By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Members of the Olean Common Council were surprised Tuesday that a public hearing on the recently revised City Charter had been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 22.
The Olean Charter Commission set a public hearing on the proposed changes to the charter for 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at the John Ash Center.
Alderwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, noted that the public hearing was during a holiday week in the middle of the day.
Mayor Bill Aiello said copies of the revised charter are available at the mayor’s office.
Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, said, “I wonder why a public hearing for something as important as a charter change there’s going to be a public hearing at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Christmas week?”
Anastasia added: “There’s probably not going to be a lot of people in attendance. I think this could have waited until well into January or February and still have time for a referendum. I don’t know who scheduled it.”
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., D-Ward 6, said he agreed “it is bad timing.”
“Nothing says you can’t set another public hearing,” the mayor noted.
“Hopefully, we can get another date scheduled” early next year,” Robinson said.
No decision has been made when to vote on the new charter. It could either be voted on during a special election, or it could be added to the November 2026 election.
The new charter retains the strong mayor form of government, but did not include new salaries for either the mayor aldermen. Instead, a salary review board will make recommendations on new salaries, which the Common Council will vote on.
The current $50,000 a year salary for the mayor has not changed since it went into effect in January 1994.
IN OTHER ACTION, aldermen:
- Voted 5-1 to continue to hold meetings the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month — unless rescheduled by prior Council resolution. Ward 1 Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr. voted no. Ward 2 Alderman Joe Keary was absent. Bennion also voted against a resolution to reschedule the Dec. 23 meeting to Dec. 16.
- Voted 6-0 to award a contract for improvements to the Buffalo Street pumping station to C.P. Ward for $162,500.
- Authorized using $20,000 from the Capital Find Sewer Study as a local match for the state Environmental Facilities Corp. Engineering Planning Grant for the phase 1 pump station inflow and infiltration evaluation.
- Voted to authorize free holiday parking on North Union and West State streets and city parking lots through Jan 2.
