A 44-year-old man from Batavia was ejected from his pickup truck while still belted in his seat as the result of a collision on Friday in the Town of Le Roy.

Gregory Baker was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident was reported at 7:32 a.m. on Friday at Griswold Road and West Bergen Road.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Sheriff's Office, Baker was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 eastbound on Griswold when he apparently failed to stop for a stop sight. The truck collided with a 2005 Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by Richard McCullough, 29, of Le Roy.

Neither McCullough nor the child in the semi-trailer was injured in the accident.

The accident is still under investigation.

Assisting the Sheriff's Office at the scene were State Police, Le Roy PD, Le Roy Fire, Mercy EMS, and Le Roy Ambulance Service.

If it seems as though Diana Fox is a broken record each year, it’s because she’s sounding the same alarm of what’s to come for Genesee County as the year 2035 approaches: sky-high population numbers for people aged 60 and older as those demographics have continued to increase from 2010 -- with no answer yet to the homecare aide shortage. 

And as director of the county’s Office for the Aging, Fox has kept a wary eye on her department’s rising costs in direct relation to staffing needs for the assorted care needed by that age group, she says.

“The 2025 budget increase is influenced by rising salary/fringe benefits and contractual services, which are necessary to meet growing service demands. This is something the OFA, like other County departments, is factoring into future planning,” Fox said to The Batavian. “My biggest concern is to make sure we are in a position to provide what our community needs and is going to need in the coming years with the changing demographics.”

Fox has requested a 2025 budget of $2,742,738, an increase of $330,325 from the 2024 adopted budget. This includes $1,675,997 for salaries/fringe benefits, $20,280 for equipment, and $1,046,461 for contractual costs, plus a proposed net county support of $430,695, for an increase of $102,412.

While it may seem like a bit of the boy crying wolf after a few go-rounds, it’s a building phenomenon of an older population that wants to remain at home, but could use some assistance from a home health care worker for that to happen. The problem is that there’s a shortage of home health care aides to fill the demand, Fox said — a problem that has been front and center now for at least the last few years. 

This isn’t just a local issue, as one of the most significant national trends among older adults is the desire to receive services at home, said Lauren Casalveri, vice president and chief Medicare officer for New York and New Jersey at CVS Health. 

While these types of jobs would provide crucial services to seniors, they often don’t pay well or hand out decent, if any, benefits, and can be physically and emotionally draining career choices given the low monetary payoffs. (See also Conundrum of aging and Seniors on wait list for an aide get potential lift.) 

And if you’re not a senior, or don’t have a parent or grandparent in that position currently, this won’t seem like a big deal. But give it five years, or 10. By 2035, there are to be 20,000 people aged 60 and older, with about 16,000 of them 65-plus, 7,000 75-plus and about 2,000 85 and older. One way or the other, the county will be caring for a whole lot of seniors, whether it’s at a nursing home, assisted living, or at one’s own home, and this will include Medicaid and Medicare assistance.

Office for the Aging prevents and delays the spend down to Medicaid, as well as in appropriate utilization of skilled nursing facilities and emergency departments, Fox said in her annual report, by engaging the community, from healthy older adults to those most at risk, by addressing the social determinate of health.

These determinate are “individual behaviors, social and environmental factors that, together, make up more than 60% of all health care expenditures,” she said. “Interventions to address them comprise only 3% of national health expenditures, with 97% going to medical services.

“Genesee County OFA’s role is essential for the continued health and well-being of individuals and families in our community, especially as our older adult population continues to grow larger,” she said. “We provide services in a person-centered way, while coordinating and working with other systems at a fraction of the cost of institutional care options.”

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have served as local leaders on aging, she said, by planning, developing, funding and implementing local systems of coordinated home and community-based services. 

These agencies lead local networks of providers to deliver services to older adults and include information and referral assistance, in-home care, congregate and home-delivered meals, adult day care, case management, transportation, legal services, and caregiver support/respite and more, she said. That is, of course, when there are caregivers available. 

In Genesee County, this network serves 324 people aged 60 and older with core services, including personal care, home delivered meals and case management. These services are targeted to older adults who are the most vulnerable in need and promote health and independence, and prevention health care spending and placement in long-term care facilities, according to her report.

“The report emphasized the growing demand for resources due to the aging population in Genesee County, especially in relation to in-home care services,” Fox said. “The Office for the Aging's (OFA) role in preventing the need for more costly institutional care was also highlighted, along with the need for solutions to meet these demands. Key points included the 2025 budget, program expansions, and challenges in addressing shortages of homecare aides and support services.”

