{"id":55440,"date":"2024-08-05T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T19:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=55440"},"modified":"2024-08-05T15:44:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T19:44:16","slug":"genesee-county-town-board-taking-pontillo-to-court-over-former-stafford-trading-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/05\/genesee-county-town-board-taking-pontillo-to-court-over-former-stafford-trading-post\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Town Board taking Pontillo to court over former Stafford Trading Post"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Mike Pettinella
Video News Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday afternoon, Pontillo invited Alecia Kaus, publisher of Video News Service, and this reporter to tour the inside of the 134-year-old two-story structure that he purchased in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FIRST FLOOR-Restaurant area \u2013 Pontillo said he could get the area finished in three months for a \u201cturnkey\u201d operation. He says he still needs to seal the floor, add carpeting, and do some painting and some electrical work.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pontillo says<\/em> all of the equipment works. He says he also found original doors and is looking to repurpose them.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At one point during the 90-minute visit, he mentioned that he and his wife, Laura, named his company Jimmy\u2019s Pizzeria LLC, The Talk of the Town<\/em>, as a tribute to the nightclub of the same name owned by his late father, James, in Orlando, Fla., in the late 1970s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without question, the building at the corner of Routes 5 and 237 in the hamlet has been a much talked about topic over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GENESEE COUNTY\/Stafford\/Pontillo said he requested building permits again, Stafford Town supervisor says \u2018I don\u2019t know if he did\u2019 \u2013 Video News Service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GENESEE COUNTY\/Owner of former Stafford Trading Post building seeks board cooperation to complete outside work \u2013 Video News Service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GENESEE COUNTY\/The Sheriff\u2019s Office is investigating after the vacant historic Odd Fellow Lodge was broken into and vandalized on Friday night \u2013 Video News Service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

STAFFORD\/Pontillo property in Stafford not up to code, Town says it cannot be occupied \u2013 Video News Service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/fb.watch\/s-W_YWdD3C<\/a>– August 8, 2015-STAFFORD Residents upset with lengthy dispute over fence on historical property<\/p>\n\n\n\n

______________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APARTMENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said he could have the apartments ready in a month or two to have tenants<\/p>\n\n\n

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Studio apartment \u2013 front of building \u2013 along Route 5 \u2013 25 by 21<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Two-bedroom apartment \u2013 12 by 12 and 10 \u00bd by 17 \u2013 living room 17 by 19, kitchen 18 by 15 \u2013 full bath<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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One-bedroom apartment \u2013 back \u2013 northeast side \u2013 living\/dining room 17 \u00bd by 27, full bath, small kitchen, bedroom 15 by 19<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo has done plenty of work on the interior (he had tenants in the three upstairs apartments until they were evicted by the town seven years ago) and said he plans to put vinyl siding on three sides of the exterior and stucco on the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before that can happen, however, he has to respond to a lawsuit filed by the Town of Stafford, which, on April 25, placed a certificate of abandonment on the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a complaint filed on behalf of the town by the Warsaw law firm of DiMatteo Roach & Kelly, the town contends that the building is \u201cabandoned and unsafe \u2026 has been an intractable problem for the Town \u2026 and is a blight that stands center stage in the Town\u2019s business district.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo has been summoned to appear in Genesee County Supreme Court at 10 a.m. Aug. 15 before Judge Diane Y. Devlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The town, in its 10-page complaint, cited numerous code violations and certified the building as abandoned, \u201csetting into motion the process of gaining title to it so that the building can be restored or demolished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Code violations listed in the complaint include unfinished roof, missing fire escape, electric meters not attached to the building, no working fire alarm system, no fire separation and building structure is neglected and presents \u201ca threat to life and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pontillo said each apartment has a ladder that hooks to the window for escape purposes, there are numerous fire extinguishers, more than two dozen smoke detectors\/strobes throughout, emergency lighting, lighted exit signs and fire coded walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Regarding the roof, Pontillo said he is going to Stafford Town Hall again on Tuesday morning to obtain a permit to fix a 3-foot section near the front of the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIts leaking in a couple spots,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m going to let them know that if I don\u2019t get a permit to fix it, then they will be responsible for any damage incurred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complaint states that if the title is not transferred to the town, then the court must order \u201cdeadlines for the defendant to submit a complete building permit application and perform construction necessary to render the building in a safe and reasonably maintained condition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also seeks a judgment against Pontillo if the deadlines aren\u2019t met, followed by demolition of the building at Pontillo\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said he has gone to the Stafford Town Hall on different occasions to obtain a building permit but that code enforcement officers have refused to grant one due to pending legal action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said he believes the town board is making it difficult for him because it wants him to sell the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my understanding that the town\u2019s attorney has someone interested in purchasing the building for $50,000,\u201d Pontillo said, adding that the Englerth family \u2013 which owns Shell\u2019s Post next door \u2013 had offered to buy it for that amount. \u201cBut I\u2019ve already had other offers for as much as $125,000 but I can\u2019t get guarantees from the town that they will work with the new owners (to allow them to fix it up).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video News Service called the town attorney\u2019s office but was told that David Roach, who is handling the case, was on vacation until next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pontillo said he plans to attend the next Stafford Town Board meeting, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 12th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to that, there is a community meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, August 7th at Emery Park. There will be a petition available at the meeting for residents to sign to prevent the historic building from being demolished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55474,"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":[512,4515],"class_list":["post-55440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genesee-county","category-stafford","tag-james-pontillo","tag-stafford-trading-post"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-eqc","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":55440,"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":55440,"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":58764,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/11\/07\/genesee-county-town-of-stafford-attorney-encouraged-after-latest-court-session-over-the-former-stafford-trading-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":55440,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Town of Stafford attorney \u2018encouraged\u2019 after latest court session over the former Stafford Trading Post","author":"aka","date":"November 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"(File photo) By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service The dispute between the Town of Stafford and James Pontillo, owner of the former Stafford Trading Post at Routes 5 and 237, could be approaching its resolution. A settlement is within reach, said David Roach of DiMatteo Roach & Kelly of Warsaw,\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\/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":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":55440,"position":3},"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":55440,"position":4},"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":58936,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/11\/14\/genesee-county-attorney-stafford-town-board-has-hunted-pontillo-down-for-eight-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":55440,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Attorney: Stafford Town Board has \u2018hunted Pontillo down for eight years\u2019","author":"aka","date":"November 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"(File photo) Left-James Pontillo with wife Laura at a Town Board meeting earlier this year. (Right-Former Stafford Trading Post building) By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service The lawyer for James Pontillo, owner of the former Stafford Trading Post at Routes 5 and 237, has come out on the offensive, claiming\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\/2024\/08\/stafford-pontillo-court.jpg?fit=1071%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stafford-pontillo-court.jpg?fit=1071%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stafford-pontillo-court.jpg?fit=1071%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stafford-pontillo-court.jpg?fit=1071%2C563&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/stafford-pontillo-court.jpg?fit=1071%2C563&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240804_171006-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1655&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55440","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=55440"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55495,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55440\/revisions\/55495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}