2014 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award to Bob Fischer

The Cattaraugus County Planning Board, at its July 23th, 2014 Annual Dinner Meeting, presented the 2014 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Awardto Bob Fischer of the Town of Portville for his outstanding leadership in community involvement. The meeting was held at the Ellicottville Brewing Co. in Ellicottville, NY.

The recipients of this annual award are chosen to give Countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region and who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that Torrance Brooks and Donald Patterson set during their lifetime of dedicated service to their respective communities, County Legislature, County Planning Board, and regional agencies.

Bob Fischer is a lifetime resident of Portville and he is married to Holly Fischer.

He is a longtime member and past chairman of the Town of Portville Planning Board and was also the chairman of Portville's Comprehensive Planning committee.

Bob started Fischer's Auto Service in 1984. He also taught Auto Mechanics at Cattaraugus Allegany BOCES.

He believes in trying to make Portville a nicer place to live. To do this, He has done a multitude of community enhancement projects including the following:

He adopted section of the Route 417 highway in front of his garage and regularly does his part to keep Portville free of litter.
Last year Bob was a key force in securing donations to install a handicap ramp at the Portville ECHO Site and is currently working on raising funds to install a handicap accessible rest room there as well.
Most recently he has been working on a multi community committee whose goal is to install handicap accessible boat launches and adjoining parks in Portville, Olean and Allegany Communities. These will be places along the Allegheny River where people can both launch canoes/kayaks and also have a place to just relax, have a picnic and enjoy the natural beauty the Portville and surrounding communities have to offer .

He is enthusiastic in all his endeavors and is always trying to get area residents informed and on board with new ideas and projects.