Dear Fellow Town Board Members,
When I ran for this office, I was asked what I was going to do to improve the Town. I am secure in the knowledge that my efforts have made an unprecedented positive impact on this Town. This was highlighted at the Great Lakes Cheese (GLC) groundbreaking ceremony for their $560 million, 500,000+ square foot cheese making facility. The GLC project is not only the largest private investment ever made in the history of our town, but also the largest in the history of Cattaraugus County. GLC’s presence in our community will give honor to the town’s long history of dairy farming and cheese factories and is in keeping with the County’s Comprehensive Plan. At the groundbreaking ceremony, GLC Vice President, Matt Wilkinson and The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency’s Executive Director, Corey Wiktor, made “special recognition” announcements for my role and contributions, while also acknowledging other key contributors. Mr. Wilkinson stated that Farmersville was “a long shot,” being one of one hundred possible locations. My efforts helped pave the way for GLC to select the Town of Farmersville as the site of their new state of the art cheese factory. This secured 230 good paying jobs locally, with a future planned workforce of almost 500 employees. The GLC factory will increase from using 2 million pounds of milk a day at their existing Cuba facility to more than 4 million pounds and will require an increase in servicing herds from 30,000 cows to 60,000. Mr. Wiktor also stated that without my leadership and effort, this project would have not happened.
This was a historic moment for our Town that will have a positive impact for generations. GLC’s investment in our Town is already being realized. The collection of over $100,000.00 in building permit fees is unprecedented. GLC’s factory has generated significant Interest from several other GLC support companies which are looking to build factories in Farmersville. A housing developer is also considering construction of a large housing development for the future workforce. Other than Pete and I, no other Town Board member contributed to this success and any other Town Board member that previously ran or attempts to run in the future on the success of the GLC project or claim that they made any contribution whatsoever, is nothing but a liar, a liar, plain and simple, and if that occurs, they will be called out publicly on that.
The benefits of the GLC project stand in stark contrast to the detriments of the Alle-Catt Industrial Wind Project. I am very proud of the efforts that Pete Lounsbury and I made to oppose this horrific project. If it is ever built, it will be to the ruination of the beautiful and pastoral viewshed that we now enjoy, for the rest of our lifetimes and those of our children. It is shameful that such project was even made possible by the self-dealing actions of prior and current Town officials. The financially detrimental actions of the prior Town Board that were hoodwinked into entering into insufficient and inappropriate agreements with Alle Catt’s unsavory developer will soon come to light. While the many opponents of this project will laugh at the stupidity and naivete of the Town Board members that engaged in these actions, I will only be sad for this Town and its residents and taxpayers. However, I will take comfort in the fact that Pete and I tried our best to warn of these concerns and if people complain, I will be sure to direct them to these actors.
Notably, I was instrumental in generating savings for the Town. For instance, converting the Town’s Lighting District to LEDs, and assuring that the Town received a time sensitive National Grid grant, saved funds. The grant covered the cost of conversion and provided additional funds, along with future electric bill cost savings. Also, as the Town’s lead collective bargaining negotiator. I was able to secure a beneficial collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with our employees’ union, which will carry forward for five years, rather than a typical three year CBA. The length of the CBA provides savings to the Town’s taxpayers in not having to revisit collective bargaining in three years. Further, the prior Town Board had spent over thirteen thousand dollars on a lawyer to negotiate, as well as a mediator. That was not needed this year. Another savings came from increasing the gauge thickness of the pipes used for the Kingsbury Hill Bridge replacement. The minimal cost of this thicker gauge pipe significantly increased the lifespan, as much as doubling it. I also proposed updating and lowering code enforcement building permit fees, which, when passed, resulted in stimulating several Farmersville landowners to repair, construct and improve their properties, generating even more revenue for the Town. Additionally, I was an integral part of the budget process, keeping the budget lean with minimal tax increases. I also provided the Town’s webpage and internet services at no cost to the Town for 2 years, saving hundreds of dollars. Of course, due to poor decision-making by the remainder of the Town Board, the Town is now back to paying more for website hosting. I also personally donated $1,000.00 to the Farmersville Cemetery Association, addressing the financial ask by the Association to the Town. The Cemetery is historic as many war veterans are buried there.
This e-mail is to inform the Town Board that I have been offered an extraordinary position. While I am not at liberty to disclose details at this time, I have decided to accept this offer, as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This endeavor will demand a significant amount of my time and considerable effort, and I have come to the conclusion that I cannot do justice to its requirements, while continuing to serve on this Board. Thus, effective immediately, I am tendering my resignation as Town Councilman and Deputy Town Supervisor for the Town of Farmersville.
I leave this position with the Town’s finance‘s in superb shape, with a sizable surplus. The recent review by the Town Board and the audit from the NYS Comptroller’s office confirmed no issues with the Town’s finances. I have considered my service as Town Board Member as a public service and that is why I served without compensation. Not collecting a salary for these past two and a half years has saved the Town approximately $4,000.00. I suggest that the current and future Town Board members consider doing the same.
I would encourage the future Town board to capitalize on the $7,500.00 that was budgeted for highway signs, as the Town’s highway signs are aged and have lost reflectivity and some are missing, such as the double arrow signs at the intersections of Reynolds and Pigeon Hill Roads or the intersection of Rogers and Older Hill Roads, making this a future safety and liability concern for the Town.
I wish the future Town Board the best. I also wish the future Town Supervisor and Deputy Town Supervisor the best as well. I hope they find as much enjoyment in service to the Town as I did. If there should be any need for information in the future on Town matters as to which I have specific knowledge (or submissions I prepared, such as the required submissions to the State on ARPA funds) I will be happy to speak to the Town Bookkeeper.
Last, I note the verbiage in the announcement for tonight’s Town Board meeting. Unfortunately, due to limiting the business to be conducted tonight to the consideration of the Town Supervisor vacancy solely, versus what would have been a more preferable addition of “any other business that shall come before the Town Board,” the Town Board is now legally constrained from conducting any other Town business at this meeting this evening, such as paying bills, appointing my replacement, appointing the replacement of any current Town Board member who assumes the Town Supervisor’s role or appointing a Deputy Town Supervisor.
Sincerely,
Mark Heberling
Town of Farmersville Councilman / Deputy Supervisor
Notices:
Court audits have been canceled until further notice due to COVID 19 virus.
The Town Board meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Farmersville Town Hall located at 8963 Lake Avenue Franklinville, New York 14737. Meetings are held at 7 p.m., but in the interest of efficiency, the Town Board may meet at 6:30 pm to pay bills prior to the 7 p.m. Board meeting.