by Kristina Gabalski
Spencerport voters will head to the polls March 19 to select two trustees and a mayor.
Mayor unopposed
Mayor Joyce Lobene, who was elected in 2009, is running unopposed for a second term.
She says she would like to thank the residents of Spencerport and her family for placing their trust in her and for their loyal support over the past four years.
“I am also very grateful to our Village staff – whether office, DPW, Electric and our attorney for their hard work in making sure our village ran in the smooth and efficient manner it does and also for teaching yours truly that there is a little more to running a village than we are taught in Government 101. Without all of you, we would not have accomplished what we have in the past four years.”
Businesses in the village are doing well, Mayor Lobene says. “Our Union Street shops are busy, the Plaza with Tops and busy shops and a new owner of the Plaza, who is planning even more for our Village, makes our economic future bright as do the great shops moving up the hill and on Nichols Street.”
Much is also happening on the Erie Canal front, she explains “with a new dock and our Heritage Trail to be completed this spring thanks to grants from NY State and our grant writers – Village Clerk Jackie Sullivan and Treasurer Karen Kimmler. Our Trolley Depot welcomed over 3,000 visitors this past season from all over the world. They came by boat, bike and auto and enjoyed their visits. Our restaurants are busy and I don’t know of one other small town or village that can boast of six pizza shops that are all busy.
“To me, it is very satisfying to see young families riding their bikes or pushing strollers along the Towpath and enjoying fresh air and exercise,” the mayor continues. “Soon, the village portion of the Heritage Trail will meet with the Town of Ogden’s, making the trail a walk through the village and town to Spencerport Road.”
Mayor Lobene says she still believes in term limits – as she said when running for mayor four years ago. She will not run more than two times, meaning her second term will be her final one.
“I hope that by doing so, I can finish what we have started and whatever else is needed to keep Spencerport ‘Someplace Special.’ ”
Several weeks ago, Mayor Lobene says she was invited to attend a meeting with Gov. Cuomo and while he was speaking, light reflected off his motto on a background curtain.
“The emblem read on the bottom, ‘I work for the people,’ ” she says. “I wish more in every level of government would adopt and adhere to that statement.”
Four candidates seek two seats on board
Four candidates are running for two open trustee seats. Incumbents Ted Rauber and Fritz Gunther are being challenged by former trustees Charlie Hopson and Glenn Granger.
The mayor says all four candidates running for trustee have something to offer the village.
“Ted Rauber, our deputy mayor, has been a trustee for more than 12 years. His sharing of knowledge and experience, as well as support has been invaluable to myself and to our other board members,” she says.
“Glenn Granger, a former board member, and who, along with his wife, Maureen, have run our very successful “Cartons for Christmas” for many years now, has experience also, as do Charlie Hopson and Fritz Gunther, who have both completed a term.”
Glenn Granger is retired after a more than 30-year career as a teacher and school counselor for BOCES 1. He formerly served as a trustee for nine years.
He says he enjoyed his time as a member of the village board and would like once again to become involved.
“I want to continue positive growth – while keeping taxes down,” he says.
Granger says it is also important to communicate well with the public and keep them informed of issues coming before the board – something he has the ability to do, “I know the people, I know I can help,” he says.
Regarding development planned for the Village Plaza, Granger says, “ … things have to be done correctly. I don’t have an issue (with the proposal), I think it’s great, actually, but it’s got to be done right. They have to follow our codes – we must continue village growth within reason.”
Granger says that although he realizes it’s not very likely, he would like to see the old Erie Canal bridge tower come back into the village.
Like John Cougar Mellencamp, Granger says he, “was born in a small town,” and loves the small-town atmosphere of Spencerport. He is a life member and former president of the Spencerport Volunteer Ambulance, former Kiwanis president and served on the school board for six years. He and his wife, Maureen, are former Citizens of the Year and Granger has also been honored by his hometown Fairport High School for his years of community service in Spencerport.
He has lived in Spencerport since 1977. He and his wife have one adult child and four grandchildren.
