By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
The Olean Common Council confirmed the appointment Tuesday of James Douglas Jr. to the Ward 6 vacancy and learned that a long-standing lawsuit may be close to resolution.
Aldermen voted 6-0 to confirm Mayor Amy B. Sherburne’s nomination of James Douglas Jr., to the Ward 6 seat left vacant since the resignation of former Council President Vernon Robinson Jr. on July 28.
Last month, the mayor’s nomination of Douglas did not get a second to the motion — largely because he had not been made available to aldermen for questioning.
Since then, several aldermen have met with Douglas, a retired Allegany-Limestone mechanic and bus driver who buys and sells antiques.
Douglas signed the oath of office in front of City Clerk Lens Martial after the meeting. He will take his seat at the next meeting.
Council President Lawrence “JR” Bennion, R-Ward 1, said the council was informed of an agreement in principle regarding the litigation by the Village of Allegany, Town of Allegany and St. Bonaventure University over sewer fees charged by the city.
Bennion said City Attorney Bridget Marshall will confirm the agreement between the municipalities. The announcement came after an executive session with Marshall, the aldermen and the mayor. He offered no details of the agreement.
The Village and Town of Allegany and St. Bonaventure filed an Article 78 action in state Supreme Court challenging higher sewage rates the Common Council enacted in 2020.
The city and village entered into a contract in 1980 after the village constructed a pipeline to the city’s sewage treatment plant. The village has no sewage treatment plant. The sewage rate was pegged at $140,000 to treat 1 million gallons of sewage.
The city notified the village in 2020 that under state law, the 40-year-old contract had expired. The city and village negotiated for two years without coming up with a new sewage agreement.
In 2023, the city council enacted new fees and late charges and began billing the village at the new, higher rate of 1.5 cents per gallon, charging them at an individual rate rather than a municipal rate. That prompted the lawsuit against the city.
In 2025, former Mayor Bill Aiello notified aldermen that the balance owed by the Village of Allegany with late fees was $7,355,271.
The village, Aiello said at the time, had made a partial payment of $300,000.
Also on Tuesday, aldermen authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with the SPCA of Cattaraugus County for dog shelter services.
The council also approved a resolution to transfer $54,195 from a line item of a vacant heating, ventilation and air conditioning position to cover costs of repairs to the Municipal Building’s boiler system.
Another resolution approved by the council will convert three capital funds to repair reserve accounts. The capital accounts are for projects that have been completed.
Aldermen also approved amendments to the City Charter regarding the director of Public Works.
James Sprague, the DPW director, has submitted his resignation and the council has approved a part-time interim director, former DPW director Thomas Windus.
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