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Caz College campus future discussed Meet the Cazenovia
Town Board candidates
By kate Hill Staff Writer
On Oct. 11, from 12 to 2 p.m., the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA) and the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) co-hosted the first of two public information/input sessions focused on the repurposing of the Cazenovia College campus. Held at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Cazenovia, the meeting gave community members the chance to hear from representatives of six working groups that have been developing different ideas for the future use of the campus. All the groups are largely comprised of members of the local community. A representative of the New York State Police, which is leasing a large portion of the campus for two years for use as the NYS Police Basic School Auxiliary Academy, and a representative of A&G Real Estate Partners, the firm hired to facilitate the sale of the campus properties, were also in attendance to give short presentations and answer questions.
Introductions
During her opening remarks, CPF Executive Director Jen Wong emphasized that, at this point, none of the repurposing concepts is preferred over any other by CACDA, the village, or any other local entity. “These are ideas that are being explored because a member of the community or someone with knowledge of Cazenovia recognized a need or saw an opportunity,” Wong said. She also stated that some of the parties that have expressed interest in purchasing the college real estate may not have a need for the entire campus, so
By kate hill Staff writer
Kate Hill
Two public information/input sessions focused on the repurposing of the Cazenovia College campus. it is possible that multiple uses could coexist. “For this reason, we want to continue to explore the feasibility of and the community’s alignment with the concepts that are being presented today as we move into the next phase of planning,” Wong said. Prior to the working group presentations, David Bergh, president of “The Office of the Institution Formerly Known as Cazenovia College,” spoke briefly about the college’s current role as a facilitator. Bergh, who is the sole remaining employee of the college, explained that although the institution is the seller in any transaction involving the campus real estate, any arrangement that is ultimately agreed upon will require the approval of the bondholders, who hold the campus as collateral. “I see my primary role, as it relates to the real estate part of this, [as being] an advocate and communicator of community needs and desires in this process as we talk with potential purchasers,” Bergh said. He added that he aims to help anyone who is interested in the campus learn more about it and gain a good sense of what the community is looking to
see. He concluded his remarks by stating that being able to work out a short-term lease with the state police was “fortuitous and a wonderful thing.” “It gives time for this process to play out and also, in the meantime, just some immediate mitigation of the economic impact of not having the college here,” he said. “It’s a good, positive use of the campus, which is being well-maintained and utilized in the interim. The state police have been wonderful partners to work with so far.”
Working group presentations
Kelli Johnson, a long-time teacher, presented her group’s vision for addressing the systemic problem of low literacy and illiteracy by reinventing the campus or parts of the campus as an academy for students with language-based learning differences and as a lab school for teacher preparation programs. Kate Brodock, who has over 15 years of experience in the tech startup space, outlined a plan to repurpose the campus as an agriculture technology innovation hub with the goals of improving the economic position of small farms and farmers,
creating a “NextGen” community food system, and developing a regional model that can be implemented in any farming community. The group proposes focusing on agriculture technology as a starting point for the growth of a broader startup and innovation ecosystem built around data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) and supported by local business and community activities. Jeremy Rutter, president and CEO of Community Wellness Partners, proposed dedicating part of the campus to a senior independent living campus similar to New Hartford’s Preswick Glen, and a memory care residence. Community Wellness Partners is a faith-based, non-profit healthcare and senior living provider with multiple campuses in New Hartford, Clinton, and Oswego. Yuri Omelchenko, who is an economist by training, advocated for utilizing Cazenovia’s unique advantages and existing campus facilities to create an innovative, world-class liberal arts institution with strengths in entrepreneurship, data science, and AI using partnerships with top institutions and College l Page 3
School district to move forward with shared garage and EV charging infrastructure study By kate hill Staff writer
During the Oct. 16 Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Business/School Business Official Thomas Finnerty provided several updates from the business office. Finnerty reported that the district is planning to move forward with a shared garage and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure feasibility study. CCSD has been awarded $25,000 in state funding to support the study. The school district, the Village of Cazenovia, the Town of Cazenovia, and the Town of Nelson will use
the funding to explore opportunities to consolidate bus and highway garage infrastructure and resources. The study will also examine the feasibility of shared EV charging infrastructure. The funding was awarded through the NYS Local Government Efficiency Program, which provides technical assistance and grants for inter-municipal projects targeting shared opportunities, cost savings, and the delivery of efficient, quality services. During the school board meeting, Finnerty announced that he, CCSD Supervisor of Transportation Karen Brouillette, and CCSD Director of Facilities Eric Benedict would be meeting with a member
Last week for election letters
The Oct. 25 edition of the Cazenovia Republican will be the last edition in which letters related to the Nov. 7 election will be published. The deadline for letters to the editor is the Friday before publication at 10 a.m. Thank you.
