Skaneateles Village Code Enforcement Officer Eric Sell has resigned after less than six months on the job. The village board approved his resignation, which will take effect on April 1, at the Feb. 9 meeting.
“We certainly appreciate all Eric’s efforts to date,” said Mayor Marty Hubbard.
Sell, who also is chief of the Skaneateles Fire Department, said he had no comment at this time as to why he resigned.
Sell became CEO last October after the resignation of Elaine DuBois, who had held the position only seven weeks. DuBois had succeeded George Batlle, who retired as CEO in September after 27 years on the job.
Also at the meeting:
—Hubbard announced the board has received two letters of interest to fill the vacant seat on the village Zoning Board of Appeals. The vacancy was announced at the board’s Jan. 26 meeting upon the resignation of ZBA member Lee Buttolph. The trustees are still seeking candidates to fill the vacancy, and ask any interested persons to contact village officials at the village offices at 685-3007 or [email protected].
—It was announced that Skaneateles has been recognized as a Tree City USA Community for 2011, and the village board received a letter of congratulations from the state Department of Environmental Conservation for the recognition. Village Tree Advisory Board Chari Ann Neibert also emailed the board thanking members for their support and commended the tree committee for its time and effort, Hubbard said. To qualify for Tree City USA recognition, a community must have a viable tree management plan and program that meet certain Arbor Day Foundation standards.
—Village Director of Municipal Operations Bob Lotkowictz said an infrastructure study of the village’s electrical system and equipment was recently completed, and he is now ready to put together a village-wide capital improvement plan. The reason for the study was to assess the age and quality of all the electrical systems in the village to prepare for future issues and upgrades. Lotkowicz also reported that village DPW crews had recently installed new curbing and two catch basins at the Skaneateles Historical Society Creamery Museum on Hannum Street and fixed a water leak in front of Doug Fish Fry on Jordan Street.
—Skaneateles Fire Chief Sell told the board the number of SFD calls for the month of January 2012 has ahead of the number for the same time in 2011, which itself was higher than January 2010. There were 44 calls in January 2012 and so far a total of 60 calls for the year, Sell said. “We’re just not slowing down,” he said. Much of the increased activity has been to assist SAVES in its calls and to give mutual aid to neighboring fire department, Sell said. The department also spent 574 personnel hours on calls and drills in January alone. “We just gotta get more people to join,” Sell said.
—The board approved the request of the Skaneateles Central School District to hold the 2012 high school graduation exercises in Clift and Shotwell parks on Sunday, June 24. The approval included the caveat that all trucks and other vehicles must stay on the street and not be allowed in the park in order to avoid damage to the grounds, such as occurred last year.
—The board approved the request of the Skaneateles Jazz Band to use the Clift Park Gazebo on Sunday, June 3, for its annual Hank Bryant Jazz festival. The approval included the caveat that all trucks and other vehicles must stay on the street and not be allowed in the park in order to avoid damage to the grounds.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
