The Genesee County Economic Development Center should recover more than $344,000 in bonus payments to employees made from 2005 through 2009, according to a report issued Wednesday by New York Authorities Budget Office.

The ABO is responsible for fiscal oversight of certain local agencies, including industrial development agencies.

In a scathing report (pdf), ABO officials say that GCEDC made bonus payments that do not comply either with state law or guidelines.

In the case of one bonus payment, the report recommends the matter be referred to a local law enforcement agency for further review.

"GCIDA (aka, GCEDC) officials justified its bonus practices as proper and comparable to bonus incentive plans in use by private industry," the report reads. "GCIDA officials continue to show a lack of understanding that the GCIDA is a public entity and not a private industry."

The report is also critical of the $153,000 annual salary for Executive Directory Steve Hyde. Hyde's base salary is the highest in the state for any IDA, the report states, and significantly higher than any IDA director in Western New York, and higher by far than any other public employee in Genesee County.

In 2009, GCEDC paid out $91,000 in bonuses, with $60,000 going to Hyde.

The report is critical of how the board of directors arrived at its bonus structure, not using an individual's performance goals set at the beginning of a calendar year, but instead basing bonuses on available funds at the end of the year and whether overall group goals were met.

The report says that criteria violates a state comptroller's advisory opinion issued more than 10 years ago, though the state law governing IDA's does not specifically address bonus compensation.

According to the report, up until 2010, an informal subcommittee of the GCEDC board would meet and determine the bonus amount and structure for the agency's employees. Generally, the decision would be made in December with bonuses paid at the beginning of January. But in January 2007, more than $54,000 in bonus payments were disbursed even though the bonuses were not approved by the board until a month later.

While officials told ABO investigators that bonuses were paid based on agency performance, the report states that in 2008 the GCEDC did not meet its job creation goals, yet $91,000 in bonus payments were approved; and, for 2005, $55,000 in bonus payments were approved, even though GCEDC met neither goals for job creation nor capital investment.

For 2008 a $500 bonus was paid to a consultant even though there was no provision in the $60,000 contract for a bonus.

"Although we make no judgment as to whether such an expenditure of public funds is legal," the report reads, "we are referring this to local law enforcement officials for further review."

The report recommends that the $500 be recovered from the consultant. The consultant is not named in the report.

The report notes that Hyde's salary has increased from $82,950 in 2004 to $153,000  in 2009. In comparison, the IDA director in Orleans County earned $58,000 in 2009 and the Erie County director received $133,911. Among other Genesee County public employees, the District Attorney has the highest salary after Hyde at $118,187.

The report reads:

The GCIDA justified its practices, both in regard to bonus payments and salary structure, by referring to private industry standards and principals, and pointing out that GCIDA has its own private revenue source, and that payments are made with private funds. We are disheartened by this attitude and perspective.

The GCIDA relies extensively on Genesee County for financial support. For the five-year period 2004 through 2009, the GCIDA received more than $1.3 million in operating funds from Genesee County, almost 20 percent of its total operating revenues. Salary and compensation are part of the GCIDA's operating budget. So, directly or indirectly, the taxpayers of Genesee County contribute to the cost of supporting the GCIDA.

According to the GCEDC's 2011 program budget, anticipated revenue is $1.5 million with $266,217 coming from Genesee County. The remaining revenue is comprised of fees, grants -- including $475,000 from National Grid and $750,000 from the Town of Pembroke (over three years) -- and other unspecified sources.

The budget statement says that through August 2010, GCEDC supported 16 economic development projects, generated commitments for 50 new jobs over the next three years and $18.5 million in capital investment.

Among its ongoing projects: Gateway II, Buffalo East Technology Park, Med & Tech Park, Apple Tree Acres, Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park and WNY Stamp.

Genesee County's six village's could face a substantial expense if they want to use the Board of Election's modern voting machines, Election Commissioner Richard Siebert told the Ways and Means Committee this afternoon.

The exact cost per village hasn't been determined yet, but it starts with more than 56 cents per ballot to feed into the machines and includes staff support and security.

Only certified staff can supervise the machines in order to ensure there is no tampering, Siebert said.

While school districts can continue to use the old lever machines through the 2012 elections, villages and fire districts are prohibited from allowing voters to pull on the old levers from now on.

The Board of Elections will bring forward a resolution to the Legislature to declare the lever machines surplus property, at which point they can be donated to school districts, if they want them.

