Look for my opinions on issues about the Village and the Webster community. And remember if you want to contact me just EMAIL at pelder@villageofwebster.com or elderp2001@yahoo.com. The columns are organized by most recent date of writing

Tracks to the Past
Last summer, my sons and I took a hike up the railroad from North Ave to Holt Rd. With the imminent removal of the rail tracks (they should be gone by late this spring), I wanted to get a ground view of what I had seen on a variety of maps.  It started out more as a strange “Dad” adventure, but ended up with all of us having a great deal of fun and tracking back into the Village’s past.
We started out at North Avenue adjacent to the old Cold Storage Building that is now Climate Controlled Self Storage. Seeking to keep up everyone’s spirit of adventure, we all started skipping from railroad tie to railroad tie, but soon came to the freight depot on the south side of the tracks. We stopped there to look at the foundation and talk about the building. Then we passed some mile-markers, some neat rocks, and crossed over a small culvert with a date carved in the stone from the early 1900’s. We saw discarded tracks and equipment and the signs of deer and small animals along the way. It was a great adventure, but was a like catching a glimpse of a shadow; the area is much different now than it was in its heyday.
To get an idea of what the area looked like, I talked to Rick Walter. He is a regular at our Village Board meetings and has a memory like a steel trap. Ask him a question about the Village, and he can give you a very personal answer: he has lived here almost his entire life. Having grown up on Kircher Park in a home that no longer exists (it was demolished to make way for the Expressway), Rick has vivid memories of going to the railroad station to pick up packages. He remembers the bustle of trains, and freight and people. In its day, those tracks set the pulse of the Village.
This is what former historian Dick Batzing had to say about the area in an article written in 1999:
“The "Webster" station was a center of much activity. The surrounding area had become one of the finest and largest producing orchard regions in the country.  Frequently, in the fall, the rail company was hard pressed to supply sufficient freight cars for apple shipments alone. "John W. Hallauer and Sons Evaporated Fruits" was only one of over 30 "dry houses" in Webster which shipped produce on the rails; thus Webster was called the "Dried Apple Capitol the World." Gottlieb Kittelberger and his two brothers began the Basket Factory along the tracks which in the early 1900's became the largest and most productive basket factory in the world. The Webster Canning and Preserving Co. began as the Curtice Preserving Co. on a spur of the railroad in 1885. Just a few years ago the old preserving company buildings burned to the ground. Nelson Curtice's name continues on even today. The next time you buy a Blue Boy, Silver Floss or Comstock canned product, you' see at the bottom of the can or package in fine print, "Curtice-Burns". If it hadn't been for the railroad there might not have been a CurticeBurns, a Martin Bros. Lumber Co. or a Webster Lumber Co. with its own spur in late years on Holt Road. Certainly the LeFrois Pickling Factory, or the apple vinegar factory, would not have existed without the railroad.”
Over time, though, this area declined and now, a developer is proposing a new project near what will be a recreational trail (an extension of the existing Hojak Line that runs through the Town). The Historical Preservation Commission is spearheading an effort to save the old freight depot (the passenger station was moved in 1972 to the east side of the tracks and is now part of the Toddler’s Workshop Child Care Center). It may mean moving the building to a new location. The effort will certainly require tremendous organization, many volunteers, and funds.
So the next time you are travelling over those tracks on North Ave, take a quick glance to the left and you will see the freight depot there, along those tracks that years ago set the pace for Village commerce.
There are many great stories about out Village. If you have one, do not hesitate to share it with me. Please call me (anytime) at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

Good Neighbors
Last winter, just after a moderate snowfall, a Village resident called me, frantic that her neighbor was plowing snow onto her driveway. The exact location the neighbor was placing snow onto her driveway reduced her mobility and increased the chances she would slip and fall on the way to her car. She had spoken to her neighbor about this (it had not been the first time), but to no avail.
So we had a good conversation and I advised her to call the police and have them speak with the neighbor; she did, and the neighbor stopped plowing the snow into her driveway. The reality is, though, that the Village – or any government – is not very good at making people be neighborly. We can pass laws that try to coerce people, but we have to be careful that the laws don’t shackle all of us because a few of us forget to be neighborly.
Sometimes there are laws that make it illegal to do an activity, but it is very difficult to enforce. For instance, I recently received a note from a Village merchant whose businesses make it necessary for him to have dumpsters. If he does not lock the dumpsters, people illegally dump garbage in them. If he locks them, he inconveniences his customers and people drop their garbage near the dumpster anyway and wind, rain and snow scatter the garbage all over his property. It is tough problem to solve with the law (though it is illegal): continually policing the dumpsters is difficult and expensive. The best solution is the easiest one: people should be neighborly and treat others as they would want to be treated.
So how can we all help each other this winter? We can remember a few important rules.
Please do not plow, push, or blow snow from driveways into the street. Not only does is create a potential danger, but NYS vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits these deposits in a public street.
Please refrain from parking in the street when possible. Village law restricts parking in Village streets between 2:00 am and 6:00 am. This restriction applies throughout the entire year, but its application becomes most critical during the winter months. Parking in the streets during or following snowfall hinders the snow plowing efforts, restricts traffic flow, and increases the potential for accidents.
Please do not park vehicles across the sidewalk. NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibit the parking of vehicles on sidewalks, but more importantly our plows cannot plow the snow from the sidewalks if they are blocked.
If you are following a snowplow or salt truck remember to stay at least 100 feet back as the vehicle will frequently back up.  If you cannot see the driver of the plow – he cannot see you either.
You can also help by shoveling out fire hydrants for neighbors who cannot, being careful where you deposit snow from your snow blower, shoveling paths for letter carriers and shoveling walks for neighbors who just can’t. Winter can be challenging, but it is a great time to get to know the people who live right-next-door.
Every winter, there are numerous examples of neighbors helping neighbors. There are those who snow-blow other driveways, shovel their neighbors walk ways, and plow for free when the snow falls thick and fast. I remember when I was much younger taking the driveway too fast and ending up stuck in a snow bank. It was the neighbors near me that helped extricate my car.
Pass the kindness on! Extend yourself to help your neighbors this winter. If I can assist you with any problems that develop with snowplowing or sidewalks this winter, please call me (anytime) at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

A Treasury of Sights and Sounds
The other night, my wife and I decided to cruise the Village and look at the Christmas lights. House after house in many neighborhoods have beautiful Christmas displays. My neighbor on Dunning Ave is one of those homes that have a beautiful Christmas set-up in their front yard.  Every evening, the group of lighted reindeer, polar bears and snowman illuminates and plays Christmas music. It occurred to me looking at these incredible decorations what a treasury of sights and sounds we have here in the Village.
On Saturday, December 3, about 6000 people attended the White Christmas Festival. Marching in the Festival of Lights parade sponsored by the Fire Department at the head of our Village float, I was amazed by the number of people along the chilly parade route. A few hours earlier, I was up at the four corners helping Business Improvement District President, Tom Spoonhower (owner of Metro Sports), and saw many people enjoying themselves listening to carolers and patronizing our businesses along Main Street. Village Hall had a record number of children waiting to see Santa Claus and ask him for gifts. It was an outstanding event and I extend special thanks to Robin Whitaker of Beyond Cuts for the tremendous work she has done year after year to make the event a success.
The sights and sounds of this Holiday Season did not end on December 3. Two premier Village groups, the Chorus of the Genesee and the Village Band, each held Christmas concerts to the delight of packed crowds. Singing and playing familiar tunes, bringing smiles to faces, these music groups are jewels of our community. The Village Band, as an aside, is entering its forty-fifth year.
Yet another tradition in the Village occurred on December 10th. The lighting of lights at Hanks on North Ave, the chili cook-off, and the fireworks attracted countless people. Fireworks in December? Yes: and what a wonderful show! As our Deputy Mayor Dave Kildal says each year when I see him watching the festivities from Taylor Rental, “What a great event!”
As Christmas Day approaches, may you and yours be blessed this holiday season with all of sights and sounds in our homes, neighborhoods and churches. From all of us here at Village Hall, and from my family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas.
And as always, please call me (anytime) at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com if I can assist you with any Village issue.

The Recipe for a Surplus
The news these days nationally or from the state isn’t very good. Unemployment, budget deficits and spiraling debt seem the order of the day. There is talk of increasing taxes on an already overtaxed people. Governments at these levels seem to have overspent and under planned. The awareness that we need to tighten our belts and do more with less is just dawning on the federal and state governments. Here in the Village, though, we have been aware of that need for some time.
That is why I am very proud to announce that year ending 2011, the Village has posted a surplus of over $300,000 for the General Fund. The General Fund Budget is about 2.5 million so the $300,000 represents about 12% of the budget. The surplus comes from a combination of unanticipated revenue and spending cuts. The Village actually underspent the budget by over $90,000. It is one thing to talk about doing more with less; the Village is doing it. Our budget shows it.
The Village Board has keep a vigilant eye on the budget. 2011 marked the 6th straight year that the tax rate remained the same - $2.22/$1000, keeping us one of the lowest village tax rates in Monroe County. Prior to each meeting as board members rotate in checking every Village invoice, we are constantly looking at ways to keep our costs under control.
If the General Fund is leading the way, the Water Fund is following closely behind. With some restructuring over the last few years, the water fund is showing increasing health. For the year end 2011, it posted a $59,000 increase that covered all operational costs.
Both funds have healthy reserves that will be used as tax and rate stabilization (should we need it). Reserves are your insurance that we can keep the services you have come to expect at a low tax rate.
So what is the recipe for a surplus? Take a generous portion of very skilled and dedicated employees, add an attentive and alert Village Board looking out for the best interests of our taxpayers, spice with some great management from our outstanding department heads, zest with a dash of assistance from our various boards, commissions and community partners and  - presto! – a surplus.
There are ever increasing pressures on the budget, but your Village Board will continue to look for ways to do more with less. If you have any questions about the budget, please call me at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

Village of Webster: Open for Business
As I was visiting businesses at the Village Sidewalk Sale in September, I was delighted to meet Michele Ladd of the Ladd Agency at 5 West Main Street. She had recently moved her business to the Village and we discussed some of the unique aspects of her realty program including the Heroes Home Advantage Program that provides various discounts to service members who are purchasing a home.
Michele is part of a quiet movement happening in the Village. New businesses are establishing themselves in the Village each month and providing a huge variety of goods and services. The owners seem to looking for smaller shops, lower overhead costs, and great location. The Village offers a great climate for success.
There are more examples of new businesses that have opened recently such as Barry's Old School Irish Pub, Cafe & Bakery located at 2 West Main Street. I had the honor a few weeks ago to cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Ceremony of this great new eatery in the Village. The Barry family name may sound familiar to those of you that have dined at the Crescent Beach Hotel in Greece. Danny Barry carries on the outstanding tradition of quality food and service.
Moving down the same side of the West Main Street, the D’Amicos have opened a new consignment type shop in the old Netzman’s building. For those of us that like antiques and curiosities, it is a great place to wander around. Even though the sign says “Garage Sale,” the business is really a mixed menagerie of items that will appeal to everyone.
Next down the block there is a new tanning salon and Webster Gourmet. Walt from Webster Gourmet provides discerning customers with specialty foods from top notch brands. The store has a large selection of sauces, jellies, butters, and much more.
And that is just West Main Street!
Travel north passed the Expressway, look left at the corner of Kittleberger Park and you will see Mark’s Alignment and Break Service. While the beautiful building is new, Mark’s has deep roots in the Village. For over 25 years, the business was located at 185 North Avenue providing high quality service. After the owners at that location put forward a new development plan, Mark Depaolis made the decision to keep his Alignment and Break Service in the Village and moved just a little south to the new location at 166 North Ave.
Mark’s decision was a ringing endorsement of the Village of Webster and just another example of why the Village is a great place to have a business.
If you have any questions about opening a business in the Village or want to know more about the businesses we have, please call me at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