“I’m willing to do what I can do,” he says of serving again on the Village Board.
“I know the people, I’m open with people. I like the village and the path it’s on.”
In 2011, former trustee Charlie Hopson lost his seat on the board by seven votes.
He says he wants to serve the village again because he enjoyed working with people in the village during his first term.
“There’s some oversight that needs to be done,” Hopson says and adds he would like to have a voice again on the village board.
The development planned for the Village Plaza needs, “… a lot of oversight,” he says. “We have to see that what’s done does not make it harder on Main Street businesses.”
During his four years on the board, Hopson says the tax rate stayed the same, but recently taxes have gone up some.
Hopson says he doesn’t know the reason, but the village is enjoying increases in sales tax revenues and those should be used to off-set tax increases.
Hopson has been a village resident for more than 40 years and owned and operated Hopson Automotive for more than 32 years before retiring in 2007.
“I have conservative thoughts,” he says, “about what we should and shouldn’t do regarding village development and the park next to the canal. We have to be careful what we do and what we spend.” He notes during his first term on the board he was liaison to the DPW and was able to help implement changes there that saved taxpayers, “a lot of money.”
Hopson, too, likes Spencerport for it’s small town charms. “Most everybody is pretty friendly. I ran a small business here for 32 years, it has a nice small town atmosphere.”
Hopson was a founding member of the Spencerport Kiwanis Club. He and his wife, Carol, have been married for 44 years and have three grown sons, one grandson and two granddaughters.
Trustee Fritz Gunther is seeking a second term on the Village Board.
“I’m not a career politician,” he says, “but an average citizen who owns and operates a local business. I bring to the board my highest values, honesty, integrity, and what I believe to be common sense decision making.”
Gunther says his priority is representing village residents and that he works to be the, “….voice of the people. That’s what I have tended to have been doing. I keep people first,” he says, and follows the simple philosophy of asking himself how he would like to be treated, serving without, “regard to personal gain or the need for power or self-importance.”
During his first term, Gunther notes he did not always agree with other board members, “but we kept to the issues, worked through the differences that five unique individuals bring to the table and carried on with the business at hand.”
He says he appreciates the diversity that board members bring to village government, “five individuals who bring in different life experiences and viewpoints – (yet) we come together and do what’s best for the village.”
Gunther and his wife, Mary Ann, have three sons, two are still at home. He is a member of the Spencerport Chamber of Commerce and other area Chambers.
“Running the business of a village responsibly and efficiently requires the same set of skills I employ in running my own business,” he says. “Payroll must be met, daily expenses must be budgeted for and met, planning and budgeting for future expenses is critical to remain solvent and to meet any unforeseen difficulty. All of this must be accomplished with the best possible value to the customer. Too many elected officials forget that the people they represent are both the owners of the company and the customers.”
Spencerport is a great place to live and raise a family, Gunther notes.
“I enjoy it and want to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” he explains.
Gunther adds that he wants to continue to represent residents as a trustee and to, “… continue to fight for your interests while keeping Spencerport ‘Someplace Special.’ ”
Trustee and Deputy Mayor Ted Rauber has more than a decade of experience serving on the village board. He is running for his fourth term.
Over those years he says he is most proud of his involvement in making the Depot Museum and Visitor Center a reality.
“It’s a great spot for boaters and has put Spencerport on the map on the Canal system,” he says.
Rauber serves as president of the Depot Museum Board. “It’s nice to be involved,” he says and notes there are currently 80 volunteers who, along with director Doreen Castano, keep the Depot going.
Trustee Rauber has also worked extensively on the issue of village sewers and to bring the wastewater treatment plant off-line. A pump station in the village now sends sewage to Monroe County’s VanLare wastewater treatment plant.
The village has also worked hard on the roads program. “The effects can be seen on Coleman Avenue, Coolidge Avenue and Prospect Street with new drainage and curbing,” he says.
The Village Electric Department has been well maintained so that even during events like high wind storms, “… Spencerport seems to be well lit,” Trustee Rauber says.
