INSIDE: WWW.THE-REPORTER.NET
VOLUME 135 — WHOLE 7090
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017
Townsend Traditions Page 8
Municipalities Come Together to Discuss Plan for Stamford Joint Fire District
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Holiday Guide Pages 21-32
Franklin Man Dies in Fire Pistol Clerk Retires Andes Custodian Teaches Boxing Trash 2 Cash
Community Heroes Honored
By Rosie Cunningham STAMFORD - The Stamford Joint Fire Districts will not provide ambulance transports after April 1, 2018, a hot topic that has been reiterated in recent weeks. On Thursday, members of the local joint fire district communities as well as officials, turned out for a “workshop” to bring suggestions, as well as information to the table in a public forum at Stamford Village Fire Department. Tim Powell, chairman of the board of fire commissioners for the district, said all EMS (Emergency Medical Services) are in trouble. The Stamford Joint Fire District covers parts of Kortright, Harpersfield, the town of Stamford, Jefferson, Gilboa and the village of Stamford. “The department is just answering 17 to 20 percent of its 500 to 600 EMS annual calls,” said Powell. Cooperstown Medical Transport (CMT) and various mutual aide departments have been stepping in to support Stamford. The department is not providing the level of service needed and he does not see it changing. He added that other EMS departments are struggling as well, and that the issue is global, not just local. The cost of local volunteer fire services lies on the shoulders of the taxpayers and fundraising. Although there is no question that the volunteers do and will continue to do their jobs, perhaps paying the area fire departments for going outside of their territory should be considered.
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By Lillian Browne
Rosie Cunningham/The Reporter
On Thursday at the Stamford Fire Department, Delaware County EMS Coordinator Margaret Wilson discussed what Cooperstown Medical Transport does to provide services. “We get 400 to 500 EMS-related calls each year,” said Stamford Fire Chief AJ Vamosy. “For our EMS, it’s very difficult. Any given hospital is at least 25 miles away from us. A non-life threatening type call takes an average of three hours for our department to handle. It makes it very tough for volunteers to leave work to handle calls because of the time away from work - some places allow it and others don’t. Then, you add the amount of time it takes for folks to become just a basic EMT - it’s a lot and even more if you want to further your eduSee Stamford Joint Fire page 3
Delhi Exceeds Tax Cap For 2018
Officials Question Transparency of County Supervisors in Building Projects By Lillian Browne DELHI - The Delhi Town Council adopted its 2018 budget on Nov. 14 which failed to meet the state two-percent tax cap mandate. The budget reflects a 2.5 percent increase in the levy and a 5 percent increase,
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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce honored small business owners for contributions to their communities on Nov. 14 in Andes. Pictured from left, back row, are, Nicole Day Gray; Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Director Jerry DaBrescia of Hancock Partners; Ray Pucci, president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce; Dawn Joyce of Hancock Partners; Mike Herman, Bob Vitti, owner of Ren-Rest Building Supply in Walton’ Don Dales of the Hobart Book Village’s Russell Bass and Chris Gross of Hancock Partners. Front row, from left, Connie and Jerry Pellegrino, former owners of Ray’s Fine Wines in Delhi; Jessica Olenych, owner of Home Goods of Margaretville; and Julie Markert, owner of The Old School House Restaurant and Inn in Downsville.
