Several officials gathered in Falconer Friday, Sept. 28 to announce the final removal of debris at a W. Main Street property that was destroyed by fire in March 2017. Those on hand included (L to R): Chautauqua County DPF Director Brad Bentley, Jamestown Development Director Vince DeJoy, Land Bank Director Gina Paradis, County Legislator Paul Whitford, Falconer Mayor James Rensel, Falconer Village Trustee  De Ette Dispenza, and County Executive George Borrello. 

FALCONER – Residents and officials in Falconer are happy to see a large amount of debris from a building destroyed by a fire more than 18 months ago is finally being removed.

On Friday morning Falconer Mayor Jim Rensel was joined by other village officials and representatives from Chautauqua County and Jamestown city government to highlight the cleanup effort at the vacant lot at 29 W. Main Street.

“We’ve had kind of a cloud hanging over the village hear, as far as this cleanup finally taking place. A lot of work went into this as far our attorneys talking with property owner attorneys and getting the property encumbered with us so that we could do this,” Rensel explained.

The vacant lot at 29 W. Main Street in the village of Falconer.

The delay in getting the debris removed largely stems from the former property owners not having adequate insurance to cover the cost. In an agreement that included the village holding the property owner harmless, ownership of the lot was transferred over from the previous owner to the village.

Rensel said that not only did the Chautauqua County Land Bank also help in facilitating the property transfer from the original owner to the village and with the cleanup effort, but the village also received help from nearby communities who provided land fill credits to Falconer so it could afford the cost of removing the debris.

“The towns of Poland, Ellington, Gerry and Carroll and the village of Celoron all assisted us with their landfill credits so that we could get this cleaned up. I humbly asked for their assistance and got a good response from them. I just can’t say enough for the teamwork involved with that. It’s very appreciated by the village residents and I want to thank everybody very much,” Rensel said.

Jamestown Development Director Vince DeJoy said the also helped Falconer with the removal process.

“The city of Jamestown, through the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, performs demolition project management services for the Land Bank for just about every other community in Chautauqua County. We basically do all the leg work, getting all the permits, working out the bidding process, and working with the contractors to make sure it is a properly done demolition and/or clean up,” DeJoy said.

Rensel said that once the debris is removed, the village will begin moving forward with redeveloping the sight and has already been talking about possible projects at that location.

With the clean-up completed the vacant parcels are now ready for redevelopment. “The Mayor’s West Main St. Redevelopment Committee was meeting frequently in early spring when we surveyed the community and met with multiple interested developers,” said Daniel Heitzenrater, committee member and Ellicott Town Councilman. “Questions regarding site control and debris removal had stalled our work. We are excited clean-up is complete so we can get back to work.”

“We’ve been meeting right along. We’ve had development committee meetings, deciding on who wants to do our redevelopment plan,” Rensel said, adding, “This is a good day. This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a new chapter and with the help of our partners we’ll be able to get it done.”

Interested parties in developing the site can contact the Village of Falconer office at (716) 665-4400.

The rubble has been sitting at the lot since March 2017 when an arson fire broke out at the multi-story building in Falconer’s business district, affecting several businesses and residents who lived there.

The person who is allegedly responsible for the fire, 20 year old Jonathan Young, is still awaiting trial in County court for the incident, along with a dozen other fires he allegedly set in Jamestown during the same time period.

Orbitis owner Nicholas Gunner discusses his community web platform with Falconer officials during a presentation to the village board on Aug. 13, 2018.

JAMESTOWN – Officials in Falconer are looking to improve the village’s online presence.

During the August village board meeting on Monday night, Nicholas and Caitlin Gunner from Orbitis provided the officials with an outline of online services they could offer that would help the village communicate with the public.

The village’s current website is a single, static page that provides a director of village officials and their contact information, along with a link to the village Farmers Market page and a note of when village meetings take place.

The website is short on transparency and does not provide the agenda for upcoming board meetings, nor the minutes from past public meetings, budget information, taxes and fees, or expenditures.

Falconer Mayor James Rensel said the village wants to be able to communicate better with residents and the public with a website that not only provides general municipal government information, but also an events calendar and a directory of local businesses.

