Board OKs $34,000 Mold-Fighting Job

SENECA FALLS – Drainage improvements will be made to the village hall to eliminate mold buildup and other problems.

The board of trustees Monday agreed to spend $34,000 of its surplus for work in the basement of the police department, where dampness has led to mold and the growth of mushrooms on the carpets, as well as causing major discomfort for those with allergies. Street Commissioner William Gladis said he has received quotes as high as $60,000, but the village can save money by having the Street Department do the work. “If we let it go, we’ll have problems with sick building syndrome,” he said.

The building used to be an old train station. Gladis said he can’t detect whether the addition, designed by the MRB Group of Rochester, included drainage. Plans call for installing interior drainage, and tiles on the outside walls to help dry out the building.

Trustees agreed Monday to reschedule an informational meeting later this month at the Seneca Falls Recreational Center. It had been planned for Aug. 13, but that date did not meet everyone’s schedule. Public input will be gathered at the meeting on whether the village should keep garbage collection in house or hire an outside contractor for the work. Residents are expected to vote on the matter two to three weeks later in a non-binding referendum.

In other action Monday, the board:

• RETIREMENT – Approved offering a state retirement incentive to four eligible employees: Tom Maloy, who is on disability from the street department; Sue Fisk, a stenographer with the police department; Lorrilyn Bove, village administrator/clerk; and Robin Snyder, laborer, street department. It is estimated the village would save $72,714 through the next five years, provided each employee accepted the incentive and vacancies would not be filled; or an undetermined amount of savings, based on who would retire and the lower salaries of new hires. Some employees would also receive credit for service with other municipalities.
• POLICE – Approved the appointments of Jamie Buffone and Gerald Brownell, both of Seneca Falls, as full-time police officers at an annual salary of $27,312 each. Both are graduates of Mynderse Academy who have fulfilled one-year probationary terms. They were sworn in by Chief Frederick Capozzi, who also swore in Melinda Scego of Seneca Falls as a full-time police dispatcher at $16,161 annually, if she passes the civil service exam. All had their badges pinned on them by their parents.
• NOISE – Scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. Sept. 9 on a proposed revised noise ordinance. The new law redefines noise in terms of distance from people or populated areas, as opposed to decibel levels, which were confusing and hard to measure. The proposal was drawn up by Village Attorney William Kirk, who drafted revisions to a similar law recently adopted in Waterloo, where Kirk also serves as village attorney.
• TRAFFIC – Postponed public hearings and adoption of proposals to put a stop sign and “No Parking” signs on Water Street. They were withdrawn by Capozzi for further review.
• DONATIONS – Agreed to give $250 to the Seneca Falls Community Band and $2,500 to the Seneca Falls Historical Society, in keeping with annual allotments.

Written by Denise M. Champagne, Finger Lakes Times