He adds that the village must invest in the Electric Department and be diligent in keeping up with jobs like tree trimming to keep it running well. “As a board member, I know in order to save money sometimes you have to spend money.”
Priorities for another term include locally smart growth, Trustee Rauber says and notes that the village covers only one square mile, meaning officials need to plan carefully so as not to overtax systems like sewers and electric.
The proposed development project at the Village Plaza will need, “… hand-holding and nurturing,” he says, “as we figure out what works best.”
He also wants to maintain a walkable community. Rauber says the village has budgeted $30,000 for sidewalks to keep the village walkable and keep people out and about in the village.
Rauber has lived in the Town of Ogden for 40 years, 27 of those in the village. He and his wife, Linda, own two businesses on Main Street and have two grown children and four grandchildren. Rauber is a two time president/one time distinguished president of the Spencerport Kiwanis Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 7707.
The Raubers constructed a new building for the businesses in 2009. “We’re so proud to be a part of the village,” he says. “We make a living here and we want to give back.”
Spencerport has the best people and Main Street has a “friendly atmosphere,” Rauber says. His building includes commercial space below and apartments above.
“Our tenants love it,” he says, “they love walking the village.”
Rauber adds that the village has a staff of great employees. “You allow them to do their job, and get them the proper training. That’s what makes the community so good.”
He says sharing services with the Town of Ogden and Monroe County also helps the village.
As a trustee, Rauber says he tries to be a good listener when residents come to speak to the board. He says it is also important to look forward while at the same time looking back. “You need to learn from your mistakes,” he says.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 19 at the Spencerport Fire House Station 1, 175 Lyell Avenue, Spencerport from noon to 9 p.m.
Brockport resident files suit against BPD Chief
by Kristina Gabalski
An attorney for Brockport resident Norman GianCursio has filed a lawsuit against Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti and the Village of Brockport alleging GianCursio was falsely arrested in March of 2012 and that Chief Varrenti made the arrest for his own personal and political gain.
GianCursio was charged with reckless endangerment stemming from the firing up of a new furnace at the home of Mayor Connie Castaneda in March 2011.
Attorney Michael Burger filed the lawsuit in State Supreme Court in Monroe County on March 8.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for, “… arresting and prosecuting (the) plaintiff under color of authority for a crime he did not commit and for purposes other than to see the interest of justice served…,” the lawsuit states.
In a statement, GianCursio said he is not a criminal and has built his life in Brockport with hard work and sacrifice.
“My only ‘crime’ was that I have called attention to the excessive cost of the redundant and unnecessary services that Chief Varrenti allegedly provides our two-square mile village which is already served by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the SUNY Police,” GianCursio stated. “Chief Varrenti’s allegations against me did not satisfy the jury which found me not guilty of the baseless charge he made. In fact, my attorney called the police and fire officials on the scene of the alleged ‘crime’ as defense witness to clear my name.”
Chief Varrenti told the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald he had not yet been notified of the lawsuit as of March 13.
“The fact that a reporter knows and is questioning me about a lawsuit that names me and the village as defendants, before the defendants themselves know about the lawsuit, I believe speaks volumes. I leave it to the readers and residents of Brockport to draw their own conclusions. Other than that I have no comment since this is pending litigation,” he said.
In September of 2012, a Town of Ogden Court jury acquitted GianCursio of the reckless endangerment charge. GianCursio had been accused of telling a person present in the home during the new furnace firing to stay inside during the event. The Brockport Fire Department had been called to the scene by passers-by who noticed vapor or exhaust coming from the house.
The lawsuit claims the charges were filed to silence GianCursio’s, “ …. political views and stifle dissent related to dissolving the village or otherwise detracting from Varrenti’s official power.”
Village Trustees have strongly supported Chief Varrenti and the Brockport Police Department, calling Varrenti professional, smart and fair.
“I am proud of Brockport’s fine police department and know they all do their job fairly and professionally,” Trustee Margaret Blackman previously told the Suburban News.
