03-06-2015, by Thomas Stetz, Exclusively for cattcomemorial.com

The Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works held its Committee meeting on March 4, 2015 at the County Center in Little Valley, NY. The Agenda for this meeting, posted on the Cattaraugus County Web Site, did not list but it was believed that one topic for discussion by the Committee would be granting access to the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building by the staff of the Clinton Brown Company Architecture,pc for the purpose of gathering information needed to prepare its Preservation Plan for CAMP. CAMP Chairman, Thomas Stetz, attended the meeting that started at 4:00 pm.

An Agenda, circulated to Committee members at the start of the meeting, also did not indicate that ACCESS to the Memorial would be a topic for discussion. Mid-way through the meeting, Chairman William Weller asked the Committee to go into Executive Session to get legal advice. The Executive Session lasted approximately 10 minutes whereupon the Committee returned to its regular session to conclude its meeting. At the end of the meeting, Committee Chairman Weller stated to Thomas Stetz that an “Agreement/Release” would be drafted by County Attorney, Tom Brady, that would allow the Brown Firm access to the Memorial and also protect the County. Apparently, this access to the Memorial was the “legal advice” that was the topic of the Executive Session.

After the meeting, Committee Chairman Weller indicated to Thomas Stetz that the agreement for access would be coming shortly.

Since the Department of Public Works Committee meeting, Joseph Pillittere, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, has indicated to the Brown Firm that a “contract” for access to the Memorial will be sent shortly but was requesting information from the Brown Firm to complete that document. The Brown Firm has since responded to Mr. Pillittere’s request.

Hopefully, in the near future, the Brown Firm will make their visit to Little Valley to gather information on the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building, which will truly be the first steps in the march to PRESERVATION for this Memorial to Cattaraugus County’s Civil War veterans.

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