Upstate New York News Thread Aug 22.

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Albany naturalization office falls short of state goal

Rick Karlin

Albany

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013 launched the state Office for New Americans, he said the more than two dozen centers across New York would be located in communities with high concentrations of immigrants.

But the Albany center will lose its main contractor in September due to a lack of people seeking citizenship.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Albany-naturalization-office-falls-short-of-state-5704774.php

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1. Demolition hearings to continue

Kenneth C. Crowe II

Troy

The City Council is approaching the end of its hearings on the demolitions performed at King Street and the King Fuels site in South Troy.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Demolition-hearings-to-continue-5704802.php

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2. $40M school cut mulled

Jordan Carleo-Evangelist

Albany

The City School District of Albany is eyeing a scaled-back renovation plan for Albany High School that could shave as much as $40 million off the price tag of outright replacing the 40-year-old building.

The new roughly $200 million proposal, however, would take significantly longer to complete — stretching construction for as long as seven years in order to maximize state aid and drive down the share of the cost paid by city taxpayers, the district's consultant said Thursday.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/School-plan-to-cut-40M-5704877.php

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3. The Planning Board approved a site plan for the proposed housing complex on Merrick Road in a 3-2 vo

The Planning Board approved a site plan for the proposed housing complex on Merrick Road in a 3-2 vote at a special meet

STEVEN JONES

The Planning Board approved a site plan for the proposed housing complex on Merrick Road in a 3-2 vote at a special meeting Tuesday.


The Buck Group now has the approvals it needs to construct eight residential apartment buildings with garages and parking on Merrick Road. The Common Council has approved creation of a Residential Planned Development District there for the proposed high-end housing development.

Leo Angelicola and Larry Daniello were opposed. The approval included a requirement to put windows on the ends of each garage too, and to use evergreens as the buffer along Merrick Road.

http://romesentinel.com/rome/housing-complex-okd-3-2/QBqnhu!dWLhHLsngaMZWQEqnUVulw/

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4. Minority leader suggests nursing homes sale would free funding for county roads

Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald | Updated 20 hours ago

LITTLE VALLEY — It has been nearly a year since Cattaraugus County lawmakers talked about selling one or both of the county’s nursing homes in Olean and Machias.

It’s time to take another look at a request for proposals for the sale of one or more of the county’s nursing homes, Cattaraugus County Legislature Minority Leader James Boser, D-Allegany, said during a discussion Wednesday in the Public Works Committee on the need for more money for roads.

Mr. Boser, who is not a member of the Public Works Committee, said the budget for county roads could soon be competing with the need for additional tax levy money from the Machias nursing home, which posted a $2.5 million loss last year.
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_73c7cc90-295d-11e4-a1e8-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

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5. Community Development budget gets a thumbs up from city residents

Justin Sondel [e-mail]

The people of Niagara Falls like what they see in the Community Development department's proposed 2015 spending plan.

The comments at a public hearing, attended by about 20 community members in city hall Thursday night, were overwhelmingly positive, though a few speakers suggested some of the funds be shuffled around.

Ron Anderluh, the revitalization coordinator for the Niagara Street Area Business and Professional Association, also serves on the board of Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., one of the agencies set to receive funding in the proposed budget.

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/article_24e6270b-5c78-5d90-b3fb-8a12a8fc6521.html?mode=jqm

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6. Corning Canton plant expansion praised as partnership; officials break ground on $21 million expansi

Corning Canton plant expansion praised as partnership; officials break ground on $21 million expansion

SUSAN MENDE

DEKALB - The sky was cloudy, but moods were sunny Thursday morning as officials gathered to break ground on a $21 million expansion project that’s expected to create 40 permanent jobs at Corning Inc.’s Canton plant.

Speakers credited the project as a public, private partnership that could prompt other companies to invest in the region, they said.

“When you put all those pieces together, its a mosaic. It’s a team creating jobs for our region, jobs for our sons and daughters,” said Anthony C. Collins, who serves as co-chair of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council. He is also president of Clarskson University, Potsdam.

http://www.mpcourier.com/article/20140821/DCO/140829651

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7. Town council receives praise for not rushing to vote on privatization

BENNY FAIRCHILD

MASSENA - Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray opened Wednesday evening’s public comment section of the town board meeting by informing the meeting’s attendees that public comment was going to be limited to 15 minutes in accordance with the town’s policy, which has been loosely enforced over the past several months.

Nearly 50 minutes later the meeting resumed.

