The Village of Fredonia is set to purchase a new emergency care vehicle as set forth in the 2012 budget, as long as the resolution passes a permissive referendum in the village.
During a workshop meeting Monday evening which preceded the regular meeting, the board had to decide the length of time for which the village would bond the village's $95,000 share of the vehicle. If the bond length was selected at five years to pay off, permissive referendum, meaning anyone in the village could begin a petition against the purchase, would not be necessary.
However, because of the high dollar amount and the bonding costs of other required expenditures, the consensus of the board was to allow some leeway in the payback terms and a 10-year bond was preferred among the board members.
Article Photos
OBSERVER Photos by Shirley Pulawski
Fredonia Village Mayor Stephen Keefe (left) congratulated Jenn Suhr on her Olympic victory at the end of the village board meeting Monday night. Trustee Joseph Cerrie (right) reminded parents village playgrounds are officially closed for the season and will not have attendants present through the rest of the season.
Village Clerk Rick St. George told the board a disadvantage to extending the bond to the proposed 10-year length would be an increase in interest, but trustees Joseph Cerrie and Adam Brown both suggested the board adopt a payment schedule that would result in earlier payment of the loan. The purpose was to give the village payment flexibility if unexpected expenses were to arise. St. George said, "We're looking at $1.8, close to $2 million in new bonds this year alone." Brown noted "All of those expenses are required," referring to upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and other facility upgrades as required by the state.
Bids for the vehicle were read aloud at the village hall on July 26, and the lowest bid that met all specifications came from Lynn Kolaja Fire Equipment Sales of Union City, Pa. The base price of the vehicle was $190,413, and after trade-in of a 1997 Ford Marquee for a discount of $8,000 and a lighting upgrade increase of $1,674, it brought the total cost of the vehicle to $184,087. The village cost is half the figure and the remainder will come out of the fire department budget.
In unrelated fire department business, Lenard Wacenski and Peter Borzilleri were transferred from the active to the honor rolls, and Len Ensalaco was reinstated to the active roll from the honor roll of the Fire Police effective immediately.
Also passed as proposed in the 2012 budget was authorization for the village Streets Department to begin chip sealing and crack filling on streets around the village at a cost not to exceed $80,000.
A request was received from Police Sergeant Gregory L. Myers for a voluntary demotion to patrolman effective Aug. 26. This resolution passed, and Police Officer Brian Testa was promoted to Sergeant effective the same date at an hourly rate of $32.75, subject to all civil service rules and regulations. Testa will be subject to a 6-month probationary period.
In other business, the code enforcement officer was authorized to mow the lawn at 29 Prospect St., owned by Eric Mazur due to violation of property maintenance code. A lien will be placed against the property and collected in the same manner as unpaid taxes. The first mowing is estimated to cost $50 and $25 if a second mowing is required.
A correction to a property document for a drainage easement granted to the village was authorized due to a mistake made in 1982. The property is located at 76 Liberty St. and the easement is a continuation of the old village drainage easement for Liberty Street to Canadaway Creek.
The village resolved to contribute $500 to the FestivalsFredonia Committee as requested by the committee for expenses related to Fredonia History Days. The board also authorized the hire of a day laborer for the Fredonia Farmer's Market at $8.50 per hour, not to exceed $815 for the season and no other benefits, effective immediately.
Two petitions requesting assessment reduction from Charles E. Sam, 2 Brendon Ct., and Ralcorp Holdings, successor-in-interest to Carriage House, were authorized to be forwarded to the Town of Pomfret, with the request to protect the village interests.
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Stephen Keefe congratulated Jenn Suhr on her Olympic victory, and encouraged anyone interested to get involved with the Fredonia Olympic Committee to plan a formal celebratory event. Trustee Cerrie reminded parents the village playgrounds are officially closed and will not have playground attendants present.
The next village board meeting will take place on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Trustees Room on the second floor, following a workshop meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the mayor's office.