Orbitis was brought in this week to provide details on their services, including how their websites function along with the costs associated. The company has already created a website for clients including the village of Westfield, the County Land Bank, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

The basic cost for having Orbitis host and service the village’s website would be an estimated $1620 per year.

No decision was made regarding upgrading the village website and Rensel said officials will continue looking into the matter in the coming months.

Falconer Mayor James Rensel (left) and other village officials during the village board’s August 2018 board meeting.

FALCONER – The effort to clean up rubble from a fire that broke out nearly a year-and-a-half ago in the village of Falconer continues to move forward and village officials are starting to consider possible development options for the vacant space.

On Monday night Falconer Mayor James Rensel provided an update on the matter during the village’s monthly board meeting.

Local business owner Brian Nelson was on hand for the meeting and asked for an update on how things were proceeding with removing the remaining rubble and debris from the March 22, 2017 arson fire at 42 W. Main Street.

Rensel said a required court proceeding on the matter took place last week that should help to move the clean up effort along.

“We went through the court process last week and and go the property encumbered to the extent where I think we’re almost ready to get a shovel down. Once the shovel is in the ground I just don’t want to have to stop for something that just wasn’t done correctly or we forgot to dot an ‘i’ or cross a ‘t’ so last Tuesday at court we took another step forward to get a shovel in the ground and we are getting closer to that,” Rensel said, although he wasn’t able to offer a specific timeline of when the debris would finally be removed.

Fire crews work to contain a major fire on W. Main St. in the village of Falconer on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Andy Palermo, Jamestown, NY)

Village attorney Greg Peterson also said that the village is working with the Chautauqua County Land Bank, which will provide funding for the debris removal once all legal issues have been worked out. The Land Bank’s assistance is necessary because the owner of the building didn’t have adequate insurance to cover the remediation costs. As a result, the village has been working on getting the matter addressed for more than a year.

Officials add that some developed interest has already been expressed for the property and they will continue working on identifying a new use for the vacant space in the coming weeks and months.

“We’re working on that as far as developing a village plan with the [Greater Falconer Area Economic Development Committee]. We’re encouraged because when we do get the property cleaned up, there are people who are interested in development so we’re pursuing those and setting the village development plan so it’s not done helter skelter,” Rensel said.

The March 22, 2017 arson fire resulted in 15 displaced residents and several businesses being impacted. No injuries were reported. It was one of several fires in the area that was allegedly set by Jonathan Young. His local arson cases are still awaiting prosecution, due to other charges that were also filed against him in Pennsylvania that were only recently addressed with a plea agreement.

The Budget Inn at the corner of Work and Main Streets in Falconer (image from google street view)

FALCONER – A business owner in the village of Falconer is voicing his concern over what he fears is a growing public safety issue involving a neighboring businesses.

Gary Visosky, long-time owner of the Belle-View East restaurant on E. Main St. in the village, voiced concerns to the village board Monday night about the number of emergency calls that haven recently come in for incidents at the Budget Inn, directly across the street from his business.

“Something has got to be done. The people that they are allowing to come into this village and stay at this place is just causing a major uproar,” Visosky told Falconer officials. “I’ve got customers coming to my restaurant and asking, ‘Gary, is it safe to come to my restaurant and eat anymore? Do we have to bring a gun when we come down there? Every time we come down here there’s police cars and ambulances all over the place and the Budget Inn.'”

Visosky said that from what he understands, the Budget Inn is serving as a halfway house for individuals who are being released from jail and prison.

Belle-View East owner and operator Gary Visosky

“Anybody that comes out of the jails here, if they have no place else to go, they send them down here,” Visosky said. “[The owner] has a contract with the state and he’s being paid by the state. So he’s just bringing anybody that wants to come in. He gets paid for it and gets a check for this stuff.”

Falconer mayor James Rensel said the village is aware of the situation and is working on it. He also acknowledged the the frequent calls are taking a toll on the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department, which is who responds to emergency calls when they come in.

