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public hearing

February 25, 2023 - 8:00am
posted by Joanne Beck in news, city council, batavia, 2023-24 budget, public hearing.

A total operating budget of $33.5 million and tax cap override are not necessarily a done deal, City Councilman-at-large Bob Bialkowski says

Both of those issues are on the agenda for public hearings at the council’s next conference meeting. It’s set for 7 p.m. Monday, in the Council Board Room at City Hall.

Council had two budget workshops earlier this month to review the proposed 2023-24 budget, ask questions and make potential suggestions or amendments. No amendments were made to the spending plan, however, a final vote has not yet been cast, Bialkowski said.

“I’ve had a lot of constituents complain about it,” he said to The Batavian.

He hopes that citizens attend the hearing to make their feelings known for the record.

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In her memo to council, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said that a general fund of $19.4 million balances revenues and expenses and includes considerations for increased costs of 8 percent inflation, double diesel fuel, $400,000 in employee wages, $300,000 in retirements, $475,000 in health care and 15 to 40 percent hikes in utilities and materials, including salt, gas and electric.

Employee expenses include nonunion raises effective April 1 for 15 positions ranging from secretary to the city administrator to city manager.

City Council conducted its usual annual performance appraisal for the city manager, Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. said, per conditions of the manager’s contract. He would not provide any additional comments about the manager’s performance. Her raise is set to go from an initial $112,000 to an adjusted 117,600 and then to $121,128 for the 2023-24 budget year, based on “highest union” numbers.

Positions of human resources director, assistant manager, police chief, and fire chief, and public works director are slated for an $8,000 increase from the initial 2022-23 figure to 2023-24 budget year, for salaries of $111,687 for the first three positions, respectively; $106,453 for fire chief; and $96,194 for DPW director.

City Council recently approved increases for police personnel that would incrementally boost salaries by 3 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second and third years as part of union negotiations. Council members, including Jankowski, Tammy Schmidt, and Kathy Briggs, had agreed that the increases were warranted as ways to attract and retain quality employees and remain competitive with other similarly sized cities.

If the council approves the budget, which requires a larger tax levy than allowable by state mandate, the tax cap override would also have to go to vote and be approved by at least a 60 percent yes vote of council. The proposed tax levy is $6.6 million, however, Tabelski is recommending a stable tax rate of $8.94, which is the current rate. She has said there are to be no new assessment increases this year — unless substantial improvements have been made to one’s property — which may be of little consolation for those still adjusting to the last two years of hikes. Bottom line is that a flat tax rate has meant a bigger property tax bill due to a higher assessment.

There is a third public hearing regarding new water rates, meter fees, and a capital improvement fee. The proposed water rate increase is 30 cents more per $1,000 gallons of water. This measure is to cost a typical family of four $60 more per year, Tabelski said.

There is time allotted for public comments during the meeting. Sign up with the city clerk before it begins.

To view the agenda and related documents, go HERE.

File Photo of City Manager Rachael Tabelski by Howard Owens.

November 4, 2022 - 8:10am
posted by Joanne Beck in news, County Legislature, public hearing.

There will be a public hearing on Nov. 21, the same date the Genesee County Legislature is to adopt a 2023 budget, regarding a 2.5 percent salary and cost of living increase and/or any step upgrades for several county positions.

The employees listed in the local law for vote by the county Legislature have to go through this process every year they get a salary increase in the middle of their elected or appointed term.  When an elected or appointed official starts a new term they do not need to be listed in the annual resolution, County Manager Matt Landers said. 

“Employees in different bargaining units received an increase that their current contract calls for, along with any steps they are still eligible for, and any grade adjustments that were negotiated,” Landers said to The Batavian.

For example, he said, if the county clerk were up for election in November, he would not need to be listed in this resolution.  But since he is getting a cost of living adjustment and step increase mid-term, he is required to be listed.

The county resolution is to approve the following salaries to be effective Jan. 1, 2023:

  • Commissioner of Elections (2) -  $53,966
  • Director of Human Resources - $102,565
  • Commissioner of Social Services - $95,325
  • County Clerk - $105,819
  • Treasurer - $111,639
  • Sheriff - $117,121
  • Highway Superintendent - $128,922
  • County Attorney - $137,519
  • Public Defender - $111,239

The public hearing has been set for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Genesee County Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia.

