Burmaster presents Youngstown $10,000

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, July 11, 2009

13th District County Legislator Clyde Burmaster (third from left) presents Village of Youngstown Mayor Neil Riordan a $10,000 check, intended for economic development and tourism efforts in the community. Joining them are Village Board trustees Steven G. Suitor, William J. Oddy, Karl M. Bykowski and Raleigh B. Reynolds. (photo by Terry Duffy)

It was an evening of accepting economic assistance and addressing community concerns, as the Village of Youngstown Board of Trustees held a short but active session before a small audience Thursday at the Village Red Brick.

The board received a $10,000 check, intended for development and tourism assistance efforts. It was presented by Clyde Burmaster, 13th District legislator and vice chairman of the Niagara County Legislature, and represented the final share of delegated casino monies to the county this year.

“Tonight, we have the esteemed Niagara County Legislator Clyde Burmaster here,” announced Mayor Neil Riordan. “Clyde was able to tap in the last resource, the casino money from the county, to facilitate some of the things we need to do for economic development here in the village.”

Noting Burmaster’s assistance in such village endeavors as “Imagine Youngstown”; the ongoing Cold Storage project; recent funding of $10,000 towards last weekend’s successful Old Fort Niagara re-enactment; and such tourism enhancement projects as the village floral displays, its Celtic Festival, and others, Riordan said, “There’s been no one representative in the state or county who has done more for the Village of Youngstown and our neighboring municipalities than one Clyde Burmaster. On behalf of the board, our residents and the community, I want to thank him, very, very much. You have certainly helped our economic development team,” said Riordan.

Burmaster, who opened by presenting Riordan two copies of the county’s “Connection for Business” brochure, spoke of Youngstown’s resurgence and its exciting future. “If you look at Youngstown today, compared to what is was a year ago, you’ve got to have hope. The resurgence of Main Street, now with Brennan’s finally getting new life, with the Fyfe & Drum rising from the ashes, you’ve just got to get excited,” he said.

“I can’t think of any place to better spend that money than right here … in an economic development initiative,” Burmaster added.

Riordan, who praised Burmaster for his past efforts to benefit northern Niagara communities, said the latest funding will support the village’s newest business efforts on Main Street, as well as the upcoming Youngstown Yacht Club Level Regatta, and other projects.

In other news:

•Fred Stephens of the Village Planning Board, responding to an earlier Buffalo News report that said the Cold Storage property was being demolished for senior housing, clarified the matter, telling an inquiring resident demolition was not on the timetable but limited cleanups are. He said the village DPW will be excavating contaminated areas around the complex in coming weeks as per earlier DEC findings, but nothing else was planned. “We’re going ahead with the cleanup work that we can afford – the excavation of contaminants,” said Stephens.

•Board members heard concerns from resident Bob Fairbank regarding dumpster disposal problems involving Modern trucks at an apartment complex on 409 Main St. “It’s an untenable situation,” Fairbank said of the large Modern trucks that he said were damaging a driveway. “Repairs will have to be made.”

“All your points are very valid,” replied Riordan, who promised the board will be checking into the concerns, visiting with property owner John Weber and talking with Modern.

•Youngstown Police Chief Chris Salada put in a request to hire Jim Ullery of the Lewiston Police and Craig Juliana of the Town of Niagara Police to replace departing officers. The matter was left with Salada to schedule future appearances with the officers and the board.

•Riordan offered high praise to Salada and his officers for YPD’s handling of last weekend’s re-enactment activities at the fort. Noting that 15,000 attended, he said the whole weekend went off without a hitch. “We were pleasantly surprised; there were no incidents.”

•The board reached an understanding to work with the Youngstown Garden Club toward landscaping improvements at Constitution Park and eventually replacing the gazebo. “We’re supportive of this,” said Riordan, who added the new county money could be one funding source.