Town Board hears LPD range changes

by Terry Duffy

Lewiston Town Board members heard updates on the Lewiston Police firing range, approved lighting improvements for the Highway Garage and Town Hall, and moved towards adopting new flood plain regulations at Monday's short but active session.

Town Councilman Ernie Palmer, reporting on a recent meeting with LPD Chief Chris Salada and Town Supervisor Steve Reiter, informed of some changes in store for the Harold Road LPD firing range, whose activity has been a topic of concern for neighboring residents. Palmer said that effective Jan. 1, 2011, the LPD will have sole, exclusive use of the range and use by all other agencies will cease. He said that for the remainder of this year LPD will maintain current agreements with existing agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, ICE and U.S. Coast Guard on their use and that shooting times will remain as is. No night or weekend activity will occur.

It was reported the town and LPD will host an information session on Tuesday, July 6, at 7 p.m. at the Lewiston Senior Center to discuss the changes in detail with residents.

Other newsmakers from the session:

• The board, following a presentation by Dennis Gruarin, an auditor with Lime Energy Co., approved a proposal for 330 new lighting fixtures to be installed at Town Hall and the town Highway Garage on Harold Road. The $43,000 expenditure, which will see a contribution of $27,000 by National Grid towards the effort, provides for a town outlay of $16,000 of which $14,603 would be financed. The project brings no up front costs for the town and two funding options were discussed.

"I don't see any downside to this," said Palmer. The board soon after went on approve the proposal on a motion by councilmen Al Bax and Ron Winkley.

• Town Attorney Michael Dowd informed that the town needs to adopt new regulations on revised flood control mapping, telling the board that it needed to act by Aug. 17. Dowd said he was still checking on the final particulars and suggested the board schedule a public hearing. The board moved to schedule it for Monday, July 26, at 5:45 p.m. prior to its regular session.
• On a suggestion from Palmer, the board approved a motion to trim its meeting schedule for the summer. For July and August, Town Board work sessions have been suspended, with only the regular monthly meetings to be held. Special meetings, such as Tuesday's LPD range meeting, will occur as necessary.
• The board briefly discussed the Modern Citizens Advisory Committee, where Bax related the group conveyed that of late it has been not been in the forefront with regards to any discussions with Modern, and that the group feels uncertain as to what its actual role is. Bax, who serves as a liaison with the Modern CAC, said he felt it has been otherwise, while Reiter said he recently forwarded a letter to Modern CAC Chair Vince DeMarco on the issue and was awaiting a response. Reiter reiterated his interest in working with the Modern CAC, saying it "was well worth pursuing."
• Town Councilman Mike Marra reported on improvements eyed for parks on the escarpment, including: a re-shingling of the Bible Church park shelter at Upper Mountain and Bronson roads; re-surfacing of the basketball and tennis courts at Colonial Village Park; and paving and sealing of the basketball courts in Sanborn. Marra's request to seek quotes for the work was approved.