By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

On Jan. 16, the Greater Manlius Chamber of Commerce welcomed a number of local leaders to discuss the current state of the area at the Village Centre Auditorium at 1 Arkie Albanese Ave.

Guests included a number of local community leaders as well as Congressman John Katko.

Topics ranged from economic development to public safety and a look at the area schools, among other topics.

John Katko

U.S. Rep. John Katko spoke first, pointing to the thousands of jobs rolling into Central New York on account of the distribution center coming to Clay as a positive turn for the area.

“I could just be thinking about the world through rose-colored glasses, but something feels palpably different about the economy in Central New York,” Katko said. “Something is happening.”

He added that unemployment rates have been at their lowest spot in decades in the area.

Katko also said that regulatory reform, tax cuts and the renegotiation of trade deals such as the recently revised United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement are behind-the-scenes developments that are “making a difference” for the country.

Michael Crowell

Manlius Police Chief Michael Crowell said that his department serviced over 22,000 calls in 2019.

“That’s a lot of work,” Crowell said.

He also said input was collected from every employee of the police department in order to rewrite its mission statement.

The reworked statement now covers intentions to increase partnerships in the community, focus on problem solving, improve communication with constituents, continue to build policing models and earn the trust and respect of townspeople.

The department formed a crisis intervention team to handle situations by means of “non-traditional” law enforcement.

Crowell said 20% of the force will be fully trained in crisis intervention while 100% will be trained in mental health-related first aid in three years’ time, if all goes to plan.

According to Crowell, challenges facing the department include criminal justice reform legislation such as a law requiring prosecutors to provide the defense with discovery items within 15 days of arraignment and the elimination of cash bail.

“Despite some of these changes and challenges in law enforcement these days, we will always be that agency that’s both guardian and warrior,” Crowell said.

Paul Hildreth

Fayetteville Fire Chief Paul Hildreth said his department—celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2020—has responded to 3,181 calls in the past year.

The department contains 104 members—12 full-time members, 8 part-time members and 84 volunteers.

Hildreth said the fire station on East Genesee Street is staffed with volunteers every hour of each day year-round.

He said the department plans to engage in deadly behavior training and work more closely with the Manlius, Minoa and Kirkville fire departments.

Dr. Tom Neveldine

Dr. Tom Neveldine, the deputy superintendent of the East Syracuse-Minoa (ESM) Central School District, said Newsweek recognized the district as one of the top science, technology, engineering and mathematics schools in the country.

Additionally College Board acknowledged the school district two years in a row for achievement in Advanced Placement courses.

“Those things are very important to us,” Neveldine said.

The district has initiated new programs to benefit students, including a cooperative program with Onondaga Community College wherein students maintaining passing grades in high school can get a full, two-year scholarship to the community college.

“A lot of the good things that happen at ESM is really the result of our teaching staff coming up with great ideas and the board of education and the superintendent allowing them to try their new initiatives.,” Neveldine said.

He mentioned security measures in the district like active shooter training and the implementation of an emergency response system called TAP App.

Neveldine also talked about the hiring of mental health workers in the district and the renovations to the high school and middle school.

He said the district’s elementary schools will be renovated “over the next few years.”

Except for Park Hill School, which was built in the 1930s, the rest of the elementary schools were constructed in the mid-1960s.

Dr. Craig Tice

Fayetteville-Manlius School District Superintendent Dr. Craig Tice said the district updated the mission statement for its strategic plan, concentrating on four priority areas: teaching and learning, a positive school environment, community partnerships and fiscal capacity and responsibility.

The F-M board of education decided to invest in the aging infrastructure at Wellwood Middle School and tackle renovations instead of decommissioning the building and turning it into a district office.

“There was a clear message from the community that a middle school presence in Fayetteville keeps the community vibrant,” Tice said.

The district’s ongoing facilities project has included the construction of additional classrooms at Enders Road Elementary School and an upgraded library media center at the high school.

Tice said F-M has been recognized at national conferences as an “innovative district.”

