“Everybody walked away smiling,” DeJoe says. “Some other ideas were thrown out there by the board of elections about some other possibilities that people didn’t think of and everybody walked away very open minded. Nobody had any agenda that I could see and we’re ready to work together in a positive matter, and that was impressive.”

As far as the first meeting went, Barmore says the commission members basically got an update on how the reapportionment process works and were then asked to develop their own redistricting plan and bring it to the next meeting.

“We basically went over the work that we had done last year and explained to the new people why we had done what we did,” Barmore explains. “Basically the concept was fairly acceptable to everybody I think. At the end of the day we just decided we all had the numbers now and we all had an idea of what redistricting could look like. We challenged everybody to go home, start putting numbers together, come up with a plan and see if they can look at it with new eyes and make something better than we already have. We’ll come back together on April 10 and everybody’s going to bring what they came up with and we’ll bring it all together and see how it looks.”

The independent panel is charged with redrawing county lines that are not only reflective of the 2010 Census, but also reflect just 19 legislative districts. There are currently 25 legislative districts, but a public referendum last November called for that number to be reduced. The commission has until the spring of next year to finalize a plan and have it approved by the legislature, although Barmore and DeJoe both agree they’d like to see it completed sooner.

The other members of the panel are Fredonia’s Minda Rae Amiran from the League of Woman Voters; Fredonia’s Kevin Sanvich – selected as a representative of the County Chamber of Commerce; and citizens Michael Haddad and David Sheppard of Jamestown, Sharon Kaminski of Fredonia, and Ray Rusboldt of Dunkirk.

The members of the panel will be Fredonia’s Minda Rae Amiran from the League of Woman Voters; Fredonia’s Kevin Sanvich – selected as a representative of the County Chamber of Commerce;  Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton) of the county legislature; and citizens Michael Haddad and David Sheppard of Jamestown, Sharon Kaminski of Fredonia, and Ray Rusboldt of Dunkirk.

Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Gerace Office Building in Mayville and is open to the public.

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man is in police custody after being involved in a high-seed chase through Jamestown late yesterday morning. Jamestown Police say 24 year-old Thomas Bascom was spotted by a Town of Ellicott officer driving a vehicle that was reported stolen from a parking lot on Jones & Gifford Ave. Bascom allegedly failed to stop for the patrol vehicle, and continued through several side streets on the city’s west side.

Officers from Jamestown and the Sheriff’s Department joined the pursuit as it continued into the downtown, where the stolen vehicle then collided with another vehicle at the intersection of 6th and Spring Streets. Bascom then attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended. He was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, and multiple vehicles and traffic charges and sent to the county jail. No serious injuries were reported.

POLICE CHARGE MAN AFTER DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE INCIDENT

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man is in the county jail after being arrested early Tuesday morning for allegedly choking a woman and holding her against her will. City police were called to a home on the north side of the city for a domestic disturbance. The victim reported to officers that she her estranged boyfriend – 31 year-old Robert Grazulwicz – allegedly forced entrance into her home, forcibly restrained her and also choked her. Police located Grazulwicz a short time later at his home and arrested him on related charges. He is currently in the city jail awaiting arraignment.

COMMISSION TO BEGIN REDISTRICTING WORK LATER THIS MONTH

MAYVILLE – The independent redistricting commission in charge of redrawing the new Chautauqua County Legislative Lines could be meeting later this month to begin the process of reapportionment. That’s according to Chautauqua County legislator Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown), who tells WRFA the panel is currently working on a schedule that will allow all members to attend and take part in the process. Cornell was one over several lawmakers who actually wanted to see the panel reduced to 15 members, but the group eventually settled on 19 members during last month’s voting session.

Some have said that a reduction of the legislature will hurt representation from residents in rural areas of the county. Larry Barmore’s (R-Gerry) district covers a rural area northeast of Jamestown and says regardless of where the legislators live, a lower number will mean more work.

“I represent four different governemnts – Gerry, Ellicott, Falconer and Sinclairville. I attend all those meetings and I assist them in any issues they may have,” Barmore told WRFA following February’s voting session. “We have six legislators in the city of Jamestown and none of them – that I am aware of – ever attend the Jamestown City Council meeting, nor are they probably really welcome there as the city of Jamestown would just as soon govern itself. And so, a rural legislator has so much more work to do than a city legislator. Until you’ve been here you don’t realize what there is to do.”

Barmore added, “When I was on the outside I used to make the same criticisms that I hear now. And now that I’ve been here for more than four years and you find out the amount of work there is to do, it’s just overwhelming…. Almost every single night of the week I have a meeting someplace. It’s a lot of work involved in this. I’m not complaining because I really enjoy it and I enjoy the service to the people. But it’s not just coming to Mayville once a month and coming to a committee meeting and arguing back and forth. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into this job.”

Barmore is one of eight people who will serve on the reapportionment commission. The other members will be legislator Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton), Fredonia’s Minda Rae Amiran from the League of Woman Voters; Fredonia’s Kevin Sanvich – selected as a representative of the County Chamber of Commerce; and citizens Michael Haddad and David Sheppard of Jamestown, Sharon Kaminski of Fredonia, and Ray Rusboldt of Dunkirk.

