OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Ed Bellando, a former trustee, criticized the village of Brocton for maintaining private roads and properties with taxpayer dollars at a recent meeting.

been afraid to speak his mind. From his brief time on the Village Board to his attendance at several meetings since, Bellando makes his objections known when he takes issue with something in the village of Brocton.

The latest meeting of the Village Board lasted less than 30 minutes prior to an executive session to discuss ongoing litigation. Of the open portion of the meeting, Bellando spoke for over a quarter of it. He criticized the Village for maintaining private roads and properties with Village equipment, supplies and personnel.

Bellando first raised concerns with the plowing of Railroad Avenue. He asked nearly a year ago why the road was being plowed when it was privately owned. The road has been plowed this year, as well, despite Bellando’s objection.

Bellando watches from his home as the plow trucks leave the barns. He estimated between 45-60 trips this winter. Bellando estimated 4-6 minutes of plowing Railroad Avenue each time, and figured that costs range between $100 to $450 per mile to maintain a road in Chautauqua County. Those figures led Bellando to suggest that between $350 to $2,100 has been spent to plow Railroad Avenue this winter.

“You’re wasting taxpayer dollars plowing the road down there,” Bellando said to Highway Superintendent Ken Becker.

Mayor Craig Miller responded to Bellando’s claims by stating he was unaware of the road’s status. He said that to his knowledge, the road has always been plowed by the Village.

“Always and the way we used to do things is costing me taxpayer money,” Bellando said.

Bellando also questioned the Village regarding salting and plowing of the Brocton Central School bus garage. Bellando claimed he was told by a school bus driver that the area is often salted and plowed by the Village. Bellando estimated similar figures for the area around the bus garage as those related to Railroad Avenue.

Becker disputed the claim that the Village is salting and plowing the bus garage. He stated that the Village workers plow School Street, then turn around in the parking lot.

Bellando’s criticism is not limited to the winter, as he also highlighted private properties that are being mowed by the Village, including a 0.71 acre property located next to Dollar General along Route 20. Bellando estimated a cost of $30 each time the area is mowed, amounting to $450 assuming the area is mowed 15 times.

Other properties Bellando highlighted with the same issue include a parcel across from the Portland Town Hall, which Bellando estimated at $750 to maintain, and a parcel on the Village side of West Avenue, which he estimated at $900 to maintain. In all, Bellando estimates roughly $2,100 is spent to maintain the properties.

Becker disputed Bellando’s estimates for costs and the areas being mowed. Becker argued that some of the areas are in the Village right-of-ways. He also stated that the Village is not maintaining all of the areas Bellando highlighted.

“I just want to know why we’re wasting our taxpayer money messing around with private property,” Bellando said. He urged the Village to take a closer look at what taxpayer money is being spent on when the budget is crafted in the coming months.

“We’ll make a note of it at budget time,” Miller said.