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December 9, 2024 Regular Meeting

Mayor James M. Jaroszynski
Trustee Anthony Cavallaro
Trustee Timothy Dunn
Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr.
Trustee Annette Miller-excused

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer
Bryce Webster, Fire Chief
Paul Capitano, Code Enforcement Officer
Avery Faulkner, DPW Superintendent
Laurie Becker, Library Director

The regular meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, 

December 9, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Dunn, Trustee Cavallaro, and Mayor Jaroszynski were all present.

Visitors

Kyle Dean
Zayne Cline
Kyle Keith

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR

VISITORS ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. THIS IS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE FOR A DEBATE. IT IS A MEETING FOR THE BOARD TO CONDUCT VILLAGE BUSINESS. ALL COMPLAINTS/REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED AND REVIEWED AT A LATER TIME.

Visitor Comments      

  • No visitor comments

Minutes

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2024 Work Session Board of Trustees Meeting. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2024 Regular Board of Trustees Meeting.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Mayors Remarks

  • The NY Forward interview on November 13 with the application committee went well. Award announcements should be made sometime in January 2025.
  • The Santa Parade was well attended, thank you to all the organizers and participants.
  • Shout out to the DPW crew for their work clearing the streets and sidewalks during last week’s major snow event.
  • Village resident, Ron Caldwell has started a “Village of Falconer Christmas Association” Facebook page. The group held their first meeting at Fenner Elementary and had some additional ideas for the Christmas season. Check out their Facebook page for the upcoming events.
  • The grand opening at Prevention Works at 1 E. Main Street was rescheduled for January 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm.
  • Ten 25 Café on East Main Street just outside the village, held their grand opening ribbon cutting on December 5th.  Wishing them great success on the new business.
  • Trustee Annette Miller will be resigning her position effective 12/31/24. She has done a great job leading the Parks and Farmers Market committees for the village and will be greatly missed. Any village resident that wishes to be considered for the position should contact the mayor. The person will fill the position until the fall of 2025 when the position is up for election for a 4-year term.

Fire Chief

The Fire Chief’s November report was reviewed and noted that the department responded to 22 EMS calls, 19 cancelled in route, 1 motor vehicle accident with injuries, 1 motor vehicle/pedestrian accident, 3 alarm system malfunction, 1 good intent call, 2 assist invalid, 1 rubbish fire contained, 1 carbon monoxide incident, 1 landfill fire, 52 total incidents for a year-to-date total of 743.

Mutual Aid Breakdown – November 2024
Given:  Jamestown-3, Frewsburg-1, Kennedy-3, total 7 
Received: Medic 74-9, Alstar-11, Kennedy-4, Engine 4-1, total 25

 Highlights: 

  • Engine 402 is in for yearly service and should be back by the end of December. There was a discussion regarding the additional repairs being done over and above what the Fire Advisory Board (FAB) was aware of. The FAB is looking at usage data to determine if Engine 402 is needed in the future. The data will tell us if we are required to have one or two class A pumpers. The ladder truck has a higher use and is the next piece of equipment that needs to be replaced. If we are required to keep Engine 402, we will have to keep up with the maintenance to extend the life until we can build up the reserve funds that will be depleted to replace the ladder truck.

Code Enforcement

The November code officer report was reviewed. It was noted 8 building permits totaling $230 were issued this past month, totaling $3,256.70 year-to-date.

Highlights:

  • Pro-Housing Community Program – notification was received from NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) that the Village of Falconer is now certified as a Pro-Housing Community. As a certified Pro-Housing Community, the Village of Falconer will now be eligible to apply for various discretionary funding programs such as the NY Forward Program. Mayor Jaroszynski commended the village staff for their hard work in getting the application submitted.
  • Stop work order was ordered for 10 E. Main Street for no permit.
  • 321 E. Elmwood Ave was condemned – unsafe for habitation – tenant was removed.

Department of Public Works

The DPW report was submitted for the month of November 2024. 

Highlights:

  • Library book drop was installed.
  • New 7600 Truck was ordered and the old 7600 truck needed hydro repairs
  • The sidewalk plow was repaired and returned.

