city of batavia

Press release:

The City of Batavia has conducted a gap funding analysis amid the COVID-19 pandemic and estimates a potential $2.5M shortfall in revenue to the General Fund in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The City’s budget was passed in March 2020 and was balanced with $17,598,636 in revenue and expenses.

The potential for a $2.5M revenue shortfall is dependent on many factors including projections for lower than estimated sales tax, property tax, and fee revenues.

“Currently the City is facing a gap in revenue, and we are working diligently to control spending across all cost centers," said City Manager Martin Moore, Ph.D, who shared this information at tonight's City Council meeting. "The most recent figures for April show a 26-percent loss in sales tax revenue.

"This will mean a 26-percent reduction in the City’s sales tax distribution payment for the month of April from the County. Revenue losses from sales tax could ultimately reach 30 percent over the entire year. Other cuts are expected from state aid as well."

Due to the COVID-19 economic shut-down, the City is also forecasting an estimated:

• $1,950,000 loss of sales tax revenue, a 30-percent reduction of the budgeted amount.
• $350,106 shortage in property tax revenue, a 15-percent reduction of the budgeted amount.
• $278,386 loss in other revenue (building permits, bail, licenses, and other fee revenue), a 15-percent reduction of the budgeted amount.

These estimates will change as the full economic impact of the COVID-19 is realized. Therefore, the City is taking a phased approach to cost cutting and will continue to make adjustments as the year moves on. Other avenues will be explored to close the funding gap as we move forward.

City Departments have been directed to make immediate cost cuts by deferring purchasing on a wide range of items, implementing layoffs of many part-time employees, and instituting a hiring freeze on all open positions.

These measures are only the first phase of plans to reduce costs amid projected revenue shortfalls, and will achieve $1.1M in expense reductions.

Specifically, the savings will be realized from the following reductions:

• $435,384 in savings from hiring freeze
• $260,972 in reductions from the Administrative Department

o   Cancellation of Summer Recreation program for 2020;

o   Reduction in attorney and legal services;

o   General liability insurance policy savings;

o   Delayed/termed payment to economic development corporation;

o   Cut of community celebrations and event support (Picnic in the Park);

o   Cut in travel and training;

o   Elimination of employee recognition program funding and GLOW Corporate Cup fee for employees to participate;

o   Layoff of part-time clerk position for three months;

o   Supplies and materials cuts and deferrals of purchasing.

• $133,627 in reductions from the Police Department

o   Crossing guard layoff;

o   Eliminate special community policing initiatives (NET details, explorer post, community policing, events, etc.);

o   Delay vehicle purchases;

o   Deferral of supplies and equipment purchasing (crime scene camera, camcorder purchases, outfitting new officers, ERT uniform expenses);

o   Cut in nonmandatory training;

o   Layoff of part-time dispatcher position;

• $77,370 in reductions from the Fire Department

o   Cut in nonmandatory travel and training;

o   Deferral of supplies and equipment purchases (fire gloves, fire extinguisher replacement, gas meters, hydrant markers, turnout gear, ropes, harnesses, portable radios and pagers among other supplies).

• $118,760 in reductions from the Department of Public Works

o   Cut in nonmandatory travel and training;

o   Street light replacement purchases eliminated;

o   Deferral of supplies and equipment purchases (patching material, traffic signs, vehicle and plow repair, park equipment);

o   Deferral of repair and maintenance at nonessential equipment at park;

o   Deferral of lighting repairs at parks;

o   Cut in overtime in parks budget, Bureau of Maintenance, community celebrations and special events, street cleaning, Bureau of Inspections;

o  $75,000 suspension of funding reserve accounts at this time.

These cuts will result in lower levels of service for many programs including parks, youth activities, community celebrations, economic development, as well as police and fire initiatives. All departments will be operating without full staffing levels due to the hiring freeze and layoffs of part-time workers.

Although there will be reduced levels of spending for the Police and Fire Departments, citizens should be reassured that both Departments intend to keep the same level of response to calls for service. Both Police and Fire Departments continue to operate and respond to all emergency and nonemergency calls for service.

