City Council unanimously approves new, four-year contract with Jamestown Professional Firefighters...
The Jamestown City Council has unanimously approved a new, four-year contract agreement with the city's unionized firefighters. Lawmakers okayed the agreement... which runs retroactive to the beginning of 2021, and, runs through 2024... 9-0. Mayor Eddie Sundquist, says the contract includes 10.25% pay hikes over the life of the contract. They are 2.5% for the first three years... and, 2.75% for the final year in 2024. Sundquist says the agreement does include an increase in employee contributions to the firefighters health insurance program. Sundquist says staffing remained a "bone of contention..." but, adds both sides agreed to continue discussions. Still... there will be five new firefighters hired... including one to fill a vacancy. At-Large Councilman Jeff Russell also praised Sundquist and his administration for getting agreements with all city unions. Russell says the Sundquist administration was able to do something that past administrations were "unable to do." At the beginning of his administration at the beginning of 2020... Sundquist made it a priority to get new contracts for all the city's unions. He said he was very pleased to realize that goal. Council President Tony Dolce called it a "fair contract."
Council also approves contracts for work on new Fleet Management Building...
City lawmakers last night also authorized Mayor Sundquist to finalize about $4.5-million in agreements with four contractors to building a new vehicle maintenance facility on Washington Street. The city has purchased the former Hartley Buick dealership for the location. Sundquist says it's important to move forward on the project because material costs are still going up. He says they will likely be slightly over budget for the project, but, adds they can cover that with American Rescue Plan Act funding. To build a new facility, said Sundquist, it would likely cost $10-million-plus. The proposal was first developed under former Mayor Sam Teresi's administration because the city's current facility is antiquated. The biggest contract is for Building Innovation Group from East Rochester, at a cost of nearly 2.5-million dollars. The plumbing contract will go to Ciancio Mechanical in Jamestown. The mechanical contract will go to JMI Heating and Air of Frewsburg... and, the electrical contract will go to Ahlstrom-Shaeffer Electric of Jamestown.
Clean-up continued Monday in north county from Sunday night storms...
The clean-up continued in the city of Dunkirk's First Ward after severe storms moved across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties late Sunday and early Monday. Route 5 -- Lake Shore Drive -- was still closed in both directions from Fizell Avenue and North Serval Street as emergency utility work continued late Monday morning. Dunkirk was among the communities hit by the storms that formed ahead of a cold front. That from Meteorologist Steve Welch at the National Weather Service says there was a "lot of instability" in the atmosphere that created the strong storms. Besides Dunkirk, there was also damage reported in the towns of Charlotte and Gerry.
Two men arrested for allegedly involvement in fight at County Fair...
Two north county area men have been arrested for allegedly getting into a large fight with several minors at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds Sunday night. Sheriff's officers were called to the Central Avenue location in Dunkirk shortly before 8 p.m., and, found that 22 year-old Hunter Evans of Brocton, and 19 year-old Joshua Kelly of Portland... got into the physical altercation with several youths. Both were arrested for endangering the welfare of a child... and, taken to the county jail pending Centralized Arraignment.
City woman arrested in Ellicott on Leandra's Law violation...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence of drugs with a child under the age of 16 in the car. Sheriff's officers say they stopped 35 year-old Brandi Bartlow on Route 60 in the town of Ellicott shortly before 1 p.m. last Friday... and found her to be driving while ability impaired by drugs. Deputies say Bartlow is also charged with aggravated driving while ability impaired by drugs with a child less than 16 years old... a violation of Leandra's Law. She was also issued appearance tickets for Ellicott Town Court for endangering the welfare of a child... second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation... having a broken windshield... and, an unregistered motor vehicle.
Local artist hired to paint new three-sided mural on Spring St. Parking Ramp...
The Lucille Ball "Vitameatavegamin" mural painted on one side of the Spring Street Parking Ramp on East Third Street will soon have some company. The city of Jamestown received a $5,000 Community Arts Program grant earlier this year as part of a downtown beautification project. Local artist Molly Strong was selected to do the floral-themed mural... and, explained what she'll be doing to the City Council this past week... noting that the mural will be under the Lucy mural facing the Spring Street side of the garage. Strong presented a couple of conceptual drawings of what she'll be doing... but, then made some changes to give the flowers a more realistic look. She says there are more lines in the flowers than she originally planned to give that more realistic look. Strong was introduced to lawmakers by City Principal Planner, Ellen Shadle... who said the city received the grant from Arts Services, Incorporated last January... and, the project was approved in March.
