Trouble in Collins Recreation program

by Richard Westlund

     About 15 area residents came to the meeting of the Collins Town Council meeting on Monday, March 7 to complain about what they saw as biased treatment of their children, as well as intolerable behavior by supervising personnel. They objected to what they perceive as children being disciplined on the basis of how well the parents were liked by the supervisors, personnel screaming at kids, and discussions of salacious adult behavior within earshot of children. The latter resulting in kids coming home with questions about what they have heard.

     Many said that their children were too fearful to return to the recreation activities because of the treatment they have received there. They also complained of not being able to get any meaningful response from Cliff Wheeler who heads the program. Some in the group with years of experience as workers in the recreation program said they have never seen the conditions there as bad as they have been for the past couple years.

     Collins Supervisor Ken Martin said, “Rest assured, we take these charges very seriously and will investigate them thoroughly.” He said that for the past month they have been looking into reports of trouble in the rec program.

     The residents gave Martin several letters presumably detailing their complaints, which Martin said would be turned over to the Collins Parks and Recreation Commission.      Highway Superintendent Joe Gernatt reported that the NYS Department of Transportation has notified him that the bridge over the Cattaraugus Creek in Irving for Routes 5 and 20 will be posted as restricted to traffic under 18 tons, effective March 7. Repairs to be made to the bridge may impede traffic to some degree. Gernatt also stated that while the township had 23 inches of snow in all of February, he recorded 22-1/4 inches in two days of March already. The total for the season is now 162.5 inches of snow.

     Building Inspector Gene Degman reported three building permits. One was for a demolition and two for building, totaling $19,230.

     In other matters, the board:

   •  Agreed to purchase a backup generator to be installed at the Collins Fire Hall thus enabling the building to be used as a shelter in times of distress. The installation will cost $6,400 and annual maintenance will be $175. The generator will remain the property of the town while under the care of the fire department.
   •  Formally approved that the town will remove snow from county roads in the town in emergency situations when the county plows are not available.
   •  Approved a 10-year lease on the land occupied by the Transfer Station at a cost of $900 a year for the first five years and $1,000 a year for the second five years.
   •  Resolved to increase the water rates in districts #1 and #3 by 10 percent over last year, effective in the first quarter of 2005. The results will appear in the next billing.
   •  Declared the following equipment as surplus and for sale by sealed bids received by Friday, March 18, to be opened on Monday, March 21. (For further information, contact the town clerk.) The Avaya phone system previously used in the town hall; one dehumidifier; one glass enclosed bulletin board; one 30x70x22 high wood table; one 30x56x20 high wood table; six chairs, preschool size; three town computer systems, from the offices of the assessors, the town clerk, and the budget officer.

     The next regular meeting of the Collins Town Council will be held at the Collins Town Hall on Monday, March 21 at 7p.m.