In the event of an emergency, residents are reminded to call 9-1-1.

“Between the gap funding analysis and cash flow projections, I am diligently watching the financial health of the City," Moore said. "The first phase of reductions will result in a loss of some services and layoffs. This is painful but necessary. I can only express my appreciation to the City of Batavia employees for their continued hard work and dedication during these extremely difficult times."

Press release:

The City of Batavia will freeze hiring on all open positions across the City of Batavia.

The City is facing an estimated shortfall in revenue of $2.5 million in the General Fund that will affect many aspects of the City’s operations, including the ability to hire staff and fill positions.

The City will examine potential cost savings through a variety of measures including reduced spending, deferred purchases, and program cuts. Seventy-two percent of the general fund spending is allocated to employee costs and various benefits related to employment. Communication and conversations with department heads and union leaders will continue as the City balances the revenue loss with delivery of critical services.

“I have directed City staff to make immediate spending reductions, freeze purchasing that can be deferred, and I have implemented a hiring freeze on all open positions in the City," said Martin Moore, Ph.D., City of Batavia manager.

"These measures are only the first phase of plans to reduce spending amid projected revenue shortfalls. As the year continues the City will need to be flexible and adjust the City’s operations to keep pace with revenue shortfalls,”

The current open positions that will not be filled include two part-time Yard Waste Attendants, a part-time Ordinance Enforcement Officer, a full-time Laborer position, two full time Fire Fighter positions, multiple part-time summer recreation positions, and a full-time Youth Services Program Assistant.

“The summer recreation program will not be able to operate this summer due to the hiring freeze and spending reductions,” said Eugene Jankowski, president of the Batavia City Council. “I know myself, and all of Council, are disappointed that this program cannot continue this summer, but understand the difficult position the COVID-19 pandemic has put upon our City.

"We also will not be able to hold the Memorial Day Parade this year because of social distancing guidelines, but will still honor our Veterans with flags and flowers on their gravestones.”

Other cuts to programming and service are likely to occur due to financial constraints and because of rules and regulations that must be followed to continue to keep residents safe.

The City will continue to take proactive precautions to keep City employees safe from contracting and spreading the flu and coronavirus.

Currently City Hall, and all other City buildings remain closed to residents. Facilities will reopen once a comprehensive reopening plan is in place and with guidance from New York State and the Genesee County Department of Health and Emergency Management Office.

The City will continue to clean all facilities and wipe down all “high-touch” surfaces during the day to keep staff healthy and safe. The fire department will continue to disinfect city vehicles on a regular rotation and all city employees that currently interact with the public will continue to wear masks and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Department of Public works will be fitting protective paneling or “sneeze guard” shields to customer facing offices in the coming weeks.

Currently, the City has multiple options to contact employees, receive building permits, and pay bills. All departments are available via phone and email to assist you. As always in case of an emergency please call 9-1-1.

Residents who need to pay a bill are encouraged to use the drobox outside of City Hall, pay through personal online banking, call with a credit card, or mail a check.

If you need a dog license, hunting/fishing license, birth, death or marriage certificate/license please contact the City Clerk’s Office. You can also obtain information about Frequently Asked Questions on the City Clerks Page,https://www.batavianewyork.com/node/2060/faq

Questions on building permits can be directed to the Bureau of Inspection at (585) 345-6345.

Public Notice

Emergency Order #6-2020

I issue the following emergency order(s) for the period of May 2, 2020 through May 6, 2020. This order continues the following issued under Emergency Order #5, which was effective April 27, 2020.

1. All Public Parks within the City Limits of the City of Batavia, New York remain open to public use from 7 a.m. to dusk. During the times that public parks are open, State of New York declared restrictions on congregating will be observed. In addition, all playground areas, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, splash pads, and other park facilities that are used for activities that constitute congregating are closed to public use.

Martin D. Moore, Ph.D.

City Manager

City of Batavia

Stand up and be counted.

