2017 February In Review: Port City Receives Millions From NYS

OSWEGO, NY – Here’s a glimpse of the some of the news from the past 12 months.

Cuomo Announces $25 Million In Rail Infrastructure Improvements
Governor Andrew Cuomo Feb. 1 announced $25 million to fund rail and port improvement projects across New York.

The Port of Oswego Authority was among those receiving funding.

The grants, awarded through the Governor’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, will support projects that strengthen infrastructure and economic development vital to the movement of goods throughout the state. The grants will leverage an additional $5.4 million in public and private investments to complete the projects.

The list of grant recipients and awards includes: Port of Oswego Authority: $2.1 million.

“The funds will help to construct additional rail tracks and expand cargo handling facilities,” Zelko Kirincich, then-executive director of the port, told Oswego County Today. “New tracks at Oswego Intermodal “

Reminder: Dialing Area Code Required on Feb. 11
Oswego County residents were reminded that they must dial the area code when placing both local and long distance calls beginning Feb. 11.

The regional overlay of a new area code will begin in March.

Any new telephone numbers issued in Central New York will be assigned the ‘680’ area code.
It will not replace the ‘315’ area code in any phone numbers currently in existence.

Calling rates will not change and residents will still be able to dial ‘911’ in the event of an emergency.

State of Emergency Declared in Oswego County
Kevin Gardner, then-Chairman of the Oswego County Legislature, declared a State of Emergency in Oswego County beginning at 4:04 p.m. Feb. 3 due to heavy lake effect snow occurring in the northern portion of the county.

A travel ban for the Redfield-Boylston area in the northeastern part of the county was issued by Oswego County Sheriff Reuel A. Todd earlier that day due to extreme heavy snow.

Legislature Chairman Gardner’s declaration of State of Emergency covers the entire county, as the snow has impacted the towns of Sandy Creek and Orwell and is forecast to move south through Oswego County.

A lake effect snow warning issued by the National Weather Service remained in effect until 7 p.m Saturday.

“While snow removal efforts are underway in these areas travel in some areas is getting more difficult and snow accumulations are limiting parking and other access,” Oswego County Emergency Management Director Dale A. Currier said.

Oswego Moves Ahead With Plan To Update Zoning
The city took another step forward at Feb. 6’s Planning and Development Committee in its efforts to rewrite and update its zoning codes.

All of the councilors have probably received calls from someone, Mayor Billy Barlow said, “complaining about bureaucracy and redundancy in our current system.”

A lot of that, in his opinion, is due to an antiquated building code, he added. The code was adopted nearly 80 years ago.

Barlow said the goal is to modernize the code to help entice new business and development in the Port City.

There have been some tweaks to the code over the years. But the last time a major revamp was done was nearly 40 years ago, the mayor noted.

Oswego Speedway Named ‘Best Short Track’ in annual Speed51.com Awards presented by JEGS
For the first time, Oswego Speedway has been named Best Short Track in the annual 51s presented by JEGS on speed51.com.

With thousands of votes counted, fans from all across the country selected Oswego as the short track providing the highest quality entertainment for all involved in 2016.

With the introduction of NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week to the schedule in 2016, dropping clay on the Speedway for the first time since 1952, Oswego hosted more big events than nearly any other facility in the country, filling the grandstands on more than one occasion.

Senator Ritchie Delivers Testimony Before Canadian Parliament’s Senate Defense, Security Committee
In a rare and historic testimony by a New York State Senator before the Canadian Parliament’s Senate Defense and Security Committee, State Senator Patty Ritchie spoke in support of a measure that would improve relations between Canada and the United States, as well as boost tourism in the Thousand Islands region by easing strict reporting requirements for boaters.

On Feb. 8, Senator Ritchie urged legislators to adopt a bill introduced by Senator Bob Runciman (Ontario-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes) and Member of Parliament Gordon Brown (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes) that would eliminate the need for American boaters to report to Canadian customs when passing through Canadian waters.

The legislation was sparked by a 2011 incident where officers of the Canadian Border Services Agency stopped an American boater in the Gananoque Narrows. The boater was told his boat would be seized and that if he didn’t immediately pay a $1,000 fine, he would be handcuffed and forced to lie on his stomach while his boat was towed to Canada, where he could face $25,000 in penalties. While the fine was eventually reduced to $1 after lawmakers got involved, as Senator Ritchie stated in her testimony, the incident has kept many American boaters from venturing into Canadian waters.

