Jamestown City Councilman and Finance Committee Chair Tony Dolce (second from left) shares details on the Salary Review Commission during the Jamestown City Council voting session on July 30, 2018.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council Monday Night acted on the appointment of all six members of the city’s ad hoc Salary Review Commission.

According to the city charter, the city is required to establish the commission in order to review and make recommendations on the salary for both Mayor and the nine members of the City Council.

The six commission members appointed on Monday are Dr. Lillian Ney, Howard Brook, Chloe Smith, Peg Cornell, Catherine Way, and Tyler Case.

Acting on salary recommendations for elected officials is always a touchy issue, especially when the city is facing major financial challenges, which the city is currently dealing with due to being at its constitutional taxing limit.  That’s why city officials have not acted on any recommendations that have come forward the past 10 years.

Since 1984 the base city council salaries have been at $5,000, while council president’s salary is $6,000. Meanwhile the salary for the mayor is currently $72,000. The last time that was increased was at the start of 2008.

The last time commission recommendations were brought forward was in 2014. At that time it suggested the council salary be bumped up to $6,000 per year. It also recommended the mayor’s salary increase to $90,000 over a four-year period.  Once the recommendations were made, the council opted not to change the salaries due to ongoing financial challenges facing the city.

Any recommendations that come from the current commission will be reviewed by the city council and if officials chose to adjust salaries the changes would not take place until a new city council and mayoral term begins, which would be in the year 2020.

The council has until early 2019 to receive the recommendations and act on any salary increase.

In other news, the city council also approved the appointment John LaMancuso to be a member of the city Planning Commission and Dr. Ney to be reappointed to the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees.

Dr. Cory Duckworth

JAMESTOWN – The outgoing president of Jamestown Community College attended his final board meeting on Tuesday.

The Post-Journal says Dr. Cory Duckworth said goodbye to the campus and the Board of Trustees during the meeting, which was highlighted by the College Board approving next year’s Operating Budget of $33,259,000. That budget includes an annual tuition increase of $120 tuition increase.

Michael Martello, vice president of administration service, was appointed to “administrator in charge” while the board continues its search for a new president.

JCC Board Chair Wally Huckno reportedly said the college had submitted a finalist candidate to SUNY, but was still waiting for news on its vetting process.

Duckworth came to JCC five years ago from Utah. He recently told WRFA that he and his wife plan to do missionary work following his retirement.

Dr. Cory Duckworth

JAMESTOWN – The head of Jamestown Community College has announced he will be retiring at the end of the next academic year.

On Tuesday JCC announced that Dr. Cory Duckworth will retire at the conclusion of the 2017-18 academic year.

Duckworth began serving as the college’s eighth president in 2013. He succeed Gregory T. DeCinque, who retired from JCC’s that same year after a 19-year presidency at the college.

Duckworth’s 33-year career in higher education has included leadership positions at several other colleges and universities. The Utah native said that his tenure as president of JCC will forever be considered one of the most exceptional experiences of his life.

Dr. Duckworth’s five-year contract with the college expires in summer 2018. The annual salary is $185,000.

The board of trustees is expected to begin a search for a new president soon.

Sheldon House (photo by SUNY JCC)

JAMESTOWN – The Lynn Development Group says it will not proceed with trying to purchase the Sheldon House in Jamestown following an appellate court’s decision to overturn a zoning variance for the property.

The announcement comes via a statement provided to WRFA on Tuesday morning, made by Lynn Development President and CEO Jason Spain.

“For over a year we have watched our attempts to acquire the historic home realize success at each subsequent level – and each time validating the wisdom of our local zoning board,” Spain said. “While the latest decision was unexpected, we respect the decision and would find no honor in continuing this effort at the ongoing expense of our beloved community college. Therefore – Lynn Development Inc. will acquiesce for the greater good.”

On Friday,  the New York 4th Appellate Division released its ruling on the Sheldon House variance appeal, which was filed by a group of Lakeview Ave. area residents after an initial New York Supreme Court ruling in 2016 supported a decision by the Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals to grant a variance for the property.

According the ruling, Jamestown Community College and Lynn Development failed to present proper evidence to the city Zoning Board that satisfies the requirement of unnecessary hardship, which is legally required in order for a variance to be granted.

