ChargePoint DC fast charger

New electric vehicle fast charging stations are operational in Jamestown as part of an effort to provide EVs more convenient charging opportunities near I-86 in the Southern Tier.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a dozen new fast chargers have been installed in Jamestown, Salamanca and Bath. New fast-charging sites also will be installed soon in Olean, Friendship, Castle Creek and Hancock.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the EV charging stations were funded by the state Department of Environmental Conservation‘s Volkswagen settlement fund, “I believe we used some internal workers to do installation at various points of the chargers, but for the most part we absorbed that cost. And, we’re very excited to receive that grant funding from the state and be able to work with them to have a fast charging network here in the city.”

The four ChargePoint DC fast chargers locations in Jamestown include two at West Second and North Main Streets and two at East Fourth Street and Prendergast Avenue.

Hochul has called for major regulatory action that will require all new passenger cars, pick-up trucks and SUVs sold in New York State to be zero-emission by 2035. She has also proposed that all school buses be zero-emission by that the same year. These are all part of Hochul’s goal to electrify the transportation sector and for New York to achieve its climate requirement of reducing greenhouse gases 85% by 2050.

AFSCME New York Council 66, Local 418, which represents employees in the City’s Department of Public Works, filed the suit in Chautauqua County Supreme Court.

The union had filed three grievances, which Arbitrator Douglas Bantle found the city failed to respond to or set a meeting in the time period required in the union’s contract.

The filing said Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo cited various scheduling and health issues on the part of both parties for why meetings were not scheduled or had to be canceled.

Following a meeting between the union and city with the arbitrator in July; the arbitrator made a determination on August 8, 2022 that agreed with the request from the union that the city provide back pay for the three grievances and that the “City’s arguments were contractually and legally without merit.”
Under the Arbitrator’s ruling, both the city and union then had 20 days to request a modification of the award.

The lawsuit in State Supreme Court contends that no modification requests were received and that the “blatant refusal by the City to honor and implement the Award of Arbitrator Bantle is being done with no legal basis and contrary to the process negotiated by the Union and the City in their collective bargaining agreement.”

The lawsuit had been filed in State Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Council President Tony Dolce confirmed that Council was previously aware of the arbitration proceedings, but not of the litigation.

Jamestown City Council work session (September 12, 2022)

City officials and local organizations are continuing to meet to work on ways to address rising homelessness in Jamestown.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist updated City Council on a meeting held Monday with organizations that are part of the county’s Homeless Coalition including the Salvation Army, UCAN Mission, Chautauqua Opportunities, Southern Tier Environments for Living, UPMC, and more, “What we’ve normally seen in the past is homelessness that includes folks that have been kicked out of shelters or have been sanctioned by the county or other providers for whatever violation of services they provided. We would normally see about 25 to 30, that’s what the last census was of homeless here in the city. We are finding encampments that can be up to 50 to 70 people. And we are trying to work to deal with it.”

Sundquist said part of the discussion included planning for winter given that individuals without housing often look for abandoned houses to break into in order to stay warm.

He said the city had a meeting scheduled with with local pastors Tuesday night to discuss homelessness and how the faith community can assist. A second Homeless Coalition meeting is scheduled for later this month.

The forum, which is open to all, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Christ First United Methodist Church at the corner of Lakeview Avenue and Buffalo Street.

City officials and City Council members will be in attendance to answer questions.

A local resident uses a VeggieRx “prescription” voucher to get fresh fruits and vegetables from the Jamestown Mobile Market.

The Chautauqua Center has brought back its Veggie Rx program for a third year along with some new partners.

The community health center is now collaborating with The Resource Center and the Fredonia and Dunkirk Farmers Markets to participate in the Veggie Rx program.

Under the program, medical providers and other staff at partnering health care organizations give “prescription” vouchers that act as money to their patients. Those patients spend the vouchers on fresh produce at area public markets. Veggie Rx patients receive five free servings each week through the duration of the season (June 15 to September 29).

The program is made possible through a collaboration between The Chautauqua Center and the Jamestown Public Market and is funded through TCC’s sponsorship of the Mobile Market.

In the southern portion of the county, vouchers can be redeemed weekly at any of the six Jamestown Mobile Market stops. Patients in the northern part of the county can redeem their coupons weekly at the Dunkirk and Fredonia Farmers Markets.

For the complete schedule and more information, visit www.jtownpublicmarket.org.

Congressman Tom Reed talks with regional media to share his thoughts on upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden while also answering questions from the media.

Tom Reed

Chautauqua County executive PJ Wendel (left) presents his 2021 budget to the County Legislature during its Sept. 23, 2020 meeting in Mayville.

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved a 2021 spending plan that will result in a slight tax rate increase for residents.

The legislature voted 18 to 1 Wednesday night on a budget that calls for a tax levy of $67.1 million dollars, an increase of $740,000 over what had originally been proposed by acting county executive PJ Wendel’s proposed budget that he presented last month.

As a result of the adjustment, the property tax rate for county residents, currently at $8.46 per $1000 assessed value, will see a slight increase of 5 cents. For a home with an assessed value of $100,000, that would result in an increase of $5 in their tax payment for next year.

The $740,000 increase to the tax levy by the legislature is on top of the $2.2 million increase initially proposed by Wendel, bringing to total projected amount of property taxes to be collected in 2021 to $67.17 million.

A driving force behind the property tax adjustment was an adjustment in the sales tax revenue, with the legislature cutting back on the amount of sales tax revenue that had been projected in Wendel’s executive spending plan to the tune of $500,000.

Total spending in the budget is an estimated $260.5 million. It now goes before Wendel for his signature.

Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany Counties will have hand sanitizer and face masks available for farms in each county. This program is available only for farm owners to distribute to themselves and their employees. This effort has been made available through NYS Dept. of Ag and Markets as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic. There is no cost for the products to be provided.

The sanitizer and face coverings will be available for pickup at the following locations:

Cattaraugus County CCE office located at 28 Parkside Drive in Ellicottville.

The Cattaraugus program is in cooperation with the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water District and the Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau. Only information required will be the number of employees served. Available on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday May 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional dates may be added if the demand requires. Details for picking up are: Drive to the parking Lot, Stay in vehicle and proceed in line to the front of building. A staff member will get your order and deliver hand sanitizer and face coverings to your vehicle. Please maintain social distancing and wear face covering.  Call if you have a question at 716-699-2377 during business hours.

Chautauqua CCE: Lake Erie Regional Grape Program office located at 6592 West Main Road in Portland.

The Chautauqua program is in cooperation with the Chautauqua Produce Auction, The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, and the Chautauqua County Building and Grounds Department. Delivery may be available also. Delivery and pick up will be scheduled on a case by case basis while supplies last. Visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua for more details and to place a request for product. Details for picking up are: Drive to the parking Lot, stay in vehicle and proceed in line to the front of building. A staff member will get your order and deliver hand sanitizer and face coverings to your vehicle. Please maintain social distancing and wear face covering.  Call if you have a question at 716-664-9502 during business hours.

Allegany CCE: Allegany County farms may contact Lynn Bliven by phone 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu to schedule pickup or delivery.

This Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).  CCE is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

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