“We’ve wrestled with this ourselves,” Rensel said. “It bothers me, in a public safety realm, where I’ve had discussions with the fire chief numerous times. We have what I liked to describe as volunteer capitol and we are pretty much hitting that volunteer effort very hard.”

While specific numbers were not provided, officials have said there’s been a sharp increase in police and EMS calls to the budget in in recent months. WRFA has reached out the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s office to learn the number of emergency calls that have been sent to that location during the first three months of this year, compared to the previous year.

Mayor Rensel also said that the village really can’t dictate to the a privately owned business who can and can’t accept as customers. But he did say that officials are working on finding a solution. The village code enforcement officer did say that he has inspected the property and it is up to code.

“The situation is that it’s horrible for people that are having a tough time. They are people that deserve our respect as far as them trying to get back on their feet, so we have to recognize that aspect of the situation and try to address it in a compassionate way, but also a fair way. So we recognize it and we are working on it.”

Village board member James Jaroszynski also suggested the mayor, fire chief, and Ellicott Police Chief meet with the owner of the Budget Inn to discuss the concerns.

(Fire crews work to contain a major fire on W. Main St. in the village of Falconer on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Andy Palermo, Jamestown, NY)

FALCONER – It’s been nearly a year since a major arson fire broke out on W. Main St. in Falconer, destroying a major portion of its downtown business corridor.

Since then village officials have been left waiting for the completion of the clean up to take place. Now it appears the final stage of clean up will be moving forward.

The Greater Falconer Area Economic Development Commission held a meeting on Wednesday and according to the Post-Journal, Falconer Mayor James Rensel said work is being done and progress is being made regarding cleanup of a building destroyed by fire last March.

Village attorney Greg Peterson said there’s been an agreement among the property owners to deed a portion of the land where there is debris to the village with “no strings attached.”

The Chautauqua County Land Bank has also committed some financial resources to help remove the debris.

Meanwhile, the property located at 39-43 W. Main St. that is currently condemned will be going through the town of Ellicott court system for enforcement.

Officials also say there are several opportunities to develop the space once the debris is removed and community input in future development is encouraged.

In addition to the March 2017 arson fire, Falconer officials are still reeling from another major fire on the same block that occurred in January 2018 and completely destroyed the Falconer Vac Shop business, which housed two businesses and several apartments. The official cause was never established, but investigators said that while they have to rule the cause as “undetermined” they also say nothing appears suspicious.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council and Mayor Sam Teresi were on the defensive during Monday night’s council voting session, fending off criticism and attacks from several members of the public who spoke during the meeting’s public comment session.

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Falconer Mayor James Rensel speaking to the Jamestown City Council on Sept. 25, 2017

A total of five individuals spoke to the council, including Falconer Mayor James Rensel. Rensel has attended several past city council meetings to question and criticize officials about the ongoing annexation effort, in which the city is trying to annex a piece of property it owns, but lies within the village of Falconer/Town of Ellicott. The proposed annexation of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities‘ Dow Street Substation is currently awaiting to be reviewed and decided on in State Appellate Court in Rochester.

• RELATED: James Rensel, Patrick McLaughlin and Todd Beckerink Discuss Annexation Opposition

During Monday’s meeting, Rensel focused his attention on a past proposal involving the the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department that he said was purported to create an annual $2 million savings for the city. That proposal was initially discussed more than 14 years ago, when the city was considering ways to cut public safety costs. It was brought up again earlier this year during the May 22 voting session when several individuals from Falconer and the Town of Ellicott addressed the council to voice their concern’s with the annexation.

Rensel even cited the former Falconer Fire board member Steve Vanstrom and former Jamestown deputy fire chief Lance Hedlund, saying they both confirm the plan existed and was reviewed and eventually turned down by city officials at the time. He then called out city councilman and finance committee chair Tony Dolce for not remembering the plan, which put Dolce on the defensive.

