City lawmakers have approved a resolution to begin the process of looking into the sale of Jamestown's wastewater treatment plant to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation.
In a unanimous vote, the City Council agreed to begin looking into a plan for the plant's "monetization, infrastructure and budget stablization." Lawmakers heard several people during the earlier comment period raise many concerns over the proposal, which city leaders say would raise about $16-million to support capitol projects, and some operations. Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce says this is just the first-step of what will be a lengthy process.
Dolce says, unlike some residents stated earlier in the meeting, this is "not an 11th hour" resolution but, the start of a process in which the new City Council, the Board of Public Utilities, and the JLDC would all have to sign off on.
Several people some representing businesses or organizations spoke out earlier against the proposed sale of the city's wastewater treatment plan to raise needed money.
The two biggest concerns were that city lawmakers appeared to be rushing the process and, that there are still a number of unanswered questions about the move. Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier Executive Director Todd Tranum says this move does not renew confidence in the business community.
Tranum noted that housing values have dropped in the city, based on what he and his family have paid for two homes in Jamestown, and then later took a loss on their sale.
Local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Representative Dave Wilkinson, says they represent the 15 workers at that plant and, says they deserve some answers about a possible sale's impact. Another business representative, Wayne Rishell, expressed a number of concerns -- including the fact there is no set price yet on the plant itself.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly leading city police on a vehicle pursuit into the towns of Ellicott and Ellery early Monday morning.
City police say they initially pulled over 21 year-old Damien Parisi for allegedly driving without his headlights on Camp Street near Hebner Street, about 1 AM. However, officers say Parisi drove off through the city and, the two towns before being stopped on Route 430 near Bemus Point.
JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says police deployed tire sticks to deflate the car's tires. City police were assisted by Ellicott Town Police and, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department.
Parisi was allegedly found with a quantity of crystal Methamphetamine, and is charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful fleeing and several other vehicle and traffic infractions. He was jailed pending arraignment.
The Jamestown man convicted of shooting and killing his estranged wife during a domestic incident just over a year ago will spend the next 25 years in state prison.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says 37 year-old Keith Robbins received the sentence in county court Monday morning for first-degree manslaughter in the death of his 36 year-old wife, Sheri.
Swanson says he's pleased with the term handed down by County Court Judge David Foley, because is spares the Robbins' children from having to testify in a trial.
Swanson says even if they were able to get a conviction for second-degree murder, Robbins still could have only received a 15 year-to-life sentence. He called the case "heart-breaking" for Keith and Shari Robbins' 12 and 14 year-old children.
Under the plea deal, Swanson says Robbins waived his right to appeal on most aspects of the case. He says Robbins will also spend five-years in post-release supervision. Robbins did not address the court prior to sentencing.
The annual "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" national crackdown is already underway and, several local police agencies are involved.
That from Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace, who is the county's STOP-DWI campaign coordinator. Gerace says his department receives funding from the state's "Stop DWI Foundation" to help cover their costs to put out extra patrols during such crackdowns.
State Police are also taking part in the campaign, which began last Friday and, continues through New Year's Day, Monday, January 1. Besides sobriety checkpoints and patrols, troopers say they will be watching for distracted drivers, those who are not properly buckled up.
A city man has been jailed on a felony weapons charge after for allegedly displaying a firearm in Jamestown early Sunday morning.
City officers say they responded to a report of a man displaying a firearm at another person in the area of 164 Barrett Avenue before fleeing in a vehicle.
Police say a traffic stop was made after a car matching the description was found. Officers identified the suspect as 30 year-old Shane Corrigan, who they accuse of being in possession of a loaded firearm. He was jailed pending arraignment.
Planning for the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1969 Woodstock concert is already underway, and it's getting a big boost from New York state.
The Poughkeepsie Journal reports the Regional Economic Development Council awards announced earlier this week by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo include nearly $690,000 dollars for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located on the site of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
The three-day concert held in August 1969 drew more than 400,000 rock music fans to Max Yasgur's farm in the Sullivan County town of Bethel.
Bethel Woods will use the state funding for the 2019 anniversary event, also planned as a three-day festival. The 11-year-old, 15,000-capacity venue features a 4,500-seat amphitheater with a sloping lawn and a Woodstock museum.
