Hal's Trustee Blog

The “Double Deuce Doosie”

2009-04-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

If you’re reading this, then it’s likely you’re sitting down already. If not, then I encourage you to take a seat or at least find something to hold on to.

Okay? Ready for this? Probably not, but here it goes, anyway…

As presented last month to the board of trustees, Brockport’s tentative budget for the coming fiscal year calls for a 22% tax increase.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Whoa! That’s a big increase!” then you know exactly how I felt when the proposal was revealed. Thank goodness the board will have an opportunity to revise it, because it would take an extraordinary set of circumstances before I would support a hike like that in the midst of a recession—or at any other time, for that matter.

So how did it come to this, a “double deuce doosie,” you might ask. Well, if there’s one thing I’ve observed since taking office last summer, it’s that answers in village government are usually harder to come by than questions. I can state for sure, though, that not every department came through on the request that some board members made to trim expenses by 2%. Also, it seems prudent to plan for less revenue to be generated through sales tax during the coming fiscal year, simply because people tend to diminish their spending during economic downturns like the whopper the state and country are in right now.

I know it’s a tangent, but the next government official who begins his remarks about how bad things are fiscally at the moment by saying, “Not since the Great Depression…” ought to be smacked right in his WPA. As I mentioned when talking about the budget at the village board’s last meeting this past Monday, some of us actually know others who have been laid off during the past few months. My own list keeps growing. It includes people with more than a decade with their now former employers. It includes some who held white-collar jobs. It includes folks in the trades, others in professions, and some in education, an industry that tends to do well when the economy doesn’t. So I get it: these are tough times, the kind that come along only about once every other generation.

The difference between most people and me is that I have at least an opportunity and perhaps an obligation to do something about taxes. And while 22% is a big—even an alarming—figure, it’s what’s behind that number that really matters.

As I suggested during my April 3 board report, I feel strongly that Brockport’s leadership must at this time begin to evaluate what programs and services we are asking taxpayers to buy. As an example, I alluded in my remarks that evening to the village’s water fund.

Back in the good old days, many municipalities operated their own water departments for one simple reason: it was profitable. However, as villages’ infrastructure aged and water distribution became more consolidated (locally under the Monroe County Water Authority), the number of municipalities going it alone began to diminish.

Today Brockport is one of the few villages in western New York still selling water to its residents. Problem is, to turn a buck doing it, the village needs to buy the water wholesale, which it does from the MCWA, and then mark it up. The result is that we pay more in Brockport for water than do our neighbors in Sweden, or anywhere else around here. The kicker is that the village lost money on water sales last year, in part because consumption appears to have been down.

Although water isn’t necessarily central to the discussion about the future of the village’s finances, it does illustrate how out of whack things have gotten. While the tentative budget asks you to reach into your pocket and pull out about $200 more per household for the village, if I have anything to say about it, Brockport’s taxpayers are not going to be soaked during the coming fiscal year.

A Supervisor Deposed

2009-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

“I didn’t realize that was what Buddy meant when he said he was holding the line on taxes.” So went the punch line of the joke I overheard this past week after the arrest on tax-related charges of Sweden Town Supervisor Nat “Buddy” Lester, III had been reported by local media.

While I don’t count Mr. Lester as a personal friend, I did have dealings with the now former supervisor every once in a while in my capacity as an elected official. Although we were on opposite sides of the table, he representing the town and I representing the village, he always was cordial.

This is not an apologia for Lester. Indeed, if what’s been reported is factual, then things don’t seem to look very bright for him at the moment. Beyond that, in my estimation, his fate is the business of the court.

Still, in the wake of his arrest, and the cynical musings about it, I am hoping for the best, even if expecting less out of the situation. Certainly, though, the fall from grace of one of our area's most popular political figures will bring change, some say for the better, others, the worse.

Speaking with friends and family members that reside across western New York, but not in western Monroe County, I realized that to the rest of creation, the Village of Brockport and the Township Sweden are one in the same, interchangeable. I found myself clarifying repeatedly during the past few days that Lester was not part of the governing body on which I serve.

But that reminded me that while the two municipalities are separate, their paths are joined. Judging by the blank looks that my distinguishing Sweden from Brockport elicited over the weekend, outsiders seem to intuit their connectedness even if people like myself see it otherwise from time to time.

