genesee county

County officials knew at the start of the journey that 2009 would be a rocky road, and there were many valleys to pass through, but the county managed to ride it out without raising taxes or severely cutting services.

That's the state of the county, according to Mary Pat Hancock, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature.

Hancock reviewed 2009 and looked ahead some during her annual address in the Legislature chambers Wednesday night.

"In addition to the known and announced reduction in state aid, we had many fiscal surprises, none of them good," said Hanckock. "They ranged from delayed payment for mandated and already provided services, to lower sales-tax revenues and to retroactive cuts in reimbursements. These continue to plague us. I am not an alarmist, this county has good and varied resources and will survive, but not by hiding its head in the sand -- the fiscal crisis is far from over."

Key points from tonight's address:

• The rising cost of operating the Genesee County Nursing Home. General Fund contributions to its operation are expected to exceed $4.4 million by 2014.
• GCEDC participated in 23 projects with an investment in the county of $50 million.
• The number of Genesee County families turning to the Department of Social Services for Medicaid, Food Stamps and Home Energy Assistance continues to grow. Also up are reports to Child Protective Services for investigation. "It’s not an easy task to raise children in the best of circumstances, and the job becomes even harder when so many of our residents are struggling with their financial difficulties," Hancock said.
• More than 6,000 residents have received seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines.
• The downturn in the county has contributed to an ever-increasing caseload for the Office of the Public Defender.
• Federal stimulus money has meant the Job Development Bureau has seen its budget double. The number of clients in job training has increased 93 percent.
• Genesee Community College’s enrollment hit an all-time record during the fall 2009 semester with 7,208 credit students.

After listing these and other departmental challenges and accomplishments, Hancock said:

"It is impossible for me to end this address without acknowledging the impact of this difficult year on our constituents. We relate to the high level of frustration and fear experienced as jobs were lost, retirement funds shrank and healthcare costs soared. Change was promised in good faith, but no one anticipated the type of change. It is said that the economy is back on track. Genesee County’s unemployment is the lowest in the area, but it is still too high. Small and large businesses are still struggling. Folks are having a hard time meeting their financial obligations. We hear you and will continue to do everything possible to contain the costs and support and attract and retain 'economy builders.'"

Hancock then called on the State Legislature to clean up its act and start governing with greater fiscal responsibility.

"It is all about jobs," Hancock said. "All efforts should focus on a new and improved economic development plan for New York State. Is it impossible? No. Empower local governments, regional governments like counties, individually or acting in groups, to attract and maintain jobs to turn the state around. Counties should have a say about what industries contribute to their communities."

Hancock closed with a call for all county residents to participate in the 2010 Census.

"It is crucial to return your form," Hancock said. "Take the 10 minutes to be counted. So much depends on the data received from this one effort. Do what you can to make this an accurate count."

Local law enforcement agencies conducted a sweep of the area last night checking on registered sex offenders and convicts on probation or parole.

In all, about 100 people received an unexpected visit from a plain clothes or uniformed cop.

Five arrests were made on outstanding warrants and nine people were found out of compliance with the terms of their release.

A total of 50 registered sex offenders had their current addresses verified.

Sixteen people out of jail under the supervision of Genesee Justice were checked, and three people were reportedly found out of compliance of the terms of their release. Those cases were referred to Genesee Justice for further review.

Fifteen people under the supervision of the county probation department were checked, and two were reportedly found out of compliance of the terms of their release. The investigation is continuing on these cases.

Eighteen New York parolees were checked on and four were reportedly found out of compliance of the terms of their parole. The investigation is continuing on these cases.

Arrested on outstanding warrants were five Batavians: 

• Gary Amarosa, 52, of 4029 W. Main St. Road.
• Thomas Kennelly, 26, of 16 Maple St.
• Raquel Ramos, 29, of 329 Ellicott St.
• Ballard Maye, 23, of 35 Maple St.
• Kirk Frye, 20, of 3207 Pratt Road

Participating in the sweep were City of Batavia Police, Genesee County Probation, New York State Division of Parole, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Lower interest rates on bond sales could allow the county to save more than $1 million in interest payments, County Treasurer Scott German told the Ways and Means Committee this afternoon.

