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October 10, 2023 Regular Meeting

Mayor James M. Jaroszynski
Trustee Anthony Cavallaro
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr.
Trustee Annette Miller

Gregory Peterson, Attorney – excused
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer
Bryce Webster, Fire Chief
Alan Gustafson Sr., Code Enforcement Officer
Paul Andalora, Code Enforcement Officer
Paul Capitano, Code Enforcement Oficer
Carl Caprino, DPW Superintendent
Laurie Becker, Library Director

The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, October 10, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Dunn, Trustee Cavallaro, Trustee Miller and Mayor Jaroszynski were all present.

Visitors

Nina Gustafson                                                                                                                  

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

VISITORS ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE FOR A DEBATE. IT IS A MEETING FOR THE BOARD TO CONDUCT VILLAGE BUSINESS. ALLCOMPLAINTS/REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED AND REVIEWED AT A LATER TIME.

Visitor Comments

No comments from visitors.

Minutes

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson, to approve the minutes of the September 11, 2023 Regular Board of Trustees Meeting.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller, to approve the minutes of the September 28, 2023 Special Board of Trustees Meeting. The text of the NY Forward resolution will be added to the body of the minutes.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Mayors Remarks

  • The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce recently honored Village of Falconer attorney, Greg Peterson as the” 2023 Person of the Year” at their annual banquet held at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia. Congratulations Greg!
  • Falconer Central School will hold their homecoming parade and bonfire on Thursday, October 12th starting at 6:00 pm.
  • The next Falconer Chamber meeting will be on Thursday, October 19th at 7:00pm at PersNikkity Pies

Fire Chief

The Fire Chief’s September report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 39 EMS incidents, 17 cancelled in route, 4 assist invalid, 3 smoke detector malfunction, 2 cover standby, 4 motor vehicle accidents, 1 outside equipment fire, 1 rescue or EMS standby, 1 special type of incident, 1 person in distress, 1 medical assist, 1 motor vehicle/pedestrian accident, 1 garbage/dump fire, 1 CO detector malfunction, 1 gas leak, 1 alarm system malfunction. 79 calls, 679 total calls YTD.

Mutual Aid Breakdown – September 2023
Given:  Jamestown-3, Frewsburg-5, Kennedy-1, Alstar-1, total 10 
Received:  Medic 74 -4, Alstar-10, Gerry-1, Kennedy-1, Kiantone-3, total 19

Highlights:

  • Fire Department Haunted House and Trick or Trunk event will be held on October 31 from 5-8pm.
  • The Halloween themed Boot Drive will be on Saturday, October 28.
  •  ISO inspection is coming up at the end of October, will be busy getting ready so that we can get the same great rating that received from last ISO inspection in 2017.
  • Will be assisting for the Falconer School Homecoming parade–38 floats are registered for the parade.
  • Medicare billing was approved

Code Enforcement

The September code officer report was reviewed. It was noted 6 building permits totaling $300 were issued, 58 permits issued YTD.

Highlights:

  • 319 Central Avenue – house is in the process of being sold, exposed openings are covered to make it weather-tight until restoration can begin.
  • 221 E. Pearl Street – repair of fire damage has begun and exposed openings have been covered.
  • 102 E. Main Street – building permit issued to new owners who are setting up new hearing aid business.
  • Recommending 8 parcels that have been used for commercial purposes be referred to the Village Planning Board for potential inclusion into the (C)Commercial, (VC)Village Commercial or (I)Industrial zoning districts. These parcels are currently in the (R)Residential and (MR)Mixed Residential zoning districts. 
  • Work at 27-29 E. Main Street is progressing with a new rear entrance roof and patio constructed.
  • Newly appointed Code Officer Paul Capitano will begin his NYS Code Enforcement training on October 23rd with an estimated completion date of February, 2024.

Department of Public Works

The DPW report was submitted for the period September 11, 2023 – October 5, 2023. 

  • Still waiting on new leaf machine and sidewalk plow that are on order. Superintendent Caprino will follow up on to push up delivery dates. Current dates are November for leaf box and January for sidewalk plow.                                                                                                                                       
  • The Chadakoin River bank at Jamestown Container looks great-thank you to the county town and village.
  • The county completed clearing out Millrace Park. The creek was dredged to redirect the flow that was causing flooding issues. They are planning for a new path, benches and tables in the spring.
  • Mayville is giving us their 3 old fire horns and 1 new valve to use for parts to get our fire horn working.
  • Trustee Dunn asked if the DPW equipment replacement schedule that was requested at the budget meeting has been completed. The 1-ton dump truck needs to get re-ordered and we need to make sure we stay on schedule with replacing older equipment. 
  • The blue shed at Falconer Park has been taken down. Superintendent Caprino will gather prices for a replacement shed. Trustee Cavallaro said if prices are close we should deal will our local business people.
  • Leaf pick-up will start on October 17.

Library  

The September 11, 2023 – October 10, 2023 Library report was reviewed. 

