumbent Bob Bialkowski, by a final count of 233 votes to 217.

Bialkowski had won the balloted election by just two votes last week. But more than 50 absentee ballots had remained uncounted. Officials counted those ballots, and the final results were announced this morning.

All official results will be posted as they become available from the Genesee County Board of Elections.

We've asked each of the candidates in the city council and county legislature races to answer a couple of questions regarding why they're running and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Election Day is Tuesday.

Here's the response from Kris Doeringer, 1st Ward, Batavia City Council:

The key issue for Batavia is to make our city a place where people will want to live and work. This means keeping our city safe and secure, provide the services that people want, and to bring jobs and services into the city. While this is a big task, you can only get there by taking one step at a time.

The first step we need to take is to control spending and keeping our taxes down. From speaking with people in the 1st Ward, people do not mind paying taxes as long as they are getting their money's worth for those taxes.

We need to keep those services that are essential to keep the city safe and secure. Because who wants to live somewhere that is not safe?

We need to make Batavia a place where people want to open businesses and provide jobs. Creating economic development is essential to getting our city to move forward. We have resources in place, now we must make sure that they are doing the job.

In order to achieve these goals, I will work to keep pressure on the people that are responsible for making it happen. I will bring suggestions not only from myself but from the people of Batavia. People I have spoken with have had great ideas that need to be brought before the city. I would like to continue hearing from everyone about any ideas they make have.

I own my own home, business, and I am raising my family here in Batavia. I have everything to gain for myself and my children by making Batavia a better place. By voting for me, I promise to work hard to fulfill my promises to you and to my family for making Batavia the best it can be.

We've asked each of the candidates in the city and county legislature races to answer a couple of questions regarding why they're running and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Election Day is Tuesday.

First to respond, John Canale, candidate for the 3rd Ward, city council.

The primary reason I am running for city council is in response to the advice of my late father "Lou," who himself was a former city councilman and county legislator. He often reminded me that if I am to live, work, raise a family, and run a business in one community, there will come a time that I must give something back to that community that so generously supported me.  After living my entire 51 years in this great city, now is the time, and I can think of no better way to serve my community than as a city councilman.

I would like to offer the residents of the 3rd Ward an equal voice on city council, allowing their views and concerns to be heard, considered, and represented without bias regarding all city matters. The primary reason voters should support me is because I have the business "know how" it takes to run the city. As a local small business owner of Canale's Drum Studio, and having been involved in the local business community for the past 28 years in this great city, I feel the business background and knowledge that I bring to council is extremely advantageous to running a municipality.

One of the key issues I would like to focus on during my term is concentrating on the existing process of increasing revenues as we continue to look for ways to consolidate duplicate services in order to cut costs. These two facets are crucial to maintaining current services without impacting dramatic tax increases that the taxpayers can no longer shoulder.

I look forward to working with Julie Pacatte, our new economic development coordinator, to find ways to encourage more small business development and expansion in the city. Small business development will be crucial to building new revenue sources through expanding the tax base and increasing traffic and activity within the city.

At Monday's Batavia City Council meeting, council members Bill Cox and Bob Bialkowski welcomed recently appointed Economic Development Coordinator Julie Pacatte to her new job by presenting her with a "Treasures of Batavia" picture collection. It was purchased from St. James Episcopal Church, which is selling collections of pictures to raise money to help restore the church's bell tower. Cox said he saw the pictures and thought they would be a nice way to welcome Pacatte to her new position.

Dan Jones, a regular contributor to The Batavian, announced Wednesday he will mount a primary challenge against a council candidate already endorsed by city Democrats.

While accusing unnamed Democrats, who are apparently opposed to his candidacy, of already fighting dirty, Jones promised an issue-oriented campaign.

"I believe in order for the city to move forward, council must support policies that are progressive, fiscally restrained and totally transparent," Jones said.

While Jones is endorsed by the Conservative Party, he is taking on Kathryn Balbick Bellamy, endorsed by the Democrats, in a Third Ward primary.

Jones was joined in front of Batavia City Hall on Wednesday by Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder and Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian.

"Dan Jones loves this business," said Schroeder, whom Jones worked for as an intern in Albany. "He loves the business of governance. He loves to help constituents. He loves politics."