October 20, 2022 - 8:05am
posted by Joanne Beck in news, genesee county, 2023 budget, batavia, notify, public hearing.

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A budget that includes a 2 percent tax levy increase to cover jail-related costs has a silver lining for Genesee County residents, County Manager Matt Landers says.

The itemized financial plan for 2023 totals $162,567,180, and although the levy is going up, the tax rate is expected to decrease due to higher property assessments, Landers said after Wednesday’s Ways & Means meeting.

The new jail debt service and additional personnel for that facility “were the drivers” of the spending increase of just under 1 percent from this year, he said. A 2 percent levy increase will be offset by increased property assessments, so the tax rate is projected to drop from $9.18 per $1,000 assessed value to $8.44, he said.

A pubic hearing for the budget has been set for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia. Landers expects to have his written budget message ready by Thursday or Friday, he said.

“I try to be short and sweet. And I'll hit on the highlights of the overall percentage increases and things like that,” he said. “And then I'll cover it in more detail with spreadsheets at the actual budget hearing.”

This and future budgets will include a $4 million yearly debt service payment for the new, 184-bed jail facility in progress on Route 5, Landers said. That hefty tab of nearly $70 million has a payback plan for the next 30 years.

“So we're stepping into the cost increases instead of getting hit all at once. In the 2023 budget, we have increased costs for the debt service, and then also some positions, and then the 2024 budget will be heavy with even more stepped up cost increases that'll happen, operational cost increases,” he said. “And then hopefully in the back end of 2024, we can start budgeting for it. We should start getting some revenue with the anticipated boarding of inmates.”

Because of the new, larger facility that will also accommodate women inmates, the county will be hiring six new correctional officers (females, in particular), a maintenance worker assigned to the new jail, and a deputy jail superintendent, he said. Another investigator position being added to the Sheriff’s Office “is long overdue,” he said.

“There's piles of investigations, and it's our commitment to try to … the sheriff wants to protect and serve and I agree with them. This is part of our efforts to provide quality service to the people that come to expect that,” he said. “So those were the drivers (of budget increases) that serve as an in-jail position.”

File photo of Genesee County Manager Matt Landers by Joanne Beck.

June 15, 2022 - 11:39pm

Lockdowns, evacuations, responses to violent threats: they’re all part of the city school’s current District-wide Safety Plan table of contents.

They -- and the several remaining topics -- are also up for comment during a public hearing this week.

“It is a requirement of the board to hold a public hearing and reading of the proposed safety plan and allow the public 30 days to comment or ask questions,” Superintendent Jason Smith said Wednesday to The Batavian.

The hearing is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Batavia High School superintendent's conference room, 260 State St., Batavia. It is a prelude to the city’s Board of Education meeting that follows.

“Our plan continues to implement global school safety ‘best practices.’ Each school has a customized safety plan specific to its building that cannot be shared with the public,” Smith said. “The only change to this year’s district-wide plan will include personnel updates, which will be discussed on Thursday.”

The plan is available for review HERE.

Batavia City Schools’ Safety Committee is chaired by Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Mike Bromley, and includes members of the faculty and staff from throughout the district. The committee has reviewed and approved the Safety Plan, and submitted it to the board for final vote (after the hearing period is complete).

“As always, community members are welcome to attend the Board of Education meeting on Thursday or watch via our District YouTube channel,” Smith said. “Comments, questions, and feedback are welcome and will be reviewed by the Board prior to the final implementation of the plan.”

He also suggested that parents and community members can send comments or questions to District Chairman Mike Bromley at [email protected]

Other items for the board meeting include discussion about district needs and the position of School Resource Officer;  presentations by school and administrative staff; the superintendent’s report; and board votes on several resignations, appointments and contracts.

November 17, 2021 - 10:57pm
posted by Joanne Beck in news, batavia, Batavia Town Board, cannabis, public hearing.

