Chief Dan Ingrao, the newly appointed head of the Ellicott Police Department, addressed complaints from residents. The Town of Ellicott is responsible for providing police services to the village.

“It’s like a racetrack along my road and Falconer Street,” said Falconer resident Joseph Taylor. “Just the other day, I yelled at a driver speeding down my street to slow down, and I ended up being assaulted in my yard.”

Fellow resident Becky Dewey supported Taylor’s concerns, recounting several alleged criminal incidents that she claims have taken place on her property.

“I haven’t felt safe for the last two years,” she said. “We have kids running around the village unsupervised, vandalism happening, and people driving down our roads like it’s a speedway – blowing through stop signs and trespassing to steal. What is going on?”

From left to right, Ellicott Police Chief Dan Ingrao, Falconer Village Clerk Cynthia Capestrani, Village Treasurer Paula Spunaugle, Village Trustees Alan Gustafson Jr. and Timothy Dunn, Mayor James Jaroszynski, and Trustees Anthony “Skipp” Cavallaro and Nikki Pierce conduct village business on Monday night at the Firemen’s Exempt Hall during a Falconer Village Board meeting. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Dewey recounted how a middle-aged woman trespassed on her property, stealing flowers from her yard – and continued after being confronted.

“An older woman with grey hair was in my yard picking flowers,” she recounted. “I asked her to leave my property, and she did leave. However, the other day, I caught her again, this time breaking branches off my tree to gather more flowers. I told her to leave once more, and she simply waved before departing. Naturally, I called the police, as I suspect this woman might be experiencing dementia or some similar condition – but this isn’t acceptable.”

Ingrao emphasized the critical importance of taking immediate action in the event of incidents such as the one previously described. He stressed that residents should promptly contact the local police department to report the incident, ensuring that all relevant details are communicated. This includes providing information about the nature of the incident, the time it occurred, and any individuals involved. Filing an official report not only aids law enforcement in their investigation but also helps to create a record that can be vital for future reference.

Falconer Mayor James Jaroszynski echoed Ingrao’s statement.

“Never take the law into your own hands,” he said. “Call the police, make a report. This creates a paper trail.”

Carrie Chase, a resident of Falconer, expressed worries about transients that might be residing at the Budget Inn. She observed that they have been walking onto residents’ lawns, going onto their porches, and congregating near public schools.

Jaroszynski remarked that the challenges surrounding the Budget Inn feel like a never-ending saga, one that he has addressed and continues to address with county officials.

Ingrao reported that the police department is currently functioning at full capacity, with its most robust workforce in nearly 21 years. However, he noted that the department’s speed trailer is temporarily out of service, and he is actively addressing that situation. Ingrao also urged everyone present to call 9-1-1 in emergencies and to avoid taking matters into their own hands.

Jaroszynski said that he has a meeting lined up with Steve Penhollow, Falconer Central School superintendent, Ingrao, Ellicott Town Supervisor Janet Bowman, and Carmelo Hernandez, county director of Community Mental Hygiene Services. The agenda will focus on the ongoing issues related to the placement of homeless individuals at the Budget Inn in Falconer and the Quality Inn in Ellicott.

In other business:

– Laurie Becker, Falconer Public Library director, said the final Story Hour session of the year was held on May 14. The library’s knitting group is scheduled to meet on June 12 and June 26. Furthermore, the summer reading program will commence on June 29 and run until July 26. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Summer Band Concert series, which will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the following tentative dates: July 10, July 17, July 24, and July 31.

– Jaroszynski said that the Jamestown Tarp Skunks baseball team will host the Village of Falconer’s Night at the Park on July 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

– Trustee Nikki Pierce said that the Farmers Market is off to a good start, but the village may have to adjust the hours of operation by reducing the closing time by two hours.