Town of Niagara approves agreement with Air Base on Tuscarora Road repairs

Niagara Town Board hires new patrolmen

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 22, 2004

The town of Niagara Town Board welcomes two of its new police officers during last Tuesday's board meeting. Shown in the above photo (left to right) Councilman Michael Ross, Councilman and Police Commissioner Wallace Blake, Police Officers William Rutkowski and Craig Guiliani, Town Supervisor Steven Richards, Deputy Town Supervisor Marc Carpenter and Councilman Lavern Haseley. (photo by Ralph Schwarz)

The town of Niagara Town Board unanimously approved an agreement between the town and the Niagara Falls Air Force Base regarding repairs on Tuscarora Road during last Tuesday's board meeting.

According to the agreement, which was informally reached during the April 15 work session, the air base will have to pay for improvements on the section of Tuscarora Road that lies adjacent to the base.

"The base agreed to reimburse the town for the repairs," said Town Supervisor Steven Richards after last week's meeting with air base representatives. "The road will still remain in ownership of the town."

Richards said that the base will use the extension of the road to construct a new entrance and guard station. The new gate, which is expected to be completed by the end of this construction season, will upgrade the security measures on the base since it will be located further away from existing buildings and facilities.

"We appreciate the town's support in helping to make the base more secure," said Neil Nolf, public affairs officer for the Niagara Falls Air Base. "The town has been very supportive of the base over the past years."

The resolution for the project, which Richards estimated to cost around $52,000, is pending on final approval of the town attorney and the town engineer.

New Patrolmen Hired

The Town Board also voted unanimously to hire two new part-time police officers and to promote one of its current part-time officers to full-time status.

Raymond Needle and William Rutkowski will join the town of Niagara Police Department as part-time patrolmen. In addition, the board authorized Rutkowski to attend police courses at Genesee County Community College.

The board also promoted Police Officer Craig Guiliani from part-time to a full-time patrolman. Guiliani will fill the vacancy created by the departure of Raymond Tracy Jr. who resigned earlier this year to take a position with the Niagara County Sheriffs Department.

"Congratulations to all of you," Richards said. "You are joining a very fine police force."

Other Business

In other business, the Town Board unanimously voted:

• To pay bills as properly audited and verified.
• To relocate the underground utility pole #3301 on Wildwood Drive.
• To approve a contract between the town of Niagara and Industrial Appraisal Company in the amount of $6,845 to meet the state-mandated GASB-34 requirements for state-required audits beginning in 2004.
• To transfer $450,00 from the Town Hall Expansion Capital Project Fund to the General Fund to cover deficits created by the decline in revenues from Fines and Forfeitures in 2003 and the anticipated shortfall for 2004.
• To approve the junkyard license renewals for Anges Scrap Iron & Metal Inc.; Dave's Auto Wrecking; Kach's Auto Service; and Satarian Auto Parts.
• To approve the liquor license renewal letters for LaSalle Sportsmen's Club Inc. and Playground Bar & Restaurant.
• To suspend the junkyard license of Garlock's Auto and notify the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
• To accept the bid for submersible sewer pumps from ITT Flygt Pumps in the amount of $19,818.
• To approve a one-year contract between the town of Niagara and P.C.A. Group for 160 hours of service at a fee of $107 per hour.
• To authorize a six-month extension to David Chevrolet Buick Pontiac to park excess vehicle inventory on the adjacent property as a final extension from March 18.
• To authorize Donald Woodcook to attend the American Water Works Association Conference of Town Officials.
• To support the continuation of the Local Government Records Management Fund.
• To approve the payment for the 2002 pension plan contribution to the Volunteer Fire Department Service Awards in the amount of $16,960 to Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company.
• To sponsor the Marisa Saulino Scholarship at Colonial Village Elementary School with a contribution in the amount of $100.
• To hire Sam Scalzo, Tom Tierney and Jeff Vicki as temporary employees for the Highway and Sanitation Department, effective May 10, as appropriated in the 2004 budget.
• To approve the B.A.N. in the amount of $85,000 for the purchase of a new truck for the Highway and Sanitation Department.
• To approve the franchise agreement between the town of Niagara and Adelphia Cable Communications as drafted.
• To hire Lewis Reed as a seasonal employees for the Parks Department at an hourly rate of $8.50.
• To award the electrical contract for the new Community Center storage building to low bidder M&M Electric Construction Co. Inc. of the town of Niagara in the amount of $15,775.
• To award the construction contract for the new Community Center storage building to low bidder MMR Construction Inc. of Niagara Falls in the amount of $171,713.
• To approve the application of a grant for a new copying machine for the Town Court.

Announcement

The Town of Niagara Recreation Department will meet on Thursday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss summer help for the department.