The town first incorporated in 1823 and is named after Paul Busti, who came here from Philadelphia where he worked for the Holland Land Company.

Bicentennial activities begin Wednesday, April 12 with a “Busti Talk” by long-time town resident and historian Norman Carlson at the Fenton History Center. On Friday, April 14, the Busti Fire Department Auxiliary will hold the “Miss Busti” competition at the Busti Fire Department with the winner receiving a scholarship donated by Cummins Engine and the Busti Hamlet Committee.

For more information on entering, go to the town’s website at www.townofbusti.com.

A kick-off celebration will take place from 1:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sunday, April 16 at the Lakewood Rod and Gun on Terrace Avenue in Lakewood. Supervisor Jesse Robbins will introduce the new “Miss Busti” for the bicentennial. Past Supervisor Dale Robbins will be the Grand Marshall for the year’s events. The town board will also hold a special meeting wearing clothing from the 1823-period. Jesse Robbins says the celebration will include a chicken barbecue, a corn hole tournament, and musical entertainment until a fireworks show at 8:30 p.m.

Other activities are planned throughout this summer culminating with a celebration at the Busti Firemen’s Grounds on September 21 through 23.

For more information, call 716-763-8561 or visit www.townofbusti.com.

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, North Harmony Deputy Supervisor Louise Ortman, Busti Supervisor Jesse Robbins and Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) General Manager David Leathers recently met to discuss and sign a contract renewing and outlining a new water agreement between the City, the BPU and the Towns.

The ten-year agreement extends through the year 2030 and replaces a 2005 contract that had expired in 2019. The new pact does not include an automatic renewal clause but stipulates that negotiations for a 2030 agreement must begin in the ninth year of the contract.

As part of the agreement, the BPU agrees to perform the normal operation, maintenance and repair of the existing water distribution mains located within the Town of North Harmony. The cost of any improvements or extensions of the water system in the Town, including replacement of damaged or deteriorated lines, shall be the responsibility of the Town of North Harmony.

In the agreement, the Town of North Harmony pledges to pay transportation charges to the Town of Busti and the Village of Lakewood whose lines transport water to the Town of North Harmony.

The contract includes agreements of revenue sharing, should new industrial or commercial development occur in the Town of North Harmony, requiring water to be provided by the City’s BPU.

“This new contract represents outstanding collaboration among the City, the BPU and the Towns of North Harmony and Busti,” stated Sundquist. “We are pleased that such intermunicipal cooperation resulted in an agreement that was acceptable to all parties.”

“On behalf of the Town of North Harmony,” said Ortman, “we are pleased to complete discussions with a renewed water contract that is good for North Harmony, Busti, Jamestown and the Board of Public Utilities.”

“This agreement shows that the Towns, the City and the BPU can work together for the good of the people,” said Robbins.

BPU General Manager David Leathers complimented all officials involved in the water contract discussions.

“It’s great when municipal officials can come together cooperatively on behalf of their residents to reach a contract that helps each entity; we very much value and enjoy our positive working relationship with the leaders and representatives of both the Town of North Harmony and Town of Busti,” remarked Leathers.

George Borrello on Election Night after winning the special election for the State Senate’s 57th District

MAYVILLE – Republican and current Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello will be the region’s next State Senator.  On Election Day Borrello defeated Democrat Austin Morgan of Cattaraugus county. The two were running for the seat vacated earlier this year by former Sen. Cathy Young, who announced in late February she was resigning from the Senate to take a job at Cornell University.

In his victory speech at the Republican Headquarters inside the Double Tree by Hilton, Borrello thanked Young for her years of service and also said he will approach his new job in Albany the same way he’s approached his job in Mayville, while also standing up to what he feels in an extreme agenda from the Democratic controlled state legislature.

“We have a tremendous debt of gratitude that we owe to Sen. Cathy Young who did an outstanding job representing us for all these years. She has set a proud example for all elected officials and those are big shoes to fill. I will work hard every single day to fill those shoes,” Borrello said. “But now we have to step forward with a new path. We have a new reality in Albany right now and we are going to work hard to push back against this radical agenda. I will ensure that our voice is heard loud and clear in Albany from this district.”

Borrello will likely take over the Senate seat before the year is out, although it’s not clear who will be replacing him as county executive. That decision to nominate someone will fall on the Chautauqua County Republican Party Committee.

In August of this year the legislature unanimously approved a resolution that states if there is a county executive vacancy, the replacement should be from the same political party and should be nominated by the county committee of said party, which would then require the approval of the county legislature. If the legislature has not filled the vacancy within 45 days, the legislature can fill the position without the requirement that the person should be nominated by the county committee of said political party.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO SEE LITTLE CHANGE

Meanwhile, there won’t be a lot of changeover in the county legislature when January 1 comes. Based on the election day results, there will only be three new names added to the 19-member body.

In the Mayville-Findley Lake area, Republican newcomer Bill Ward defeated fellow Republican and incumbent Martin Proctor for the District 18 seat. Ward was cross-endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic Parties and Proctor had created his own party known as the Cornerstone Party to get his name on the ballot.

Over in District 6,  Republican Thomas Harmon of Dunkirk defeated Democratic incumbent Kevin O’Connell.

