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LAST WEEK'S WEATHER Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Mon. Hi 61 70 75 76 77 65 70 VOL. 136 NO. Lo 38 47 50 55 55 47 40 26 Pep 0 o 0 0 0 o 0 A PARK NEWSPAPER COURIER & FREEMAN, (USPS 135-460) POTSDAM, N.Y.-TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1988 32 PAGES Allegations leave DIOTEC future In doubt. See stories this week. 35 CENTS SCHOOL'S OPEN...F1NALLY - The 1988-89 school year at Potsdam Central School began on a high note last Wednesday with students returning to their studies. At Potsdam High School, (bottom photo) students prepare for the first day in their third period history class. While the new high school library and computer center was not ready for the opening of school, school officials expect it will be completed shortly Most of the rest of the construction at the 11 If, 1 i.'Ilnnl tun titttil <:iiui}litM;< K'.MI-.UMIJ iv urlriHln .Cininrtnl.117 students walk to class from their bus at Lawrence Avenue Elemen- tary (top photo). The elementary school will be the scene of construc- tion this year as new BOCES classrooms will be built to house in- creased numbers of handicapped students from the Potsdam and surrounding districts. (Thorn Par- doe photos) Board Discusses DIOTEC BYTHOMPARDOE While DIOTEC did not appear first on the printed agenda, talk at this morning's Northern Advanced Technologies Corporation (NAT- CO) board of directors meeting turned to the Potsdam high tech firm owned by William Gregory, a Clarkson physics professor. The NATCO board met at 7:30 a.m. in Raymond Hall on the Potsdam College campus. Last week it was revealed that the firm is under investigation by the New York State Attorney General's office for fraud. St. Lawrence County economic developer Edmund Russell said things might have been different if there had been a NATCO represen- tative on DIOTEC's board. He said, \had there been a NATCO representative on the board at DIOTEC early on, who knows what would have happened.\ Village^ Mayor and board media relations department, speakers at the meeting will in- clude Clarkson president Richard H. Gallagher, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Thomas Niles, Lt. Gover- nor of New York Stan Lundine, and the president of Niagara-Mohawk, William J. Donlon. Johnson told the board that the university is trying to negotiate with the Canadian ambassador to the U.S. to come to the symposium as well. Johnson also told the board that the symposium would also be uni- que in that it will be televised through the use of the State Univer- sity of New York's satelite broad- cast system. Hychka said after the meeting that SUNY's network equipment is better than most na- tional networks. Ambassador Niles' speech to the conference will be broadcast live from Ottawa to the meeting in Potsdam, and the first hour of the meeting will be broadcast to regional stations in Ontario and New York, and to larger national stations elsewhere. The board also heard updates DIOTEC and Taylor-Weiland Associates, both tenants of NAT- CO's Technical Development Center on Outer Main Street. Thomas Plastino reported to the board that Taylor-Weiland Associates is undergoing some serious changes in its board of directors. Plastino said that one T- W board member, who is also a stockholder and an employee, has left the company to work in Houston, Texas. The board member was not identified. Plastino said the board has elected three new members to the board. Two of them are Russell, IDA head and secretary /treasurer for NATCO d NATCO hd torney General's investigation on the village, because the village secured the $370,000 Housing and Urban Development grant for NATCO which was loaned to DIOTEC. NATCO Executive Direc- tor Steven Hychka assured the mayor that there would be no negative effects on the village. Hychka said when he talked to DIOTEC's owner, William Gregory, and Gregory's lawyer over the weekend, he was told that \they (DIOTEC) had done nothing wrong.\ The general sentiment of the board about the investigation was positive, but many expressed con- cern over the amount of sometimes negative press coverage of the in- vestigation. \I've seen a lot of obituaries for DIOTEC,\ said Potsdam College President Humphrey Tonkin, to which Richard Johnson, director of development at Clarkson Universi- ty quickly added, \and no eulogies.\ The board also discussed an up- coming Canadian-American trade symposium at Clarkson Universi- ty, featuring business, education and government leaders from both countries. The NATCO board ex- pressed high hopes for the sym- posium. Trade and Technology: Economic Opportunities with Freer Trade is the name of the symposium to be held Oct. 14 in the Clarkson University Alumni Gym. The symposium will be a meeting of the minds of leaders in educa- tion, business, and government from Canada and the United State8 - M. St. ReSUm e NATCO, and NATCO head •» «• I • i-ri* • Hychka. JYLedlCal Education Several board members express- ed reservations about having two NATCO representatives on the board, but Plastino - responded, \It's a matter of what is best for the company. I think this is a critical stage in Taylor-Weiland's growth.