The former Village of Farnham Elementary School was closed in 1976 by the Lake Shore Central School District due to declining enrollment. In the 1980’s, the school district sold the building at auction to a private individual who unfortunately did not have the resources to develop the property, and/or pay the property taxes which quickly rose to over $160,000. Upon this person’s death, the property was donated in the 1990’s to the Southtowns Rural Preservation Co., a not-for-profit housing group out of Boston, NY who intended to renovate the building into senior low-income apartments. Having applied for DHCR (Division of Housing and Community Renewal) grant funds two years in a row and being unsuccessful, SRPC abandoned any further efforts. Ultimately the building continued to deteriorate and went from being a community eyesore to a community hazard due to asbestos contamination, the threat of roofing collapse, 5 feet of water in the basement and SRPC’s inability to secure the building from unwanted intruders. The concern for this situation and the safety of the residents of the Village of Farnham led village officials to step up their efforts to have the 22,000 square foot building demolished. In 2006, Mayor Terry Caber petitioned Erie Co. Environment & Planning Commissioner Drew Eszak to use Erie Co. administered federal HUD Funds to demolish the building. Commissioner Eszak released $400,000 in HUD Funds, and Senator Dale M. Volker, (Depew) secured $40,000 in NY State Education Funds, along with a Local Share of $10,000 from the Village of Farnham to provide the nearly $450,000 in estimated funds needed for demolition. The ECTCC, Erie Co. Tax Certificate Corp. (Erie Co.) foreclosed on the property to secure it from Southtowns Rural Preservation Corp. with the intent to return title to the Village of Farnham in order to proceed with demolition efforts. The Village of Farnham hired a local consulting engineering firm, Malcolm Pirnie (located in the Key Center, Buffalo, NY) to prepare a bid specification for a demolition contractor and assist the village with project oversight. Ontario Specialty Contracting headquartered in Buffalo, NY was awarded the contract in January and has begun preparations to demolish the building and send all associated asbestos contaminated wastes to a special landfill in Minerva, Ohio. The demolition project is expected to last approximately one month in duration and should be completed mid to end April. Farnham Mayor Caber said, “The efforts of Commissioner Eszak and Senator Volker have afforded us the opportunity to remove a long standing safety hazard from our community. I am especially grateful to them for their assistance in securing this financing package. This action will further enhance the Village of Farnham’s efforts to begin seeking Economic Development opportunities along the Route 5 corridor, in partnership with the Town of Brant.” “The taxpayers of the Village of Farnham paid to have this building constructed in 1947 and unfortunately have had to bear the burden of seeing it deteriorate over the last 30 years. Fortunately, they are now able to see some results for this building which was abandoned by their school district. This should be a warning to those areas that have abandoned buildings in their community that someone needs to take responsibility for closing facilities such as schools and churches, and not leave the community or others to determine their fate or bear the financial responsibility.” said Mayor Caber.