“We’re not going to get off on a 45-minute discussion on the hospital,” Mr. Gray said. “We’ve done that too many times already. We’re going to hold it to 15 minutes.”

http://www.mpcourier.com/article/20140821/DCO/140829701

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8. Wilson residents discuss dissolution

Kaley Lynch [e-mail]

WILSON — The concerns Village of Wilson residents have range from dissolution itself to the process the village has to go through to make that happen.


And the village Board of Trustees tried to address those concerns to a standing room-only crowd Thursday, answering questions about the impending dissolution vote and letting community members voice their thoughts on the topic.

The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, asks residents whether or not the village of Wilson should be dissolved and absorbed into the town.

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/article_68500622-29bf-11e4-b5f4-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

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9. Developer of proposed Ulster housing complex wins another site plan extension

William J. Kemble,

TOWN OF ULSTER >> The Town Board has granted a one-year extension to its approval of an eight-year-old site plan for the proposed 46-unit Sawkill Meadows townhouse apartment project on Farm-to-Market Road.

The extension was approved during a Town Board meeting Thursday, but officials stipulated that developer Edward Hill must negotiate an agreement to contribute toward the cost of a sewer extension from Col. Chandler Drive.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20140821/developer-of-proposed-ulster-housing-complex-wins-another-site-plan-extension

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10. Group asks Westchester Airport to stop killing birds

Ken Valenti

Westchester County Airport will consider new methods of scaring off birds and other wildlife without killing them, after meeting with animal advocates, an official said.

Officials from the county, which owns the airport, met Wednesday afternoon with Kiley Blackman, founder of Westchester 4 Geese and several other residents and experts who sought to convince the county that killing is not necessary to keep birds and animals from striking or being struck by airplanes landing and taking off.

"We have been able to stop geese slaughters all over Westchester, which is wonderful. But this is like the last bastion," Blackman said earlier this week.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2014/08/21/westchester-eyes-new-methods-scare-birds-airport/14388997/

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11. Geneva: Horn calls city budget the toughest he's crafted yet

By DAVID L. SHAW [e-mail]

GENEVA — City Manager Matt Horn has been involved in crafting municipal budgets for 13 years, including stints in Georgia and South Carolina before coming here in 2008.

He says the 2015 Geneva city budget has been his most challenging.

Horn will unveil his first draft of the budget Aug. 27. He declined to offer any preliminary figures, saying he expects to be working on the document through the coming weekend.
http://www.fltimes.com/news/article_3f909e60-2945-11e4-a62c-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

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12. New York Gov. Cuomo to host fishing tournament

AP

OWASCO LAKE, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to welcome professional fishermen to the Finger Lakes for the Bassmaster Governor's Challenge.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_GOVERNORS_FISHING_CHALLENGE_NYOL-?SITE=NYMID&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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13. Gsell budget memo strikes a familiar tone

Paul Mrozek

Summer is the season of reruns and Genesee County Manager Jay Gsell’s 2015 budget memo fits into that category.

Gsell, in a message sent recently to the county’s department heads, wrote “It should come as no surprise” that departmental budgets submitted to him should be prepared “in terms of the continued constrained financial environment the county, region and state are in.”

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_f7301294-29ae-11e4-b186-001a4bcf887a.html

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14. Ontario County supervisors oppose Clean Water Act changes

Aaron Curtis

GENEVA — After the topic had bounced between the full board and committees since May, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors reached an agreement Thursday and voted against definition changes to the federal Clean Water Act.

The resolution, addressed by the Ontario County Board of Supervisors Thursday, also provides suggestions to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the rule changes, which one supervisor called a "total mess."
- See more at: http://m.mpnnow.com/article/20140822/NEWS/140829851#sthash.qE3x07gg.dpuf

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15. Canandaigua city committee OKs North Shore changes

Megan Brandow,

CANANDAIGUA — City officials Thursday approved an amended site plan for the $120 million North Shore project on Canandaigua Lake and referred it to the Ontario County Planning Board for review.

Following final site plan approval in April, Rochester-based developers Morgan-LeChase this week presented to the city a series of proposed changes to phase one of the five-phase project.
- See more at: http://m.mpnnow.com/article/20140822/NEWS/140829848#sthash.IAgAHmHB.dpuf

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16. RSVP program likely to see big federal aid cut

Max Oppen Columbia-Greene Media

CATSKILL — The Greene County Department of Human Services’ RSVP Volunteer Program is going to face a large decrease in federal funding dollars in 2015.

