November 12, 2024 Work Session

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

Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer
Avery Faulkner, DPW Superintendent

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors 

No visitors were present

ARPA – Obligate Remaining Funds

The purpose of the work session is for discussion on obligating the remaining ARPA Funds in the amount of $24,299.29. After meeting with the village managers, Mayor Jaroszynski is recommending using the remaining ARPA funds on the following:

• WB Mason – New desks, chairs and storage unit for the village clerk and treasurer office replacing furniture that is old and in need of being replaced. Approximate cost = $5K
• AED Superstore – 2 AED units, one for the Library/Community Building and one for the summer recreation program. Approximate cost = $4K
• Mosca Design – 4 new street banners and brackets for Main Street. Approximate cost = $1,200
• Plyer Overhead Door – 2 garage doors for the Fire Station. Remaining balance. (May not cover total cost of 2 doors)

Discussion:

• AEDs should be considered first for safety reasons
• WB Mason using the state contract for the office furniture so 2 quotes are not needed.
• Need to get 2 quotes for the overhead doors
• NYCOM suggested using the federally funded ARPA money on items that a municipality would not normally use constitute money on.
• The board discussed whether the Town of Ellicott should be involved in paying for the maintenance of the fire station. Trustee Cavallaro stated that the contract with the town is only for “fire protection”. The Village of Falconer is the governing body and the fire station building is owned by the village. 

The board will address at the regular board meeting tonight at 6pm.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the work session at 5:50 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

October 15, 2024 Work Session

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

Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer
Avery Faulkner, DPW Superintendent

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

ARPA – Obligate Remaining Funds

The purpose of the work session is for discussion on obligating the remaining ARPA Funds in the amount of $68,352.23. 

The board members noted needs below to be considered:

• Replace broken/damaged playground equipment at Falconer Park in the amount of $3,717.44. There is no extra money in the park budget to cover this expense. The park equipment needs to be replaced regardless where we take the money from so that it is safe.
• Community Building boiler tank is decaying and needs to be replaced. Would like to repair before winter. The approximate price for the repair is $8,379. Trustee Cavallaro suggested we use the community building reserve fund for this expense and not ARPA funds.
• The remaining four fire department garage doors need to be replaced. If the village uses ARPA money for the doors, the town would not be contributing their portion towards the doors unless they agree to pay to replace 2 of the 4 doors. It was also discussed previously to include in the fire department budget to replace one door per year.
• The street sweeper that is on order is an option but was previously agreed to be paid out of the street equipment reserve fund.
• Water to the recreation building was tabled a few months ago to look at other options but due to the time line in needing a contract/purchase order by the of 2024.
• The DPW pole barn construction can come out of the ARPA funds if the bid is accepted by the board.

At the end of the discussion, the board decided to vote on a resolution at the meeting to use the community building reserve funds for the boiler tank repair and the ARPA funds for the damaged playground equipment. The board will schedule another ARPA work session next month to obligate the remaining funds. There are many areas that we have needs, so we need to prioritize the needs and obligate the funds accordingly.

Fire Advisory Board (FAB) – Steve Vanstrom

Key points:

• There is a request in your meeting folders from the Fire Advisory Board (FAB) to enter into negotiations with Chautauqua County Emergency Medical Services. The FAB is asking for permission to put together a contract with them on behalf of the county and the village to be able to bill for services under Medicare Part B (which includes services under Medicare Advantage Plan, HMO’s and PPO’s). Currently, we do not have an agreement on file with the federal government to able to bill patients under these programs.
• For example, for the past year the loss to the county was about $4,500 and the loss to the village was $3,000.
• Once an agreement is put together, it would be brought to the county and village for approval. They would like to have this completed by the end of 2024 so that the contract would be in effect at the first of the year. The FAB is looking to put together an annual contract, with a 30 day out clause because there is so much change in medical services right now.
• Currently, the Falconer Fire Department is one of two fire departments that had not signed on with the county with the other company just signing on.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the work session at 5:58 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

March 11, 2024 Work Session

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

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) – Twan Leenders & Vince Liuzzo

Twan Leenders, Director of Conversation at Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy spoke on the topic: Chadakoin River Restoration and Activation 2024 – Where are we now & where do we want to go?

