Island Dispatch, 2004-10-22

              Island Dispatch a o**mmm®z a Hilliker Retires Pace 10 Vikings Rally Page 20 See Us On The Web ai www.wnypapers.com The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Showers / Mild Is it right? Check the weather on page 30 Phone: (716)773-7676.Fax:(716) 773-7190.E-Mail: NFPNews@clmail.com Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District 60 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers Town learns county will honor snowplowing contract this season by Robin M. Woolson As more bad news keeps coming from County Executive Joel Giambra, there was a bit of sunshine for the town of Grand Island, at least for this upcoming winter season. The Town Board heard from Erie County's Director of Budget, Management and Finance Joseph Passafiume, who reported that in the coming year, the county may not be able to pay the towns and villages for clearing county roads of snow. But thanks to an existing contract, Grand Island appears safe. Currently, the town of Grand Island is reimbursed $167,000 by the county for clearing approximately 34 miles of county highways during the winter months. Supervisor Peter McMahon said that the town highway department plows about 70 miles of town roads. "We have amulti-year contract through April 2005," McMahon said, emphasizing that that contract will be honored through this winter season. But he knows things may change after April. "We have the equipment, the people are already here," McMahon said. He said that many of the town plows have to travel over county roads to get to town roads, and that it doesn't hurt the town to keep the plows down as the crews move about the Island, McMahon. said that should the plowing agreement change in the future, the county would have to look at who would be doing the work. "Those crews would have to School district receives county grant Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick, R-Grand island/Kenmore, provided $3,000 to the Grand Island School District for the purchase of a portable electronic scoreboard for the athletic department, "it's great to be able to make a contribution to the school district," Swanick said. "Sports has such a positive impact on our children and I know the scoreboard will be put to great use for years to come." Grand Island Schools Director of- Athletics John Roth said the scoreboard will be used for the JV and varsity soccer teams and the JV lacrosse team and girls lacrosse team. "Legislator Swanick's generosity benefits our student athletes and we appreciate his efforts in securing this grant," Roth said. Swanick, far left, and Roth, far right, are pictured with the girls varsity soccer team before a game earlier this week. Roth said parent Ann Bionski spearheaded the plan to raise funds for the scoreboard. Gallivan: We're 'in a pickle' by Robin M. Woolson Erie County Executive Joel Giambra has announced that due to the $130 million county budget shortfall attributed to state Medicaid costs, there will need to be some cuts to various services the county offers. According to Giambra, the Sheriff's patrol services provided towns such as Grand Island would be one of those items. Erie County Sheriff Patrick Gallivan said the county's budget director had called these services a "luxury county taxpayers could not afford." "I vehemently disagree," Gallivan said. "I cannot think of anything more important than government's basic duty to provide for the safety of its citizens. Public safety, especially in this day and age, is paramount. It is not a luxury,' rather it is a vital service taxpayers pay for. All taxpayers receive public safety services from the Erie County Sheriff's office. The notion that the current system is unfair is simply not true. We're in a pickle." Gallivan pointed out that county taxpayers currently fund, among other things, $17.7 million for Sheriff's police services and $51.6 million for county jail operations. The police services portion of the budget includes such areas as patrols, narcotics units, aviation and marine units. Of the Sheriff's Department's annual budget, Grand Island's share comprises 2.77 percent of the total monies allocated to the Sheriff's Department. Negative Impact "If the Sheriff's budget is cut, then we need to prioritize services," he said. "When $8.6 million is cut from the budget, it will have a severely negative impact." The biggest impact he sees happening with the budget cuts is that public safety will be put in jeopardy."I have a responsibility as a guardian of this funding to make sure it is properly spent," Gallivan said. "And I am an advocate of public safety. And if we lose money, it affects public safety." Gallivan said the only way the funding for services will return is if the County Legislature takes action. "Call the legislators, call the county executive's office," he said. 'The most important person is the body that appropriates funding for this. Should funding be cut, I would make a plea to the County Legislature to restore the funding." Gallivan said he has met with town supervisors and shares their same concerns. "I am focused on the public safety side of it," he said. continued on page 2 E33 continued on page 2 eg* At a Glance Saturday Community-Wide Child Safety Event Sponsored by the Erie County Sheriff's Department and Pizza Hut Pizza Hut, 2340 Grand Island Blvd. 1 to 4 p.m. ' Tuesday Halloween Stories at the Grand Island Library Ghost stories with Saivatore Bordonaro 1715 Bedell Road 7 p.m. For children ages 6-12 For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web site at www.wnypapers.com Tk_™»«"i I V/Ia f.ifdkndl. 786 Alt Blvd. - Come see this cozy country cape fafe, % J*tt mi— Hf BS -'■"' am Wl JSW LIUU3 IIUIZDaCn backing up to fields. Enjoy a nice walkto West River! 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