The Batavian asked Fox if she agreed that it would be beneficial for educational institutions to offer more courses and/or programs aimed at home care to ramp up the field and offer more information to job seekers.

“I am supportive of more educational focus to encourage individuals to enter this workforce,” she said. “Given the growing demand, this field offers job security and stability, making it an attractive option for students and career changers alike.”

A recent housing needs assessment showed that housing of all types and income levels are needed, including for seniors looking for low maintenance rentals or wanting to rehab their current houses to remain where they are. By the end of 2024, OFA will have installed three ramps, one stair lift and six walk-in showers as part of those required modifications. 

The agency’s clients receiving monthly services are five for laundry; 10 for cleaning; 34 for personal emergency response systems and 17 to obtain incontinent supplies, Fox said. Wait lists continue for homecare aides, and availability remains at critically low levels nationwide, she said.

“We continue to have state unmet needs funds to come up with creative solutions to address the aide shortage, but it’s not going to solve the overall problem of those who truly need in-home aides to help with personal care, toileting, etc.,” she said. “Our state and federal associations continue to advocate for better direct care worker funding and career packaging in order to hopefully entice individuals into this workforce.”

OFA averaged 42 clients for that Unmet Needs Fund during the year, she said, and 57 people are waiting for homecare aide service.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) released the following statement underscoring the importance of maintaining the tax cuts introduced under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), commonly known as the Trump Tax Cuts.

In 2017, with Tenney’s strong support, Republicans enacted the TCJA which reduced taxes on middle-income families and small businesses and created nearly five million domestic jobs in just the two years after its passage. In 2022, Tenney supported the TCJA Permanency Act to make permanent the tax cuts for individuals and small businesses originally enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017.

However, these tax cuts are set to expire on December 31, 2025, which could mean significant tax increases for the 440,200 taxpayers in New York's 24th District. The average taxpayer in NY-24 could face a 25% tax hike if the cuts are not extended. A family of four with a median income of $69,878 in NY-24 would experience a $1,373 tax increase, equivalent to about seven weeks' worth of groceries for a typical family.

Impact on NY-24 by the Numbers:

• 78,990 families would see their Child Tax Credit cut in half.
• 92% of taxpayers would see their Standard Deduction reduced by nearly 50%.
• 40,720 small businesses would pay an effective 43.4% tax rate if the 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction expires.
• 14,827 taxpayers would be affected by the return of the individual Alternative Minimum Tax.
• The current death tax exemption will be cut in half, affecting 6,804 family-owned farms in NY-24.

"Since its passage in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has delivered financially for families, small businesses, and hardworking Americans across the country," said Congresswoman Tenney. "Millions of Americans have seen their tax burdens reduced, but if these cuts expire, hardworking families in our community could face a 25% tax hike. We must preserve the TCJA provisions that have provided much-needed relief to taxpayers in New York. As a strong advocate for pro-growth policies, I will continue working to ensure the benefits of the Trump Tax Cuts remain in place for future generations."

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Harvester Center’s east side business incubator was bustling at one point about a year ago -- with three new food places, a children's entertainment venue and a community workout place -- marked now by vacancies.

Vianiliz “Vee” Echevarria Rivera and her mother, Elizabeth, had brought authentic Puerto Rican food to Batavia with Linda Borinqueña, which meant “a beautiful Puerto Rico,” a takeout restaurant, alongside entrepreneur Rob Credi’s Xavmen Ramen takeout place and adjacent to Windy Brew, a second location for the craft brewer based in Strykersville.

Linda Borinqueña and Xavmen Ramen were housed under the umbrella of The Crapshoot Kitchen & Commissary, a culinary space available for rent owned by Credi. Although all three places were as ideally situated as can be in that monstrous building — street level — one by one they each have closed, or are soon to be closing. 

Credi owns the popular Pub Coffee Hub down on the north end of the street, and The Crapshoot Commissary, a space for rent by small food business owners looking to open a takeout restaurant and/or a food truck delivery or catering business, toward the south. He is also business manager for the future Shush Wine Bar LLC on Jackson Street in downtown Batavia. 

Rivera took the opportunity to follow her dream for awhile with the Puerto Rican takeout place, and received rave reviews upon opening, she said, but eventually opted to close it down. Anyone who has ever owned and operated a food business will tell you that it becomes a 24/7 grind that requires staff, time and energy to maintain.

Although Windy Brew opened its doors in August 2023 with “pride and excitement about the future,” a more recent decision was made, the owners said on their social media site.

