City Council approves five of seven ARPA grants to local non-profits...
City lawmakers in Jamestown have approved five of the seven American Rescue Plan Act grants that totalled more than $100,000 each for local non-profit projects. The most discussed was the $200,000 grant for construction of a new YMCA on Harrison Street. "Y" fund-raisers had requested $1-million... but, there was only $1.5-million left for all the projects. Some concerns were raised. Councilwoman Marie Carrubba says her biggest concern is loss of local management... which she says has been "outsourced" to the Greater Buffalo YMCA. Carrubba adds that she's also concerned about what will happen to the Jamestown "Y's" current building on Fourth Street. Councilman Bill Reynolds wanted to see the city do more to support the project. Councilman Jeff Russell voiced support because the YMCA provides programming for much of the local population. The measure was approved 6-to-2, with Council President Tony Dolce abstaining... and, Reynolds and Randy Daversa voting no.
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City lawmakers did unanimously approve one ARPA grant for $200,000 for construction of "The Kids Zone" at the Northwest Arena... and in a 6-to-3 vote... approved another $200,000 for renovations to the Cappa Theater at the Robert H. Jackson Center. Council also approved $181,000 Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.'s request to fund a new homeless shelter for women. They also approved a $145,000 grant for the YWCA for it's female youth programs. Lawmakers did reject two $200,000 grants: one for the National Comedy Center... and, the other for St. Luke's Church bell tower restoration project.
Jamestown lawmakers approve $224,500 ARPA grant for Phase-two of Chadakoin River restoration project...
City lawmakers last night approved another nearly $225,000 ARPA grant for the Chadakoin River restoration effort to fully iradicate an invasive plant... and, finish storeline restoration. The City Council unanimously approved the additional funding for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy's Phase-Two of the project. Conservancy Conservation Firector, Twan Leenders, recently went before lawmakers... and, explained the need to eliminate remaining Tree of Heaven... which often draws another invasive species -- the Spotted Lanternfly. He says so far they have not seen the invasive, but, he adds that if they get here, and run out of Tree of Heaven to feed on, they'll go after grapes and apples. Those are two important crops to the area. The City Council earlier this year approved just over $277,000 for Phase-One of the restoration effort.
Wendel set to unveil 2024 tentative budget Wednesday night...
Chautauqua County Executive P-J Wendel says residents will be pleasantly surprised when he unveils his tentative, 2024 budget plan at this week's county legislature meeting. Wendel admitted that when he first began work on the spending plan... which will likely be somewhere between $270-million and $280-million... he was "very concerned." That was due to the fact New York state was intercepting about $3-million to $4-million in federal Medical Assistance Program funding... which is being intercepted by New York state now. Wendel says overall spending will be up this year... but, not by the amount in the current year's budget. He says additional tax levy monies will help offset the spending increase. To those critics who have said Wendel's administration continues to spend and adds more positions... he says he's being trying to strike a balance that holds down and lowers the tax rate... while keeping services intact. Wendel will present the tentative budget to the legislature near the start of Wednesday night's meeting... which begins at 6:30 p.m. He made his comments on a recent Community Spotlight program.
Woman, formerly of Dunkirk, sentenced to 7 years for assaulting child...
A woman formerly of Dunkirk has been sentenced to seven-years in state prison after being convicted of assaulting a young child in 2021. District Attorney Jason Schmidt says he's pleased to announce that Titiana Berrios also received three-years post-release supervision from County Court Judge David Foley this morning. Schmidt says Berrios was convicted of second-degree assault for injuring the child... who was under the age of 7. The DA says the matter was investigated by Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. He adds that "despite a plague of limited resources all the way around, including shortages in personnel, money and equipment, our local law enforcement agencies make do with what we have to ensure that people who hurt others pay for their actions."
Chautauqua County receiving $1-Million dollar Mental Hygiene grant to help local children...
The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene is receiving a $1-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help chidren with serious mental and emotional issues. The grant has been announced by local Congressman Nick Langworthy... who says the grant comes of HHS' Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances Program. Langworthy says he's "pleased to announce this significant grant to provide needed resources for our community's mental health services. Mental health is a critical component of the well-being of our citizens, especially our children, and I look forward to continued collaboration with County Executive Wendel and other local leaders on this issue." Mental Hygiene Program Coordinator, Rachel Ludwig, says the funding will be used to expand screenings and assessment opportunities and create referral pathways to evidence-based practices to meet the identified needs of our children, youth, and young adults."
