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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3
AUGUST 12 - 18, 2016
The Official Newspaper
of the Village of Springville, NY Springville-Griffith Institute Central Schools
By Colleen Mahoney
The Springville-Griffith Institute Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 8 approved a $26+ million capital improvement project. The project still needs to be approved by district taxpayers before any work can begin. The board set a vote date of Sept. 27 for all district residents in Colden, Collins and Springville. In total, the project will cost $25,795,000 plus interest for a total of $27,795,000. A representative from Bernard P. Donegan Inc, the financial consultant to S-GI, said taxpayers wouldn’t see an increase until 2018.
The capital project is projected to cost district taxpayers $19 per year for those without a STAR exemption; $13 for those with a STAR exemption and $7 for those with Senior STAR. S-GI Superintendent Kimberly Moritz called the cost significantly less than the district’s failed December project, which would have cost district taxpayers $47.87 for those without STAR. “This is a significantly smaller impact on taxpayers,” Moritz said, “which was our goal from the beginning.” The project includes work on all five district buildings at SES, Colden Elementary
School, Springville Middle School, the high school and the district office and includes replacement of the Springville Elementary School roof and the high school athletic fields. By reducing the scope of the project at the each building and increasing the amount of work that qualifies for state aid, the district was able to reduce the total project cost. According to Jeff Nunn of Gordon W. Jones Associates Architects, the lead architect for the project, once the project is approved by voters, the district then has to have the work approved by the New York State Education Department, which could took up to nine months. The project can then go out to bid in April 2018 with work completed the following year. At Colden Elementary, it is expected the work will cost $1,552,000. The work would replace the pavement and sidewalks, reroof the original school house and replace a kitchen exhaust hood, which does not meet code. Carpet and vinyl flooring will be replaced throughout the building. See SGI Board page 6
SGI Finalizes Administrative Team for 2016-17 By Colleen Mahoney
Springville-Griffith Institute teaching alumnus Christopher Scarpine was approved as Springville Elementary School Principal at the District’s Aug. 8 Board of Education meeting. Scarpine previously worked with third, fourth and fifth grades as a classroom teacher at SES from 2005-2014. Scarpine is the current middle school assistant principal at Lake Shore EvansBrant Central School District. He takes over the role of SES principal from Marcole Feuz, who is moving to Colden Elementary serving in the same capacity. Kathy Townsend, who previously held the CES principal position, moved to the role of principal for special programs. She will be responsible for developing programs and coordinating initiatives within the district. She will work to coordinate the kindergarten through 12th
grade academic intervention services program throughout the 2016-17 school year, serve as an independent observer throughout the district and work to expand the universal Pre-K program. According to Superintendent Kimberly Moritz’s blog, the job requires a dedicated administrator to remain focused on the tasks. Feuz will begin at Colden Elementary for the 2016-17 school year, returning to the
town in which she was raised and resides. “I am excited about the opportunity to return to Colden as the elementary principal, to work with what I know is an excellent faculty and staff, and to serve the families of the community I love so much,” Feuz said in a statement on the district website. With the addition of Scarpine, the S-GI District rounds out its administrative
The Springville Village Planning Board reviewed three potential building projects at its Aug. 9 meeting. Two of the proposals are for new construction and one is for expansion of an existing business. Country Fair, at 21 S. Cascade Drive, is looking to expand its structure to include more freezer, cooler and storage space on the northwest corner. The plan also includes
expanding on the southeast corner (the South Cascade Drive side) to house a “beer cave.” Code Enforcement Officer Mike Kaleta said he doesn’t see a problem with the expansion, saying “I don’t see any problems. It’s not taking up any parking spaces … there’s nothing really major.” However, before the planning board can approve the expansion, Country Fair must get approval from the