An Outstanding Halloween in the Village
2011 Halloween in the Village on Saturday, October 29th was a huge success. This was my fifth year of coordinating the event. I have never seen such a huge crowd at the costume contest. Hundreds of people were walking down East and West Main Streets and North Avenue from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm. The event wagon that shuttles people from one location to another was seldom empty throughout the day.
Over fifty merchants participated in the Trick-or Treat Trail. Each deserves a note of thanks for their willingness to remain open and inviting on Saturday. Their efforts bring people into our Village to see our wonderful stores and neighborhoods.
These particular businesses should be singled out because of their sponsorship of the Costume Contest: Hegedorns Bakery, Lincoln Printing, Fox Fruit Farms, Metro Sports Brokers, Yesterday’s Muse Bookstore, The Goodie Shoppe, Noto Fruit Farm & Cider Mill, Performance Hobbies, Webster Gourmet, Kittelberger Florist, The Art Stop, Mane Reflections, Rubinos, Golden Boys, Marks Pizzeria, Beyond Cuts, Hanks Ice Cream & Roast Beef Sandwiches, A Barkers Dozen, Hatters Pub and Game Craze. These businesses contributed the wonderful prizes and great food.
Starting the day was the traditional Costume Contest in the Village Meeting Hall. The room was jam packed with parents and children having fun. Judging the great costumes may be the hardest job of all, so I would like to thank former Mayor Bill Ruoff, Town Justice David Corretore, and Village Trustee Christine Reynolds for being our costume judges in 2011. Thanks also to Village Trustee Jude Lancy and everyone’s favorite columnist, Carol Klem, for checking in all of the children. From a flower pot to a Pac-Man, the costumes were outstanding.
This year, Halloween in the Village was expanded with the addition of a pet costume contest. Gabriella Martinez from the Barker’s Dozen organized this event. A parade of pets started at the Village Hall, extended down West Main to North Avenue and ended in the in the Veterans Memorial Park. Over 30 pet owners took part and prizes were awarded for best costumes.
Finally, as a cool evening took hold, the Business Improvement District sponsored a great Halloween movie. It was wonderful to see people turnout to our new scary movie in the Park.
I must recognize the two people that did so much to assist with the organization of the event this year. Ann Marie Champagne, from our Village Office, is the driving force each year behind the Costume Contest. Annmarie does everything from stuffing bags with prizes, to decorating, to arranging for food. She also makes sure that the Village is prepared to participate in the Trick-or-Treat Trail. My wife, Pam, each year helps sign merchants up for the Trick-or-Treat Trail and spends the entire day making sure people safely get on and off our Halloween wagon. To her I extend the deepest thanks because without her, I could not do all that we must do.
Halloween in the Village was a huge success, but there is more to come this Fall and Winter in the Village. This Friday, November 11 the Village will host the Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans’ Memorial Park at 11:00am. Please come and share in this solemn ceremony thanking our veterans for their service to our nation.
If you have any questions about the Village or our events, please call me at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

Autumn Reminders
The Village of Webster has burst into color! The tree lined thoroughfares of our beautiful residential neighborhoods are putting on their best display of Autumn majesty. But as those leaves begin to flutter downward, I would like to take note of a few autumn reminders in this week’s column.
Leaf pickup has begun and will continue on a daily basis until the beginning of December or until the first heavy snowfall. The Public Works Department will traverse each Village Street once a week to remove the leaves from the curb. To help make leaf pickup easier for yourself and our DPW staff we request you: do not place brush, rocks, pumpkins, wood, plastic, or other foreign material with your leaves; do not bag your leaves; do not place leaves on top of drainage structures, concrete, gutters or drainage ditches and do not place leaves in the roadway.
The Flushing Program for Fall 2011 will begin at 10:00 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011. The crew will set out to flush the hydrants slowly in an effort to minimize discoloration for our water customers. We would like to thank our residents in advance for their patience and understanding while the Water Department staff performs this essential service to our water system.
Typically, hydrant flushing takes between 10 days and two weeks to complete and our department will be working between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am when there is less demand on the water system.
Targeted dates & locations are listed on the website www.villageofwebster.com.  Please note that due to variations in hydrant flow, these dates are approximate. In order to ensure this program is a success, some hydrants may take longer to flush.  We encourage you to continue to check the website to see if there have been changes made to the schedule or call the Water Department at 265-3789.
Due to this hydrant flushing some of our residents may experience a temporary discoloration in their water even if the hydrants in your area were not flushed out the night before. Your water will remain bacteriologically safe for normal uses and consumption. 
If you should happen to experience discoloration in your water, open the cold water faucet and let the water run for a few minutes and it should clear up.  If your water should remain discolored, or if you should experience any other problems, please contact the Water Department during normal business hours at (585) 265-3789.  After hours or on weekends, please call (585) 265-3770 ext 30.
Finally, don’t forget Halloween in the Village this Saturday, October 29. The costume contest will begin at 11:00am. The results of the Village’s scarecrow contest will be announced at the beginning of the costume contest. The Trick-or-Treat Trail will be held from 11:30am to 3:00pm. Ride the Trick-or-Treat wagon from North Avenue to Main Street. The pet parade will be at 12:30pm with judging at the Veteran’s Memorial Park at 1:00pm. The Webster Museum will be open and, weather permitting, the Adam’s Family movie will be shown in the Veterans Memorial Park at 6:30pm.
Autumn is a busy time in the the Village of Webster. If you have any questions about the Village, please call me at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

Halloween in the Village
Enjoy Halloween in the Village this year on Saturday, October 29. Watch the changing colors of our leaves, the fresh scents of autumn, and the many stores along Main Street and North Avenue.
Begin your day at the Farmer’s Market, behind the Baptist Church in the Village parking lot, near the fire station. Choose from the huge selection of crafts, baked goods and produce available for sale.
Take a short walk from the Farmers Market up to the Village Community Meeting Hall, 29 South Ave, at 11:00am, where the Village is holding our annual costume contest. Join your neighbors for cider and donuts. Costume judging will begin at 11:30am. There will be several different categories of judging on the costumes including scariest, most original and family. Prizes are provided by many of our local businesses.
As the costume contest winds down, Trick-or-Treat Trail through the Village will begin. Starting at 11:30am, stroll Main Street and South Avenue. Take a look at the scarecrows put together by our local merchants and Village Hall. Visit our participating merchants with a bright orange pumpkin in the window for treats. You can take a ride on the BID Festival Wagon that will travel on Main Street and North Ave stopping at regular intervals to allow travelers to get on and off.
This year, as you begin the Trick-or-Treat Trail, you might see a parade of pets making its way down Main Street to the Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Av. The pet parade will begin at 12:30pm and end at the Gazebo where judging for scariest and most original pet costumes will occur at 1:00pm.
Don’t forget to stop off at the Webster Museum at 18 Lapham Park, where there will be special events from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm including games, puzzles, contests and treats.
The day won’t truly be over until you experience our newest addition to Halloween in the Village: a movie in the park at night. Starting at 6:30pm, the Village Business District will host a showing of the Addams Family, weather permitting.
This is my sixth year coordinating Halloween in the Village and this year there is more to experience than ever. Enjoy this great Fall event in the Village. Join me on Saturday, October 29th. See you there!
The Village of Webster is a place where things just keep getting better. If you have any questions about the Village, or would like more information on Halloween in the Village, please call me at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com.

Prosperous Village, Prosperous Town
Supervisor Nesbitt and I were meeting a few weeks ago about the joint trail project the Village and Town Boards have been collaborating on. The Village and Town have been working closely together with County Legislators Carmen Gumina and Dan Quatro in purchasing and then removing the railroad tracks from Holt Road to Phillips Rd and then establishing a recreational trail.
As we discussed the project timeline, the Supervisor looked up at me and said, matter-of-factly, that he thought this project would be a huge asset to the Village and that it was important to him because a “Prosperous Village is important to keep a Prosperous Town.”
The Village is truly a unique community that exists within the larger Webster community. Having a working and successful relationship with the Town is a critical part of the Village’s success. The two governments are interwoven in mutual agreements from tax concessions to shared services. Together, we have cut costs and eliminated inefficiencies.
Every other month, the Village and Town Boards have a joint meeting to discuss issues of common concern. These meetings help keep each government informed of what the other is doing. Some of the recent topics at our meetings have been the joint trail system, the combined sewer outfall pipe, and sidewalk plowing. The Boards also discuss other large issues impacting each municipality.
This past Saturday, I was honored to be at the podium as the Supervisor officially opened the new Town Community Center. Sitting alongside of me was Town Council members Randy Nelson, Bill Abbott, Patti Cataldi and Barry Deane, Town Parks and Recreation director Mark Yaeger, County Executive Maggie Brooks and Senator Mike Nozzolio. It may have been a dank day outside, but inside, the crowd was awed by this fantastic building and inspired by the services it will provide to all of us.
In his remarks, the Supervisor spoke of the strong partnership between the Village and Town. It is worth remembering that the Town Community Center has always been near the Village. On the way to the Farmer’s Market after the event, I measured the distance from the Community Center to the Village Line to be just a few hundred feet. That short distance is a symbol of our close partnership.On behalf of the Village, I extend our congratulations to the Town on their incredible new facility.  If you have any questions or comments on any Village issues, contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com

Improving Access for All of Us
When my parents bought their home in the Village about 40 years ago, I remember fondly walking the front steps that paralleled the slope in our front yard up to the three front steps that lead into the house. It seemed fun then to climb that slope (my sons still like it). We used that route to enter the house every day, to take groceries inside, to go back and forth from the driveway. Forty years ago, my father navigated those steps without a problem. Now, though, I notice the steps have become a more challenging impediment. It is with careful strides that he walks up each one. Someday, my siblings and I may improve that walk for him by smoothing it out, maybe building a makeshift ramp or finding other, safer ways to access his home.
Thinking about those types of examples, Village Board approved the creation of the Seniors and Disabled Committee in 2008. This citizens committee has three main tasks: (1) to assist in identifying and defining the needs of seniors and the disabled; (2) to assist in reviewing the nature and priorities of services necessary to meet the needs of the aging and the disabled; and (3) to assist with public information, legislative and educational efforts and community outreach regarding the needs of seniors and the disabled.
I have attended a number of meetings of this Committee; Trustee Balcaen is the Village Board liaison to the group. The Committee is structured to have five members, one of which is appointed as Chair. The present chair of the Committee is Jean Manno.
Under her careful guidance, the Committee has taken on a number of projects. Perhaps you may have seen Jean out on Main Street examining our sidewalks. She has been of great assistance in marking sections that may need to be filled or replaced so that everyone can enjoy easier mobility.
The group has helped identify better locations for handicap parking spaces and has worked with the Village in identifying crosswalks that can be improved. Under her leadership, the Committee held a seminar to discuss ways that public businesses can improve their accessibility and how they can take advantage of grants and low interest loans that are available.
Right now, the Committee is examining the ramifications of the “Complete Streets” bill that was recently passed by New York State. This bill in intended to help make streets safer and more accessible to everyone in our community.
The Seniors and Disabled Committee is yet another example where Village residents have become involved in Village government and improved the quality of life for everyone. If you are interested in joining the Committee or have your own suggestions for improving access to public facilities, contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. 

An Exciting Autumn Awaits
Did you know that over 7000 people came into the Village this Summer? From the Jazz Fest to Village Days to Shakespeare in the Park, the Village of Webster was the place to be this summer. But there is more to come this Fall. 
This Sunday the Village will hold a commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The Village has held an event to reflect on the attack, tragedy and heroism of 9/11 every year since that infamous day in 2001. This year, the Webster Fire Department will be gathering together local first responders who will process to the Veterans Memorial Park. With speeches, inspiring music and solemn ceremony, I invite you to come and reflect on the lessons of 9/11 this Sunday at 2:00pm..
The day before we gather in the Park, the Farmer’s Market will be celebrating First Responders Day on September 10 in honor of the police, firefighters, ambulance personnel and others that are protecting us each and every day. Each first responder will receive a free bag of apples. You can also take in the sounds of the Village Band on Saturday at the Farmers Market from 11:00am-Noon.
About two weeks later, the Village will host the All-American Soap Box Derby. This event will feature races down Barrett Drive and will be all day Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th until about 4:30pm. Webster has the second greatest number of participants in the regional soap box derby group.
Finally, don’t forget Trick-or-Treat Trail and Halloween Costume Contest that will be held on Saturday, October 29th. It has been my pleasure to organize this combined Village and BID Event since 2005. This year, there will be additional events in the Veterans’ Memorial Park and along Main Street.  
More details about Village events can be found either by going to VillageofWebster.com or WebsterBid.com. You can also call Village Hall during business hours at 265-3770. If you have any questions about our events, you can also contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com

Thank you, John                                                                                                    Each day John Huther walks by our Veterans’ Memorial Park here in the Village. Each day, as a former member of the Armed Forces, I know John thinks about the meaning of the Park, perhaps even looking down at the bricks there that surround the base of the Memorial stone. Those bricks record the names and service dates of many individuals that served our nation. I suppose it must have been on one of those occasions that John looked up at the flag fluttering there at the park and realized that he could make a contribution to our community. And he did.On the night of July 28 at our Village Board meeting, John donated a very special American Flag. John is a very humble person. He only wished to present me with the flag and leave the Board room. Fortunately, I was able to stop him and get the story of this flag on tape and therefore into our Village Board minutes. And this is what John said: “I was a crew member on helicopters, and it’s common practice to suspend a flag in the back of your aircraft in the cargo area. That flag spent its service life from January 1996 until December 1996 above army 904 which is a UH-60 Blackhawk. It flew over 320 flight hours in multiple occasions a thousand feet into North Korea while in flight corridors. It flew over Camp Casey on multiple occasions at 16,500 feet, on oxygen, for a pair of drop operations and three para-operations where we were armed to the teeth in case something happened. And the Secretary of State at the time, I don’t remember if it was Madeline Albright or another, but she was in our aircraft too. But that flag has seen a lot of history, and I’m proud that it will spend the rest of its serviceable life in your care.”We are even more proud to have it. On behalf of the Village Board, I thank John Huther for his service. He reminds us of the great good that can be done by even one individual in our community. The American Flag that he generously donated will fly at the 9/11 ceremony, to be held at 2:00pm this year in Veterans’ Memorial Park. As always, if you have any questions about Village government or our events, please contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions. 

