Guest Column: Mayor Keith T. Pierce

“Things are happening in our Village”

ODESSA, May 27 -- Its been too long since I filled you all in on the goings-on of your Village. I guess I'm the same as all of you: There just aren't enough hours in the day!

Many things are under motion that I hope will propel us and our Village into the next era of Odessa. The joint Village study that we have embarked on with the Village of Burdett is in full swing and we are beginning to see some of the preliminary results from that. I can't tell you much yet, but what I will tell you is that our once scenic waterway may play a substantial role in our future plans. Stay tuned!

We have also embarked on a study to determine our best plan of action with regards to a sewage treatment system. This is in the very early stages and I can't tell you much about this either, but I will keep you all updated. I do know that one option being considered is a natural wetland type facility that would be very "green" oriented.

We are a few steps closer to having a park on our main street. I've mentioned this in passing before, but I think now we are getting close. The young gentleman taking on this task in order to achieve his Eagle Scout rank has received preliminary approval from his Boy Scout troop to proceed. All that remains is raising the funds for him to move forward. He has showed us his plans, and to say the least they are impressive. He is a fine young man and I'm sure he will do a wonderful job.

Another thing we are working on is new banners for Main Street. My idea to accomplish this is to have local businesses each purchase a banner, and the business name will be placed on it. My initial responses from everyone have been outstanding. If things go as planned, we should have a Main Street full of new banners in the near future. I would also like to get several American Flags to adorn Main Street as well. Along those same lines, we are always looking for volunteers to assist with flowers and general beautification of our Village. At present time Pam Cicconi has been in charge of this and I'm sure she would be grateful for any help you may provide.

We are at that time of year again when we decide what trees need to come down within the Village. I can tell you that none of us like taking any of our old majestic trees down. Our only real criteria is safety. All of the trees we've taken down over the last few years were removed because they weren't safe to remain. That will also be the case this year. Four large trees along College Avenue will be removed at some point this summer as well as a smaller maple that our resident woodpecker has ruined.

The one thing we have all learned from this undertaking is that we need to do more planning than has been done in the past. None of us want a Village Board fifty years from now to have to make some of the hard decisions we have had to make. For that reason, and that reason alone, we have not replaced any of the trees we have removed. We have done a large amount of research on the subject and are getting close to some decisions on what types of trees we can plant and not have adverse effects in the future. We have implemented a committee to address these concerns, and it will be led by Trustee Peggy Tomassi along with Ms. Daley of Merchant Ave. If you would like to be involved in this process, please contact either of these wonderful ladies.

Our DPW department has been working hard with its everyday duties. A large amount of its time has been spent picking up brush around the Village. Seems to be more this year than any other year. This did evoke some discussion at our last board meeting about sticking to our past practice of picking up brush on just one day of the week. No decision was made, although I would like us to continue doing this each day -- but the final decision will be made by our DPW Department. One thing that would help them out is if everyone would utilize the free bags available at the Village offices rather than plastic trash bags that produce more work for them and added expense to our refuse bill.

In closing, I want to inform you of a change within the ViIllage Staff. At our last Village Board meeting our Code Enforcement Officer, Bud Kibbe, turned in his letter of resignation, which the Village Board accepted. Mr. Kibbe has a growing contractor business and will be returning to school for an additional degree. We all appreciate his time with the Village and wish him all the best.

Things are moving quickly in our little Village and we are moving forward. I, as always, will attempt to keep you all as well informed as possible. Don't forget, the Village Board meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Stop by and see first-hand what's going on in your community!

Keith T. Pierce
Mayor

Village Board members

Pictured below, from left: Mayor Keith Pierce and Village Board Trustees Peggy Tomassi, Timothy Hickis, Robin Thoman and Shawn Crane.

Mayor: Keith Pierce

Trustees: Peggy Tomassi, Robin Thoman, Shawn Crane, Timothy Hicks

Village Clerk: Kristi Pierce, 300 E. Main St., Odessa, 594-2100

Department of Public Works: Mark Candido

Village Justice: Ronald Goossen

Municipal Building: 300 E. Main St., Odessa, 594-3792

Dutton S. Peterson Memorial Library: 106 First St., Odessa, 5942791

Schuyler County Officials

Legislature Members:

Top row (from left): Thomas Gifford, Dennis Fagan, Doris Karius, Glenn Larison

Bottom row: Michael A. Yuhasz, Barbara Halpin, Phil Barnes, Stewart Field

Legislature Chairman

Dennis Fagan, Tyrone

Legislature Members:

Michael A. Yuhasz, 535-4967

Doris L. Karius, 546-5544

Barbara Halpin, 594-3683

Glenn R. Larison, 594-3385

Thomas Gifford, Montour Falls

Phil Barnes, Watkins Glen

Stewart Field, Reading Center

County Clerk: Linda Compton, 535-8133

Sheriff: William Yessman, 535-8222

Undersheriff: Breck Spaulding, 535-8222

County Treasurer: Margaret Starbuck, 535-8181

District Attorney: Joseph Fazzary, 535-8383

State, Federal Officials for Schuyler County

Sen. Charles E. Schumer

United States Senate
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3201
DC Phone: 202-224-6542
DC Fax: 202-228-3027
Email Address: http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand

United States Senate
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-4451
Website: http://gillibrand.senate.gov/

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed

United States House of Representatives
1208 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
DC Phone: 202-225-3161
DC Fax: 202-226-6599

State Senator Tom O'Mara -- Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates, western Tompkins, Enfield, Ithaca (Town and City), Newfield, Ulysses(Trumansburg)

Room 415, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2091
Fax: (518) 426-6976
www.senate.nyssenate53.com

Assemblyman Christopher Friend -- Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga
Room 720, Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
Phone: (518) 455-4538
Website: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=137