Vandalism damages village buildings

Recent vandalism has officials in the Village of Churchville revisiting the idea of hiring a private security firm and installing video cameras, in addition to the promise of increased presence of Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies and New York State Troopers.

Churchville Mayor Donald Ehrmentraut told residents at Monday night’s village board meeting, "We’re not treating this lightly." Last weekend’s spate of vandalism included smashing out two windows in the United States Post Office in the Churchville Commons, and damage to the new municipal building now being constructed on East Buffalo Street.

"It’s an unfortunate circumstance … in communities like this, but it does happen," Ehrmentraut said.

New York State Troopers Mark Pettis, Mike Niezgoda and Tom Urbanczyk reported to trustees at Monday’s meeting that they had several suspects in the case, and are hoping to have an arrest by the end of the month. Because the post office is federal property, suspects could be charged with a federal offense if the postal inspector chose to prosecute the case.

The troopers said residents should be seeing increased trooper activity in the village, thanks to new recruits at the substation, and new mountain bikes recently acquired for exclusive use on village patrol. Niezgoda said he had already issued three traffic tickets, including one for excessive noise from a car stereo, in the first couple days on his bike.

Because it is not always possible to be on the scene at the exact moment a crime of vandalism is committed, Niezgoda suggested village businesses set up video surveillance, from which an arrest can be made.

Trustees are considering installing video cameras on Main Street, in the Churchville Commons and municipal parking lot, at the new municipal building site and at the Department of Public Works site. Trustees Dean Arlidge and Scott Cullen said they would look into the type of equipment available on the market.

Postal employee Vicki Loughridge told board members Monday that vandalism to the post office and in the Churchville Commons parking lot is nothing new. "On Saturday morning that parking lot is a disgusting mess," she said. She said she found beer bottles, food containers, pizza boxes, and "about a zillion pennies" a couple weeks ago.

Trustee Lyle Warren said he supports the idea of hiring a private security firm. Other comments by board members included making sure the person or persons they hire is authorized to make arrests, and ensuring the security firm has its own liability insurance.

Ehrmentraut estimated the cost to the village to be about $19 per hour.

Ehrmentraut said the board will continue to look for solutions, and welcomes public input. The next scheduled board meeting is Monday, June 4, at 7:15 p.m. in the village office, 22 South Main Street.