Erie County Legislator Bob Reynolds led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance at the September meeting of the Evans Democratic Club.  Reynolds thanked the Club for supporting his election.  Town Chair Robert "Bob" Catalino discussed Reynolds efforts to bring County funding to the beaches located in the Town of Evans.

Reports of elected officials were presented by Town Supervisor Fran Pordum, and Board members Karen Connors Erickson and Paul Cooper.  Pordum described the cost-cutting measures he has implemented over the past two years.  "And looking ahead, by adding receipt of taxes to the Town Clerk's duties, we will save over $150,000 a year.  Over 4 years, that will be $600,000 in savings.  That's a lot of money for Evans taxpayers." 

Erickson discussed the shift in the Police Department to rely upon police as Resource Officers in the schools, as opposed to removing an officer from patrol duties to teach in a classroom setting.  She noted that "having a Resource Officer fosters positive relationships with kids in the school.  If the officer is on a classroom schedule, then it's disruptive to the kids when the officer cancels because the Town needs him out on patrol." 

Earlier this year the Town Board approached the Lake Shore School District before the District developed its budget.  The Town inquired if the District would reimburse the Town for taking a police officer off patrol and putting them on a District classroom schedule.  The School District declined.  It is not known if the School District approached the Town of Brant to see if it would dedicate one of its police officers to a classroom schedule without reimbursement.  

Cooper noted that club member Tom Marks is the hardest working Chair of the Conservation Commission with whom Cooper has worked.  Marks recently worked with the Town to reduce algae at the Sturgeon Point Marina.  "Tom Marks is making sure that Sturgeon Point Marina remains a jewel in the Town Parks system," noted Cooper. 

The referendum on the merger of the duties of the Receiver of Taxes with the Town Clerk will be held on Election Day, November 3, 2009.  Pordum described that "The state has announced that in 2010 it will increase what it requires the Town of Evans to contribute to the pension fund.  If we don't cut costs now, then where will the Town get this money in 2010?  A tax increase?  I'm against that.  If you oppose a tax increase too, then vote 'Yes' to merging the duties of the Town Clerk with the duties of Receiver of Taxes."

Club member Bob Beck is organizing a Casino Run to Seneca Niagara on Sunday, November 8, which is the Bills' "bye" week.  For tickets, contact Michelle Parker at 947-9101.        

The meeting adjourned in honor of the centennial birthday of the late Anthony Cooper, M.D., a longtime family physician to residents of the Southtowns and father of Paul Cooper and Town Justice Tim Cooper.  It also adjourned in honor of 50 years of service by club member Angelo Rizzutto to the Evans Center Fire Hall. 

The next meeting will be held at the VFW on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m.