Village Days – 10 years later
This week, I am starting this column by taking you back into the past. Ten years ago, the Village had just elected a new Mayor and Mayor Ruoff was writing a column called the “Village Corner.” (His efforts, in many ways set the tone for my columns today). Back then, about this time, he wrote a column about Village Days with Dick Batzing, then Village Historian. With Village Days coming up this year on August 12th and 13th, it is a great time to look back at this event.  
So quoting Mayor Ruoff and former historian Dick Batzing:
“Webster Village Days began some 50 years ago when Leland Flora of the Pennysaver and Em Suter from the Style Shop promoted Side Walk Sales, and eventually Good Neighbor Days evolved in the Village. They were joined by the Johnvilles of Hills Jewelry and Smith & Lotze, who put overstock items for sale in front of their stores. Netzmans, Ruth Thorpe at the Book Store, Rosemary Burdlck at the Webster Office Supply Store, The Bicycle Shop, and Mary Pantas of Creations for Celebrations offered bargains on the sidewalk.”
“The Webster Chamber of Commerce soon became involved and the village and town gave money to promote activities in the village. When the cost of promotion increased the Xerox Corp. added support. This enabled the Good Neighbor Days to include music, dancing in the street and entertainment. Spaces along Main Street were rented to vendors; churches, and non-profit organizations were originally given space.”
“Later, several fraternal organizations such as the Lions Club and Webster Masonic Lodge began selling food along, the street. As Good Neighbor Days events grew in size, volunteers alone could no longer handle the leadership. Sally Heiligman and Joyce Rice, who worked for the Chamber, coordinated the events for several years. Dave Bills ran the Good Neighbor Days for four years beginning in 1989. He was followed by Phil Sinagulia and Art Simmons in 1993 and finally by Charles Sexton, who became chairman in 1997.”
Mayor Rouff’s column continues that the name of the festival has changed over the years, and even the location was sometimes changed. By 2001, at the time Mayor Ruoff wrote the column, the festival was renamed “Village Days” and the name has stayed that way since. That same year, the new BID (Business Improvement District) took over organizing the festival and still does. As a BID event, Village Days retains many features of those same events in the late nineties: music, street events, vendors, demonstrations, food, and fun. The event is paid for by a combination of ad revenue, BID revenue, vendor fees, and Village labor support.
This year, on Friday the 12th from 5:00 to 11:00 pm, there will be a super food court near the Veterans Memorial park featuring the Brimont Catering Corp and Deli, Prime Steak House, Hatter's Pub, The Coach and many more. Brass Taxi will be the featured band. On Saturday the 13th the festival will be from 9:30am to 4:00pm and feature crafters, artists, vendors, a kids play area (bounce house) on Main Street and at the Veterans’ Memorial Park. Prime Time Brass will play from Noon to 1:00pm. There will be a Model Airplane Flying Contest from 1:00-2:00pm sponsored by Performance Hobbies. The Chorus of the Genese will sing at the Park from 2:15-3:15pm. The Fabulous Bullheads will perform from 5:00-7:00pm and Guy Smiley from 8:00-11:00pm.
Also remember that this Saturday is Village of Webster Days at the Farmers Market with two special raffles: one a $20.00 gift certificate from Golden Boys Restaurant and “Mayor’s Raffle” of one of the new Webster History Books. There is also a great selection of fresh produce, crafters and music.
Don’t forget that the Village of Webster will have its first “Open House” from 1:00-4:00pm. The Village Board invites you to come see the changes to our office, have the kids sit in some of the DPW vehicles and talk to myself and the Village Trustees.
Like Mayor Ruoff a decade ago, I “extend a warm welcome” to everyone to come out to Webster Village Days. If you have any questions, please contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

Village Board Meeting Conduct - Comments I made before the last Village Board Meeting. Before we continue with our regular business tonight, I would like to address a concern that several Board Members and residents have voiced about our last
meeting. It involves basic conduct for our Village Board Meetings. First, let me be clear: I am a huge proponent of people speaking at Village Board meetings. So much so that I do not really even ascribe to the notion of time limits for speakers. However, these meeting are, at their core, BUSINESS meetings. The five Board members gather to conduct Village Business. Each of us was elected to do that. Our job is to move through an agenda and get the Village’s business done. We can not do that if there are disruptions during the meeting. I would like to remind everyone of the resolution that was passed at the Organizational Meeting. It is:    Meeting Conduct: Residents and guests are welcome at all public board meetings. Visitors will be recognized to address the Board on any topic during the meeting and may speak under “Visitors, Guests and Residents.” The Mayor reserves the right to limit the time anyone speaks to the Village Board and viewing audience to five minutes on each subject matter. The speaker must approach the podium to be heard. No shouting from the audience will be permitted.  These are not arbitrary rules. They are meant to keep the meetings orderly. As Mayor, I Chair these meetings and am responsible for enforcing basic rules of decorum. Perhaps I have been lax in doing so. I will be no longer.
I encourage any of you to address the Board at the beginning of the meeting. I encourage any resident to call me, email me or contact me or any of the Trustees between meetings.
But during meetings, I will ask those of you that whisper to others to please remove yourselves to the hallway. I will ask you to not to interrupt members of this Board. I would remind Board members (including myself) to refrain from have a dialogue with members of the audience. And finally, I would remind members of the audience to direct their comments to the entire Board, not individual board members and certainly not to other members of the audience.
The five Board members were elected to represent the residents of the Village and conduct Village business. That is exactly what we will continue to do.

Call Us - New Village Board Call-In

One of the most important aspects of local government is your ability as a resident to have direct access to your local elected officials. There are many times when I have spoken to residents in the grocery store or at the bank, or shopping in one of our local businesses or even when my wife and I are out taking a walk. The Trustees on the Village Board have very similar experiences.

The input from residents helps shape the perspectives that the five of us on the Village Board bring to each Village Board meeting. It is at each meeting that we, your elected representatives, gather to discuss Village business. We are not holding these meetings three hundred or one thousand miles away. We meet and make decisions right here, just down the street.

If you come to a meeting, you can give your opinion on any matter at the beginning of the meeting during the “open to the floor” time. Sometimes, you can also offer your opinion if we hold a public hearing. Public hearings are required for very specific items under New York State Law; for instance, the enactment of a local law. Most items that Board considers are not subject to a public hearing and are considered and debated as resolutions; for instance, the payment of bills.

There are probably times, though, where you just can’t attend a meeting. You can still watch the meeting on Cable Channel 12 or by accessing them through our website: VillageofWebster.com. You can also now participate from home by calling in to the Village Board meeting at the end of each second meeting of every month. We will be starting this practice on July 28th at the conclusion of our normal agenda. You will need to call 265-3770 and wait for a few rings and then you can give your comments or ask a question. The Town has done a call-in for a years; it was time the Village did as well.

Don’t forget our summer events! You can check our Village website, go to WebsterBid.com, call Village Hall, or call me to get more information.

Otherwise, if you have any questions or concerns about Village government, you can contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

A Smile on Every Face

Last Saturday night, Glenn Cooke and I were reflecting on the tremendous success of this year’s Jazz Festival. Glenn is the Economic Director of WCCED – the Webster Community Coalition for Economic Development. As the last band wrapped up (after giving an encore performance), Glenn turned to me and said that “This is a great event. There is a smile on every face.”

I thought about that. From Thursday to Saturday, the Village hosted over 4000 people. Whether it was the Village Band concert, the Concert in the Park, the Farmers Market or the Jazz Festival, smiles abounded last week. It was a perfect opportunity to showcase our wonderful Village, its shops, restaurants, and neighborhoods.

There is more to come this week. The Webster Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival is from Wednesday to Saturday at the Firemen’s Field. The carnival gets underway at 6:30pm (1:00pm on Saturday). There will be a Kiddie Parade on Wednesday night with registration starting at 6:00pm at Spry Middle School and the parade beginning at 7:00pm. The route of the Kiddie Parade is through our Village neighborhoods. The Firemen’s Parade is on Thursday night from Phillips Road to the Firemen’s Field. The parade is the premier event of the season. The Village Board started marching in the parade last year and we will be doing the same this year. Look for all the great groups, including the Webster Marching Band and the huge array of fire trucks from just about every fire department in our region.

As the throngs of people jam Main Street they will be participating in one of the oldest gatherings in the Village. If you are one of them, just take a moment to reflect on the generations of people who have stood where you are looking at the groups parading before them. Stretching back into the past, our community reaffirms that the Village is the heart of our Town.

The Village Board is looking at making sure that the pulse is a strong one. The revitalization of Main Street and the business district is a major theme of the new Comprehensive Plan that the Village Board is reviewing right now. Glenn Cooke led the effort to produce the Main Street Revitalization Plan which is contained in the Comprehensive Plan. Part of the effort to revitalize Main Street is the effort to market it as a showcase for our community. We still have work to do, but Glenn is right: whatever we do, we want you to enjoy the Village, revel in our events, and leave with a smile on your face.

Don’t forget the fireworks Saturday at midnight at the Fireman’s Field! If you have any questions or concerns about Village government or need more information about our summer events, you can contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

A Look at Summer in the Village

Would you join me here in a summer stroll through the Village? Let’s take a written look at everything that is and will be happening in the next few months.

Sometimes we miss the steady beat of day-to-day work that keeps the Village humming along. Starting this spring and continuing into the Fall, our dedicated employees are working on projects like the resurfacing and rehabilitation of Hawley Drive and the municipal parking lot behind Village Hall. Sidewalk sections will be replaced in many different sections of the Village. There will be micropaving occurring over in the Wilmorite tract and a new basketball court built in Wilmorite Park. Projects like these take weeks in some cases, but result in a better quality of life for our Village residents.

Passing down Main Street, you can also see another feature that sets the Village apart. The beautiful hanging flower baskets and flower beds are maintained each morning by our DPW crew. In addition, our six Village parks will continue to be groomed throughout the summer (check out the gorgeous roses at Veteran’s Memorial Park). The Village also has a Street Tree Program where we examine the hundreds of trees the Village owns and evaluates whether they require trimming or even removal or replanting.

So after we walk through all that bustling municipal activity throughout the Village, we can appreciate just some of the hard work that goes into making the beautiful background for our wonderful summer events. So, here is a great guide you can use to know the What, Where and When for these events and festivals:

Village Band 7:00pm Harmony Park Thu: June 30; July 7, 28; Aug 4,18,25
Farmers’ Market 8:00am-12:30pm, behind Baptist Church Sat: till Nov 5
Fireman’s Carnival 6:00pm (1:00 pm Saturday), Fireman’s Field Wed-Sat: July 13-16
Fireman’s Parade 6:30pm, Phillips Rd to Fireman’s Field Thu: July 14
Friday Night Concerts 7:00pm, Veteran’s Memorial Park Fri: July 8, 22, 29
Jazz Festival 5:00-10:00pm, West Main Street Sat: July 9
Movies in the Park About 9:00-10:30pm,  Veterans Memorial Park Tues: July 12, 19, 26; Aug 2, 9 ,16
Garden Tour 1:00-4:00pm Sat, July 16th
Village Days 9:00am-4:30pm,  West Main Fri & Sat: August 12th  and 13th
Shakespeare in the Park 8:30pm, Veterans Memorial Park Wed-Sun: August 24th to 28th

Have a safe and happy Independence Day! It is a great time to remember the freedom we all enjoy. If you have any questions or concerns about Village government or need more information about our summer events, you can contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

Checks and Balances

Over the last fifteen months, there must have been a spelling error in this column. There would have been more if I did not have someone proof the spelling and grammar for me. I am sure that you have had the same need at some point for someone to “check your work.” We all do. And we need it in Village government, too.