“While feedback and reviews from the community were strong from the start, it was a challenge to gain a foothold and draw in the volume of patronage that is necessary to sustain a business. That is why we have made the difficult decision to close Windy Brew Batavia. Our last day of operation will be October 13th,” the post stated.

Those three businesses, plus House of Bounce and The Brick, which each moved (The Brick is now Flex Space) to downtown locations this year, have left gaps at Harvester Center.

A Harvester tenant said that the site at 56 Harvester Ave. is also missing a property manager, since he is no longer serving in that position. 

Press Release:

Following the defeat of an electric bus proposal by voters in Chautauqua County’s Bemus Point school district, Senator George Borrello has penned a letter to Governor Hochul urging her to clarify how the state plans to address the public resistance schools are encountering.

“It is clear that everyday New Yorkers being asked to vote on electric bus proposals are using something that is in short supply in Albany: common sense,” said Senator Borrello. “They see the exorbitant costs of these buses and no funding plan to pay for them after start-up grants run out. They consider their limited traveling distance and cold weather vulnerability and wonder how long rural routes and field trips will be managed. And then they come to the logical conclusion that this mandate shouldn’t move forward now.”

“While the Governor and my Democratic colleagues blame these voter defeats on poor communication and outreach by the school districts, that certainly wasn’t the case in the Bemus Point district. They hosted three, well-publicized information sessions, offered bus walk-throughs, saturated their social media channels and website with proposal information and had a feature on a Buffalo news channel, all aimed at educating voters about the issue and the already-secured financial incentives that would cover the costs,” said Sen. Borrello.

Sen. Borrello cited the Superintendent’s explanation for the ‘no’ votes: 

“Based on feedback shared with us from the Board of Election poll workers and other school employees, the majority of community members who voted were simply not in favor of electric school buses. It didn’t matter how much the district received in financial incentives; they did not support the political process that put this mandate into place. They firmly believed that a “no” vote would stop the process to transition to electric school buses.” – Superintendent Joseph Reyda, Bemus Point Central School District.

Bemus Point’s situation is one that is shared by several other districts around the state whose voters have also voted down electric bus proposals. Those schools include districts in Baldwinsville, Cortland, Ithaca, Newfield, Mexico, and most recently, Herkimer. Senator Borrello noted that in Baldwinsville, the proposition to purchase diesel school buses passed easily while the electric bus proposal was voted down by 2 to 1.

“My question to the Hochul administration is, ‘where do we go from here’? The school officials are trapped between the state mandate and their district taxpayers,” said Sen. Borrello. “The voters obviously don’t want this forced on them by the state, at least not now. This is one more example of how Albany’s haste to push through a radical law, without due diligence and stakeholder input, has backfired.”

“My legislation replacing the mandate with a pilot program would allow schools to test how these buses perform before taxpayer monies are spent. I am urging the Governor to listen to the message voters are sending and pump the brakes on this mandate. Unless we come up with a more sensible plan, school administrators may have to divert funding away from supporting our kids and teachers in order to meet this senseless virtual-signaling mandate from Albany. We must not allow that to happen,” concluded Sen. Borrello.

Press Release:

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of fans from both the Batavia Bulldawgs and Le Roy Knights, United Way’s Backpack Program in Genesee County has received significant support. At last weekend’s football game, supporters from both teams donated nearly 1,300 food and hygiene items and raised over $560, helping to ensure that students in need have access to essential resources.  

All contributions will directly impact students throughout Genesee County, providing easy-to-make meals and critical hygiene supplies. The funds raised through the collection drive cover the costs of additional food items purchased from Foodlink, who provides food shipments to ensure a steady supply of meals and supports the program’s continued success.  

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from both teams and their fans,” said United Way Community Relationship Manager Lindsey Dailey. “Our community always steps up when there’s a need, and this outpouring of generosity will go a long way toward helping students in Genesee County.”

ARC GLOW Batavia – ARC Community Pre-Vocational Group will transport the food and hygiene items to Batavia High School and assist with bagging the backpacks for the Backpack Program. Batavia High School Vocational Coordinator Jana Kesler has been coordinating efforts with the teachers of the High School Work Study Program and their students. The High School Work Study Program students are now taking the lead on filling backpacks for their peers, highlighting the district’s commitment to empowering students.  

For more information about the Backpack Program, visit https://unitedwayrocflx.org/news-events/genesee-county-backpack-program/. 

Press Release:

Did you know that the only way to find out if your child has lead poisoning is by testing their blood?

“Signs of lead poisoning are often hard to see, so testing is very important,” said Darren Brodie, Environmental Health Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Children should be tested for lead at ages 1 & 2, or more often if your doctor thinks it is needed.”

