The Jamestown City Council and Mayor Eddie Sundquist recognized three retiring employees at last night's council voting session... including the deputy fire chief. Mayor Sundquist had three proclamations read into the record... one of which was for Sam Salemme... who has stepped down after 30 years with the Jamestown Fire Department. City Clerk Jennifer Williams read Salemme's proclamation during Monday's meeting via Zoom teleconferencing.
In addition... Sundquist and Council recognized the retirements of Jamestown Police Detectives David Kianos and, Melody Peach. Kianos was a 20-year member of the department, while Peach was with JPD for 19 years.
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Later in the meeting... the City Council approved hiring three new police officers... two of whom will replace Kianos and Peach. City Council Finance Committee Chairwoman Kim Ecklund says the third officer will replace an officer who resigned from the force. Ecklund says all three positions are funded in the 2020 city budget.
New York's second-in-command is urging local businesses to begin working on re-opening plans... and, getting those to Chautauqua County's executive soon. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul says today that they are looking at reopening parts of the state in a phased-in, regional basis as early as May 15th. Hochul says she's been working with Executive P-J Wendel on the best way to reopen... and, says plans should be forwarded to him.
Hochul is overseeing the reopening of Western New York... and, believes it will accomplished on a regional basis, not county by county. She says if Chautauqua County opens up outdoor and restaurant businesses, and Erie County does not... that could become a problem. Hochul says she expects to see a major increase in testing now that the federal government is giving its support to New York State. She says that should lead to more data about the spread of the virus.
A number of health officials are warning about a "second-wave" of the COVID-19 Virus during this Fall's flu season. With that in mind... New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will keep some temporary hospitals open through the coming flu season. During his Monday press briefing... Cuomo said his administration feels it's important to anticipate a combination Flu and COVID-19 season comiing up. He again thanked federal officials for helping to quickly ramp up the number of hospital beds in New York. Cuomo says he spoke with President Trump Monday morning about keeping some of the temporary hospitals downstate open so the state is ready for any situation in the Fall.
The news continues to be good in Chautauqua County regarding the COVID-19 Virus... as no new cases were reported Monday. That from County Executive P-J Wendel... who says the number of cases in the county remains at 31. He says there are four cases that remain active... while 24 others have now recovered. Wendel says 36 cases are under quarantine or isolation orders by the Public Health Director, and being monitored. He adds there have now been 755 negative test results to date.
New York has canceled its Democratic presidential primary that was scheduled for June 23rd amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic members of the State's Board of Elections voted Monday to nix the primary. New York will still hold its Congressional and state-level primaries on June 23rd. Commissioner Andrew Spano said he worried about potentially forcing voters and poll workers to choose between their democratic duty and their health.
