Holley voters to have choices this year

In the last village election, 45 out of the village’s 1,800 residents turned out to cast their ballot. This year, with contested races for both the mayoral and trustee seats, the turnout may be higher.

While Diaz Chemical may be weighing heavily on the minds of the village residents, the people seeking election to the board state that the recent chemical release is not what prompted their running for office.

Incumbent Lewis Passarell will be seeking re-election. He has been in office for the past five years, he said.

"I’d like to see the Route 31 project begun while I’m still in office," he said. "Everything in Holley is in a progressive state right now."

During Passarell’s tenure the village has seen the completion of three canal trails, and the construction of an industrial park.

Passarell said his 21 years of law enforcement and his experience on the board and dealing with Diaz is vital to the community. "I have the contacts and can help get people the help they need," he said. "Things are looking good for the village now and I’m comfortable with what’s going on."

Unity in the village and continuity on the board are important issues for Passarell, he said. "The people back us, they believe in us and that’s what’s important."

Holley dentist Dan Schiavone, who grew up in Holley and graduated from Holley High School in 1986, has decided to challenge Passarell’s bid for re-election.

He said he decided to run long before the Diaz event. "I think its an unfortunate thing to have happened but we can deal with it."

Dissatisfaction with the village government over the past three to four years is what prompted his run, he said. "Although the board claims there has been progress, I think we have been stagnant," he said. "I’m happy there are parks and trails but I think other areas have been neglected."

Schiavone said the local government officials should have been looking at ways to either develop the old abandoned high school and if that isn’t feasible, then they need to look at tearing it down.

The reconstruction of Route 31 through the village would be welcomed if it were run properly, Schiavone said. "We need a government in place who is not afraid to monitor the process."

The project includes reconstruction of infrastructure and "smoothing out" some of the s-curves within the village limits.

He said families in Holley want a community that is safe to live in, is clean and appealing, encourages growth yet treasures the small-town atmosphere. "The community also wants a local government that does what’s best for everyone, not just a select few." Schiavone came back to Holley in 1995 and lived outside the village in Clarendon for a few years.

As a businessman, he said business owners in Holley want support from the local government, utilities kept readily available and at competitive prices and a village that is friendly and convenient for consumers.

"We need to make Holley a better place to live without raising the taxes," he said.

He lives above his dental practice with his wife, Karri, and their two children.

Art DiPilato, a 22-year resident of the village, has tossed his hat into the ring for the first time because he said there are issues in the village that either weren’t being addressed or could have been addressed in a better manner.

DiPilato said the recent Diaz spill was not really an issue in his deciding to run for office. "My position on Diaz is that it was a good decision to bring them to town 30 years ago," he said. "They have contributed financially to the village."

DiPilato said because Diaz is on the brink of technology and because the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency haven’t kept up with the technology, that is what made the village vulnerable.

He would also like to see Holley get its own judgeship rather than sending court cases to the Town of Murray. "I would like to see that revenue come back to the village."

The need for a website and the possibility of employing college interns within the village to help update Holley’s outdated ordinances are two other items he would like to see addressed. "We need to develop a research and development committee to look into addressing ordinances, codes, regulations and legislations."

DiPilato and his wife, Joann, have five children.

Incumbent Frank Formicola said the reason he is seeking re-election is to help with the continued upgrades on the canal projects. "I want to be involved in getting more businesses into the Industrial Park," he said.

Being involved in the reconstruction of Route 31 is a project he has long been involved in and he would like to see that come to pass, he said. "I also want to work at keeping our taxes down." He has been on the board for three years.

William Quaranto, a life-long resident of Holley, said his background in business and his ability to see jobs through to completion would make him a great asset to the village board. "The village has made tremendous strides in improving the quality of life in Holley," he said. "But there is so much more that needs to be done."

Quaranto said it is the small things that need to be worked on throughout the village. He said Holley should be a place that people want to come and visit. "I’d like to concentrate some of my efforts, if elected, on new development, sidewalk and street repairs and upgrades," he said.

Other items he would like to address include holding the line on taxes, Diaz Chemical Company issues, resolving the status of the abandoned Holley High School and working on grants for various projects.

He said his experience in business will be useful in helping run the village.

Quaranto lives in the village with his wife, Robin, and their two children.

Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 19 at the Village Hall, 72 Public Square.

Note: Phone calls to Nancy Penna and Shawn O’Mara were not returned.