Board sets public hearings

by Alice E. Gerard
Grand Island Dispatch, March 7, 2008

The Grand Island Town Board, at its Monday meeting, scheduled three public hearings for 8 p.m., March 17, during its next regularly scheduled meeting. The issues on which the public may comment are:

•Local law No. 2, a petition to amend the zoning map to allow for an addition to an existing building at 2038 Grand Island Blvd. The petition was made by John R. Simon Enterprises and Terry Mesmer. The proposed use of the premises is for an auto repair shop. The proposal was also referred to the Grand Island Planning Board for its approval.

•Final plat approval of phase one of the Waterford Park subdivision. This will involve 30 lots.

•Rezoning approximately 56 acres at River Oaks, west of Golf Course Villa, on Whitehaven Road, from R2 to R1E.

In other business, the Town Board:

•Awarded two contracts to Viking Cives, one in the amount of $29,720 for a nine-foot new asphalt body and another totaling $21,476 for a new nine-foot all-season dump box for the town’s Highway Department. Viking Cives was the only bidder in both cases.

•Was informed that the Town Highway department received no bids for a new salt spreader body. The department will request permission to seek bids again at a later date.

•Awarded contracts to the low bidders for the departments of engineering and water resources for the ORF spray wash system and liner replacement project. Four bids were received for the general contract, ranging from $604,920 to $867,936, and the low bidder was Nichols, Long & Moore of Lancaster. Three bids were received for the electrical contract, ranging from $27,340 to $44,747, and the low bidder was O’Connell Electric of Lancaster.

•Approved a request from Town Recreation Director Linda Tufillaro to advertise for bids for a 60-inch seeder to be used at Veterans Park and additional park areas.

•Agreed to the hiring of Kathy Fratello of the Town of Niagara as a temporary part-time clerk in Grand Island Town Court to replace employees who will be away from work due to upcoming surgery.

•Adopted a resolution to urge Gov. Eliot Spitzer to retain the School Resource Officer program. Currently, Chris Pyc of the New York State Police serves as the school’s resource officer.

•Determined that if Joe Ball Sanitation of Blasdell does not perform according to its contract, the town engineer has the option of signing an emergency contract consistent with the town’s bid specifications for up to 60 days for a special use permit to Glen Wallace for the Niagara River Inn, a bed and breakfast at 917 North Colony Road.

•Granted a special use permit renewal for Carol Merckel, of 2324 East River Road, to have two horses on three acres.

•Granted permission to American Pharmaceutical Partners Inc., on Staley Road, to use temporary modular offices while construction is occurring. American Pharmaceutical Partners is expanding its site by 3,000 square feet. According to Town Supervisor Peter McMahon, the expansion project has been reviewed by both the code enforcement officer and the assistant municipal engineer.

•Approved the site plan revision for Hot to Go Racing, 2600 Grand Island Blvd., as recommended by the Planning Board. The revision involves placing a dumpster in the rear of the property and patching up the parking lot.

•Gave conditional approval for 20 lots, as part of phase five of the Grand Park Vue subdivision, as recommended by the Planning Board.

•Denied approval for phase six of the Hugill Storage site plan. The business is located at 2761 Bedell Road.

•Approved the payment of town vouchers, totaling $219,721.64.

The only board member to speak during the Town Board’s comment period, Mary Cooke, mentioned the Distinguished Alumni Awards, to be held at 10 a.m. today at Grand Island High School.

“Three people, two of whom are able to attend, will be honored by the Grand Island Foundation for their contributions to the world since they graduated from Grand Island High School. It is a very momentous occasion. It is the second annual Distinguished Alumni program, and the Town Board has been invited to participate,” Cooke said.