Key points from the presentation:

• Last year the CWC performed an analysis of the entire county surface areas to show where they needed to focus their efforts in order to have the best flood control, quality water, and resilience from extreme storms and snow melts.
• The Chadakoin River and the other waterways in the county (Cassadaga Creek and Conewango Creek) have been receiving increased attention. Primarily to make the waterways safe again, increase their ability to move water downstream without causing flooding and damage to properties, stabilizing the banks to prevent erosion, and – more recently- developing ways to activate the county’s waterways economically. 
• The Falconer 1.5-mile section of the Chadakoin River is a critical part of this overall plan. There are grants available for this project and CWC is asking for support in whatever way possible, in-kind service using trucks and equipment if funds are not available.
• The Chadakoin River is not funded by the state, but if it can be made navigable to the Martin Cobb Waterway, we can make a case to receive state funding. Cassadaga Creek and Conewango Creek are maintained by the county parks department and therefore receive state funding yearly for maintenance, but only if they remain navigable. There are a lot of dead ash trees coming down, clogging all of the waterways and obstructing the flow of the river which also creates problems on the banks. We are working to create a new master plan for the waterways, to prioritize the blockages that need to be removed so that the river can become safe again.
• Much of the lower portion of Conewango Creek and several sections of Cassadaga Creek (approximately 12 miles in total) have been cleared and work is ongoing in 2024.
• Several trouble spots in Falconer have been cleared out over the past few years, but the Falconer and Ellicott sections of the Chadakoin need a comprehensive clean-out to be safer, more resilient and activate-able.
• CWC would like to work with the Village of Falconer to help improve the health and safety of the Chadakoin River & work on ways to activate the river and its waterfront to provide an economically sustainable basis for future maintenance.
• CWC would act as the project manager, identifying problems, coming up with solutions, and applying for any permits needed with the DEC.  The water is owned by NYS and the DEC has jurisdiction over it. Any kind of work that impacts the quality of the water requires a DEC permit. CWC is committed to only hire local contractors for the project.
• Need to get proactive and not be reactive.

Attorney Peterson suggested getting a consortium together, Town of Poland, Town of Ellicott and Village of Falconer for a “strength in numbers” approach in applying for funding. 

Fire Advisory Board (FAB) Presentation

Presenting: Steve Vanstrom, Ken Lyons, Lance Hedland, and Peter Fuller

Key points from the presentation:

• With a new treasurer and accounting system, they are getting better information and feedback which helps with the planning. The FAB appreciates Treasurer Spunaugle for all her help and presence at the meetings. 
• Implemented several maintenance agreements which will allow us to maintain our existing equipment for a longer time in order to save up for the higher costs of equipment.
• The Town of Ellicott invited the FAB to a board meeting for a presentation and they have also been participating in the FAB meetings.
• Active department membership is currently at 62, down from previous years.
• Fire hall was built in 1991 with a 75-year expectation. With continued maintenance on the building, the life expectation can be extended. A new roof, upgrade or replace the existing generator, installation of civil defense warning system and update handicap accessibility are items to be addressed in the near future.
• There was a 19% increase in equipment prices in 2021, followed by another 6% increase in 2022. Since 1980 we have always used a 3% increase each year to determine our budget needs for equipment replacement. 
• Recommend that we separate the budget lines into 2 categories. Operational budget lines should be adjusted using the previous year data plus adjusting for inflation. Equipment should be evaluated for a 13-year adjusted future cost which includes accommodations for inflation and unforeseen changes. 
• Suggest spreading the 29% cost increase in the past 2 years over a 6-year budget plan. Would like to reach a contribution level of $200,000 by the budget year 2030.
• Recommends adhering to a purchase order system with approval by either the mayor or the fire liaison. In addition, all purchases over $2000 should be pre-arranged and discussed with the FAB in advance of the purchase.
• The 50-year contract between the village and town is approaching the final years. Any changes will need to be addressed, agreed to and approved by both boards prior to the expiration of the current agreement.
• The village should continue to make budget progress reports available to the FAB for analysis and recommendations. 
• The village and town officials should meet at least twice annually to discuss fiscal matters.
• Trustee Dunn spoke that he appreciates all the work that Steve Vanstrom does forecasting and figuring out how to buy vehicles on a cash basis to avoid the interest charges.
• Mayor Jaroszynski and the board would like to express their appreciation to the FAB for all the updates and the work that went into this presentation.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson to adjourn the work session at 6:02 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

January 8, 2024 Work Session

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

Gregory Peterson, Attorney-excused
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 5:30 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

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. ALLCOMPLAINTS/REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED AND REVIEWED AT A LATER TIME.

