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One key question for Batavia City Council candidates

By Howard B. Owens

We sent a single question to the three candidates for Batavia City Council.

We asked, "What is one thing you can do on city council to make life better for Batavia residents?"

Here is the answer from Brooks Hawley:

I will be accessible to the City of Batavia residents anytime there is a problem or question they have about the city. It is important for me to encourage city council as a whole to be more visible in community activities and events. I believe in keeping taxes at a reasonable rate therefore residents are able to have more money to spend on their family needs and household expenses.

Here is the answer from Laura Russell-Ricci:

This is such a great question because you have to really dig deep, or at least I did. For me I believe I can make life better for Batavia residents by being accessible to their needs and advocating for them. I'm not sure how many politicians realize they work for the people they represent, but I do and I would.

We did not receive a response from Jim Russell.

UPDATE: Below is Russell's response.  He apologized for missing the deadline, but said he doesn't check his personal e-mail account on a daily basis.

I believe what I bring is experience to the council, experience I have gained from working with previous council members and administrations. I have worked with four different administrators and councils. I have seen how you can enhance the process of government and how you can make it more difficult. My experience can help get the job done (hopefully) faster and and less costly, also sometimes I can see where something won't work at all.

Mark Potwora

Hawley said .. I believe in keeping taxes at a reasonable rate .....What is a reasonable rate. Were at 10.71 now is that not more than reasonable...county is at 9.87 ..the school tax is at 24.55 grand total 45.13 per thousand.....Mr.Hawley are these numbers not reasonable enough for you.....

Nov 3, 2012, 12:05pm Permalink
John Roach

Mark,
Again, while we agree on the only ways to reduce taxes (Police, Fire and garbage). there is no public support for those cuts, and you know it.

And the State has said our retirement fund payment in 2013 will increase 44% from this year. So what are we to do?

In the last 5 years, the city payroll decreased by 32 full time jobs, not much left to cut unless we get rid of youth services. And the last time that was brought up, it did not get popular support either.

Ricci said she wants to reduce taxes, but has not said how. I'd love to know. Since the biggest items in the budget are not going to get cut, and the State is increasing our costs, where do you suggest a cut come from Mark?

Nov 3, 2012, 1:27pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

John lets start with non profits paying there fair share..Lets also stop taxing property's in the city a different rate...No tax abatements...If you own a property worth 100,000 dollars you pay tax on the whole assesses value...No exeptions...You go to pay per bag for trash pick up...Property owners should not be paying for trash service on the value of their property...It should be illegal...John what do you consider a reasonable tax rate..Do you think we don't pay enough in property tax..

Nov 3, 2012, 1:27pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Maybe John its because she isnt as closed minded as you are... You need to remember just because your OPINION is that cutting fire and police and garbage i the only way to cut taxes, doesnt make this a fact. Close minded thinking doesnt accomplish anything but failure.

Nov 3, 2012, 1:35pm Permalink
John Roach

Mark,
I told you I agree with you, but you can not get public support for your ideas at this time. You know 50% of our budget is police and fire protection. Nobody wants changes to them.

Not having tax abatements would help, but not enough.

When the per bag for garbage idea came up last time, nobody went to Council to support it but maybe three of us.

My point is that while you say Russell and Hawley have not given any tax cut ideas, neither has Ricci. Why, because there is really no public support for real cuts. Given that, what can you do?

Nov 3, 2012, 1:38pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I'm not claiming that there is no other place to cut John nor advocating that no one try so I dont have to give suggestions. I do know that giving raises isnt appropriate, and there are many management positions that could be combined or eliminated.

Nov 3, 2012, 1:47pm Permalink
John Roach

Kyle,
The point is that there are places to cut, but all have their special interests. Time after time when cuts are proposed, nobody showed up to support the cuts, but the special interest groups do. At the budget hearing for this year, only one person even showed up.

Since the public as a whole is rather happy with the way things are, how do you cut taxes? That is the question. And if you notice, none of the 3 candidates have stated how or what they would cut, if anything.

At best, holding down increase is what we have to look forward to.

Nov 3, 2012, 2:13pm Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

Yep, and we should start with the overpaid fire department. The benefits are what really hurts. Like Health Care and Pension. We need fire fighters, and thanks god everytime they put their life in jeopardy for us. But we do not need officers making more than the governor. This is Batavia New York, not Manhattan. A reasonable salary, pension with contributions from the fire fighters, as well as health care. Nothing more than anyone at Walmart or Target gets. We need public officials the have the b-lls to stand up to this, and not buckle. Whether it's state , county, town, or city. .

Nov 3, 2012, 2:20pm Permalink
John Roach

Fred,
You make a good point on pensions. But the rules for public employee pensions are set by New York State. While it does not help us right now, the pension system has been changed for all new employees to include your ideas.

Nov 3, 2012, 2:29pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

John ..Mr.Mallow faced allot of opposition to getting rid of the ambulance service..More people came to speak against it than for it...He took the heat and got it done..But in the end it was best for the city .The same held true about police dispatch....All the nay sayers that said public safety would suffer and not to do it..But it got done.... You seem to think that we just have to stay the course and just look at keeping things the same ..I think that maybe we give Ms.Ricci a shot to bring her new ideas to the table...Mr.Russell and Mr.Hawley seem to think like you do and just keep hiking our tax rate.Without ever coming up with any new ideas on how to run a small city of 15,000 people.....Do we really need a government of this size for such a small village...After all, that is what Batavia is... Neither one has done anything with their time on council to come up with a new vision for Batavia....They do need to look into merging police and fire with the county since you say those are the biggest drivers of cost for the city..10.71 tax rate is too high and will never create any growth for Batavia.......I still would like to know what Mr.Hawley considers a reasonable rate .....This is also at the same time property assessments are going up ...Which creates and even greater tax payer cost...

Nov 3, 2012, 2:39pm Permalink
John Roach

Now Mark, you know I think we can do better. I ran twice for council advocating the end of the ambulance service. I was and still am in favor of the City turning in its Charter and becoming a village (think we can save money that way). I didn't think we should be in the housing business (the city owns 4 apartment complexes). I wanted to end garbage pick up paid for by taxes and go the per bag system. Notice, I lost both times.

On the ambulance service, Mr. Russell was not on Council then but publicly spoke out in favor of ending it. When he was on council, he voted to consolidate the police dispatch. Russell was also in favor of consolidating the Youth Services department with eh County. But that idea died when Charlie did not support it.

Mark, point is, now where do you cut now, in 2013? I know you favor the Sheriff taking over the city law enforcement, that would cut the city budget about 25%. But nobody, including Ms. Ricci, has said they would do that.

Nov 3, 2012, 3:45pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

John just starting the dialog would be a start.....Seems like me and you and Kyle are the only ones paying attention to this ...Russell and Hawley are taking for granted that they will be elected..Ms.Ricci has enter the race and gives us a choice...And for me she is my choice over the other two..Give her a chance...For all the new people on council that got elected last year not much has changed in the way the city of Batavia runs..None of the ideas you or i have mention have even been bought up over the course to the year...The city just addressed the CATS plan from 6 years ago...Here you have community members who came together 6 years ago to address some of the city's issues and they now finally report on all this...You wonder why people don't attend council meetings..

Nov 3, 2012, 4:09pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

John, I agree with what you said, I felt cutting Youth Services was going too far. I think its also clear removing services is also the only way to reduce the city budget in a meaningful way. Eliminating police, fire, garbage collection and consolidating the city away, are all tough choices. I found no public support for doing any of it. Good luck to anyone that wants to give it a try.

Nov 3, 2012, 4:29pm Permalink

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