For villages and fire districts, they have two choices: shoulder the costs of using the new election computers or use paper ballots.

Legislator Bob Bausch said that Bergen will use paper ballots for its next election.

A proposal to license home improvement contractors who do work in the City of Batavia is being put on hold while further research is done into how the proposed law should be implemented.

The matter has been referred to City Attorney George Van Nest.

City Manager Jason Molino told the City Council about the change in direction during the budget review meeting at City Hall tonight.

While Councilman Bob Bialkowski spoke out against the proposal and Councilwoman Rosemary Christian said she's received a lot of calls on the matter, Council Bill Cox said given the trouble he had with a contractor last year, he leans toward support the proposal.

The proposal was included in the 2011/12 budget. The plan was to impose a $125 annual license fee for contractors doing a variety of home improvement projects, from painting to driveway paving and several other types of improvements.

Christian said there was a lot of confusion about the proposal, such as some people calling her expressing concern that the kid who mows lawns during the summer would have to pay the city $125 per year.

Molino said it's those kinds of definitions that the city attorney will clear up in the research and review process.

There's no timeline for when the proposal might be brought back to the council for consideration.

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck a pedestrian on Ross Street on Tuesday night.

The 16-year-old girl who was struck was treated for minor injuries at UMMC.

The car is described as a dark colored "old style" sports car. The driver is described as a dark-skinned male.

According to Batavia Police, the pedestrian was walking east on Ross when the car, which was heading east on Washington Avenue, failed to stop at the stop sign. The driver made a right-hand turn to head south on Ross and struck the pedestrian.

Anybody with information that might help with the investigation is asked to call Batavia PD at 345-6350.

A two-car accident, without injuries, is reported at the intersection of Main and Oak streets in the City of Batavia. It is blocking the intersection.

Police are on scene and requesting additional manpower to handle traffic. Two flatbeds tow trucks are requested.

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.: The Batavia Fire Department is called to the scene because one of the vehicles is leaking fluids.

A Batavia mother who admitted that she tried to smuggle oxycodone into the Genesee County Jail for her son will spend five years on probation, County Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled today.

Kathleen Catino, 60, of Seven Springs Road, entered a guilty plea in November. She tried to bring the drugs in September to Cain Catino, 39, who had recently been arrested for an attempted robbery of prescription drugs from the Oakfield Pharmacy.

I’m sorry," she told Noonan. "Would I do again? No. It’s very hard to watch your child suffer. It’s been a very long 15 years."

Dressed all in black, Catino also complained to the judge that  officials at Oneida State Prison are not providing her son -- serving one-and-a-third to three years for attempted robbery -- with the substance abuse treatment Noonan ordered.

He responded that in some areas the legislature has not granted him the power to require corrections officials to do everything he might require of a convict.

"Short of that authority, they're on their own and know more about the business they conduct than I do," Noonan said.

As for Catino's actions, the judge told her "You have to understand, and everybody needs to understand, that just because you see somebody suffering you can’t take the law into your own hands to correct the difficulty."

Noonan did allow Catino, who has no prior criminal history, to retain her driver's license, finding that taking it from her would have posed a significant hardship.

As part of the plea agreement, Catino agreed to be searched or have her home searched by probation at any time.

This is the view of the Tonawanda Creek behind the court house at about 3 p.m.

The weather advisory is lifted.  There is about a 40-percent chance of snow showers tonight.

A fire alarm has sounded at the Walmart on Veterans Memorial Drive. A caller reports the meat case in the grocery section is smoking, but no fire is present.

Town of Batavia Fire Department is responding.

No announcement about evacuating the store has been mentioned on the scanner, but pedestrian traffic at the scene is said to be heavy.

"There's definately the odor of electrical smoke," says a firefighter.

The meat cooler is on the west side of building. Responders say they may need to dismantle the meat case to reach the source of the problem.

The firefighters are asking for a thermal imaging camera and other appropriate equipment.

UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: A firefighter says there's definately an electrical fire in either the cooling or lighting element in the meat cooler. They are working to isolate the problem.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: More manpower is called to the scene. A firefighter says the problem is in the lighting element. They have "shut down the main power to the whole building." They want a couple of people to get shopping carts and go to the meat cooler and load them up with product so as to cut Walmart's loss. They are going to use "CO," chemicals, to fight the fire. They want tarps to protect surfaces. They are working to isolate the lighting breakers so other power in the store can be restored.