Fact is, like it or not, Lester’s influence here was substantial. Voters trusted him. In his absence, now what?

Well, for starters, I wish the remaining members of the Sweden Town Board the best of luck as they carry on without Buddy. Beyond that, though, all we can do is wait and see.

Brockport’s Budget Part 2

2009-02-26T17:32:00.000-08:00

Since January there’s been a lot of lively discussion at village board meetings about the budget process. While folks have made several comments and asked many questions—both publicly and privately—about the village’s next spending plan, the trustees work on the budget likely will begin sometime in late March. That’s because crafting the tentative budget is the responsibility of the village’s budget officer, which is the mayor or his designee.

In fact, perhaps as a safeguard against willy-nilly planning, the budget calendar for New York’s villages is heavily prescribed by law. For example, by Feb. 8 of each year, the budget officer is required to request in writing each department head’s budget estimates, schedules and statements. By March 1, department heads must submit revenue and expenditure estimates to the budget officer. By March 20, the budget officer is legally obligated to file the tentative budget with the village clerk.

The contents of a tentative budget are spelled out by statute, too. Among what’s required is: comparative information about the past year’s spending, appropriations for the current year, and requests for the coming year; wage and salary schedules; and revenue estimates for both the current and coming fiscal years.

The next step of the process is presentation of the tentative budget by the village clerk to the board of trustees. This must take place by March 31. After this presentation, the board of trustees may revise the budget as deemed necessary and within the confines of the law.

By April 15, the village must host a public hearing on the tentative budget as amended by board resolution. The board may further revise the tentative budget after the public hearing before adopting it by May 1. Finally, within 30 days of its adoption, the chief fiscal officer must file a certified copy of the budget with the state comptroller.

So while there’s been much discussion at board meetings and otherwise about what trustees are doing on the budget, in reality we’re responsible for reviewing the tentative budget, changing it if we find the need, and adopting it in a timely manner. Of course, trustees have been talking for the last couple of months about the budget with one another, with department heads, and with concerned citizens. But until the board is presented formally with a tentative budget, we’re not in a position to thoroughly examine it. And examine it, we shall.

Brockport’s Budget

2009-01-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

Fiscal responsibility was a central plank in the platform I shared with Trustee Scott Hunsinger last spring. Faced with capital projects the scope of which Brockport doesn’t see often (I’m thinking of the replacement of the sewer lines and water mains under Main Street later this year and the New York State Department of Transportation’s overhaul of the roadway slated to begin in 2010), a solid understanding of the village’s priorities will be instructive as we begin the budget process.

At last Monday’s village board meeting, Trustee David Wagenhauser suggested that the village’s department heads—the superintendent of the Brockport Department of Public Works, the chief of the Brockport Police Department, etc.—re-submit to the board their budget proposals to reflect a 2% cut compared with current fiscal year budgets. This was an idea he had put forth at a board meeting earlier this year, one that I support.

There’s nothing magical about the number 2%. It just seems like a good starting point if the board’s going to attempt in earnest to hold the line on taxes. Spending is a choice, and I think it’s fair of the board to ask department heads to find items that taxpayers may not need to buy.

In addition to the baseline budget, Trustee Hunsinger suggested that department heads forward to the board prioritized lists of items they’d like to see funded. This will help to clarify and urgent needs and differentiate them from emergent needs. I hope it also will provide a basis for constructive conversation about which expenditures would be wise and which can wait.

Finally, I suggested at the last board meeting that budget proposals ought to follow a common format. There are several reasons for this.

First, I must admit that I was a bit surprised at the some of budget materials we had received. While I realize that the budget request didn’t include any instructions, I had expected to see line items in more or less of a spreadsheet format. Given that department heads have varying degrees of budgetary experience though, it makes sense in retrospect that what they submitted didn’t always follow any established template.

Having a budget protocol—defining what will be most helpful to the board—will help us compare proposals side by side among departments. It will make it easier to make sense of requests and to understand across the organization where money is flowing now, and where more ought to flow.

With this request we are, of course, asking department heads to do more. However, I hope that by doing more they might gain insight into the process, at least the board’s end of it. That’s because the likely outcome this spring is that we’ll adopt a spending plan that includes some items and excludes others. There are tough choices ahead, and I believe that getting everyone on the same page—literally—will streamline the process and benefit decision makers and taxpayers alike.

