By Kathy Kellogg
CATTARAUGUS CORRESPONDENT
OLEAN — People who live near Olean High School hope that a discussion held Saturday with school and city officials will bring them relief from chronic traffic congestion, blocked driveways, trespassing and trash.
Residents of the neighborhood around the high school said students often congregate on their porches, steps and in their driveways, where they smoke, loiter and often leave behind bottles and papers, notebooks and school books. Some residents said they have been afraid to complain for fear of retaliation by the students.
“I had no idea this was going on,” said School Superintendent Colleen Taggerty, in response to the complaints.
Taggerty said many of the problems are undoubtedly caused by a small number of students, and that when they are put on notice they will learn quickly that the complaints are being taken seriously by the administration. She invited residents to call her office at 376-8018 to get action. She promised to send School Resource Officer Jay Laznik to take care of the problems.
Sometimes, knots of students block driveways, some residents complained. “They don’t seem to understand the back-up lights. When you say something they just stare at you,” said Valerie Valencourt.
Residents also said that they often have to shout up at the school’s windows to get people to move the cars blocking their driveways, because the doors are locked and they don’t know how to reach anyone inside the school.
Police Chief Terry Schnell said he will “make a concerted effort” to send patrols out to the neighborhood, and those patrols could issue parking tickets in response to complaints or have cars towed if a proposed change in the city’s code is accepted by the Common Council.
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