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Opportunity in changes

There’s an amazing conversion taking place in the village of Fredonia. Not only will there be four different elected individuals as mayor and on the Village Board come January when compared to Dec. 31, 2015, there also are three important job openings.

Most recently, longtime village attorney Sam Drayo announced he was stepping down from his post. His resignation follows that of former streets department chief Jack Boland and Betsy Sly from the wastewater treatment plant.

Fredonia is definitely going through some changes. The biggest question, of course, is the village up for change?

This entity has been slow and stubborn in embracing regional initiatives, though we agree with Mayor Athanasia Landis and some board members who believe in a shared wastewater treatment plant with other municipalities.

But there also needs to be action, not just talk.

Fredonia is still not part of the water district. It is not a member of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. Both these initiatives have the endorsement of not only the county and other neighboring municipalities, but New York state and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Our state and Cuomo are pushing for the opening of a major pharmaceutical site in the town of Dunkirk, which is supposed to bring up to 900 jobs. Athenex, which Fredonia is hitching its hopes on as well, appreciates the regional concepts and has publicly praised the water district initiative.

Fredonia, with its changes, needs to grab the rowing oars of the area’s regional boat. If not soon, its lone life preserver will not suffice.

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