• READ THE FULL APPELLATE COURT RULING

The Sheldon House sits in an area of the city that is zoned for residential use only. It is owned by JCC, which announced in early 2016 it was selling the property with Lynn Development Group eventually announcing it would buy the home for $260,000, contingent to it receiving a zoning variance so the property could be used as the main offices for the company. That variance was granted by the city zoning board in the spring of 2016.

The announcement by the Lynn Group to end its effort to buy the Sheldon House is a victory for the Lakeview Ave. area residents Paul Leone, Ann Servoss and Timothy Mills, who filed a petition on May 31, 2016 to challenge the zoning board ruling.

“We hold no ill will towards the petitioners. It is entirely American to follow your passion and challenge the things for which you are in disagreement,” Spain said. “We wish the petitioners all the good fortune in continuing their efforts to reshape the landscape of Lakeview Ave.”

Spain also thank those who helped in their effort to attempt to purchase the property.

“Lynn Development Inc., its owners, executive team, and team members want to thank Jamestown Community College, the City of Jamestown Zoning Board, and the numerous supporters of our effort to secure the historic Sheldon House,” Spain said.

The announcement by Lynn Development means JCC could put the home back on market to look for a prospective buyer. At least one other individual had offered to purchase the property in early 2016 and maintain it as a residence, but that offer was reportedly lower than what Lynn Development had proposed and, as a result, JCC put its support behind the zoning variance effort in an attempt to complete the sale with the Lynn group.

JCC’s Board of Trustees could discuss its options regarding the property at its next meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 20.

According to a release sent out by the college, the spending plan, which totals $33,610,758, is 6 percent lower than the college’s 2015-16 budget. JCC’s new fiscal year begins September 1, 2016.

Under the new budget, full-time New York resident tuition will increase by $55 to $2,315 per semester. The out-of-state tuition rate will be $4,630 per semester. The approved budget includes a state aid amount of $2,697 per full-time equivalent (FTE), which is up slightly from the 2015-16 budget.

“I appreciate the efforts of JCC’s administrative team to develop a strong budget in a time when we are experiencing a decline in our enrollment,” said JCC President Cory L. Duckworth. “This new budget represents a great deal of innovation and collaboration, allowing us to protect the integrity of JCC’s educational quality, programs, and services.”

Dr. Duckworth noted that the 6 percent decline in the budget reflects operating budget efficiencies as well as personnel reductions that include retirements and vacant positions that will not be filled.

“JCC is not alone in facing an enrollment decline,” Dr. Duckworth said, noting the impact negative demographic shifts have had on college and university enrollments throughout the Northeast. “Although we have a smaller budget for the coming year, JCC has a healthy financial foundation that ensures our strong presence in the region.”

Sheldon House (photo by SUNY JCC)

JAMESTOWN – A local property development company will likely be the next owner of the Sheldon House.

Last week the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the sale of the Sheldon House to Lynn Development Corporation for $240,000.

Sheldon House sits near the intersection of Falconer St. and Lakeview Ave. was built in 1860 and rebuilt in 1925. It was gifted for the benefit of JCC in 1977 by Julia Sheldon Livengood. The house functioned as a private residence through much of its history and has served as a guesthouse and facility for special events for nearly 40 years.

The property is assessed at $425,000.

Sheldon House (photo by SUNY JCC)

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Community College is selling off one of its most well-known and prized off-campus assets.

Sheldon House – which sits near the intersection of Falconer St. and Lakeview Ave. and has served as a guesthouse and facility for special events for nearly 40 years – is being placed on the market. JCC’s board of trustees, citing increased maintenance costs and diminishing funds in the college budget to support Sheldon House, has determined that the well-known facility no longer serves to advance the college’s central mission.

Sheldon House was built in 1860 and rebuilt in 1925. It was gifted for the benefit of JCC in 1977 by Julia Sheldon Livengood. The house functioned as a private residence through much of its history.

Sheldon House is located at 9 Falconer St., Jamestown. The college did not provide an asking price, but the property is valued at $425,000.

Governor Cuomo also reappointed current board members Barbara Hastings and Mark Ward to terms ending in 2020 and Margaret Cornell, whose term will conclude in 2022.

Frazier, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Jamestown Business College, is regional director of operations in western New York for Morrison Senior Living, which provides food, nutrition, and hospitality services to the senior living industry. He served previously as Morrison’s general manager of hospitality services in Jamestown from 2009 to 2014.