UPDATE 3:26 p.m.: They are working with management to contact an electrician to go to the scene.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: A local contractor has been called and is en route. Meanwhile, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets has been notified, per protocol when food products are involved in a fire emergency.

UPDATE 3:37 p.m.: The state Department of Health has also been notified and will be in touch with Walmart management.

A Batavia man accused of forcible rape can get out of jail while he awaits further legal proceedings if he can raise $10,000 in either cash or bond.

Patrick J. Donahue, 21, of 44 Williams St., appeared in City Court today with his attorney, Kevin Earl, who argued that Donahue should be released under the supervision of Genesee Justice.

Earl also asked for a felony hearing to challenge the validity of the rape in the first degree charge. The hearing was set for 10 a.m., Friday.

Donahue is accused of raping a 30-year-old woman at a residence on Walnut Street on Jan. 10.

Assistant District Will Zickl argued that some amount of bail should be required because of the seriousness of the crime. He also noted that Donahue is currently serving a five-year probation term for a previous, unspecified, conviction.

Earl noted that Donahue has only three months left on the probationary term and has met all of his obligations while on probation.

Earl argued that the release under supervision evaluation should have given more weight to Donahue's employment. Donahue has held down a seasonal job with the same employer for three years and even though he is currently drawing unemployment, he is scheduled to go back to work Jan. 31.

Judge Robert Balbick said that while Donahue may have fallen a point short on the RUS evaluation, it's not all about points. The evaluation does not take into consideration the seriousness of the crime.

Donahue, who appeared in court in a jail jumpsuit and shackled, with a paragraph-long tattoo on his upper left arm, is a lifelong Batavia resident and graduate of Batavia High School.

Eight or nine family members, along with Donahue's girlfriend, were in the courtroom for the hearing.

"I think that shows the support my client has and what they believe about the viability of this charge," Earl said. "They don't think my client would do these things."

As a precautionary measure, the children at Wolcott Street School in Le Roy are being evacuated because of the smell of natural gas.

Rochester Gas & Electric Co. has been notified. Le Roy fire and ambulance crews are responding in case they are needed.

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: Wolcott Street is being shut down. RG&E is on location. All Le Roy manpower is called to the scene. The school is at 6 Trigon Park.

UPDATE 12:08 p.m.: RG&E has pinpointed where the natural gas smell is coming from and is fixing it. But the children are continuing to exit the school as instructed. An officer asks if a group of kids wearing T-shirts from gym class can be escorted to the nearby church and/or MacDonald's to keep warm. A supervisor says "I think we're going to have to put everybody in the far building on Trigon Park." A fire truck is told to park at an intersection close by, not sure which one, to help control traffic.

UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: All Le Roy ambulance units are put back in service, leaving the scene.

UPDATE 12:23 p.m.: Fire police are reopening the intersection at Main and Wolcott, and Wolcott Street as well.

A city plow struck a passenger car in the area of 400 E. Main St. in Batavia shortly after 10 a.m.

The driver appeared conscious and alert as she was helped from the car and placed on a stretcher.

The only visible damage to the car was a shredded rear tire and busted rear window.

Office Ed Mileham said until the report is done, all he could say was that the driver was making a left-hand turn into the parking lot of H.E. Turner when the city plow struck it.

Be prepared for slick roads today.

Freezing drizzle and light snow are likely to keep road salt crews busy.

The National Weather Service issued a weather advisory for cold, damp weather until 4 p.m.

Accumulation of snow is expected to be only trace amounts, but this will make for slippery roads where they haven't been treated.

Local hoteliers are so opposed to a planned Holiday Inn Express -- just north of the Thruway, off Route 98 in the Town of Batavia -- that they've hired a lawyer to make their case to local officials.

Thomas J. Warth (pictured), of Hiscock & Barclay out of Rochester, tried to make the case against the new hotel before the Town of Batavia Zoning Board on Tuesday night. But after a spirited discussion, the board voted unanimously to grant the new hotel permission to exceed local height requirements by 10  19 feet.

With local occupancy rates averaging 45 to 50 percent, hotel owners say there is no need to build another 40, let alone maybe 80, rooms (the final plans have not been presented yet).

The $3.25-million project, located at 8360 Commerce Drive, next to an existing Hampton Inn, will make use of a banquet facility already constructed at the location and include an indoor pool, fitness area, lobby and meeting space.

The developers are seeking tax incentives from the Genesee Economic Development Center. The proposed site is part of a previously prepared industrial park, so the developer will save on construction costs by going into a "shovel ready" complex.