Highlights:

  • The library board would like to implement winter hours starting November1st. Hours of operation will be Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm and Saturdays, 9:00am – 12:00pm.
  • Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson to approve the library winter hours. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.
  • Contractor Nate Goot will be starting the front door reconstruction by the end of October.
  • The “Adopt-a-Book” program that began last October has been very successful. Total donations as of October 4, 2023 are $2,417, adding 147 new books to the library.
  • Story Hour classes for three-and four-year-old children began on September 20th. There are still openings for more children in both the 3 and 4-year-old classes.
  • The next Library Board meeting will be held on Thursday, November 16th at 8:00 am. 

Committees:

Finance: 

  • Recommending switching payroll to Main Street Payroll, a division of Bahgat & Laurito-Bahgat, CPA firm. Pricing is comparable with current payroll system and offers additional benefits such as filing the NYS monthly retirement report and managing employee available benefit time. 
  • Budget Modifications – Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn to approve Resolution #10-2023 resolved that the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to make the following amendments to the 2023-24 General Fund Budget as listed below:  

REVENUES

INCREASE:3410.4Community Foundation Grant$2,000.00
  Gerry Fire Department – Damage to Ladder Trucks$8,307.95
 7140.4Community Foundation Grant$3,206.00

APPROPRIATIONS

INCREASE:3410.4Fire Hall Kitchen Cabinets$2,000.00
  Ladder Truck Repair$8,307.95
 7140.4Cornhole Boards$3,206.00

Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Legal:  

  • Mayor Jaroszynski noted that he has been notified by the village annexation attorneys that all parties (Village of Falconer, Falconer Central School District, Town of Ellicott and City of Jamestown) have been summoned to meet in the chambers of the Appellate Court Judge in Buffalo on November 6th. The Judge is looking for a resolution before it goes to trial.

Public Safety: 

  • Dog Control report for September was reviewed and a special use permit was approved for 3 dogs at 121 Hickory Street in the village.
  • Neighborhood Watch Group will be meeting on Wednesday, October 11 at 6 pm. Village Historian, Brenda Cavallaro will conduct a village history tour prior to the meeting at 5 pm.

Downtown Development:  

  • Projects continue on 27-29 E. Main Street
  • New Hearing Aid business opening soon next to Crosby’s
  • Waiting to hear back from Town of Ellicott on Downtown Development Corporation

Farmers Market:

  • Nothing new to report

Parks:

  • Continuing to get information regarding converting the tennis courts into pickle ball courts. 

Pine Hill Cemetery:

  • Cemetery will be pouring 9 foundations this fall, removing a large pine tree and planting some new trees.

Planning/Zoning Board: 

  • There was a discussion earlier regarding a variance for Falconer Printing that may be something coming up in the future.

Old Business:

  • Downtown Master Plan Project – NY Forward Application submitted
    • Application was submitted and awardees should be notified by Dec/Jan
  • Code Enforcement Officer – Introduction of new hire
    • Paul Capitano was introduced as the new full-time code officer for the village.
  • Property Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters – Local Law review
    • Proposed local law #1-2023 enacting a property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers pursuant to section 466-a of the real property tax law was reviewed. Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to table the local law for 30 days until a public hearing on November 13, at 6:00 pm. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

New Business: 

  • Set Halloween Hours – Last year 5:00 – 7:00 pm
    • Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn to set the Halloween hours from 5:00-7:00 pm on October 31st, 2023. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.
  • Santa Parade – Falconer Rotary
    • The Falconer Rotary is requesting permission to hold the annual Santa Parade on Saturday, November 18, 2023 starting at 5:00 pm. The parade will proceed east on Main Street, starting at Dow Street, to S. Work Street and will conclude at Everett Street. Santa and Mrs. Clause will greet children in the Santa House located in Coleson Park. There will also be a petting zoo, food and drink from 3C’s Catering Food Truck, and a Holiday Expo at the Falconer Fire Hall from 10-4, sponsored by the Falconer Fire Department Auxiliary. Trustee Miller made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to approve the Santa Parade on November 18. Roll: Gustafson: Abstain, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Correspondence:      

A letter from village resident, Ro Woodard was reviewed by the board regarding the signs recently put up in front of the community building.  According to the Town of Ellicott police, unless we have signs posted regarding soliciting and trespassing, if the situation occurred where we needed their assistance to enforce this, we would need to have a sign posted. Mayor Jaroszynski will reach out to Ro to address her concern.

Trustee Gustafson noted that he recently attended a session at the NYCOM conference where they suggested that the board to pass a resolution on the acceptable uses of the building and have it posted in the lobby areas. NYCOM also noted there is a state law that requires that any fundraisers for the fire department should be approved by the board beforehand.  Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Dunn to approve the Fire Department Boot Drive on October 28.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Gustafson’s letter, dated October 10, 2023, which acknowledged his review on October 9, 2023 of the unpaid vouchers for Abstract #5 (FY 23/24) and bank reconciliations from M&T Bank, Community Bank and NYCLASS for the month of August 2023 was placed into record.

Abstracts

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Dunn and seconded by Trustee Miller that Abstract #5, General Fund in the amount of $101,043.57 be approved for payment. Roll: Gustafson: Abstain, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Gustafson and seconded by Trustee Dunn that Abstract #5, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $631.53 be approved for payment.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Miller and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #5, Library Fund in the amount of $1,397.86 be approved for payment. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Abstain, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Cavallaro and seconded by Trustee Miller that Abstract #5, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $4,905.26 be approved for payment. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, Miller: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:50 p.m. Ayes-all. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk