Tuesday’s election in Marcellus could bring change

MARCELLUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Controversy surrounding the sale of a local grocery store in the Village of Marcellus could play a big role in Tuesday’s election.

The Village of Marcellus could soon see a change in its local government.

“Getting into politics has been a thought over the years, it was not in my immediate timeline but the current situation of what’s erupting, it seems like the right move,” said Chad Clark, owner of Village Tavern and write-in candidate for village mayor.

That move, to run for village mayor. A decision Clark, the owner of Village Tavern in Marcellus made just less than a month ago, with village neighbors driving his decision.

“The moratorium really hurts the growth of business. It puts the village on a complete halt for any changes and the worst thing you can do to a small village is hit that stagnant point, we don’t want vacancies and empty buildings and the moratorium creates that. We want constant progress but putting this moratorium in place so abruptly as well that’s what scared people is how this just all of a sudden happened, putting that in place really hurts local business,” said Clark.

“The biggest argument with most of the public right now is just the communication,” said Clark.

Or lack of it, with many neighbors upset at the village board, after the owner of Nojaim Brothers announced he’d be closing the grocery store, and retiring, selling it to Stewart’s Shop.

“No one has told Nojaim’s they can’t sell it to Stewarts. This is the biggest transformational change in this village in 50 years. We just need time to talk to business leaders, homeowners, residents, stakeholders. We wanted just to not rubber stamp it because it’s such a transformational change and its going to be permanent,” said Jamie Curtin, village trustee in the village of Marcellus.

But that thought was put on hold, after board members voted to put a moratorium on development in the village center. However, Curtin says the moratorium was put into place last July on another issue, and it expired in December. He says it’s about new construction.

“There is an exemption clause and there is an option to lift it. So Stewart’s has applied for that exemption clause and we’re having a meeting next Monday,” said Curtin.

Curtin says it’s a transformational change, and the board needs time.

“We just wanted to make sure this is going to be the right thing to do and I am confident, I’m confident this is going to be resolved very quickly,” said Curtin.

But that decision still led Clark, and others to launch write-in campaigns ahead of Tuesday’s elections.

“I think this is going to be one of the biggest turnouts for any election Marcellus has ever had,” said Clark.

Polls will be open Tuesday March 19, from noon to 9:00 p.m. at the Village Hall.