A recent graduate of Canisius College, where he majored in political science, Jones was born and raised in Batavia and professes a love for the community and concern about its future.

Besides joining in the conversation on The Batavian -- something he promises to continue doing, even after elected -- Jones has been seen at many city council meetings over the past three years and has spoken out on issues from the ambulance service to consolidation.

Jones, 23, says he is self-employed.

Christian, also a Democrat, said she is supporting Jones because he is involved and outspoken.

"He's not afraid to speak out," Christian said. "Even some of my colleagues are fence sitters who won't take a stand unless somebody tells them where to go. That's not me and that's not this young man."

Jones said he is seeking office with high ideals and an ambition to do what he believes is best for Batavia.

"I seek this office not so it becomes another notch on my resume," Jones said, "I seek this office not because I believe I have a popular last name or because I feel I am entitled to it. I seek this office not for revenge. I seek this office because I believe that Batavia needs to be a leader in our region, and indeed the entire state, in having good government that's responsive to the needs of all of its citizens."

Below, video of the event produced by The Batavian's news partner, WBTA:

Press release:

Batavia, NY: I will announce my intentions tomorrow regarding the open seat in the Third Ward left by the retirement of Sam Barone, who did an outstanding job representing that ward on city council. I will be announcing that I am entering a Democratic primary and that I have been endorsed by the Conservative Party.  The announcement will be tomorrow, June 29th at 6 p.m. outside of Batavia City Hall. I will be joined by Democratic Councilwomen Rose Mary Christian and Kathy Briggs, whom are supporting my campaign. Any and all are invited to attend.

Dan has sent along word that Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder, his former boss and a candidate for comptroller in Erie County, will be joining the press conference.

City Republicans have candidates they're backing in three wards and are looking for candidates for the other three wards.

Last night, the local GOP picked newcomer Kristopher Doeringer in Ward 1 and incumbents Patti Pacino in Ward 2 and Bob Bialkowski in Ward 4.

Chairman Joe Gerace said candidates interested in wards 3, 5 and 6 should contact him by May 20.

Currently Ward 1 is represented by Bill Cox; Ward 3, by Sam Barone; Ward 5, by Kathy Briggs; Ward 6, by Rose Mary Christian.

Here's what happened at Monday night's city council meeting.

There were two public hearings -- one on the proposed budget with its $1.59 per-thousand property tax increase and another on the water and sewer rate increase (adding about $12 per year to the average homeowner's bill) -- and no members of the public showed up.

A pair of local residents raised their concerns about a neighbor dispute they would like the police department to take action on.

And Elijah Monroe, above, presented a framed certificate to the Batavia City Council commemorating Batavia for being the Niagara Frontier chapter headquarters for the The Society of the Second War with Great Britain In the State of New York.

The society is affiliated with the General Society of the War of 1812, which is an organization for the male descendants of anyone who served in the War of 1812.

Tonight's Batavia City Council meeting was a conference meeting. The following items were discussed (no votes were taken):

Cedar Street reconstruction

In September 2009, the City Council authorized the Cedar Street reconstruction project. It is being paid for by federal highway money and will cost $2.8 million.

A total of 15 engineering firms were considered for a contract to provide engineering services for the project. A committee is recommending that Buffalo-based Erdman Anthony get the contract for $220,000 in engineering services.

Redevelopment

The Batavia Planning and Development Committee approved a residential redevelopment plan previously recommended by the City Council. At its next business meeting, the council will be asked to pass a resolution authorizing the plan.

It calls for foreclosed properties to be transferred to the Batavia Housing Authority so that the property can be deeded, under specific conditions, to qualified low-income families.

City budget

In keeping with Batavia's budget audit consultant, the City Council will need to adopt a resolution at its next business meeting to set up several reserve funds. These include: employee benefit accrued liability; self-insurance health benefit plan; workers' compensation; retirement contribution; and reserves for Dwyer Stadium repair.

The city has $3.5 million in compensated absence liability, with $1.3 million potentially due immediately, if the high number of employees eligible to retire actually did so. The resolution would authorize a transfer of $150,000 to the benefit accrued liability fund.

Another resolution would authorize the transfer of $100,000 to the self-insurance fund.

With $284,000 in potential workers' comp liability, another resolution would transfer $200,000 from the general reserve fund to the workers' comp liability fund.

