CAZENOVIA — During the Dec. 8 Cazenovia Town Board meeting, Councilor Jimmy Golub shared a prepared statement on his stance regarding Madison County’s purchase agreement for Reisman and Sigety Halls, two buildings in the village that were formerly part of the Cazenovia College campus. The county , which has a deal with Matta Fresca LLC (9Fresh) to purchase the properties for approximately $1.9 million, has stated that its plan involves relocating some members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, including administrative staff and road patrol members, to Reisman Hall, possibly relocating the office of emergency management administration staff to Reisman, using the facilities for law enforcement classroom trainings, and potentially removing Sigety Hall to create parking. Since the deal with the county was made public, some community members have voiced great concern regarding the sheriff’s department’s partnership with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the agency’s 287(g) program. The sheriff’s office has chosen to participate in the program’s “Warrant Service Officer” model, which provides legal authority to select state and local law enforcement officers to serve and execute civil immigration warrants on behalf of ICE within the confines of their local jails/correctional facilities. The agreement states that warrants will be served and executed on individuals incarcerated in the Madison County Jail at the time of their scheduled release from criminal custody in order to transfer custody of the individual to ICE. “I do feel like I owe the public an explanation of how I feel,” said Golub, who directed his remarks at the group of community members present — several of whom attended to state their opposition to the county’s plans for Reisman Hall. Golub began by saying he is in favor of the proposed sale, but he is also appalled by the Trump administration’s handling of the immigration issue in this country. He stated the following views: he does not support tearing children and families apart; he does not approve of sending undocumented workers to foreign countries and detention facilities; he believes that if such individuals have committed violent crimes, they need to be incarcerated after due process; and he does not approve of detaining US citizens because they fit a profile. “When I worked with dairies around Onondaga and Madison Counties, I got to know these workers personally,” he said. “And I talked to them about the hardships they faced getting here and what life was like in their home country. Also, I should add that they are fulfilling a vital function, in this case, getting our cows milked. So, when I heard Sheriff Hood signed an agreement that included ICE, that certainly got my attention. . . . Even though this agreement says nothing about further harassment of immigrants, I have skepticism with an administration that doesn’t seem to care about the rule of law.” Golub then said that when he first learned about the Reisman Hall real estate transaction, there was no deal with ICE, so the agreement didn’t raise any “red flags” for him. “None of us wanted to see a bunch of abandoned buildings in the center of our village,” he said. “Sheriff Hood is an elected official. I wish that this group would show as much determination and vigor in fielding a candidate on the ballot to oppose Sheriff Hood as it has to opposing this transaction. Our current sheriff can and will be replaced at some point. I think it’s short-sighted to pass up an opportunity to keep this building occupied because of the decisions of an elected official who is temporary. In the meantime, if a federal agency were to conduct raids in our community, it could be done whether we have county offices in our town or [in] Wampsville or Canastota. Just ask the people in Cato.” Additionally, Golub said he does not share some people’s concerns about “police vehicles in hot pursuit” that would disrupt the peaceful village. “I’d be happy to talk to anyone privately about this, as I’ve already done so,” he said. “But this decision is not up to our board anyway. We are here to conduct business for the town.” During the meeting’s second public comment period, multiple people focused their remarks on a perceived lack of transparency and public process surrounding the proposed sale and future use of downtown properties such as Reisman and Sigety Halls. “[Supervisor] Kyle Reger, we ask you to break your silence and explain why you chose not to inform the community as you engaged fully in the county’s negotiations for over a year,” said Cazenovia Voices Coalition representative Laura Reeder. “You were a steady participant from the outset, and yet you never thought to engage with our community.” Reeder also commented on the town’s contract with Matta Fresca to purchase the Jephson Campus for its new town hall. She urged the town board to state on the record its support of the village board of trustees’ request that the town participate in formal zoning and site planning processes with the village — assuming the Jephson Campus sale goes through. Additionally, she asked Reger to state on the record whether he will advocate for the county’s participation in formal zoning and site planning processes with the village for Reisman and Sigety Halls. “We ask that all of you bring us into the room,” she added. “We urge you to take leadership and invite village officials and host a public facilitated forum to address community concerns that were never brought to the table for over a year and that still need to be considered and in some way acknowledged. . . . The residents must be part of whatever comes next. We cannot govern in silence. We cannot build trust in silence.” Rebecca Garden, a member of the Anti-Racism Coalition of Cazenovia, thanked Golub for his remarks and expressed her desire to work with the town to help get the sheriff to rescind his agreement with ICE. “We can help him back out of this, because it’s immoral, and it’s not what our community stands for,” she said. Other public comments focused on the following: the potential community impact of removing buildings from the tax roll; safety concerns; the belief that the county’s proposed uses would be more appropriate elsewhere in Cazenovia; a desire for the deal to be paused to allow the community to come up with the money to purchase Reisman; opposition to tearing down a building to create parking; concern that the sheriff’s office might eclipse the Cazenovia Police Department; and a desire for Reisman to continue to function as an arts building. The second public comment period is an opportunity for any member of the public to share concerns, opinions, or suggestions with the board about any business within the town’s purview. The board is not obligated to engage in a dialogue or act on the matter during the comment period itself. Account clerk position Earlier in the meeting, the board established a part-time account clerk position to assist Director of Finance Liz Merrill with accounting duties for the town. According to the resolution adopted by the board, the account clerk will be responsible for the following: “posting expenses, invoices, payroll, receipts, and vouchers to journal or ledger accounts; receiving remittances and verifying amounts, computing interest and penalties, and posting to books of original entry; assisting in maintaining labor, material, and operation cost records; assisting in verifying and reconciling account balances; entering financial data into a computer via a computer terminal; compiling payroll data, preparing and checking payrolls; and possibly auditing calculations and documents for adherence to proper procedures, policies, rules, and regulations.” The board has authorized the appointment of Erin King to the new position, effective Jan. 1, 2026. “Erin King has been working with the town for several years and does a phenomenal job,” said Reger. “This is creating a position that is more appropriate for what she’s doing. We are lucky to have her.” Reger will hold his next monthly office hours on Dec. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the town office. Community members are invited to sit down with him to discuss any town issues. The town board typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Gothic Cottage at 7 Albany St. For more information on the Town of Cazenovia, visit towncazenovia.digitaltowpath.org or call the town offices at 315-655-9213. Village of Cazenovia seasonal reminders Parking The Cazenovia Police Department would like to remind the public that there is no overnight parking — from 2 to 6 a.m. — year-round on any public streets, municipal lots, and village parks. Any vehicle parked overnight will be issued a parking ticket. During the colder months, if the plows or sanders are out, a parked vehicle will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. The Village of Cazenovia does offer paid overnight parking on Riverside Drive. Contact the village clerk at 315-655-3041 (ext. 2) for more details. It is illegal under NYS VTL 1219 to plow, shovel, or blow snow into the roadway. The fine for the first offense is a maximum of $150 with a $93 surcharge. Questions about parking or snow removal can be directed to the Cazenovia Police Department at 315-655-3276. Sidewalks Residents and business owners are reminded of the importance of sidewalk maintenance. Although the village plows its sidewalks, it does not apply salt or sand. Building occupants are responsible for keeping the sidewalks in front of their properties clear of snow and ice. For more information, contact the village at 315-655-3041. ...read more read less