Scaled-back Yule decor approved in Batavia

The city will put up fewer Christmas decorations this year in downtown Batavia, but Batavia MainStreet is stepping in to help.

The organization that promotes downtown business activity is asking businesses to line their windows with white lights, and organizing a volunteer work day to put lights on the sidewalk trees and railings on the Wilson Street bridge.

The city council Monday voted to spend only $1,542 on wreaths, bows, trees, balsam roping and electrical supplies, 72 percent less than it spent last year. It declined to set a labor cost, but the public works director said Tuesday it will likely fall between $15,000 and $20,000.

A city services committee had suggested not spending more than $10,000 total.

The move was made to save money, in a year when the city has laid off seven workers and frozen wages for many others.

City electrical workers put up the decorations. Wage and benefit costs ran as high as $88,000 when the city put Christmas trees on every streetlight downtown, in a program nicknamed "Christmas Tree Lane." The display was a nearly 60-year tradition.

Last year, when the city reduced the number of trees and put up garland, bows and banners instead, costs dropped to $45,000.

Instead of decorating, the workers will be able to do more of their regular work during that time and complete some projects sooner, said Gary Holm, the public works director.

"Christmas Tree Lane" will be on North Island Avenue this year, on four poles.

The Mayor's Tree outside of the Batavia Government Center will be decorated as usual with colored lights, as will the Clark Island tree.

But instead of decorating every one of the 75 or so streetlights with something, only 26 or so poles will get decorations, in strategic spots such as the bridge and entrances to downtown.

Batavia MainStreet will supply the lights for the bridge trees, and for business owners who can't afford to purchase them for their windows. It is asking owners of vacant storefronts for permission to put lights in those windows.

It will have a "Dress Up the Downtown for the Holidays" work day from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 28.