Boston Board rejects the halting of bus services between Boston and Buffalo

The Boston Town Board convened for its first meeting in 2012 on Jan. 4 and overwhelmingly disapproved a proposal by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority to stop bus service between downtown Buffalo and the town of Boston, 5-0.

Councilman Jay Boardway said that, on Dec. 27 in “The Buffalo News,” “the NFTA published a list of termination sites” that it planned to no longer provide services to. “They were kind enough to not give anyone advanced warning [and] to let us know that way that they were deciding to eliminate all bus service from downtown Buffalo out to the town of Boston,” he added.

“About five years ago, they had gone ahead and reduced the service out here. Now they’re eliminating, or proposing at least, of eliminating it entirely.”

There are two buses that currently run between downtown Buffalo and Boston, at 6:45 and 7:10 a.m. and at 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. In addition to noting that several residents use the service to travel between Buffalo and Boston for work and school, Boardway also said that “we are in the middle of renovations of the park and ride by Brunner’s Pizzeria” and that “we have big plans for that. We’ve already allocated funds for a bus shelter there to be erected this year as soon as the weather is good.”

Boardway said that the board plans to take action on the matter by “attending public hearings and hopefully getting a letter-writing campaign going to other elected officials and the NFTA Board of Directors.”

Boston Supervisor Martin Ballowe recommended that any resident who utilizes the bus service take the time to call the NFTA or his or her local representative.

“We are highly opposed to this elimination of service - as if we don’t even exist,” Boardway said.

In another matter, Councilman Jeffery Genzel reported that the Cole Road Water Extension project was started on Monday, Jan. 9. According to Genzel, the board received an email from Boston’s Grant Writer, Connie Minor, that said that the town was approved for a $100,000 grant.

Minor’s email, which Genzel read aloud, said, “The town’s contract is in the process of being fully executed. This means we can move forward with the project and submit reimbursement as soon as you have $100,000 in construction expenses.”

Ballowe said that the total cost of the project is expected to be $171,000 and explained that the grant will “lower what each resident over 38 years [is] going to pay back for that water district to cover the cost of it.”

Genzel added that the board received a Final Notice of Intent from Erie County Agricultural District and told those in attendance that this was the “last step we need to get the project rolling.”

The Cole Road Water Extension was started in summer 2011 as a result of a petition by Cole Road residents.

In other board matters:

- Boston resident Brian Yormick addressed two of Boston’s newest councilmen, Gary Vara and Lawrence Murtha, as he said, “I just want to say, Mr. Vary, Mr. Murtha, I hope you’re a lot more honest with this town board and the citizens of Boston than you were with your political fliers and letters that you put out in the fall.

“You’ll find out a lot of it which you put out was lies and just blatant not true facts. I just hope you guys can work together with this board and be … cooperative in 2012 as the town board and for the citizens of Boston.”

- The board authorized Ballowe to sign a notice for the New York State Department of Health that allows the Patchin Fire Department to continue to provide emergency medical care.

Boardway explained that the Patchin Fire Company’s authority in this matter was suspended on Jan. 1 because “some of the paperwork wasn’t properly completed. Since that point in time, various paperwork that had to be secured and the various confirmations with the department of health have been made.”

- Town board meetings will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. The agenda review was also set to the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6.

- The North Boston branch of the Evans National Bank was designated as the official bank for the town supervisor, clerk, justices, tax collector and dog control officer.

- The supervisor and tax collector were authorized to invest surplus monies. Ballowe is responsible for keeping a record of all investments and reporting this to town board members monthly.

- The board approved the use of a check writer and signature stamp for the supervisor.

- The town clerk was authorized to send letters to refuse collectors when their annual licenses are due.

- Mileage reimbursement was increased from 40 to 46 cents per mile.

- Public improvement specifications will be approved by the board if Highway Superintendent Robert Telaak and Town Engineer James Hannon are in agreement.

- A motion was carried that approved the town clerk to have a petty cash fund of $300 and the town justice to have a petty cash fund of $200.

- The employee holiday schedule for 2012 was approved.

- Norman Hertz’s resignation from the Conservation Advisory Council was accepted.

- Gary Vara was named to the NEST Solid Waste Management Board.

Liaison assignments:

- Boardway’s responsibilities include the fire department, the fire benefit program, Haz-Mat, insurance and Parks and Recreation.

- Genzel’s responsibilities include the Planning Board, engineering, Christmas lighting and the Boston Community Foundation.

- Murtha’s responsibilities include the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Boston Historical Society, traffic and highway safety, drainage and streets and lighting.

- Vara’s responsibilities include the emergency squad, the Conservation Advisory Council, cable TV, senior citizens, solid waste and nutrition.

Political appointments approved by the board

The following appointments were sworn into one-year terms and had their salaries approved by the board:

- Michael Kobiolka: part-time town attorney; Kelly Vacco – part-time deputy town attorney and prosecutor; William G. Ferguson – part-time code enforcement officer.

- Joseph Webber: part-time dog control officer; Marilyn B. Clesse: part-time recreation director; Telaak: parks; John Sibenik: part-time court officer; Daniel Mule’: part-time court officer; Karen Miller: part-time court clerk; Elizabeth Weitzel: part-time highway; Paula Litwin: part-time webmaster clerk; Suzanna Fitzner: part-time assessment clerk.

- Thelma Faulring: part-time secretary to boards and committees; Theresa Horschel: part-time nutrition program director; Joyce Jensen: part-time assistant nutrition director; Lori Valentine: part-time assistant nutrition director; Leo Jensen: part-time town hall laborer; Joyce Carr: marriage officer; Jacob Karb III: liaison at Cobblehill Cemetery; William Sodja: part-time town hall cleaner.

- Kathy Selby: budget director; Hannon: town engineer; Richard Brox: town planning consultant; David J. Shenk: registrar of vital statistics; Jennifer A. Mule’: deputy registrar of vital statistics; Elizabeth Martin: sub-registrar of vital statistics.

The following appointments were made by Ballowe and approved by the board:

- Boardway: deputy town supervisor; Kathleen Telaak: assistant to supervisor; Selby: bookkeeper; Keith Kaszubik: town historian.

The following appointments were made by Shenk and approved by the board: Mule’: deputy town clerk; Martin: part-time deputy town clerk.

The following positions were approved to a bi-weekly payment system: town clerk, deputy town clerks, supervisor, assistant to supervisor, highway superintendent, deputy highway superintendent, bookkeeper, court clerk, part-time clerk, assessor, assessment clerk, secretary to boards and committees, M.E.O.s, truck drivers and laborers. All other town workers are paid on a monthly basis.

A six-hour workday was assigned to the following positions: town justices, supervisor, code enforcement officer, town attorney, recreation director, assessment clerk, part-time deputy town clerk, dog control officer, court officer, councilman, deputy supervisor, deputy code enforcement officer, deputy town attorney and prosecutor, summer recreation supervisor, town hall cleaner, assessor and deputy dog control officer.

A seven-hour workday was assigned to the to the following positions: town clerk, superintendent of highways, bookkeeper, court clerk, deputy town clerk, deputy highway superintendent and assistant to town supervisor.

The next Boston Town Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. following the audit meeting at 6.