The Genesee County Health Department has a grant to prevent childhood lead poisoning in the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties (GLOW) area. One of the main goals of the grant is to encourage parents and guardians to get their children tested for lead at ages 1 & 2.

In 2024, the GLOW Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) used different ways to teach people about the dangers of lead poisoning. They put up educational billboards, bus ads, signs, and flyers to encourage lead testing. Program staff were on the radio and went to local events to educate residents directly. At two of these events, they provided free lead testing for kids 6 years and under.

We want to know what you think about our efforts this year to help us plan for the future.

Please take this short two minute survey here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLOWEducation2024. If you complete the survey, you can choose to give your address and you will get a coupon for a free dairy product.

For questions or more information, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@geneseeny.gov. You can also visit GOHealthNY.org.

Press Release:

The YWCA of Genesee County is thrilled to announce the addition of four outstanding women to its Board of Directors, marking a full board of 13 members. Each of these new members brings a wealth of experience in empowering individuals and serving the community. 

Georganne Elia, Board Chair, emphasized the significance of the new members’ backgrounds, "Each of these women brings a unique skill set rooted in empowering others and raising up those in need. From advocacy and justice to supporting vulnerable populations, their collective experience aligns perfectly with the YWCA’s mission. We are excited to have them join us as we continue making an impact in the community." 

Diana Prinzi, Program Coordinator for Genesee Justice, has an extensive background in law enforcement, victim advocacy, and working with diverse populations. 

Prinzi expressed her enthusiasm for joining the board, stating, “With my background in law enforcement, victim advocacy, and diverse populations, I feel I can be a valuable asset to being a part of the solution. In my daily work, I strive to empower and strengthen women through obtaining justice. I welcome the opportunity to join this group and continue making a difference.”

Anneliese Aliasso (Anni), who joined DelPlato Casey Law Firm in June, focuses on transactional real estate and estate planning. She is passionate about diversity certification applications, including the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Program, and is eager to contribute to the YWCA of Genesee County.

"I am deeply committed to giving back to the community and helping women in need. Joining the YWCA Board gives me the chance to extend my efforts to uplift and support women facing challenges. I look forward to making a meaningful impact," Aliasso said.

Marianne Lampart (Mare), Vice President of Residential Services for Lifetime Assistance, Inc., has dedicated 27 years to supporting individuals through her work. 

Lampart says, “The most rewarding part of my career is the amazing people we support daily. Supporting, encouraging, assisting, and loving these exceptional people is the reason why I started in this field. I will never forget why I am still here — it’s all about them.” 

Mare’s dedication to supporting vulnerable populations emulates the YWCA’s vision and purpose, and her passion for advocacy will be an asset in advancing the organization's goals.

Sandy Wojtaszczyk, recently retired after 25 years in social services, spent the last 15 years as the supervisor of Child Protective Services. She brings extensive experience in child welfare and family advocacy to the YWCA board. 

"Throughout my career, I've seen the impact that community support can have on individuals and families. I am deeply passionate about helping others and am committed to giving back to the community that has given so much to me. Joining the YWCA Board is an incredible opportunity to continue making a difference in people's lives," Wojtaszczyk said.

These four women complete a full board of directors for the YWCA of Genesee County, joining a dynamic leadership team that includes:

• Georganne Elia, Board Chair, Community Integration Specialist for Lifetime Assistance, Inc.
• Emily Marling, Vice President, Certified Financial Planner for Merrill Lynch
• Lauren Casey, Treasurer, Financial Assistant for the Genesee County Economic Development Center
• Dr. Emily Fraser-Branche, Pediatrician and Practice Owner for Three Little Birds Pediatrics
• Cassandre DiPiazza, Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Veterans Health Administration
• Laurie Pfaff, Senior Manager of Marketing Support for Liberty Pumps 
• Lisa Smith, Senior Employment and Training Counselor for Genesee County Job Development Bureau
• Ashlee Reigle, Human Resources Manager for Liberty Pumps
• Anita Strollo, Coordinator for Genesee County Business Education Alliance

"We are honored to welcome these talented women to our board," said Jamie Rada, Executive Director of YWCA of Genesee County. "Their dedication to empowering individuals and advocating for justice echoes our agencies purpose and mission. Their collective experience will help drive our organization forward in creating a stronger and more inclusive community."

For more information about the YWCA of Genesee County and its services, please visit www.ywcagenesee.org or contact us at 585-343-5808 or ywca@ywcagenesee.org.

Submitted photos.

On Tuesday evening at Batavia High School, the Lady Devils volleyball team held its Third Annual Pink Game to raise funds for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

In total, the even raised $2,300, with more funds expected to come in on Friday. 

