Public forum for wards 4 and 5 covers a variety of topics, honors a World War II veteran

To open a public meeting hosted by Ward 4 and Ward 5 city council members Al McGinnis (left) and Kathy Briggs (right), World War II veteran Ken Dehm was honored with a plaque. Presenting the plaque, above, is Legislator Gary Maha, and joining in the presentation, Councilman Bob Bialkowski.

Dehm served in the Atlantic Theater in the Navy aboard a seaplane tender. The seaplanes hunted German U-boats.

Following the presentation, the floor was open to the dozen or so Ward 4 and Ward 5 residents who turned out for the meeting and they asked questions of McGinnis, Briggs, Bialkowski, Maha, and Police Chief Shawn Heubusch.

John Roach ran the meeting and made a few comments himself along the way. Capt. Bob Fix, City fire, also made a short presentation on fire safety and burn pits in the city.

The first topic raised was the anticipated methadone clinic at GCASA (Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Inc.)

Heubusch addressed the issue and as the city's top cop said he has no concerns about the clinic and said he believes it will benefit opiate addicts living in our community.

He said such clinics are proven to reduce crime in communities where they are established and that currently any person going through methadone treatment must travel to Rochester or Buffalo for their maintenance dosage.

The new clinic will allow them to get help closer home and make treatment available to more local addicts. The new clinic will not mean addicts will travel here from outside Genesee, Wyoming or Orleans counties because all of the other surrounding counties have clinics.

"Historically speaking, this is a known and proven program that has been around since the 1970s that will help people addicted to opiates," Heubusch said. "I can’t speak in detail about the scientific accuracy of that. All  I can tell you is it works. It’s been proven to work."

The next issue raised was the possibility of restoring and saving the stone pillars at the entrance to Redfield Parkway.  

Redfield resident Jim Owen is an advocate for the project and argued the pillars are of aesthetic and historic significance to the entire community. Other residents at the meeting disagreed and said they didn't want tax dollars spent on the project.

The City Council has authorized a $4,000 study by an engineering firm to find out what is needed to save the pillars. 

"It's a complicated issue and we can't go any further without more information and cost estimates," McGinnis said.

Former Legislator Ed Dejaneiro asked if any of the $17 million the county will have in the bank from the sale of the County Nursing Home will go to infrastructure needs in the City of Batavia.

Legislator John Deleo, who had taken a seat in the audience a few minutes earlier, was invited at that point to take a seat at the front table.

He said the Legislature will triage the county's infrastructure needs and prioritize how the $17 million will be spent. That could include city projects if they rise to the top of the priority list.

Maha raised the issue of the South Lyon Street Bridge and read a letter he had received from County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens about replacement of the bridge.

The abutments for the bridge were built in 1950 and the current bridge was installed on top of those abutments in 1982. It's the abutments that are deteriorating.  Hens said the bridge is safe. The county has been applying for federal funds to replace the bridge for several years. The cost is an estimated $3 million.

Complications with bridge replacement include the fact that the south abutment is actually under South Main Street. There is also an area that was likely a burial ground during the War of 1812 for victims of either a cholera or typhoid epidemic. Hens said he didn't think any bodies will be found, but archeological work will be required.

The new bridge will likely need to be two lanes, which will mean purchasing at least one house (perhaps through eminent domain) on the north side of the Tonawanda Creek.

An audience member advocated for going to a strong mayor form of government. Bialkowski said right now the city must abide by the city charter, which mandates a city manager, so the Council will seek to hire a new city manager.

If residents would rather have a mayor, Bialkowski said, it will take a petition drive and a charter committee made up of local residents.

“That's up to you the citizens to decide," Bialkowski said. "It’s not up to us.”

Another topic was the proposed apartment complex on East Main Street with one resident complaining there are too many apartments in Batavia.

Roach jumped in on that one and noted that when the project was going through the planning process, nobody showed up to oppose it.

He delivered a long statement about the need to get involved, otherwise, you may not get what you want out of the city.

"If you don’t show up then I would say shut up," Roach said. "Be there. Show up. Speak up. Say something. A half year later doesn’t count."

Chief Shawn Heubusch

Councilman Al McGinnis standing and Councilwoman Kathy Briggs seated.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski

Ed Dejaneiro and Kathy Owen