Auditor report expected at next town meeting
by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, October 22, 2009
Independent auditors Drescher & Malecki will be presenting a report on Wheatfield’s end of year finances for 2009 and the outlook for reserve funds for the 2010 budget at the Nov. 16 Town Board meeting.
Among the items the auditors are expected to comment on is a report by Supervisor Timothy Demler at a budget work session last week that work on the town’s youth center went over budget and will affect the general fund surplus, which is used to help balance the budget. At the same time, the cost of the water/sewer project was under budget, but there will still be a deficit, according to Demler.
“It needs to be clarified. It needs to be looked at and fixed,” Town Attorney Robert O’Toole said about the discrepancies in figures at Monday’s regular Town Board meeting.
At the meeting, Demler also called for an audit of funds paid to the town engineers between 2007 and 2009; for computer services paid to the county between 2001 and 2003 and to a private contractor between 2004 and 2008; and on county insurance costs.
Demler’s $11.15 million budget could be his last. Robert Cliffe is the Republican candidate for supervisor and Sam Conti will be on the Democratic line in the November election. Demler is hoping to garner write-in votes.
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Chime in on TN budget
by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, October 22, 2009
The Town of Niagara Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on its 2010 budget proposal for 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at Town Hall.
Board members are continuing to work on finding ways to trim the $7,967,838 budget presented by Supervisor Steven C. Richards earlier this month. While the budget is down $238,000 from the current 2009 budget, state changes and decreases in assessments mean it would cost the average homeowner an additional $27 per year in taxes. Richards said he would prefer to see no tax increase when the final budget is presented.
In other matters at Tuesday’s board meeting:
•The board approved the request of Richard Greenwalt of United Auto Foreign and Domestic Inc. to combine two lots – 2113 and 2115 Fashion Outlet Blvd. A special use permit, renewable annually, for a repair garage and vehicle sales lot at the site also was approved, with the restriction that it not exceed seven vehicles for sale at any one time on the property.
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Page appointed to FBI lab
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, August 6, 2009
Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour has announced the appointment of Deputy Sheriff Christopher S. Page to the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensic Lab in Buffalo.
Voutour, in an effort to combat the increasing computer related crimes, said he feels the appointment of Page will assist not only Niagara County, but also Western New York in combating this increasing criminal activity.
Page, a Wheatfield resident, joined the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office in 2001 and has been assigned to the road patrol division since that time. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and has had extensive training and experience working with computers. His duties will include the analysis of computer hard drives to identify criminal activity including Internet child pornography.
The RCFL, which is located in the Erie County Public Safety Building, is a joint venture including members of the FBI, State Police, Buffalo Police and other area law enforcement agencies.
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St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and School expanding
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, July 9, 2009
On July 1, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and School at the corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Ward Road in Wheatfield broke ground on an addition to expand its facilities. Planned is a multi-purpose room with an adjacent kitchen that will be used for church functions and as a part-time classroom. Also, due to increasing enrollment at the school in the last few years, a new library/media room, science classroom is included, as well as renovation of the administrative offices, pastor’s office, and principal’s office. LBM Construction, the general contractor, is anticipating completion of the addition and renovation in September. This much-needed expansion has been in the planning stage for more than 10 years. St. John Lutheran Church and School has been serving the community for more than 160 years. Shown from left are members of the Building Committee: Mark Rogers, St. John president; Karin Kaus-Rogers; Gary Catlin, Building Committee chairman; Pastor Ron Oravec; Chad Cornell; Principal Herb Meissner; John Licht, and Winston Moeller.
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Advanced Dental opens new facility
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, July 9, 2009
After 18 years, Dr. Stuart J. Weinstein and his 10 employees at Advanced Dental ran out of space at their location in the former Media Play plaza in Niagara Falls, and have moved down the road and across the street to a recently constructed building at 9501 Niagara Falls Blvd. An open house is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 17. Guests will be treated to refreshments, raffles, prize drawings and tours of the new building. Shown from left are dental assistants Cindy Garner and Sue Yourshowski, Dr. Stuart J. Weinstein, and dental assistant MaryGrace Scarpelli.
