VILLAGE OF ELLICOTTVILLE BOARD MEETING
By Jacob Fellows (12/12/2008)

This month’s board meeting was called to order by Mayor Charles Coolidge at 7 p.m., which was an hour later than usual. Among those in attendance were village trustees Patra Lowes, Sherman Wilkens, and Bob Brogcinski; the village planner Bob Miller; village attorney Bob Simon; constable Howard Gifford; village engineer Mike Smith; and head of the DPW, Harold Morton.

Harold Morton started the meeting, giving the board a full report on his department’s goings on. Besides putting up a new flagpole in front of the courthouse, plowing and sanding as usual, and removing snow piles from the village intersections, Morton also ordered new tracks for the sidewalk snowplow.

Morton stated that he is hoping to receive a discount for the new tracks because the old ones only lasted for 500 hours of service when they should have lasted 1000 hours. The new tracks cost 3,600 dollars.
The board also questioned Morton about the village’s skating rink and the possibility of opening it in the near future. Morton stated that his crew tried flooding the rink once already this year but to no avail. The village board is hoping to open it as soon as possible.

Constable Howard Gifford told the board about the law that requires residents and buildings within the village be numbered. The law states that the letters must be no smaller than 2 1/2 inches high when posted.

This law is intended to help with emergency, 911 calls.

Gifford also gave a report on the incidents that occurred within the village during the month of November. Among other incidents, there was one motor vehicle accident in the village intersection, he issued one arrest warrant, responded to three alarms, issued eight parking tickets, and assisted the town’s police force seven times: three were house alarms, one was an assault, one motor-vehicle infraction, and two were vehicles that went of the road on Rte. 219.

Village Engineer, Mike Smith, reported that he bought a new sewer pump for $10,398.05. The board gave Smith permission to buy said pump if he deemed it useful, and gave him 13,000 dollars to invest in the new pump.

Smith also stated that he received a 35% discount on the pump, rather than the original 20% discount that the salesman had originally offered him.

Smith also stated that Southern Tier West has asked for a list of potential projects that could be completed within 9-12 months if an economic stimulus package is offered to the village. Smith compiled a list of potential projects stating, “If the money becomes available, we are obviously in a good spot to receive it.”

Among the list of potential projects are the purchase of a new 1.5 million dollar water tank, a portable backup power generator, the exploration of a new water supply for the village, possible renovations to the existing water tank, a sewer-lining project for Jefferson Street, and a 1 1/2 million dollar nitrification at the village’s wastewater.

Village planner, Bob Miller, reported that his department has accomplished much over the last month and in their last meeting; so much in fact, that the December 9th meeting has been canceled due to lack of new business.

Miller stated that the Wingate Inn has been approved to change their sign. The Wingate Inn has changed their logo nationwide and will be doing so in Ellicottville as well.

In other news, a new local law has been drafted and a public hearing will be held during the January board meeting. This new law will require homeowners with alarm systems to be in compliance and have their alarms in working order. Also, said homeowners must notify the village who the key holder of the house in question is within ten days or the village can revoke their permit.

If this law goes into effect, alarm systems must be in compliance by February 8, 2009.