Island Dispatch, 1998-11-06

              Island DISPATCH r Monday MteMadrieee LARGE CHEESE PIZZA 4-95 TT*T\X In This Issue: NFP Business Spotlight PgB Complete community coverage "As tKe voice of Grand Island" November 6, 1998 20 Pages Vol. 54 No. 30 (716)773-7676 650 FIRST KID ON THE BLOCK - Eight-year old Marian Christie of South Lane was the first to participate in "Kids Vote" last Tuesday on Grand Island. She showed up at Town Hall just a few minutes after the polls opened with her dad Tim. Marian is a second grade student in Mrs. Kasperczak's room at Huth Rd. School. The photo was taken at 6:12 in the morning! (by Gregg Schnitzer) Residents air concerns about 1999 Budget by Rick Forgione After further review, the tax rate on Grand Island as proposed in the 1999 Preliminary Budget,is down 20 cents per thousand from 1998. The decrease was made after number cuts and fine-tuning was done to Supervisor Peter McMahon's original proposal that called for a zero tax increase. However, several Grand Island residents, speaking during a public hearing Monday at Town Hall, recommended that the budget be further reviewed and that the proposed tax decrease should be more. Jim Sharpe, former Town Councilman who has experience working on the Town's Budget, said because of the fact that the Clay Lawsuit was finally paid up last year, the $418,200 implemented in last year's budget for the final payment should be reflective in this year's savings. "If you were to take the current budget and reduce it by the last installment payment of the Clay Lawsuit, $418,200, you would have a 9.7 percent decrease in your current proposed budget, as promised to the people of Grand Island," Sharpe said. "That would reduce the tax rate from $2.49 to $2.07. This would be an additional 22 cent per thousand, on top of the proposed 20 cent reduction proposed tonight. Equaling a total of 42 cents per $1,000." The infamous Clay Lawsuit began over ten years ago when the town's administration fought River Oaks developer Jim Chase's project for Planned Unit Development during its various stages. Chase, who had made a deal with BFI to sell the excavated clay for use as a cap in their landfills, was later stalled by the board who stated that the clay couldn't leave the Island and should be used elsewhere in the community. Because of the delay tactics, the accumulated clay lost its value, which ended the transaction. The Federal Court ruled that the town was guilty of infringing on civil rights, thus no Insurance money could be claimed to pay the $1.5 million, which later ballooned to about $2 million due to attorney fees plus interest. To pay for the debt, the town bonded payments in 1994 and the burden of paying it off was thrown to the taxpayers who saw a total of $360,800, $389,400, $424,400 and $418,200 added to the budget from 1995--1998 respectively. Sharpe said now that the burden has been paid off, that annual payment should no longer be included in the budget which would make the amount of funds needed to be raised to balance the budget less, thus leading to a more severe tax reduction. "I'm merely asking you to honor a promise made to the taxpayers in 1995," Sharpe said. "There has continued on page 6 Islanders pass heated propositions by Vincent Little Two burning political issues on the Island were settled and one Island native failed in his bid to capture the 144 th State Assembly seat when the smoke lifted following Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Islanders made their voices heard loud and clear as the propositions of extending the supervisor's term from two to four years and the abolishment of the Receiver of Taxes office and transferring the duties to the Town Clerk were passed in overwhelming fashion. The unofficial results were 3,375 to 1,509 in favor of increasing the supervisor's term and 3,633 to 1,211 to abolish the Receiver of Taxes office. The propositions, which were at times heated items during town board meetings held over the summer, easily passed once in the hands of voters. Town Supervisor Peter McMahon gave two thumbs up for the victory. "I give credit for the consolidation to Judy Rathman (Conservative Chairman)," said McMahon. "We campaigned on it. I think the vote clearly shows that people want government to be more efficient, do a better job and save money." Referring to the extended supervisor term, McMahon noted it would have a positive effect. "It will be easier for future supervisors to do a better job rather than campaigning," he said. "They'll be able to look at the longer view at what's best for the community and make better decisions." McMahon expressed appreciation for the Islanders who took the time to vote on these important issues. In the race for Assembly, Incumbent Sam Hoyt successfully won his reelection bid by defeating Republican challenger Richard Crawford Jr. Districtwide, Hoyt captured greater than 70 percent of the vote, although the vote was much tighter on the Island. Island native Crawford put up a fierce battle, narrowly losing 3,458 to 3.063. Nonetheless, Hoyt will Contact officials on landclaims, Chamber urges The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce is urging all residents and landowners of Grand Island to call, write, fax or e-mail their elected officials concerning the Seneca Indian land claim. To help residents complete this task with a sense of urgency the Chamber has provided the following letter: "It has come to our attention that the following was recently reported in the Buffalo Evening News by the candidates for leadership of the Seneca Nation; they insist that if Governor Pataki wants to put anything other than casino gambling on the negotiation table, such as taxing goods sold on the reservation to non Indians or the Seneca's land claim on Grand Island, the nation would appeal for intervention by the Federal government. They would consider this bargaining in bad faith. This stance leaves the Grand Island community in an untenable position in hopes of resolving the Seneca Land claim. Once again, we are being put in the middle with no avenue for resolution. We respectfully request your active participation in resolving this issue to elevate the economic hardship experienced by your Grand Island constituents." Elected officials that should be contacted are County Legislator Charles Swanick, 877-3986; State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, 852--2795; State Senator Anthony Nanula, 847-7939; and U.S. Congressman John LaFalce, 284--9976.continued on page 6