Brockport's New Treasurer

2008-12-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

With a pair of young kids at home, a day job that occasionally extends into the evening, and my work as a trustee, I don’t often enough have the chance to read. When I do pick up a book, though, two facts are nearly certain. First, I purchased it at Lift Bridge Book Shop. And second, it examines historical events, like John M. Barry’s “The Great Influenza,” which is about the 1918 flu pandemic, or it focuses on organizational management, like “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, which uncovers key differences between average companies and those that delivery consistently outstanding results.

A key point in “Good to Great” is that, despite what usually is said, people usually aren’t an organization’s most valuable resources. The right people doing the right jobs, claims the author, are what matter. Many employees, he writes, don’t meet that standard for any number of reasons that could be related to management, structure, deployment, or an individual’s abilities or traits.

I mention all of this because I believe the most important choices within any organization are hiring decisions. And Brockport is fortunate to have concluded its search for a village treasurer earlier this week by appointing Gina Tojek, who will take her post Jan. 5.

Ms. Tojek, who lives in Albion, serves currently as the deputy supervisor of the Town of Barre in Orleans County. Before election to that office, she was employed by the Village of Spencerport. There she served for 18 years as village clerk, village treasurer, and village manager. Experience she brings, and plenty of it.

Beyond her resumé, I think what impressed the screening committee—composed of Mayor Mort Wexler, Deputy Treasurer Kari Olson, Village Clerk Leslie Morelli, College at Brockport Vice President Lou Spiro and me—was Ms. Tojek’s preparedness and comfort level. From a political perspective, it seems that anything can happen in Brockport, and with stunning frequency, it does. So while a cool, capable and collected individual would be an asset to just about any team, I’m thankful that Ms. Tojek will be joining ours.

I’m especially encouraged because it seems reasonable to believe that the village board will be asking several department heads to make cuts for the coming fiscal year. Although the Seymour Library and fire department budgets already are in place, it would be prudent for us to trim in other areas.

While solid guidance through the budget process, which will begin during the first full week of January, can’t magically put money back in line items, it can help minimize the pain of belt-tightening. For sure Ms. Tojek, like the rest of us in village government, has her work cut out for her. That’s why it was so important that we get the right person for this job.

Brockport's Newspaper

2008-12-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

At its December 1 meeting, the Brockport Village Board voted 3-2 to make the Tri-County Advertiser the official newspaper of the village. I introduced the motion to designate the TCA effective January 1. Trustees David Wagenhauser and Scott Hunsinger joined me in support of it.

Mayor Wexler voted against the measure without comment. Trustee Casteñeda opposed it, citing—among other objections—what she considers to be a slant in the TCA’s coverage of village politics, and her recollection that while seeking office last spring, Trustee Hunsinger and I advertised in another periodical.

While a discussion of election strategy would be extraordinarily boring, tedious and in my mind superfluous to the matter, I am happy to share the rationale I put forth to designate the TCA:

Established in 1956, the TCA’s history of service to our community spans more than a half-century.
Owner Sally Cottrell is a tireless supporter of Brockport.
Through the years, the TCA and its staff have won industry awards too numerous to list here.
More than 16,000 copies of the TCA are distributed weekly.
Located on Main Street, the TCA is a Brockport-based business, literally around the corner from the village offices.

It’s worth noting that the idea of designating the TCA as Brockport’s official paper has been around at least since the village board’s organizational meeting last summer. The village went so far as to seek a legal opinion from general counsel on the matter. While the five of us the board didn’t agree that the TCA was deserving of the designation, we were diligent in the pursuit of it as an option, and I think that speaks well of each of us.

2008-12-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

One of the most wonderful benefits of living in our village is that the calendar remains full throughout the year. From unique gatherings such as the Greater Brockport Development Corporation’s centennial celebration of the Strand Theatre, to annual events like the Halloween parade (that’s my daughter, Caelan with her lion costume, my wife, Leigh, and me in the photo) and party—which pull together the efforts of the fire department, Brockport Merchants Association, and police—we are blessed with activities that keep Brockport vibrant.