Library  

The November 12, 2024 – December 9, 2024 Library report was reviewed. 

Highlights:

  • Jennifer Janocha was sworn in as a new Library Board member on the December 5, 2024 meeting.
  • The new book drop is in and the replacement of the front door will be installed in early 2025.
  • Donna Zeiders will be presenting a Quilling Snowflake class on Saturday, December 7 from 10-12am.
  • Story Hour Director Ashley Nelson will be presenting two story hour events at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute on Saturday, December 7th and December 14th.
  • Historian Brenda Cavallaro has decorated the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Community Building. This year the ornaments feature the names and locations of 127 markets in the village from 1880 – 1985.

Committees:

Finance:

  • A sales tax update report was reviewed by the board. The sales tax collections are slightly ahead of last year-to-date numbers.

Legal: 

  • Nothing to report.

Public Safety: 

  • The Dog Control Officer report was reviewed.
  • The Fire Department Christmas party will be on Saturday, December 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm. Village employees are invited.

Downtown Development: 

  • Prevention Works, which recently moved into the former First Niagara building at 1 East Main Street, has rescheduled the grand opening ribbon cutting for January 10h, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

Farmers Market:

  • Nothing to report.

Parks:

  • Nothing to report.

Pine Hill Cemetery:

  • Nothing to report.

Planning/Zoning Board

  • Nothing to report.

Old Business:

  • Feasibility Study Community Building 2025 – discussion
    The board discussed having a feasibility study done in 2025 to best utilize the space of the community building. Once the DPW pole barn is built and the equipment moved out, the truck bay areas can be converted to usable office space. Some ideas for the space include moving the code office upstairs and using the area for the annual book sale.
  • Food Truck Regulation – Update
    Mayor Jaroszynski will email Alan Gustafson Sr. to present the Food Truck regulations that were approved by the Planning Board at the next board meeting. CEO Capitano will research other municipalities food truck fee schedules for the board to review.

New Business: 

  • Resolution to dispose of 5 old computer desks from library basement area
    The library received a grant for new computer desks for the basement area. The old desks will need to be discarded/donated once the new desks are installed.

    Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to declare the 5 old library desks as surplus so that we can dispose or donate them when the replacements are installed. Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.
  • Reminder – Organizational meeting will be January 13, 2025
  • Procurement Policy – recommended changes
    The board was presented with recommended changes/increases to the dollar amounts so that a new purchase order system can be implemented starting in 2025. The board was in agreement with the recommended changes. 
  • Trustee Resignation
    There is a vacancy on the village board due to a trustee resignation. Any village resident that wishes to be considered for the position should contact the mayor.

Correspondence:      

  • Abstract Audit – Trustee Gustafson
    Trustee Gustafson’s letter, dated December 9, 2024, which acknowledged his review on December 8-9, 2024 of the unpaid vouchers for Abstract #7 (FY 24/25) and bank reconciliations from M&T Bank, Community Bank and NYCLASS for the month of October 2024 was placed into record.
  • Thank you note to DPW
    A note was received from a village resident complimenting the DPW crew for the great job decorating the village and community building.

Abstracts

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Dunn and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #7, General Fund in the amount of $148,713.58 be approved for payment. Discussion: Questions were brought up: annexation attorney fees – these were finishing up with the legal documents, street lighting parts from Rexel-these were parts to install the snowflakes on the light poles. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Gustafson and seconded by Trustee Cavallaro that Abstract #7, Cemetery Fund in the amount of $117.46 be approved for payment.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion: It is moved by Trustee Dunn, and seconded by Trustee Gustafson that Abstract #7, Library Fund in the amount of $9,395.54 be approved for payment.  Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Abstain, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Motion:  It is moved by Trustee Cavallaro and seconded by Trustee Dunn that Abstract #7, General Fund Hand Items in the amount of $4,210.01 be approved for payment. Roll: Gustafson: Aye, Dunn: Aye, Cavallaro: Aye, and Jaroszynski: Aye. Nays: none. Carried.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro, to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:51 p.m. Ayes: all. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk