City Council approves new police contract, rejects fire proposal...
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist had hoped to have all city union contracts wrapped up by last night's City Council voting session. But... there's still one left unresolved. Lawmakers last night unanimously approved a new, four-year agreement with the Jamestown Police Kendall Club-PBA. However... they rejected a similar, four year deal with the Jamestown Professional Firefighters Association Local #137 by a vote of 5-to-2. Council President Tony Dolce cast one of the two "yes" votes... but, says the majority had concerns over the $1.2-million cost to add four firefighters to staff a second ambulance. While he voted for the contract, Dolce said he had concerns about the cost, and where the money would come from. Sundquist later said he was very disappointed over the vote to reject the fire contract... and, says lawmakers appeared to want more EMS service... and this was an opportunity to provide more of it. At-large Councilman Jeff Russell said specifically that he could not vote for the additional firefighters without a clear plan on where additional revenues or cost savings will be. In laying out both contracts... Sundquist earlier said they would both end "lifetime health care" for retirees... saving the city on those costs. Both contracts would cover the years 2021 through 2024.
City Council approves most of Sundquist's appointments... but, rejects two new members of BPU...
City lawmakers also approved the majority of the nearly 25 board and commission appointments by the mayor at last night's meeting. However... two citizen member appointees to the Board of Public Utilities were defeated in tie votes. Both Shawn Connor and Sabrina Gustafson were turned down in 4-4 votes. Mayor Eddie Sundquist called the defeats "disappointing," mainly because no council members reached out to him about their concerns over the appointments. Sundquist says he's not sure what he will do next. In the meantime... officials say holdovers Greg Rabb and Jim Olson will remain on the BPU until new appointments are confirmed. Council President Dolce voted in favor of both new members... and, could only speculate on what those who voted no were concerned about. He says qualifications are probably the main one, especially with two new appointees. The City Council also approved several reappointments to the Human Rights Commission... but, rejected the reappointment of Justin Hubbard. Hubbard... a teacher... asked lawmakers to reappoint him during public comment earlier in the meeting. However... another member of the public urged lawmakers to not reappoint him.
Sundquist says future in Jamestown looking "much brighter" in State of City Address...
Much has changed in the city of Jamestown since last year at this time... and, the outlook is "much brighter" than it's been in recent years. That from Mayor Eddie Sundquist during his State of the City Address yesterday afternoon. The speech was given virtually again this year due to the on-going pandemic. However... he says the city is in much better shape than early 2021. Sundquist recalled the gloomy prospects at that time... and, having made major budget cuts that lingered from 2020. He says they were faced with the "prospect of highly-diminished city services" for years to come. But, he says improves revenues and $28-million dollars from the American Rescue Plan have changed things significantly. Sundquist adds that every city department did it's part in getting Jamestown through two-years of the pandemic. In looking ahead... Sundquist says the city needs to better market itself for tourism, and taking advantage of it's hotels to draw conventions year-round. He says Jamestown also has a chance to make a new niche in a growing industry: the growing and manufacturing of cannibus. He says since his office put out feelers... they received 250 inquiries from potential growers and manufacturers.
There will be no public event again this year with Dunkirk Dave due to COVID...
Dunkirk Dave is preparing to make his annual prediction on when we can expect a return of spring, but the north county-based long-range weather forecasting ground hog won't be doing it in public. That from Dave's handler Bob Will.... who tells us that the decision has been made due to the concern over COVID-19. He says under current circumstances... there are some things he's not able to do. While there will be no public viewing tomorrow... Will says Dave will still make a prediction. He gets the sense Dave and his family are getting eager to do so. This is the second year that Dunkirk Dave has not made a public prediction due to the pandemic.
Proposed redistricting maps could hurt GOP numbers in Jamestown...
Proposed political maps released by the leaders of New York's Democrat-dominated legislature would give the party an advantage in 22 of of the state's 26 congressional districts. The new maps released late Sunday could lead to Democrats picking up as many as three seats and Republicans losing as many as four. The boundaries of congressional and legislative territories are being redrawn as part of the nation's once-per-decade redistricting process. An initial vote on the new maps could happen this week. New York is set to lose one seat in the House in 2023, due to slow population growth.