As we now get deeper into the holiday season, there is much to do. In the days ahead, I hope you and your family will be able to take part in the tree lighting—this year Jack Mazzarella, who’s been a tremendous resource for Brockport, especially fixing up welcome center bikes and the occasional mule, will do the honors—or catch a ride on the Santa Train, one of my favorite traditions.

While you’re out enjoying some seasonal merriment, why not stop to shop along Main Street or at any of the other fine establishments in the village? And when you discover that getting gifts locally has left you with more time, money and sanity than a mall would, then I recommend rewarding yourself for the choice to support our merchants with lunch at one of Brockport’s fantastic eateries.

Ethics

2008-10-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Talked about during executive session, trustee reports, and public comment, the Ethics Board has emerged as perhaps the surprise hot topic of village board meetings this fall. Most of the conversation has been between Trustee Scott Hunsinger and Ethics Board Chair Wayne Bennett, or directed at one or both of them, or about one of both of them.

Nearly everyone who has taken part in the discussion has done so with passion for the matter at hand, which centers around the progress—or lack thereof—of the Ethics Board toward becoming a functioning part of the village’s government. Rather than ponder the—in my opinion—unfortunate state of the Ethics Board, from which another member resigned a week ago, I’d prefer to take a look at the bigger picture.

First, it’s worth noting that although Mr. Bennett and Trustee Hunsinger may be at odds lately, the pair have worked just fine together before, serving on the Village Advisory Committee. I know because I was there. In fact, each of us was an inaugural member of that body, appointed December 19, 2005.

Of course, I think highly of Trustee Hunsigner. Having been his running mate, I can tell you that finding a more enthusiastic supporter of Brockport would be a real challenge. Likewise, based on by experience with Mr. Bennett during the time when he and I served on the VAC, I think that he means well. I count him as someone who cares about Brockport.

Second, after last Monday’s resignation, the Ethics Board lacks a quorum. This means that whatever progress had been made will come to a halt. But that may not be such a bad thing. Here’s why.

Adopted as chapter 13 of the village code 38 years ago, the code of ethics was intended to guide Brockport officials and employees in the discharge of their responsibilities as municipal representatives. Chapter 13’s framers recognized that codifying public trust was probably unrealistic. States article I, section 1 of chapter 13: “Standards must rest primarily on personal integrity and on community vigilance; law cannot in itself create moral fiber, not can law quicken the civic conscience.”

Fair enough: as a practical matter, citizens rely to a significant extent on officials and employees to “do the right thing.” Where the code gets dicey is in its description of “Gifts and Favors” under article VI:

“No officer or employee of the Village of Brockport, whether paid or unpaid, shall accept any gift or gratuity, whether in the form of services, loan or any promise of benefit of any kind, from any person, firm, or corporation which is interested indirectly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in any business or professional transaction or dealing with the village or any agency thereof.”

What’s so troubling about this language is the extent to which the commonplace give and take of social interaction is prohibited by law. For example, I mentioned at the last board meeting how much I enjoyed the Halloween parade and party on October 24. Well, the Brockport Merchants Association annually hosts this event, which was held at the fire hall on Market Street and staffed by college students, among others.

Did I violate the village’s code of ethics by drinking a cup of cider at the party, or by allowing my son to accept candy from the proprietors of Main Street businesses? Certainly merchants individually could benefit from a cozier relationship with a trustee, particularly if they intend to come before the board to, for example, have a sidewalk dining area during the summer. And the merchants association? It benefits from a relationship with the village too. In fact, the village gave the association money for this fantastic holiday gathering. Let’s not forget the fire department, the leadership of which would, I’m sure, not mind if their budget grew. And how about the college students, some of whom may be members of a group that could have an event or project that would need village approval.

My point is that it is beyond the reach of common sense to believe that cider and candy would corrupt any person with even a small amount of integrity. Yet the code of ethics doesn’t recognize this.

Even our mayor, who often mentions having a sarsaparilla, couldn’t drink it if you bought him a glass and proposed a toast. Given that the village seems to be moving closer to a new contract with the Stetson Club, which would be something to celebrate, I don’t know about ethical, but that hardly seems fair.

There’s Much More to the Board Than Monday Night Fights

2008-10-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Over the last several years many people have commented that members of the Brockport Village Board don’t seem to get along. Well before I joined the board, spirited arguments about everything ranging from the placement of flowers on Main Street to the handling of employee contracts took place at least periodically—some would say frequently.