Pickleball Presentation by John Mora of JM Pro Court & Surface Solutions

John Mora of JM Pro Court started his presentation by noting that globally, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world and has impacted his company tremendously installing 80-100 pickleball courts per year from 8-9 courts per year 5 years ago. The information provided to the board showed a court layout and approximate costs based on the square footage given. There would be 6 regulation-sized pickleball courts. The biggest part of the project would be removing existing fence posts and installing pickleball posts. Fixed posts are the best option for municipalities versus portable posts and are required to host pickleball tournaments.

In his opinion, the most cost-effective plan would be to repair the existing courts versus having the courts milled and repaved. His machine would dig into each crack about ¼”, and each crack will be covered with a patch of about 14” with a fiberglass mesh. Then they would roll over the entire court, a new surface of fiberglass before it is coated. The company guarantee is 5 years, but the fiberglass mesh is designed to be there for 15-20 years.

Mayor Jaroszynski thanked John Mora for the information and the board will review and discuss the information for consideration.

Visitor Comments

Steve Garvey, Falconer resident commented after the presentation that he thinks the idea of pickleball courts are a great idea and even better if you can make it a multi-use surface. He thanked the board for pursuing the idea.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the work session at 5:55 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

October 10, 2023 Work Session

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

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, October 10, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding.

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

– Nina Gustafson                  

Fire Advisory Board Presentation

Steve Vanstrom from the Fire Advisory Board made a presentation to the board as to the status of the current equipment plan and projections for the future. The Fire Department is in the 45^th year of a 50-year plan. The plan is still working but needs to be modified due to a 26% increase in equipment prices in 2023 and projected increases of 4-6% in the next several years. The Fire Advisory Board will be working on the plan and providing recommendations prior to budget preparation early next year. With the current plan, we replace a truck every 20 years. The major source of revenue for the FD is the property tax base from the Village of Falconer and the Town of Ellicott, 55% comes from the town, 45% comes from the village. Sale of used equipment and money saved from small equipment are also sources of revenue. One of the recommendations will be to change the 20-year cycle so that we can minimize the payments we need to make on future purchases.

What is needed in the new plan:

• Realize that we must continually update plan budget to meet inflation
• Need to strengthen existing government cooperation and communication
• Need to closely monitor expenditures and channel control chief spending
• Better Communication/cooperation with surrounding agencies for both fire and rescue support services.

We are very fortunate to have volunteer firemen and rescue services here. If this service were to be provided by the city or county, the cost to our tax base would be unsustainable. There is no viable alternative to the current volunteer system and we should not take it for granted.

Trustee Cavallaro made a motion, seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn the work session at 6:16 p.m.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

July 10, 2023 Work Session

Draft

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

Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Paula Spunaugle, Treasurer

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

– Eric Tichy – Post Journal              

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.

Review of Insurance Policies for Village Properties

Mayor Jaroszynski started the work session stating that due to the fact that village property insurance rates were going up substantially, he felt the need to go over the options that were presented to Treasurer Spunaugle from Hannah Hayes of Great Lakes Insurance.

Treasurer Spunaugle commented that due to high replacement costs, our rate has increased by approximately 18%. The Village properties are currently valued extremely low so if we continue with the exiting coverage, option 1, there would be a 110% margin clause added which would cap a loss by applying a margin clause percentage to the building value.  Option 2 would cover 90% replacement cost, and Option 3 at 100%.

The board decided to select option #2 but asked Treasurer Spunaugle to get a few other quotes for comparison and find out if we could cancel the existing policy if a much less alternative was found. It was also suggested that the village get an updated property appraisal done in the next year as the last appraisal was done over 10 years ago.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Gustafson to adjourn the work session at 5:54 pm.  Ayes: All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

February 13, 2023 Work Session

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

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk
Lawrence Trask – Treasurer
Bryce Webster, Fire Chief
Paul Andalora, Code Enforcement Officer
Carl Caprino, DPW Superintendent- excused
Laurie Becker, Library Director

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding. 