The independent reapportionment commission is expected to hold its first meeting at the end of this month, although an exact date has not yet been announced. The deadline for finalizing new plans to be presented to the legislature for approval is June 1.

SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON CLOTHING PURCHASES UNDER $110 RETURNS APRIL 1

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards would like to remind businesses and residents that on Sunday, April 1, 2012 clothing under $110 will once again be tax exempt.

In an effort to increase the state’s revenue for two years, the New York State Legislature enacted a 2010-11 State Budget in August of 2010 that repealed the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $110. By amending the sales and use tax law, the State Legislature created a three phased change to sales tax exemption that would affect counties across New York State and eventually restore the tax exemption to its previous amount.

“The State has modified its tax policy on numerous occasions as to the sales tax exemption on clothing,” said County Executive Greg Edwards. “The County policy has not changed but businesses need to be aware of this upcoming modification so that they may act accordingly.”

The first phase, from October 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011, eliminated the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear. This was projected by the New York State Division of Budget to raise $330 million in revenue for the State’s fiscal year 2010-11.

The second phase, from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, provided an exemption on clothing or footwear that is less than $55 per item or pair. This was projected by the NYS Division of Budget to raise $210 million in revenue for the State’s fiscal year 2011-12.

The third and final phase will begin on April 1, 2012 and it will restore the original exemption on clothing and footwear items that are less than $110.

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County legislature will see its number reduced to 19. That after lawmakers Wednesday night voted 16 to six in favor of directing the county’s reapportionment committee to draw 19 district lines.

As expected, the action wasn’t without some discussion. Tom Erlandson (D-Frewsburg) called for reducing the size of the legislature down to 15 representatives. However, that motion was defeated by a vote of 14 to eight. In addition to finalizing the size of the legislature, lawmakers also approved a resolution calling for the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission to help draw the boundaries for the new 19 legislative districts – based on population numbers form the 2010 census. The members of the panel were also included in the resolution. They will be Fredonia’s Minda Rae Amiran from the League of Woman Voters; Fredonia’s Kevin Sanvich – selected as a representative of the County Chamber of Commerce;  Larry Barmore (R-Gerry) and Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton) of the county legislature; and citizens Michael Haddad and David Sheppard of Jamestown, Sharon Kaminski of Fredonia, and Ray Rusboldt of Dunkirk.

Following last night’s meeting, legislature chairman Jay Gould (R-Ashville) said the 19 lawmakers will have their work cut out for them because of all the committee work that will need to be shared amongst 19 lawmakers.

Lawmakers had to reduce the size of the body from 25 to at least 19 after a public referendum was overwhelmingly approved last November. The commission will have until the remainder of this year to get new boundaries drawn up. The 19 districts must be in place prior to the start of the 2013 local election season.

EDWARDS WARNS OF $14-MILLON DOLLAR GAP IN 2013 BUDGET DURING SOC ADDRESS

MAYVILLE – County Executive Greg Edwards also briefed the County Legislature last night on the accomplishments of 2011 along with some of the initiatives and challenges he has planned for 2012.  In his annual “State of the County” address, Edwards pointed to several challenges facing the county – most notably a failure to get significant relief from Albany. Edwards said a lack of immediate relief from the state combined with several challenges local will once again put the county behind the financial eight ball.

Edwards also said other than increasing taxes, the county doesn’t have a lot of other options to consider to help bring down the $14 million budget gap it is facing. He said property taxes could raise by as much as 23 percent in 2013 if no further action is taken. In order to find revenue sources to trim that potential deficit, Edwards called on politicians in Albany to help out, a move he said must start with better communication and partnerships between state lawmakers and local lawmakers, businesses, and even individual residents.

Minority Leader Lori Cornell (D-Jamestown) agreed about that pressure needs to be put on Albany, but also said the legislature, too, needs to work together and come up with local solutions to offset the 2013 budget gap.

Edwards also said that residents can pressure Albany by visiting a website created by the New York Sate Association of Counties. NYSAC established the website www.mandaterelief.com to create a simple and effective way for county officials and residents to email their state senators and Assembly members, asking them to help enact mandate relief.

SALAMANCA MAN CHARGED WITH HITTING JPS BUS

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown police say a Salamanca man was charged after allegedly hitting a Jamestown Public Schools bus Wednesday morning. Mark Aldrich, 54, of Salamanca was charged with passing a red light Wednesday at 7:22 a.m. City police say the accident – which took place at the corner of Winsor and Willard Streets –  involved four vehicle, one of which was a Jamestown Board of Education school bus. An 11-year-old student on the school bus sustained minor injury and was treated at the scene.

Police say Aldrich was driving a pickup truck west in the direction of Willard Street, and he was approaching the intersection and allegedly passed through the red light and hit the school bus, which was heading south on Winsor Street.

Aldrich’s vehicle then hit two other cars that were stopped on Harrison Street at the red light. The intersection was closed to traffic for 45 minutes as police and crews responded at the scene.