For about eight years, the Village adopted a model of a combined title of Clerk/Treasurer. After careful review, the Board and I decided to abandon that model and instead have a Clerk and a Treasurer (separate people). This was not in response to any wrong-doing in the office or any impropriety. It was a response to the Board’s desire to have internal checks and balances firmly in place within the office itself.

The Village Clerk, under New York State Law has a variety of functions. In many villages, including our own, those responsibilities grow. However, at the very basic level, the Clerk must maintain custody of Village laws, records, reports and communications; act as clerk of the Board of Trustees; transmit an order to the Treasurer directing them to pay claims passed by the Village Board; collect taxes; and keep written notices of any infrastructure problems within the Village.

The Treasurer also has many statutory duties and the Board may assign more responsibilities. The Treasurer maintains custody of all moneys belonging to the Village and keeps account of all receipts and expenditures; deposits all moneys within ten days receipt; signs checks; files with the Village Clerk within sixty days after the fiscal year a statement showing in detain all revenues and expenditures during the previous fiscal year and the outstanding indebtedness of the Village.

Reading those job descriptions, it is easy to see how these offices provide checks and balances. The Clerk receives the money; the Treasurer records and expends it after receiving a directive from the Clerk and approval by the Village Board. The Mayor oversees both and in that capacity, also should examine or have the Trustees examine, every bill.

With better checks and balances and better oversight we will create greater confidence in the way Village government is run. We had a good system previously: now it will work even better. The Trustees and I agree that our job is to constantly improve how Village government works and to improve your ability to understand what we do. Our employees reflect that dedication to improvement and we see their outstanding quality work every day whether through new initiatives in the office or through new projects out and about in the Village (but more about that next week).

If you have any questions or concerns about Village government or some of the changes the Board is making, you can contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

That’s the Way We’ve Always Done It

But not necessarily anymore.

We all need anchors that connect us to the tried, true and comfortable. Where we live, our families, the friends we keep, the foods we eat, and the habits we have remind us every day of the continuity of life. In many ways those habits and way of looking at things are good. We might not even remember why we do something a certain way. It is just the way it is.

Sometimes, though, the way we’ve always done it isn’t good enough. We recognize we can do better, do more, work harder, make changes. The Village Board is recognizing that right now. Over the last three months, especially since our discussions on the 2011-2012 budget, we have begun a thorough review of how Village government is run. While some of the changes are budget driven, others are policy decisions. What it amounts to is greater oversight of Village government by the Village Board.

At the Organizational Meeting in April, the Village Board began this process of review by changing and setting new policies for vacation time, compensatory time, and educational benefits for non-union employees. Maximum levels were set for the amount of vacation time and compensatory time which may be earned. Educational benefits were capped at $1,500 for each employee with the requirement of pre-approval for any class taken. That last change allowed the Village Board to transfer about $10,000 to other lines within the budget.

The Village Board also voted to engage the services of the New York State Comptroller’s Office in a pre-audit, best practices review. Let me be clear: there is no evidence of any wrong-doing in the Village financial processes. However, the Board believes we can do better and wants the opinions and directives of the Comptroller’s Office.

At the April 28th meeting of Village Board, the issue of salary increases for Village employees was addressed. In the past, if an employee was given a satisfactory performance review, they were told they would receive a salary increase. The new policy passed by the Village Board makes all performance reviews just recommendations to the Village Board. The Board must then review the recommendations and pass the increase. All employees that directly report to the Village Board will be reviewed by the Board.

The Board also passed a comprehensive salary schedule for all non-union employees (union employees already have their own step system). In the past, all employees received an automatic cost of living increase and any employee that received a satisfactory review would get a 3% merit increase. This would actually adjust all of the steps upwards meaning any new employees would be hired at a new, higher salary. The new salary schedule keeps the steps fixed and moves the employee along them. As the employee’s salary increases, they attain a higher step rating and eventually reach a maximum salary for their title.  As they reach that maximum, their supervisor would recommend they test for another title. The hope is that this system will create an incentive for our employees to get titles commensurate with their responsibilities.

As part of the adoption of the new salary schedule, the Board set each salary for our non-union employees, including ourselves. All salaries had to be fixed on the new salary schedule. The increases given were less than had been given in previous years. The greatest increase for an existing title was 2.1%. Some employees will not receive a salary increase until we establish new titles and duties.

From the very beginning of our discussions on salaries, the Board recognized that we would also be part of any salary review. When the new salary schedule was completed, the existing salary amounts were not available so, per the new policy, we rounded down to the nearest step and REDUCED our salaries by 1.9%.

The hardest decision of all, though, was the appointment of a Village Clerk. For almost ten years, Kathy Vendel served in the position of Clerk/Treasurer. Last Thursday, the Board decided to change course and accepted my appointment of Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Dorothea Ciccarelli as Village Clerk. The duel title will be dropped and a new Treasurer appointed soon

There should be no implied meanings read into the change of Village Clerk. Though the Board is thoroughly reviewing the workings of Village government, we have yet to find anything that points to impropriety. In fact, we extend our thanks to Kathy for her service and wish her well on her future endeavors. At the same time, we welcome Dorothea to her new position and offer her our support.

Changes are afoot! The way we have always done it, may not be the way we do it anymore. As your representatives, the Board will remain vigilant. As Mayor, my responsibility is to direct Village government and implement the resolutions of the Board. I also welcome your comments and suggestions to make Village government more efficient and effective.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me (anytime) at (585) 662-9906; or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com. I will be happy to provide you with answers to your questions.

2011 State of the Village Address

Neighbors and Friends,

Last year at this time, I spoke about the importance of hard work. I promised you that this Village government - this Board - and I - would work as hard as we could to keep our Village a place Where Life is Worth Living.

I am proud to report that over the last year, I have confirmed what I already thought - that our Village is a tremendously vibrant place with dozens of groups and hundreds of people striving to make it better. It is the partnerships we form that move us forward – the common goals that make progress. We may not always agree, but look what we accomplish: marvelous festivals attracting thousands of people to this Village; parks that are improving year to year, new businesses locating on our Main Street, residential neighborhoods that are second to none. When we roll up our sleeves and work together nothing really seems impossible.

The last year has seen many accomplishments including the expansion of our Business Improvement District, the completion of our design element document (which will soon be given to the Village Board), the completion of a Water Report, the posting of Village meetings online and the installation of more signs to identify our parks. Of course, there are even more essential projects, the repaving of Corning Park, for instance, or the installation of new water mains, or the continued efficiencies we reap at the sewer treatment plant. 2010 was also the first year in many years where development in the Village resulted in an increase in assessed valuation.

Tonight, for the sixth time in as many years, the Board will consider keeping the Village tax rate stable at $2.22 per thousand. At a time where municipalities from the State level down are struggling to maintain even the most basic services, we have been able to protect our tax payers and enhance our services. In this tough economy, you will paying the about the same Village taxes as you paid last year. The 2011-2012 budget continues the tradition by being even leaner than its predecessors.

We will do more with less. We will work harder with what we have. Village government must set the example moving to the future that government must be limited in its scope but expansive in its vision.

What is that vision?

Within the next 60 days, the new Comprehensive Plan, a product of over two years of toil from an outstanding group of Village residents, will be before the Village Board for consideration. The Plan contains the kernal for an even more vibrant Village with recommendations for new land use patters, traffic, woodlot conservation, parks, sidewalks, pedestrian access, parking, commercial development, and much more. In that same time period, we will begin to review the recommendations of the water department analysis of the Water Report to come up with a master plan for the future of Village water.

But in addition to those issues, we must also work to address the vacant storefronts within the Village, expand access to Village Board meetings through a home audience call-in, work to reduce graffiti, especially in our parks, and work with the Business Improvement District to beatify the BID sign on North Ave and the Village business corridor in general.

In a few minutes, the Village Board will begin our Organizational Meeting by making appointments and designations. In the midst of that, you will hear a list of organizations that Village Board members are liaison to. It is a long list - a long list of partners to help improve our community.

But the longest list of partners are you, our residents. This Village Board - the Mayor and Trustees – and all of our village employees – pledge our work on your behalf.  We welcome your help, your comments, your participation.

Have you gone to a concert in the Veterans Memorial park on a warm Friday evening? Or enjoyed the wonderful music of the Village Band at the Band shell at Harmony Park? Or enjoyed our premier Summer Celebration at Village Days? How about coming to a meeting of the Village Board and giving us your vision? Or walking down Main Street and stopping at Nest Things, or Performance Hobbies? How about dinner at Webster Hots, Streppa’s, the Prime Steakhouse or Simi Siushi? 

If you have not, join us. Join me.

This is your Village. The Board and our employees are just stewards. We arrive one hundred years into the future of our founders and must leave a Village with even more purpose and prosperity.

My fellow Village residents, this Village is strong and vital. With your help and involvement, working diligently together, this Village will continue to be a place where Life keeps getting better. 

Speech to Marching Band: 1 /29/11

Hello, and thank you for inviting me to tonight to this wonderful banquet.

The Webster Marching Band is a truly exceptional organization. All of you should know just how proud everyone in this community is of the Band. That pride is most obviously expressed in your accomplishments – it is easy for the community to see the outcome of what you do.

Less obvious is the pride and perhaps a little envy we feel at HOW you arrive at that result. You see, this band truly does show excellence through class, style and pride. That is your motto and you live up to it. Let me remind you of what that means:

Class is the quality that each band member exhibits at practice, on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. It is the quality that audiences sense when they see Webster Marching Band members spontaneously and warmly congratulating band members from other bands. It is also the unassuming strength each band member nurtures as they learn and grow with every experience. Class is the positive manner by which band members serve as ambassadors of the Webster community in their travels.

Style is the quality of the field program the band performs. The marching band takes pride in the performance of challenging arrangements of music, including beautifully scored classical pieces. It is the style that brings quality to execution of elaborate and equally challenging drills. Audiences are awed by the power and richness of the music and the beauty and creativity of the visual presentation. The performance blends precision with flare. Field band marching is a unique American art form for which the band has a national reputation. Style also describes the energy and enthusiasm that swells from the band as it marches in parades. The excitement of a parade stirs the heart and brings smiles to everyone who witnesses this traditional form of entertainment. Whether a field show or a parade, the marching band does it with style.

Pride is the quality seen in the band members as they measure their success in terms of improvement. Championships, honors, awards, and recognition are the fruits of a commitment to improve. Pride is evidenced by the deeper appreciation gained from contributing to a team in achieving a goal. It is seen on the field when band members know they have performed their best and feel the rush of satisfaction. Pride is the intangible chemistry that permeates the relationship among the marching band members as they perform.

I perceive that all of that is fostered by WORK. It is the endless hours of practice, the toil of the parade or the field, the labor of getting up early, getting home late – the realization that all of this is extra work added on to your school work.

I know a bit about your work because I was here is the beginning. 1984, Spry Marching Band.  We  - the group of kids I was with - joined to work with Mr. Paul McGinn. He was our jazz band teacher. We joined because we thought it would be neat to march in the parades and have another venue to play our instruments. Looking back, I also think many of us joined because of Mr. Mc Ginn. He inspired us to work harder, to think smarter, to bear the heat in our white wool uniforms in the summer sun. We marched in Webster and Penfield, and Fairport and a few years later were doing field band competitions. Our parents volunteered to squirt water at us, chaperone us, and help us. There was a tremendous feeling that everyone was working as hard as they could to make the Band successful. And we were.

I played cymbols that first year, xyphlone the next two and then finally was able to play bass guitar, my actual instrument. It was hard work. It was great fun.