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll:

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

Visitors

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 REVIEWD AT A LATER TIME.

Mayor Jaroszynski noted that the village has been approached by Rick Kress to purchase land owned by the village on Cross Street for potential development and he will be making a presentation tonight.

Rick Kress presentation – Has been in the scrap metal industry for over 25 years. His families’ business was the oldest scrap metal processor in the state before they sold in 2010. He has a team of environmental experts working with him on the 20 Cross Street project which would create approximately 15 new jobs.  His proposal is to purchase village-owned, industrial zoned parcels adjacent to 20 Cross street. The property is close to the railroad which would benefit his long-term goal of using the rail line in place of truck deliveries to and from local manufacturing facilities. The facility will be a state-of-the-art metal recycling facility, not your typical junk yard, which will include a new building, fencing, landscaping, blacktop, and scales. Salvaged parts will be available for sale and would be kept in the yards separated by concrete partitions, in rows and racks. The business does process whole vehicles, the fluids are drained inside the building via an environmental rack. The business will be solely funded, no funding is being requested through the IDA, unless it is considered a brownfield facility which there would be government funding available. Hours of operation will be Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm, Saturday 9:30am – noon. He is willing to pay the assessed value of the property and mentioned he is under a time constraint as there are other offers on the property. Mayor Jaroszynski thanked Rick for his presentation and noted it would be discussed at the regular board meeting to follow.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to adjourn the work session at 5:54 pm.  Ayes:  All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

December 5, 2022 Work Session

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

Gregory Peterson, Attorney
Lawrence E. Trask – Treasurer
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. at the Community Building Board Room with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding.

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll

Trustee Gustafson, Trustee Miller, Trustee Cavallaro and Mayor Jaroszynski were present. Trustee Dunn was excused from the meeting.

Parliamentary Procedure

THE VILLAGE OF FALCONER WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENT BY ALL. WE ASK THAT YOU STAND, STATE YOUR NAME AND KEEP YOUR COMMENTS BRIEF (3 MINUTES OR LESS) AS A COURTESY TO THE BUSINESS NATURE OF THE MEETING AND OTHER TIME CONSTRAINTS. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE AN INTERACTIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE BOARD AND/OR MAYOR REGARDING A SPECIFIC MATTER OR CONCERN, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU REQUEST TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA AND PROVIDE AN OUTLINE OF THE MATTER YOU WISH TO DISCUSS AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING. YOU MAY DO THIS BY CONTACTING THE MAYOR OR CLERK AT (716) 665-4400. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER.

Visitors in attendance:

Visitor Comments:

Steve Garvey, Falconer resident provided a large visual presentation to the board. The visual had 2 photos on top showing the park area as it looks now with a large green space, picnic tables and grills that all would be displaced if the dog park was put in the proposed area. The bottom 2 photos show the proposed dog park with 5ft fencing which does not belong in the middle of a park as it will ruin the esthetics of the park.

Some of the comments made from visitors regarding the proposed dog park in Falconer Park:

• Dog park will take away area summer youth program uses
• Dog park does not belong in a residential area
• Total area for proposed dog part is under .5 acre, which is not large enough for a dog park
• The walking path around the park can be used for dog walking purposes
• Appreciates all of the work the Rotary Club has done in the park and the Village Board for their service but the dog park does not belong in the Falconer Park.
• Falconer Park is a beautiful park the way it is, does not want a dog park within the park
• Does not belong in the park, keep the park as a family park
• Pavilion renters should not have to endure dog noise and smell

Discussion on Camera System and Fire Alarm Upgrades

The board reviewed the information prepared by Trustee Gustafson and Trustee Dunn on the camera system quotes from FSC and Allied Alarm Services. The lower end quotes for 5 cameras to be installed in the library could accommodate up to 8 cameras, where the second option allows for up to 16 cameras for the FSC system and up to 48 for the Allied System. Both systems have an app to view camera activity. The current cameras in the library and park are older with a lower resolution where the ones quoted are a higher resolution and would be an upgrade.

