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UPDATED: Village of Lewiston calls timeout on Center Street talk

by jmaloni
Sat, Nov 12th 2011 08:10 am

No discussion on possible recreation building

by Joshua Maloni

Photos courtesy of Giusiana Architects & Engineer

Trustees in the Village of Lewiston on Monday opted not to talk about festival suggestions submitted by Mayor Terry Collesano's ad hoc committee. Though Collesano sought to discuss the five-person panel's recommendations for when and how to close Center Street, his colleagues asked for more time to review the letter submitted last week.

The Village Board did speak with accountant Pat Brown of Brown & Co. He informed trustees of a need to raise the water rate from $2.80 per 100 cubic feet to $3.55, and the sewer rate from $3.95 per 100 cubic feet to $4.65, to offset cost increases from the Niagara County Water District and the Town of Lewiston Master Sewer District.

The proposed increases would take effect with the Jan. 1, 2012, billing. Brown said the average Village of Lewiston resident would pay about $25 more per year.

"Unfortunately, it's something we have to do," Collesano said. Before the board can take action, however, a public hearing must be held. That gathering is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, at the Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

Trustees took no action and offered no comment on the potential creation of a new recreation center, which could be built behind the Village Hall. No proposal was officially submitted on Monday, but one is expected to be discussed at the board's Nov. 21 meeting.

During the summer, members of the Village Board and Planning Board discussed adding a recreation center on the Lewiston Plateau by Artpark. Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Reiter suggested he could build one behind Town Hall or by the Lewiston Senior Center.

Gary Hall, president and CEO of Waste Technology Services on Lower River Road, has floated the idea of financing (at least in part) a $2 million recreation center behind the Red Brick, instead of the similar addition he was granted permission to build at WTS.

The recreation center would feature three tennis courts and a weight room on the bottom floor, and a game room and running track on the second floor periphery.

Typically, this type of proposal would not start out in front of the Village Board. It would go to the Planning Board for approval and/or to the Zoning Board for modifications. However, since the Village of Lewiston owns the property, trustees could simply OK the project without any input from those two boards.

The Planning Board, however, expects to meet with Hall following the Nov. 21 meeting to discuss project logistics.

The Village Board did award a contract this week to low-bidder Santo Candella to construct a restroom/comfort station at Marilyn Toohey Park (also behind the Red Brick). Candella's price is $26,899. Trustees said the project cost is covered by Greenway money contributed by the Town of Lewiston.

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