I sense most of that has not changed. You still have a strong, vibrant organization. You still have to dedicated directors, drum majors, parents and all of you pulling together. And you still work hard. And you still have fun.

Of all of the qualities we need in our citizenry right now, it is that we must all work hard. We needn’t always agree, and perhaps it is better that we don’t because the conflict of ideas makes even better results. But we must work.

That is how our community moves forwards, how we improve as indviduals, how we inspire others. Give your best efforts and you will get a good result. Get a good result and you will inspire others to excel with you. Hard work lifts everyone to new heights.

And everyone here knows one other secret: hard work is fun.

We often place work at a different place than fun, but they are really the flip sides of the same coin. On the obverse is the work, on the reverse the reveling in the result. How many of you here exalt – personally – after that job well done? After that parade you never thought you would finish, but did - or the competition you weren’t sure you would win, but won? We exalt in our best accomplishments. Work hard, work with class, work with style, work with pride, and it IS fun.

You can apply that notion to all parts of your life. And that is why your being in the Webster Marching Band is so important to us all. Because by your rigorous toil, by your rollicking fun, by the sheer weight of your outstanding accomplishments, you inspire us all to do more and to do better. It is that philosophy that should guide us in school, in business and in government.

I am so proud to be here tonight to give this speech about the good that you all do. Never stop doing it. Know that in that moment of frustration, that time of trial, you are setting the standard not only for yourselves, but for your community. Know that we are inspired by every trophy, every trip, every attempt at excellence.

Thank you for being so kind to invite me to speak tonight. It is an honor to be with you.

The Exciting Summer Ahead (May 20, 2011)

The other day, my wife and I were talking about building an ark. My backyard is waterlogged and huge puddles are lingering at the end of the driveway. Will the rain ever end? It will, and with the end of the downpours, the sunshine will finally burst through, reminding us that a glorious summer awaits us here in the Village of Webster.  

You can start off the summer season on May 22nd by taking part in the Historic Properties Tour. The tour lasts from 1:00-5:00pm and is sponsored by the Webster Museum. Enjoy history up-close by examining 10 properties, including the historic Jayne and Mason Bank, now one of the Village’s premier businesses: Nest Things.

Having grabbed your interest with that event, remember to check out the Friday Night Concert Series starting in June and the Tuesday night Movies in the Park starting in July along with the Jazz Festival. Last year these three events attracted thousands of people to the Village to see our beautiful neighborhoods and patronize our stores and restaurants.

Turing toward the peak days of summer, the Firemans’s Parade and Carnival in July will again bring Webster residents to Main Street and Village Days in August will bring everyone back. Village Days will be different this year with a new arrangement of vendors, crafters, and community groups.

As August ends, the Village will put on one more spectacular free event with an all-new Shakespeare Festival in the Park. This event is led by Sandy Nagar and the Working Class Theatre Company, you will be entertained and amazed as just a few actors perform an “irreverent, skewed and hilarious take on the plays of William Shakespeare.”

Two other events will go throughout the summer: the Webster Village Band and the Farmers’ Market. The band concerts will be on Thursday nights starting in June and the Farmer’s Market will have its opening day on Saturday, June 11th. Both of these groups have deep roots in the Village, as year after year people enjoy wonderful music from one and exceptional value from the other. The most exact times and details of Village events can be found either by going to VillageofWebster.com or WebsterBid.com. You can also call Village Hall anytime at 265-3770 and speak to one of our friendly staff people.

And then there were Six (Years)  (May 6, 2011)

At the April 28th meeting of the Village Board, the 2011-2012 Village Budget was passed. The budget directly sets the tax rate that affects every resident of the Village. I am proud to announce that for the sixth year, the Village will be keeping its property tax rate flat at $2.22 per thousand of assessed value. That means that if your home is assessed at $100,000 you will pay $222 in Village taxes for the 2011-2012 budget year.
The process of composing the Village Budget began months ago when the Village Clerk/Treasurer, our budget officer, created a tentative budget. The tentative budget was presented to the Board for review at Village Board workshops on March 24 and April 5. At these meetings, the Board asked the Village Clerk and Superintendent of Public Works about the various line items and with their input, made some changes in the tentative budget.
Some of the changes made by the Village Board were a result of the Organizational Meeting where the Board set policies on employee compensatory time, vacation time, and educational benefits. After  addressing these issues, some budget lines appeared too high so the Board reduced them and re-allocated funds to other budget lines.
All of these meetings were public and the Board encouraged residents to participate. Some did, using the Village Budget published in the Webster Herald. This year, for the first time, the Board also published a list of salaries of Village employees comparing the salaries of our last budget year to the next proposed budget year and the proposed percent increase. Armed with this data, residents were able to ask some very specific questions.
Property taxes affect every resident. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, the cost of food on the rise, and the economic outlook uncertain, Village government must become leaner and more efficient. Using other revenue sources and cutting costs has offset any need to raise property taxes to pay for the many services the Village provides. Our Village office hours will continue to be extended on Thursday’s until 7:00pm for your convenience and I am available for office hours every other Thursday evening. For a complete copy of our services please check our website. 
The Village Board will continue to keep you, the taxpayer, in the forefront of our decision making.  

Welcome to the Village’s New Year (April 8, 2011)

In ancient times, people celebrated the New Year at various times of the year. The most common time was that period where the frost of the harsh winter was overcome by the warmth of spring. As the cold, unyielding ground of March yielded to the new life and plants sprouting in April, so did the New Year begin.
We still retain some of that old style calendar. We might call it a fiscal year, or remember it only as the time when taxes become due. For Village government, however, we celebrate it with our Organizational Meeting. The meeting is a time to swear our newly elected Board members into office, set our policies for the coming year and make appointments. This year, the meeting will be on Thursday, April 14th at 7:30pm at the Community Meeting Hall, 29 South Avenue.
Village law is very clear, a candidate that has won election takes their seat on the first Monday of the official year following the Village Election. In the Village of Webster’s case, that was Monday, April 4th. The new official must sign their oath of office within 30 days. The actual swearing in process is really a formality – a reminder of the time when your word meant even more than your signature. That is why we always begin Organizational Meetings by swearing in our newly elected board members.
The newly formed Village Board will then begin a process of appointments. All of the other boards like Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation, Parks and Recreation, Comprehensive Plan and Seniors and Disabled, will have one or more members to appoint. A Chair-person for each of these boards is also appointed. Terms for board members vary but the Chair-person serves only one year. The Village Attorneys, Village Clerk and Village Deputy Clerk may also be appointed.
The board must also set policies. These include purchasing, investment, and who can sign Village checks. The Employee Handbook and Elected Officials and Public Officers Code of Conduct are also considered for approval. The Village fee schedule, how some employees receive certain other compensation for special work done, when Village Board meetings and workshops will occur, when planning, zoning and other boards will meet, and how public comment should be given at Board meetings also must be approved by the Village Board.
Finally, Village Board members are assigned liaison duties to other Boards and organizations such as the Village Planning and Zoning Boards, the Business Improvement District, the Village Band, the Farmers Market, the Webster Museum and many other organizations. Each board member is assigned between three and five organizations to be liaison to and they are expected to frequently attend meetings of those organizations.
The Organizational Meeting is one of the busiest of the year. In addition, after we dispense with all of those issues, we enter into a regular Village Board meeting. So Board members always plan a long night.  

Accessing Your Village Government (March 23, 2011)

Last year, the Village Board approved my initiative to post Village Board meetings online. Since that time, Carol Moranz, in our Village office, has faithfully taken the digital copy of our Village Board meetings and posted them, along with the agenda and minutes from the same meeting. I am proud to report that this effort to open up Village government has been a phenomenal success. We have countless hits on our website, and many of you are watching us online.
Though we have trumpeted that effort, I do not want to forget to mention the huge utility you can find in the Village of Webster’s website: villageofwebster.com. On the front page are many important public notices such as public hearing information, and hydrant flushing schedules. Using the website, you can immediately see a calendar of meeting dates, which is constantly being updated by Ann Marie Champagne, this column, and Carol Klem’s “Village Focus.”
Delving into the site, you can find the names, addresses and contact numbers of the Village Board members, our administration, information about the Planning Board, Zoning Board and all our other citizen boards. If you have questions about our budget, it’s there. If you want maps of the Village, they are there as well. You can read about our history, local attractions, the Webster Museum, our parks, community services and Village water. You can even use the website to pay your water bill online.
But what if you don’t have access to the internet? You can still access all of this information by coming into Village Hall. The information on the website is available to you anytime during office hours. Remember Village Hall is open every Thursday night until 7:00pm. Don’t be shy: this is your government and your Village Board and our employees encourage you to know more. If you can’t make it to Village Hall, call me or any of the Trustees: we can help you. The best part of local government is that we are right here, ready to answer your questions and lend you assistance.

Saluting the Village Crier (January 26, 2011)

Our Village is privileged to have so many bell towers. Though some have become silent over the years, they represent a time when quick news – a celebration or a death, for instance - was sent by the bell. People have always wanted to know the news – national, state and local - no matter the era. They wanted to know the news so much, that before the internet, television or the radio, some communities employed a Town Crier. This person’s job was to pass along the news of the day. Sometimes it was big news of wars or disasters, but often it was local news, the news shared between neighbors and neighborhoods.
Our Village still has a Town Crier – so I will call her our Village Crier. That person is Carol Klem. Patiently collecting the news, honestly reporting it, seeking the favorite photo, taking the extra effort to know more, she illuminates the best of us and the best parts of us. She skillfully weaves her lines of prose to create the “Village Focus” column every other week. Carol Klem is the “crier” of all of the wonderful people, places and things our Village has to offer. She is a collector of the joys and concerns of so many people.
Yet, looking at what she does, I realized how little she has been recognized. Did you know, for instance, that Carol Klem has been writing about our community for over two decades? She has wandered through many years of weddings, events, honors, and remembrances, memorializing them and transmitting them to everyone.
A graduate of Nazareth Academy and Nazareth College, Carol moved to Webster with her parents and lived on Basket Road. Her original passion was teaching. She actually did teach for several years at Holy Trinity, and over the years has contributed her time and effort to the Parish. She has been involved with the Webster Arboretum, the Webster Museum and other community groups.
Rumor has it that Carol drove a convertible in her younger years and was spotted by a handsome gentleman as she rode around Webster. Perhaps it was car repair at Klem’s Garage that lead the two to meet and thus Eugene and Carol Klem became an enduring couple. Together, they have raised their family (which now includes grandchildren) in Webster. And Carol still likes driving a convertible.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Carol for years and reading her wonderful work. It struck me that it was fitting for me to write a column about someone who writes so much about everyone else. It is fitting that for her service and her contributions to our community that I salute her.
There is, however, another reason that I am writing this column now. As her dear friend Karen Seigelman told me, “Carol always loves a party.” So I extend more than just recognition to Carol. I hope you will join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday on February 6th.
And Carol – may you have more years laughing, crying, reminiscing and reporting about our Village and all the great people and events that happen here. You are radiant star in the firmament of our Village.
Carol is always looking for news and I am always available to listen to your comments or questions.

How you can make Waves (January 12, 2011)

Last year, on March 11, I presented the Village Board with a plan to create a Water Committee. After some discussion, the Village Board unanimously approved the creation the Committee. The Water Committee was charged with the following objective: “to investigate all aspects of the water supply, including, but not limited to, the retention and/or improvement of the current supply or the transfer to a new water supply and/or the disposition or enhancement of assets connected to the Village Water Company.” The committee was formed in response to two surveys the Village Board asked me to write and summarize two years ago. In those surveys, 20% of the respondents mentioned water as an issue. According to the surveys, the Village Water Company was also contacted more frequently than any part of Village government.
On December 21, the Village Board accepted the Water Committee’s report. The eleven-page report contains six options for the future of Village Water along with some supporting information, including the results from the Village Water survey.
The facts, for and against, are shown for options 1 through 5. These options are: (1) to make no changes in the current water supply; (2) to switch the entire system to the Monroe County Water Authority; (3) to purchase water wholesale from the Monroe County Water Authority; (4) to blend Webster Water with Monroe County Water Authority water; and (5) to soften water at the source using reverse osmosis. The sixth option made by the Water Committee is directed towards the Village Board and states, “should the board find that these options are inconclusive, and/or incomplete or not viable then it is determination of the committee that an independent consulting company should be hired by the village to further explore the future of the village’s water supply.” The Committee also recommends that the legalities and financial details of each option be explored by the Village’s attorney and the Village Clerk.
The Water Committee did an outstanding job of presenting these options to the Village Board. I sincerely thank each member for their part in composing the report. From March through December, the Committee held a meeting each month. Each member was also given a tour of our Well Field on Dewitt Road. I attended several meetings and was impressed with the honest, direct debate and discussion between the members. I extend a special thanks to those who chaired the meetings, including Dave Kildal, the Deputy Mayor, and to Ann Marie Champaign of our Water Department who took minutes and complied the Water Report on her own time.
The Village Board wants your input on the Water Report! The Village Board meetings of January 13 and 27 will contain an agenda item specifically devoted to public input on the Water Report. There are copies of the report available at Village Hall.  Electronic copies are also available online at http://www.villageofwebster.com/wtrcommittee.php. Please remember you can call me (anytime) at 662-9906 or email me at pelder@villageofwebster.com with comments or questions on our Village water supply.

