by Kristina Gabalski
The first Village to Village Challenge was a great success, Brockport Village Trustee Margaret Blackman said during her report at the regular village board meeting November 13.
Blackman said the race – held November 3 on the Erie Canal between the Village of Brockport to the Village of Spencerport – consisted of 25 participants including the U of R rowing team.
“We gave them a rousing welcome,” Trustee Blackman said. Refreshments, including contributions from the Stetson Club, were provided to participants. Police Chief Daniel Varrenti volunteered, Blackman said, and members of both the Brockport and Spencerport Fire Districts were, “actively involved in keeping rowers safe,” she said. Additional volunteers also helped keep participants safe by manning the canal bank between the two villages.
The rowers would like to come back in the spring, during an event Blackman is planning for the annual opening of the canal, she said.
Feedback about the race has been overwhelmingly positive, Blackman said. “The success was due to the willingness of volunteers,” she noted.
The event has the potential of “growing into a destination regatta, she said.
Trustee Blackman has spoken with officials at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and has been encouraged to apply for a $500 sponsorship grant.
Blackman also said she met recently with Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene to discuss coordinating the spring canal opening event with the next Village to Village Challenge.
In other business, village board members decided to table adopting an updated Emergency Operations Plan. The original version was adopted in 2002 and the update includes feedback by department heads and the fire chief who recently reviewed the plan.
“We’re close … but this is missing many things which need to be put into place,” Trustee Kent Blair said.
The positions of deputy mayor (or designated trustee), emergency coordinator, public information officer and site media spokesperson all need to be designated.
“We’re really not ready to approve yet without appointments in place,” Trustee Carol Hannan said.
The Emergency Operations Plan provides for the extraordinary arrangements and measures that may have to be taken to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Brockport residents during times of disaster.
Blair said the village should also consider staging a “mock emergency event to … put the plan in motion under a test.”
