Jamestown City Council

The appointments for the City’s Reapportionment Commission have been set.

Jamestown City Council approved the mayoral appointments of Ellen Ditonto, Alyssa Porter, and Billy Torres to the commission. Jim Walton will represent the Democratic Party, Peter Johnson will represent the City Republican Party, and Steve Muscarella will represent the Conservative Party. Attorney Michael Panebianco will represent the Jamestown BAR Association. Council President Tony Dolce and Council member Brent Sheldon will be the council appointments.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said there isn’t a set schedule yet for when the Reapportionment Commission will meet to start the process of redrawing Ward District lines in the city.

He said with the Census count being ended early including people not wanting to answer their doors during a Pandemic in addition to not as many Census workers, he is concerned about an undercount, “Whether you are living in some type of transitional housing or whether you’re living in a permanent structure, those are very important to get, and we’re very concerned that is the case. But we are hearing some news reports that the Census Division is starting to look at those things again. I don’t know that we’ll see any changes, but we’ll take that into account as we go into this reapportionment.”

Sundquist said with the population loss, it’s up to the Reapportionment Commission to decide if the number of Wards or number of At-Large members is changed.

The new district lines would go into effect for the 2023 City Council election.

Legislators will consider a resolution to issuing $3.7 million dollars in bonds to purchase equipment and vehicles. They also will vote on $1 million dollars in bonds toward $4 million dollars in improvements at Jamestown Community College. That project will use $3,072,750 in grant funding.

A resolution for the Public Defender to lease space on the third floor of Jamestown City Hall will be voted on. The five-year lease of 4,147 square feet of space will cost $4,479 in 2022, increasing each year for the term of the lease up to $5,374 in 2026.

A new labor contract with Part-Time Deputy Sheriff’s will be considered. The contract with CSEA Unit 6322 includes salary increases of 5% for 2022; 5% for 2023; 3% for 2024; and 3% for 2025; and a longevity payment of $75 per year upon completion of three years of service.

The Legislature also will vote to appoint a reapportionment commission for the 2020 Census. This body will make recommendations for how boundaries for county legislature districts are changed based on the Census results.

The legislature also will consider a motion that’s in support of best practices to overcome COVID-19, including supporting the County Health Department in their efforts to get residents vaccinated and encouraging residents to wear masks.

The Legislature’s meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building. It is open to the public and will be livestreamed on Chautauqua County Government’s Facebook page.

Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon said the Commission will assist the County Legislature in evaluating the existing County legislative districts as a result of the population data provided by the 2020 Census.

The Commission will be charged with studying the 2020 Census population data with the assistance of County staff. Within three months the Commission will make recommendations, if necessary, in the form of a local law as to changes in the boundaries of County legislative districts to be effective at the end of the then terms of office of incumbent county legislators.

Individuals who may be interested in serving on this Commission are asked to email Legislature Clerk Kathy Tampio at tampiok@chqgov.com.