City officials in Jamestown are pleased to see the state's Department of Environmental Conservation approve the city council as lead agency for the final process of annexing four-acres of land in the village of Falconer and, town of Ellicott. 

 

With that city council last night gave final approval to the annexation of land the Board of Public Utilities' Dow Street Substation is located on.  The DEC issued it's ruling late last week and, notified the city late last Friday. 

 

With that, lawmakers approved three measures accepting the DEC's approval as well as the final two phases of an Environmental Assessment Form stating that the annexation would have no "negative impact" on the environment. 

 

Mayor Sam Teresi says the DEC ruling can't be challenged but, he says the city's environmental assessment could be in the state's Appellate Division.  Teresi says once they got e-mail confirmation of the approval by the DEC last Friday they began drafting resolutions for last night's meeting. 

 

The city had been waiting for the DEC Commissioner to sign-off on the measure so lawmakers could vote on approving the annexation of land.  The annexation must now must be voted on by the Falconer village and, Ellicott town boards. 

 

Teresi says if either one rejects the annexation the matter will go to court.

 

 

Jamestown city leaders last night celebrated a more than 30-year career in the city and, said a fond farewell to retiring Director of Finance and City Clerk James Olson. 

 

Mayor Sam Teresi was joined by council members in presenting a special plaque to Olson at the end of last night's meeting. 

 

Olson returned to city government after a short hiatus when Teresi began his tenure as Mayor in 2000.  However Teresi says their friendship dates back to when Teresi interned at City Hall with former Mayor Steven Carlson and, Olson was Carlson's Executive Assistant at the time. 

 

Teresi adds that Olson will remain a member of two boards and commissions that he is a member of, as he becomes a full-time employee of a local accounting firm.  He also acknowledged that Olson was having a fight between his head and his heart over the decision to retire especially over the past month. 

 

Olson will be replaced by Jamestown-area attorney Todd Thomas who will become the city's new Director of Administrative Services and City Clerk on September 1st.

 

 

The New York State Department of Transportation has reportedly rescinded approvals for the massive roundabout project that's been planned for the Route 20 and Route 60 intersection in the town of Pomfret. 

 

That's the word from an area business that filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court. 

 

McDonald's restaurant Owner/Operator Enrico Francani challenged the DOT's determination that the roundabout project is not subject to an environmental impact review in state law.  As a result the State DOT has agreed to undertake the required environmental review. 

 

Attorney Adam Walters represents Francani and believed more review is needed and that the initial decision was "a mistake."  With that, they filed the lawsuit, and the DOT rescinded all the approvals. 

 

Walters says the lawsuit also highlighted changes that would adversely impact the franchise.  He says both of their entrances would be cut off by medians for the roundabout which he says will have a "significant impact on the business." 

 

We have also reached out to the State DOT's Regional Office in Buffalo for comment but, have not received a response at this time. 

 

 

The American Red Cross is again on the scene of a major, national disaster this time the Houston, Texas region that's been devastated by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. 

 

That from Western and Central New York Red Cross Disaster Officer Ken Turner who says their hearts go out to the millions of victims in the region. 

 

Turner says the western part of the region alone has sent 33 volunteers to help staff shelters, and assist people with emergency provisions.  He says five are from Western New York and, one is Silver Creek's Ron Chwojdak. 

 

Turner says the Red Cross effort is truly "Americans helping Americans."  He says the number of volunteers is by no means final because the Red Cross is likely to be in the Houston area for the next several weeks providing assistance. 

 

Turner says if people would like to help the effort you can mail a check to the American Red Cross.  You can also text to "Harvey at #90999".  You can also call the Red Cross at 1800-RED CROSS.

 

 

Investigators in the north county are continuing to look into why a Dunkirk man was sitting between the rails of the CSX Rail line last Friday when he was struck by an eastbound train. 

 

That from City Police Chief David Ortolano who released the name of the victim late yesterday morning.  Ortolano says 27 year-old John Sharp was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident which occured about 8:30 p.m. above the South Roberts Road overpass. 

 

Ortolano says they didn't release Sharp's name immediately because they had difficulty reaching relatives and, notifying them.  The Chautauqua County Coroner's Office has also been involved in the investigation.

 

 

New York has 31 new environmental conservation officers and nine new forest rangers. 

 

The Department of Environmental Conservation says they all graduated from the agency's 21st Basic School for Uniformed Officers and received diplomas Friday in Pulaski. 

 

The academy ran for 28 weeks with training and coursework in environmental conservation law, physical conditioning, firearms, wildlife identification, search and rescue, wildfire suppression and other skills. 

 

Across the state in 2016, environmental conservation officers responded to over 26,000 calls and issued 22,000 tickets for crimes ranging from deer poaching to corporate toxic dumping and illegal mining.