DeJoy officially sworn in as new Jamestown director of Development...
Jamestown's new director of Development has hit the ground running in his new position. Former Fourth-Ward City Councilman Vince DeJoy concluded a full, first-day on the job by being officially confirmed to his new position at last night's City Council voting session. DeJoy first resigned his council seat Sunday. DeJoy joined Mayor Sam Teresi at a meeting at SKF Aeroengine Monday with Empire State Development Corporation President and CEO Kenneth Adams. He says he had previously met him at an Amherst Chamber of Commerce meeting in Buffalo... and, he says several initiatives were discussed about how to bring new economic development to the state and region. DeJoy's appointment was approved... along with several others... by a 7-1 vote. Teresi says he was pleased with the overwhelming vote of confidence DeJoy received... because he maintains that DeJoy was the best person for the job. The mayor says he likes his "background, experience and knowledge of the position." Teresi also likes the energy he brings to the post. DeJoy replaces Steve Centi... who stepped down from the post early last month. DeJoy... who has left a marketing position with a major health care provider in the Buffalo-area... says he was "very excited" to have his first full-day on the job Monday.
Mayor Teresi also appoints Marie Carubba to Fourth-Ward Council seat...
Mayor Sam Teresi has named woman who has been very involved with the community to replace Vince DeJoy on the city council. At last night's meeting... Teresi appointed Marie Carubba to the council seat... and, city lawmakers then approved the appointment. The mayor says Carubba is a Dunkirk native who has lived... and, helped raise a family in Jamestown. He says she is currently the Executive Director of the Southwestern Independent Living Center... and, has been part of -- or headed up the board's of several community organizations. Teresi says she brings a "lot of relevant experience here as a neighborhood advocate, (and) as a professional in this community." He adds she already serves on a number of local boards and panels. Teresi says he's especially pleased that Carubba agreed to serve on the city council at a time where it's often difficult to get well-qualified people to run for office. Carubba will attend her first meeting next Monday night. Teresi says he's known Carubba... and, her family... for many years. Once she was confirmed... City Council President Greg Rabb appointed her to the council's Finance Committee.
Former JPD officer pleas guilty to Official Misconduct...
A former Jamestown Police detective accused of taking prescription drugs from the department's evidence room has pled guilty to Official Misconduct. Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley says Eric Corey entered his plea to one-count in County Court. Foley says he initially filed the charge last November after receiving a final report from State Police... who headed up the investigation with city police. He says it covers all such illegal actions "while he was evidence custodian." The case against Corey... a 14-year JPD veteran... came to light during preparation for the kidnap and rape trial of Jamestown's Eric Chant. Foley says Corey was in charge of the JPD evidence room at that time. But... he says Corey took the pain killers mainly from cases that had been tried... and, closed. Foley says a pre-sentencing hearing will be held before Corey is sentenced. Foley says Corey faces up to 3-years of probation. Corey headed up the evidence room for nearly one-year before he was suspected of tampering with evidence... and, reassigned.
State tax collections for the first 10 months of 2012-13 fiscal year up more than 3-percent from previous year...
New York's comptroller says state tax collections for the first 10 months of the state fiscal year total nearly $56-billion, up 3.3 percent from the same period a year earlier and $538-million dollars more than projected. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the boost in personal income tax receipts, up 4.7 percent or $1.6-billion dollars from a year earlier, is partly due to high-income taxpayers shifting income into 2012 in response to federal tax increases in 2013, including bonus payments and asset sales at the end of December. He says the state's general fund had a closing balance of $7.1-billion on Jan. 31. That was $1-billion higher than the latest projections.
Cuomo pension plan proposal allowing local governments to "bank now" on projected pension fund grow could endanger them... says budget watchdog group...
A budget watchdog group warns that Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to allow local governments to bank now on projected future pension savings will endanger communities. The non-partisan Citizens Budget Commission joined a growing number of critics on Monday. The plan would allow local governments to use a fixed, lower rate for current pension costs based on projected savings over 25 years through a new pension system. It counts on lower costs years from now. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner had raised concerns about Cuomo's proposal as risky and ineffective for hundreds of local governments statewide facing fiscal crises. She says other options are needed. The Cuomo administration disputes those analyses as based on incorrect data and assumptions.
Reed confirms that NYS will take some big hit's if sequestation cuts take effect...
New York state stands to lose nearly $43-million in funding for primary and secondary school programs if major, federal budget cuts take effect this coming Friday. Local Congressman Tom Reed says he has seen that in a study done on sequestration cuts by the White House. However... as Reed heads back to Washington... he still wants to hear what the President wants to do about it. He says these cuts are less than one-percent of the total federal budget... and, 5.8-percent in discretionary spending. He says there's no reason why the cuts would shut any federal operation down. Reed says there isn't a business owner -- including himself -- that haven't had to deal with such a situation before, and adjust to keep the operation going. However... Reed later admitted that some of the sequestration cuts were to be "across the board..." and, not discretionary. While the House Ways and Means Committee hasn't presented a new budget that includes cuts... the Corning Republican says Congressional Republicans would back either of the budgets passed in the last two Congresses. He says the Senate hasn't even done that... and, adds neither has the president. Reed made his comments during his Monday morning media conference call.
City police investigating "pop bottle bomb" incident...
Jamestown Police are investigating an apparent "pop bottle" bomb explosion on a porch on the city's southside early Monday morning. City police Captain Bob Sameulson says officers got a call from residents in the Broadhead Avenue area shortly after 1 a.m., and, found "small blast marks" on the porch at 39 Myrtle St. No one was hurt... but, some windows blew out of the residence. Samuelson says the incident apparently stemmed from a relational dispute... but, they are continuing to investigate the origins of the incident. If you have any information... call city police at 483-7537... or the confidential TIP-LINE at 483-TIPS.