Dr Kevin Mudd, board president, spoke about the community’s help and appreciation to support this annual fundraiser. 

Head coach Jeremy Mettler said, "I am really glad they added this event to the Volleyball program. It was great to see all the teachers, administrators, students, family members and other community members show up in pink. But I want to give a special thank you to all the players' family members who organized and ran the event."

Batavia lost to Honeoye Falls-Lima three sets to one.  

Batavia’s stats

• Sofia Branche 10 kills 4 Blocks 
• Violet Lopez 4 aces 22 assists
• Lilly Gray 8 kills 18 digs 
• Mollie Banford 30 digs
• Ava Anderson & Karizma Wescott 7 kills 3 aces

The next game is home against Geneva at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Genesee County Manager Matt Landers had asked county departments to submit their needs as part of the 2025 budget process and the response included 10 additional corrections officers, a public works project manager, two sheriff’s office financial positions, a district attorney student intern and HR temp clerk.

All totaled, the county could have a gap of about $1 million, Landers said.

“It’s a challenging budget right now, as I said in the budget meeting, where the gap, and what I call the gap, is the difference between my revenues and expenses, countywide, it's about $415,000. There's some known expenses, based on recent meetings with departments, that'll increase that to probably around $600,000, and then there's anticipated cost increases, because we're going through a salary study process right now that could raise that up to $800,000 to a million,” Landers said to The Batavian after the second budget meeting for the season. “So now I'm looking at different avenues that I can potentially close that gap through one-time funding opportunities like fund balance or reoccurring revenues, and looking at things like our interest earnings, sales tax, things like that, that I can try to close the gap or potentially reducing certain projects and costs. 

“And so this is the part of the process that takes the longest, but I am optimistic that by the time I finalize the budget in two weeks that I will deliver a budget that is well under the tax cap, which was the direction that the legislature gave me.”

Legislator Gary Maha asked about the sheriff’s request for jail personnel.

“The 10 extra CO’s, did that come from a staffing analysis?” Maha said.

Yes, Landers said, there was an analysis, but something more detailed is to be coming.

“But what I’ve asked for, and what they’re working on, I’ll get to see is basically a visual representation of where the posts are for every line, A line, B line, C line, where they are, where I can better ask questions,” Landers said. “It’s not set in stone with the 10, because I myself have asked for a visual representation of where the posts are. There was, I think, a misunderstanding at the last meeting, because that wasn’t available. 

“They've got now two CO’s in the control room versus one, and that was something that, hindsight is 2020, where our consultants thought that one would be adequate, and I think the CO’s even thought it would be adequate, but now that they're running it, it doesn't appear to be adequate. But at the same time, as a layperson myself, I asked the question, well, do they need it staffed for the overnight when there's less activity. They claim there is, but this is the kind of visualization that I look forward to seeing,” he said, answering the legislator about the analysis performed. “And there is an argument, because the overtime costs for this place is going through the roof, where we're budgeting an extra $100,000 in overtime costs from last year, even with the CO’s, the extra CO’s, just because the amount of people that’s needed, like I said, the analysis that was provided at the early stages, versus now, it's off a little bit. And I want to better understand this, because I want to make sure I go back to the consultant and just basically help them understand, for future reference, where they may have been off a little bit, and then other impacts.” 

An upside, he said, is that the five of the CO’s will be hired in April 2025, which saves some money for the first four months of the year, and there are six single ($18,834) and nine family ($25,112) medical insurance plans for additional cost savings, he said.

There are other impacts to the new jail facility part of the analysis that also may not have been considered, he said, such as maintenance costs and how long it takes a cleaner to actually walk through the building. There are several security doors and the cleaners have to wait for each one to slowly open by someone in the control room, and then to completely shut behind the cleaner before proceeding on with the task at hand. That adds 20 to 30 minutes to each job.

In the Public Works Department, the commissioner has requested a new, full-time project manager position at an estimated $80,000 plus benefits of about another $40,000. This is due to the amount of construction projects in progress and coming up, including at Holland Land Office Museum, the Animal Shelter, Engine House, and many bridges, Landers said. 

Landers was in agreement with the district attorney’s request for a student intern, at a small salary of $3,000, and with the hopeful payoff of putting people in the pipeline for future assistant DA positions, he said. 

It’s a balancing act of trying to cut as much as possible while being able to remain functional. Landers said it's a balance of trying to be conservative and aggressive at the same time.