“Mr. Dolce’s comment was, as a recall, ‘I don’t remember that occurring. Well Mr. Dolce…”

Jamestown City Councilman Tony Dolce (second from left) addresses comments made by Falconer Mayor James Rensel

“Excuse me. That is not true,” Dolce said, interrupting Rensel’s comment. “And I want to tell you right now, I did my homework and I asked the fire department… they said it was a bunch of crap that was made up. It didn’t exist. It didn’t happen, so don’t stand up there and make those types of comments and put those words in my mouth.”

Near the end of the meeting, Dolce again took time out to address the plan Rensel was referring too.

“I don’t recall a meeting because I was not invited and so I reached out to a bunch of people [following the May 2017 meeting],” Dolce said. “I’d have to believe that if there was a $2 million savings, then we would have pursued that. I reached out to the former city council presidents and former members of council that were here at the time, and also current deputy fire chief Chet Harvey. No one could recall, although those meetings may have taken place, that there was anything of substance that came out of it.”

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who was also mayor at the time to purported plan was first discussed, also addressed the statements made by Rensel, although Rensel had left the meeting before hearing Teresi’s response.

“The only thing that I can recall of a proposal during my tenure – and before my tenure here because it comes up periodically – was a proposal that was brought forth by local 1772 of the Jamestown Professional Firefighters Association to allow them to staff up and ramp up a paid personnel, equipment, and facilities to run a 24-7 professional ambulance service within the operation of the fire department and go head-to-head with a private sector provider of those services – Alstar, that is a division of taxable WCA services division – with the wild claim that it would result in $2 million in net revenues and savings to the taxpayers of Jamestown…. It’s been shown that not only does the plan not produce a savings, it would actually create $1.5 to 2 million in net losses to the city,” Teresi said.

Jamestown resident and property owner Raven Mason.

Others who spoke to the city included Jamestown resident and Falconer property owners Raven Mason, who returned for the second month in a row to accuse the city council for not having a full discussion on the annexation, either amongst themselves or with the public.

During the council’s August meeting, Mason had posed 12 questions prior to the vote on the annexation and the council didn’t address any of them prior to voting in favor of the annexation later in the meeting. She also accused council president Greg Rabb for discouraging her from attending meetings and asking questions.

“I’m concerned about having received an informal letter from the city council president that clearly implied that if I had any public remarks, questions, or concerns, I should not address them publicly but instead call a private cell phone number instead of in the public venue…”

“I have to interrupt you,” Rabb then said. “That is not what I said. I said that if you had any concerns that you would like to discuss further I would be happy to meet with you anytime. But I did not tell you not to bring them up in public.”

Following the meeting, Rabb explained why he sent her a message and directed her to call him to discuss further, adding that it wasn’t intended to be interpreted as discouragement to attend future meetings.

“I just offered [my cell number], I thought generously, and I will continue to do this,” Rabb said, saying he gives it out to all constituents. “I say to people that if they have an issue that I can’t deal with right now, or if they give me an issue I’ll say let me go to city hall, give me a few days, and then call me. So I think that’s a public service.”

Mason also told WRFA after the meeting that she was appreciative of Rabb and Teresi’s response to her concerns, but also said that city officials need to work harder at encouraging and participating in public discourse with constituents before weighing in on controversial issues.

“I’m not trying to criticize from the point of right or wrong. I’m trying to establish truth here and establish transparency, and that people could feel comfortable enough to address it publicly. Maybe not so much as a debate, but getting clarity and transparency so that we know what is going on in our city,” Mason said.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, foreground, addresses a question that was posed by city resident Chris Gardner (background, standing) during the city council’s Sept. 25 voting session.

Others who spoke to the council included resident Chris Gardner, who challenged Rabb and other city officials for not fully answering his past questions that he posed during public comment regarding the annexation, including who was the city official who was the original sponsor of the annexation proposal.

Teresi responded by telling Gardner he didn’t know off the top of his head who the specific BPU board member was, only that it came as a recommendation from BPU General Manager David Leathers and that neither he nor Rabb – who both sit on the BPU board – sponsored it because city officials serving on the BPU don’t typically sponsor BPU resolutions.  He also urged Gardner to call the city clerk’s office or BPU secretary and ask them to review the minutes to identify the sponsor, or to simply look it up in the meeting minutes that have been posted online.

