{"id":54849,"date":"2024-07-14T09:07:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T13:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=54849"},"modified":"2024-07-14T10:42:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T14:42:40","slug":"genesee-county-stafford-pontillo-said-he-requested-building-permits-again-stafford-town-supervisor-says-i-dont-know-if-he-did","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/07\/14\/genesee-county-stafford-pontillo-said-he-requested-building-permits-again-stafford-town-supervisor-says-i-dont-know-if-he-did\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Stafford\/Pontillo said he requested building permits again, Stafford Town supervisor says ‘I don’t know if he did’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

File photos\/Julie Carasone- James Pontillo (left) at the last Stafford Town Board meeting July 8, 2024 with Town Supervisor Robert Clement(left) and Deputy Supervisor\/Councilperson Ron Panek (right)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owner of the former Stafford Trading Post at the corner of Route 237 and Route 5 said he was rebuffed once again by town officials in an effort to obtain building permits to continue working on the structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Pontillo, speaking to Video News Service on Friday afternoon, said he went into the Town of Stafford office on Wednesday \u2013 two days after a contentious town board meeting where he cited multiple instances of \u201croadblocks\u201d such as permit denials and stop work orders since purchasing the building 14 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said he was advised during the Monday meeting by Clement to \u201cstop in and fill out the paperwork to get a permit to be in compliance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, I did that. I went to Mr. (Gene) Sinclair\u2019s office and let him know that I was requesting building permits,\u201d Pontillo said.  \u201cWhat Sinclair (code enforcement officer) said was, \u2018On this building, we can\u2019t do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that brief encounter, Pontillo said he then informed Clement of what Sinclair had told him, asking the supervisor whether the town had hired an attorney to take the building from him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI asked him what does the town plan to do if it’s successful in taking the building,\u201d Pontillo said. \u201cClement said he didn\u2019t know, but then added that they would probably have to tear it down. He then suggested that I could sell it to somebody to \u2018get out from under it.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told him my intentions are to finish the building as long as the town was willing to work with me to finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo has done extensive work on the inside of the building \u2013 which has space carved out for a beauty salon and restaurant on the first floor and has three finished apartments on the second floor. He had tenants until they were evicted by the town, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The town has declared the building abandoned, but Pontillo said that isn\u2019t true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told Clement the utilities have been on and we\u2019re using the building for storage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years ago, Pontillo said, he had to deal with people calling National Grid \u201cover 50 times\u201d to have the building\u2019s electric turned off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd somebody was unscrewing the electric meters from the building,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they weren\u2019t even smart enough to take the strap with them. They just threw it on the ground and then I would reattach it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supervisor Denies Pontillo Came in for Permit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video News Service contacted Clement on Friday morning, before talking to Pontillo, and asked the supervisor if the building owner had come into the town office to seek a building permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clement\u2019s response: \u201cI don\u2019t know if he did or not. I don’t know. I don’t know if he did,\u201d which contradicts Pontillo\u2019s claim that he was there and actually talked to Clement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VNS then asked a series of questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the town board\u2019s position on that building? Would the board like to see it torn down and something else put there?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, I don’t know what’s going to happen to it,\u201d Clement replied. \u201cBut as far as having another building built there, that’s not going to happen because the lot isn\u2019t big enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one time, wasn\u2019t there talk about a gas station going in there?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not happened. It\u2019s not big enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the town considers that as an abandoned building (signs on the building indicate as such). Is this in litigation or is this something that you think you could work with Mr. Pontillo to finish the building?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still in litigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You had mentioned that you wanted him to finish the outside of the building because it\u2019s an eyesore. Is that still your thought?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, yeah, I mean, it certainly isn’t very attractive the way it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does Mr. Pontillo need to do to clear this up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat will come from our attorney (David M. DiMatteo).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three attempts to reach DiMatteo on Friday were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo Thinks He\u2019s Being Discriminated Against<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust by Clement saying that I should sell it to someone else, tells me that they would work with someone else but not with me,\u201d Pontillo said. \u201cAnd at the last meeting, he said, \u2018Well, how much more do you want to spend before it\u2019s no longer worth it to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat kind of comment is that? At this point, you gotta think is this racially motivated? Or is it because of my nationality? At some point, you got to start thinking what\u2019s really motivating this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said just days after he purchased the building, he was approached by then Code Enforcement Officer Les Mullen \u201ctelling me all the things that are wrong with the building and that I can’t have a restaurant here and I don\u2019t have adequate parking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Photos from Friday July 12, 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said the New York State Department of Transportation has refused to take care of issues with an island in front of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe they\u2019re (DOT officials) under the impression that why should they do anything with that island if the building’s going to be torn down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said he continues to believe the town wants to tear the building down and make the land available to the owners of the Shell\u2019s Post store next door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe basement is 10-foot deep so they could tear it down and they would already have a hole to put their (gas) tanks in,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you look at his (Shell\u2019s Post) building, it\u2019s on an angle. So the trucks can come in on an angle to the gas pumps and go to (Route) 237 or come from 237, come in and go on (Route) 5. It\u2019s a lot easier for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo contends that the Shell\u2019s Post building is not in compliance due to parking and setback issues, but it would be if his building was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgain, it goes back to Clement\u2019s statement about me selling it. They\u2019re saying they would work with someone else, but not with me,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd after all of the money I\u2019ve spent \u2013 over $100,000 and another $75,000 in restaurant equipment — and all the work that has been done.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