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Kelly March is a mother of three teenagers, a local business owner, and someone who believes in following state mandates. 

The Batavia resident is also a patient advocate and cannabis ambassador who encouraged Batavia Town Council members Wednesday to opt into allowing cannabis retail dispensaries.

"When you opt out, you’re not making it safer; you’re giving the legacy market license to flourish,” March said during a public hearing about proposed cannabis legislation that would allow dispensaries and on-site consumption of the product. 

March was one of two speakers and about a half dozen quiet supporters at Batavia Town Hall. She supports the reformed marijuana laws that would ensure safe, high quality cannabis in this area, she said. 

Otherwise, by opting out of the move, Town Council members are side-stepping legal ways to provide and sell marijuana, she said, and opening up opportunities for those that sell on the “legacy market.” Legacy is the more acceptable term nowadays for the previously used phrase “black” market, she said. 

“By banning the legalized market, it will increase use by the youth,” she said. “Batavia is a community rooted in farming. We have cannabis now … We want the right to be able to pursue our own business, just like distilleries in the area.”

March foresees craft cannabis products available, just as craft beer, wine and liquors have become popular. Aside from the business end of the issue, she also spoke of the Compassionate Care Act, which has gradually been adopting less restrictive policies so that patients have an easier way to access medical marijuana. Right now patients have had to deal with “a plethora of issues,” she said, including affordability and access due to dispensaries being at greater distances.

A medical card-carrying patient herself, March knows only too well the hassle of driving two hours to obtain relief through cannabis treatment, she said. Having to figure out what to do with one’s children while visiting a dispensary only compounds the problem, she said. 

March founded her business, Genesee Cannabis Club, in 2018. It provides educational programs for women to empower them as part of the work force, she said. There is no down side to allowing for dispensaries locally, she said. 

“I urge you to please think about it,” she said. 

Although Penelope Hamilton Crescibene is not a recreational cannabis user and was once “petrified” of all the pitfalls she heard about marijuana, she has become a vocal advocate of its use. Batavia was her sixth board visit to address issues of opting out of cannabis dispensaries, she said. 

“People are afraid of this change. The old fear-mongering is alive and well,” she said to The Batavian. “I get calls all day long from people needing help." 

Crescibene was diagnosed years ago with rheumatoid arthritis and the auto-immune disease of Sjögren’s syndrome. Once on heavy loads of prescription opioids to lessen the pain, she eventually turned to cannabis. Within 30 days she was off all opioid drugs, she said. 

“I learned all about the science. I learned about this plant,” she said during the hearing. 

The East Pembroke resident is director of community engagement for The Cannabis Community, which shares information through “education, awareness and access.” She is also a medical adviser for Empire State’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, known as NORML, and wants to help inform individuals and groups about this topic.

There have already been cannabis sales locally, she said, and people are driving on the roads.

“We already know people are using this,” she said. “If it was legal, we would be able to grow it like apples. If you give the option of opting out, you are saying ‘you’re welcome to stay and continue your illicit sales.’  You’re also opting out of taxes.”

She urged the board to help address the stigma associated with who uses marijuana: the majority of people are patients medicating their health conditions, she said, versus the stereotypical notion that minorities are using it more heavily than other populations. 

“Let’s start working together and start educating,” she said.

During a previous meeting, Batavia Town Board voted to have the public hearing to obtain community member feedback on the resolution. One option is to enable the municipality to opt out of allowing cannabis retail dispensaries and on-site consumption sites through New York’s Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act.

Supervisor Gregory Post had said he didn’t think the town had enough information from New York State to “enter into something that we could never get out of.” He suggested that the town take more time in making an affirmative decision. The board can always opt in at a later time, he said, once more details are available. Post had also expressed concern regarding the vote of five board members, citing that it probably “isn’t a clear and transparent representation of the whole community.”

The board will vote on the resolution at a future meeting. 

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Photo above: Penelope Hamilton Crescibene speaks during a Batavia Town Board public hearing to opt in or out of cannabis dispensaries.