According to the BPU minutes for the January 2017 meeting, the resolution was sponsored by BPU member Ralph Wallace and approved unanimously 7-0, with both Rabb and fellow council member and BPU member Maria Jones absent.

The Jamestown City Council during its Aug. 28, 2017 voting session.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council has approved the annexation of the Falconer Dow Street Substation, which is owned by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

During Monday Night’s City Council Meeting, the council voted unanimously on moving forward with the annexation, which would move the 4-acre substation parcel, located between Tiffany Ave. and Dow St., from the village of Falconer into Jamestown.

The vote was the culmination of months of effort by the city, which started in January when the BPU first brought the proposal forward.

Council members offered no discussion or comment prior to the vote, although two residents, in attendance did speak out on the issue during the public comment portion of the meeting and voiced their opposition.

City resident Raven Mason, who also said she owns property in Falconer, asked that the council to seriously consider 12 different questions related to the annexation prior to acting on the matter.

“As public service members of our community isn’t there a moral obligation as a the bigger entity to seek to aid our neighboring communities when there is a need and not to take from them in their time of need?” Mason asked, referring to the challenges Falconer is still dealing with resulting from an historic fire that damaged a significant portion of its downtown.

“Why are you doing this? It’s insane. It’s politically motivated and nobody I’ve talked to wants anything to do with it,” said city resident Chris Gardner.

No one from the council addressed any of Mason’s questions, nor Gardner’s comments, prior to voting on the annexation.

The annexation resolution – along with two others related to it – came after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner late last week approved giving Jamestown lead agency status in the environmental review of the property.

A map depicting the BPU substation property (in red) that sits adjacent to the border between Jamestown and Village of Falconer/Town of Ellicott.

On Thursday DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos ruled that the Jamestown City Council would be designated as lead agency to conduct the environmental review under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), based on his findings that the city has the broadest authority to conduct the environmental review.

The lead agency designation was required before the city, town of Ellicott, or Village of Falconer could formally act on the annexation proposal. With the lead agency designation in place, the city council approved a resolution issuing a negative declaration pursuant to SEQRA and authorizing the council president to executive the required Environmental Assessment Form.

“The environmental assessment is limited to the action of the actual annexation, not what might happen to the property in the future,” Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi explained following the action by the city council. “At this time there is no plan and nothing on the docket to expand the substation, to reduce its size,to modify it, to change out equipment. There’s going to be no physical change to the site. The SEQRA process is about evaluating impacts to the physical environment… The determination tonight by the city council, that as it relates to the action that is being proposed – amending the official maps of the city, the village, and the town – will not have any physical impact on the physical environment.”

As part of their effort to fight the annexation, the Town of Ellicott had requested the DEC commissioner deny the city lead agency status for the SEQR, but the commissioner’s ruling is that the city had the broadest authority when it comes to the environmental assessment.

Ellicott Town Supervisor Patrick McLaughlin told WRFA on Monday that the town was not happy with the decision, but the town would not be able to challenge the commissioner’s ruling. He adds, however, that it will continue to fight the annexation. WRFA also reached out the Falconer Mayor James Rensel on Monday, who said he had no comment at this time on the DEC ruling.

Under state law, the involved municipalities must vote on the annexation within 90 days of a public hearing on the matter. Since the public hearing on the Dow Street Substation annexation took place on June 12, the deadline to act is Sept. 12.

If either Falconer or Ellicott or both vote against the annexation, Teresi said the matter will then have to be settled in the New York State Appellate Division Court in Rochester.

“If anyone of the municipalities should object in any way, then those findings and objections will ultimately be brought to the 4th Department of the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court for a determination on the matter. We expect that process to start as soon as the town and village are completed with their portion of the process,” Teresi said.

Both Ellicott and Falconer have voting sessions scheduled for September, but they are set to take place after the Sept. 12 deadline. McLaughlin told WRFA the town will schedule an emergency meeting in the coming days in order to act on the annexation. It’s not known at this time if Falconer’s village board will also hold an emergency meeting.