In my short tenure as a trustee, I’ve heard several times—in particular from a few people who monitor the village intently—about a desire for board members to work together better, or more closely, or in greater harmony. Fact is though, our opinions often differ, sometimes substantially. And while I consider our diversity of thought as an asset, I understand how some folks might watch our Monday evening debates and conclude that it would be nice if we agreed more.

What I hope observers can recognize is the passion of the five people representing Brockport. It’s visible and audible at our meetings as we discuss varying viewpoints. More importantly, though, is that underlying our passion is, I believe, a sincere desire to serve the village to the best of our abilities. Perhaps that’s not center stage enough, but in this we are united.

Also worth mentioning is reality that those who attend our meetings or watch them on television get only a glimpse of our interactions. As I said during my board report this past Monday, I accomplish most of my work as a trustee between our meetings, not at them.

For example, Mayor Mort Wexler and I have spoken on different occasions about the process of finding Brockport's next treasurer. To his credit, it was Mayor Wexler that suggested we tap Lou Spiro, the vice president for administration and finance at the College at Brockport, to lend his expertise in this area. What a wonderful idea that has proved to be: Mr. Spiro’s input has been indispensable.

There are lighter moments, too, that go unseen by the public. For example, this past week when I stopped by the village offices to pick up mail, I had my three-year-old son, Edison, with me. Edison knows that Clerk Leslie Morelli has a candy jar, so when he asked for a sucker, the mayor advised him to take two: one to go into his mouth immediately, and another for later. You can insert your own joke here about my future dental bills, but my son sure got a kick out of the mayor’s offer.

A few seconds later, Edison marched into the mayor’s office, attracted by the portrait of William Seymour that hangs on the south wall there. My son wanted to know who was in the picture, so I told him, not that the answer would hold any significance for a pre-schooler. Mayor Wexler then produced a placard from one of his own early campaigns. Slightly yellowed with age, the placard featured a portrait of the mayor. “You know who this guy is?” asked Mayor Wexler.

What happened next got a chuckle out of the mayor and me.

Edison, without hesitation answered confidently: "Barack Obama."

So yes: it’s undeniable that members of the board do bicker. We fight. We’re not fond of one another’s positions on issues. But behind it all, the work of the village is getting done, and from time to time, we even share a laugh along the way.

Hunsinger & Legg Run Again

2008-09-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Trustee Scott Hunsinger and I headed up to Lakeview Cemetery just south of Brockport to “compete” in the Harvest 5K. The last time Scott and I ran together, it was a called a campaign, which is more of an endurance event than a 5K. For the metric-impaired like myself, a 5K is about 3.1 miles. Before Saturday, I had never run a race.

Running, like most every sport, has a lot in common with politics. In the case of the Harvest 5K, the Sweden Town Board was responsible for staging it, and did a wonderful job, by the way. But the parallels are more general than that. Goals, for example are important in both. And having realistic goals instead of wishful ones can make the difference between success and disaster.

Being my first race, I had no idea what to expect from myself. When I started passing other runners, I began to mull over my objectives: first and foremost, to chug through the race without injury in under a half-hour. My stretch goal was to cross the finish line in under 26 minutes.

This is how I typically approach challenges, whether in sports or work. I’ll set a standard for performance, one that’s reasonable given the circumstances—some of which are out of my control—and then I’ll set a higher mark to strive for.

Being the freshmen trustees, Scott and I frequently revisit the unwritten to-do list we compiled while running for office and since being elected. There are some things that we feel the village must address, like the former Kleen Brite properties or hiring personnel to perform the functions of former Village Manager Ian Coyle. Then there are other tasks that, while important, rise to a lesser level of significance.

That’s why right now front and center for Scott is the future of 200 State Street. On my desk is the critical task of finding Brockport’s next treasurer. While the task for my fellow trustee is a marathon, my top job at the moment is a sprint.

This division of tasks seems, based on the results of the Harvest 5K, appropriate. I ain’t braggin’, but my official time was 25:45 and change—meaning that I crushed my stretch goal and finished 15th. Scott, on the other hand, clocked in at over 33 minutes.

