Wayne County Briefs
By Donna Comella

When the Wayne County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, they heard from two Macedon residents who opposed pay raises for some County officers and department heads. The full-time salaries range from $63,697 to $84,872.

Myron Young spoke during the public hearing, saying he had been retired since 1995 and lives on $26,000 a year. He told the board, 'I can't see why they can't make it on $60,000 a year.' 'I appreciate the work you people do and respect each of you, but it's getting harder and harder on me and my neighbors. It has to stop somewhere.'

Young said that if costs and taxes continue to rise, he would have to sell his home. He added that he volunteers at his local food closet, and sees more and more people who 'just can't make it.'

Diane Dorfner echoed his comments and suggested capping expenses and salaries. 'If you want to set an example, stay where you are. If for one year, you could just stop.'

When it was time to adopt the 2006 salary schedule, only one supervisor opposed - John Young (Huron).

Macedon Supervisor Bill Hammond, whose constituents had addressed the board, noted before his 'Aye' vote that the county needed to 'remain competitive' in the job market.

One of the salaries that had increased included that of County Administrator. The post has been vacant since Kim Park resigned last year. And it was Park herself who opposed resolutions to fill the job.

Following her resignation, Park went on and made a successful bid to unseat Wolcott Supervisor/Chairman of the Board Marv Decker. She told the board that she didn't believe there was enough support from supervisors for such a position.

'My feelings are just the opposite,' said Joe DeSanto (Arcadia). 'We're gonna do it right.'

The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on Thursday, September 7 at 10:35 a.m. when a hearing will be held in the 2nd floor Chambers of the Old County Courthouse.

Fiscal Officer Keith Kubasik is currently Interim County Administrator.

Park was one of five supervisors who voted 'No' on another resolution. It was to authorize a grant application for restoration to the H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Co. building on Water Street. The matching funds grant, through the Erie Canal Greenway Grant Program, is not to exceed $250,000. The county has already secured $750,000 for the project. The resolution passed.

The county endorsed a similar grant to restore the Kaiser Nature Center located behind the Wayne County Museum on Butternut Street in Lyons. The Wayne County Historical Society will apply through the Erie Canal Greenway Program.

The Board authorized $1,000 for County Clerk Mike Jankowski to restore an original land grant map of Sodus Point, circa 1813. Gary Albright of Honeoye Falls will do the work.

Supervisors will advertise for bids to replace the silver Court House Dome, and accepted a bid for its roof replacement. The low bid came in at $112,700 from DeWald Roofing Company in Central Square, NY. Water damage can be seen in the historic 2nd floor Chambers' ceiling and pieces of it have been falling. The Old Court House has been in use since 1854 and will also get a face lift in the form of paint. A.R. Pierrepont of Rochester will be paid $113,200 to paint the trim on the front of the brick building.

Note: The next meeting of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors is set for Thursday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m. and the regularly scheduled Tuesday, September 19 meeting will be held at 7 p.m.

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