City officials have said the annexation would serve in the best public interest, because it would help stabilize utility rates by reducing the annual tax costs the BPU has to pay on the property – which totals more than $320,000. In addition, the city has argued that by putting the property in the jurisdiction of the city, it means it would also be protected by the city’s professional Fire and Police Departments. Currently the property falls under the jurisdiction of the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department.

Officials with the Town of Ellicott and Falconer, along with the Falconer Central School District, oppose the annexation because it would result in a loss of tax revenue.

A map depicting the BPU substation property (in red) that sits adjacent to the border between Jamestown and Village of Falconer/Town of Ellicott.

ALBANY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner has approved giving Jamestown lead agency status in the environmental review of a piece of property the city wants to annex from the Town of Ellicott/Village of Falconer.

On Aug. 24 DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos ruled that the Jamestown City Council would be designated as lead agency to conduct an environmental review under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), based on his findings that the city has the broadest authority to conduct the environmental review.

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The lead agency designation was required before the city, town of Ellicott, or Village of Falconer could formally act on the annexation proposal. Jamestown wants to annex the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Dow Street Substation Property, which is located in Falconer/Town of Ellicott but is adjacent to the city line, making it eligible for annexation.

City officials have said the annexation would serve the public interest, because it would help stabilize utility rates by reducing the annual tax costs the BPU has to pay on the property – which totals more than $320,000. In addition, the city has argued that by putting the property in the jurisdiction of the city, it means it would also be protected by the city’s professional Fire and Police Departments. Currently the property falls under the jurisdiction of the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department.

More than 200 people were on and for a joint public hearing on the proposed annexation of the BPU’s Dow Street Substation Property. The hearing was held at Falconer Central School Monday night, June 12, 2017.

Officials with the Town of Ellicott and Falconer, along with the Falconer Central School District, have come out in opposition of the proposed annexation because it would result in a loss of tax revenue. According to the Post-Journal, of the $322,090 the BPU pays in property taxes, $153,852 goes to the Falconer School District; $68,789 goes Falconer; $67,217 goes to the county; and $32,232 goes to Ellicott. The totals are all less than 1 percent of the total operating budget for each, except for the village of Falconer, where the total BPU tax payment comprises just over 5 percent of the total revenue for the village’s operating budget.

• RELATED: Community Matters – James Rensel, Patrick McLaughlin and Todd Beckerink Discuss Annexation

As part of their effort to fight the annexation, the Town of Ellicott had requested the BPU deny the city lead agency status for in the SEQR process and instead grant it to the village of Falconer since it is the current controlling government for the BPU property.

“We are not happy with the decision,” Ellicott Town Supervisor Patrick McLaughlin told WRFA on Monday. “The law firm we have hired has recommended that we not challenge the DEC ruling, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t give up the fight on the annexation effort.”

WRFA also reached out the Falconer Mayor James Rensel on Monday, who said he had no comment at this time on the DEC ruling.

With the DEC SEQR ruling in place, the Jamestown City Council can now formally vote on annexing the property and that vote has been added to Monday night’s meeting agenda. Under state law, the involved municipalities must vote on an annexation within 90 days of a public hearing on the matter. Since the public hearing on the Dow Street Substation annexation took place on June 12, the deadline to act is Sept. 12.

Both Falconer and Ellicott, along with Jamestown, must also act on the annexation by Sept. 12. If any of the three involved municipalities fails to vote by the deadline, it would be the same as a “yes” vote. As a result, McLaughlin tells WRFA that a special meeting of the Ellicott Town Board will take place before Sept. 12 so that officials can act on it before the deadline.

If Jamestown votes in favor of the annexation and either Falconer or Ellicott or both vote against it, it will then have to be settled in the New York State Appellate Division Court in Rochester.

Monday Night’s Jamestown City Council Meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the city council chambers on the second floor of city hall. It is open to the public. A city council work session will also take place prior to the meeting at 6:45 p.m. in the Mayor’s conference room, fourth floor of city hall.

Falconer Mayor James Rensel (standing) addresses the Jamestown City Council during its June 19 work session. The mayor has become a regular fixture at city council meetings as he tries to convince council members to back out of a plan to annex a piece of city property located in the village. Rensel also spoke to the council during its June 26 voting session as well as this week’s work session.