President Obama is proposing a nearly 70 percent cut in federally funded dollars for the Corporation for National Community Service of RSVP programs, which would have a dramatic impact both locally and nationally. Tens of thousands of veterans, students and frail, homebound seniors may lose access to these services.

In 2013, the federal government provided an RSVP grant to Greene County in the amount of $35,357. The New York State Office of Aging provided a grant of $5,347, and there was $44,629 of county funding.

http://www.thedailymail.net/news/article_2193267a-29be-11e4-b923-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

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17. Gov. Cuomo touts Fort Drum s strengths in letter to top Army officials

BRIAN KELLY

FORT DRUM — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has sent a letter to Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno emphasizing the state’s strong support of Fort Drum and stressing the harm that cuts at the base would cause to military preparedness and the north country’s economy.

Gov. Cuomo’s Aug. 11 letter outlined several areas in which the Army benefits from its relationship with the north country community and offered to continue to provide the state’s support to strengthen those ties.

“The state is a proud partner of the Army and wishes for that partnership to continue to be strengthened so that soldiers and families of the 10th Mountain Division are provided the best of training, employment opportunities and quality of life,” Gov. Cuomo said in his letter to Mr. McHugh, a north country native, and Gen. Odierno.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140822/NEWS03/140829587

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18. Watertown Local Development Corp. seeks debt from failed loans

TED BOOKER

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Local Development Corp. is struggling with a couple of poorly performing loans.

A plan to rehabilitate the three-story commercial building at 259 J.B. Wise Place with seven upper-floor apartments appears to have been scrapped by a group of four developers, leaving the WLDC in a financial bind, said Donald W. Rutherford, CEO of the agency, at Thursday’s meeting. The owner of the building, Thomas E. Horning, hasn’t made payments for more than a year on an outstanding loan principal of about $41,000 owed to the agency. That amount is leftover from a 15-year, $100,000 loan made by the agency in December 1999 to buy the building. Board members discussed Thursday whether foreclosure action might be taken to collect the debt.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140822/NEWS03/140829591?utm_source=eGs5F3&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=wdt.me&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FNhuawckwDk

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19. Boston man charged with stealing New York vehicle

HYDE PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say they've charged a Massachusetts man with stealing a $23,000 utility vehicle from a Hudson Valley business after claiming to be a member of a Boston-area emergency services unit.

http://www.news10.com/story/26345620/boston-man-charged-with-stealing-new-york-vehicle

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20. 1 dead, 4 injured in 2-vehicle crash on rural road

COLCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say one person is dead and four others are in critical condition after a two-vehicle crash on a rural upstate New York road.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office tells The Daily Star of Oneonta (http://bit.ly/1wh5VDv ) that the head-on collision occurred around 10 a.m. Thursday on a road in the town of Colchester, on the western border of the Catskill Park 75 miles southwest of Albany.

http://www.news10.com/story/26345917/1-dead-4-injured-in-2-vehicle-crash-on-rural-road

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21. Bayern is fast and favored in Travers at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — He already knows Bayern is fast, and now Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is going to give the 3-year-old colt a chance to see how far he can stretch his speed.

Impressive in winning the $1 million Haskell Invitational in his most recent start, Bayern will go after his second straight Grade 1 victory in Saturday's 145th running of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Bayern-favored-in-1-25M-Travers-at-Saratoga-5705529.php

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22. SUNY crime stats are improving

Rick Karlin, Capitol bureau

SUNY’s state-operated campuses, which are generally the non-community colleges, are doing a better job of reporting crimes on their campuses, as per the law, but they could still use some improvement, says Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Here are the details and the audit:
The State University of New York’s (SUNY) 29 state-operated colleges made improvements in reporting crime and safety statistics, as they are legally required to do, but auditors still found inconsistencies and problems at some campuses according to an audit released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/219188/suny-crime-stats-are-improving/

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23. Police: Kidnappers intended to use Amish girls as slaves

FOWLER, N.Y. (AP) -- A northern New York couple used a dog to lure two Amish sisters from their family farm stand with a plan to turn them into slaves, an investigator said Thursday.

Nicole Vaisey admitted she and her boyfriend, Stephen Howells Jr., got the girls to their car with an offer to pet the dog and he shoved the 7-year-old and 12-year-old sisters in, St. Lawrence County Sherriff's Sgt. Brooks Bigwarfe said.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/08/police_kidnappers_intended_to_use_amish_girls_as_slaves.html#incart_m-rpt-2

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24. Court rules state is liable in Wells fire death

Rick Karlin, Capitol bureau

A state Court of Claims judge has found New York State to be “100 percent liable” in the 2009 death of a developmentally disabled woman who perished in a fire that tore through her group home, which was operated by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities — then known as OMRDD.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/219201/court-rules-state-is-liable-in-wells-fire-death/

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25. kick.