And in Jamestown’s District 11 legislature district, Democrat Bob Whitney ran unopposed to reclaim a seat he lost 6 years earlier to David Wilfong, who chose not to run for reelection to the county legislature so he could instead run for mayor of Jamestown.

Other election day results had Republican incumbent Jesse Robbins defeating Democratic challenger Rudy Mueller in the Busti Town Supervisor race, in the village of Lakewood Republican Randy Holcomb was elected mayor, in the Carroll Supervisor Race Republican Russell Payne defeated Conservative candidate and incumbent Laura Smith, and in Falconer Democrat and lone candidate James Jaroszynski was elected mayor.

For a complete rundown of election day results, visit vote votechautauqua.com.

Locally there are plenty of contested races on the ballot that will likely result in a better-than-average voters turnout for a local election year.

Highlighting the election this year is the race to fill the vacant 57th district state senate seat that opened up after former long-time Senator Cathy Young resigned from her post in March in order to take a job with Cornell University. Running to fill the remaining year of the Senate term is Republican and current Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello and Democrat and recent Cornell graduate Austin Morgan of Cattaraugus county.

• LISTEN: LOWV MEET THE SENATE CANDIDATES FORUM

In Jamestown three individuals are running to fill the open mayoral seat after current mayor Sam Teresi announced in February he would not be seeking a sixth term in office. Candidates in this year’s mayoral race Libertarian and Current City Councilman Andrew Liuzzo, Democrat and local attorney Eddie Sundquist, and Republican and current county legislator David Wilfong.

• WATCH: WRFA, WJTN, WNY NEWS NOW MAYORAL DEBATE

In addition to the mayor’s race, there’s also contested races for the Jamestown City Council’s three at large seats as well as for Wards 1, 4, and 5. Candidates include:

CITY COUNCIL WARD 1
– Brent Sheldon (R, C, I)
– Tim Smeal (D, WF, Libertarian)
CITY COUNCIL WARD 4
– Marie Carrubba (D, I, WF)
– Brittnay Spry (R, C, Libertarian)
CITY COUNCIL WARD 5
– Maria Jones (D)
– Grant Olson (R)
CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE (3 Seats)
– Kimberly Ecklund (R, C, I)
– Tamu Graham-Reinhardt (D, I, WF)
– Raven Mason Thompson (Libertarian)
– Gregory Rabb (D, I, WF)
– Jeffrey Russell (R, C)
– Taylor Scott (D, WF)

• WATCH/LISTEN: WRFA MEET THE COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM

Other races of interest include the race for Busti Town Supervisor, where Republican Jesse Robbins is being challenged by Democrat Rudy Mueller. Over in the Chautauqua County Legislature, only 7 of the panel’s 19 seats feature contested races.

EARLY VOTING YIELDS 5% VOTER TURNOUT IN COUNTY

According to the Chautauqua county Board of Elections, there is a total of 76,762 active registered voters in the county this year. Early voting was underway from Oct. 26 through Nov. 3 and according to election officials, nearly 5% of all active voters cast ballots during that name. That made Chautauqua county the third highest per-capita early voting county in the state, with only Ulster and Columbia counties seeing a higher percentage.

Commissioners Norm Green and Brian Abram are attributing the heavy turnout to the mayors races in Jamestown, Dunkirk and Fredonia, the town supervisors races in Pomfret and Busti, and the special election for New York State Senate.

As for the regular voting hours for on Tuesday, Polls will be open 6 .m. to 9 p.m. All county poll sites will be open.  Any New York State citizen at least age 18 at the date of the General Election who previously registered is eligible to vote.

For more information on where to vote, to view a sample ballot, or to see the results after 9 tonight, visit VoteChautauqua.com.

Democratic challenger for Lakewood Mayor, Cara Birrittieri

LAKEWOOD – The mayor’s race for the village of Lakewood is too close to call.

Democratic challenger Cara Birrittieri leads incumbent David Wordelmann by 20 votes – although absentee ballots could change the outcome. The official results will be known within two weeks once all absentees are counted. A total of 95 absentee ballots were sent out with 50 having already been sent back to the board of elections.

LAKEWOOD VILLAGE TRUSTEES

Randall Holcomb (R) 578 and Ellen Barnes (R) 516 were elected, with current board member John Jablonski III (D) losing his reelection bid.

Meanwhile, the supervisor of the second largest town in southern Chautauqua County has easily won reelection.

Busti Republican Jesse Robbins defeated challenger Democratic Lee Fischer by a vote of 906 to 598. The Busti Town Council was also contested, with Republican James Andrews and Democrat Rudy Mueller being the top two vote-getters. Republican Robert Schultz was the odd man.

Also for Busti in the Town Justice race, William Geary (R) 930 defeated Gary Segrue (D) 682.

The town is currently working out a contract with the village regarding police services. However, it has been learned the village would like to see the town pay for 37 percent of the annual police department budget, since about 37 percent of the calls come from the area of the town outside of the village.

This year the town is paying $360,000 to the village for police services – which is about 28 percent of the police budget. budget. If the town were to pay 37 percent of the share, the cost would go up by $120,000.

As a result, Busti town officials are discussing whether or not it would be best to let the residents decide if they want to continue paying for police services from the village police department.

Busti Down Supervisor Jesse Robbins says they are still discussing the idea of a public vote and no decision has been made yet.