Oswego Hires Firm To Facilitate Zoning Code Update
At its meeting Feb. 14, the Common Council authorized the mayor to sign all documents necessary to accept the proposal submitted by Wladis Law Firm for revisions to the Zoning Ordinance and further authorized the transfer of funds for same.

The cost will be around $105,000 to facilitate the first significant update to the ordinance since 1980, the mayor told the councilors.

Oswego Council Moving Toward Paperless Meetings
Councilors took a step toward having paperless meetings Feb. 21.

Councilor Robert Corradino requested authorization for Mayor Billy Barlow to enter into an agreement with NovusAgenda for the purchase of its paperless agenda software.

The Administrative Services Committee gave a favorable recommendation.

“We discussed this at the Jan. 17 meeting,” Corradino said of the proposal, adding that the councilors had had time to consider the plan asked if they had any questions.

The city is looking to purchase 10 tablets. Corradino said each of the councilors would have one as well as the mayor and city attorney. The other would be a spare if needed.

The committee recommended that the city chamberlain be authorized to execute transfers for funding of the NovusAgenda program and 10 tablet devices for use with the program. The chamberlain will need to make two budget transfers. One $1,419.90 will be for the purchase of the tablet devices and the other for $5,700 for the purchase of the program.

Gary Thibodeau’s Quest For New Trial Continues
Gary Thibodeau’s request to have his conviction overturned and receive a new trial was heard Feb. 27 in an Appeals Court.

Thibodeau was convicted in 1995 of kidnapping Heidi Allen from the convenience store she was working at on Easter Sunday morning in 1994.

Two years ago, he attempted to have his conviction overturned. His defense team argued that the original jury didn’t see evidence that might have changed its decision.

Acting Oswego County Judge Daniel King issued a 64-page decision rejecting Thibodeau’s request for a new trial.

Thibodeau’s defense team, led by Federal Public Defender Lisa Peebles, told the panel of judges today that there was no evidence linking her client to the crime and he has maintained his innocence over the last two decades.

Peebles claims that Michael Bohrer was involved in the 1994 Allen kidnapping with two other men, James Steen and Roger Breckenridge.

Thibodeau’s conviction was based on erroneous facts and a faulty legal conclusion, she said.

She also pointed out that witnesses, over the years, have changed their testimony. One believed authorities had the right man for years, until he saw someone else’s photo in the media and started having doubts, she added.

Two years ago, the court rejected that and other “evidence” introduced by the defense.

The lower court made errors that perpetuated this miscarriage of justice, Peebles told the judges. Oswego County District Attorney Greg Oakes believes Judge King handed down the proper decision. The jury’s verdict wouldn’t have changed, even if some new evidence was presented, he said.

Mayor Barlow Announces His Selection of Randy Griffin as Next Oswego Fire Chief
On Feb. 28, Mayor Billy Barlow was pleased to announce the appointment of Randy Griffin as the next Fire Chief for the City of Oswego Fire Department.

Late last year, Mayor Barlow announced his intention to select the next Fire Chief and indicated the selection would not consist of a current member of the Oswego Fire Department.

“We need to bring a fresh set of eyes and a new approach to the Oswego Fire Department and I am confident Randy Griffin will do just that,” Mayor Barlow said. “Randy is an expert and consummate professional in the fields of fire service, emergency management and public safety, bringing with him a resume that is second to none. Randy’s extensive experience and wealth of knowledge will undoubtedly lift the potential of the Fire Department by transforming and diversifying its capabilities, all in an effort to better serve the citizens of the city of Oswego. We are very fortunate to have recruited a professional of such high caliber and I am honored to have him serve in my administration as we continue to move our community forward.”

“I am incredibly honored and excited to serve Mayor Billy Barlow and the residents of the city of Oswego,” said Griffin. “Every community wants a capable, trusted fire department that they can be proud to call their own. I am looking forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the Oswego Fire Department and building a safe, sustainable, valued organization that all Oswegonians can be proud of.”

Chief Griffin comes with nearly thirty years of experience in fire service and emergency management. First appointed as a career firefighter in 1994 with the Fayetteville Fire Department, he has served with distinction, in various capacities in the fire service including as Training Officer, Health and Safety Officer and the Director of Medical Operations.

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