\ NATCO's board of directors will meet again Oct. 26. According to Karen Hllaire of Clarkson University's Hospital Medical Records C#i< Physicians at Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam will again be participating in a unique series of continuing medical education teleconferences, beginning Sept. 20 at the hospital. The 30-program Ohio Medical Education Network (OMEN) series is one way that doc- tors at Canton-Potsdam Hospital have been taking part in the OMEN programs for the past six years. The once-a-week, hour-long con- ferences originate live from The Ohio State University campus in Columbus. Through these teleconferences, the doctors at Canton-Potsdam Hospital interact with guest lecturers from five medical institutions: the Ohio State University in Columbus; The University of Cincinnati; Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland; Wright State University in Dayton; and the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. The OMEN series was initiated in 1962 and dur- ing the current year approximately 120 hospitals in 12 states and Canada will be taking part. The first 30 minutes of each pro- gram is devoted to a slide/lecture presentation by at least two physician-panelists, the last half- hour consists of a two-way discus- sion in which panelists respond to the questions and comments phon- ed in from hospitals. All questions and all answers are heard by all the participating hospitals. The topic for the Sept. 20 pro- gram will be \Gynecologic Cancer.\ For more information, contact the Canton-Potsdam fce. McFaddin Wants More Money For Road, Bridge Repairs BY RYNE MARTIN CANTON - The chairman of the county legislature's Transporta- tion Committee has taken his fight to have more money included in the county's 1989 spending plan for road and bridge repairs to the floor of the county legislature. Legislator James McFaddin CD- Norwood) told legislators that an additional $650,000 has been includ- ed in the 1989 budget for bridge and road work. \We're asking for extra money to buy materials,\ he noted man of the Transportation Com- mittee told legislators. The Highway Department's preliminary 1989 budget proposal calls for spending $1 million to repair a bridge on County Road 78 (Gouverneur-Spragueville) and a bridge on County Road 82 (town of Massena). Major repair work is also plann- ed for a portion of County Road 51 (Winthrop-Fort Jackson) and County Road 34 (Bucks Bridge- Morley 1 g revenues Lo offset it, the increase could mean a tax hike in next year's budget. McFaddin has said the county needs to spend more money to re- tain its highway network now so it won't be faced with oppressive costs of reconditioning county's roads in the future. He indicated the county already has 100 miles of county roads that need to be reconditioned. \We also have 34 bridges that are not in good condition and are going to take a major outlay of money,\ the chair- | p) m f .tivsi repairs, the chairman of the Transportation Committee noted. With the exception of the transportation issues, county legislators breezed through their agenda Monday night. The only other major issue was the date of the county legislature's October meeting. The session, which is scheduled for the second Monday of every month, will be held on Oct. 10, Col- umbus Day. But legislators were asked if the meeting should be changed since the session is slated for a holiday. Dead Trees Must Go BYTHOMPARDOE Village of Potsdam Building In- spector Herbert G. Crump says he is now mandating that all private property owners in the village remove all dead trees from private property within 30 days, or face a line of up to $1,000. Crump said he has been wanting to do this for some time now, but \I haven't had a good serious occa- sion to do it.\ Now, Crump says, he does. In the early morning hours of Sept. 9, a dead elm tree in a vacant lot behind the home of Spyros and Joann Pavlostathis, 3 Chesnut St., , jprotMtetttU'jhouM?.. .The tm pull- ed the line down, damaging the side of the house when the line pulled out. Mrs. Pavlostathis said she woke up about'3 a.m. that morning, and noticed that the power was off when she looked at her clock. She said that was when she realized something was wrong. Mrs. Pavlostathis said the damage to her house will cost $2,500 to repair, most of which should be covered by insurance, but she feels the owner of the va- cant lot should pay for at least some of the damages. Niagara-Mohawk crews remov- ed the tree and restored temporary power to the home, and an electri- cian had to be called in to repair damage to the house's wiring. Crump said he has the authority to take action in this case. \I'm the fire inspector, the code enforce- ment official, the zoning official, the fire code official, I have the right to issue tickets for viola- tions,\ he said. Crump said this action falls under state laws, which give him the right to take action without hav- ing to ask for village approval, rather than under the village's municipal code, for which the board of trustees must give ap- proval. Crump said he usually consults th» itate codes or federal codes first in cases such as this, because he says he doesn't have to get ap- proval from the village board if there is a violation of federal or state codes. Section 1244.1 (d) of the Official Compilation of the Codes, Rules, and Regulations of the State of New York reads: \Yards courts, and vacant lots shall be clean and free of hazards.