Lewiston Town Board session short but active

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, January 16, 2010

Lewiston Town Board sessions are much shorter in duration thus far under new Supervisor Steve Reiter. Yet they do remain active in terms of issues addressed.

Reiter and board members briefly touched on a number of items at their roughly 20-minute session Monday at Town Hall. Appointments were finalized and Reiter set goals for the coming year – all done without fanfare and with virtually no one attending. And, sessions also are no longer carried on cable provider LCTV as the town opted not to go the TV coverage route for 2010.

Newsmakers included:

•Newly appointed consulting town attorney Mike Dowd reported that Modern Corp. is being patient with the town thus far with regards to its earlier filed lawsuit (Sentinel, Jan. 9). “I haven’t yet had a chance to review the complaint,” he told the board, “but I’ve talked with Modern’s attorneys and they’re willing to work with us.”

Dowd said the injunction requires the town respond, and indicated he is currently seeking adjournment in U.S. District Court in order to better review the matter. The lawsuit is also being reviewed by members of the town’s Modern Community Advisory Committee, who were provided the material by the former supervisor, Fred Newlin.

•Reiter outlined a list of goals he has set for 2010. These include:

--Working to resolve the town’s billing issues with National Grid. “I want to reconcile this with National Grid. We need to address this concern of town residents,” said Reiter. (See Page 4 for a related guest editorial by former Councilman Jim Langlois.)

--Building a town recreation center; constructing restrooms at Washuta Park; and general enhancements at the town’s other parks. Reiter also said he wishes to complete the link on the bike path/trail on the escarpment at Niagara University/Devil’s Hole to the current system in the village that runs along the Robert Moses Parkway and on Lower River Road.

--Constructing a police and firefighter training facility on Harold Road north of the town Highway Department garage. “We already have a firing range near there; it’s a good location,” said Reiter.

--Better workings in Sanborn, including streetscape enhancements, restrooms at the Sanborn Farm Museum, and strengthening the Sanborn Business Association.

“I know these are ambitious. I hope to at least get some of it under way this year,” said Reiter, adding he envisions movement on a town recreation center and the police-fire facility over the coming year.

•Reiter finalized Town Board liaison appointment additions for 2010. These include: Councilman Mike Marra, liaison to the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce; Councilman Al Bax, liaison to the Lewiston Council on the Arts; Councilman Mike Johnson, liaison to town engineering, the fire bureau and Lewiston haz-mat; Bax as risk manager and liaison to the Lewiston Water Pollution Control Center; and Marra, liaison to the Sanborn BPA.

•Town Councilman Ernest Palmer, who is covering Lewiston Police Department issues, informed he will be meeting with LPD Police Chief Chris Salada over the next month to get a better gauge on overall department needs, including equipment and vehicles.

He reported LPD vehicles are currently GPS equipped, and he was expected to update the board on GPS vehicle needs in the highway and water/sewer departments.