The Next Chapter in Brockport Housing Standards

2008-09-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

This past Monday the village held its second public hearing to receive input on recently proposed code revisions. Of greatest interest to those in attendance were the possible changes to chapter 36 of the village’s code, which relates to housing standards. Specifically, the point of updating chapter 36 is fairly straightforward: to ensure better the safety of those who reside in Brockport.

Chapter 36 also drew the majority of input—most of it thoughtful—back in July during the first public hearing dealing with these code updates. Several speakers at that gathering shared a concern about the amount of power that proposed changes to chapter 36 would give the village’s code enforcement officer. Others identified technical flaws in the writing, mostly tangled prose or incorrect references to sections that had been renumbered or removed during the editing process.

Less credible were comparisons between the village board and the Third Reich. One animated gentleman’s lively address likened the Nazis’ forced registration of Jews to the proposed registration of rental properties, which I found to be nearly as illogical as it was insensitive. While hyperbole isn’t unwelcome at public hearings, I do subscribe to the generally accepted belief that whatever is said reflects on the speaker.

In any case, the village, in response to concerns that had been raised at the first public hearing, further modified chapter 36. The public hearing earlier this week afforded another opportunity for interested parties to comment on the re-revised draft. Again, most of what was shared with the board was constructive.

One viewpoint that was expressed perhaps two or three times was that the village board ought to delay a vote on chapter 36 to give the new trustees, Scott Hunsinger and me, a chance to “get up to speed.” While I’m sure my fellow freshman trustee appreciates the sentiment behind such a suggestion as much as I do, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who puts more effort into preparedness than Trustee Hunsinger.

Both he and I offered suggestions for chapter 36. We reviewed several versions of it. We communicated with the village’s counsel. We exchanged thoughts with others who had a hand in its revision. Of course we now have attended two public hearings on the matter too.

Whether the next step for the village will be to adjust chapter 36 again or to go ahead and vote on it, I’m ready. And I think Scott would say the same.

9/11: Why We Remember

2008-09-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

In a small room of his wood shop hangs a framed certificate that my father received while serving in the Air Force in the early 1960s. I recently asked Dad about how he came by this citation, and he said that it had followed a sticky mission from the base in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he was stationed. “Everyone on the plane got one,” he said, matter-of-factly.

Yet I can’t imagine much was matter-of-fact about Dad’s military occupation. For his airman’s paycheck, he was one member of a small crew that flew from an unpaved runway at the edge of civilization with the goal of crossing over the southern border of the U.S.S.R. for the explicit purpose of intercepting Russian radio transmissions, which my father would translate.

The day he earned the certificate on his shop wall, Dad’s plane was escorted out of Soviet airspace by a pair of MiG-17 fighters that evidently had been scrambled to intercept the intruding enemy aircraft.

Fast forward a half century and from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. tomorrow Brockport firefighters once again will stand in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. Their vigil will pay respect to the 2,819 lives that were cut short—among them, 403 firefighters, paramedics and police officers—when hijackers crashed two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, a third into the Pentagon, and a fourth in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

The honor guard, posted at the Firefighters’ Memorial Monument at the corner of Main Street and Park Avenue, is a solemn reminder of a horrific occasion that I believe is felt more deeply by those that serve, as my father did years ago in our country’s fight against communism, and as every uniformed officer and emergency responder does now in an age of global uncertainty.

There is, of course, much to separate my father’s time in the Air Force from the experiences of those who responded to arguably the most catastrophic attack ever on U.S. soil. However, for me, one always prompts thought of the other.

Dad, who was just an enlisted kid at the time, got on the plane. He did his job, probably not knowing what danger might lie above. At least once (he’s not telling), he was lucky to come home, if you can call a dusty, 110ºF military outpost “home.” I’m sure it never crossed his mind that Peshawar and the surrounding area, which he’d explored on horseback, was the cradle of the Taliban and the ideology behind 9/11.

Likewise, the brave men and women of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) who were called to the Twin Towers even as it burned also did their jobs, likely never considering the danger above, never for a moment pondering the enemy that had prompted their response.

So many members of the FDNY, as will be recalled tomorrow, didn’t come home. And so we remember them in acknowledgment that ours is a way of life protected by people who at times are called upon to do jobs that most of us lack the courage to do. We remember them in appreciation of their sacrifice to a nation that traded the civil defense drills of my father’s generation to the terrorist threat level warnings of this generation. We remember them in recognition of their rightful place in America’s history. We remember them because they are heros.

