Ed Michalenko's DeWitt Accomplishments

Town Board

• Instituted the policy of beginning each Board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Made all appointments to Committee’s and Commission’s based on qualifications not political affiliation.

Transparency

• Opened Board to the public; residents are invited to present their concerns at the beginning of each meeting.
• Implemented policies of noticing nearby residents, contacting the press, conducting informational meetings, and posting project notice signs so neighbors are aware of pending proposals affecting neighborhoods.
• Held traveling Town Board Meetings; conducted informational meetings in East Syracuse Fire Department Station No. 2, Park Hill School, Village of East Syracuse Municipal building and Jamesville Elementary School in order to get closer to residents and allow greater public participation.

Budget

• Hired the O’Brien & Gere (OBG) Engineer, who served the Town for 40 years, to continue duties and interface with OBG. This year’s savings already exceed $60,000.
• Reduced the work force by 5% by participating in the NYS Early Retirement Program; total annual savings is over $250,000 for 5 years, and $300,000 thereafter.
• Aggressively sought and obtained over $1,000,000 in grants to lessen DeWitt’s cost load on taxpayers.

Property Taxes

• Lowered taxes by 3% in 2009 (first time in two decades); no tax increase for 2010; maintained 2011 budget at 2009 levels, 15.9 million dollars, despite the loss of 5.5 million dollars in sales tax (used a planned step down of sales tax revenues placed in a reserve fund). Consequently, DeWitt was able to avoid the large 2011 property tax increases seen in other major Towns.

Union Contracts

• Settled three CSEA contracts left expired by previous administration; workers were granted a 3% raise for 2008, 2009, and 2010 with no changes to benefits.
• Under prior contract, all highway personnel earned the same pay, whether they worked 30 days or 30 years. Annual base pay in 2010 for all highway workers was $46,833 without overtime. After nearly two years of negotiations, worker salaries will increase 2.5% for 4 years (2011-2014); however, going forward new hires will enter a twelve step program with starting salaries of $29,554/yr. The Town will realize significant long term savings through future retirements.
• Only afforded Department Heads one-half the percentage raise that union members received; no pay raises for elected officials in four years, because sacrifice begins at the top.
• To date, our police are working without a contract.

Consolidation

• Brought forth a referendum; consolidated Tax Receiver and Town Clerk offices saving over $50,000 per year.
• First Town to join Onondaga’s County purchasing system; also instituted a Town wide purchasing policy across departments; saving thousands of dollars annually.
• Signed a snowplow sharing agreement with Onondaga County.
• Hosted Government Modernization Forum to improve efficiencies and lower costs.
• Renovated, reconfigured, and consolidated offices; instituted a worker sharing policy across departments.
• Negotiated a consolidated billing process with National Grid by organizing hundreds of monthly payments according to facility, street light, water pump, and sewer pump; saving hundreds of hours of administrative time.
• Performed an evaluation of water utility costs with the Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA); both parties concluded the Town of DeWitt provides water at lower costs than OCWA.
• Negotiated aggregated water purchase agreements with OCWA and the City of Syracuse, thereby offsetting million dollar rates increases by nearly $800,000.
• Share costs and work collaboratively with East Syracuse Minoa School District on all tax certiorari cases.
• Obtained several cooperative grants for sharing resources with the Village of East Syracuse.

