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The OBSERVER’s View

New York State:Hook-up rule could have big impact

What, you may ask, is the 100-foot rule and why are Republicans making such a big stink about Democrats’ move to repeal it? In a nutshell, New York’s “100-foot rule,” passed in 1986, prohibited utility companies from charging individual customers for the cost of a new gas service as long as the new customer was within 100 feet of an existing gas line. It’s a rule reflective of its era in time. New York lawmakers and utility regulators were trying to encourage homeowners to move from coal furnaces to natural gas because it was a cleaner source of heat, and regulators didn’t ...

Shared services County’s involvement needed in deals

Twice in recent weeks we’ve seen shared services agreements come to an end. The first was a note that North Harmony was ending its agreement to share an assessor and code enforcement officer with the town of Busti. Then, it was learned Chautauqua and Mayville are ending a shared code enforcement officer over conduct by Mavyille’s mayor that Chautauqua town officials said is inappropriate. These aren’t the first times locally driven shared services agreements have come to an end and we’re sure they won’t be the last. But the ebb and flow of these types of agreements makes us ...

FREDONIA Village consistent in frittering funds

Dissension regarding the future of Fredonia’s water system continues to stir up nasty confrontations and shouting matches during Village Board meetings. Previous elected or appointed leaders are some who have come forward in an attempt to stall any decision regarding water. Why would they want it any other way? While previously serving residents in village government, these individuals put off decisions for three decades while paying for numerous water studies in the past. Now that this board is moving forward with yet another State Environmental Quality Review study that costs ...

Government: Fredonia is also a ‘sinking ship’

Here’s proof that oftentimes elected officials are wearing blinders. Straight from the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters debate last week during the primary for the Democratic trustee, this answer came to a question about the village of Fredonia working closer with the city of Dunkirk. “Dunkirk is a sinking ship. I really don’t want to join any shared services with them,” said Michelle Twichell, current village trustee who came up short in the Tuesday primary. For the record, Fredonia is plummeting quite quickly itself — and has been for the last decade. Population ...

FORESTVILLE: Softball team makes ‘wonderful’ impact

Despite this newspaper’s consistent push for merging schools — especially when a number of athletic teams are already combined — there is no denying the magic that comes from a championship run. While northern Chautauqua County was disappointed in the Forestville softball team’s 5-1 loss at the state Final Four, the moment will be cherished for years to come. During a Board of Education meeting this month, discussion centered on some of the memories that were made by the Hornets’ run. The team was escorted out of town by the Forestville Fire Department on the morning before ...

POMFRET: No quick decision on fast motorists

Town of Pomfret officials heard this month from residents of Bear Lake. They voiced concerns regarding vehicles traveling over the 30 mph speed limit in the residential areas. Now that summer has arrived, there is an urgency to slow drivers — who are coming from county roads that have 55 mph limits. “We’re just here because we’re concerned about the safety of the residents, their children and their grandchildren,” Bear Lake resident Roberta Belote said at this month’s Town Board meeting. “Many of us have called the state police and the Sheriff’s Department, but ...