German was there to seek authorization to rebond some of the county's previous bond purchases -- ones that helped build the court facility, make improvements to the county building and old courthouse, build the GCC technology center and renovate the county nursing home.

In all, the four projects account for $10.7 million in principle the county must repay, with interest rates as high as 5.3 percent. 

Once rebonded, rates would range from 3.5 to 3.7 percent.

The total savings would add up to $1,024,530.

The principle of the old bonds would be paid off with the purchase of the new bonds at the lower interest rate.

The committee authorized the rebonding, with Legislator Jay Grasso congratulating German on staying on top of the rebonding opportunity.

The Sheriff's Office is looking for Corey A. Johnson, who is wanted for an alleged violation of probation.

Johnson is 22 with a last known address in Silver Lake. Johnson was convicted of larceny and was on supervised probation.

Anybody who might have information on her whereabouts is asked to call (585) 343-3000.

UDPATE Jan. 13, 9:10 a.m.: The Sheriff's Office reports Corey Johnson is in custody.

Elected officials from just about every jurisdiction in Genesee County gathered in the County Courthouse this evening for a mass swearing in ceremony administered by County Court Judge Robert C. Noonan and Family Court Judge Eric R. Adams.

Every official who was elected or re-elected this past November was invited to attend and be sworn in for his or her new term.

Above, Gregory H. Post is sworn in as Town of Batavia supervisor by Judge Noonan.

After the jump, more pictures. 

NOTES: I didn't get everybody. I missed all of the County Legislature because I was late and then I had camera problems.  Second, I'll do by best to ID each official correctly, but will correct as people provide me with any corrections.

Marianne Clattenburg is sworn in as council member at large for the City of Batavia.

Paticia A. Buczek, Town of Alabama Justice.

Janet I. Sage, councilwoman, Alabama.

William J. Cleveland, Alabam, councilman.

Teressa M. Morasco, Town of Batavia, town clerk.

Daniel G. Underhill, Town of Batavia, councilman.

Patti A. Michalak, councilwoman, Town of Batavia.

Deborah A. Bell, councilwoman, Town of Elba.

Kermit Arrington, Town of Le Roy, town justice.

Kelly J. Lathan, councilwoman, Town of Le Roy.

Thomas A. Graham, Town of Oakfield, justice.

Dennis R. Beedham, Town of Oakfield, justice.

Ronald O. Zarbo, Town of Pavilion, councilman.

Donald L. Mullen, Town of Stafford, councilman.

County Legislature, Robert J. Radley.

There are reportedly "several" cars off the road along Route 98 in the area of Alexander.

One of the vehicles reportedly struck the gas line of a house at 10738 Alexander Road, and Alexander Fire is responding.

There are also reports of vehicles off the road and other property-damage accidents around the county.

UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: A law enforcement officer on scene just requested that County Highway snow crews get out to Route 98 quickly. He said the road is very slippery.

UPDATE 6:04 p.m.: A car struck a pole at Edwards and Buell streets and left the scene. City Fire is being dispatched because the pole is broken.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Police officer responding to accident above: "He's going to have substantial front-end damage. He struck the pole right between the headlights." The officer is proceeding to a parking lot to check out a specific vehicle.

UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: Police are still searching for the car that struck the pole.

The travel advisory for Genesee County has been lifted by Sheriff Gary Maha.

However, roads to both the north and south continue to be subject to drifting and blowing snow and caution is advised.

Numerous power outages have plagued Genesee County throughout the day, with the largest and longest lasting affecting more than 300 customers in the western area of Batavia (both city and town).

Power to those customers is not expected to be restored until after 3 p.m.

Five hundred customers in Alexander had power restored an hour or so ago. Many of the other power outages affect five customers or less.

National Grid provides an interactive map of power outages on its Web site. Snapshot of the map above taken about 1 p.m.

Victoria Rippel sent in this picture of members of AmeriCorps from Genesee County at the site of the Extreme Makeover in Buffalo.  The picture was taken Nov. 9. Also check out this picture she posted on her blog.

Final Unofficial Numbers, posted 11:09 p.m.

Note: City Charter question not yet tallied and those numbers are not expected to be announced until tomorrow between 11 a.m. and noon.