"The motto or the theme that I've been telling these departments, because we've been cutting a little deeper, and I reassure them that this doesn't impact their ability to operate. It may require them to shift funds amongst their accounts,” Landers said. “But if they need to run the jail, they do have to run the jail effectively. If they need funds to do that and they can't shift, then that problem becomes my problem, and that's why I have a contingency line and other pots of money that I can pull from as well. But every dollar that we can shave out of their budget is one less dollar that I have to take from taxpayers to fund their operations.”

The county’s Agricultural Society and Genesee Orleans Council on the Arts each asked for a funding increase, which isn’t likely to happen, Landers said. All agencies were forewarned that funding would probably stay flat this next year, he said.

“It's not a major secret. I had requested in my my letter of funding request that I sent to the outside agencies that this was going to be a difficult budget, to expect flat funding. Most of them put requests in at flat funding,” he said. “A couple of them have small requests of increases. So yep, we will keep them at flat funding, so we're not going to be able to honor the increase that they've requested. But you know, as I said in the meeting, I love it when we have the opportunity to provide these agencies some additional funding, because they can do a lot of the things the county can't do or we're not good at doing, we're not experts in, and we are happy to see these funds go to so many outside, worthwhile organizations that do a lot of good for our community.”

The major departments of Sheriff’s Office, Mental Health Department and Social Services will be meeting with Landers and legislators and more budget sessions are scheduled before a final budget will be presented for a final vote and adoption.

Retired Genesee County Treasurer Scott German won’t be idle for long, since being elected as chairman of the county Republican Committee in October 2023, and appointed as Republican election commissioner Wednesday during the Ways & Means Committee meeting.

German was elected to the Republican Committee to fill the role after Richard Siebert opted not to seek re-election, and then was appointed to the election commissioner role due to Siebert’s impending retirement from the position, effective at the end of this year. 

“I’m honored to be elected, and I’m looking forward to getting the department compliant with the IRS regulations (for Election Day workers), as they’ve not been compliant for at least five or six years. I’m looking forward to getting that done,” he said, answering a legislator’s question about his goals. “It’s hard to know what my goals would be without actually being in the position because it’s new to me. I do know they’re excited, and I’m excited; even the Democratic side is excited. They’ll continue to run it bipartisan. You wouldn’t know if you’re a Republican or a Democrat talking to individuals when they walk in.”

During a budget session with the county Legislature after the meeting, Manager Matt Landers said that the positions of election commissioners German and Democratic Commissioner Lorie Longhany will be made county employees as of the 2025-26 budget. 

He wasn’t certain what their salaries, which will be on a per diem basis, would be, but said that since German has several years accumulated as a former treasurer, he would likely be at Step 16. 

"We have a 20-step process for management, and when we hire managers with indirect experience, but still experience, they're given a half year credit for their years of service. So Scott has got like 31 years or 33 years, so he's going to come in at like step 16," Landers said. "So I'm not sure what step Dick was at, Scott's coming at step 16, and then, because the R's and the D's have to get paid identical, Lorie actually moves up a little bit because of that, because we can't pay him more than her. That's just the way the laws and the rules are."

In the department’s annual review, “we wish longtime Commissioner Siebert all the best in his upcoming retirement from the board,” Longhany said. She, German and two deputies will review ideas and collaborations to ensure that “operations are run effectively and all staffing needs are met moving forward,” she said.

Election year 2024 has been busy, with three elections on the calendar, including the presidential primary in April, even though the presidential nominee had already won by the time the New York primary rolled around, she said, presenting the report on behalf of her and Siebert.

That produced a “lackluster” turnout of 6% of each the Democratic and Republican voters showing up to vote. The county was still obligated to conduct nine days of early voting with very low turnouts, she said.

June 25 was next with the State and local Primary, with a Republican Primary race for Congress and a local race in the town of Byron. Turnout was 12% of Republican voters.

As older, more obsolete voting machines were being phased out, the county Board of Elections purchased 19 more Dominion ICE machines and upgraded the election reporting system. New software had been very well received by staff and the IT department and ballot programming for November was completed in just one and a half days versus four to five as in past years, she said.

Perhaps no surprise, elections staff expects a “very robust” turnout this November, of probably 80% of registered voters, “as we do in every presidential year.” 

“Our office is very busy preparing for this election. We have also made safety provisions in our front-facing public office with a minor remodel, changing access points, and giving our staff a dedicated and secure entrance, and the public has their dedicated entrance,” she said. “We also have secured extra patrols around our early voting site and our Election Day poll sites through the county manager's office and the sheriff's department. While we are more confident than not that we will not need the extra security, it is prudent that we prepare for any and all scenarios.”

