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The Orchard Park & East Aurora Sun /Saturday, January 10, 2015
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VOL 3 NO. 2
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2015
Orchard Park East Aurora trustees debate Police will soon raising fees for hosting events receive first body cameras
By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
East Aurora trustees remain divided on whether to bill organizations for a portion of the cost of hosting their large events in the village. After holding numerous discussions on the issue, trustees deliberated a plan that would split event costs between the village and the event’s organizers at the board’s Monday, Jan. 5 meeting. Proponents of the plan point out estimates that the village spends thousands in overtime pay for police and Department of Public Works employees - and for crossing guards - for every large event that causes temporary street closures. Under the proposed plan, event organizers would receive total cost estimates before the event, and then be billed for half that after the fact. Following a lengthy, extensive deliberation among trustees, the board elected to table the proposed plan for further discussion and reworking. Board members hope to reach a decision by their next meeting, Monday, Jan. 19. Trustees Peter Mercurio and Randolph West argued that it’s not the responsibility
By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
Photo by Tim Fenster
Large events like the Art Festival cost the village thousands, mosty in overtime for police and DPW employees. Now trustees are considering ways to recoup costs from the organizers. of village taxpayers to cover costs for organizations that are in some cases profiting from events held on village property. “If it benefits the residents, I say the residents should pay for it,” West said. “But if it primarily benefits the businesses, then I think the businesses should pay for it.” Trustee Patrick Shea pointed out that some of these large events support not-for-profit organizations.
The Toy Town Auto Show, for example, is a fundraiser for the Moose Lodge, which donates to a number of charitable causes. Estimates put the cost of the Auto Show at approximately $3,300. However, those estimates include all work that police and DPW employees put toward the event. At Shea’s urging, village officials agreed to only bill for police and DPW overtime hours.
West estimated the cost then to the Moose Lodge at close to $1,000. “It’s juice not worth the squeeze,” Shea said. Under the current policy, event organizers must only pay the village a $75 fee to process their temporary use permit application, which are required months in advance of the event.
After more than a year of research and testing, Orchard Park Police are at last ordering body cameras, as a means to record stronger evidence and hopefully deescalate otherwise confrontational situations. The body cameras are expected to arrive later this month or early February. Police are purchasing 24 of the devices, known as the Prima Facie Body Camera and manufactured by Safety Vision. They can be mounted on a patrol vehicle as well as the center of an officers’ vest. But wearing the cameras is entirely optional for officers. The department’s voluntary use policy is based on the best current practices from other police agencies they have been in contact with, said Chief Mark Pacholec. Pacholec also said “most” of his officers are interested in using the technology. “Some aren’t,” he added. In light of the events in Ferguson and Staten Island - and the occasionally violent protests that swept the nation in the months following - many are calling for body cameras as a means of keeping police accountable. However, Pacholec said studies show body cameras actually lead to fewer complaints against police, and frequently help dismiss false complaints. Body cameras also reduce uncooperative and combative behavior from offenders, he said. In some instances, simply informing an unruly individual that he or she is on cameras will completely change a situation. “It shows the attitude of both the individual and the officer at the time of the incident,” Pacholec said. “A lot of studies have shown that just having these, and telling people you have them, tends to deescalate the situations. You have less use of force, you have better behavior all around.”
See Events Page 14
EAHS students prep for tough Beauty and the Beast production
See Cameras Page 2
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By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
The cast and crew of East Aurora High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast sure have their work cut out for them on this one. Most their seniors and musical vets graduated last June, leaving a new but enthusiastic cast. Snovember cost them too many rehearsals. The characters are almost entirely nonhuman, requiring laborious costume design and creative role-acting. The set, including a two-story, 30foot long castle, is immense. In short, you could say it’s a difficult year for a difficult production. But the cast, crew and directors aren’t setting their sights any lower. In fact, Director Christopher Cummins hopes this is the year his kids bring home The Kenny Award for Outstanding Musical Production. The Kenny Awards, sponsored by Shea’s Performing
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East Aurora High School students break between run-throughs of a dance in their rehearsals for Beauty and the Beast. Arts Center and The Lipkey Foundation, are given out to outstanding area high school musical productions. The winning school receives a $5,000 grant from The Lipkey Foundation.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
LETTERS ..........................................................................SECT. SECT. A PAGE 4 SECT. A PAGE 4 ROYCROFT INN KITCHEN..............................................SECT. POLICE BLOTTER ...........................................................SECT. SECT. A PAGE 5 SECT. A PAGE 5 CCE WORKSHOPS ...........................................................SECT. SPORTS................................................................... SECT. A PAGES 7 – 10 CLASSIFIEDS .......................................................... SECT. A PAGE 11 – 13 ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.............................. SECT. A PAGES 15 – 18
Cummins noted that they had previously won Kenny awards for best choreography, best lead actress and best supporting actors and actresses. “This time we’re trying to
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