Environmental Issues

• Established a Sustainability Committee and Tree Commission to protect resources and provide for future generations; planted over 100 new trees to date. Check out our newly adopted Sustainability Policy on the website: www.townofdewitt.com.
• Enacted a tree ordinance to protect and promote trees in public spaces; trees provide oxygen and clean air, shelter and shade, moderate temperature, high winds and noise, mitigate storm water runoff and flooding, habitat for birds and wildlife, aesthetic beauty and increase property values.
• Enacted an alternate energy code for solar power systems.
• Updated Town facility lighting with a 50% cost grant from National Grid. Over 700 light fixtures were replaced with new T8 fluorescent bulbs, thereby lowering lighting costs by 55% and reducing our CO2 output by over 145,000 pounds annually.
• Replaced the 20 year old leaking roof at Town Hall with an insulated white energy efficient PVC membrane that will lower heating and cooling costs; a 50kw solar panel system that will reduce electric utility costs by 15% will be installed this Summer; all at a cost to DeWitt residents less than one-half that of the new roof; many thanks go to Joan Christensen.
• Worked with DEC, City of Syracuse Hancock Airport, and C&S Engineers in resolving the problem of fugitive odors emanating into the Collamer neighborhood from holding ponds storing airplane de-icing fluids.
• Visited DEC Commissioner in Albany and obtained air testing for Jamesville and Boulder Heights;
• Lobbied for continued off-site monitoring of the incinerator to County Legislature, Health Department and DEC; filed public comments with DEC; requested greater safeguards for residents from Incinerator emissions.
• Championed sidewalks and creation of a sidewalk policy; integrated sidewalks into major construction projects (Jamesville Rd, North St, Bridge St, Rt 173, Park Hill, etc); advocate a Town wide benefits district to construct sidewalks and bike paths along major transportation corridors.
• Worked with National Grid and others to cleanup several dumping grounds along utility rights-of-way.
• Stopped the Coal Gasification Plant in Jamesville; protected school and neighborhood via rezoning; applied for several grants to demolish the abandoned Alpha Portland Cement Plant and cleanup the distressed industrial site.
• Created volume based solid waste removal system that limits truck traffic, allows off-curb service for those in need, and promotes recycling; implemented recycling and composting practices at Town Hall.

Planning

• Completed the Town Comprehensive Plan, updated the Town’s zoning code for the first time in 50 years; established a long range Comprehensive Planning Committee that will continue to refine and fulfill the Comprehensive plan.
• Enacted an architectural design zoning overlay district for the hamlet of Jamesville; the vision is to promote cottage industry business and the look of a New England mill town.
• Working with property owners to develop long-term plans for reclamation and redevelopment of blighted industrial facilities at the Alpha-Portland Cement and Carrier facilities; continue to pursue opportunities to develop green mixed business and residential communities.
• Established an Energy Committee to explore alternate energy systems and the possibility of establishing a public power entity to lower long-term electricity costs in DeWitt.
• Advocating a conservation overlay district protecting wetlands and flood plains from encroachment and further development.
• Proposing an alternate energy code for more practical use of wind power systems.
• Authorized the DeWitt Advisory Conservation Commission to develop a Town wide Forest Management Plan.

Parks

• Aggressively pursuing expansion of the Town Park System; parks and green space improve the quality of life, preserve and increase property values.
• Negotiated the donation of Willis Carrier Park from the Carrier Corporation; worked with County Legislator Mark Stancyzk and secured a $50,000 highway grant to construct Kinne St access and parking; still negotiating the acquisition of Roby Avenue Extension from Verizon for public access in Park Hill; made improvements to buildings and fields, and will soon upgrade the children’s playground.
• Conduct monthly meetings with representatives from Section 8 Little League, Challenger Little League, ESM Youth Sports, ESM Soccer, and ESM Softball in planning to make Carrier Park a premier facility.
• Helped establish Fiddlers Green Park at Butternut Ck; serve as founding Director of Fiddlers Green Park Association; looking to expand Fiddlers Green and trail system via land acquisition in the future.
• Acquired Cedar Bay Park from NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation; performed extensive cleanup and re-organized Canal Day to focus on the canal and its history; seeking grants to establish an educational program and preserve the on-site canal history.
• Butternut Park between Wegman’s and Kinne Rd is under construction; a picnic area and raised wetland walk will be added, the main trail will cross Kinne Rd and enter the NYS Canal Park; a bridge over the canal will be installed this Summer, thanks to Dave Valesky.
• Preparing for trail construction on top of the Meadow Brook feeder canal between Genesee St and Kinne Rd; plans for neighborhood access on a bridge to Butternut Dr between Excellus and Drovers Ln; trail will eventually extend south of Genesee St along Rt 481.
• Acquired 30 acres between Maple Dr and Rt 481; several acres at end of Buffington Rd; improved Avery Park.
• In the process of acquiring Norwood Park from the City of Syracuse, adding valuable sports fields to the Town’s system; Town will enter into a long-term contract with the Eastwood Bears, and work to minimize neighborhood complaints over lighting and parking.

