Boating firm, CWM air tests discussed

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, February 10, 2007

A report on a proposed new Niagara River boating business and request for support of a campaign for better air surveillance at CWM highlighted Thursday’s Youngstown Village Board meeting.

Amy Witryol of Lewiston told the board that she has asked the state Department of Environmental Conservation to require better air testing at Chemical Waste Management. Witryol said there are more fires at the hazardous waste facility on Balmer Road than the general public learns about. Also, she said, the last time air sampling was required for PCBs was in August 1996, but intake of PCB materials has dramatically increased since then.

Witryol said she wants the DEC to “revisit the issue to evaluate whether current conditions and current technology warrant any modification in the setup they presently have.”

Michael Mahar, CWM district manager, in a recent letter to the DEC, said CWM’s current environmental monitoring programs are an important element in ensuring the health and safety of its employees and surrounding community, but the company is open to discussing future improvements if they would enhance the existing database.

The Village Board took no action on the matter Thursday.

Plans for Paddle Shack

Youngstown resident Brett Bersani reported to the board on his plans for the Niagara Paddle Shack, which would offer canoeing, kayaking, rafting and tubing between Youngstown and Lewiston. He is even considering the possibility of whitewater rafting in the gorge. The business would operate Saturdays and Sundays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Guided tours could be scheduled in advance.

The Youngstown Village Board already has given tentative permission for the business to use the waterfront, most likely at the North Dock, where there already is a building that is used for storage, according to Mayor Neil Riordan.

Trustee Fred Stephens said the Youngstown Yacht Club has voiced some concerns about the use of the North Dock, since in the spring while boats are being launched, there’s a lot of travel on the access road. Also, the crowds at the Level Regatta in July need to be considered.

Public Information Session

Riordan invited Bersani to participate in a public information session to be held at 7 p.m., Feb. 28, in the Cora Gushee Room at the Youngstown Red Brick School. Also to be discussed at the session, for the general public and local businesses: Village-sponsored activities (including the summer concert schedule); upcoming activities of churches and community groups; the walleye tournament plans; and schedules of Youngstown attractions (such as Old Fort Niagara and the Yacht Club). In addition, Riordan suggested Bersani participate in a field trip with the board to the North Dock site.

Bersani expects to use property near the Silo Restaurant for the Lewiston end of the operation. He already has made an offer to his first employee, a local resident. “I want to draw from people around here, kids and people who know the water,” he said.

In other matters:

•Village attorney Thomas J. Caserta Jr. reported that Richard Hastings, owner of the deteriorating building on Main Street next to Falkner Park, has gotten an order of eviction for his tenants and picked up a demolition permit this week.

•Two public hearings will start the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 22. One will be on extending the terms of office for the mayor and trustees from two to four years. The other will be on the proposed cable contract with Time Warner. The contract provides an extension of the franchise fee at 5 percent. The mayor suggested that amount should be increased because of the number of calls about the cable service that are received by the village office.

•Jackson Street resident Terry Yonkers asked the village police to do a speed study and increase enforcement efforts on Jackson between Main Street and the area where the speed limit increases to 55 mph. “That’s a race track,” he said, noting that the problem is not as much cars as it is motorcycles. “It’s deafening.”

He said his brother is a police chief in Michigan and tells him there is a way to determine if baffles have been taken out of a motorcycle. Police Chief Chris Salada asked that Yonkers have his brother fax copies of ordinances being considered there.

•Trustee J. Anthony Collard said he has noticed that few people are actually stopping at the blinking red light at Main and Lockport streets. Trustee Peggy Hanson said she noticed one day when a police car was parked at the corner that people did stop, except those coming from the direction that they could see the car was empty.

•Resident Skeeter Tower suggested the board consider using the historic Little Train Station for a swap, such as many communities in the Cape Cod area have, to lessen the amount of materials going to landfills. Riordan said the building, currently used for storage, also has been suggested for a visitors’ center.

•Two bids were opened for the surplus sale of a 1991 Ford truck. Winning bid was $2,050.

•Trustee David Gifford asked what was being done with the old piano in the Cora Gushee Room. Riordan said the village is looking for someone interested in taking ownership of it and transporting it.

Youngstown approves Greenway Plan

The Village of Youngstown has become the second Niagara County municipality to approve the draft Niagara River Greenway Plan. On Thursday, Feb. 8, the village passed a resolution unanimously approving its support of the plan.

Youngstown becomes the fifth municipality over all to approve the plan. The village joins the towns of Tonawanda and Grand Island and the cities of North Tonawanda and Tonawanda.

To keep up-to-date on the approval process, visit the Niagara River Greenway Web site at http://www.niagaragreenway.org/municipal updates.htm.