The Falconer Village Board addressed recent negotiations that ceased with the city of Jamestown. Additionally, Kipp Reynolds was appointed as a village trustee to fill a recent vacancy. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

FALCONER — Falconer Mayor James Jaroszynski detailed to Falconer Village Board members why negotiations between the city of Jamestown came to a halt.

“There was never an offer from the city,” Jaroszynski said during Monday’s village meeting.

After months of negotiations and meetings regarding the potential annexation of a Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Dow Street substation, talks to find an alternative to annexation fell through. The Jamestown City Council voted that the annexation of the Falconer property was in the best interest of the public.

“They’ve offered nothing,” Jaroszynski reiterated. “They wanted us to come up with something.”

With the city voting to proceed with annexation, village trustees and Ellicott Town Council members are left to vote on the matter by the end of March, which is a 90-day deadline from the Dec. 30, 2019 public hearing.

Talks fell through after representatives from the village, town and the Falconer Central School District canceled the last scheduled meeting the city. Jaroszynski said that the meeting was canceled because city officials informed the board they were going to vote to approve the annexation. With cancellation, talks between among the local municipalities ceased.

“Why would we negotiate with someone who is trying to steal from us,” said Michael Steele, village trustee.

The village board is scheduled to meet again on March 23 when board members are expected to take action on the potential annexation.

TRUSTEE

Jaroszynski appointed Kipp Reynolds as the newest member of the board effectively filling a vacancy that had been open since January.

“Through the process of interviewing and speaking with the staff here and ultimately knowing the decision was up to me I decided on Kipp,” Jaroszynski said. “He lives in Falconer. He has a young family, similar to Trustee (Alan) Gustafson (Jr.). He wants to do better for Falconer. He wants to participate.”

Jaroszynski said Reynolds had stated he was willing to join an advisory board even if he wasn’t appointed as a trustee. The mayor had several candidates come forward but eventually decided on Reynolds.

Reynolds, who will serve as a trustee effective immediately, will have to run for the trustee position in the November election for a four-year term. The seat was left open when Phil Ribaudo, a write-in candidate who was voted by Falconer residents as the newest member of the board of trustees in the November election, notified the village that he would not be taking the position.

FARMERS MARKET

While the village found successor to manage the local Farmers’ Market, the board decided to halt the program until next year to reorganize.

Rhonda Brown came forward to volunteer to run the program after the board’s last meeting, but because of time constraints, the local municipality will take a year to reshape the program.

Brown, who was at Monday’s meeting, added that she is looking for someone to assist her with revitalizing the Falconer Farmers’ Market going forward.

BUDGET

The board approved the initial 2020-21 budget of $1,410,842 which includes a $0.159 per $1,000 tax increase.

“This a very do-able budget,” said Larry Trask, village treasurer.

There will be a public hearing at the April 13 board meeting to discuss the budget.