Town Board sets forum for Jan. 24

by Alice E. Gerard
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 30, 2006

Margy Montante, who has lived on Lower River Road since 1973, told the Lewiston Town Board at its Dec. 28 meeting that the gas line pump station, operated by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., produced an excessive amount of noise during the Christmas weekend.

She said that she’s endured noise on an intermittent basis from the gas line pump station for several years, but that during the Christmas weekend, the noise was louder than ever. “The windows and doors are all closed. We can hear the noise in the house. It’s extremely unpleasant. Imagine standing next to your meter, and amplify it.” She added the “sound won’t make you deaf. It will make you insane.”

Patricia Schultz of Ridge Road expressed concerns about truck traffic traveling to and from the Modern Landfill Inc. site. “There was an agreement between Modern and the town that Modern will not use trucks that are larger and wider than those as of the effective date of the agreement. I have lived on Ridge Road for 38 years and have noticed that the trucks are getting bigger and longer and wider all of the time. Volume of traffic from Modern has increased the noise level and has made it unpleasant along this road. It’s dangerous. I would like it to be investigated.”

Montante and Schultz were just two of several town residents to express concerns about local issues. Councilman Michael Johnson said that he would like to hear more of their concerns. “I think that it would be nice to start the year off with a town meeting. I’d like to get as many residents from the community there as I can, so I’d like to do some advertising for a public forum. It would give them time to speak and talk to us about things. It would be a general meeting for everyone.”

Town residents are offered the opportunity to speak to the Town Board on any issue that concerns them at every meeting. Speakers are urged to comply with a two-minute time limit, however.

The Town Board scheduled a public forum, in which Lewiston residents can talk about issues that concern them, without the usual two-minute time limit, for 7 p.m., Jan. 24, 2007, at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center, 4631 Lower River Road.

Also planned is an inauguration ceremony for Ernest Palmer, who will replace outgoing Councilman Gary Pacioni. The ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Jan. 1, at the Senior Center. “The public is certainly invited on that day,” said Town Supervisor Fred Newlin.

Other meetings planned for January include the annual reorganization meeting, to be held at 7 p.m., Jan. 4, and two Town Board meetings, on Jan. 8 and Jan. 22. The Town Board meeting on Jan. 8 will begin at 6:30 p.m., half an hour earlier than the usual time of 7 p.m., to accommodate an executive session on an issue currently in litigation. At the Jan. 22 meeting, a public hearing on the proposed Hickory Stick Golf Club, to be built by the Seneca Nation of Indians, will be held.

The Town Board also held another vote to approve the transfer of the old town landfill to Modern Landfill Inc. It had been approved at the Dec. 11 work session. According to Town Attorney Joseph Leone, the posting and publishing requirement involved in a quit claim land conveyance was not followed. “I’d like to have the board readopt the resolution so that we can post and publish in the requisite time frame.” He explained that a provision in the town’s 2000 lease with Modern Landfill gave the company the option of obtaining ownership of the property. A quit claim land conveyance allows the town to convey the right, the title and its interest in the property to Modern Landfill with no implied warranty. Leone explained that Modern would be responsible for the cost of any needed cleanup of the site.

The land conveyance is subject to a permissive referendum, Leone said.

In other business, the board:

•Voted to accept the supplemental environmental impact statement for the planned Hickory Stick Golf Club. A public hearing, with representatives of the town and of BME Associates of Fairport, is scheduled for Jan. 22. According to Newlin, it is anticipated that construction of the golf course could begin as early as March 2007, “depending on the weather and building conditions.”

•Voted to consolidate the tower and wind energy committees into a single committee.

•Awarded the 2007 contract for janitorial services to OTI Professional Building Maintenance Service Inc., of Niagara Falls. According to Leone, the company has now satisfied him that “it has a security bond and that all employees are bondable.”

•Appointed Deputy Supervisor Evan Elgin to fill a vacancy on the town Planning Board, with the understanding that the town attorneys offer an opinion on whether or not a town official can be a member of an advisory board.

As the Dec. 28 meeting was the last meeting for Pacioni as a member of the Town Board, Newlin spoke directly to Pacioni. “I’m glad that you were a part of the team. I thank you for your terrific service. I know that it takes time away from your family. It’s very much appreciated. You are to be commended for your efforts. I know that all of us hope that you will stay involved in local government.”

Johnson said: “I would like to thank Gary for being a good friend and a good councilman. I’ve worked along with him, and he finally got the carpet that the library had been looking for during the past 30 years.”

Councilman Sean Edwards said: “I’d also like to thank you, Mr. Pacioni, for your help with our seniors program.You’ve helped our libraries immensely.”

Councilman Alfonso Bax described Pacioni as “a great partner and a friend in these last years.”

Pacioni asked Johnson to “see through the library carpeting project.” He then said: “This is my final meeting, and I would like to say that Lewiston is a great place to live. Lewiston is a great place to raise a family. Lewiston is a great place to be employed. I’d like to thank the members of the Town Board for appointing me. I will say that it is an honor and a privilege to serve on this board. Congratulations to Councilman-Elect Palmer. I wish you well. Thank you very much again. God bless everyone in Lewiston.”