Business Development

• Brokered agreements between multiple parties for road access, property acquisition, brownfield reclamation, demolition, and redevelopment of the dilapidated Howard Johnson’s on Carrier Circle; new hotel construction scheduled for this Fall.
• Working closely with Carrier Corp to maintain a long-term local presence with important Engineering and Research Departments, while aiding in the decommissioning and environmental cleanup of former manufacturing facilities.
• Working with property owners to obtain a National Grid Main Street Redevelopment Grant for Genesee St.
• Negotiated a contract with Verizon allowing FIOS television and internet service that provides an equal playing field and competition with Time-Warner, opportunity for third-party vendors, and lower prices.
• Negotiated a step-down tax settlement with Magna for the New Venture Gear plant that saved hundreds of thousands in tax dollars and tens of thousands in legal fees.
• Settled the 8 year dispute with the City of Syracuse over the Airport, established a framework for creating a Regional Airport Authority, and protected long term taxpayer interests by: 1) retaining the right to set pilot tax agreements with any enterprise conducting for-profit business unrelated to public transportation such as that of an office park or shipping industry, 2) maintaining revenue via current PILOT agreements to the Town ($150,000 for 7 years, and $120,000 thereafter) and ESM ($270,000 for 7 years, then annual payment of $240,000, and $220,000 thereafter), and 3) the Town will appoint one Authority Board of Director.
• Organized DeWitt’s annual Syracuse Nationals Event in order to: welcome out-of town guests, promote local hotels and business, and provide a venue for recreational viewing of antique and classic automobiles.
• Aided many small businesses in navigating the bureaucracy for site modification and redevelopment.

Infrastructure

• Supported the Eruv Project on behalf of the Jewish Community.
• Established policy (see Sustainability); modified building code for inclusive design to allow Senior aging in place.
• Championed road improvements that preclude commercialization of residential strips, protect neighborhoods, increase pedestrian and traffic safety, including brick pavers, curbs, narrow shoulders, safe turning lanes, benches, ornate lighting, school crossings and speed zones, sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, green space, fishing access, and parking (where appropriate) for projects such as Rt 173, Jamesville Rd, North St, Genesee St, Bridge St, Thompson Rd and Collamer Rd.
• Established the policy of reconstructing water, sewer, gas, and electric utilities (along with sidewalks, street trees and ornamental lighting) with major road projects. Infrastructure investments reduces the need for emergency repairs, lowers long-term costs, improves aesthetics, and increases property values.
• Park Hill Revitalization Project is ongoing and will take several more years to complete; the project improves old infrastructure and will enhance property values into the future.
• Applied, lobbied, and obtained multiple grants that lowered the average homeowner costs by more than $350 per year for the Jamesville Sewer Project, added sidewalks and street trees.
• Developing a capital improvement plan for the Town’s water system.
• After a decade of abandonment and neglect, acquired the dilapidated Nottingham Gas Station; demolition and a neighborhood meeting will occur this Fall; working with City of Syracuse on traffic designs such as a roundabout; green space will uphold nearby neighborhood property values and prevent property decay.
• Responsible for the existence of a community room in the East Syracuse Fire Department’s Station No 2; fought for the right of volunteer’s to use the community room at no cost as a means to help promote volunteerism.
• Created the North Town Ambulance District to provide safe reliable emergency services at low cost, and to secure the future of East Area Volunteer Emergency Service (EAVES).
• Remodeled and re-landscaped the Jamesville Train Station.
• Remodeled and dedicated the court room to the Honorable Judge Jack Schultz; justice for 36 years.

Storm Water Management

• Enacted legislation for development within the Ley Creek Watershed; requiring that the rate of storm water runoff from a site after a 100 storm cannot exceed that from a 10 year storm pre-development. This will mitigate flooding affects of future development on nearby neighborhoods.
• Established the policy of constructing new or replacing old storm drain pipes with perforated French drain systems that increase ground water infiltration, thereby lowering runoff, discharge to streams, and the potential for flooding.
• Advocated use of porous pavement along street gutters to increase percolation and help drain streets.
• Installed rain barrels and rain gardens at Town Hall, Jamesville Train Station, and the Klim Center.
• Developing a long-term storm water management plan to include a system of retention and detention basins to accommodate larger volumes from neighborhoods and slow water release to natural waterways, thereby reducing the threat of flooding; along with a implementing a strategy to increase property owner installation of rain barrels, rain gardens, and trees plantings, and other amenities such as disconnect gutters to sewers, sump pumps, and sewer back check valves.