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26. State of Emergency Declared in Montgomery County After Flooding

Web Staff

FONDA, N.Y. -- A state of emergency has been declared in Montgomery County due to excessive flooding from Thursday night's storms.
Many homes and roads were flooded across the county. Terry Hayes has lived in his Fonda home for 15 years. Unfortunately, this is just the latest of several muddy situations.

"Just happened about a month ago, just finished cleaning up then it happened again," said Hayes.

Heavy rain started coming down around 6 p.m. Thursday night. By 8 p.m., Hayes said his yard was already flooding.

- See more at: http://albany.twcnews.com/content/news/762931/state-of-emergency-declared-in-montgomery-county-after-flooding/#sthash.557CavlD.dpuf

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27. Before Wellington Implosion, a New Look at Proposed Albany Convention Center

Geoff Redick

Just a day before the old Wellington Tower is imploded, officials released a first look at the new building that will go in its place.

This will be significant update from the old Wellington Hotel annex, but the developers still want it to match other historical architecture downtown.

The main facade material is brick and windows are a major component. There's a focus on natural light throughout the lobby, and the planned first- and second-floor conference rooms.

- See more at: http://albany.twcnews.com/content/news/763001/before-wellington-implosion--a-new-look-at-proposed-albany-convention-center/#sthash.Xxdw9QgD.dpuf

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28. Two Questioned by Chautauqua County Sheriff's Deputies Following Westfield Homicide

TWC News Staff

WESTFIELD, N.Y. -- Sheriff's deputies in Chautauqua County are questioning two people in connection with an apparent homicide earlier this week in the town of Westfield. - See more at: http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/763018/two-questioned-by-chautauqua-county-sheriff-s-deputies-following-westfield-homicide/#sthash.LFZQNuvu.dpuf

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29. Forbes Reports Three Initial Bids For Bills Are Under Valued Price

By: TWC News Staff

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A day after valuing the Buffalo Bills at $935 million, Forbes magazine said three initial bids on the team are all well below that price tag. - See more at: http://buffalo.twcnews.com/content/news/762940/forbes-reports-three-initial-bids-for-bills-are-under-valued-price/#sthash.x9LUxWRf.dpuf

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30. Greece Woman Charged in Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed Gates Man

TWC News Staff

GATES, N.Y. -- A young woman from Greece was arrested Friday and charged in a deadly hit-and-run crash on Aug. 12 in Gates. - See more at: http://rochester.twcnews.com/content/news/763052/greece-woman-charged-in-hit-and-run-crash-that-killed-gates-man/#sthash.VLpiqN6b.dpuf

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31. Police Searching for Sex Offender They Say Failed to Register

http://hudsonvalley.twcnews.com/content/news/763045/police-searching-for-sex-offender-they-say-failed-to-register/

Short article

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32. FEMA Grant Will Go Toward Strengthening Bridge in Orange Co.

TWC News Staff

MONTGOMERY, N.Y. -- Governor Cuomo announces more than $13 million in FEMA funding will go toward strengthening a bridge in Orange County. - See more at: http://hudsonvalley.twcnews.com/content/news/763061/fema-grant-will-go-toward-strengthening-bridge-in-orange-co-/#sthash.A6xpaAPe.dpuf

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33. Stewart-Cousins takes the Ice Bucket Challenge

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/219214/stewart-cousins-takes-the-ice-bucket-challenge/


Short article

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34. Shoring up the bridges

Rick Karlin, Capitol bureau

There’s federal money going out to shore up bridges against erosion, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo says is a good thing given the wild weather swings we’ve been having.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/219218/shoring-up-the-bridges/

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35. Cuomo’s treasurer invests in Suffern development

LOHUD

SUFFERN – Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign treasurer is a partner in a proposed luxury rental apartment project on Orange Avenue, seeking tax breaks from local municipalities and the state.

Richard Sirota of Irvington, a private investor and consultant who is also a major donor to Cuomo’s campaign, attended a recent Ramapo Town Board meeting, during which the board approved a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement for the Orange Avenue project. Sitting next to Sirota were Jeffrey and Joshua Goldstein, executives of Orange Avenue Associates, the developer of the 91-unit market-rate apartment building proposed for the 1.48 acre site.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/ramapo/2014/08/22/cuomos-treasurer-invests-suffern-development/14469175/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter