Youngstown Board to research laws on RV parking, pole barns

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, September 16, 2006

The Youngstown Village Board on Thursday directed its attorney and village clerk to investigate local laws in other municipalities that relate to parking of large vehicles in driveways and the construction of pole barns.

Mayor Neil Riordan said there have been some neighbor complaints about residents parking vehicles such as RVs, motor homes and large water craft in front driveways, affecting the look of the neighborhood.

Riordan said the village already has received several requests for construction of pole barns. One has been built on Church Street, but is set back from the road. The structures, very common in rural areas, are used for storage.

“In many cases they have more square footage than an actual home,” he said. “We don’t have any rules on the books that govern that.”

In other matters:

•The village’s new WiFi wireless Internet access is up and running, available to both residents and visitors who want to use their laptops in the business district, roughly Main Street to Third Street and Hinman Street to Falkner Park. Police Chief Chris Salada ran a test of the system at Falkner Park this week and reported that the reception was very good.

•Riordan announced that a new $14,558 senior citizen van was delivered Thursday and should be in service next week after Trustee David Gifford completes its registration filing requirements. The van, on average, serves about 55 passengers a week, taking seniors from both the village and the town to various locations, such as doctor appointments. The 2006 Ford eight-passenger van was purchased with funds from the village’s programs for the aging account.

•The village is looking for another $6,000 in funding in order to replace its 2001 police car with a 2006 Crown Victoria available through the state. It has received $10,000 in funding arranged by state Sen. George Maziarz; $2,500 in funding arranged by Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte; and a $2,000 DWI grant applied for by Salada.

•The village has received a $548 Niagara County Youth Bureau grant for its recreation program.

•Work on the $36,000 renovation project to upgrade the waterfront dock area from the property line at the marina to the Youngstown Yacht Club is expected to begin around Sept. 25 and no later than Oct. 1. The improvements include new docks, piers, restrooms and lighting.

•The board authorized providing $250, the same amount as last year, to the Niagara Community Action Program for its home repair grant program that assists village and town residents who are economically disadvantaged. One of the home repair grants provided by the state Affordable Housing Corp. requires a 40 percent local match.

•The village’s share of county sales tax for July was $26,273.76, down $386.97 from last year.

•Cable franchise fees for January through June were $11,188,60, up $481.81 from last year.

•The village received $20,679.79 in CHIPS county highway district funds in reimbursement for roadwork already completed this year.

•Riordan reported that several letters have been received from local residents thanking the village for its weekly summer concert series. Work is in progress on contacts with musicians for next year, he said.