Reflections on 2010 (December 29, 2011)
The week between Christmas and New Years always seems to be a great time to reflect on the old year and plan for the new.  In this column, I will note some of the highlights of 2010.     

January - The Board unanimously voted to appoint former Mayor, Jake Swingly to the post of Superintendent of Public Works. Jake took the reins of Public Works after the retirement of Bill Southwell in 2009. The Village Board had conducted hours of interviews with many applicants for the position before agreeing that Jake was the best person for the job. Jake’s dedication, skill, and hard work throughout 2010 showed that the Board made the right decision.         

February - The Village Board appointed me Mayor. It has been a great honor to work on Village resident’s behalf for the last 11 months. The Board also agrees to fund a new website for posting Village Board meetings, making our Village one of the few to allow residents with internet access to view Board meetings anytime.

March - I appointed Jude Lancy to the vacant seat on the Village Board. The Village Board votes to re-establish quarterly billing for water customers. This change was in response to the Village surveys completed by Village residents in 2009. By September, all but the largest Village Water customers will be on a quarterly billing schedule. The Village Board also establishes the Water Committee and Design Elements Committee. These committees continue to meet throughout 2010.

April - Don White is appointed Village Attorney and throughout 2010 does an outstanding job in the position. The Village Board agrees to support my proposal for an anti-graffiti program for the Village. The Board approves the 2010-2011 Village Budget and Water Budget.

May – The Village Board votes to establish to new reserve funds and transfer monies from the old reserve funds into them on the advice of our accountant. The Board participates with the Business Improvement District in the Relay for Life.  

June - The Farmers’ Market starts on June 12th back at its old location behind the Baptist Church in the Village Parking Lot. In 2009, the Village Board voted to directly sponsor the Farmers’ Market.  Charles Duffy, a thirty-year employee at the Village Water Department, retires.

July - Myself, Trustee Reynolds and Trustee Lancy march in the Fireman’s’ Parade. It is the first time the Village has been represented in the parade for many years. The Webster Chamber of Commerce recognizes the 105th anniversary of the Village.

August - Webster Police Chief Pickering and members of the Webster Police address the Board over common sense ways residents can help fight crime. Fred Holley is appointed Chief Plan Operator at the Village Water Works. The Village Board votes unanimously to adopt a new ethics law, including the establishment of a Village Ethics Committee. Village Days is an outstanding success.

September - At a Public Hearing on September 9th, the Village Board votes to establish park hours from 5:30am to 10:00pm. The Village continues the tradition of holding a ceremony remembering 9/11.

October - The Village purchases property from Ebaum ventures and signs an agreement that expands parking in the northeast quadrant of the Village. It is the first time in many years that there has been additional parking added within the Central Business District. The Board votes to establish a six-month moratorium on the construction of second story decks. Trick-or-Treat Trail is a huge success with the best attendance and participation ever.

November - The Town begins construction of a sidewalk to connect Village sidewalks into the Town along West Main Street/Ridge Rd. Members are appointed to the Village Ethics Board.  A new Peddling Law is approved by the Village Board. The Village Board votes to approve the expansion of the Business Improvement District.

December - The Village Board votes to accept the Water Committee report. White Christmas in the Village is bigger and better attended than ever before. The Village Band plays an outstanding concert on December 11. A huge crowd watches the lighting of the Christmas Lights at Hanks on North Ave.

2010 State of the Village                  (speech given April 8, 2010)
Neighbors and Friends,
The State of our Village in 2010 has never looked brighter.
As we sit here tonight engaged in the most ancient of democratic ideals – debate and decision for our local community – I see around us a Village in transition. New development, new ideas, new people are infusing our Village with new vitality. New work is being done – on East Main, on West Main, in the north part of the Village, on our infrastructure and in our parks.
New Committees have been formed for residents to assist in charting the course for THEIR Village. A new Comprehensive Plan is being formulated. A Design Committee will assist in making recommendations for how Main Street may look. A Water Committee is being formed to look at our water supply. The Parks and Recreation Committee is already having a major impact on our open space with new signs and new equipment and new partnerships. A Senior and Disabled Committee is investigating how we as a community can be more sensitive to all of our residents needs. The Business Improvement District is looking to expand and each year delights us with new events that bring people into the Village to see all of the wonderful retail opportunities and beautiful neighborhoods.
And in the background is the solid foundation of a stable tax rate – for the fifth straight year, the tax rate will remain flat. No tax increase in a time when costs are increasing and when Village government has even expanded service by staying open on Thursday evenings. Low property taxes are also a boon for business and every year we see new businesses coming to our Village.
Even while our Village is in the midst of change, it retains a traditional charm. Homes from the early 1900’s blend with neighborhoods from the 1950’s and 1970’s and the newest subdivisions from today. Here is a sense of community, a strong identity, a bond that defines a Village. On a summers night, Village residents can walk to a Village Band concert at Harmony Park, take in the Jazz Festival on Main Street, listen to a musical group or watch a movie at Veterans Memorial Park, or just stroll down Main Street or North Ave to visit one of our many businesses.
My fellow Village residents, this Village is strong and vital. We are a community embracing change but honoring our past. We will continue to be a place where Life is truly Worth Living.

The Village and Our Parks (March 31, 2010)
At the March 25, 2010 meeting of the Village Board, the Parks and Recreation Committee presented their revised (and improved) Parks brochure to the Board for approval. The Board was very pleased with the brochure and authorized 225 copies to be made and distributed to over 10 locations in the Town and Village. With the advent of warmer weather, our Parks can offer amenities for almost every taste from active playground to passive nature area, to community events. This is a list of our Village Parks and a description of each with language borrowed from the Parks and Recreation Committee brochure.
Wilmorite Park: Located off Iroquois St, this park has lots of land for those who like to play frisbee or just give their dog a good run. Some of the amenities include a baseball diamond, swings, climbing bars, picnic tables and open space. So whether you love sports, dogs, picnics, or just need some quiet time to unwind, Wilmorite Park is waiting for you!
Schantz Park: A beautiful multi-purpose recreational park located in a pleasant neighborhood setting of Webster Village.  Parking is located on State Road between Phillips Road and Rte. 250. The park is also accessible at the corner of Hawley Drive and Southwick Dr. Schantz Park has tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball diamond with bleachers, toddler climb & slide,  new adolescent climb & slide featuring a 2-sided rock wall, swings including infant swings, monkey bars and a slide.
Milton Case Park: This park provides approximately ½ mile of relaxing trails. Starting at Wood Street and winding your way across to the South Ave. entrance. (Map posted) Also, there is another trail leading into the back of Spry Middle School’s fields. Explore and enjoy the beautiful trees and the sounds and sights of nature in 14 acres of woods.
Veterans Memorial Park:  Located in the heart of the Village, Veterans Memorial Park is host to a variety of community events throughout the year. Visitors strolling through the park are welcomed by the gazebo, benches, clock and the memorial to those from Webster that have proudly served our country. Veterans Memorial Park is often filled with people enjoying the outdoors while surrounded by beautiful roses and colorful annuals.
Harmony Park: Located on the corner of Phillip’s Rd & Foster Dr, this park has the Village Band Shell and wide-open spaces for outdoor activities. Enjoy summer band concerts or a picnic with a blanket on the grass.

Why Enclosing the Existing Dumpsters Will Not Work (March 25, 2010)
In December, I was asked to author a local law to enclose dumpsters. At the time, at a cursory glace, this idea did not seem a bad one. When the issue was brought before the Village Board, critical issues, not in that original code, were brought up, so I re-wrote the law. The Village Board examined that law in early February and it still had significant problems. Finally, knowing that support for any law that enclosed present dumpsters was waning, I composed a third law that would apply only to dumpster installed in the future. That law was also not acted upon after the general determination was made that the Planning Board has tended to require enclosed dumpsters on new construction anyway. The Board then instructed me, as liaison to the BID, to ask for voluntary compliance.
At the BID meeting on March 22nd, I did ask. I remain hopefully that a renewed awareness of this issue will result in the BID members ensuring their dumpsters remain closed, that they be sensitive to smells and that they make sure they conceal their dumpsters as best as they can. Most of our businesses already do this.
It would not be in the interests of the economic development of the Village to implement a compulsory enclosure law on existing dumpsters. The cost for each dumpster (or set of dumpsters) would range from $350 to $1200. A quick estimate would be a cost of roughly $43,000 across the entire business district. That amount is simply too much to bear and I could not support passing a law to require it (especially given the current economic climate).
While we all want our Village to look good, it even more important that it look like a community of people. Pristine environments are almost sanitized. I am more in favor of a Village that looks lived-in. When people live in it, a community will have dumpsters. We can always do more to make the Village look better. But we should never forget that it is our residents that make the Village a place where Life Keeps Getting Better.

March 11, 2010: Jude Lancy appointed Village Trustee. At the March 11 meeting, I appointed Jude Lancy Village Trustee. Judy has served on the Historic Preservation Committee for many years. She is well versed in Village code and issues facing the Village. Judy has been a stalwart attendee at our Village Board meetings for years and is familiar with Board procedures. She is a welcome addition to our Board (Jude is pictured at left with her uncle, former Mayor "Deke" Beh).

March 11, 2010: Dumpster Law not considered. The third proposed Dumpster Law was not acted upon by the Village Board.

March 8, 2010: Village Board will not consider Massage Law. At the March 2, 2010 Workshop, the Village Board unanimously decided not to pursue the Massage Law. The Law, after careful examination, was too cumbersome and likely interfered with State licensing requirements for massage. In addition, adult activities are already dealt with under Chapter 93 of Village Law.

February 25, 2010: Revised Proposals for the Dumpster Law and the Massage Law are submitted to the Village Board. I have drawn up new proposals for these laws. You can see the text of them by clicking on "Resident Resource" to the right. There are three changes in the Massage Law that make it less restrictive: there would not be a need to annually renew the license; suspension of a license can only occur if the individual is arrested; and revocation of the license can occur only if the individual is convicted. There are many changes to the proposed dumpster law that will likely result in a new public hearing being scheduled.

January 11, 2010: Swearing in of new Village Mayor, Peter Elder by Judge Elma Bellini. The text of the speech I gave after I was sworn in:                                       

Friends, residents of our Village, members of the audience, fellow Board Members:

I want to first thank Judge Elma Bellini for swearing me in tonight. Judge Bellini is an outstanding jurist, and a good friend.

I am honored to be Mayor of the Village of Webster.

I come to this position with the perspective of almost 20 years of involvement in the Village starting way back in 1991 when I was just 19. I have witnessed five Mayors in that time as they worked for our Village and I have seen each of them elated and humbled by the job. Each contributed initiatives, with their respective Boards, to make the exceptional Village we have today. Theirs is a legacy to live up to and I pledge that I will.

Many Village residents remember my positions first taken from the audience and then from the issues I championed in almost five years as Trustee. Issues like a low tax rate, quality services, economic development in our business corridor and open government. But if you have seen nothing else, I trust you have seen my work. Because I believe that an elected official must do more than just represent their residents – they must work for them. My fellow Village residents, I will work for you!

This Board works for you and for the betterment of this Village. You will not find a better group of Board Members and I compliment Dave Kildal, Donna Rickard and Christine Reynolds for their dedication to our Village.

Likewise, you will not find a group of employees and the members of our various Boards like Planning and Zoning and the Parks and Recreation Boards that work harder. They are committed to this Village and its advancement.

