{"id":57423,"date":"2024-09-26T14:58:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=57423"},"modified":"2024-09-26T14:58:43","modified_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:58:43","slug":"genesee-county-wrotb-board-approves-295000-salary-for-incoming-president-ceo-byron-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/26\/genesee-county-wrotb-board-approves-295000-salary-for-incoming-president-ceo-byron-brown\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/WROTB board approves $295,000 salary for incoming president\/CEO Byron Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"573\" data-attachment-id=\"57424\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/26\/genesee-county-wrotb-board-approves-295000-salary-for-incoming-president-ceo-byron-brown\/bassett-and-media-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?fit=833%2C573&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"833,573\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-title=\"bassett and media 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?fit=833%2C573&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?resize=833%2C573&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?w=833&amp;ssl=1 833w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?resize=300%2C206&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?resize=768%2C528&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bassett-and-media-1.jpg?resize=150%2C103&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Dennis Bassett, chairman of the WROTB board, fields questions from the media this morning following the announcement that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has been offered a contract to lead the organization. (Photo by Mike Pettinella<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Mike Pettinella<br>For Video News Service<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As anticipated, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board of directors this morning offered a contract \u2013 at a starting salary of $295,000 \u2013 to Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown is expected to accept the terms of the pact to become the public benefit company\u2019s next president and chief executive officer, said WROTB Board Chairman Dennis Bassett, who addressed Buffalo, Rochester and local media following the board meeting at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe board did approve the agreement with Mr. Byron Brown and I will give you a number \u2013 the number we did approve, his annual salary will be $295,000 a year,\u201d Bassett said, adding that the offer does not include a signing bonus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:24% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"148\" height=\"225\" data-attachment-id=\"56615\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/05\/wrotb-offers-president-ceo-job-to-buffalo-mayor-brown\/document\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Document.jpg?fit=148%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"148,225\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Document\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Document.jpg?fit=148%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Document.jpg?resize=148%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-56615 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Document.jpg?w=148&amp;ssl=1 148w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Document.jpg?resize=99%2C150&amp;ssl=1 99w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 148px) 100vw, 148px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bassett said he expects Brown to be on the job by next month\u2019s board meetings as long as he acquires his gaming license from the New York Gaming Commission. The board chair added that Henry Wojtaszek, the current president and CEO, will work with Brown through the end of the year. (Photo-City of Buffalo)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wojtaszek, along with Chief Financial Officer Jacquelyne Leach and VP\/Administration William White, previously accepted a buyout from WROTB.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wojtaszek\u2019s salary is $299,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thirteen of the 17 directors \u2013 representing the organization\u2019s member municipalities \u2013 were present at the meeting and all 13 voted in favor of the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bassett said the board is \u201cexcited and fortunate\u201d to the Brown hiring and pointed to the mayor\u2019s political connections in Albany as key factors going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have not had the presence in Albany and in the state legislation that we needed to do some of the things that we really wanted to do,\u201d Bassett said. \u201cWe think the relationships that Mayor Brown has developed over the years in his time as a legislator and his relationships in Albany and in the governor&#8217;s office will help us to move forward with some of the things that we would like to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bassett said Batavia Downs has been growing \u201cexponentially\u201d the last couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can&#8217;t continue to do the things we&#8217;ve been doing without some support,\u201d he said. \u201cAs we look at sports betting, as we look at expansion of the hotel, as we look at some of the things that I think are going to be important for us to have a sustainable growth, we have Mayor Brown in a new position (who) can really help us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The board chair did not disclose any other provisions of the contract, such as incentives and bonuses, other than say Brown initially would receive two weeks\u2019 vacation. He said a copy of the contract will be made available through the Freedom of Information Law after it is signed by Brown.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dennis Bassett, chairman of the WROTB board, fields questions from the media this morning following the announcement that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has been offered a contract to lead the organization. (Photo by Mike Pettinella) By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service As anticipated, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. board \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"continue-reading-button\"> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/26\/genesee-county-wrotb-board-approves-295000-salary-for-incoming-president-ceo-byron-brown\/\">Continue reading<i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57424,"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":[8,23],"tags":[4573],"class_list":["post-57423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batavia","category-genesee-county","tag-byron-brown"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-eWb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56611,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/05\/wrotb-offers-president-ceo-job-to-buffalo-mayor-brown\/","url_meta":{"origin":57423,"position":0},"title":"WROTB offers president\/CEO job to Buffalo Mayor Brown","author":"aka","date":"September 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Video of announcement\/Mike Pettinella By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service Byron Brown, the mayor of Buffalo since 2006, has been offered the job of president and chief executive officer of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. (City of Buffalo photo) The board of directors of the public benefit company at 4:29\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;WNY&quot;","block_context":{"text":"WNY","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wny\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wrotb.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wrotb.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wrotb.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wrotb.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wrotb.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66107,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/16\/wrotb-ceo-byron-brown-presents-a-2025-genesee-county-impact-report-to-ways-and-means-committee-on-wednesday-afternoon\/","url_meta":{"origin":57423,"position":1},"title":"WROTB CEO Byron Brown presents a 2025 Genesee County Impact Report to Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday afternoon","author":"aka","date":"July 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZuClqXL_rqs VIDEO-Western Regional Off-Track Betting \u2013 Byron Brown, CEO and Charles Zambito, BoardMember, Steve Casey, Chief of Staff, present a WROTB Report to the Genesee County Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday afternoon.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","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\/07\/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\/2025\/07\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/snapshot_003-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81721,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/genesee-county-major-expansion-plans-revealed-along-with-continued-growth-announced-at-the-wrotbc-legislative-night-2026-at-batavia-downs\/","url_meta":{"origin":57423,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Major expansion plans revealed along with continued growth announced at the WROTBC Legislative Night 2026 at Batavia Downs","author":"aka","date":"September 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/o1GLZFnNW6I Video of the 2026 WROTB Legislative Night-September 23, 2026 https:\/\/youtu.be\/qtL_IEsP3XU Video interview with Thurman Thomas Thurman Thomas signs a three-year contract to continue to be an ambassador for Batavia Downs on Wednesday-pictured with board representatives from each of the 17 member counties, seated with Thurman Thomas is WROTB President\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","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\/2026\/09\/20260923_171019.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260923_171019.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260923_171019.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260923_171019.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260923_171019.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":69832,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-gaming-goes-to-bat-for-elba-central-school-groups\/","url_meta":{"origin":57423,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs Gaming goes to bat for Elba Central School groups","author":"aka","date":"November 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Students in the Elba Central School Class of 2029 have a reason to smile as they accept a check for their can collection and cleanup efforts over the summer at Batavia Downs Gaming. With them in the photo are, at left, Ryan Hasenauer, WROTB vice president of Business Development; Ryan\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Elba&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Elba","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/elba\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/elba-class-of-2029-a.jpg?fit=1080%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/elba-class-of-2029-a.jpg?fit=1080%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/elba-class-of-2029-a.jpg?fit=1080%2C416&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/elba-class-of-2029-a.jpg?fit=1080%2C416&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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&quot;Batavia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/760354808_10247998023310251_84370326503168009_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/760354808_10247998023310251_84370326503168009_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/760354808_10247998023310251_84370326503168009_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/760354808_10247998023310251_84370326503168009_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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&quot;Batavia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/snapshot_002-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/snapshot_002-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/snapshot_002-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/snapshot_002-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/snapshot_002-5.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 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