Actually, you can sit at your desktop computer or at your dining room table with a pen in hand but, either way, Genesee County and City of Batavia officials are urging citizens to fill out and submit a 2020 U.S. Census form, an action that County Manager Jay Gsell says is central to the legislative and economic future of the community for years to come.

Gsell and County Planning Director Felipe Oltramari addressed the local census situation at Monday night’s City Council videoconference meeting, with both men sounding the alarm that self-response rates need to increase significantly.

“It is vitally important that we get that number up because of where we are unofficially and what we saw over this past decade as far as population in general,” Gsell said. “We need a response rate easily in the 85 to 90 percent range, if that’s possible. There are parts of this country that have achieved that in the past.”

Gsell said that the response rate thus far in Genesee County is 52 percent, in terms of people filling out the forms and sending them back, with another 45 percent on the internet side of things. He said that is a far cry from the 73 percent number in 2010.

If the rate doesn’t climb, it would negatively affect the county in several different ways, he said.

“Our 2010 census number was 60,079 people. Unofficially right now, as of 2019, we’re at 57,280 – so we’ve lost people representation-wise and potentially funding-wise in the future if our response rate is not as good as or better than what we did in the 2010 census,” Gsell said.

He added that about 19 percent of the county population consists of people 65 and over – “a vital statistic in terms of how this community is profiled, but also as far as the official count and what is normally a fairly high rate of participation for we senior citizens.”

Gsell said the census determines representation as well, and that New York is expected to lose one, maybe two, Congressional seats after the 2020 census based on the 18 million who live in the state.

“Two other things become critical – what happens as far as federal funding is concerned and how we are ranked as a community as a micropolitan area (between regions that include Buffalo and Rochester) and also what happens to our 27^th Congressional District … when redistricting occurs after the 2020 Census,” he said.

In the City of Batavia, the self-response rate is currently at 47.7 percent, with three wards “somewhat underperforming,” Gsell said. Those are the Second, Fifth and Sixth wards, which range from 40.2 to around 46 percent.

According to census figures, the population of the City of Batavia was 15,465 in 2010.

He urged Council members to “encourage more people to fill out the form … it only takes less than five minutes to fill it out on the internet.”

Oltramari said paper forms have been mailed to anyone who has yet to respond, “so there’s really no excuse at this point to not return the census.”

“It’s like nine questions … it’s fairly simple to fill out and it’s a confidential thing,” he said, adding that by law, information on the census form cannot be shared with any federal agency for 72 years.

Census figures determine the amount of funding that comes into Genesee County, he said.

“This really helps us bring in revenue to our county and it’s not just government grants and those kinds of things, it’s actually Medicaid, Medicare, housing vouchers for people, energy assistance, adoption assistance, crime victims’ assistance … federal programs that fund every person basically in our county,” he said.

Oltramari also reported that for every person who is not counted, the county loses about $30,000 over 10 years.

“If we as a community have lost 2,500 people, that’s $75 million … that doesn’t come into our community."

He said the planning department is including fliers on the census to “grab-and-go” meals at Jackson and John Kennedy schools in Batavia, and that he knows that towns and villages are taking steps to maximize participation, singling out Pavilion and Pembroke as communities that are overperforming.

For those who haven’t responded by the end of May, enumerators will come to each household and leave notices. Completing a U.S. census form is mandated by the federal government.

To access the 2020 Census, go to www.my2020census.gov or to the City of Batavia and Genesee County websites. Also, a map showing the current self-response rates can be found on the Genesee County Planning Board website.

Public Notice

Emergency Order #5-2020

I issue the following emergency order(s) for the period of April 27, 2020 through May 1, 2020. This order continues the following issued under Emergency Order #4, which was effective April 22, 2020.

1. All Public Parks within the City Limits of the City of Batavia, New York remain open to public use from 7 a.m. to dusk. During the times that public parks are open, State of New York declared restrictions on congregating will be observed. In addition, all playground areas, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, splash pads, and other park facilities that are used for activities that constitute congregating are closed to public use.

Martin D. Moore, Ph.D.

