OLEAN — A large crowd gathered in the Cutco Theater to see the two candidates for mayor lay out their plans for the future.

Mayor Bill Aiello and Amy Sherburne debated for just over an hour and a half Wednesday evening in an event hosted at Jamestown Community College and organized by the League of Women Voters and TAPinto Greater Olean. Both are seeking the Republican nomination for the post, with early voting for the June 24 primary set to begin Saturday — also at JCC’s Cutco Theater.

The owner of Eade’s Wallpaper and former owner of Union Tea Cafe, Sherburne is known as a co-organizer of the Woodland in the City project. Sherburne was appointed by Aiello to the local planning committee for the city’s 2017 Downtown Revitalization Initiative award, a $10 million state grant which funded a dozen projects in the community. Sherburne was cross-endorsed by city Democrats. Sherburne went first with opening statements, having won a coin toss.

“I think it’s time for Olean to finally make the change Olean needs,” Sherburne said, touting her experience in business as giving her the skills to make those changes. “We definitely have issues that need to be addressed.”

She noted several times during the event that Aiello’s leadership had not moved fast enough on critical issues and lacked transparency — issues she plans to correct if elected.

Aiello is a retired city police captain and former Cattaraugus County Legislature majority leader. He lost a Republican primary in 2007 for mayor, but he was elected to the post in 2013 and twice since. He was also recently elected president of the New York Conference of Mayors.

“Let’s take a look back at where Olean was 12 years ago, and look where Olean is now,” he said, noting various projects from the Walkable Olean series, the DRI program, upgrades to infrastructure and investment in city facilities have put millions into the community. In addition, as the city lost some manufacturers, others have come in. “We’ve got industries looking to bring in more and more workers.”

Aiello also criticized Sherburne for seeking the Democratic nomination, which Sherburne defended by noting her lifelong membership in the Republican party and that many issues are not related to party membership.

Referring to Aiello by the party designation, she said, “I think it is an ‘R’ without a plan for the future.”

When asked about economic development efforts, Aiello noted another $25 million in infrastructure aid awaits for updating West State Street, and a five-year push toward a hotel bed tax finally came to fruition, opening a new line of revenue to spend on economic development efforts. He said he would do “what we’re doing — continuing to make Olean more attractive. We need to listen to our CEOs.”

Sherburne said Aiello’s efforts were “dependent on others” to work for the community. “I do not want to depend on others for our revenue.” She said she would push for technology industry jobs to move to the community.

Sherburne criticized Aiello’s handling of wastewater discharges into the Allegheny River, noting the topic came up in a 2013 debate between Aiello and his opponent at the time and calling it “unforgivable” that more had not been done to follow the existing master plan for sewer repairs.

Wastewater discharges have been studied as far back as 1983, with reports indicating several areas to improve. By the late 1990s, discharges became so prevalent that the city and state Department of Environmental Conservation signed two consent orders to implement changes and avoid millions in fines.

Aiello countered that much of the master plan has been implemented and the consent orders complied with. “In my tenure we spent $30 million on upgrades.

“Yes, we needed to step up our game, but it’s always been a question of resources,” he added, noting a $500,000 grant received the day before from the state to help with engineering services to make permanent fixes.

Sherburne countered that the city dipped into sewer funds too often for work in other areas.

Sherburne said not enough transparency had been provided, and noted that “our council seems to be helpless — because these sorts of projects start at the top.” She also said a priority needs to be put on the infrastructure over projects “that reconfigure roads” like the proposed West State Street overhaul.

Aiello added the project on West State includes replacing century-old sewer lines and disconnecting storm sewers from sanitary lines.

When asked about housing, Sherburne said efforts need to shift away from the Cattaraugus County Land Bank, which she criticized for demolishing too many structures. Instead, she said a focus should be made on selling the homes for renovation, with incentives tying in to new homeowners or those moving from out of the area, like tech workers who can work remotely.

Aiello said the city has several programs in place for home renovations, including multiple times the city sold houses taken for taxes for as little as $1 to be remodeled and put back on the tax rolls. Sherburne said she was unaware of the programs and that the city needs to do a better job marketing them.

Both candidates shared their vision for what Olean will look like in four years

Sherburne said she sees the city having a healthy budget and not falling short, as well as better relations with local, county and state officials while “building a more vibrant community” and pushing industrial development, instead of “being blasted in Buffalo (media) for our infrastructure.”

Aiello encouraged voters to read the city’s new comprehensive development plan, completed by a panel appointed by him in the last year that sets goals for economic development, business and industry.

Sherburne was critical of the comprehensive plan, saying “40 years ago, the plan looks very similar to the 20-year plan” recently approved. “We have been stalled. It doesn’t seem like we’re getting anywhere.

“A vote for me is a vote for change — and not just change, but responsible change.”

Aiello countered that many of the objectives in the previous plan had been accomplished, and many new objectives were added.

“We have made progress over the last 12 years — we haven’t lain dormant,” he said.

Aiello took issue with comments from Sherburne supporters that he attends too many ribbon-cutting ceremonies while also being told the city is making no progress.

“I find that a confusing statement — if you’re attending ribbon-cuttings, then you’re making progress,” he said. “I want to see Olean continue to grow.”

The vote this month is to determine the Republican candidate on the ballot in November’s general election. The voting is open only to enrolled Republicans. As of Feb. 20, the state Board of Elections reported that 2,923 of the 8,412 active voters in the city — about one in three — were registered as Republicans.

Early voting begins Saturday for the primary, with polls open at the city’s six polling stations on June 24.