\ Crump says this law gives him the power to mandate that all dead wood be removed from private property, and that as a code enforcement official he can impose the $1,000 fine for not com- plying. \My main concern is the life safety of village residents,\ he said. Party Caucuses Planned BYTHOMPARDOE Potsdam Mayor Paul Claffey has announced that the Republican and Democratic party caucuses will be held for two village trustee posi- tions and the post of village justice at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Civic Center. The Republican party caucus will be held in the downstairs meeting room, atid the Democratic caucus will be held in the board room. Beginning with this election, the terms of office for village trustees will be four years instead of two years. The terms were changed by resolution in April 1987. The terms for the mayor and other two trustee offices will become four year terms when the present terms expire next year. The election date for the village f- • • - - has also been changed. Elections in the village used to be held in March, but will now be held in November. Village Administrator Robert Burns said the election date and the terms of office were changed to save money by having the election coincide with other state and na- tional elections and to save money. He said it is cheaper to set the voting machines up for several elections at once, than to do them separately. The trustees up for re-election are Democrat Helen Brouwer and Republican Hugh Sprague. Both candidates said last week that they were unsure of their plans to run for village office again. Brouwer said she hadn't decided yet, and Sprague said he might, but hadn't decided yet. Election day is Nov. 8. Legislator Robert Hayden (R- Gouverneur) suggested the date should be changed to accomodate the department heads who have the day off. He noted there had been discussion last year when the coun- ty legislature met on Columbus Day. But the county legislature voted 18-2 to meet on Oct. 10. Hayden and Stanley Morrill (D-Hermon) oppos- ed the measure. Two Massena legislators, Bennett Abrams (R) and Jean LePage <D>, were not In it'.'.i:Ii(li\li'.> <(' .ViUllCw 1 Illgtf': :>»::> nun ' ' in: •: nil' ui( i:>:m> n '.u« iiijtiti,' i4i»i 1 y ;*iv»itii»y ( r , Potsdam) quipped. In other action, the county legislature went on record oppos- ing proposed mandates affecting public libraries. Allen Dunham (R- Hammond) said, \We felt some of the mandates affecting the ability of some libraries to remain open. We want to let them know we are concerned about some of the stan- dards.\ Legislator Donald Smith (D- Louisville) had questioned whether the measure was necessary, since state officials are taking steps to restructure the guidelines. He also indicated a number of library officials had told him some of the mandates could be beneficial. Halpen had questioned the timing of the county's action. \We seem to be late on it,\ he noted. A measure calling for the revi- sion of the county's payroll pro- cedure was withdrawn at the re- quest of County Treasurer Robert McNeil. The plan called for the im- plementation of a lag payroll. The county's auditors, Touche Ross, and state auditors have both called for changes in the payroll system. Rabies Clinics Set Dr. Charles S. Duncan, St. Lawrence County Rabies Coor- dinator, has announced that rabies dinlcB tor fall 1988, have been scheduled for the area. Area clinics will be held Sept. 15 in Hopkinton at the fire station, and Sept. 20 in Potsdam at the town garage. All clinics are from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Duncan notes some special rules at the clinics: — Dogs and cats must be at least four months old and must be ac- companied by an adult. — Cats should be secured in an animal carrier or have a collar and a leash. Every year at least one cat, which is just held in a person's arms, becomes upset and escapes from the owner. — Dogs and cats may be revac- cinated even though it is less than three years since the pets were last vaccinated. — Pets should not be sent to the clinic in the care of a child without being accompanied by an adult. — If a vaccinated pet is exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal, that pet should be given a booster vaccination within five days of exposure. If a pet which was not vaccinated is exposed, that pet must be placed in quarantine for a minimum of four months or be destroyed. It is important to make sure all pets have had a rabies vac- cination within the last three years. Land Meeting Set New York State's acquisitions of land in the North Country will be the topic of an open meeting being sponsored by the Federated Sport- smen's Clubs of St. Lawrence coun- ty Tuesday (tonight). , All interested person's are in- vited to attend the session which will be held at 7 p.m., at Fiacco's Restaurant. At that meeting, various view- points will be discussed by concern- ed groups. A panel of represen- tatives from conservationists, en- vironmentalists, elected officials, including Assemblyman John O'Neil, and sportsmen's groups will outline how this controversial issue will affect the future of North Country residents. Town Board Meets The Potsdam Town Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the town offices, 35 Market St. On the agenda is expected to be discussion of proposed town-wide property re-evaluation. Town officials are also expected to hear a presentation 1 on a propos- ed fresh water aquarium and ecology center; a petition not to pave Wheeler Road; and discus- sion of a second computer terminal and printer for the tax collector. HOUSE DAMAGED - This it what happens to a house when the power line Is pulled out — by a falling tree. Joann Pavlostathis lg shown next to the back of her home at 3 Chesnut St. A dead elnjttrae fell early Friday morning, tearing out the line and leaving the Pavlostathis' without power for some time. (Thorn Pardoe photo) # In The Courier DArts DChurch • Classifieds.. •Editorials.. •Events •Letters •Local News •Obituaries.. •Sports •Weddings .. 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