Three Buffalo men arrested following shots-fired incident in Jamestown...
Three men from Buffalo have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a shots-fired incident in the area of West Sixth and Jefferson Street in Jamestown about mid-afternoon Tuesday. City Police were called to the scene just after 2 p.m., and, were told that suspects in two cars exchanged gunfire before driving off in separate directions. One vehicle was later found on Summit Avenue with a bullet hole in it's hood. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says further investigation led to a vehicle stop on Pershing Avenue at Baker Street where a passenger in the vehicle fled on foot. Samuelson says 21 year-old Joel Coleman was found inside a garage on Summit Avenue early last evening. He says three other suspects remained in the vehicle... where two loaded pistols were found... and, police arrested 23 year-old Allen Jackson, and 24 year-old Arkeil Gaskin for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Officers later found a third handgun where Coleman has been seen running. Coleman also faces a second-degree weapons charge... and, a drug possession count.
City residents arrested on drug charges following traffic stop...
Two Jamestown residents faces multiple drug related charges following a traffic stop last week on the city's eastside. State Police in Jamestown say they stopped a car for a traffic violation on McDaniel Ave., and, arrested 40 year-old Justin Meacham after he failed several field sobriety tests. Troopers say they found Meacham in possession of a smoking pipe, digital scale which both had methamphetamine residue. A drug recognition expert later confirmed he was under the influence of a narcotic, a stimulant, and a depressant. Police add the passenger, 37 year-old Rachel Courtier, was also arrested for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Troopers say Meacham was arrested for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs... first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation... and, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia. Meacham and Courtier were both issued appearance tickets for Jamestown City Court at a later date.
City Council to hold Special Meeting tonight on ARPA funding at RHJ Center...
Jamestown city lawmakers will hold a special meeting tonight... away from City Hall... to discuss how to use the city's remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding. That from Mayor Eddie Sundquist during his report at Monday night's council work session... who says the program will be held at the Robert H. Jackson Center at 6 p.m. At last word... the city had allocated nearly $4-million of it's ARPA funding.
Sundquist says there is "good news" for Jamestown in state budget proposals...
There is good news in each of the "one-house" budget bills for New York state for local governments in the form of additional aid. That from Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist... who was on a recent conference call with members of Governor Kathy Hochul's staff. Sundquist says the biggest news is that all three budget proposals include more in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities -- or AIM Funding. Sundquist adds there is also additional funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program... or CHIPS funding... as well as Arterial Maintenance funding. That's the funding to maintain state arterial highways in local communities. Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a $216-billion budget back in mid-January. The state budget is due on Apr. 1.
With changes in energy law, BPU eliminates Energy Efficiency Coordinator's position...
The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities has approved a measure eliminating the 13 year-old Civil Service position of Energy Efficiency Coordinator. BPU General manager Dave Leathers says the BPU approved the move during Monday afternoon's meeting... noting that when the position was created... the new energy efficiency programs were mainly focused on customer incentives and rebates. Over the past several years... Leathers says work under that title and program have changed significantly and in recent years the workload has declined, and the spending has been primarily targeted at system-level projects and enhancements instead of customer rebate offerings. He says they expect this to continue in the coming years as the utility implements projects that align with the requirements of the state's Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act.
Petitions now available for interested candidates for Jamestown School Board...
Petitions for people interested in running for the Jamestown School Board in the May 17 election are now available at the district offices at Jefferson Middle School. District Clerk Jaunita Walter says two seats are up for vote this year. Those seats are currently held by Joseph Pawelski, and Patrick Slagle... and, each is for three year terms. Walter says candidates must submit a completed petition containing the names of 100, or more qualified voters within the school district to be eligible for the May ballot. She says petitions are due back to the Superintendent’s Office on Martin Road by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 27. For more information... go to the district's website at jpsny.org.
Fredonia mayor proposes $11.5-million budget for 22-23...
Fredonia Mayor Doug Essek is proposing a 2022-23 village budget that totals just over $11.5-million, and, includes a tax rate increase. Essek delivered his budget message during Monday evening's Board of Trustees workshop session and announced that the proposed spending plan has just over 3.4% increase in the village tax rate. The increase would generate $101-thousand dollars in additional tax revenues. Essek added that the increase is under the state's tax cap. Essek indicated that the proposed spending plan included the use of $518,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Trustees have scheduled a budget hearing for Apr. 4 and will hold their first budget review session next Monday, Mar. 28.
