From left, Trustee Alan Gustafson Jr., Trustee Timothy Dunn, Mayor James Jaroszynski, Village Attorney Gregory Petterson, Trustee Anthony (Skip) Cavallaro and Trustee Annette Miller are pictured during a Falconer Village Board meeting Monday at the Fireman’s Exempt Hall. P-J Photo by Christopher Blakeslee

FALCONER — With the passing of a resolution by the Falconer Village Board, Monday signified an end to the legal squabbling surrounding the Dow Street Substation, which began in 2017.

The resolution carried the full support of the village board and put the kibosh on all actions for the next 10-years regarding ownership, annexation, taxes and anything else regarding this highly contested Jamestown Board of Public Utilities owned and run substation.

“This is really a stand and hold agreement between all parties,” said Village Attorney Gregory Peterson. “After 10 years, then both parties can, if they choose, continue, start or proceed with litigation, adjust taxes. … You name it. But, for the time being everyone is in a holding pattern.”

However, under the current agreement both sides appear to have come to a mutually beneficial compromise, with a little “give-and-take” going in both directions. Under the agreement resolution, there will be a 20% reduction in the assessed value of the Dow Street Substation property that will last 10 years. The property is currently assessed at $6,592,856. The reduced assessment will be $5,274,284. The city of Jamestown also has agreed to discontinue all litigation during the 10-year hiatus. At the time of this writing the BPU, Village of Falconer, Town of Ellicott, City of Jamestown and the Falconer Central School District have all signed the resolution -signifying, the end of the argument.

As previously reported by The Post-Journal, the fight over the substation began when Jamestown City Council voted to annex the BPU Substation Property in August 2017 – claiming it was in the public’s best interest for the city to take over the land. Since then, all parties have racked up high legal fees trying to win a decisive victory in court. In 2019 alone, the BPU paid $400,000 toward the case. The village, town of Ellicott, and the school district have spent at least $720,000 over two years.

“This is where we’re at now,” said Mayor James Jaroszynski. “We’ve spent a lot of time and money dealing with this.”

In other business:

-The Falconer Volunteer Fire Department has submitted proposals for three grants; from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for $82,123 to replace the stations Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA); FEMA Safer Grant for $49,780 for recruitment and retention and a V-Fire grant for $325,200 for a new roof/generator/air horn tower.

-Board members approved of the hiring of two seasonal cemetery workers and accepted the letter of resignation from a part-time, code enforcement officer.

-The Fire Dire Department reported that it responded to 63 incidents, 13 fires and 50 rescue/EMS calls from April 1 through April 30.

– Consolidating internet and wireless service between the four main village buildings is something Trustee Timothy Dunn is keen on.

“We are paying for separate lines which means separate surcharges or user fees,” he said.