There have been no, big money savings found during the initial review of Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi's 2017 budget proposal. However... city lawmakers and officials have been able to find nearly 60-thousand dollars in savings so far. That from City Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce after lawmakers reviewed the Police and Fire Departments last night. Dolce says there are several retirements coming in the police department next year... and, there may be some savings there. Dolce says there are equipment... and, some fire station needs in the fire department. However... Deputy Fire Chief Chet Harvey says they got some good news in the past few days. The city will save about 13-thousand-800 dollars in benefits for one firefighter because that will come from "grant funding." Dolce adds that Jamestown lawmakers will vote later this month on a new, third-party administrator agreement for the city's Health Insurance Program that will save about 20-thousand dollars next year. More on that later. Combined with 25-thousand dollars in savings found two weeks ago... that totals about 59-thousand dollars. City lawmakers will look at various agencies next Monday... including the city's Department of Development, and the Prendergast Library. A public hearing on Mayor Teresi's budget proposal will be held at 6 PM.
The Chautauqua County Board of Elections is gearing up for their biggest day of the year today. It's Election Day across the U-S. County Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green said Monday their personnel was getting the equipment in place for all polling places in Chautauqua County. Polls will be open from 6 AM to 9 PM tomorrow. For the best voting experience... Green says it’s a good idea for voters to avoid peak hours... which are the rush hours in the morning and afternoon... as well as lunch and dinner times. Voters who have not moved will vote at the same site as last year... except for Sherman residents that will now vote at the Fire Hall on Park Street in the village. You can get more information at the County Board of Elections website at votechautauqua.com. Our coverage on WJTN tonight begins with ABC at 7 PM. Our local coverage of races in Chautauqua County and the state begins around 8:30 PM.
In addition to the president... voters in the Jamestown-area have two other federal elective offices to vote on. The main one is the race for the 23rd Congressional Seat... currently held by three-term Republican Tom Reed. Reed, who is from Corning, is being opposed by Lakewood Democrat John Plumb. Plumb is a Captain in the U-S Naval Reserves... who was a submarine commander.
Also in New York state... residents are voting on U-S Senator. Long-time Democratic Senator Charles Schumer will be opposed by Westchester County Republican Wendy Long. Long previously ran against Kirsten Gillibrand for Senate. Schumer is in line to be Democratic leader in the Senate -- if he wins -- due to the retirement of Nevada's Harry Reid.
In Chautauqua County... there are a couple of races... and, at least one county-wide proposition. That is to lengthen county legislature terms from 2 to 4 years. Legislature Chairman Jay Gould says it's the second time in about two decades voters have dealt with the issue. The Ashville-area Republican says lawmakers approved putting the measure on the ballot after it was recommended by the county's Charter Review Commission. Gould says the legislature also approved smaller than recommended pay hikes for two county positions. As for doubling the length of legislature terms... he says there are two schools of thought regarding that... one is that some people don't want to commit to four-years, but, can handle two. On the other hand... some say two years is not enough time to learn the position before you have to run again. Some other lawmakers have also said that they should be accountable every two years.
In addition to the proposition... there is the Chautauqua County District Attorney's race taking place. That involved Acting District Attorney Patrick Swanson of Fredonia... who is the Democratic candidate. He is being opposed by Fredonia Republican Jason Schmidt. Also county-wide... Republican Mike Sullivan of Fredonia is running against Democrat Sally Jaroszynski of Falconer for Family Court Judge.
Also across Chautauqua County... there is a contested race for the 150th District State Assembly seat. Incumbant Republican Andy Goodell of Bemus Point is seeking another term... and he's being opposed by Brocton-area Democrat Jason Perdue.
The region's state Senator... incumbant Republican Cathy Young... is also running for re-election to the upper chamber's 57th District. Young is being opposed by Salamanca Democrat, Lee Hyson.
St. Bonaventure University and surrounding police and health agencies are pledging to work together against sexual assault and domestic violence. Leaders from the Olean-area university and the other agencies gathered at the Olean-Based college Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing their commitment to assist each other in their response to reports of dating violence, stalking and assault. Several U.S. senators, including New York's Kirsten Gillibrand, support legislation that would make such university-law enforcement agreements mandatory. The provision is included in the proposed Campus Accountability and Safety Act. Signing the memo along with St. Bonaventure officials were representatives from the Allegany Village Police, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, Olean City Police, and others.
The work continues on determining a final site for a new facility for Brooks Memorial Hospital. In an update... Mike Hughes of Kaleida Health says the hospital along with relocation specialists Clark-Patterson-Lee Engineers and Stroudwater Associates have reviewed over two dozen potential sites across the county. The hospital's Board of Directors sub-committee for the new hospital met recently to narrow the list of potential sites. The goal is to get to two or three perferred locations in the next 30 days. Brooks Memorial is looking to have a 29-bed facility up and running by March of 2018.