Advocates Kelly March of Batavia and Penelope Hamilton Crescibene of East Pembroke advocate for allowing cannabis dispensaries and on-site consumption, per the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in New York. 

Batavia Town Board receives feedback about its future vote on cannabis dispensaries during a public hearing Wednesday evening at Batavia Town Hall. 

Photos by Howard Owens. 

June 25, 2021 - 2:34pm

LEGAL NOTICE

At a meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Pembroke, held at the Town Hall in said Town of Pembroke, County of Genesee, State of New York on the 24th day of June, 2021.

PRESENT:

Thomas Schneider, Supervisor

Kathleen Manne, Councilperson

Thomas Dix, Councilman

Edward ll Arnold, Jr., Councilman

K. Warren Clark, Councilman

ORDER CALLING

PUBLIC HEARING

In the Matter of The Establishment of Water District #4           

in the Town of Pembroke, 

Genesee County, New York under Town Law Article 12-A.

WHEREAS, A map, plan and report have been prepared in a manner and detail as determined by the Town Board of the Town of Pembroke, regarding the establishment of a proposed   Water District No. 4 in the Town of Pembroke.

June 25, 2021 - 2:33pm
posted by Legal Notices in legal notice, pembroke, water district #5, public hearing.

LEGAL NOTICE

At a meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Pembroke, held at the Town Hall in said Town of Pembroke, County of Genesee, State of New York on the 24th day of June, 2021.

PRESENT:

Thomas Schneider, Supervisor

Kathleen Manne, Councilperson

Thomas Dix, Councilman

Edward Arnold, Jr., Councilman

K. Warren Clark, Councilman

ORDER CALLING

PUBLIC HEARING

In the Matter of

The Establishment of Water District #5 (Pratt Road) in the Town of Pembroke,

Genesee County, New York under Town Law Article 12-A.

WHEREAS, A map, plan and report have been prepared in a manner and detail as determined by the Town Board of the Town of Pembroke, regarding the establishment of a proposed Water District No. 5 in the Town of Pembroke.

October 25, 2019 - 1:26pm

Notice of Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that the Genesee County Legislature will meet at the Genesee County Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing on the Tentative Genesee County Budget for 2020.

A copy of the Tentative Budget will be available in the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature, 7 Main St., Batavia, where it may be inspected by any interested person.

Pursuant to Section 359 of the County Law, the maximum salaries that may be fixed and payable during said fiscal year to members of the Genesee County Legislature and to the Chair thereof are as follows:

  • Members of the Legislature -- $12,606 each
  • Chair of the Legislature -- $16,587
June 15, 2018 - 11:47am
posted by Billie Owens in news, Announcements, GCC, public hearing, public notice.

Notice of Public Hearing on Genesee Community College Budget

The Genesee County Legislature will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed budget for the Genesee Community College for the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, in the Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Batavia.

All interested persons will be heard.

The Budget for Genesee Community College for the year Sept. 1, 2018 through Aug. 31, 2019 is $40,153,000 with Genesee County’s share as sponsor in the amount of $2,586,374.

Pamela LaGrou, Clerk

Genesee County Legislature 

June 18, 2015 - 4:37pm

Press release:

The Board of Directors of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) has scheduled public hearings on June 22 and June 23 for project applications submitted by ADK Hospitality, LLC, and Manning Squires Henning Co., Inc. The public hearings are required because both projects have applied for incentives totaling more than $100,000 from the GCEDC.

A public hearing for ADK Hospitality will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 22 at Batavia Town Hall. The company is proposing to build an 82-room hotel connected to Batavia Down’s gaming facility. ADK Hospitality is seeking an estimated $638,193 in sales tax, mortgage tax and property tax exemptions. The planned capital investment is approximately $5.49 million.

A public hearing for Manning Squires Hennig Co. will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, at Batavia Town Hall. The company is proposing to expand its corporate offices and maintenance facilities in the Town of Batavia by up to 5,000 square foot. Manning Squires Hennig Co. is seeking an estimated $170,556 in incentives.

October 18, 2010 - 12:51pm
Event Date and Time: 
October 19, 2010 - 10:00am to October 20, 2010 - 7:00pm

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