Town of Lewiston gets down to business for 2024

Broderick names liaison appointments

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The Town of Lewiston got down to business for 2024 on Monday, with a number of approvals, authorizations and appointments for the upcoming year. Also making news was a new face on the board following the retirement of member Bill Geiben last month.

“Welcome aboard,” said Supervisor Steve Broderick as he introduced Council member Sarah Roat Waechter to visitors. “Sarah’s not new to the town; she was on our Planning Board … so we welcome her to our Town Board.”

Soon after, a number of reorganizational actions went on to be approved:

√ Member audit schedules and work sessions and meetings for the Town Board. Also approved were meeting schedules for the town’s Planning and Zoning boards and its various commissions and committees.

√ The town’s 2024 holiday schedule.

√ The 2024 IRS mileage reimbursement rate at 67 cents and fee rates for assessor/map copies. In addition, the board approved town’s fee rate schedules and a new out of district water rate.

Also approved was the cell phone stipend for select town officials, authorizing 2024 credit card use/payments for town departments, and setting the dishonored check fee at $20.

√ Bank on Buffalo, KeyBank and M&T were approved as the official town depositories. Also approved were the authorized signors for payment of checks, town’s procurement policies and guidelines on investments.

√ The board approved its meeting procedures under Roberts Rules of Order, followed by a number of appointments and confirmations. Included were:

√ Linda Johnson as town assessor and Alphonso Marra Bax as town attorney.

√ Seaman Norris was named attorney for the town under contract.

√ Building Inspector Tim Masters was named as compliance officer, and Christopher McAuliffe was reappointed as storm water management officer.

√ Engineering services for the town will again be provided by GHD Consulting.

√ Fire inspectors for 2024 are Pat Martin (part-time) and Chris Finnitz; Les Myers was named as fire prevention chair for an interim period.

√ Jeff Cosgrove was named as deputy highway superintendent and Louise Maggard was reappointed as town historian.

√ George Adamson was named as town prosecutor.

√ Highway Superintendent Mitch Zahno was reappointed as parks superintendent.

√ Frank Previte was reappointed as Lewiston Police Department chief.

√ Tim Smith was reappointed recreation director.

√ Town Clerk Donna Garfinkel was designated as records/access officer and RMO; Tamara Burns was named deputy registrar, with sub registrars Linda Kreps and Carole Schroeder (pending her retirement).

√ Melinda Olick was reappointed as senior citizens coordinator.

√ Supervisor’s confirmations include William Conrad as deputy supervisor; Amy Smith as confidential secretary; and Jacqueline Agnello as finance director.

The town’s junior accountant position and grants consultant remain open.

√ Dresher-Malecki was approved as town auditor.

√ Zahno was named water foreman, and Jeff Ritter as chief operator of the water treatment plant.

√ The town’s pay schedules for were approved as presented.

√ Board liaison appointments include: Bax – board of ethics, ex-officio; Councilman Rob Morreale – building inspector’s liaison; Councilman Jason Myers – Cable Commission; Bax – CWM Siting Advisory Committee; Broderick – engineer; Morreale – Environmental Commission; Councilman John Jacoby – Fire Bureau (with Broderick named as the alternate); Morreale – highway drainage; Jacoby – Historical Preservation; Broderick – Justice Court; Waechter – Lewiston Council on the Arts, Town Recreation and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; Jacoby – Lewiston Public Library; Myers – Lighting Advisory Board; Broderick – Upward Niagara Chamber; Morreale – Modern CAC (currently on hold); Broderick – personnel; Jacoby – Lewiston Police; Broderick and Jacoby – town and village police liaisons; Morreale – Planning Board (Waechter to serve as alternate); Broderick – risk manager; Myers and Broderick – Sanborn Professional Association; Waechter – senior citizens; Myers – Signage Committee; Jacoby – tower/wind energy research committee; Broderick – Water Department; Morreale – WPCC; and Jacoby – Zoning Board of Appeals (Morreale as the alternate).

√ In remaining appointments, the town’s Cable Commission and Board of Ethics members were approved; and Matthew Feldman was reappointed to the Environmental Commission with other appointments pending.

√ Broderick announced Victoria Polka resigned her membership on the Environmental Commission; Karen Lyle was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission; and Lighting and Advisory board appointments were reapproved; Broderick said the Modern CAC will continue in a non-functioning capacity.

√ Tom Deal was reappointed to the Lewiston Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; Garfinkel, Amy Smith and Bax were reappointed to the Lewiston Personnel Committee; William Burg was appointed as chair of the Planning Board; and Broderick said Zach Collister would replace Waechter on the Planning Board.

√ Previte, Zahno, Gary Wasco and Chris Winstel were reappointed to the Signage Committee, with Myers as liaison; and Dr. Mark Gallo was appointed to the ZBA to replace Maggard.

For more information on the town’s reorganization session, visit www.townoflewiston.us.