Cortland Standard .net

By AIMEE MILKS
Staff Reporter
amilks@cortlandstandardnews.net
The Cortland County Drug Task Force arrested a total of 18 people in recent days for selling and possessing drugs and contraband.
Drug raids, which were the culmination of a two-month long investigation, began Nov. 1 and continued Thursday.
Of the 18 people who were charged, five were arrested on Nov. 1, and 13 were arrested Thursday morning when the Cortland City Tactical Response Unit and representatives of the Drug Task Force executed six search warrants that were linked to sealed indictments.
City police said the investigation identified and penetrated several drug rings operating within the community.
“The investigation started from tips from the community and officers on the street. That’s how we got this thing going,” said Lt. Jon Gesin, of the city police department. “We want to thank the community for their tips and encourage them to continue to report any suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods.”
Police said undercover narcotics purchases from the individuals included marijuana, ecstasy, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and prescription medications.
In addition to the narcotics sold to uncover police officers, police confiscated a quarter ounce of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, a throwing star, two automobiles, drug sales and packaging material and nearly $3,100 in cash during the drug bust.
Gesin estimated the street value of the marijuana to be between $96,000 and $100,000. He was uncertain of the street value of the cocaine.
The 18 individuals, most of whom are Cortland residents, were booked on felony and misdemeanor possession and sale charges.
The defendants were all arraigned in either City Court or County Court based on their charges. Some were released with appearance tickets, while the majority was sent to County Jail. Each person is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date to face their charges.
The Cortland County Drug Task Force is made up of representatives from the county’s District Attorney’s Office, the Cortland Police Department, the Cortland County Sheriff’s Department, State Police and the SUNY Cortland University Police Department.
The following were arrested as a result of the Nov. 1 drug bust:
Accused: Nigell K. Johnson, 26, of 117 Homer Ave., Apt. 2, Cortland.
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, all felonies; and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.
Legal action: Johnson was remanded to the County Jail on $2,500 cash or $5,000 from city court and $50,000 cash or $250,000 bond in County Court. He is scheduled to reappear on Nov. 13.
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Accused: Shaquan Y. Rose, 20, of 1243 Campville Road, Endicott
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of controlled substance, a felony
Legal action: Rose remanded to Cortland County Jail on $15,000 cash or $50,000 bond in County Court. He is scheduled to reappear on Nov. 13.
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Accused: Matthew J. Walters, 25, of 6 Meads Place Apt. 3, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
Legal action: Walters remanded to Cortland County Jail on $25,000 cash or $250,000 bond in County Court. He is scheduled to reappear on Nov. 13.
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Accused: James A. Pontes, 25, 122 Morris Street, Ithaca
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of controlled substance and tampering with evidence, both felonies; resisting arrest, a misdemeanor; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation
Legal action: Pontes was remanded to Cortland County jail on $35,00 cash or $75,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Victoria A. Drizis, 18, of Hollcot Road, Fliechmanns
Charges: Fourth-degree conspiracy, a felony; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation
Legal action: Drizis was remanded to Cortland County Jail on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
The following were arrested Thursday morning.
Accused: Katty L. McCall, of 39 Port Watson Street Apt. 9, Cortland.
Charges: Unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation
Legal action: McCall was issued an appearance ticket; a reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Corey A. Herzog, 21, of 39 Port Watson Street, Apt. 9, Cortland.
Charges: Fourth-degree criminal sale of marijuana, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation
Legal action: Herzog was remanded to Cortland County Jail on $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond in County Court.
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Accused: Amber L. Herzog, of 39 Port Watson St. Apt. C, Cortland.
Charges: Unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation
Legal action: Herzog was issued an appearance ticket and a reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Joseph P. Spooner, 21, of 64 Madison St. Apt. 3, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of controlled substance, a felony
Legal action: Spooner was remanded to Cortland County Jail on $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Shawn M. Lobello, 23, of 39 Port Watson St. Apt C, Cortland.
Charges: Fourth-degree criminal sale of marijuana and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors
Legal action: Lobello was remanded to Cortland County jail on $500 cash or $1,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Nicholas S. Partis, 21, of 37 Madison St. Apt. 2, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of marijuana, a felony; and fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor
Legal action: Partis was remanded to County Jail on $2,500 cash or $10,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Jason A. Henriques, 21, of 56 1/2 Lincoln Ave.,
Cortland.
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of marijuana and third-degree possession of marijuana, both felonies
Legal action: Henriques was remanded to Cortland County jail on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Andrea F. Ackley, 18, of 4732 Route 41, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony
Legal action: Ackley was released on her own recognizance. She is due to reappear on Nov. 30 in County Court.
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Accused: James R. Cosgrave, 19, of 56½ Lincoln Ave., Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony.
Legal action: Cosgrave was arraigned; no further details were available this morning.
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Accused: Brian C. Benford, 18, of 1063 Halstead Road, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony
Legal action: Benford was released on his own recognizance. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: McKenzie D. Wagner, 22, of 56½ Lincoln Ave., Cortland
Charges: Third-degree possession of Marijuana, a felony
Legal action: Wagner was remanded to Cortland County Jail. No further details were available this morning.
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Accused: Antoine T. Brown, 20, of 43 Union Street Apt. 1, Cortland
Charges: Third-degree criminal sale of controlled substance, a felony
Legal action: Brown was remanded to Cortland County jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. A reappearance date was unavailable.
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Accused: Timothy J. Allen, 32, of 1 Mildred Ave., Cortland
Charges: Fourth-degree criminal sale of marijuana, a misdemeanor
Legal action: Allen was remanded to Cortland County Jail on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. No reappearance date was available.
Search warrants were issued for 37 Madison St.; 56 ½ Lincoln St.; 43 Union St., Apt. 1; and 39 Port Watson St., Apt. C and 9.
Johnson and Walters were picked up on indictments at 100-104 Main St., Hairy Tony’s.
Drizis and Pontes were picked up in the parking lot of 856 Route 13, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill. The vehicle they were in was impounded by police.
McCall, Corey and Amber Herzog and Lobello were arrested at the Port Watson Street apartments.
Ackley, Henriques, Cosgrave, Benford and Wagner were picked up at 56 ½ Lincoln Ave.
Spooner was arrested at his work, Essex Steal on Route 13, Cortlandville.
Rose was arrested Friday by State troopers in Whitney Point.
The rest of the defendants were taken from their home addresses.