Looking ahead into 2025, it will be a transition year of local elections, which draw lower turnouts. That in turn makes it a “very good time to restructure operations,” the report states.

Press Release:

All motorists, please be aware the following streets (listed in the following predicted order) will experience traffic delays on Thursday, October 3, between the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. for resurfacing operations:

Thursday, October 3

• Jefferson Avenue
• Porter Avenue
• Dellinger Avenue
• Thomas Avenue
• Douglas Avenue

While work is being performed in these areas, local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence/property but should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents/businesses within the work area are asked not to park on the roadway during the operation. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternate routes while the delays are in place.

This work is weather dependent and will continue on the next business day if necessary.

Contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 585-345-6400 opt. 1 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation.

Scott F. Doll, convicted in 2010 of murdering his friend Joseph Benaquist on Feb. 16, 2009, in the driveway of Benaquist's home, is insufficiently rehabilitated to be released from prison, the state's Parole Board determined over the summer.

The parole hearing was in June. The Batavian received a transcript this week in response to a Freedom of Information Law request.

To RSVP for the seminars, click here! Visit us on Facebook page and stay up to date on seminars and information.

Press Release:

Fall is here and now is the time to prepare for flu season by getting an influenza vaccine. The Batavia VA Medical Center is holding walk-in flu clinics on Thursdays and Fridays, and on Thursday, October 10, is holding a drive-through clinic from 4 - 6:30 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

Batavia VA Medical Center Walk-in clinic is located at 222 Richmond Ave. Batavia on Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Batavia VA Medical Center Drive-thru clinic is located at 222 Richmond Ave. Batavia on Thursday, October 10, from 4 - 6:30 p.m.

Press Release:

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Genesee County will hold its Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, October 29, at 5 p.m. at Terry Hills Restaurant, 5122 Clinton Street Rd., Batavia.

CCE of Genesee County cordially invites you to join us for dinner and help us recognize our Volunteer of the Year recipients.

Cornell Cooperative Extension friends, volunteers, and members of the community are welcome to attend.

Please register by October 21st by visiting our website or contacting Yvonne Peck at dp3@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040 Ext. 123.

A Bergen-based project already given the go-ahead by Genesee County Economic Development Center and pending additional financial incentives got the good news this week that a state grant will be coming its way.

Empire State Development announced Tuesday that of the nearly $25 million in awards for the Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York grant program, $1.26 million has been slated for the village of Bergen. GE Bergen Owner LLC has a $43.6 million project in the works at Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park.

This project will support electrical infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to the electrical substation and distribution lines, which will increase capacity to serve anticipated load growth, according to the news release. These upgrades will allow Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park to further develop an additional 47 shovel ready acres intended for future manufacturing.

In June, the GCEDC granted GE Bergen Owner LLC’s proposed 196,000-square-foot facility in the town of Bergen, including approximately $1.75 million in sales tax exemptions, a property tax abatement of about $2.15 million as a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and a mortgage tax exemption of $366,000.

The facility would be leased to an end user and is to create 60 new full-time jobs and generate $38 million in wages and benefits as well as revenues for local governments over the course of 10 years according to the deal. 

The project was pending, subject to receiving incentives from Empire State Development Corp.

The state shovel-ready program, first announced in February 2022, is designed to prepare and develop sites across the state to further New York’s shovel-readiness and increase its attractiveness to large employers and high-tech manufacturing companies.

This program is intended to help diversify New York State’s economy while generating new investments for businesses, communities and job creation. To date, FAST NY has awarded $200 million to 25 sites, with locations in every region across Upstate New York.

Bergen was the only municipality in Genesee County to receive a grant award in this round.

 "Through the FAST NY program, our strategic investments are helping communities across Upstate New York develop shovel-ready sites to attract new and expanding businesses in key industries,” ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said in the news release. “These awards will support the development of five sites across Upstate New York, with the potential to attract businesses and manufacturers looking to establish or grow a footprint here, creating jobs and generating regional economic growth."

This year, Governor Kathy Hochul secured an additional $100 million in funding for the FAST NY program through the FY25 state budget. 

FAST NY grants are awarded for pre-development activities and infrastructure investments to develop sites that will attract many eligible industries —including high-tech manufacturing, semiconductors, clean-tech renewable energy, life sciences, agribusiness, optics, transportation equipment, materials processing, industrial machinery manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing. These sites can also be used for interstate distribution and logistics.

For more information, or to apply for a FAST NY grant, visit esd.ny.gov/fast-ny.