By going with the second option, it would allow the village to add additional cameras at a later date where needed. Currently the library has 3 cameras and the request is for an additional camera downstairs and one upstairs by the front door. The current budget would allow for these additional 2 cameras. If the second option is chosen, the budget would have to be modified or fund using ARPA, sales tax revenue, or fund balance. If additional cameras for the building are added, either company would be able to provide separate monitors, for instance, one in the library and one in the clerks’ office.

Mayor Jaroszynski noted that by going with the second option that accommodates more than 8 cameras we could add a camera on the sign in front of the community building.

The board also discussed the Fire Alarm System quotes from both FSC and Allied Alarm. It was noted that if Allied was chosen for the fire alarm system, they would come in and replace the current box from FSC as it is not proprietary and can be serviced by any company.  Current sensors would be replaced with more appropriate sensors and a few more would be added. Some of the existing sensors are almost 30 years old and towards the end of the recommended life cycle of a sensor. Current fire sensors are not audible so a fire in one part of the building would not be known in other parts of the same building.

Recommendation is to go with Allied Alarm on the second option for the camera system (8TB) for the library cameras and Allied on the fire alarm system upgrade as they both should to be updated for safety reasons with resolutions to use ARPA funding.  The existing cameras at the park and fire hall will continue to be with FSC for now and can be looked at to convert to the Allied system at a later date. The Cameras and Fire alarm system will be added to the agenda for the next board meeting on December 12, 2022.

Review Dog Park Proposed Site in Falconer Park

Trustee Cavallaro inquired on the width of the walkway between the large and small dog areas. Alan Gustafson Sr., commented that the proposal was preliminary and could be adjusted as to what was needed. It will be wide enough to be able to get a vehicle to the park building from Mosher Street for deliveries. He also noted that a portion in the back of the large dog area was a brush covered area and not current usable park space.

Mayor Jaroszynski had contacted Lakewood officials and noted that most of the issues at the Lakewood dog park are with the people not getting along. 

Nina Gustafson, Rotary Club president commented that she has been in contact with Monica Simpson, who works with the County IDA and worked with Dunkirk on their dog park. Monica provided Nina with information regarding a grant program to apply for to help fund the dog park project. The grant looks at projects that would people back to Chautauqua County and tourism. Even though many Rotarians do not live in the village, many of them own businesses in Falconer and they commit a lot of time to the village and just want to make it a nice place.

Alan Gustafson Sr. reminded the group that surveys were sent out previously regarding the proposed dog park and based on the responses the dog park project moved forward, and it wasn’t until recently that the opposition for the dog park has come forward.

Mayor Jaroszynski commented that the board has heard both sides, for and against the dog park. He encourages the board if they have any additional questions regarding the dog park proposal,  that they reach out for answers prior to the next board meeting on December 12^th.

Trustee Gustafson made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to adjourn the work session at 7:13 pm. Ayes-all. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

October 3, 2022 Work Session

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

Cindy Capestrani, Village Clerk

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, October 3, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. at the Firemen’s’ Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding.  

Pledge of Allegiance & Roll

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

Parliamentary Procedure

VISITORS ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE CHAIR.  THIS IS NOT THE PLACE OR TIME TO CONDUCT A DEBATE WITH ANYONE.  IT IS A MEETING TO DELIBERATE AS THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO TRANSACT THE BUSINESS OF THE VILLAGE.  ALL REPORTS, REQUESTS, IF NECESSARY, WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION FOR FURTHER STUDY, INFORMATION GATHERING AND RECOMMENDATIONS.  ALL CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED HAS BEEN PLACED WITH THE TRUSTEES AND IS ON FILE.

Visitors:

Steve Garvey – 53 Almet Ave
Pat Bellardo – 53 Almet Ave
Lawrence Trask – 213 Clyde
Brenda Weiler – 200 E. Elmwood Ave
Glen Dickerson – 3 Kimball Ave
Nina Gustafson – Gerry, N
Andrew Sweet – 316 W. Work Street
Bobby Samuelson – 27 W. James
Tim Black – 80 Aldren Ave
Emily McVay – 3476 Sprague Hill
Larry Spangenburg – 32 Mapleshade Ave
Holly Hannon – 114 Richard Avenue
Steve & Mindy Trapani – 211 W. Mosher Street

Mayor Jaroszynski read the Parliamentary Procedures, reminded all visitors to sign in and opened the floor to anyone that wished to address the board.

