City Council to consider another $1.2-million in ARPA purchases for parks and public works departments...
The Jamestown City Council will look next week at buying $1.26-million worth of Public Works and Parks Department vehicles and equipment using American Rescue Plan Act funds. Lawmakers got an in-depth presentation by City Fleet Manager Pat Monaghan during last night's work session on the proposals. Monaghan says one of the key Parks vehicles would replace a 22 year-old bucket truck... which has to be inspected yearly. The past couple of years, he says their inspection firm has advised them that they will have to do extensive work and refurbishing of the bucket and truck totaling $30,0000 to $40,000. Monaghan says a new bucket truck will cost $180,000. The total amount of Parks purchases totalled $370,000. Monaghan says one of the key items for the DPW is the need to replace a 1996 combination snow plow and dump truck... which he says they can't find parts for anymore. Because of that... he says they can't use the truck for snow removal any more. He says the new truck would cost $225,000... while the highest priced item would be a $275,000 street sweeper. The DPW equipment purchases total $890,000.... but, they would exceed $1-million if council decided on an additional purchase of a new sidewalk plow to replace a 43-year-old model that's impossible to get parts for now. That would cost $154,000.
Council also learns Housing Court has reopened...
City lawmakers last night also learned that Housing Court reopening last Friday after being closed for many months due to the pandemic. Development Director Crystal Surdyk addressed that matter... and, council also heard more about the hiring of a new School Resource Officers for the Jamestown Public Schools. Police Chief Tim Jackson says the new SRO would be in the middle schools.
Former Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, dies in prison...
Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has died while serving a prison sentence in a corruption case. Silver died Monday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to A-P on condition of anonymity. Silver was 77. The Democrat was one of the most powerful figures in state government for two decades before his conviction on corruption charges. He had been sentenced to more than six years in prison for using his clout in state government to benefit real estate developers.
State judge overturns mask mandate, but, it remains in effect until appeal is heard...
A state judge late Monday ruled that New York's mask mandate can't be enforced. The mandate was reinstituted by Governor Kathy Hochul over concerns about a winter surge of coronavirus cases. The state health department has said the mandate would be in place until Feb. 1. State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker said in his decision that the state Department of Health didn't have the legal authority to implement the mandate. In a statement... Hochul says her administration disagrees with the ruling and is "pursuing every option to reverse this immediately."
Wendel believes mask mandate should be lifted, or at least expire on Feb. 1...
With COVID-19 positivity rates across New York state continuing to trend downward... Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel feels the mask mandate for indoor public venues should be lifted. Wendel said earlier Monday that many feel that Governor Kathy Hochul will probably lift the mandate on Feb. 1... and, several others agree. However... he says if you still feel the need to mask up when going into a public place, by all means, do it. Meanwhile.... Wendel says it’s important for county residents to continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines. He says wear the mask, and get vaccinated and boosted. Hochul said last Friday during a COVID-19 briefing that she did not expect to announce a decision regarding the mask mandate until Jan. 31.
NYS Congressional redistricting appears to be headed to legislature...
Democratic members of New York's redistricting commission threw up their hands Monday... a day before the panel was to submit redrawn congressional boundaries to state lawmakers. That means the Legislature, which is overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats, can now seize control over a reapportionment process voters hoped would minimize gerrymandering. Local Congressman Tom Reed is not surprised... saying this is what Democrats wanted because they want to reduce the number of "strong" Republican districts to three, if possible. However... Reed also believes his Southern Tier District will be left largely intact... and become what's being referred to as a "super GOP District." However... he says there would be fewer of them. The state is losing one congressional seat after the 2020 U.S. Census. The redistricting commission had been mired in partisanship, and many had lost hope that the commission could come up with a unified proposal in its first outing since New York voters established it in 2014. How the state carves out its congressional districts could influence the balance of power in Washington.
Cattaraugus County man arrested for sex offense...
A Cattaraugus County man has been arrested for an alleged sex offense in the town of Napoli last weekend. Sheriff's deputies in Little Valley say the unidentified man, who's 45 year-olds and from Napoli, was arrested for the offense. The incident allegedly occured on Fuss Rd. Jan. 14. Officers charged the man with third-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching. He was issued appearance tickets for Napoli Town Court at a later date.
