Implication unfair to police chief

I concur wholeheartedly with your editorial of Oct. 8, but would like to elaborate on the data that is available on a regular basis toátrustees regarding incidence of crime and police response in the Village of Cooperstown.

Each month in the Board packets we trustees receive prior to ourámonthly meetings, the Police Chief provides a computer printout detailing all of the calls for service to which the police respond.

This spreadsheet includes detailed information, including the date, time, location, call category, and a brief description of everyáincident. From my first day in office, this regular source of data onáthe work of the police department has helped to inform the police-related decisions I have made on the Board. When this year’s Village budget failed to provide enough funding forá24/7 police coverage, the Police Chief responded on May 1 by providingáthe trustees with a 7-page memo outlining shift coverage and policeásalary and budget information.

The memo made clear the cuts inácoverage that would be necessary. This information was discussed atáseveral public meetings in May, June and July. Some trustees continued to ask for more data, which in my opinion was redundant, given the information already in hand.

However, in response, the Chief spent hours reviewing roughly 3,500 calls for service during theápreceding 12-month period.

She reported her summary verbally at the August Board meeting, detailing the percentages of police calls byáshift and priority for each month of the year.

To hear implications made that the Police Chief has been less thanáforthcoming with data, or that the lack of 24/7 coverage is somehow aámanagement and not a financial issue, is terribly unfair to the Police Chief. I find the Chief to be a person of great integrity as well as an innovative leader for the department.

One example of her successful leadership is the aforementioned police service- calls spreadsheet.

They are made possible by the computerization of police logs initiated by Chief Nichols shortly after she was hired. The police department computers were funded by a Homeland Security Grant she secured.

The excel spreadsheet that tracks the work of theádepartment was created by Chief Nichols.

We can disagree on the appropriate level of funding for the policeádepartment, but hopefully we can do it without demeaning the fine work the Chief — and the department — performs.

Lynne Mebust

Trustee and Police Committee Chair

Allow us to keep our views I write this letter in the hope that the Cooperstown Village Planning Board will not consider changing the designation of the Lake Front Motel from Motel to Hotel.

Not only would this place commercial interests above the residential interests of those property owners who live in residentially zoned areas of the Village, but it also serves to cater to the transient tourist, at the expense of those of us who live here year-round.

What is it that sets our Village apart? I would argue that it is not simply the fact that we have the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as several other fine museums, but more importantly, it is the natural beauty of our Village. Lake Otsego is the jewel of the Leatherstocking Region, and as such it should be protected for the enjoyment of those who live here as well as those who come to visit.

The Lake Front Motel has not asked to increase the number of rooms it has to offer, which leads me to assume that that their current complement of rooms is adequate for their rental needs, but it has asked for this change in designation to allow for a `face-lift’ of the current facility.

The Lake Front Motel has maintained its unique character by staying consistent with its original 1950’s styling and it should be proud to celebrate that singularity.

A `face-lift’ at the expense of contiguous and nearby property owners should not be sanctioned. Because our Board members are Village residents, they must appreciate the importance of preserving Cooperstown for the Village residents.

A major building/renovation project by the Lake Front Motel, which is situated directly on and over the Lake, would adversely affect the water quality of Lake Otsego and thereby affect every resident who uses the Village water. Please work to preserve the beauty of Cooperstown and encourage townspeople and visitors alike to enjoy the beauty of the Glimmerglass, otherwise known as Lake Otsego. Allow us to keep our views of Lake Otsego and thereby celebrate its incredible beauty.

Sylvia V. Summers

Cooperstown

Decision was appalling

Although I do not live in Cooperstown, I was born and raised there and I still have many family members that reside there, including two children.

I have to say that I was appalled when I read the paper and learned of the people in that ``affluent’’ village that wanted to take away 24 hour police coverage. Did it ever occur to Mr. Monie, Mr. Booan, or Mr. Hage that perhaps there isn’t significant data of any crime that was committed during a particular shift because the police department was doing their job?

Did they ever stop to wonder if they stopped providing coverage 24 hours a day what could, and eventually would happen.

It makes me sick to think that people are worried about 38,000 dollars.

Money shouldn’t be a problem. I would think that your children, your family and their safety would be your first priority, not the fact that you may have to pay a few dollars more a year in taxes.

Shame on anyone that voted against overnight coverage. Maybe you should reevaluate what is important to you and make sacrifices that will enable you to pay a little more for the continued safety and the peace of mind living in a crime free village.

Anne Wolpert

Jensen Beach, Fla.