City Manager

City of Batavia

Public Notice

Local State of Emergency Proclamation

A State of Emergency was declared in the City of Batavia for a period of time beginning at 4:30 p.m. on April 21, 2020 and continuing in effect for a period not to exceed 30 days.

This State of Emergency has been declared due to emergency conditions produced by: the continuing Nationally declared state of emergency, the New York State declared state of emergency, the County of Genesee declared state of emergency, and the anticipated arrival of the COVID-19 new coronavirus in the City of Batavia, New York. Such conditions threaten or imperil the public health or safety of the citizens of this municipality.

As Chief Executive of this municipality, I have exercised the authority given to me under New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B, to preserve the public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being and health of the citizens of the City.

I hereby direct all City Departments to take those steps necessary to protect life and property, public health and infrastructure and other such emergency assistance as deemed necessary. In addition, I direct the following specific actions.

1. All City offices are closed to the public. The City will conduct business with the public remotely through the use of phones, computers, mail, or other means. These offices are otherwise closed to the public, unless a situation requires interaction with a member of the public as determined by the respective City Department on a case by case basis. The drop box for the payment of bills is still available at the front of City Hall.
2. City Council meetings will be closed to the public until further notice. Provision will be made for the public to observe or listen to City Council meetings.
3. All other regularly scheduled Board, Committee, Task Force, or other official City of Batavia meetings are closed to the public, and shall be either conducted by electronic means (phone, video conferencing, etc.) or cancelled.
4. City Parks remain open to public use provided that the State of New York declared restrictions on congregating are followed. However, all rental or reservation uses of city owned facilities are suspended until further notice. This includes parks, sports complexes, buildings, roadways, or public walkways. If any actions outline in this Declaration contradict any order issued by the State of New York then the State order shall control.

Martin Moore

City Manager

City of Batavia

Public Notice

Emergency Order #4-2020

I issue the following emergency order(s) for the period of April 22, 2020 through April 26, 2020. This order continues the following issued under Emergency Order #3, which was effective April 17, 2020.

1. All Public Parks within the City Limits of the City of Batavia, New York remain open to public use from 7 a.m. to dusk. During the times that public parks are open, State of New York declared restrictions on congregating will be observed. In addition, all playground areas, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, splash pads, and other park facilities that are used for activities that constitute congregating are closed to public use.

Martin Moore

City Manager

City of Batavia

Press release:

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Batavia will hold off on the 2020 reappraisal project that was set to change more than 2,000 assessed values.

To keep the City residents and employees safe, the City will not move forward with the project as the process to review and challenge an assessment requires considerable community interaction with the Assessment Office and city employees.  

“When properties are reassessed owners have the right to review the changes with the assessor, attend informal reviews, and ultimately attend Grievance Day with the Board of Assessment Review (BAR).  With the City’s offices closed, and our concern for citizen’s health and economic wellbeing at the forefront of our decision making, we will not change assessed values in 2020,” said Rachael Tabelski, Assistant City Manager. 

There are approximately 5,700 properties in the City of Batavia that support the City operations and make up one third of the City’s total budget. The only assessment changes that will move forward this year are 58 properties that had new construction or major physical changes. Of the 58 change notices approximately 20 of these owners are utility companies. 

The tentative roll will be posted on the City of Batavia website on May 1^st for review.

The details of grievance and informal review will be posted on the City website. Per the New York State Executive Order 202.22, the City will hold Grievance Day via a web conference video/phone call, and the instructions will be provided on the website.

Please call or contact the City of Batavia Assessors Office with any questions. Call- 585-345-6301 or use the contact form located on our website.  

Acting under the State of Emergency Declaration issued by my hand at 4:30 p.m. on March 22, 2020 and continuing in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, I issue the following emergency order(s), which shall be in effect through April 11, 2020, and is subject to renewal:

1. All Public Parks within the City Limits of the City of Batavia, New York remain open to public use from 7 a.m. to dusk. During the times that public parks are open, State of New York declared restrictions on congregating will be observed.

In addition, all playground areas, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, basketball courts, picnic pavilions, splash pads, and other park facilities that are used for activities that constitute congregating are closed to public use.

