In spite of the conception amongst some that the Albion Historic Preservation Commission saddles business owners with costly regulations, the reality is that the village has not levied a fine against anyone who has violated the Village of Albion’s Preservation Law in recent memory — certainly not during my tenure as chairman. Sure, there has been a lot of saber rattling and threats, but when push has come to shove, nothing happens.
There are a number of reasons and plenty of blame to go around. Most people blame the code enforcer because he is a convenient scapegoat. The reality is that the board has never directed the code official to start citing or fining violators of the Preservation Law, probably because they fear a revolt from certain segments of the business community. To be fair, this has been the case for a long time and pre-dates many of the current board members. It is the inaction of the governing officials that has, in essence, made the historic law run on the “honor system.”
The problem with that is obvious; no law works on the honor system, especially not something as important as a law that has the potential to reap huge economic rewards if it is enforced consistently and fairly. Unfortunately, even after the former mayor left, little has changed with regard the historic law. The debate about the cell phone dealer’s sign went on for months and a promise was made by one member that they would pay for replacement of the sign “out of their own pocket.”
Despite the good intentions, that never happened and eventually nobody wanted to touch the issue. The sign remains just as it did over a year ago and the board did nothing after months of debate; instead they just let the issue die.
For the law to work, the Village Board and mayor need to take a stand in favor of it and set clear guidelines for business owners. This needs to be public instead of the current method, which almost makes it appear that the determining factor is either what side of Main Street officials are on or who is in the audience during a given meeting.
Whether it is true or not, if potential business owners perceive the law as a hindrance to business they will not open businesses here, or they may relocate. A lukewarm “honor system” model like we have today will not position the Village of Albion to reap potential economic rewards and may frustrate the people that have devoted so much time and energy into revitalizing the downtown area only too see many of those efforts thwarted or attacked from all angles. This attempt to please everyone with a hands off approach will essentially alienate everyone.
Albion recently was designated a Certified Local Government after years of preparation by many people and seemingly endless political wrangling and posturing. In order to keep that important status, the mindset of the Village Board and the community needs to change. Instead of looking at CLG designation as a weapon or a power grab, it should be utilized as a powerful and positive tool in the economic revitalization arsenal.
Recognition as a CLG is the first step toward legitimacy, and if it is not utilized properly, Albion could easily lose that important status. Without it, I fear that Albion is only a few decades away from seeing the vast majority of its older buildings demolished because they will be too expensive to repair.
Moreover, for the commission to function, it should have the full support of the village government when it comes under siege. The commission is made up of volunteers, but even volunteers need to feel as though they are appreciated and will be supported in difficult times, rather than made scapegoats. Many envision a new revitalized downtown, but vision without action is only an illusion.
Thom Jennings lives in Albion. For comments, write to holly.toal@journal-register.com. The Real Deal from Orleans County is now available as an audio podcast on iTunes.
Opinion
JENNINGS: Revitalizing downtown takes more than a vision
- Opinion
-
-
There are bobcats in our area
In recent years, local residents have had the chance to witness some interesting animals within our borders. Among those that generated the most press and most talk were the black bears that frequented the area for a couple of months. The beasts elicited either fear or appreciation, depending on one’s perception of bruins. More often than not, the former emotion ruled the day.
-
Governor needs to stay on point
Last week in the governor’s State of the State address, Cuomo said he’s taking on a new job. He’s going to be an advocate for the kids. In fact, Cuomo went so far as to say that he’s going to be the only advocate that kids have.
-
CONFER: A warning about the WARN Act
Entrepreneurship has always had its basis in the understanding and handling of the unknown. No business owner has ever known exactly what his customers want, what the markets hold, or what his competitors are doing. But, they’ve always had a good idea about what might happen and, from the theoretical standpoint, what should happen.
-
VALLEY: I'm amused by the little things
Am I the only one amused by the fact that few (if any) people have ever seen a woman in a dress like the ones in the fashion section of a newspaper? I’m talking about the illustrated apparel — designed by people with one name — that’s supposed to be what people will be wearing in the next fashion cycle.
-
Recognize our hometown heroes
If you haven’t driven through Holley this summer, you’ve missed quite a sight. The light posts and electrical poles throughout the village are adorned with Hometown Heroes banners. Each one recognizes someone from the village who is actively serving in the military. The attractive banners are 72 inches tall and about half as wide and each one is adorned with a large photo of the serviceman/woman along with his or her name and branch.
-
VALLEY: Inactive seniors and over-reacting juniors
Have you seen the commercial on television where the young gal who is at the age where she knows everything there is to know about life and the world says something to the effect that a recent study had shown that older people tend to live less of a social life than they did in the past?
-
VALLEY: The other side of a tragedy
In late June of 2010, I wrote a column about my friend, Dave Cook. Back then, Dave and his wife, Carol (and daughter, Chelsea) had been through a Hell-ish scare when a liaison with the U.S. Marine Corps had left a message about their son, Sgt. Trevor T. Cook. Trevor was serving in Afghanistan at the time.
-
CONFER: The real story behind your power bill
As long as the Public Service Commission allows a pending rate change from National Grid — and there’s no reason they wouldn’t — the electric company’s customers will see significant savings come Jan. 1. The bill for the typical household/apartment will be nearly $9.50 lower per month, while homeowners with families (who use more power) drop by almost $16. That’s $114 and $192 in extra spending money per year. Not too shabby.
-
VALLEY: Don't take offense to this
I was making a delivery last week in my Napa pick-up truck when I noticed another truck several car lengths ahead of me. At first, I thought that it, too, was a work truck, because I could see a large sign across the tailgate.
-
CONFER: N.Y. should tax public pensions
New York residents are excluded from paying state taxes on the first $20,000 of their retirement income from private pensions. If they happen to be former government workers, though, things are quite different: Local, state, federal and military retirees don’t pay any state tax at all on their publicly-provided pensions, whether it’s $20,000 or $80,000.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
