OBSERVER photo State and local representatives, including Gowanda Mayor David Smith, were out in full force on Dec. 22 to show support for the Gowanda Correctional Facility.

GOWANDA – Members of the New York State Senate and Assembly on Friday called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to pause the closure of the Gowanda Correctional facility.

State Sens. George Borrello and Patrick Gallivan, and Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, stated that requests for an accounting of the claimed $89 million savings that will result from the closure of Gowanda, as well as the Watertown and Clinton Correctional facilities, have gone unanswered.

The closures were announced on Dec. 21 under an expedited 90-day timeline that was authorized in the last state budget. Typically, there is a one-year notification requirement.