By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

After a delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Baldwinsville Police Department has presented its 2019 Officer of the Year award to Officer Robert Thibault.

Thibault was recognized at the Baldwinsville Village Board of Trustees’ Aug. 6 meeting.

BPD Chief Mike Lefancheck said his officers “selected very wisely” for the award. He shared some of the comments from officers’ nominations of Thibault, who also received the honor in 2010.

“Officer Thibault is hands down the department’s best interviewer and investigator and he is always willing to help out other officers with their investigations,” Lefancheck read. “Officer Thibault is a team player and always has been willing to assist on calls. His experience, abilities and work effort have earned him this honor. Bob solved most of my cases without even me asking for his help.”

Mayor Dick Clarke said the Officer of the Year award presentation is one of the highlights of the year and noted that it is not a popularity contest, but officers nominate their colleagues for the award.

“It never ceases to amaze me that I see you everywhere. … Your presence obviously is noticed around the village,” Clarke said. “It’s always nice when we can honor one of our police officers. We really appreciate what you do for us.”

Thibault was present on the Zoom call for the trustees’ meeting.

“Thank you for the opportunity. I really enjoy serving the village and the people of the village and I’ll continue to do so for at least a few more years,” he said.

Lock Street transformation continues

The Lock Street area continues its transformation with the opening of Fobes Island Apartments.

The village of Baldwinsville acquired Fobes Island in 2011 and sold it to a developer for $488,000 in 2016. The Fobes Island Planned Development District was approved in 2015 and included plans for two apartment buildings containing about 52 apartments, 22 apartment homes, eight townhomes and 10 single-family homes.

Village Engineer Steve Darcangelo said the village has made several improvements to the Lock Street area, including new sidewalks, curbing and a permeable asphalt parking area.

“It’s a terrific thing to see that open up. It’s a milestone to a transition to a street that has really has improved substantially,” Darcangelo said. “This … private-public venture is doing a lot.”

Mayor Dick Clarke said Lock Street used to be home to the village’s Department of Public Works, the dump and some “less than exciting” homes.

“In addition to the new stuff that’s being built, people on Lock Street have taken some steps to upgrade their properties, and Lock Street is no longer the other side of the tracks, if I can say something like that without offending the people who used to live there,” Clarke said. “It was not a place people had nice thoughts about. … It’s going to be one of the nice spots in the village.”

Clarke said Lock Street is becoming a sought-after neighborhood in Baldwinsville where residents can sit out and watch the wildlife on the Seneca River.

Police Chief Mike Lefancheck said crime has lessened in the area over the years.

“When I started here 33 years ago, I can safely say our call volume on Lock Street was the highest of any street in the village. Now our call volume is largely nonexistent there,” Lefancheck said.

Trustee Mark Wilder said the state Lock Street was what pushed him into running for the village board. He said the village has worked to solve environmental issues in the area, clean up the former Baldwin Canal and add amenities such as a nature trail.

Also on the agenda

The trustees also addressed the following issues at the Aug. 6 meeting:

• Openings and reopenings: In addition to the opening of Fobes Island Apartments, O’Reilly Auto Parts is now open for business.

Also, Baldwinsville Village Court will reopen Wednesday, Aug. 12. There will be a health screener and a bailiff to enforce social distancing and face coverings.

The Shacksboro Schoolhouse Museum remains closed.

• Accessible swing set: The village board voted to approve the installation of a swing set for children with mobility issues at Community Park. The Baldwinsville Lions Club is spearheading the project, which has a target completion date of May 2021.

The swing set is the latest of several recent improvements to Community Park, including an overlook with a seating area installed in 2019 and a kayak launch added in 2017.

“My wife and I used to joke it was the hidden gem of the village because nobody really knew it was there. I think we’ve gotten past that,” Mayor Dick Clarke said.

• Election: Originally scheduled for March 18, the village trustee election will take place Tuesday, Sept. 15. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 at Village Hall, located at 16 W. Genesee St. Call 315-635-3521 for more information about absentee ballots.

“If you had already completed an absentee ballot, those are still valid for the September election,” Village Clerk Maureen Butler said at the Aug. 6 meeting.

The nominations for the three trustee vacancies are as follows: Bruce W. Stebbins, Village Party; Megan E. O’Donnell, Village Party; Michael G. Shepard, Village Party; and Dennis N. Sick, Main Street Party. The term for a village trustee is four years.