Steve Garvey – a village resident and former village board member and parks commissioner for 16 years brought a newspaper article from 2001 regarding the horseshoe club that used to reside in the village park but was asked to leave. The club had loud speakers that were used for 50-50 drawings, many times past the curfew, and had events where they were selling beer which is prohibited in the park. He feels there is no place for a dog park in the village park or even in the village as they would all be near residences.  There is a stand-alone dog park in Lakewood which is only 4.8 miles from Falconer.  Some of the reasons he is against the dog park are the noise, smell, conflicts with owners and animals, close to village neighborhoods, and aggressive dogs. He appreciates what the Rotary has done in the past, along with the village to make Falconer Park what he feels is one of the best parks in the area and would like to keep it that way. He is asking the board to represent the village residents first, as the park is in a residential area.

Andrew Sweet – is in favor of the dog park along with others that he has spoken too.  Having a young child, it would be more convenient to walk to the park versus having to drive 4.8 miles to the closest park.  He feels that many of the issues that the park had with the horseshoe club, as stated by Mr. Garvey, would not be the case with a dog park. He stated that if there is a place in the park designated for the dogs, it will eliminate the people that currently let their dogs run loose in the park.  In closing, he feels if the park is well regulated with strict rules and has volunteers to help, that it would be beneficial for the community.  

Glen Dickerson – would like to know how close the dog park would be to the kids’ area. His main concern is for the safety of the children that are in the park, especially during the summer recreation program.  He does not feel Falconer Park is big enough to have a dog park.  He questioned if research was done to find out if any other dog parks have been put in a children’s park and if they have had any problems.

Larry Spangenburg – wants to know if questions can be asked after the presentation since they have not seen any of the plans. Also questioned if the dog park would be close to the kids that attend the summer recreation program and how high the fence would be. Feels that dogs can jump over a 4 feet fence and that should be considered as would be a liability to the village.

Trustee Miller was directed to start the power point presentation with Nina Gustafson, president of the Falconer Rotary Club speaking. About a year and a half ago, the Rotary Club started discussing what they wanted to do with money they had left in the park fund which was established over 20 years ago and has been used towards many park improvements over the years. They decided to research adding a dog park. They applied and were approved through Rotary International for a matching grant to put a dog park in the village park. The grant deadline for the park to be completed is April 2023. 

Trustee Miller added that they looked at how the dog park would fit within the current comprehensive plan which states that the village would benefit from a wider variety of available recreation activities near its parkland.  They are looking at other ways to enhance the park that would benefit the community in addition to the dog park. 

A village survey was done asking the residents if they would be in favor of adding a dog park to the village park and out of 302 responses, 52% said yes the village should explore a dog park in the village park, 29% said yes to a dog park but in a different location, 14% were unsure and there were 16 singular narrative opinions.

Nina Gustafson stated that the Falconer Rotary is proposing that the dog park to be within Falconer Park .The site is a great family destination and has water, parking, and shade, all important features for a dog park.  They looked at other dog parks in the area (Sherman, Dunkirk, Warren, Mayville, Lakewood) to make sure that all needs were met. The proposed area is left of the rec building, no exact dimensions have been determined yet but it will be similar in size to the Mayville dog park.

Key points that are being proposed for the dog park:

• Park will be fenced, with an added green buffer of shrubs or trees between the neighboring residences and the fence
• Separate area for big and small dogs
• A double gated entrance area
• Seating, possibly a Gazebo,  waste disposal areas, water
• Annual memberships with a fee to be determined, which will help with the park upkeep
• Dogs must be licensed and have proof of vaccinations
• Members will get a badge or key fob for entrance
• Park will have strict rules posted with set hours 
• Members will be terminated if rules and regulations are not adhered to

Mayor Jaroszynski reminded the group that before there is any final approval, they will have all of the size information, this is not a voting session, it is a work session for the board to hear from the residents and safety of the children in the park will also be considered in the decision. There will be further meetings and everyone is encouraged to attend them.

