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The Orchard Park & East Aurora Sun /Saturday, January 17, 2015
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VOL 3 NO. 3
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015
Village board appoints Rood Town receives mayor, Litwin plans to run signs, gates to aid closure of 219
By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
More than two months since the passing of Mayor John Wilson, at the village board’s Monday, Jan. 12 meeting, trustees voted unanimously to appoint Acting Mayor David Rood to Wilson’s former post. Wilson died suddenly Nov. 5 of last year while walking his dog. He was 64. “He was my best friend,” Rood said at Monday night’s meeting. “I’ve had a lot of support from everybody in this room. We’re actually a big family.” Rood has been serving as mayor since Wilson’s passing. He will remain in the position until village elections are held this April. Until then the board will continue to operate with four trustees. Rood, a Republican, said he does not plan to run for mayor in March. He declined further comment on why he’s choosing not to run. Instead, Trustee Jo Ann Litwin, also a Republican, expressed interst in running for mayor. “It’s something I’ve always thought about doing,” Litwin said. “I’ve lived in Orchard Park my entire life. I look forward to working with
By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
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Acting Mayor David Rood was appointed to mayor at the village board’s Monday, Jan. 12 meeting, but says he does not plan to run for the office in March. Trustee Jo Ann Litwin has expressed interest in running. village business owners and residents, and leading Orchard Park into the future.” The Orchard Park Democratic Committee was recently looking for mayor candidates. The committee posted to its Facebook page Jan. 5, “And now is your chance to run for mayor of the Village of Orchard Park. Interested? Let us know, final interviews taking place now.” Two days later, the com-
mittee posted in a comment that they had met “some great candidates.” A call to Democratic Committee Chairwoman Sue Tighe-Cushman was not returned as of press time, Thursday, Jan. 15. Village elections will be held Wednesday, March 18 from noon to 9 p.m. Later in the meeting, the village board voted to move forward on two grant-funded projects that Rood had taken
over from Wilson. First, the board approved a measure allowing the village to enter into and execute a master grant agreement with the state Department of Environmental Conservation in an amount not to exceed $50,000. That money will be used to purchase and plant 11 trees on the west side of Bank Street.
See Mayor Page 6
Orchard Park BOE considers school tax exemptions for vets By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
Orchard Park school officials are considering whether to adopt tax exemptions for district veterans. The exemptions, if passed, would likely save eligible homeowners hundreds on school taxes while more marginally raising the tax-bills of non-eligible property owners. During the Board of Education’s Tuesday, Jan. 13 meeting, Deputy Director of Erie County Real Property Tax Services Nancy DiLonardo laid out the district’s options for offering exemptions to vets, and explained how those options would affect residents’ tax-bills. In December of 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill allowing school districts to opt-in on veterans exemptions for school taxes. Similar exemptions are available for veterans at the county and town level; both Erie County and Orchard Park offer property tax exemptions for veterans. The law is based on what is called the alternate veterans
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Orchard Park officials are welcoming new signs to block off and close Route 219 during inclement weather. Gates were recently installed along the 219 entrance ramps along Milestrip Road, and last week, the town Highway Department received several portable signs from the state Department of Transportation. During the last week’s inclement weather, which resulted in the 219 being closed overnight, town highway crews used the portable signs to close off the 219 at Big Tree and Armor Duells roads. Police Chief Mark Pacholec credited the prompt and effective thruway shutdown with reducing the number of motor vehicle accidents, stuck vehicles and vehicles off the road. “Not having the 219 {open} was very helpful,” Pacholec said. “Especially along the elevated section of Milestrip Road where you have whiteout conditions, and the areas south of Armor Duells where it’s wide open and whiteout, you typically get a lot of vehicles off the road there.” Pacholec expects the signs
and gates to be used for all future thruway closures, saying the department does not have enough officers and vehicles to block each of the eight 219 entrance ramps in town. The gates on Milestrip Road can be lowered by a police officer, firefighter or member of the town Highway Department. The Highway Department is tasked with setting up the portable signs. Eventually, the sort of gates along Milestrip Road will be used to close the thruway at Big Tree and Armor Duells roads as well. “Eventually they’ll all be gated. It’s just a matter of funding and time,” Pacholec said. While thruway closures may be a headache for residents and commuters, Pacholec says these decisions are “not made lightly.” Dozens of state, county and local agencies are involved and kept in almost constant communication, with meetings and conference calls being held every few hours. Failure to close the thruways early enough, Pacholec warned, could result in situations similar to Snovember, when thousands of motorists remained stranded for days.
See Signs Page 3
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If passed, the exemptions would result in some veteran property owners saving hundreds annually on school taxes. But non-vets would likely have to pay more to make up the difference. tax exemption. To be eligible for this exemption, you must have served active duty during a designated period of war. The exemption allows for up to 15 percent exemption for those who did see combat, up to 25 percent for those who
did, and disabled vets could have exemptions up to one half of their disability rating. The school district is free to set caps on the exemptions amounts. During the meeting, board members looked at three
scenarios for tax exemptions. Under the first, the district would offer no exemptions and rates would remain the same for the time-being.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
TOWN CLERK APPOINTMENT ................. SECT. A PAGE 2
POLICE BLOTTER ..................................... SECT. A PAGE 5
SECT A, PAGE 3 KELLY FOR KIDS FOUNDATION ..............SECT
SECT. A PAGES 7 – 10 SPORTS..............................................SECT.
LETTERS .................................................... SECT. A PAGE 4
SECT. A PAGES 11 – 13 CLASSIFIEDS ...................................SECT.
LEGISLATURE ........................................... SECT. A PAGE 4
SECT. A PAGE 14 MILLER AND THE OTHER SINNERS........SECT.
SECT. A PAGES 4 COFFEE WITH A COP ...............................SECT.
HEART PET ADOPTIONS .......................SECT SECT A, PAGE 14
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