Another resolution would transfer $150,000 for public works equipment and $50,000 for fire department equipment for future purchases.

The council is also being asked to transfer $200,000 to the retirement reserve fund.

Finally, the council is being asked to transfer $60,000 to the Dwyer Stadium repair reserve fund.

In the years since Jason Molino took over as city manager, Batavia has gone from an annual deficit of $1.2 million to a surplus in 2009-2010 of $475,800.

Yet, minutes after the City Council heard an audit report on the city's improving financial condition, the council split 4-5 on a motion to meet in a closed session to grant Molino -- among the lowest paid top administrators of any city in the state -- a modest raise.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski asked to postpone the discussion saying he had only recently received information that should be investigated before a vote on Molino's compensation.

When the council did go into closed session, Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian declined to join the discussion.

There are families in Batavia that are hurting financially, Christian said, and until the economy turns around, she can't support any increase in spending.

While the other council members huddled behind a closed door, Christian said she thinks highly of Molino.

"I am not opposed to Jason Molino by any means," Christian said. "I’m opposed to any more spending."

When the council emerged, a resolution was passed on an 8-1 vote granting Molino a 1.5-percent pay increase retroactive to April 1, 2010.

Molino makes $84,260. The top administrator in Beacon, with a population 2,000 less than Batavia, makes $123,000. In Cortland, with a slightly bigger population, the top administrator makes $101,000. Geneva's city manager makes $94,000. (See Through New York for salaries; CityTownInfo.com for populations.)

Meanwhile, an audit report prepared by Freed Maxick & Battaglia shows that the city matched actual revenue with budgeted revenue in the recent fiscal year, after three consecutive years of exceeding revenue projections.

On the expenditure side of the ledger, the city, for the third-straight year kept spending below budget levels, with $445,000 saved in 2009-10.

Auditor Laura Landers (inset picture) credited the city with conservative budgeting, cuts in 2008-09, a decrease in health insurance costs, not filling vacant positions and deferring expenditures on aging equipment.

The city has been able to build a fund balance of $2.8 million over the past four years. In 2006, the fund balance was in the red $1.3 million.

The fund balance allows the city to build reserves for workers' compensation, insurance, capital projects, employee benefits and other reserves necessary to provide the city with a cushion against deficit spending.

Among the areas Molino recommends building up fund reserves for is the Department of Public Works and fire department equipment. He recommends reserves of $150,000 for DPW and $50,000 for fire. Within five years, Molino said, the fire department will need a new pumper.

"Right now, most of our equipment, if not all, is completely depreciated," Molino said. "Last year was the first time we purchased equipment in about seven or eight years."

While I was trying to take a picture of Christian alone in the council chambers, Chief Randy Baker came over and started talking with her, and then Jason Molino wanted to jump in the picture.

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.

Rather than auction away foreclosed homes, maybe the city should offer them first, at a minimal cost, to city employees, Councilman Tim Buckley suggested at Monday's Batavia City Council meeting.

His idea met with some resistance, particularly Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian, who said any such program should be open to the entire community.

But the gist of Buckley's proposal got some support -- rather than auction off homes that the city has seized for unpaid taxes, the city should create a program to turn them into owner-occupied residences. Instead of taking a chance that through the auction process they become rentals, find buyers who want to fix them up as their own homes.

"We should set up some type of committee to look into taking foreclosures and selling the property at a minimum cost to employees with some guarantees, and one of the guarantees would be that would agree to live in the property or five years," Buckley said.

In Buckley's plan, city employees would get the property a low cost, giving them instant equity that they could borrow against and invest $20,000 to $30,000 in home restoration.

There are 130 people employed by the city.

“When I was a young patrolman, I know I would have jumped at a program like this,“ Buckley said.

Christian said she was totally against the idea of making such a program available only to city employees.

"I would rather offer it to the whole community than just one single group," Christian said.

Councilman Frank Ferrando struck a middle ground, saying opening such a program to the whole community at first might pose too many complications.

"I think what Tim is saying will give us better control, and if the program works, we can expand later," Ferrando said.

City Manager Jason Molino agree to research a similar program Buckley said was once in place in Rochester, as well as what other cities might be doing along similar lines, and report back to the council.