JAMESTOWN – The Mayor of Falconer was once again in Jamestown City Hall Monday night to voice his opposition to the city’s effort to annex the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities’ Dow Street Substation property.

Mayor James Rensel spoke to the council during its regular work session, criticizing members for being unwilling to speak out against or even openly discussing the pros and cons of the annexation effort.

Rensel also challenged statements made by Mayor Sam Teresi and City Council President Greg Rabb following the council’s June 26 voting session, when the two said that they have not encountered strong opposition against the annexation from city residents.

“Why do we get into public service? To share and support our ideas and to listen to the people we represent when they say ‘no.’ It’s my opinion, and a lot of other people’s opinions looking from the outside in at this, that there are a lot of [city residents] saying ‘no’ and if you’re not hearing about it, I’d be very surprised,” Rensel said, adding, “This city council does not get to the public discourse in my opinion. This city council is accomplished at following directions of others, it seems to me.”

Rensel also said that during a public hearing on June 12 that was open to both Falconer and Ellicott residents as well as Jamestown residents, no one spoke in favor of the annexation, including five city residents who spoke out against it.

Several council members took exception to Rensel’s criticism, including at large councilman George Spitale.

“Every meeting you come to you’ve insulted somebody and then you want us to meet you half way on something? What do you expect to accomplish?” Spitale asked following Rensel’s comments, though Rensel was not given the opportunity to respond.

A map depicting the BPU substation property (in red) that sits in the village of Falconer/Town of Ellicott, adjacent to the border with Jamestown.

Later in the meeting councilman Tony Dolce, the longest serving member of city council, also offered a more leveled response to Rensel’s comments. Dolce said that he understands the Falconer mayor is trying to represent his constituency, but added that the city council members are also doing what they think is right for their own constituency.

“I understand your position and I respect that. You’re here to represent your constituents and I can appreciate that. We also have to represent our constituents and I can honestly tell you that I know all of us have gone door to door over the last few weeks getting petitions for this year’s elections. I went to nearly 80 myself, and I never had even one person ask the question. It never came up,” Dolce said. “It’s a very difficult and complex issue. It’s one that I think most people – unless they delve into it and really look at it – don’t understand it. I’ve had to answer a few questions about it, what it is and what it isn’t. We understand the complexity of it. We understand the sensitivity of it. We understand, obviously from your point of view, what it could mean and the impact it could possibly have.”

Councilman Tom Nelson also offered his thoughts.

“I think we know there’s two sides to it. I did the same thing as councilman Dolce, going door-to-door to get signatures for my petition. I did get one person who was opposed to it but the vast majority said, ‘We’ve got to do this’…. but they’re not going to come out to meetings and cheer this on. They’re quietly saying, ‘We have to do this.'”

Also responding was Rabb, who said that while council members may not spend a lot of time discussing issues during voting sessions, much of the discussion and even some debate will occur during a committee meeting or work session. Mayor Teresi also came to the defense of council members, saying that regardless of party affiliation, all council members he’s worked with over the years have always discussed the issues and have worked to make the best decisions on behalf of their constituents.

Since the city first announced it would pursuing the annexation of the BPU property in Falconer, Mayor Rensel and others from the town of Ellicott and Falconer School District have attended city council meetings urging them to stop the effort, calling the annexation a tax shift that would only hurt relationships between the city and its neighbors in the town and village.

• RELATED: Community Matters – James Rensel, Patrick McLaughlin and Todd Beckerink Discuss Annexation

The city is pursuing the annexation because it would result in the BPU saving an estimated $160,000 each year by no longer having to pay $320,000 in taxes to the village, town, school district and county. If the annexation were to take place and the property was made part of the city, the BPU would instead make a payment in lieu of taxes of about $80,000 to both the city of Jamestown and Jamestown School District.

The city, town and village are all required to vote on the annexation prior to Sept. 12. If any one of the three votes differently than the other two on the matter, the issue will then have to be settled in State Appellate Court.