“We’ve always been frugal in the F-M district, but we’ve supported opportunities for children,” Tice said.

Bill Brazill

Minoa Mayor Bill Brazill said the village has been looking to finish its Minoa Farms development and incorporate solar power.

Brazill also brought up Minoa’s attainment of a $100,000 non-matching grant in 2017 for being one of two municipalities, alongside DeWitt, to have checked off a certain number of action items in a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) challenge.

As a result, a film crew from Manhattan filmed a mini-documentary this past year about the village and its energy use.

Minoa changed street lights to LED, installed a natural gas filling station and recently purchased a dual-fuel pickup truck utilizing gas and compressed natural gas for the village’s wastewater treatment plant.

“We continue to strive for energy efficiency,” Brazill said.

On a regular basis, the treatment plant brings in ESM students to learn about engineering and environmental science through hands-on experimentation, all the while earning academic credits.

“We’re going to have some of the greatest environmental engineers coming out of this area because of that,” Brazill said.

Mark Olson

Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson went through some of his village’s 2019 accomplishments, giving credit to not just the trustees and other employees but also those who volunteer their time.

“We couldn’t do it without their help,” Olson said. “It does truly take a village.”

The village planned events such as open houses for its 175th anniversary.

Street lights in Fayetteville were also changed to LED.

The village began work on renovations to the Fayetteville Senior Center and wrapped up its Safe Routes to School project.

“Every child that wants to go to one of the schools in the village can go on a sidewalk safely,” Olson said. “They don’t have to walk on the road.”

All the sidewalks have handicap accessibility as well.

The village recently received a $150,000 grant for its Canal Landing project from the New York State Canal Corporation to incorporate new trails, driveway, lights and interpretive signage.

Fayetteville’s parks master plan has been updated with the help of the state government, which also assisted the village with the writing of a new forestry management plan for Duguid Park.

Since 2004, the village has received 64 grants totaling over $6 million.

“This could not be done without help from the county, the state, the federal government, the town and other villages that we partner with,” Olson said.

Fayetteville will be working on sewer infrastructure through a lease program with Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

Paul Whorrall

Manlius Mayor Paul Whorrall said his village’s board will start preparing its 2020-2021 budget in the approaching weeks.

Whorrall said the village will work on renovations to the village centre, the removal of “zombie homes” as well as unauthorized car lots, and a multiple-phase main street revitalization and beautification project.

He listed off special events set to take place throughout this year, like the Daddy and Daughter Valentine’s Day Dance on Feb. 7 and the village’s Fourth of July festivities.

He said the village will also look to improve aspects of its parks over the summer.

Whorrall also touched on the village’s fire department, which teaches about fire prevention in local schools.

He said five members currently belonging to the fire department started out attending the department’s week-long camp as fourth graders.

Whorrall confirmed during the nighttime meeting that the village is still set on following through with the Willow Brook Crossing project that would result in development on Fayette Street.

Ed Theobald

During his speech, Manlius Town Supervisor Ed Theobald said the town stayed below the governor’s 2% tax cap again this year and maintains “one of the lowest” fiscal stress scores in the state of New York.

Theobald said he attributes the town’s “budgetary successes” to the town board management process and the work of its department heads.

“With a team like this behind me and our board, it does have a direct positive impact on the success of the town and for all of our residents,” Theobald said. “So now, we look forward to the new decade.”

Kevin Holmquist

Onondaga County Legislator Kevin Holmquist said the county holds the highest bond rating in all of upstate New York and a bond rating higher than that of the federal government.

Holmquist said the Syracuse Common Council “miraculously” approving a sales tax-sharing agreement with the county early last year and the $1.35 billion county budget passing unanimously are instances of collaboration between “both sides of the aisle.”

He said the act of working together will result in more productivity.

Justin Perkins

Speaking for Assemblyman Al Stirpe, his legislative director Justin Perkins said money has been secured by his office for efforts to boost the drone industry in Central New York.

Perkins said the assemblyman also supports the creation of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) School in Syracuse’s deserted Central High School.