Tim Black, village resident and Rotarian, stood up to speak. Rotary Club back in 1999 started to take a larger role in the park. The Rotary Club has raised a lot of money and put in a lot of hard work over the years to help make the park a better place.  The way to keep bad people out of the park is to have a constant supply of good people in the park. There is safety in numbers, busy parks deter bad people. Dogs are in our park now, not following rules, so let’s create a place for the dogs. There are pros and cons for the park, we are never going to have 100%, but we need to start moving forward. He is impressed with the plans, especially that they include memberships and key fobs, maybe explore a taller fence. 

Trustee Dunn commented that the goal is to get opinions so we can compromise to make everyone, if we can, happy with the decision. He appreciates all information given to help understand what the challenges are for the dog park. 

Steve Garvey questioned if the Lakewood police could be contacted to see what the incident report is with their dog park. Mayor Jaroszynski will follow up with Lakewood to get more information. 

Larry Trask, village resident, can see the pros and cons. Questioned if there are any regulations on the size of a dog park. He feels that there is not enough room in the Falconer Park. Also there is water in the park, but he believes that the water line is not an active line to the rec building. He agrees with Glen on the height of the fence and that it needs to be higher. Feels if we can’t regulate rules we have at the park such as no smoking, how can we regulate rules in the future regarding the dog park. Thinks Falconer should have a dog park, not sure it belongs in the park.

Tim Black questioned if the village is more liable with dogs in the park versus have a contained area. Mayor Jaroszynski stated that Attorney Peterson can address this at our upcoming board meeting on October 11.  Nina Gustafson said that the members of the dog park will be required to sign a waiver that they are assuming the responsibility for their dog. 

Steve Trapani, village resident that has property connected to the park thinks it is a good idea. Feels the people within the dog park will police themselves making sure others clean up after their dog which is not happening now with the dogs that are brought into the park. He feels that bringing a dog park to the village park will not bring any more problems to the park that are not already there.     Melinda Trapani, Steve’s wife commented that she has enjoyed living next to the park for over 15 years. It is nice to see people use the park, and it would be nice to have an area for dogs.

Mayor Jaroszynski read a letter that was sent by Ro Woodard, residing on N. Phetteplace that was unable to attend.  He read some of her comments to be considered.  The board thanks the residents for their opinions and they will be discussing the dog park at the next board meeting on Tuesday, October 11.

Trustee Dunn made a motion, seconded by Trustee Cavallaro to adjourn the meeting at 7:04 pm.  Ayes-all. Motion carried.

April 11, 2022 Work Session

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

Carl Caprino, Superintendent
Lawrence Trask, Village Treasurer
Anna L. Fales, Village Clerk

The work session meeting of the Village of Falconer Mayor and Board of Trustees was held on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:15 P.M. in the Firemen’s Exempt Hall with Mayor James Jaroszynski presiding.

A follow-up discussion was held regarding village snow removal practices.  Mayor Jaroszynski recapped the meeting he held with the four business owners who attended the snow removal meeting.  It was noted that Phil’s Auto Plaza has had a long running mutual agreement with the village DPW regarding their snow removal.  Trustee Dunn suggested that it might be good practice to formalize such agreements for future administrations. It was agreed that the village will contact businesses regarding business district snow removal again in late September or early October.

Mayor Jaroszynski opened the floor for any final questions or concerns before the budget hearing. 

Trustee Miller noted that she appreciated Treasurer Trask’s side notes on the budget.  She found them very helpful as a new board member when going through the budget process for the first time.  Treasurer Trask noted that if the gasoline sales tax is dropped by the state and/or county, it could negatively impact the budgeted sales tax revenue.  However, the Village took a conservative approach with the FY 22/23 sales tax revenue in anticipation of any unexpected dip in sales tax.  Trustee Cavallaro questioned CHIPs funding.  Mr. Trask noted that CHIP’s is an in and out line item and has no effect on the bottom line.  The line item will be modified to match the state allocation.

A motion was made by Trustee Cavallaro, seconded by Trustee Dunn to adjourn the work session at 6:57 pm.  Ayes:  All, Nays: None.  Carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Anna L. Fales