Winkley thanked for service

by Joshua Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 23, 2007

Two Lewiston institutions were praised Monday at the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees meeting.

Retiring Police Chief Ron Winkley received a roomful of “thank yous” for his 26 years of service.

“Ron’s been, not only a great chief, but a great resident and friend,” Mayor Richard Soluri said. He added, “I have the greatest respect for you.”

Trustee Mike Marra said Winkley is well thought of in Lewiston.

“I’ve never heard anybody say anything negative about you,” he said.

Village Attorney Paul Grenga, whose six children graduated from the Winkley-run Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, said, “It will be hard to find someone with your level of professionalism and grace.”

On Wednesday, the board met with councilmen from the Town of Lewiston in an attempt to name a successor for Winkley. No decision was made.

Also lauded Monday was Artpark, for a successful start to its season. Residents Claudia Morasco and Al Soluri, who live closest to the venue, each noted how much smoother concerts were running this year.

“Thanks for the past two weeks at Artpark; I think things have worked out very well,” Morasco said. “The village people have their village back, which is good.”

Added Al Soluri, himself a former trustee, “It’s been fantastic; even the volume of the music has come down.”

Modern Noise

Seneca Street resident John Daly asked the board for relief from the noise generated from trucks coming down Lewiston Hill.

“The noise is really getting to be a problem,” he said.

Daly cited the Modern Corporation as a prime noise polluter. He said, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation, garbage trucks hauled 395,000 tons in 1994. Last year, that number jumped to 812,000 tons.

“Ninety percent of that goes down Lewiston Hill, which is right in my backyard,” Daly claimed.

A call placed Friday to Modern was not returned.

He suggested a wall be installed along the Creek Road extension to buffer the noise. Daly said he’d start a petition, if necessary. He also called for truck drivers to refrain from using engine brakes, and to seek alternative routes.

The Town Board will hold a public hearing on Modern and its recent hauling proposals on Monday, June 25, at 6 p.m., at Town Hall.

Hotel Update

Trustee Ken Kenney asked engineer Richard San Giacomo and village Building Inspector Ken Candella for an update on the Barton Inn, the hotel situated on the corner of Center and North First streets.

San Giacomo said he’s seen structural drawings, but no finished sketches. He said inn developer Edward Finkbeiner has submitted the inn’s fire criteria and sprinkler system information.

As to the issuance of a final approval to open, San Giacomo said, “Until he (Finkbeiner) completes the final drawings … there will be no final (approval).”

The board has sought final building plans for several weeks. Trustee Bill Geiben, on Monday, told San Giacomo “We want to see a checklist.”

Candella said he doesn’t know when the project will be completed.

“He’s (Finkbeiner) never given me any indication of when he wants to open,” he said.

Kenney retorted, “He already did,” referring to a gathering at the inn on June 2.

San Giacomo said, “I know the concerns you have, Ken, and I will address those concerns.”

Mayor Soluri has, over the past week, stated the Barton Inn, when complete, will be an asset to the village.

An offshoot of the inn, a spa, will open Saturday at the former Village Inn, located across the street from the hotel.