Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying this great stretch of weather! Over the next few days you will be receiving the Village Newsletter in your mailbox. Moving forward, our newsletter will be available on our website, or thru email subscription. This is an effort to save money on printing and postage as well as a positive impact on our environment. If you would still like to receive the newsletter thru the mail, contact our Clerk's office to be put on that list. She can be reached at pderby@villageofeastsyracuse.com, or 437-3541.

On another note, our community days are rapidly approaching. Please check this website if weather becomes an issue for cancellation announcements.

On April 5, 2010, the Village will by holding the annual organizational meeting. If anyone is interested in any position, please contact me. Planning and Zoning will have openings this year.

Good morning! I would like to take a moment and clear the air on some rumors that are flowing in regards to the clock. The clock and the Village Square are a project that was started at our Vision Plan Meeting last year. The design was completed with assistance from SUNY ESF, Village Residents, and business owners. Obviously given  the economic climate, the Village most certainly couldn't afford a clock, or this project. Fortunately the County and the State found the value in the project and funded it completely. This money could not be used for any thing else, even though the rumors insist otherwise. The clock cost roughly $24,000, not $75,000 that is being spoke of. The Village square will contain pedestrian lighting, a theme that we will try to incorporate all down mainstreet as part of the revitalization project. Also in the project, new curbing, sidewalks, green space, trees, landscaping, and the infrastucture to support everything. This project was created by our residents and business owners, and I along with my Board found the way to pay for it with out taxing Village residents. I believe this square is just step one on Main Street, and in a few years we will look back and see that this was the area that spurred the rest to revive itself.

Dear Village Residents,

In the year 2000, Onondaga County adopted a resolution providing for the distribution of a portion of the County’s three percent sales tax to each of the city, towns, villages and school districts in Onondaga County.  This resolution expires on December 31, 2010.  No revenues will be specifically set aside for distribution to each affected municipal entity after December 31, 2010.

At the February 2, 2010 Session of the Onondaga County Legislature a resolution was adopted establishing the Sales Tax Review Committee and calls for six committee meetings with a final report being issued to the Legislature no later than May 1, 2010.

Village officials will have an opportunity to give a presentation to the Sales Tax Review Committee on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 9:00am in the Legislature Chambers, 401 Montgomery Street, Court House, Room 407, Syracuse, NY 13202.

We are asking for your support.  Please contact the Village Office at 437-3541 if you are able to attend the public hearing on March 15, 2010.  If you are unable to attend and would like to show your support please send a letter of support to the following address:

Village of East Syracuse
204 North Center Street
East Syracuse, NY 13057

If you would like more information regarding sales tax distribution, please contact the Village Clerk’s Office.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Danny J. Liedka

Mayor

Good morning. This morning in the Post Standard, there was an article that announced my candidacy for the Senate Seat in the 49th District. I am excited about the potential opportunity to help a wider range of people in this district. I want to reassure you that I am still your Mayor, and will continue to progress our initiatives. East Syracuse is and will always be first in my heart. I hope I can count on your support as I strive to make some fundamental changes in Albany that will help us all. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at dliedka@villageofeastsyracuse.com

I would like to extend my best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year! I hope 2010 brings great things to all of your families!

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Berry Gardens Chinese Cuisine Restaurant/Take Out to the Village at 601 1/2 West Manlius Street. We are fortunate to have a wide variety of restaurants in the Village such as Kostas, Twin Trees, Silvas, Al's Diner, Sandy & Sons, Ricos, Pardzee's, Little Ceasers, and Wayne's Village Deli to name a few. Berry Gardens adds to the diversity of this list. I wish Hungpang Yueng and his staff the best of luck in his endeavors. Happy Holidays to all!

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Hoch as our new Treasurer for the Village of East Syracuse. I appointed Chris last night at the BOT Meeting to fill a term that expires in April of 2013. I would like to thank Karen Curulla for her efforts over the years, she was certainly an asset to the Village and brought a lot of experience to the table. We will continue to use Karen as a consultant from time to time, but I wish her best of luck in a well deserved retirement. With our Village on the move to bigger and better things, Chris makes a wonderful addition. His ability to think outside the box, and to share our vision is extremely important to my initiatives. Chris Hoch will be a big part of our transformation of East Syracuse. He is enthusiastic about the goals, and offers a tremendous amount of insight into capital projects, housing, and economic development. I am eager to learn from Chris, and to strengthen our financial picture. Transparency in this position will be a big focus, and Chris will get it done! Welcome aboard Chris!

I wanted to summarize our board meeting from Monday night. We had a public hearing regarding stop signs over off of East First Street. We added a new three way stop at the intersection of East First, and the new road that was created coming in off Manlius Center Road/Rt. 290. This will vastly increase the safety and proper flow of traffic at this corner. Next summer the East First Street connection under the bridge will commence in conjunction with the DOT. Another topic at the Board Meeting was talk of a new law that addresses our tree population in the Village(specifically in the right of way between sidewalk and curb). This will protect our trees from signage that is nailed and damages the trees, to unauthorized trimming or mulching of trees. And lastly, thanks to the strong efforts of our Board and department heads, we were able to grow our surplus accounts, and offer our employees 3% raises that they didn't get at budget time. Our leaders are to be commended for their leadership in a tough time.

As I sit in Ronald Reagan Airport, I have the chance to give you a brief review of my trip! I met with some of our local representatives today to push along our initiatives. I focused on Kinne Street and the Hanlon Pool/Community Center because these are the projects that are extremely appealing, and fit the scope of the potential monies that are available. Our Main Street project needs to go thru it BOA grant phase before we are ready for Federal Money. I plan on making another trip when we are prepared to present it. I am excited about the meetings today, and the sincere interest our representatives showed. I would like to thank our residents, community leaders, and business owners that have written letters of support. They will go a long way in securing the support.