As a reminder, all public parks in the City of Batavia are closed dusk to dawn. Closures will be enforced.

Contact: Martin Moore
City Manager
Phone: 585-345-6333
Email: mmoore@batavianewyork.com

Public Notice

The opening of the City of Batavia's Yard Waste Station on Law Street has been indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Due to the precautions related to COVID-19 all nonessential operations have been suspended for the time being.

When suspensions are lifted the City will provide additional information as to when the Yard Waste Station is opening. Normally, it opens April 15th each year and closes for the season as weather permits in late November or early December.

Press release:

The City of Batavia is canceling the following meetings:

• Wednesday, March 18^th -- Plumbing Board Meeting
• Monday, March 23^rd -- City Council Meeting
• Thursday, March 26^th -- Zoning Board of Appeals
• Thursday, March 26^th -- Zoning Board of Appeals
• Tuesday, April 21^st -- Planning and Development Committee
• Thursday, April 23^rd -- Zoning Board of Appeals

As a reminder, City Hall and City buildings are closed to the public until further notice.

The sister of the Liberty Street man who has been displaced as a result of a 20-hour police standoff on Nov. 18-19 said she is looking into filing an insurance claim against the City of Batavia for damages inflicted upon her brother’s apartment.

“We’re considering that (filing a form with the Supreme Court of the State of New York) against the City, but we’re waiting to see how much we get from the GoFundMe page,” Mary Ellen Wilber said this morning. “Hopefully, we won’t have to.”

Currently, the GoFundMe.com campaign set up for her brother, David Zanghi, has raised $1,250 toward its goal of $2,000, with the money to be used to replace the man’s personal belongings, including clothes, which were destroyed by tear gas used during the standoff between the suspect, Daniel Wolfe, 45, and police.

Police responded to 209 Liberty St. in the early afternoon of Nov. 18 after receiving a domestic disturbance call. Wolfe proceeded to barricade himself inside his upstairs apartment and reportedly shot at officers with a pellet gun.

The situation remained unchanged until the next morning when Wolfe finally surrendered. During the impasse, personnel from several county and state agencies assisted City Police.

Wolfe was put in Genesee County Jail where he awaits a court appearance set for this Thursday.

Meanwhile, Wilber said that Zanghi, 66, who lived downstairs, will be moving into another apartment later this week and is seeking the City’s assistance in removing his contaminated clothes.

“While I can’t say enough about the kindness of (City Manager) Marty Moore and (Assistant City Manager) Rachael Tabelski. I can’t say the same about the attitude of the police department,” said Wilber, who splits her time between Batavia and New Jersey.

She said that she asked if police could go in with their protective gloves and masks to put Zanghi’s clothes into garbage bags.

“They have the equipment to do this, but there are not willing to, which is disappointing,” she said.

Wilber said that Moore and another person will be meeting her at the Liberty Street home at 5 p.m. Tuesday to remove the clothes and other items.

“The city manager is willing to do this – to take his time after a full day’s work – because the city police won’t,” she said.

City Police Chief Shawn Heubusch, when contacted this morning, said he had no comment and referred the matter to the city manager’s office.

Moore, when asked for an update this morning, confirmed that he would be helping out on Tuesday "personally" (not in an official capacity) and said that talks with Wilber have been “cordial.”

He also noted that members of the police department have been reaching out individually to a number of causes during the holiday season.

As far as an insurance claim was concerned, Moore said Wilber “had not indicated which way she was going to go, but that the City deals with similar claims on a regular basis.”

Wilber said that her brother already has been helped by several organizations, including the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, Catholic Charities, Ascension Parish and St. Padre Pio churches, Genesee Justice and Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

“We want to keep this as fiscally responsible as possible – it’s our tax dollars (that contribute to getting donations),” she said. “Marty and Rachael are doing such a great job and the people in our community have stepped up, and we realize that money needs to go to other people, too.”

From Assistant City Manager Rachael Tabelski:

The City of Batavia phone system has been restored for all City locations. The phone outage was caused by a power outage in the server room that caused an equipment failure. We do not anticipate any further problems at this time.