Many of you drive down Main Street or North or South Avenue each day. I invite you to walk these same paths. You will see up close the wonderful assets we have in the Village and all the good that is happening here from the new Irish Rover Pub on W Main Street to the new Prime Steak House and Webster Hots on E Main Street. And you will see businesses like Nest Things or Hanks – mainstays prospering here in our Village.

Going forward, our Village government will help businesses and residents by containing costs, by controlling property taxes, by keeping our roads repaired, our parks maintained, and our outstanding services in place. We will continue to commit ourselves to groups that help bring people to our Village and showcase its assets like the Village Band, the Farmers Market and Business Improvement District. And we will continue to partner with the Town and with the Webster Economic Coalition.

We will do more and this Board and our employees are always striving to do more. For instance, starting in March, the Village office will be open until 7pm on Thursday nights. Night hours - at no extra cost to the taxpayers. I will be available after hours from 5-7pm on any week we are having a Village Board meeting as well. I tip my hat to Mayor Beh for that idea. Like Mayor Judge, I will be walking to each business in our Village to gauge their concerns and offer whatever help we can. I have been a member of the Business Improvement District Board of Directors for five years and I intend to stay on that Board.

Village government is closest to the people and it must remain open government. I will continue to champion posting these meetings on line and I will begin to submit a twice monthly column to the Webster Herald. I credit Mayor Ruoff for his inspiration for that idea.

I offer my thanks to this Board, to our Village employees, to all of the people who have supported me over the years and to my family. I must single out my father whose advice and comments only seems to get better over the years; to my wife Pam, who is incredibly supportive and tolerant of all the activities I do; and to my children, Benjamin and Michael who constantly delight me and humble me. I remain in awe of them as they grow older.

My fellow Villagers, we have much to do. And we will get it done. Our Village is full of hard-working people who want their Village to work as hard for them as they work for their families. They want government that listens to them, that lessens their burdens, and that provides quality services. The Village of Webster does that and will continue to do that. Together, we will make this Village a place where life keeps getting better.                                                                Now lets get to work!

UPDATE: February 2, 2010: I am appointed Mayor of the Village.

January 29, 2010: I am interested in being Mayor. For some weeks, there has been discussion about my interest in the vacant Mayor's position. I have spoken to many residents and sought advice from former Trustees and Mayors from the Village Board. Those discussions have been positive. With over 15 years of active political experience, almost 20 years of activity in our Village, including 5 years on the Village Board (the senior member of the Board) and about 2 years as Deputy Mayor including now a stint as Acting Mayor, I would be honored to have the support of the trustees on the Village Board. I have served for 5 years as a member of the Board of Directors to the Business Improvement District, as liaison to the Parks Committee and liaison to the Village Band. I have authored 7 local laws and the Board has passed them in the last five years. I guided the Board through the file issue and led the effort to establish the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Comprehensive Plan Committee. I have made many contacts throughout the years both within our Village and with officials outside of the Village.  I believe that the most important asset a Mayor can bring to the position is recognition that they are only one vote of five votes, that they must work as a team with the Board, seeking their advice and listening to their comments. I also believe that the most important assets of Village Government are the employees that day-to-day do the work that inexorably moves our Village forward.  Finally, a Mayor must never lose sight of the residents that ultimately elect us and who we must listen to. Our job as elected officials is to represent them, to hold their opinions in the highest regard and to always consider their comments. As Mayor, I will use the example I have learned from five Mayors I have witnessed over the last 15 years, from the numerous residents I speak to daily, from our excellent Village employees and from knowledgeable officials, to keep our Village a place where life keeps getting better.

January 29, 2010: Public Hearing set for BID expansion. At its February 28 meeting, the Village Board passed a resolution to set a public hearing for March 11 at 7:45pm to consider an expansion plan for the Business Improvement District. The Plan is the culmination of three years work by the BID and would expand the boundaries of the BID to cover the businesses north of the Route 104 expressway. The Village already includes these businesses in many Village events. For instance, over the last four years I have organized the Trick-or-Treat Trail, we have included Kittleberger’s Florist, Hanks Ice Cream and other businesses at the north end of the Village. The expansion will mean that many businesses on the north end will have their taxes increased by $50-$100 per year. However, they may also benefit from grants that can only be given through the BID and by services (like beautification) provided by the BID.

January 14, 2010: Board set two public hearings on zoning issues. At the January 14th meeting, I presented the Village Board with proposals for two new Local Laws. One would require that all dumsters of a permanent nature be fenced by June 30, 2010. This will largely effect dumsters in the Central Business area. The other law is designed to license massage services. After the arrest of two individuals involved in massage for promoting prostituion in December, the Village Board informally began to look at how this activity could be better policed in the future. Both public hearings will be held on February 11, 2010.

January 14, 2010: Board appoints new Superintendent of Public Works. Mayor Swingly was appointed by unanimous vote of the Village Board to a one year provisional position of Superintendent of Public Works. Bill Southwell, who has been Superintendent since 2005, retired effective the end of December, 2009. Several applicants interviewed for the position, but the Board felt that Jake's qualifications were well matched for the position.

January 14, 2010: Jake Swingly resigns from Board. Mayor Jake Swingly has resigned from the Board. By motion of Trustee Rickard and seconded by me, Jake was appointed to a one year Provisional position of Superintendent of Public Works. I have worked with Jake for five years - he and I are the veteran members of the Board. It was an honor to have him appoint me Deputy Mayor for the last two years. Though we have not always agreed on issues, I deeply respect Jakes tenacity, intellagence and committment to the Village.

June 18, 2009: Posting the Meetings. UPDATE January 5, 2010: After looking at this issue and the Village's ability to post large data files, the Village Board unanimously voted to spend not more than $200 to aquire a new website to post the meetings on and provide for a link from the main Village web site. We hope to have the meetings posted in the next month or so. I strongly believe that residents of our Village should have the most open government possible. To that end, I have asked the employees at Village Hall to investigate the possiblity of posting video of our Village Board meeting on the Village website. I have been informed that we can and the Board has agreed we will. Please look for that website enhancement in the near future.

June 17, 2009: Name that Park. The Village owned land infront of the bandshell on the corner of Foster Drive and Phillips Road is set to become the Village's newest park. The Village Board asked for resident input into the name of the park. The students at State Road School (most children in the Village attend that elementary school) were also asked for their input. Over 150 resposes came in from the school in addition to recommendations by our residents. The Village Board will be making a decision about the park name at our July workshop.

June 1, 2009: It's all about signs. The issue of towing is again on the Village Board agenda. While the five members of the Board do not all agree on this issue (and the issue, though affecting the whole Village, is practically impacting only one property), the issue really boils down to this: in order for towing to occur in the Village under the law, certain conditions must be met. These are: signs must be posted in such a manner as provided for by law; towing companies must ensure that the signs are in compliance, towing must be be done to a location in the Village; and towing companies must inform the Village Board each month of cars towed. At this point, there is no action to be taken on this issue since there is no towing being done. In fact, there is no action that the Village government needs to take at all. Having passed the law, it is prudent to allow private citizens and government enforcement to work within the law and work out the ramifications of a law that is barely six months old.

April 11, 2009: Board members sworn in. Welcome Trustee Reynolds. At the April 11, 2009 Organizational Meeting, Christine Reynolds, our newest Trustee, was sworn in by Justice John DeMarco. Trustee Dave Kidal and Mayor Jake Swingly were sworn in by Webster Town Justice David Corretore. The Board got down to work with Organizational issues. The Webster Herald was again designated as the Village's offficial newspaper. I was honored to once again be appointed Deputy Mayor by Mayor Swingly. The Board adopted the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as our guidelines for employees, public officers and elected officials. The Board clarified language throughout the Organizational Minutes (many elements of the outline are over two decades old). Village Clerk Kathy Vendel was re-appointed as Village Clerk. Trustee Reynolds will be taking the seat formerly held by Trustee Cataldi - so she will be sitting to my left. Toward the end of the meeting, the Board agreed to adopt the Requirements for Planning and Zoning Board Members that I had authored. I extend my congradulations to Trustee Reynolds and look foward to working with her, Mayor Swingly, Trustee Kildal and Trustee Rickard to make our Village a place where Life Keeps Getting Better.

April 10, 2009: Town-Village Intermunicipal Agreeement. At the Village Board meeting of April 9, 2009 we were joined by Town Supervisor Ron Nesbitt who, with Mayor Swingly, signed an agreement that was first talked about almost 15 years ago. When I came on the Board, it was one of the projects I was determined to get done. After numerous discussions with the Village Board and with Town Supervisor Nesbitt we came to an agreement whereby Town taxes have been completely eliminated from Village property in the Town and the Village out of district sewer rate has been lowered to a level acceptable to the Town. Pictured to the left, in order, are Supervisor Nesbitt, Mayor Swingly and myself.

April 9, 2009: Farewell Patti. It has been a great honor of mine to sit next to Patti Cataldi for four years. Patti was one of the three candidates four years ago that overturned the then Village Board and set the stage for not only my presence on the Village Board, but every member elected after that. Patti brought a strong sense of professionalism and dedication to the Village Board. She and her husband Dick are great people that have given countless hours to our Village. Reading through the candidates’ platform of fours years ago, I realize that most of what Patti said she would accomplish, she did. I wish her well in her pursuit of a Town Board seat.

April 7, 2009: The 2009 Budget. The 2009 Village budget is a seminal achievement. It proposes to leave the tax rate at 2.22/1000 for the forth straight year AND IT ACTUALLY CUTS SPENDING. Few governments can claim that they reduce costs, but Village government has.

April 7, 2009: Even More on Wheel-Locks. The Village Board will be considering an amendment to the anti-wheel locking and towing local law that went into effect in January. The proposal is to modify the present local law that restricts towing companies to those within the Village to any towing companies within 2.5 miles of the Four Corners. At this time, I am against this proposal for the following reasons: (1) the local law has only been in effect for four months and during that time, the only local business that is towing has not even followed the law; (2) the Village Board should carefully consider whether two and half miles is too far. Our initial goal was to allow people to walk to their vehicles; (3) the Village Board should carefully consider whether we should change a Village wide law to accommodate one individual.  

January 15, 2009: Happy New Year! More on Wheel-locks. There have been several news reports and interviews about the wheel-locking and towing law passed by the Village Board. The Village Board is NOT attempting to infringe on anyone's property rights. This law, as you can read below, establishes permissible CONDUCT, and that is an appropriate - perhaps essential - function of government. The Village Board, through resident input and business input, has made a decision that wheel-locking is not an appropriate method to deal with individuals parking on private property. Property owners can still tow, if they wish. Our feeling is that in a Village, one of the most essential elements is to be neighborly. Wheel-locking isn’t. This is the full text of the local law, now in force:

1.       No person shall tow, remove, impound or otherwise disturb any motor vehicle other than an abandoned vehicle as defined in 156-27 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, without permission of the vehicle owner, from privately owned property in the City of Rochester, other than property which is solely residential and contains fewer than five residential units, unless there is posted on the property, in a clearly conspicuous location at the entrance to the parking lot, a sign or notice conspicuous both day and night relating, in clear and concise English, and of a size at least 12 inches by 24 inches, with lettering at least 2 1/2 inches high and in a color contrasting to that of the background, that unauthorized vehicles will be removed at the vehicle owner's expense and providing the towing company's name, telephone number and address where towed vehicles may be retrieved.  The towing company shall be responsible for assuring that signs meeting the requirements of this section are posted and maintained.
2.       No person shall tow a vehicle from privately owned property in the Village of Webster without permission of the vehicle owner, to a location outside the Village of Webster.   
3.       The towing company shall immediately notify the Webster Police Department of all vehicles towed from a location within the Village of Webster without permission of the vehicle owner and shall provide the Webster Police Department with such information as the Police Chief may require.  
4.       The towing company shall notify the Village Board of Trustee at the end of each month of all vehicles towed from a location within the Village of Webster without permission of the vehicle owner.
5.       No person shall place a parking boot on, or otherwise immobilize, a vehicle owned by another person which is parked on private property. 

Penalties for offenses 
Violations of this code shall be as follows: for first time offense: $75; for second offense: $175; for each offense thereafter: $200.

Exemptions.  
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the towing of a vehicle through the Village of Webster from a destination outside of the Village of Webster to another destination outside of the Village of Webster, nor to the towing of a vehicle from or to a destination outside of the Village of Webster as long as said vehicle is towed with permission of the vehicle owner by a towing company without a place of business or storage lot in the Village of Webster.  

