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Work on town budget continues; dog law passed

by jmaloni
Thu, Oct 21st 2010 04:00 pm
by Susan Mikula Campbell

The Town of Niagara Town Board is continuing work on the town's tentative $7.3 million budget. The public is invited to add remarks and suggestions at a special budget public hearing at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the board held a regular meeting Tuesday. The board passed the new local law on dog licensing and animal population control after no one spoke on the public hearing on the matter.

The state is turning over all dog licensing responsibility to municipalities, resulting in additional costs for tags, supplies and record keeping.

In the Town of Niagara, the price for issuing a tag for a spayed or neutered dog over the age of four months will be $10, up from $5.50. The cost for an unspayed or unneutered dog will be $15, up from $13.50. For those who are delinquent in renewing their one-year dog licenses, there will be a late charge of $5 added if delinquent more than 60 days.

In other matters:

  • The board approved a fee schedule for the Building Department. New is a fee for fire inspections based on square footage of the building: $25 for up to 5,000 square feet; $50 for 5,001 to 10,000 square feet; $75 for 10,001 to 20,000 square feet; $100 for 20001 to 30,000 square feet; $200 for 30,001 to 40,000 square feet; $300 for 40,001 to 50,000 square feet; and $400 for more than 50,000 square feet.
  • The board approved a special use permit for Wegmans on Military Road to place a refrigerator tractor-trailer on its property to house seasonal turkeys from Oct. 31 to Nov. 21. Hours of operation will be the same as last year.
  • The board approved a final site plan for Phillip Rotella for a Porter-Recovery Road Plaza. Supervisor Steve Richards said the 10,000-square-foot building would be the third strip plaza for Rotella on Porter Road.
  • The board approved the request of Schlaak Builders for a one-year special use permit allowing exterior parking of equipment and vehicles in a fenced area at 2545 Young St. It was emphasized that the permit does not allow parking in the driveway.

Andrew Schlaak, owner/operator, said the old firehall property was neglected and had become an eyesore at the time he purchased it. He said most of his business is in the town.

  • The board approved adding to the 2011 tax warrant all unpaid water, sewer and town charges, which total $311,014.77. The total is down a little, but similar to past years.
  • The board gave approval for Niagara Active Hose Fire Co. for tax exempt refinancing and borrowing totaling $300,000 relating to the firehall at 6010 Lockport Road.
  • Approval was given for Ken Young Paving to repair the side parking lot at Town Hall at a cost of $5,990.
  • The board allowed free use of the town's Community Center from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9 to Alan Stevens, RN. Stevens plans to offer a free CPR course, sponsored by the American Heart Association.
  • Town of Niagara Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, but there will be even more fun before the big day with the town Recreation Department's third annual Wicked Week of Fun.

During the week the department will be collecting canned goods for a local food bank.

Sign-up is required for the Halloween week activities by calling 297-5243, ext. 202. Included will be: Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. -- decorate canvas bags for trick-or-treating and learn new ways to carve your pumpkin; Wednesday, Oct. 27, 5 to 8:30 p.m. -- field trip to the Wheatfield Corn MAiZE; Thursday, Oct. 28, 5 to 9 p.m. -- field trip to Final Fear at the Erie County Fairgrounds; Friday, Oct. 29, 5 to 8 p.m. -- Halloween party.

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