Matthew R. Taylor, 41, of Batavia, is charged with assault 1st, robbery 1st, and menacing 3rd. Taylor is accused of engaging in violence with another person on East Main Street on Sept. 22. He is accused of demanding money and causing serious injury to the other person. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed.

Jeffrey A. Tyler, no age provided, of Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon 3rd, criminal possession of stolen property, and multiple traffic offenses. Tyler was stopped at 12:17 p.m. on Sept. 6 by Officer T.J. Mummery of Le Roy PD. During an investigation, Mummery determined Tyler was a convicted felon and was allegedly in possession of an unregistered handgun, which was also loaded. Tyler was reportedly towing a trailer that contained a stolen ATV. Tyler was held pending arraignment.

Sugeiry Vazquez, 35, of Otis Street, Rochester, is charged with unlawful fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle 3rd, reckless endangerment 1st, aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, unlicensed drive, and speeding. Deputy Alexander Hadsall initiated a pursuit of a vehicle on Route 20 in Darien at 10:40 a.m. on Sept. 24 after learning that a vehicle had fled a T.J. Maxx in Erie County after the theft of clothing items. Hadsall attempted to stop the vehicle but the vehicle did not yield to emergency lights. The pursuit continued into the town of Byron, where it crashed into the front lawn of a residence. The occupants fled on foot and were later located in a cornfield by the Sheriff's Office K-9. The driver of the vehicle was arrested. Vazquez was arraigned and released under supervision.

Christina L. Riley, 36, of Batavia, is charged with attempted robbery 3rd, grand larceny 4th, endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment 2nd. Riley is accused of fighting with another person on Sept. 21 at an unreleased location and of attempting to steal that person's child while several children were present. Raily was arraigned and released.

Jennifer A. Schellerer, 38, of Batavia, and Dennis J. Williamson, 42, of Rome, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Schellerer and Williamson were arrested on Sept. 20 after police received a report of two people passed out in a car at the Mobile gas station on East Main Street, Batavia. They were allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine. Williamson was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property 5th for allegedly possessing a stolen license plate. They were issued appearance tickets.

Michael J. Holler, 38, of Rochester, was arrested on a warrant on Sept. 22. Holler was initially arrested on a charge of petit larceny on Sept. 18. He allegedly failed to appear in court as ordered. He was arraigned and released. 

Gracien R. Ibambasi, 30, of Batavia, is charged with menacing 3rd and endangering the welfare of a child. Ibambasi is accused of threatening another person in the presence of two children. He was arrested on Sept. 22, arraigned in City Court and released.

Phillip P. Heale, 41, of Batavia, and Jessica D. Delcour, 41, of Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. Heale and Delcour are accused of shoplifting at Aldi in Batavia on Sept. 14. Based on an investigation, they were charged with a second count of petit larceny. They are accused of shoplifting on Aug. 8 at the same store. They were issued an appearance ticket.

Patrick O. Spikes, 43, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Spikes is accused of hitting another person during an argument on Central Avenue on Sept. 17. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Jennifer L. Stack, 38, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. She was arrested on an arrest warrant on Sept. 13. She was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine during a traffic stop on Jan. 18. She was arraigned and released.

Cylie Rose Gebo, 27, of Macedon Center Road, Palmyra, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  Gebo was allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine and a pipe by Deputy Robert Henning at 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 26 on West Bergen Road, Bergen. She was issued an appearance ticket.

David Allen Leach, 30, of Main Road, Pembroke, is charged with assault 3rd. Leach is accused of attacking two people during an argument at 10:19 p.m. on Sept. 25, at a location on Main Road, Pembroke. He was processed at the Genesee County Jail and held pending arraignment.

Joseph Allen Hogan, 56, of Prairie Trail, West Henrietta, is charged with petit larceny. Hogan was arrested on Sept. 25, accused of stealing $494 from another person at Batavia Downs at 1:04 a.m. on Sept. 17. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Zachary James Pernick, 26, of Paradise Lane, Tonawanda, is charged with criminal mischief 4th. Pernick is accused of damaging a wall inside Batavia Downs at 2:31 a.m. on Sept. 28. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Shaunda Lee Hill, 35, of South Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Hill is accused of shoplifting at Walmart at 4:41 on Sept. 27. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Devin Ralph Zortman, 25, of Highland Avenue, McKees Rocks, Pa., is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or more, failure to signal, and drinking alcohol or consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle. Zortman was stopped at 12:29 on Sept. 29 on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, by Deputy Mason Schultz. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Christopher James Johnston, 48, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief 4th.  The details of the alleged incident where not released other than it was reported 12:54 p.m. on Oct. 1. Johnston was held pending arraignment.