Submitted photo and press release:

City of Batavia Historian Larry Barnes (above, right) and Holland Land Office Museum Executive Director Ryan Duffy (pictured left) announce the publication of an amended version of the "History of the City of Batavia" written in 1993 by Ruth M. McEvoy.

The original book, published 26 years ago, has long been out of print, but continues to be in demand among local residents. Barnes and Duffy decided to address this situation by working with Michael Hodgins of Hodgins Printing Co. to scan a surviving original copy and then print another 200 books for sale to the public.

These copies are now available at the Holland Land Office Museum bookstore.

The reprinting of McEvoy’s book provided an opportunity to correct errors in the original publication. To this end, Barnes identified 50 instances where errors had crept into McEvoy’s otherwise excellent book. Three additional pages are inserted into the amended edition for the purpose of pointing out the appropriate corrections.

McEvoy was the Batavia city historian from 1971 to 1985. She was also director of the Richmond Memorial Library for eight years in addition to serving as a member of many community organizations including the Holland Purchase Historical Society. McEvoy, now deceased, was named a “Fabulous Female” by the YWCA in 2003.

Barnes views McEvoy’s book, his own "History of Batavia: 1801 to 2015" (available online through the City’s website), and his Batavia Revisited (published by Acadia Press) as the three publications which together provide the most comprehensive history of the city. According to Barnes, each in its own unique manner complements the other two books in a way that readers should find especially satisfying.

From Bill Davis, superintendent of water/wastewater for the City of Batavia:

The City of Batavia Water Dept. is on location of a water main break in front of 215 Elm St. The water has been turned off on Elm north of North Street.

Homes in the surrounding area may experience rusty water, please do not attempt to do laundry at this time.

We appreciate your understanding while this repair is made. City crews will make every attempt to restore water as soon as possible.

UPDATE: Water service was restored just before 8 p.m.

Approval of a 40-year water supply agreement between the City of Batavia and Genesee County is a win-win situation for both municipalities, according to a City official who has played an integral role in the negotiations.

Speaking after tonight’s Batavia City Council meeting – at which council members unanimously approved the amended agreement through the year 2059, Public Works Director Matt Worth said the new pact equally benefits both entities.

“The important parts of it are, from the City point of view, is the City (last month) entered into a 40-year agreement with the sales tax with Genesee County -- which gives it stability as a financial revenue long-term – and, in addition, the City now does not have to build a new water plant,” Worth said.

Worth estimated the cost of a new water plant at $35 million, expressing relief that the city no longer has that responsibility.

From Genesee County’s perspective, Worth said the agreement’s additional 60-cent surcharge (per 1,000 gallons) gives the county the long-term stability to fund necessary improvements.

“Over the 40 years, the county can go for long-term bonds and has the ability to say ‘Yes we have the revenue stream to pay for those bonds’ (and that leads to) better rates and long-term stability to do those improvements and bring the additional water in,” Worth noted. “Hopefully that spurs all the economic development and growth that usually comes along with public water.”

Worth said the prior agreement -- an extension of the original contract from 2000 -- runs through Dec. 31 and included a 60-cent surcharge to help pay for water improvements. This new agreement goes out to Dec. 31, 2059 and tacks on another 60-cent surcharge to the City.

He said it could provide the impetus to get water into other areas of the county.

“It could mean getting public water into some of those towns and areas that have not had it – Bethany being a prime example,” he said. “Alabama didn’t have water for quite a while, now they’re starting to get water into that town as well.

“That’s kind of the avenue that has been put forward for long-term stability financially and long-term stability as far as providing safe, public drinking water to an awful lot of the county.”

City Council also passed, by 9-0 votes, a restated lease with Genesee County for water treatment facilities that would transfer the plant to the county once it is no longer being used, by mutual agreement, and a restated operations and maintenance agreement for the water treatment plant that takes into account actual costs compared to budget costs, with the City and County equally splitting any surplus end-of-the-year funds.

Both of these agreements are for 10 years.