File photos\/Julie Carasone- James Pontillo (left) at the last Stafford Town Board meeting July 8, 2024 with Town Supervisor Robert Clement(left) and Deputy Supervisor\/Councilperson Ron Panek (right) By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service The owner of the former Stafford Trading Post at the corner of Route 237 and Route 5 \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,10],"tags":[512,2702],"class_list":["post-54849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genesee-county","category-stafford","tag-james-pontillo","tag-town-of-stafford"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-egF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56618,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/05\/genesee-county-stafford-attorneys-looking-for-james-pontillo-to-submit-scope-of-project-to-show-fire-code-compliance\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Stafford\/Attorneys looking for James Pontillo to submit \u2018scope of project\u2019 to show fire code compliance","author":"aka","date":"September 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"File photo By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service Attorneys for the Town of Stafford and for James Pontillo reached an agreement in Genesee County Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon that requires Pontillo to hire an architect to define the \u201cscope\u201d of a project to bring the 134-year-old former Stafford Trading\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1000122025-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1000122025-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1000122025-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1000122025-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/1000122025-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55825,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/13\/genesee-county-pontillo-urges-stafford-town-board-to-heed-what-its-residents-are-saying\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Pontillo urges Stafford Town Board to heed what its residents are saying","author":"aka","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"James Pontillo and his wife, Laura (photo by Mike Pettinella) By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service The people have spoken and now it\u2019s up to the Stafford Town Board to listen to them. That\u2019s the message conveyed at Monday night\u2019s town board meeting by James Pontillo, owner of the former\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pontillo-8-12-24-b.jpg?fit=758%2C552&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pontillo-8-12-24-b.jpg?fit=758%2C552&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pontillo-8-12-24-b.jpg?fit=758%2C552&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pontillo-8-12-24-b.jpg?fit=758%2C552&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73078,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/10\/genesee-county-pontillo-out-of-frustration-plans-to-run-for-stafford-town-supervisor\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Pontillo, out of frustration, plans to run for Stafford Town supervisor","author":"aka","date":"March 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Pontillo speaking to the board on Monday evening By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service James Pontillo, citing \u201cfrustration\u201d with the Stafford Town Board, says he plans to run for the town supervisor position that is up for reelection in 2027, looking to replace longtime Supervisor Robert Clement. Pontillo made his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stafford"","block_context":{"text":"Stafford","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/stafford\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":68167,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/09\/16\/genesee-county-stafford-pontillo-renews-building-permit-fines-remain-in-force\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Stafford\/Pontillo renews building permit, fines remain in force","author":"aka","date":"September 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service James Pontillo has renewed a building permit issued by the Town of Stafford after being slapped with a stop work order on Tuesday morning. Pontillo said that a Genesee County sheriff\u2019s deputy and New York State trooper showed up with Town Code Enforcement Officer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250916_140522-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C728&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250916_140522-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C728&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250916_140522-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C728&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250916_140522-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C728&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20250916_140522-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C728&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55440,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/05\/genesee-county-town-board-taking-pontillo-to-court-over-former-stafford-trading-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Town Board taking Pontillo to court over former Stafford Trading Post","author":"aka","date":"August 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Mike PettinellaVideo News Service Just like the name of James Pontillo\u2019s limited liability company, the plight of the former Stafford Trading Post certainly is \u201cthe talk of the town.\u201d On Sunday afternoon, Pontillo invited Alecia Kaus, publisher of Video News Service, and this reporter to tour the inside of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C776&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":69066,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/10\/14\/genesee-county-stafford-town-board-to-consult-attorney-regarding-pontillos-request-to-waive-fine\/","url_meta":{"origin":54849,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Stafford Town Board to consult attorney regarding Pontillo\u2019s request to waive fine","author":"aka","date":"October 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"BY MIKE PETTINELLAFor Video News Service James Pontillo received some support from a couple town residents on Monday night in his bid to have the Stafford Town Board waive the fine imposed him for missing the deadline to complete work on the former Stafford Trading Post building. The board, however,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stafford"","block_context":{"text":"Stafford","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/stafford\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pontillo-10-13-25-a-2.jpg?fit=523%2C373&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1000117640-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54849"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54871,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54849\/revisions\/54871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}