Borough Council reorganizes, names new solicitor / By Martha Knight

Port Allegany Borough Council’s reorganizational meeting found council members maintaining the status quo in most regards, Monday night, but a change in solicitor seemed to come as a surprise to some council members.

Michael Alfieri was replaced as borough solicitor by Krista Schott, on a motion by council member Dave Fair, seconded by Eric Button. Several other council members wondered whether Schott is willing, and what her fees would be.

There was a request to table the appointment to “get more facts,” but this was not formalized. Fair called Schott on his cell phone and was able to confirm that she would accept the same retainer, $3,000, as had been allocated for Alfieri.

The change was approved on a 5 to 2 vote, with Sam Dynda, Lynn Farber, Eric Button, Andrew Johnson and Fair in favor, Kate Kysor and Judy Taylor opposed.

In his first official duty as mayor, George Riley conducted the first part of the reorganization, administering the oath of office to re-elected council members Dynda, Fair, Johnson and Taylor as they begin new terms.

Riley also presided over the unanimous re-election of Johnson as president and Dynda as vice-president.

Assuming the chair, Johnson let the council through renewals of Howell & Company as auditors, Richard Kallenborn as borough manager and treasurer, and Susan Roboski as borough secretary. Taylor will be chairman pro tem, succeeding Farber, who nominated her.

The First National Bank of Port Allegany, PLGIT, Citizens Trust and Hamlin Bank were designated as depositories. Robert Brock was named to the vacancy board.

Johnson asked Farber and Kysor to continue as representatives on the S.W. Smith Memorial Public Library and Bookmobile, and agreed to do so. Kysor accepted reappointment to the shade tree commission.

Johnson kept committee appointments the same. Two will hold meetings in the coming weeks.

The Streets and Sidewalks Committee, chaired by Button, with Farber and Kysor as members, will discuss an issue brought to the council by local entrepreneur Mick Caulkins.

Caulkins asked council to consider ordering two-hour parking at Maple Commons, during business day hours, to keep nearby apartment dwellers from occupying parking spots “around the clock” in that area.

An outpost of Olean Medical Group, Olean, N.Y., will occupy newly renovated medical offices off Maple Commons at 28 North Main, beginning next month.

The Personnel Committee will consider the terms of a new contract with Dave Distrola, whose present contract as police chief expired December 31, 2013. Dynda chairs the committee, with Fair and Taylor its other members.

The council accepted the resignation of longtime tax collector Pat Payne, who was re-elected to a four-year term this past November. Roboski explained the procedure for recruiting a replacement, mentioning that it should be done within 30 days.

Johnson, Kallenborn and Roboski said that the council would like borough residents who are interested in the tax collector position to send letters stating their qualifications, addressed to the borough council or the borough secretary at the borough office, 45 West Maple Street, with Tax Collector Vacancy noted on the envelope.

The council set 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 21 as the date of a special meeting to appoint a tax collector. The vacancy would be filled by election in the 2015 municipal election.

Council adopted a resolution naming borough office clerk Karen Reed assistant borough secretary.

Also passed was a resolution embodying the council members’ and mayor’s continuation of their custom of waiving compensation for their service in borough government.

Farber passed along comments she had received from two residents recently about the attractive appearance of the community.

Praise was given for diligent snow removal from parking lanes and walks downtown.

Kallenborn’s monthly report mentioned removal of accumulated snow from the business district when necessary, and the Christmas Eve accidental breakage and prompt repair of a water main serving the “upper end of town.”

The manager said natural Christmas trees will be picked up by the crew if residents place them by the curb.

Kallenborn said a new dump truck was ordered before January 1 to avoid a price increase, using the state bid process. It should be delivered this summer.

Purchase of a new police cruiser will be discussed by Chief Distrola, Riley and Kallenborn.

Dennis Avenue resident Mahlon Davenport addressed the council during public comments to add some information about that street. He mentioned that he and his wife had purchased a three-acre tract from Tyler and Anita Leslie in 1959. Since then it has been developed, and owners have ceded the street to the borough. It was named for Dennis “Chipper” Leslie, at the request of his parents, Davenport explained.