The government-backed cost savings, combined with variances to current zoning laws, are giving the new competition too much help, local hotel operators complain.

"Why can't they live with a 40-foot height if we can survive with a 40-foot height?" asked Vibhu Joshi, owner of Days Inn and Super 8. "The new hotel is getting all kinds of goodies and all kinds of variances. I can see maybe a use variance, but why a height variance?"

Hotel owners are concerned that the height variance will allow the developer to put in even more rooms, though it wasn't clear from the application whether the additional 19 feet was for another story on the building (making it four instead of three) or if the extra height was just needed for elevator shafts.

"The additional rooms in this marketplace will have a significant impact on everybody else," said Richard Lewis, acting manager of the Travel Lodge, which recently underwent significant renovation.

Zoning Board Chairman Gary Diegelman mentioned a couple of times during the meeting that economic issues are not part of the zoning approval process. He said the owners will need to raise those concerns with the planning board, which will have final say on the variances.

Warth argued that even economic issues aside, the developer -- who was not represented at the meeting -- has not made a case for why the height variance is needed.

Diegelman said, "point taken," but added later, "I don't see any (neighboring) businesses here objecting to the height variance."

The project will go before the planning board at a future meeting, but that agenda has not been announced yet.

In order to secure a federal grant for a new helicopter, Mercy Flight apparently needs a long-term lease for its facility at the Genesee County Airport.

During Tuesday's Public Service Committee meeting, Legislator Ray Cianfrini said he's concerned that the proposed terms of the lease are not in the county's best interest.

The proposed lease would cap rent increases at 2 percent per year and Cianfrini is concerned that in the future, the county could be losing out on a good deal of potential revenue.

"It just seems to me that 25 years down the road, this could be a pittance compared to what other people are paying for similar space," Cianfrini said. "I don't ever want to lose Mercy Flight. They're a tremendous asset. But as a lawyer, as a legislator and as a taxpayer, I think it's a horrible lease for Genesee County."

David Wozniak, deputy superintendent of county highways, pointed out that Mercy Flight leases additional space for its ambulance service which isn't tied to the hangar lease. Mercy Flight owns its own hangar, and plans to build a new one, and leases the land it sits on. Also, there's no cap on the price of fuel Mercy Flight buys from the county.

The terms of the lease require a mutual agreement to renew every five years, but because of a discrepancy between the lease language and supporting documents provided to legislators, a vote on the lease was tabled and the matter was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

Ways and Means meets today at 4 o'clock in the Old Courthouse.

Genesee County will receive a $29,195 state grant to help authorities deal with pets during major emergencies.

Acceptance of the grant was approved by the County Legislature's Public Service Committee today.

In 2010, the Office of Emergency Services drafted an emergency response plan for the county that would cover a range of contingencies for natural and man-made disasters. Part of the plan involves dealing with pets' safety because people often won't evacuate a dangerous location if it means leaving pets behind.

While voting in favor of the grant acceptance, committee Chairman Jay Grasso expressed concern that the government was spending money on pets in current economic conditions.

"Don't get me wrong," Grasso said. "I love my dogs. They won the dog lottery with me. But in these tough economic times, I just don't understand spending money on pets."

The grant is funded by the NYS Division of Homeland Security.

It will be spent on the purchase of mobile pet-sheltering equipment and training.

The emergency pet plan is being developed in conjunction with regional emergency partners Wyoming and Orleans counties.

Authorities are asking for help in locating a missing youth who may be in Batavia.

Nathaniel Davis, 15, may be in the company of a 17-year-old girl.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

Davis reportedly is a runaway.

He is described as black with brown eyes, 5' 3", 175lbs.

Anybody with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-346-3543.

A 48-year-old woman is facing two felony charges, accused of stealing $6,172 from her employer, a child-care facility.

Doris M. Castle, of 8325 Vallance Road, Le Roy, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and falsifying business records, 1st.

Castle is accused of pocketing funds from clients who paid in cash for child-care services.

Det. John Condidorio said Castle also allegedly altered a cash receipt journal in order to try and cover up her alleged thefts.

Castle was releasedon her own recognizance.

A 21-year-old Batavia man has been accused of forcibly raping a 30-year-old woman.

Charged with rape in the first degree is Patrick J. Donahue, of 44 Williams St.

He was jailed without bail following arraignment today in City Court.

He is accused of raping a woman at a residence on Walnut Street the evening of Jan. 10.