News Blog

This post has been corrected.

When the Monroe County Legislature’s Agenda/Charter Committee meets today, it’ll take up legislation that would create an animal abuser registry.

The committee meets at 6 p.m. in the County Office Building, 39 West Main Street.

Democratic Legislator Willie Joe Lightfoot submitted the proposal, which would require people convicted of animal abuse to register within 10 days of their conviction or their release from jail or prison. Animal shelters and larger pet sellers in most cases would be prohibited from selling or transferring animals to anyone on the list.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office would develop the registry’s rules, and the county would contract with the Humane Society of Greater Rochester to maintain it.

The Legislature has committee meetings today through Wednesday, but for the most part members will be discussing routine legislation. The Recreation and Education Committee and the Ways and Means Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday to discuss Monroe Community College’s $124.3 million 2013-2014 operating budget. Under the proposal, the county would contribute $18.9 million to the college.


Most drivers have gripes with the stretch of Monroe Avenue between I-590 and Clover Street. The layout isn’t working, and the state Department of Transportation plans to make changes.

Those plans will be the subject of a public meeting Tuesday Wednesday at Brighton Town Hall, 2300 Elmwood Avenue. DOT staff will be available beginning at 5 p.m. for questions and comments. At 7 p.m., staff will give a presentation on the plans.

The department identified two frequent accident types along the corridor, and the project will address them. One scenario involves rear-end collisions in westbound traffic approaching the I-590 on-ramp. The other scenario involves right-angle collisions when westbound vehicles try to turn into driveways on Monroe Avenue’s south side. Collisions with vehicles in the far eastbound lane are a particular problem, according to the DOT.

The DOT says it expects construction to start in spring 2014.

The summary below, which is from the DOT’s press release announcing Wednesday’s meeting, lays out the proposed changes:

“The proposed project calls to address safety concerns on Monroe Avenue west of Clover Street with the following measures:

• Constructing a westbound right-turn-only lane for westbound traffic approaching the I-590 northbound on-ramp;
  
• Eliminate the eastbound right lane on Monroe Avenue serving traffic from the I-590 southbound off ramp toward Clover Street. This would leave two through lanes for eastbound traffic.
  
• Retain the eastbound, dedicated right turn lane closer to the Clover Street intersection;
  
• Reconfigure the intersection of Monroe Avenue and the I-590 northbound off ramps to tie into upgraded Monroe Avenue to serve exiting traffic;
  
• Reconfigure the intersection of Monroe Avenue and the I-590 southbound on/off ramps west of the I-590 bridges with a new traffic signal. Introduce a new left turn access from Monroe Avenue westbound to I-590 southbound to ease congestion;
  
• Provide sidewalk on south side of the roadway;
  
• Provide sidewalk on the north side of the roadway under a future contract;
  
• Provide 5-foot wide bike lane or improved shared use lanes where possible;
  
• The project will also include resurfacing of the existing pavement, new curbs, upgrading drainage and signals, and installing new landscaping, signs, and pavement markings.”
  

 By Jeremy Moule


The Rochester school board will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m., on Monday July 29. Last week’s meeting was cancelled.
Board members are expected to discuss whether Superintendent Bolgen Vargas can accept a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Some board members say that grants from foundations often open public school doors to private businesses. Vargas says the money is needed to improve management and to reduce costs. By Tim Louis Macaluso