of the state the following day to begin discussing the process and what the study might look like. “We’re moving forward with electric busing initiatives,” he said. Later in the meeting, Finnerty noted that the state recently released some very lengthy guidance concerning the transition to electric buses. “I have not digested it yet, but I’ll get to it,” he said. Finnerty also announced that CCSD is investigating and will most likely apply for a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a simplified meal service option that allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. “The past couple of years, the federal government — the USDA — has stepped up and paid for school lunches, so all students had lunches for free,” he said. “That’s no longer the case. What the feds have done is lower the re-
quirements for free and reduced [price school meals], so that we actually look like we might be able to be eligible for this provision.” Finnerty added that because it would mean every student gets free breakfasts and lunches, the CEP would help to further eliminate any stigma associated with receiving free school meals. During his report, Finnerty also thanked the business office staff — specifically District Treasurer Donna Meyers, Payroll & Benefits Coordinator Victoria Galek, and Purchasing & Accounts Payable/ Extra Curricular Treasurer Donna Kiselica — and the entire district community for contributing to a successful annual audit. Cazenovia Central School District Board of Education meetings are usually held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. Meeting dates are listed on the district website and the school calendar. For more information, visit cazenoviacsd.com.
The Madison County General Election will be held on Nov. 7, 2023, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. In the Town of CaKyle Reger Mark Braiman zenovia, the office of town supervisor and two town board seats are up for election. The Cazenovia Town Board is the executive head of the town and consists of the town supervisor and four councilpersons. Sheila Fallon Jimmy Golub Each town councilor is responsible for acting as a liaison to the town board concerning specific areas of government/interest. The board typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Gothic Cottage at 7 Albany St. Town Councilor Kyle Reger (Republican) is running unopposed for the position of town supervisor. Three candidates — Town Councilor Jimmy Golub (Democratic and Strong Community), Sheila Fallon (Republican), and Mark Braiman (Libertarian) — are running for the two seats on the board. The town supervisor and town councilors serve four-year terms. Each of the candidates responded to the same three questions from the Cazenovia Republican. Their responses (max of 300 words total) are printed below. For information on how to vote in the Nov. 7 election, visit madisoncounty.ny.gov/1547/Board-of-Elections.
Kyle Reger for town supervisor
Occupation: Cazenovia Town Council member, sales executive, small business owner How will your experience serve you in local government? It has been a privilege to serve as a Cazenovia Town Council member. Over the last four years, I have had the opportunity to engage with countless aspects of our town government. This experience has afforded me an in-depth understanding of the intricate workings of our municipality. Just as in my business career, I recognize that success is predicated on building relationships, working collaboratively to create positive solutions and being an effective problem solver. My work with the Town has given me insight into the challenges that we face, as well as the many strengths and resources we collectively possess. What do you think are the biggest challenges in your community? What are your ideas for addressing these challenges? The closure of Cazenovia College presents a tremendous challenge for our community. There has been significant collaboration between the stakeholders, the Village, CACDA, CPF, residents, etc. to repurpose the campus. As innovative solutions are explored, priority needs to be given to economic development while preserving the unique character that defines Cazenovia. As we consider the growth of commercial and housing development, we will require infrastructure improvements, specifically with our Water Pollution Control Facility. The DEC has imposed more stringent limits on our treatment plant to protect the environment, which will require significant upgrades to meet their standards. We will work together with the stakeholders and the Village to create a solution that will factor in potential growth needs, while managing the costs of the project over the coming years. While we manage our development, we also need to work to preserve and protect the natural resources that make Cazenovia a special place to live, such as our lake and farmlands. All the multifaceted issues we face will be more effectively navigated with greater community engagement and communication. I would be honored to serve as Town Supervisor and am committed to working together for the continuous improvement of our community.
Mark Braiman for town councilor
Occupation: Chemistry professor (emeritus) at Syracuse University; parttime professional singer with the Syracuse Opera Chorus How will your experience serve you in local government? My entire 35-year scientific career has been focused on chemical and biochemical utilization of solar energy. I can contribute critical thinking about local discussions on all types of green energy. In response to a 2006 column by former Cazenovia Republican editor Willie Kiernan, I offered a proposal for using hydropower energy stored in Cazenovia Lake for school buses. Kiernan never published it, but I used this proposal in my teaching PHY 398, the capstone course in the Syracuse UniCandidates l Page 2
Volume 214, Number 42 The Cazenovia Republican is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 35 Albany St., Second Floor, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Periodical Postage Paid at Cazenovia, NY 13035, USPS 095-260. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Cazenovia Republican, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
sports news: Girls cross country outruns J-E.
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ramblings from the empty nest: LIfe decisions, expectations.
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