City lawmakers have approved a revised, $180,000 Local Development Corporation loan to the owners of the Jamestown Brewing Company...
The City Council voted 7-1 last night to rework the loan so the they have eight years to repay the loan to the JLDC. A delay in shipping some materials for the project has put it behind and, the owners requested the change. At-Large Councilman Andrew Liuzzo questioned whether Jamestown Brewing had adequate "skin in the game." Mayor Sam Teresi says they have committed to paying 10 to 15-percent of the costs.
City Development Director Vince DeJoy echoed those sentiments and, added the project will put the former Renaissance Center back on the tax rolls. Both he and Teresi emphasized that while the city is providing a loan through the JLDC -- there are others involved -- led by Five Star Bank, and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency. City Council had to vote on the revised measure because the loan is for more than $100,000. Councilman Liuzzo voted against the agreement.
A city man who has a lot of managerial experience has been re-appointed to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities to fill a recent vacancy...
Mayor Sam Teresi appointed Tyler Case back onto the BPU at last night's council meeting after accepting the resignation of Chuck Cornell, effective Oct. 23. Council approved the move unanimously. Teresi says, when Case had to step down earlier this year, he expressed an interest in going back on the BPU in the future, if everything worked out.
A Jamestown man is in stable condition with serious injuries after being struck by a Sports Utility Vehicle early Sunday night near the Washington Street Bridge....
City police were called to the scene near Forest Avenue about 8:20 PM. Officers say the unidentified 47 year-old man was in the roadway on Forest Avenue when he was struck by the SUV, which was southbound on Washington Street. The man was initially taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital, and later transferred to UPMC Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. Police say the investigation is on-going, and no charges have been filed at this time.
A chorus of car horns and a crowd of over 150 greeted the championship JHS band as the buses returned to the city Monday...
The Jamestown band took the top spot among 10 competing in the Large School 2 division in the state championships on Sunday in Syracuse. JHS principal Mike McElrath said, "I know how hard these kids have worked thorughout the year," and called Sunday's performance outstanding and amazing. Band director, Meghan Murray, thanked the students for their work... and the community, for its support, saying, "We share these succeses with all of you." City Development Director Vince DeJoy told the crowd new signs proclaiming the band's championship will be erected at all entrances to the city.
Chautauqua County's top-elected officials says he's pleased that the County Legislature has approved a new budget for 2019 that cuts the county's property tax rate by $0.06 per thousand...
Hanover Republican George Borrello adds it does so without using any money from the undesignated fund balance. Borrello Monday said the process went well and was capped off with a 17-0 approval by lawmakers at last week's meeting.
Borrello adds that he will accept the changes made by the legislature to the just over $254-million spending plan. He says they were able to find additional savings in most every department. Borrello calls it a "historic budget" because it cuts the tax rate for the fifth year in a row. He adds the historic part is really the amount of investment the county is making into infrastructure improvements across the county. Borrello says the full value tax rate will drop to $8.38 per thousand in 2019. He says that's down by $1.11 from the tax rate in 2006.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of Saturday's mass shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue and Friday's slayings of two black grocery store patrons in Kentucky....
The Democrat says flags will be lowered Monday through sunset on November 4th. Cuomo says the entire nation has been shaken by the two shootings and by the attempted political bombings of prominent figures in the Democrat Party, including New York residents Hillary Clinton and George Soros, as well as CNN's Manhattan studios. With New York state having the largest Jewish population outside Israel, Cuomo said he'll work to ensure religious institutions are free from violence and intolerance.
The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo says a televised report featuring a whistleblower who criticized the bishop's handling of clergy sexual misconduct was incomplete and out of context...
In a statement Monday, the diocese didn't address specifics contained in Sunday's "60 Minutes" report, in which a former assistant to Bishop Richard Malone said she acted out of concern for victims. Siobhan O'Connor secretly copied and shared confidential files with CBS and Buffalo's WKBW-TV. Sunday's airing also featured a priest who said he believes eight or nine active priests should have been removed from ministry. The diocese says it will add perspective in the future and is making changes to be more transparent and effective. Malone has resisted calls to resign. He says the diocese is cooperating with state and federal investigations.
