The Town "Dumping" Issue: "A Political Ploy," Seriously?

[mark blazejewski]

Board votes to grind, remove brush from town dump

August 05, 2021
by MARIA PERICOZZI Editor


The Lancaster Town Board voted to hire a company to grind and remove brush material from the town’s dump site, 6219 Genesee St., at Monday’s meeting.


The resolution approved is for Zoladz Construction Co. Inc. to grind and remove brush material at the site for a cost not to exceed $22,500.


At every meeting since May, residents have brought up the topic of alleged illegal dumping at the dump site.


During the work session, Council Member Bob Leary requested that the resolution be tabled until a “fact-finding investigation” is completed. He said they need to find out who has been dumping and how much they have dumped in the site.


According to Leary, the District Attorney’s Office is not going to proceed with an investigation into the matter. The town has not started its own investigation yet because Leary said he did not want to interfere with the DA’s office.


“Since that’s been done and that’s come to an end, now it’s the responsibility of the town board to do something,” Leary said. “When residents come forward in this town, or town employees come forward in this town with allegations of inappropriate activity, it’s the town board’s responsibility to look into it.”


The resolution to grind and remove brush was not tabled and passed with a 3-2 vote. Council members Adam Dickman and Leary voted no to the resolution, and council members Michael Wozniak and Dave Mazur and Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr. voted yes.


Wozniak said tabling the resolution would delay the inevitable, because the brush would need to be ground and removed anyway.


During the work session, HighwaySuperintendent Dan Amatura said Leary and Dickman have not contacted him to inquire about the allegations.


“This is all a political ploy,” Amatura said, adding that elections for his position are coming up in November. He also asked if the investigation will be done now or if they are waiting until November. “If you would’ve got a better candidate for highway superintendent, you wouldn’t have to try to make me look bad.”


Amatura said the gate has been locked since May and only opened for highway crews. He said he has a list of when and how many loads were dumped there from the Highway Department.


The next Lancaster Town Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at Town Hall, 21 Central Ave.

Reference: https://www.lancasterbee.com/article...rom-town-dump/

Just My Opinion:

This comment, IMHO, appears to be rather bizarre...

“If you would’ve got a better candidate for highway superintendent, you wouldn’t have to try to make me look bad.”

I understand these to be the 2021 Conservative and Republican Primary election returns for Lancaster Town Highway Superintendent:

Conservative Primary

Amatura 241

Pilato 332


Republican Primary

Amatura 609

Pilato 1274


Does it not seem appropriate to ask "Does Mr. Amatura need to improve his math skills?"