WBTA Live Stream

Office   Votes Percent County       County Clerk Don M. Read 4610   District Attorney Lawrence Friedman 5077           City - Vote for 1       Genesee County Legislator District 7
(Wards 1 & 6) Rose Mary Christian  361     Robert H. Radley  510           Genesee County Legislator District 8 (Wards 2 & 3) Christopher M. Charvella  235     Hollis D. Upson  424           Genesee County Legislator District 9 (Wards 4 & 5) Edward DeJaneiro, Jr  303           City – Vote for 3       Council at Large - City of Batavia Sara J. Balbi  637   Council at Large - City of Batavia Phillip J. Ricci  730   Council at Large - City of Batavia Julie Ann Wallace  547   Council at Large - City of Batavia Timothy E. Buckley  1263   Council at Large - City of Batavia Marianne Clattenburg  1275   Council at Large - City of Batavia Frank C. Ferrando, Jr  1284   Alabama - Vote for 1   Votes Percent Legislator - District 1 Raymond F. Cianfrini     Town Justice Patricia A. Buczek  229   Town Council Janet I. Sage  188   Town Council Terry Thompson  99   Town Council William J. Cleveland  176   Town Council Samuel G. Scarborough  172   Alexander - Vote for 1   Votes Percent Legislator – District 6 Esther G. Leadley  258   Town Council William G. Hirsch  136   Town Council William R. Franz  119   Town of Batavia - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator – District 4 Mary Pat Hancock     Supervisor  Gregory H. Post  447   Town Clerk/Tax Collector  Teressa M. Morasco  476   Town Council (Vote for 2) Daniel G. Underhill  437   Town Council Patti A. Michalak  439   Supt. Of Highways  Rodney W. Cook  415   Bergen - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 2 Charles N. Zambito     Supervisor     Donald S. Cunningham 191   Town Justice Donald R. Kunego 180   Town Council (Vote for 2) Rachael J. Millspaugh 188   Town Council Joseph A. Nenni 175   Bethany - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 6 Esther G. Leadley   258   Town Justice Thomas McBride  151   Town Council (Vote for 2) William Gick  113   Town Council Susan Neer  132   Byron - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 2 Charles N. Zambito     Supervisor Robert A. Crnkovich  213   Supervisor Thomas Felton  107   Town Clerk Debra Buck-Leaton  310   Town Justice Daniel DiMatteo  189   Town Council (Vote for 2)  Jeffrey J. Thompson  248   Town Council John Redick  178   Supt. Of Highways  George Heins  264   Darien - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 3 Annie M. Lawrence  514   Town Clerk  Linda P. Graber  261   Town Clerk  Alice E. Calmes  462   Town Council (Vote for 2) Stephen J. Ferry  361   Town Council Charles J. Flagg  291   Town Council Jimmie E. Flaming  69   Town Council Michael A. Plitt 307   Town Council Christopher M. Nicastro  369   Town Council-Unexpired Term Samuel E. Williams  229   Town Council-Unexpired Term David D. Riker  380   Elba -Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 2 Charles N. Zambito  245   Town Supervisor Lucine Kauffman  155   Town Council (Vote for 2) Andrew Wormuth  151   Town Council Deborah Bell  142   LeRoy -Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator – District 5 Jerome J. Grasso  945   Town Justice Kermit Arrington  703   Town Justice Darryl D. Sehm  662   Town Council Thomas Stella   713   Town Council Christine M. Smith  870   Town Council Jay E. Whipple  592   Town Council-Unexpired term  Jennifer AO Keys  422   Town Council-Unexpired term  Kelly J. Lathan  860   Oakfield - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 10 Raymond F. Cianfrini  163   Supervisor     Kenneth Dodd     Town Justice (Vote for 2) Thomas Graham  197   Town Justice Dennis R. Beedham  338   Town Counci l(Vote for 2) Carol L. Glor  166   Town Council Michael Cianfrini  166   Town Council-Unexpired term Tim Kabel  164   Pavilion - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 6 Esther G. Leadley     Town Justice John Welsh  132   Town Council (Vote for 2) Linda Thompson  145   Town Council Ronald O. Zarbo  128   Pembroke - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 3 Annie M. Lawrence     Town Justice Robert Alexander  544   Town Council (Vote for 2) Thomas C. Schneider, Jr.  179   Town Council Edward G. Arnold. Jr.  406   Town Council Paul R. DiFiglia  187   Town Council John J. Worth  416   Stafford - Vote for 1   Votes Percentage Legislator District 4 Mary Pat Hancock  691   Town Clerk Walter Kershenski  571   Town Council (Vote for 2) Ronald Panek  322   Town Council Donald L. Mullen  292   Town Council Michelle Mouery  272   Supt. Of Highways  Steven Boldt  443   Supt. Of Highways  James D. Pontillo  151  

