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City Council Continues Constables Discussion

Lt. Tim Kindberg of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office discusses the role of the Civil Division to the Jamestown City Council on Monday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Even though the conversation wasn’t supposed to be about constables, the Jamestown City Council discussed the subject once again during its work session meeting Monday.

Todd Thomas, city clerk and administrative services director, invited Lt. Tim Kindberg of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office to talk about the Civil Division, which handles court order evictions. Kindberg said he has been leading the department for 15 years and also talked to city officials in 2003 when the council was debating whether they should have constables.

Kindberg began his discussion by stating the Sheriff’s Office has no official position on constables. He discussed the role of the Civil Division which, along with himself, has two other deputies.

Kindberg said the office enforces the decision of the courts, which includes evictions. He said they perform evictions in the city, with fewer than one a month usually occurring. He added that the two deputies in his office perform evictions throughout the county, with one handling the job in the north county while the other handles the responsibility in the south county.

Kindberg discussed the long eviction process from notice of payment to notice of eviction to finally a court ordered warrant of eviction. He said typically the process takes between four to six weeks. He added the Civil Division also handles other task like garnished wages, civil warrants and the seizure of property.

Anthony Liuzzo, At-Large councilman, said from his discussions with landlords, they would like a quicker response when it comes to evictions. He said one way of providing a quicker response would be if city officials filled the empty constable position.

According to the city’s charter, three constables are supposed to serve the city. Currently, only two people are appointed to the position, with one position being empty.

Last month during the council’s voting session meeting, three people, which included a city attorney, landlord and constable, asked the council to fill the other empty constable position. Following the meeting, Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, said city officials are currently vetting the application of Dan Hill as a potential constable. The mayor also said Hill had applied for the position before, but was not accepted because, at the time, he didn’t live in the city.

Liuzzo said filling the empty constable position doesn’t cost the city any money, with landlords paying the costs. He suggested that city officials should advertise the empty position to hopefully draw more attention from people eligible to apply. To be eligible the person has to be insured, live in the city and has a year to receive training for position.

Anthony Dolce, Ward 2 councilman, said there is no point in the council discussing the issue without Teresi, who was absent from the meeting, because it is a mayoral’s appointment. He suggested the topic be discussed again when Teresi is present.

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