$124,578.94, in spending over last year. Increases in spending are reflected in average salary increases of 2.5 percent for most employees. Board members, councilmen and the supervisor, have not had salary increases in four years. A non-inclusive list of salaries in the 2018 budget include: Superintendent of Highways $49,792.08; Town Justice $24,206; Assessor Chairman $16,058.90; Assessors (2) $13,906.88 each; Town Clerk $25,152.12 - will also collect $7,593.56 as tax collector and $2,786.16 as dog control clerk and $4,391.14 as registrar of vital statistics; Court Clerk $47,496.54 and Code Enforcement Officer $16,810.30. Notable increases in the budget are reflected in the highway department See Delhi Exceeds page 4
ANDES - Delaware County business owners were honored for contributions to their communities at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Taste For Commerce event held on Nov. 14 at the Andes Hotel. There, six nominees, selected by the Chamber board of directors, were honored for their contributions in helping their communities to thrive. Those honored included: • Julie Markert, owner of the Old School House Restaurant and Inn in Downsville. In addition to being a longtime business owner in Downsville, Markert serves as a Colchester council member and volunteers in many civic groups. Among her various accomplishments is the growth of the region as a snowmobile destination through her efforts as a member of the Delaware Valley Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club. “I love the county and Downsville and living here,” Markert said upon receiving her award. • Bob Vitti, owner of RenRest Building Supply in Walton. Vitti has instilled a entrepreneurial spirit in his children who
have followed in their father’s footsteps by opening Feather & Stone Restaurant in Walton and Awestruck Cider, which outgrew its Walton location and relocated to Sidney as it expanded. Vitti is often behind the scenes in his community building efforts and most recently donated materials and workspace in his West Street location for the construction and creation of the mural celebrating the Delaware County Fair which adorns the building at 137-139 Delaware Street in the heart of Walton’s business district. Vitti, modest and humble in receipt of the award, dedicated it to the memory a former employee and U.S. Marine Nicholas K. Uzenski, who he said, is a real hero and who gave his life for his country. “It’s all about giving back to your community,” Vitti said of the award. • Donald Dales of Hobart, is credited with branding Hobart as the Book Village of the Catskills. Dales recently closed his own bookstore in Hobart as he navigates his way toward retirement. Dales has long been an advocate for small businesses and continues to promote all of Hobart and all of its businesses. Dales also serves on the board of directors at the Delaware
County Chamber of Commerce. • Jessica Olenych, owner of Home Goods of Margaretville and facilitator of the Business Association of Margaretville (BAM) credited the team of people who make a community a success. “I’m not the only one making things happen in Margaretville,” she said, “but it is an honor to be here.” Olenych works tirelessly in her community, not just for the success of her business, but for the success of all businesses. • The Hancock Partners received an award for spearheading the effort to create the Hancock Town Square, which transformed an empty lot that formerly housed a grocery store, in the middle of Hancock, into a greenspace used for concerts, farmer’s markets and other events. Receiving the award on behalf of the Hancock Partners were Jerry DaBrescia, Dawn Joyce, Russell Bass and Chris Gross. • Jerry and Connie Pellegrino, who recently sold their Delhi business, Ray’s Fine Wines, are longtime small business advocates and volunteers throughout the Delhi community. The Pellegrinos look forward to retirement after many years of selfless See Community Heroes page 3
BOS Adopts Budget, Thanks Dennis Hill for 31 Years of Service By Rosie Cunningham DELHI - There were no comments made during the public hearing for the Delaware County Board of Supervisors budget which was presented prior to the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. The budget was adopted by the board and reflects a tax levy of $32,706,231 and the increase over last year is 1.4623 percent. The board recognized Harpersfield resident Dennis Hill for his service to the Delaware County. As appointed by the board of supervisors, Hill has served on the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board since 1993. He is a past Harpersfield Town Supervisor and has been on the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (DCSWCD) board for 31 years, and the chairman of the board since 2002. Larry Underwood, DCSWCD executive director, presented Hill with a plaque,
thanking him for his service. “We were trying to come up with the best way to honor Dennis - for a man like Dennis, we thought this was the most appropriate place for all he has done for Delaware County. He hasn’t gotten a lot of recognition for one thing I would like to bring up - he has been an advocate for farmers in the New York City Watershed for years. Dennis has been on our board for about 32 years and was my boss when I came on about 25 years ago. I would like to thank him for his guidance and his support over all of those years.” Recently, the DCSWCD was awarded the New York State Association and Conservation District Award. Graydon Dutcher, stream program coordinator with the DCSWCD, said Dennis has done remarkable things for the agency. “One of the things he has done is enabled us to be decision makers and visionaries,” commended Dutcher. “I think that
this award speaks monumentally of this. All of the programs that have come out of the soil and water programs have been, in part, because of Dennis’ leadership. All of the partner agencies we work with have also been a direct result of your dedication and leadership.” Past Executive Director Rick Weidenbach was on hand and said, “Back in August of 1990, Jeff Ryan from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection brought up 108 pages of regulations and dropped them off in the soil and water district office. “That day changed everything - Dennis said ‘we have two choices, we can fight this or we can form a partnership.’ We formed a partnership and the soil and water district is now up to 23 employees, primarily paid for by New York City - delivering programs, with a $5 million budget with programs and projects going in year after year. Dennis’ leadership, again, has See BOS page 3