Your Village Board is committed to achieving the goals of the Village’s comprehensive plan within the constraints of a limited budget and a stable tax rate. To do this, we have focused on small projects, whose implementation has been prioritized to achieve longterm goals. We have also increasingly and successfully pursued grant opportunities. I am proud to report that the year 2003 has been marked by a tremendous amountof progress in the village.

After the early spring ice storm, the Village Department of Public Works hauled 271 truckloads of debrisfrom village streets. In addition to their normal responsibilities, our crew planted approximately twenty new street trees, installed ten donated memorial benches calong village streets and the canal, re-sealed five streets, and with assistance with the Town DPW, completely reconstructed Courtney Circle. The Village crew also assisted the Town with preparations for the opening of King’s Bend Park.

New decorative acorn light poles were installed along portions of North Main Street, Washington Road, Monroe Avenue, State Street, and South Street as the next phase in our lighting plan. Our plan is to preserve the historic “Harp” lamps remaining along Monroe Avenue and South Main Street. Village entrance signs at key gateways were enhanced with landscaping and lighting. Security lighting was installed underneath the North Main Street Bridge. Temporary speed humps were tested on Elm Street as a traffic calming device.

The Village received a grant from Monroe County Community Development Division to provide handicapped access to the Village Hall. The project has been reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Village Architectural and Preservation Review Board (APRB). The project is currently out for bid with spring construction anticipated. From the New York State Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund, the Village was awarded a $13,058 grant to inventory active, inactive, and archival records. This is the first step in a long-term archival management program.

Village Boards have been working with the Town and School District to develop plans for the new library and renovated Sutherland High School campus. The Comprehensive Plan Implementation Task Force (ITF) has been working closely with the landscape architecture and planning firm of Trowbridge and
Wolf to develop plans for improvements to the Village’s Erie Canal waterfront. The project was made possible

by a grant from the Canal Corporation as well as a New York State grant secured with the assistance of State Senator Jim Alesi.

We are collaborating with the Town and School District to develop procedures for the implementation of a Geographic Information System (GIS). We have just signed new agreements with the Town to allow inter-municipal sharing of services and a new joint lease for the Burdett parking lot. We continue to meet monthly with Town and School officials to ensure the efficient delivery of services through inter-municipal
cooperation and collaboration.

Both the APRB and Planning Board have had busy agendas this year. The larger projects approved, or still under review, include the restaurant JoJo American Bistro in the former location of Ciao, Great Northern Pizza at the former Charter One Bank, the expansion of Talbots, an addition to Saint Paul’s Church, and the conversion of the former New York Central Depot into a spa associated with the DelMonte Lodge.

The Village’s website has been updated and is an easy way for you to stay informed about village news. An increasing number of you are now communicating with us through e-mail. Your input is invaluable in helping us do our job better. As always, we encourage you to contact us, either by phone or e-mail. With the holiday season upon us, the Pittsford Village Business Association is hosting Candlelight Night on
Tuesday, December 2nd. The lighting of the Christmas tree will be held at the Four Corners, on the front lawn of the Phoenix Building, at 6:30 PM. Shops will be open from 5 – 9 PM and traditional festivities are planned throughout the evening. Please join us.

I would like to thank our office staff, DPW crew, and many volunteers for their dedication and effort over the past year. On behalf of all of us who are part of the Village organization, we wish you the best during the coming holiday season and the following year.