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The OBSERVER’s View

Silver creek: Village must be cautious with new deal

You cannot put a price on the dedication by those who serve as volunteers with Fire Department and emergency response teams. But Silver Creek is changing that landscape just a bit. Last month, the Village Board approved a contract for staffing services through Silver Creek Emergency Squad, Inc., and the Village of Silver Creek pertaining to Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Emergency Vehicle Drivers. The contract will be for one year with an option for renewal each year. Once signed by both parties, the contract will be on file. While the charges are not expected to be ...

FREDONIA: Criticism not a fix for current woes

How many more former Fredonia officials need to come forward and tell the current Village Board it made mistakes? From this perspective, there has been a lot of inaction over three decades that finally spilled this spring out thanks to years of overly optimistic budgeting while being overstaffed. It all adds up to a gut-punching 60% property tax increase. For all intents and purposes, the municipality currently serves about 6,500 residents. The other 3,000 are considered part-time while learning at the State University of New York campus but are counted as part of the U.S. ...

County: Poised to repeat history with jail

Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Apparently, we didn’t learn from our history with the Chautauqua County Jail. In fact, it appears we’re about to repeat it. State officials are beginning to raise questions about the use of an old, antiquated section of the Chautauqua County Jail — just like they did in the late 1990s. An artificial deadline is being floated to push a decision — just like back in the 1990s. The price tag is astronomical — just like the 1990s. We’ve known for a while that county officials were going to be reviewing a possible ...

BROCTON Village generous on spending limit

Brocton village Trustee Drew Ransom is exactly correct to question an increase in a spending limit in the small municipality. This month, despite his concerns, village leaders upped the threshold from $1,500 to $5,000 for purchases that do not need prior approval. Discussion on the topic began after village Clerk Scott Jagoda made the initial suggestion due to the rising cost of goods and services due to inflation. Waste Water Treatment Supervisor Rich Lewis highlighted an example of a recent emergency purchase he made after calling Mayor Craig Miller for authorization that totaled ...

FREDONIA: Deja vu all over again in water study

Despite numerous reports over three decades regarding water in the village of Fredonia, there was a lot of talk, but no action. This evening, another report will flow at 6 p.m. before the Village Board meets. Last week, Mayor Michael Ferguson announced the LaBella Associates engineering firm will report on its study of Fredonia joining the Northern Chautauqua County Water District. The meeting will be on the third-floor courtroom in case the study is to draw a crowd. Without question, water is a divisive issue in the village. It also has been very destructive. By doing nothing for ...

MEMORIAL DAY: Show gratitude for the sacrifices

Here we are, in the midst of a three-day weekend that serves for many as the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. For some, it will be their first getaway of the season. For others, it will be the weekend on which they open their pool. For some, it will be the day on which they remember and honor loved ones lost in service to their country. That is, after all, the real reason for Monday’s observance of Memorial Day. For 156 years our nation has paused for just this one day to honor and grieve the men and women who have died while serving in the armed ...