WELLSVILLE – At Wellsville’s Village Board meeting Monday
Mayor Randy Shayler opened the meeting with the request to honor former Chief
of Police Tim Walsh who passed away Dec.21. Commenting, “Wellsville has another
ambassador in heaven,” in reference to the death earlier this year of former
police chief Jim Cicirello, Shayler continued, “Our condolences go out to Tim's
wife, Margaret his sons, Robert, Michael and Bryan, his brother, Shaun and his
sister, Mary Kate Cole and the entire Walsh family.
Walsh, 62, was a native of Wellsville. His 42-year career in
law enforcement started with him working dispatch with the Wellsville Police
Department. He walked the beat in Alfred, before returning to the Wellsville
Police Department. He rose through the ranks serving on the Southern Tier Drug
Task Force. He retired as chief of police in June 2014. He was also Chief of Police
for the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad. Active in many community
organizations he was a decorated member of the Emerald Hook and Ladder Company
and received the Allegany County Fireman of the Year award for heroism twice.
During the year end meeting the board passed a $1 per hour pay raise
for Wellsville Police Department part-time officers at the request of Chief Tim
O’Grady.
O’Grady explained that due to the Coronavirus the police
department is using more part-time officers who are paid $16 an hour.
“We’re using more part-time officers. It is about 50/50
between part-timers and our full-time officers. Part-timers are cheaper than
overtime.”
From this point in time to the end of the village’s fiscal
year in June O’Grady estimated that the pay increase would cost between $250
and $300.
The board approved the raise to start Monday.
The board also approved establishing a bank account for new
Village Justice Brad Thompson, approved the application of Emily Hand Spinks to
the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Company and noted that the 2021 Fire Contract
will be ready for approval at the village board’s first meeting in 2021.
Retiring public works employee Craig Smith was thanked for
his 30-years of service to the village. He retires Dec. 30. Due to the retirement,
the board approved advertising to fill the position of Heavy Motor Equipment
Operator to keep the department’s HMEOs at four.
Public Works Superintendent Bill Whitfield told the board, that at this time of year rather than paying overtime the department does the major plowing and sanding between 4 a.m. and Noon unless there is a major storm in the afternoon and that four HMEOs makes that possible.
“I’m reluctant to cut anything in the streets department
this time of year,” Shayler said. The board also approved the appointment of
long-time employee Jeff Gordon to the position of Line Supervisor at Grade 12.