Upcoming Events Springville Area
Aug. 10 - 21 Erie County Fair Aug. 15 Things That Bug You, presented by Wild Spirit Hulbert Library
By Colleen Mahoney
The Village of Springville Board of Trustees rejected the only bid received for the Heritage Park project at its Monday, Aug. 8 meeting. The bid came from Nova Site in the amount of $770,000. Keith Marquis, of Marquis Engineering, recommended the board reject the bid, said Village Administrator Liz Melock, who said the bid was more than the village appropriated for the project. The board voted to re-advertise for bids, and will open them on Sept. 2. The board discussed the work being done at the municipal building at 65 Franklin St., which began in July. Superintendent of Public Works Kenneth Kostowniak said the Erie County Sheriff’s substation has been relocated to a temporary space in the building and most of the interior demolition has been started. The back stairs will be demolished and Kostowniak said residents will start to see “real change” in the coming weeks. Springville Mayor William Krebs reported that the Erie County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) has discussed moving more deputies to the Springville substation and operating the Southern Tier duties from
there. Krebs said the village would again reach out to the ECSO and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for funding. “They’re talking about using [Springville] for services outside the village,” Krebs said. “Village residents cannot pay for services outside the village.” Krebs asked Melock to again reach out to Poloncarz and the ECSO to negotiate funding opportunities for the capital improvement projects. Updates to the village’s fee schedule were also approved. Utility fees in the village were last updated in 2009, Krebs said. The board was updated on vacant properties in the village, known as “zombie properties,” by Code Enforcement Officer Mike Kaleta. The village will move forward with pursuing Supreme Court action regarding the property at 134 Waverly St., which had a demolition deadline of June 20. Kaleta reported he was told an asbestos inspection was completed, but he has yet to see a report. Village Attorney Paul Weiss said the next step in the process would be to bring the issue to the Supreme Court. The board gave Weiss authorization to See Village Board page 6
Aug. 17 American Red Cross Blood Drive First Presbyterian Church Aug. 17 Outdoor Family Movie Night Springville Elementary School Aug. 18 Homemade Jam Concert in the Park Series Aug. 19 Gowanda Harley Bike Night Kissing Bridge Aug. 21 Hare Scramble Kissing Bridge Sept. 24 Springville Oktoberfest Sept. 24 Women’s Fashion Show, presented by Bertrand Chaffee Hospital
Springville Represents at Erie County Fair
See SGI Admin page 5
Planning Board Looks at Three Potential Builds
By Colleen Mahoney
Village Board Rejects Heritage Park Bid
© 2016 Ellicottville Times / Keystone Designers Inc.
Vote on SGI Capital Project Sept. 27
zoning board of appeals since the expansion on the northwest corner would put the structure over the setback line. Kaleta said the zoning board would have to approve an area variance, before the plans can move forward. The board also reviewed plans for proposed apartments and townhouses on Barnstead Drive. According to the plans, there would be three, six-unit townhouses and three, eightSee Village Planning page 3
From left: Ryder, Carter, Blakelee and Harrison Hoffman with some of the cows they’re showing at the Erie County Fair By Alicia Dziak
For many, the Erie County Fair means rides, shows and the type of food that probably wouldn’t fit into your diet. But for many local kids, the Fair is a place where their yearround hard work pays off—the animal shows. Families from all over WNY head to the Fair with their animals and high hopes. The Hoffman family owns a farm on Wyandale Road in Springville. The busy dairy
farm milks 200 Holsteins (the black and white ones) and have about 500 total. It is a family-run operation, spanning four generations, the youngest being SGI students Ryder, 13, Carter, 12, Blakelee, 10, and Harrison, 8. Their parents, Lindsay and Dave, got the kids involved in showing calves at the Fair five years ago, and it has become a family tradition. Both Lindsay and Dave showed at the Fair as kids, and actually met each
other there when they were teenagers. Prepping for the Fair is not something that begins and ends with the Fair dates, of course. It’s a year-round commitment. “A lot happens before the show,” said Lindsay. “You have to feed (the calves) a special diet, keep them clean and train them.” Days before the Fair begins, the Hoffman’s are at the Fairgrounds preparing for the See Fair Animals page 3