Bob Clark

Municipalities have been relying more and more on property tax cap overrides, the state’s fiscal watchdog reported. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office reported that higher costs are just one factor that has led to local governments overriding the state’s property tax cap at higher rates than in the past. “Many local governments are under fiscal pressure, with rising costs and slower growth in recurring revenues,” DiNapoli said. “For local officials...

Local unemployment rose in July while state-level figures went down. The state Department of Labor on Tuesday reported that the Cattaraugus County unemployment rate was 4.3%, up from 4.1% in June and flat from July 2025. The labor force was 32,400 in July, down 800 from June but up 100 from July 2025. The employed labor force was 31,000 in July, down 800 from the month before and up 100...

OLEAN — A push to ban public camping targeting homeless individuals came with requests for action to target the causes of homelessness. The Common Council on Tuesday passed an ordinance to ban camping on public property, 4-2. The ordinance bans camping and establishing an encampment on public property in the city, which includes locations like parks, streets, the Allegheny River Valley Trail and the areas along the city’s flood control...

OLEAN -- More than a month after going up, the city administration has issued a formal order placing chains around shelters at Lincoln Park. The order to restrict public access to the pavilion and gazebo at the park , signed Monday by Mayor Amy Sherburne and Parks Supervisor James Scanlon, came after the city put up chains and placards declaring the structures as a “restricted area” in July. The order...

OLEAN — Youth programming is going downtown next week. Kris Shewairy, coordinator of the city’s Youth Bureau and Recreation Department, said the program will start on Sept. 8 at the John J. Ash Community Center on North Barry Street. The date coincides with the return for students at the Olean City School District. The move has been completed, staff hired and trained, and the space is ready for its new...

OLEAN -- Measles has returned to Cattaraugus County for the first time in more than 35 years. Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin Watkins, presenting to the county board of health’s monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon, said the county received verification of a measles case that morning. “We had not seen a case in Cattaraugus County since 1990,” Watkins said, noting that 197 cases were reported that year. Like during...

OLEAN — A previous city attorney has been tapped for her old job. During a special meeting of the Common Council, the six members unanimously approved the mayoral appointment of Bridget Marshall as city attorney. Marshall, a lawyer from Randolph, was first appointed in November 2024 and resigned effective New Year's Eve. Council President JR Bennion, R-Ward 1, said she was tapped again after Michael Morgan resigned. The change comes...

Storm damage in Olean

OLEAN -- Locals were cleaning up damage on Thursday after a Wednesday evening storm system blew through the region. A series of severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado watches and tornado warnings were issued across the region Wednesday evening. The Olean city wastewater treatment plant reported 1.48 inches of rain as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The rainfall was the highest daily total since July 28, when 1.9 inches fell. Utilities reported widespread...

OLEAN -- State officials criticized previous actions by the mayor, city auditor and common council in an audit report issued Friday. The Office of the State Comptroller's Division of Local Government and School Accountability audit report, which covered the 2020-21 to 2024-25 fiscal years, criticized the work of city officials in maintaining fund balances, maintaining accounting records and planning for the future. “As a result, officials did not have reliable...