Allegany County Board of Legislators met June 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 3:44 p.m. by Chairman Curtis W. Crandall
LEGISLATORS PRESENT: Chairman C. Crandall, G. Barnes, J. Burdick, P. Curran, D. Decker, W. Dibble, D. Fanton, K. Graves, B. Harris, S. Havey, D. Healy, J. Hopkins (departed at 4:23 p.m.), J. Ricci, D. Root (departed at 4:21 p.m.), P. Stockin
OTHERS PRESENT: T. Boyde, J. Budinger, S. Decker, V. Grant (departed at 4:15 p.m.) M. Hennessy, C. Jones, C. Knapp, R. Lynch (departed at 4:00 p.m.), C. Potter (Wellsville Daily Reporter)(departed at 4:15 p.m.), B. Riehle Chairman Crandall stated that the purpose of the meeting was to continue discussing topics related to Roundtable 2021.
ROUNDTABLE 2021
Send to Standing Committees for Review
State Park Expansion
Chairman Crandall stated that the feedback from the Administrative Team was to take no action at this time, but they also listed Legislator Dibble as the responsible person. Legislator Dibble suggested that this be referred to the committee of jurisdiction. Chairman Crandall said Allegany County has never had a true state park. He then went on to explain how the Genesee Valley Greenway trail that runs through Allegany County came to be. He said RG&E transferred the right-of-way and it became the Greenway trail. Initially it was operated by the DEC until the DEC transferred it to State Parks. Technically that trail is our state park. He suggested there might be ways to expand on that. Funding for expansion would need to be addressed. Chairman Crandall said that Legislator Dibble had some ideas of areas that could be state parks. Legislator Dibble suggested the state land located between Friendship and Belvidere on Coyle Hill could be turned into a state park. Legislator Root stated that someone would have to develop it. She asked who would fund that. Legislator Dibble remarked that there are some equestrian trails in that area. Legislator Healy asked why the Genesee River couldn’t be a state park. Legislator Root said, we have the Genesee Valley Greenway trail, perhaps we could promote what we have as a state park. Legislator Hopkins stated that there is considerable work that needs to be done to complete the Greenway trail. Flooding has washed out much of what would be the trail. Originally it was part of the canal system and landowners deeded the land for the canal. It then became a railroad bed, and later a place for electrical poles for RG&E, and then the land was transferred back to the State. She noted that part of the problem is that the trail goes across people’s front and back yards. It also takes crop land. She said snowmobilers do help clean and maintain the trails in winter, and they are supposed to be the only motorized vehicles on the trail. Legislator Decker remarked that there are ATV owners who pay their registration fees to the State, and they aren’t allowed to use the trail. Allowing them to do so would open up more tourism. Currently they are prohibited from doing so. Legislator Hopkins stated that it’s meant to be a walking trail, and if ATVs were allowed on the trail, people would get killed. There are insurance issues. It’s a very complicated issue. Legislator Decker said we’re talking about expansion. If we want to expand, we’ve got to allow others to use it. Legislator Healy stated that ATVs are prohibited on all public land. Legislator Stockin agreed saying that ATVs can only be used on private property. Legislator Root stated that she can’t see the committee taking action on everything on the list. She feels this is a lower priority. She thinks the committee should discuss things that are more important right now. Legislator Barnes said that as he sees it, Allegany County doesn’t have gorges, waterfalls, or things that other state parks have. We do have a lot of state forest land. He doesn’t want to see private property taken over for a state park. Chairman Crandall clarified that the property on Coyle Hill which Legislator Dibble is talking about turning into a state park is state forest. Legislator Stockin said that the Town of Caneadea passed a law to allow ATVs to cross roads. He mentioned a possible future ATV park in Centerville. He also talked about Caneadea receiving funding for a town park and how that could potentially be an access point for the Greenway trail. Legislator Decker made a motion which was seconded by Legislator Barnes, and carried, to take no action on this at this time. Legislator Crandall stated that he thinks this is a topic worth coming back to. He feels there might be things this Board could do with state park funds to improve the Greenway trail and make it more usable.
Sharing Sales Tax
The committee discussed the distribution of sales tax revenue and referenced a list that had been compiled several years ago which names services provided by the County in lieu of sharing sales tax revenue with towns. Legislator Harris suggested that there should be dollar values attached to each item on the list. County Administrator Boyde stated that it’s difficult to quantify some items. When we’re talking about the Budget there are many things to consider in looking at how sales tax is used. There are matching funds from the State for bridges and roads. We have to estimate how much sales tax revenue we’re going to receive, and if we end up with less sales tax than estimated, we have to take money from somewhere else. All of the sales tax revenue goes into the general fund. It’s difficult to quantify where that money is spent. Chairman Crandall stated there are some costs that we know. For example, there’s a million dollars in community college expense. The bridge program is another area where we know the costs. He feels it’s important for the Board to know what those costs are. A motion was made by Legislator Graves, seconded by Legislator Healy, and carried to table this discussion until the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4:34 p.m. on a motion by Legislator Graves, seconded by Legislator Fanton, and carried.
https://www.alleganyco.com/wp-content/uploads/6-11-18-COW-Minutes.pdf
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