by Terri M. Bahne

     Highway Superintendent Dan Ackley was poised with a situation - what to do about a huge, dead, unfoliated tree within the Maltbie Cemetery located on Maltbie Road.

     As concerned Maltbie Heights residents expressed their desire for something to be done before potential damage was to occur, Ackley opted to contact and contract with Good Neighbor Tree Service for the work to be completed.

     The Persia Town Board, at their regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16 agreed that $700 would be allotted to the highway department for the tree to be taken down, chipped and to have the smaller pieces removed. As the bulk of the project was not something Ackley believed his crew was capable of undertaking on its own, he did state that they would be able to haul away the larger pieces in order to save the town some money.

     And money is also being saved in the taking down of the old, tattered flag on top of the town hall.

     Several members of the Sons of the American Legion 409 Squadron and the VFW Post 5007 Auxiliary, in a joint effort, donated their time in replacing the old flag with a new one that they are donating to the town. The flag will also be replaced again in the spring, along with painting the flagpole.

     Being replaced with a void, effective Tuesday, Sept. 28 will be the motor vehicle “office” in Gowanda. As per Cattaraugus County Clerk James K. Griffith, the number of customers utilizing the service is down, with the costs for providing the service going up.

     “The decline in customers is due to the new stricter regulations that Albany has placed on us as a result of the Sept. 11 tragedy. Security on motor vehicle documents has been tightened to the point that many motor vehicle transactions we used to perform in Gowanda can only be done with the computer terminal in Little Valley. Even the eye tests we used to perform can no longer be done in your office (the town hall),” stated Mr. Griffith.

     An item that will not be going down, preliminarily for 2005, is the budget.

     Supervisor Melvin LeBar recognized that the budget will likely increase, but is unsure to what extent. He will be taking the board members’ comments into consideration when “running the numbers.” Although the increase in taxes will be attributed to the increase in costs associated with running the town, the board’s consensus was that they would decline a pay increase for themselves.

     Other pertinent information included:
   •  The search for a building code enforcement officer is still in effect. As many of the applicants to date have been requesting full-time employment where part-time work is being offered, applications are still under review.
   •  Local Law 1 was adopted by the Persia Town Board after a public hearing was conducted, to which there was no comment. This local law provides for the administration and enforcement of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) in the Town of Persia.

     The next regular meeting is slated for Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Persia Town Hall.