By CHRISTINE LAUBENSTEIN
Staff Reporter
claubenstein@cortlandstandardnews.net
A week from today more than 1,000 production and maintenance workers at BorgWarner Morse TEC’s three area plants will vote to stay with their current union, join a new union or to stop being unionized.
The employees, about 900 workers at the two Ithaca plants and 100 at the Cortland plant, are starting the fifth year of a five-year contract with the International Association of Machinists Local 2001.
Workers at BorgWarner have been represented by that union for about 65 years.
After the third year of a contract another union is able to try to get the workers to join its union, which is what the Teamsters Local 317 is doing.
This is a unique situation because until about two years ago all Teamsters locals belonged to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or AFL-CIO, of which International Association of Machinist locals are also a part.
Those organizations had agreed to not compete against each other for union contracts.
Mark May, vice president of Teamsters Local 317 working with the BorgWarner employees, could not be reached this week to say when or how his organization first got in touch with the BorgWarner employees.
Galen Munroe, press secretary for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said the Teamsters generally do not like much publicity in beginning stages of representing new companies.
Pat Murphy, assistant director for the National Labor Relations Board’s Buffalo regional office, said his office received a petition from the Teamsters on Oct. 3 showing at least 30 percent of BorgWarner’s production and maintenance workers in Cortland and Ithaca favor unionizing with the Teamsters.
The petition contains no specifics about what the Teamsters hope to offer the workers in terms of wages or benefits, or how they could better serve the workers than their current union, Murphy said.
Teamsters representatives declined to provide that information.
John Carr, a communications representative for the International Association of Machinist’s eastern territory, said on average the wages and benefits of the BorgWarner employees it represents are worth $27.50 per hour.
Other terms of the current contract include 13 paid holidays per year, up to four weeks of paid vacation and full health care premiums coverage for employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s PPO1 plan.

By IDA M. PEASE
Staff Reporter
ipease@cortlandstandardnews.net
DRYDEN — Funding for fire departments within Dryden was the most discussed topic Thursday before the Town Council passed a nearly $5.4 million budget with an additional $1.9 million for special fire, sewer and water districts.
The budget, which is 10 percent more than the current budget, passed unanimously. Although spending is increased, the budget carries the same tax rate as the current budget, $1.44 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Councilman Marty Christofferson asked why Etna and Varna fire department budgets had increased so much. Etna’s more than doubled, from $60,000 to $130,000 and Varna’s contract increased from $186,811 to $218,591.
Councilwoman Mary Ann Sumner said the extra money was to help stabilize the departments’ equipment reserve funds so there would not be big spikes in what they ask for because of expensive equipment needs.
“We were still able to do it without changing the tax rate,” she said.
Councilman Steve Stelick Jr. said the board also put into the contracts reimbursements from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, inflating the increase. These reimbursements had been done in the past in addition to the budget.
When Christofferson pointed out that the budget for Varna exceeded that of Dryden’s Neptune Hose Company, Councilman David Makar pointed out that Neptune is more than 100 years old and has a greater ability to save up money than the other companies that are no older than 50 years.
“Neptune got exactly what they asked for,” noted Sumner, who also said both Etna and Varna received less than requested.
Christofferson said he thinks the town needs more ambulances and fewer fire trucks.
Cheryl Nelson, a resident of Dryden, suggested the town consolidate the fire departments into one paid fire department. None are currently paid.
Nelson said the fire department issue was one concern she heard while campaigning for supervisor. She also suggested the supervisor position be made full-time and be paid as such. Neither of these suggestions was acted upon.