By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The Olean Common Council on Tuesday approved a contract to draw up plans to relocate the John J. Ash Community Center and the city’s Youth and Recreation Services to the Olean Center Mall.
The aldermen also approved a contract with Cattaraugus County to continue the Olean Area Transportation Service (OATS) bus program through Dec. 31. County lawmakers agreed to advance money to the city for lagging reimbursement by the state.
Plywood Studio of Allegany was hired as a consultant for $3,200 to study costs associated with moving Senior Services from the John J. Ash Center on North Barry Street and Youth and Recreation from the St. John’s education facility on North Union Street to the mall.
Mayor Bill Aiello referred aldermen to their visit last year to the former Irondequoit Mall outside Rochester, which developer Angelo Ingrassia has turned into a community center – including housing. He wants to create a similar space in a $20 million redevelopment of the aging mall.
“I think it’s money well-spent,” said Common Council President John Crawford. The question is if the city moves forward, what becomes of the existing senior and youth facilities?
When the issue was first raised earlier this month, several aldermen expressed concern over the large investment the city had just made in the John J. Ash Center’s heating and air conditioning system.
During the Council meeting Tuesday, Crawford indicated the study was a preliminary concept of what the space at the mall would look like, but argued that the city “has more pressing needs, like the City Garage on North Barry Street.
There was little discussion on the mall proposal before the Council voted 5-0 to approve the expenditure for the study. Alderman John Panus, R-Ward 2, and David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, were absent.
Under an agreement forged with Cattaraugus County and other OATS partners including St. Bonaventure University, InTandem and the Seneca Nation, the city will continue contracts with two third party operators of the five OATS buses.
The county will advance a no-interest loan to the city for the bus service to continue the service through the end of the year.
City officials said earlier that reimbursement from the state can take up to a year to receive, creating cash flow problems.
In the meantime, talks are continuing among the OATS partners that are expected to lead to a transportation plan to keep services going after Dec. 31, Crawford told the Olean Star.
Besides the city, the OATS bus routes include Portville, Allegany, St. Bonaventure, and Salamanca, where it connects with Seneca Nation buses.
“We had previously decided to end bus service May 31,” Crawford said. “The county’s interest-free loan will help us from a cash flow perspective. When we are reimbursed by the state, we’ll be able to pay it back to the county.”
Aldermen also voted 5-0 to extend a moratorium on new solar or wind projects for six months. A one-year moratorium expires soon.
The six month extension was sought in order to complete an update of the coyote’s Comprehensive Plan, which is expected to offer general areas where the alternative energy projects could be located, Crawford said.
The Council approved taking $44,000 surplus funds from completed capital projects and transfer the money to a capital fund for replacement of the roof at the Bartlett House on Laurens Street. Crawford said the project is estimated to cost about $50,000.
The Council also awarded a contract to Empire Building Diagnostics Inc., for removal of building debris at 629 S. Union St., where a vehicle struck a house several months ago, that required demolition.
The debris has remained because the owner and insurance company refused to pay for the demolition and removal, the mayor said.