Student Badly Hurt in Fall

2008-09-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Several news outlets already have reported on a story—still unfolding—regarding an 18-year-old college student whose neck and back were seriously injured after apparently falling from a second floor window while at a Main Street house party in Brockport shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning. The young man who was hurt remains in a medically-induced coma at a Rochester hospital. When he does regain consciousness, he’ll wake to face the possibility of paralysis.

This tragedy has touched three communities: the village, where investigation into exactly what took place is ongoing; the College at Brockport, where the victim had just entered his freshman year; and Caledonia, Livingston County, the young man’s hometown. Sadly, there is nothing any of us in these communities can do but weep.

This afternoon, Brockport Police Chief Dan Varrenti and University Police Chief Bob Kehoe of the College at Brockport hosted a press conference related the incident. Listening to the pair field questions, I thought about the family and friends of the young man involved, and how answers, though important, likely will never soothe their pain or give them peace. Fact is, for them what happened was a life-changing moment that luckily almost none of us ever will have to contemplate, much less comprehend.

High Visibility Policing

2008-08-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

Since at least the mid-1980s when New York City police used it to disrupt drug traffic on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, law enforcement agencies have employed high visibility policing to address problem areas within their jurisdictions. This tactic is at the core of Brockport Police Chief Dan Varreti’s initiative to resolve some of the quality of life issues that seem to have arisen on Main Street this summer. And I, who spend a lot of time in the business district with my family, love it.

Basically, high visibility policing works like this: by placing officers conspicuously in spots where trouble repeatedly occurs, the chance of a person being noticed (and cited for) doing something he ought not do increases. The message this sends to those contemplating criminal activity is pretty straightforward: not here.

At heart, I’m a country boy who admires simplicity, so the Brockport Police Department’s plan makes a lot of sense to me. In fact, yesterday I smiled when, while returning from a jog along the canal, I turned off the path at Main Street to see a patrol car parked between Market Street and Water Street. Then, continuing south toward Erie Street, I chugged past by two uniformed officers walking a beat on the west side of Main. If I, trying to will my body home after a 5-mile run, noticed the police presence downtown, you can bet that others did too.

I’m not ready to try to dissuade my son, who’s 3, from repeating some of the more colorful language that I’ve heard—and therefore I’m pretty sure he’s heard—while on our way to Seaward Candies or Jimmy Z’s for a cone or a shake. Nor am I eager to see again, as I did last month, a sidewalk sideshow escalate to a point where one fella gets a baseball bat to settle a beef he has with another fella. That’s how fellas become felons. If the police can preempt situations like these from unfolding to my annoyance (which I know some may view as petty) or to a serious injury as get-back for a slight, then great, I say.

Not that Main Street in Brockport will ever compare, but the one of the effects of high visibility policing in Washington Square Park—one small piece of the New York City’s intensified effort that I mentioned above—was that arrests went up 300 percent over the course of two years. Seventy percent of those arrests resulted in convictions, curbing the activities of the Big Apple’s bad apples.

In our village there aren’t nearly as many bad apples, of course. But I know from my rural upbringing that it takes but a few to spoil the bunch.

Septemberfest

2008-08-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

It looks like the village may be participating for the second year in what I regard as one of the most inventive events that Brockport has to offer: Septemberfest. If you haven’t heard of it, that’s probably because as annual events go, Septemberfest is in its infancy. Started in 2003, the festival has grown each year to include more and more churches, community groups and organizations.

The goal, according to coordinator Norm Frisch (who’s a heck of guy and a huge supporter of our community—I enjoyed working with him on the promotion of last summer’s visit of the canal schooner Lois McClure) is to promote fun and fellowship. Add that there’s entertainment, food, and games for kids, and it’s hard to top Septemberfest as one of summer’s final festivals.

Septemberfest activities will take place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 13 outdoors at various churches, on parts of State and Erie streets, and at Sagawa Park.

This year, a tip of the hat is in order to Trustee Connie Casteñeda, who will represent the village at the event. Trustee Casteñeda also volunteered her time at Septemberfest last year. So if you’re interested in perhaps filling a vacancies on one of Brockport’s municipal boards, stop down to the village’s table and say hello.