     During the March 2007 Brant Town Board meeting, Supervisor Leonard Pero gave the following State of the Town report: “As of January 1, 2007, the Town of Brant is in a very healthy financial position. We started 2006 by freezing the wages of all Town employees, which in the long run helped stabilize our financial condition. We revamped our Police Department which has given our community more protection by changing hours and expanding services, making our roads and community SAFER. The Memorial Park is being renovated with a $45,000 grant. We purchased and added 9 acres of park land and 5 acres of Town land in which we are in the process of improving our Town Park with a $50,000 grant. We beautified our Town with flags and held a very successful Summerfest and Concert in the Park Series, for which we received $1,200 in grant money. We changed solid waste companies and saved our taxpayers $16,000. We held 3 Town Forum Meetings and sent out newsletters to inform our community. We aggressively invested in CD’s to maximize our interest income. With the help of the Town Clerk, we received grants for updating our Code book on line and put new file cabinets in the Town Clerk’s and Supervisor’s offices. In fact, we received over $100,000 in grants in 2006. According to our Town accountant, Richard Gryska, we are in a financially healthier condition and are in a better position now than we were in the beginning of 2006. General Fund Town wide $273,340.59 With Reserves -31,737.70 Unreserved balance of $241,602.89 This is up from the 2005 unappropriated balance of $67,351.32. All funds are up $117,820 from last year. This is all due to the fact that our total revenues for 2006 were greater by $138,317 (CD money, sales tax, fines ) over our 2006 budget and our expenses were $157,621 les than our 2006 budget amount (insurance, payroll and snow removal savings). This, in effect, is a net positive of $295.938. As for 2007, I am very excited—we have a very cooperative Town Board ready to move forward for the residents of this community. This year we will see the Memorial Park completed with a beautiful clock tower. Surfside Drive will have a water extension so homes can be built, which will increase the Town’s tax base, and help lower taxes. Also, a fire hydrant will be placed on Old Lake Shore Road for Fire Safety. The Town Park will be in its 1st phase of development with new playground equipment and the beginning of a walking-jogging path. The Senior Community Building will be rededicated and remodeled with new windows, a patio, and kitchen facilities. The Town Hall has a new Code Officer’s office, improved storage space and a soon to come coffee break area. We will have a new backhoe and we are looking into a Police K-9 vehicle. The beginning of sidewalk repairs and clean up of our Town will be a MUST. We have a committee to look into the development of the Lake, Route 5 and 20 corridors, and monthly meetings scheduled with Erie County Planning. The future projections are even more exciting as our Town will keep its rural atmosphere, but grow with controlled growth along the lake shore and Eastern boundaries. The future can bring us a bike path connecting with Evans, a golf course, a boat launch, beach front, a light industrial park, water and sewers on Route 5, water and development on our eastern boundary. A wireless Town to bring business to our community and public transportation, this is what can be done, and it is very exciting.”

     The Brant Town Board met in regular session on March 13, 2007. All members were present. Supervisor Leonard Pero thanked Judge Peter Gugino for representing the Town of Brant at the Lake Shore School Board meeting to express the Town’s concern over the proposed closing of a district school. Three schools were suggested as possibly closing: Brant, Waugh and Hoag. The reason for the closings is an effort to save taxpayer money. The amount of the savings of a closed school would be 1/4 of 1 % of the total budget (approximately $145,000). The district has recently spent more than $4.5 million to upgrade the three schools. The committee looking at the closing possibility did not ask the Towns of Evans and Brant what their plans were for the future growth of the Towns which could mean additional population that would require re-opening of the buildings in the near future or building a new school, both options that would be more costly to the district taxpayers. Residents were urged to get involved and let the School Board know their feelings about closing schools.

Supervisor Pero commended and thanked Joe Gardyjan, Chairman of the Planning Board for his dedication and commitment to the Town. Mr. Gardyjan exemplifies a person who truly cares about the Town. He attends meetings at his own expense, asks for nothing from the Town, takes no money for his position as Planning Board Chair. He serves the Town in an effort to make it the best it can be for all residents.

A comment had been made that the Town of Brant is just the Four Corners. Supervisor Pero said that statement is not true. He explained that the Board is working for the WHOLE Town. There are projects that are being explored for development of all areas of the Town from the lake to North Collins, from the Reservation to Evans. Developers have been contacted and discussions held regarding retail stores, gated communities, a medical park, a museum and more that will increase the tax base of the area. The viability of additional water and sewer lines in the Town are being studied. The WHOLE Town is important to the Board. The Board is there to serve the residents, all the residents. Supervisor Pero explained that a Town Board meeting is a sacred place where no person should be insulted or abused. During Privilege of the Floor, insults and abuse will not be tolerated and offenders will be asked to leave.