December 16, 2008: Comprehensive Plan. The Village Board will consider a resolution on December 30 for the creation of a Comprehensive Plan Committee. I submitted this proposal to the Board and will re-submitt it with some modifications for approval on the 30th. The issue with the TNOD, Wheel-locking, crosswalks and so forth are all areas that can and should be dealt with in the Comprehensive Plan. The Committee would consist of 17 Village residents. We do really need that broad particiaption to ensure we have good plan. The group would have 10 months to complete the project and submit it to the Village Board. This is a critical component to keeping our Village on a sound developmental path.

December 2, 2008: Vandals caught. Two of the vandals who have placed graffiti in a number of structures in the Village have been caught. The story is covered well at the WHEC TV 10 website at http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S683963.shtml?cat=565.

December 2, 2008: TNOD: A Supreme Court Judge has struck down the TNOD (Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District). The Village Board will be filing a notice to appeal the ruling and, in cooperation with the Planning Board, will look at a new approach to the TNOD.

December 2, 2008: Catching Up. I have been unable to update this site for some time. Wheellocks and Towing. The Village Board passed, by a 3-2 vote a new local law that prohibits wheel-locking and mandates that any towing done in the Village must be done with a towing company within the Village. The local law also clearly states how all towing signs must be formated. I both wrote the law and, after the removal of one provision that I was uncertain of, made the motion to approve it. This law will establish a "code of conduct" that will govern the relationship between private property owners and those they wish to tow. With our Village growing and developing the Village Board needed to step in and make sure this issue was addressed.

August 14, 2008: Non-Refundable Sign Fee. The Village Board has approved the non-refundable sign fee for temporary signs requring a sign permit (most of them). The Planning Board Chair and Building Inspector recently met to clarify when a permit is required. With the passage of this local law, the Village can now recoup some of the money spent on enforcement of signs.

August 1, 2008: Crosswalk Update. New York State DOT has approved the construction of a crosswalk between Harmony House (old Grange) and the old Key Bank. Now, we have to find the money for the engineering study and construction. The crosswalk will also serve residents with disabilities. It may be a good idea for the Village to form a small group to spearhead efforts to make our Village more accomodating for our neighbors with disabilities.

July 15, 2008: Surveys. The first survey the Village Board approved regarding Quality of Life in the Village yeilded more than 310 responses. The second survey about our Parks is still showing a strong respose and another survey about our services will be coming out soon. Another survey will be distributed in the Fall. All of the information in the surveys will be collected and published in order for the Village Board, Parks and Rec Board and Village staff to have a better idea of what our residents think. This information will also be used to help in the formation of the next Comprehensive Plan.

Updated June 6, 2008: Redesigning Main Street. What could Main Street look like? That was central discussion of a presentation by the Rochester Regional Design Center at the Village Board workshop on June 3rd. Click HERE to link the RRCDC web site. It was a very informative discussion. There is a fairly large upfront monetary cost for utilizing the RRCDC services. It would be about $3000 to engage them for training, and much more to use them to organize a “charrette.” Their presentation had some compelling components: the essential involvement of the larger community, the development of a community “vision,” the graphic display of any design standards adopted for Main Street. It also had drawbacks. Would the “vision” endure? Do design standards “fix” a Village at certain era and create obstacles to change? Training is a critical component for all of our Boards (even the Village Board), but I remain convinced that less expensive alternatives offered by Monroe County are a better value both in content and quality. I am more of the opinion that as we embark on a new Compressive Plan in 2009, this organization might assist our Citizens Committee – perhaps even lead it – in a professional direction that would be more efficient in terms of shorter time and better quality. Many communities employee professionals to lend support to their comprehensive plans. With all the changes in the Village, maybe some professional guidance is called for (if we can afford it).

Updated June 6, 2008: Proposal for New Crosswalk/Review of Village Crosswalks. At the Village Board workshop of June 3, the Board agreed with me and asked Bill Southwell, the Superintendent of Public Works, to request the State perform a walk-through of the proposed crosswalk with him. I am proposing to the Village Board that a new crosswalk be placed between the Harmony House (Grange) and the old Key Bank. The photo at the left shows my proposal. Almost every Friday night, there is a teenage dance at the Harmony House and many kids are crossing the street from the Harmony House to Burger King. Burger King will soon leave the Village but the property has been sold the Cams Pizzera. So the pedestrian traffic might actually increase! The approval for this will was sought on May 22. The Board on that date did agree to investigate the possbility of a crosswalk at the Harmony House location, but went further and asked that a letter be composed to the State asking for a comprehensive review of ALL existing Village crosswalks, as well. This is a timely issue and reflects our Comprehensive Plan's intent to make this a "walkable village."

Posted May 12, 2008: The Webster Economic Coalition. I am a huge proponent of cooperation between the Village and Town, the Chamber of Commerce, BID and school district to forward economic development in the Village. That said, I am cautiously optimistic at the efforts to composed an RFP in anticipation of hiring an Economic Developer. Cautious with regards to the price tag: $60,000 to $100,000 for ten months work; optimistic because we do need a concerted effort in the Village to foster a positive economic climate with special emphasis on securing help from the state and federal governments. That kind of money demands accountablity and clearly defined goals. I want to thank the Mayor for actually writing my suggestions into the present RFP. Now I would ask that very clear and consise goals be included as well. I also think a greater time horizon must be considered along with potential costs: 10 months will go quickly; we need to be prepared.

Posted May 11, 2008: Laptops. The purchase of the laptop computers by the Village Board has generated some discussion and concern from some of our residents. I voted for the puchase because I believe the laptops can save time and provide more accurate information for the entire Board to make decisions. At the same time, I recognize that the laptops are expensive - over $6000. In the weighing cost versus utility, utility just barely won out for me, but it did win out. I think our Village is on the leading edge of this issue. It will save paper, it will save office time, it will result in all Board members getting the same information, and it will facilite standarding the way the Village office interacts with the Board. It also isolates the information at every meeting that is potentially subject to FOIL requests and thus allows us as trustees greater freedom in releasing that information without a FOIL request being necessary. Time will ultimately tell if it was a good move, but I believe we were right.

Posted February 29, 2008: Beautiful Mural. The Village meeting room is undergoing extensive renovations. Trustee Rickard is spearheading those efforts. In addition to moving the Mayor's photos into the meeting room, she has lead the effort to restore the beautiful historical mural donated to the Village in 1991. At that time, I remember it being in back of the Board table over in Village Hall in an area that is now offices. Well - what's old is new again and now the mural is restored, with a beautiful new frame, right behind the Board table. Congraudalations Donna and the DPW employees that assisted her in this effort.

Posted February 28, 2008: Rezoning in the Village. The Village Board passed a rezoning of certain parcels on Lapham Park at its meeting on February 14. I was in favor of the re-zoning and look forward to a comprehensive analysis of Village zoning. This might best be done in conjunction with the update of the Village Comprehensive Plan – an effort that will begin in 2009.

Posted February 20, 2008: 2007 in Review. Wow, what a year! The Village Board went through its greatest change with the resignation of Jack Judge and the appointment of Jake Swingly as Mayor. I was shocked and saddened at Jack's resignation, but voted to appoint Jake (the vote was 3-1 for) because of my personal knowledge of Jake's outstanding abilities and his incredible work ethic. In Jake, we have an excellent Mayor. But in 2007 we also: approved wide-ranging building code changes to Village Code; voted to cease being an assessing unit (I opposed that and it passed 3-2); approved annual training for Planning and Zoning Board members; initiated the effort to sell the Webster Museum building to the Webster Museum and Historical Society; the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay District for Lyons Dr, Baker Street, and Kircher Park passed (4-1, I voted in favor); completed an investigation into the missing documents issue and issued a very detailed report (and for the first time utilized the Hearing Board procedure outlined in the Village’s employee handbook). These were the highlights, but the Board did much more. It was a busy, enjoyable and sometimes stressful year, but it was a pleasure to  work with the Board and staff at Village Hall and  an honor to represent the residents of the Village.

Posted April 6, 2007: Publishing the Village Budget.  One of he major efforts I am undertaking in the next year is to further open up how and what Village government does to Village residents. I am delighted that the Village Board voted to publish the Village Budget FOR THE FIRST TIME. There was an expense involved. There is almost always additional expense involved in keeping our residents informed. I believe it is worth the cost. Armed with the budget, I hope residents can see we are trying to spend their money wisely. There will be no tax rate increase this year. We are holding the line on many items while expanding our commitment to improving Village infrastructure and our support for the Business District. The Budget Hearing on the Preliminary Budget is at 8:15 on April 20. Since Village residents pay about $250 or so a year on taxes, it is very important that if anyone has any concerns, the come to our meeting and let us know. If you have any comments for me before that, please do not hesitate to call me or email me.

Posted March 1, 2007: Traffic in the Village. Recently, the Village Board heard from the residents on Elm Street regarding challenges they have had policing their own neighborhood about parking. Cars have been parking on the street directly across from each other and blocking traffic. The first suggestion was to restrict parking to one side of the street, but that would bias that side and perhaps create a worse problem as demand for each space increased. Also, the presence of “No Parking” signs on the street would compromise its beauty and charm. The Village Board resolved to send the residents a letter reminding them to be friendly and co-operative. Subsequent to that discussion, I spoke a gentleman on Kittleberger Park and he expressed some of the same concerns. At the Village Board meeting on February 22nd, I introduced a resolution for the Planning Board to review and make recommendation on one of two possible local laws attempting to maintain the free flow of traffic. I am not against parking in any way (I park in front of my own house), but we need to keep parking from impeding the flow of traffic through our Village streets. I respect the idea of neighbors patrolling their own streets, but we should have a general local law expressing the very common sense idea of keeping our streets for safe and effective travel.

Posted February 7, 2007: Village Zoning. I am concerned about the present zoning in the Kircher Park and Baker Street corridor. I live in this area and know first hand the type of homes we have on both streets and and traffic that would be produced by more intensive development. At the February workshop of the Village Board, we referred this question to the Village Planning Board for their review. It seems to me that the present zoning, which allows townhouses, is out of character with the homes on Kircher Park and Baker Street. I am in favor of extending the zoning or zoning similar to that on Elm Street and Lapham Park (for instance) to encompass the north side of East Main Street, Kircher Park and Baker Street.

Posted February 1, 2007: The Attorney’s Bill. There has a great deal of discussion about the Attorney Bill generated in the initial investigation of the missing documents. I have included on this website both the non-confidential report by Jim Hollihan, the entire bill, and my letter to the Board expressing my opinion that we have a strong position in NOT paying the bill since no retainer agreement was signed between Hollihan and the Village (click download area). I am OPPOSED to Village residents paying this bill. The investigation was not authorized by the Board and there was no retainer to define the scope of the investigation. The Board did allow the investigation to continue so I have put forth the option of the BOARD MEMBERS paying the bill (assuming it should be paid at all): the Board did not favor that solution. However, I have grave reservations about the Hollihan report and concerns about its cost and its conclusions. I will not vote to use tax payer money to pay this bill and do not favor paying the amount charged. See the Hearing Board’s report for a better understanding of the omissions and errors contained in the Hoolihan Report (click download area).

Posted January 31, 2007: Assessing Power of the Village. I believe it is very important that the Village maintain its assessing authority. I respect the Town Assessor and historically, the Town has generally gone to great pains to ensure the accuracy of their assessments. However, I am not a proponent of consolidation. While the centralization of government and services looks attractive in the short term, I believe it actually costs more in the long-run. Additionally, I firmly believe that the more options residents have to appeal a ruling of their government, the better. The Village provides a way for residents to seek relief from a poor assessment, even if it has been sustained by the Town. Furthermore, the Village has special circumstances the Town does not. We have a unique business district and unique zoning. It is important that we retain authority, if only as a last resort, over the assessment function.

Posted January 25, 2007: The Hearing Board. Most Village Boards do not also act as Hearing Boards if disputes are filed by employees. Our's does. It has been a long process - taking about 8 months - for us to hear from witnesses, investigate laws and come to final decisions. This is the first disupte heard by this Village Board since the Village was formed in 1905. The results of the Hearing Board will be made public at the meeting on the 25th and can be FOILed or accessed after that time. It is my hope that the findings and recommendations of the Village Board will answer many of the questions our residents have asked regarding the removal of files from Village Hall and the three missing documents.