Crosswalk Talk

2008-08-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Motorists in the village will have a hard time not noticing the latest additions to Main Street. That’s precisely the point of the bright yellow pedestrian crossing signs recently set in place.

While this is not the first time such signs have been purchased and installed (thanks to your police and DPW), those of us who are safety conscious or walk Main Street a lot are glad to see them on the roadway again. We need all the help we can get to make it, for example, from Lift Bridge Book Shop over to Java Junction for a cup of coffee to complement a new paperback.

Certainly the signs are no substitute for prudence and common sense, but a federal study concluded that they do work, and better than other devices aimed at keeping pedestrians from intimate introductions to hood ornaments. There’s nothing like a reminder of the state law requiring drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks to get one’s attention behind the wheel. Perhaps that’s why you can find signs like this in some of Monroe County’s other villages, like Spencerport and Pittsford.

For Brockport, it’s a step in the right direction.

National Night Out

2008-08-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite aspects of village living is that it engenders a sense of familiarity and welcome. If you like socializing as much as I do, then villages can’t be beat. Particularly through the summer it seems that opportunities to get together with neighbors and to make new acquaintances are endless. The recent National Night Out, hosted by the Brockport Police, is but one example of the many gatherings that make ours a more close-knit community.

My son, Edison, who is 3, particularly enjoyed being shown around the police station. However, now when I need on occasion to tell Edison “no” for one reason or another, he tells me that he’s going to “put me in jail.”

My 8-month-old daughter, Caelan, didn’t take the tour to heart so much. She was much too busy flashing her baby blues and making new friends, like Police Chief Dan Varrenti, with whom she and I are pictured above. Thanks to the chief and the rest of the members of our police force for an enjoyable evening.

The Farmers' Market: Building on a Good Thing

2008-08-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Since its inception a few years back, Carrie Maziarz has been the heart and soul of the Village of Brockport’s Farmers’ Market. She’s tackled every detail imaginable in orchestrating a relatively complex activity.

For example, shoppers probably don’t realize as they search for the perfect squash or pick a peck of peppers, but ours is one of the few local markets that’s registered with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. This is a feather in Brockport’s cap (or cart, as the case may be) because this registration requires our market to meet different—some say higher—standards than markets that are not registered. We have the former village trustee to thank for this, and for the organizational aplomb that has made it a pleasure for buyers and sellers to come out on Sundays to peruse produce.

While I’m happy to leave it to the market manager to promote the selection and quality, if I were to suggest a slogan for our market, it might be “Get Fresh!” because you likely won’t find better products anywhere around. Those who are market regulars already know this, of course!

Back in June, nearing the end of her term in elected office, Carrie submitted to the board of trustees her plan for succession of the market. Much as we’d like her to, Carrie can’t continue on at the market. With several early Sunday mornings under her belt, she decided back then that it was time for her to focus her considerable energy elsewhere.

What Carrie proposed for the market moving forward is a partnership between the Village of Brockport and the Brockport Merchants’ Association. Each would sponsor the market and contribute to its continued success. While it remains to be seen whether Carrie’s shoes can be filled, I believe as she does that her ideas form the best plan to ensure the stability of the market, and to foster even greater prosperity. I’m not anxious to see her go, but at least I can take comfort in knowing that her vision is to place the market in good hands.

So today, I send a hearty thanks to Carrie Maziarz first for setting up the farmers’ market here in Brockport and also for setting it in the right direction on the eve of her departure.

And if you haven’t already this summer, I hope this Sunday you’ll take a stroll down to Market Street between 8 a.m.-2 p.m. You’ll be glad you did.

Ian is gone, but the blog remains

2008-08-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Of the many efforts put forth by former Village Manager Ian Coyle, one of the most novel and perhaps even innovative was his village manager blog. The blog—the most popular contracted form of “Web log”—came into its own as a powerful way to communicate during Ian's tenure with Brockport. Why? Well, one reason may be that unlike a village, a blog is easy to administer. Another is that a blog’s cost is negligible. However, arguably the greatest strength of a blog is its immediacy: I can share my thoughts in the wink of an eye. To an interested public, I think that’s worth something.

So here I am, posting what I hope will be the first of many messages about my work as a member of the Brockport Village Board of Trustees. Stay tuned…