The Memorial Park is almost completed. The concrete work is done, the lights are ready to be installed when the weather breaks and the clock has been scheduled to be shipped. The new backhoe is expected to be delivered in a week or two. There will be a Parks Commissioner meeting on Wednesday, March 21 (today), at 6:00pm to discuss recommendations for the work to be done in the Town Park. Suggestions include: removing tennis courts and putting new playground equipment there, changing the spray pool into a sandbox (It would cost approximately $35,000 to make the changes necessary for the Health Department to approve using the spray pool as is.)

In other matters, the Board

• Approved the list of training activities that would fill the 4 hour training requirement for the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals members.

• Approved a resolution urging the State to pass a new law making Computer Sex Crimes Against Children a separate offense.

• Authorized the issuance of a Serial Bond for $30,000 for the Surfside Drive Water Extension Project.

• Authorized the supervisor to sign the necessary documents relating to the $5000 playground equipment grant received through Assemblyman Jack Quinn. Set a Public Hearing for April 10 at 8pm for Proposed Local Law dealing with the Unfunded Mandated Fire Code Law.

• Received a letter asking to have registered sex offenders, living in the area, listed on the Town website. The request was referred to Bill Trask, Town Attorney to investigate putting a link to the Registered Sex Offender Registry on the Town’s website.

• Received a letter of resignation from Mike Walters as Town Disaster Coordinator for health reasons.

• Received a copy of a letter John and Betty O’Donnell sent to the Evans Town Board in support of a WalMart Superstore coming to Evans.

• Received a letter from Senator Dale Voelker acknowledging the Town’s request for member funding for the Surfside Drive Water Project. Supervisor Pero is in weekly contact with the Senator’s office concerning funding.

• Received a letter from Rural Transit that wheel chair service may be eliminated in the near future due to lack of volunteers and the cost of a wheel chair accessible van.

• Received a letter stating that in 2007, the Mandatory Notification of the use of Pesticides on lawns is not in effect because the law was not signed in time. The notification law will again take effect in 2008.

• Received a complaint, by certified mail, that the Town Board does not have jurisdiction over. The complaint was given to the proper department.

• Summerfest is scheduled for Saturday, June 24 from noon to 8pm. A parade is scheduled for 1pm with a baseball tournament planned for the afternoon.

• Town Forum meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 1pm

• Garbage cost for 2007 is approximately $159/house with Westfield and would have been $176/house with Allied.

Operation Good Neighbor to hold First Annual Music Festival

     On March 25th, Operation Good Neighbor will hold its first annual music festival at 2:00 pm at the Hamburg Wesleyan Church. Featured artists will be George E Miller, widely known baritone soloist who has done missionary work in Africa, Greece, Koyoyo, Albania and the Ukraine. Emily Tworek-Helenbrook is a 12 year old student who attends The Eastman School of Music and studies under Patricia Alexander, mother of renown opera star, Renee Fleming. Also featured will be Adrienne Tworek-Gryta, well known lyric soprano who has been guest soloist for the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras. John Roberts is a tenor from Southfield, Michigan who has performed as the King in The King and I. John is the brother of Bill Roberts, Director of Operation Good Neighbor. Tickets are ten dollars for advanced sale and twelve dollars at the door and the proceeds will be used to help us to help those families who are less fortunate right here in our own community. There will be refreshments provided after the festival generously donated by Hamburg Wesleyan Church. To brush off the winter blues and spend a heartwarming evening out among friends, contact one of the churches in your area for tickets or you may call OGN at 627-5194. Operation Good Neighbor reaches out to many families in our community living at or below the poverty level. Each week, we are open with a food pantry, have counseling services available, as well as a gently used clothing store. We also take donations of used furniture to distribute to those clients who have those needs. Our projected cost for 2007 for food alone is thirty thousand dollars. With road blocks like government cuts, many food pantries have been compelled to provide food only once a month while others have been forced to close permanently. We are reaching out to you, the community in which we serve, asking you to open your hearts and help us in meeting the needs of your neighbors.