 

Three Genesee County companies made the 23rd Annual Democrat and Chronicle list of Top 100 companies in the region.

The local companies are: Lapp Insulators LLC, 130 Gilbert St., LeRoy; Liberty Pumps Inc., 7000 Apple Tree Ave., Bergen; and, Manning Squires Hennig Co. Inc., 8426 Seven Springs Road, Batavia.

Here's what the D&C says is criteria for making the list:

The Top 100 companies are ranked by revenue growth using a mix of dollar and percentage increases over the three most recent fiscal years. To be eligible, companies must be privately held, independent, have a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue and headquarters in the Rochester region, which includes Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Livingston, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Seneca and Yates counties.

The D&C said the average growth rate for the Top 100 companies over the past two years was 25 percent.

We still have our election survey online (link below).

PLEASE READ: I have invalidated at least HALF of the surveys cast so far.  People are not following the instructions. If you say you're voting for one candidate for County Legislature in District 7 and then also select a candidate in District 8, I'm throwing out your survey.  That is by far the biggest reason for invalidating a survey.  I've also invalidated surveys for voting in every jurisdiction.

Also note that I've only included in the survey races that are competitive. For jurisdictions or districts that have candidates running unopposed, there are no survey questions.

var PDF_surveyID = '290AD911A70E920F'; var PDF_openText = 'View Survey';

Take Survey

County Jay Gsell has laid it out there -- in order to meet Genesee County's budgetary needs, residents will need to pay an additional 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

Gsell expects $24.7 million of the county's revenue to come from property tax. That's up 2.7 percent from the previous year.

The 8-cent increase works out to about $7 per year in higher taxes for a home owner with an $80,000 piece of property.

Gsell:

This 2010 recommendation is at best a hedge against continued fiscal pressures delivered at Genesee County’s doorstep with regard to increasing human services clients, criminal justice activity, poor economic indicator performance in the regional and state economies and the current mandated service delivery programs that harken back to the 1970’s origins with the unrealistic New York State spin of hooking county governments into not only delivering and administering what are typically state and federal partnerships in the rest of the U.S., but also having counties directly funding actual benefits – the so called “local shares.” 

There will also be no new county jobs created in county government, Gsell said.

Overall, the county budget is going up .01 percent to $140,666,000.

Gsell is also freezing pay at current levels -- no pay increases -- for top county management staff.

Mandated costs -- Medicaid, Early Intervention/Preschool, Handicapped Children’s, Mental Health LGU, Probation, County Jail and Public Defender/Assigned Counsel -- consume 84 percent of the county's property tax levy.

The State's economic woes and a wet, dreary summer has put the squeeze on the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce's tourism promotion budget.

The state cut its "I Love New York" allocation to the chamber by 20 percent, or $15,000.

The wet summer kept some people from traveling and the local bed tax was down 9 percent, or $26,000.

That kind of drop is reminiscent of 2004, according to chamber Tourism Director Kelly Rapone. That year there were a lot of rainy days and that resulted in fewer hotel stays locally.

"The impact on the programming is that we're not really able to develop new programming or enhance the programming that we have," Rapone said. "It hurts our ability to provide additional marketing dollars to our partners"

The chamber's tourism division is responsible for helping bring people into the county for golf, or events, or sight-seeing. It puts together golf packages for individuals and groups, provides information on amenities and things to do and markets the county throughout the region.

One of the changes in market, Rapone said, is that the Chamber will reduce the radius of its marketing from about 300 to 500 miles to 200 miles.

"We're going to be looking to do more precise, targeted efforts rather than some of the broader initiatives," Rapone said.