Lewiston Town Board discusses JDP, Legacy Drive

by Terry Duffy

Short and varied topics - from Joe Davis to Legacy Drive to bigger recycling and garbage containers - were among a host of discussion items at Thursday's brief Lewiston Town Board monthly regular meeting.

Louis Giardino of CEA International of Rochester, who serves as day-to-day management consultant for the Joseph Davis State Park Local Development Corp., visited at the end of the session and apprised the board of a May 18 session he, town officials and LDC had with State Parks concerning extension of the JDP lease. "We were able to reach a mutual understandable agreement" to proceed on a 20-year cooperative lease, said Giardino. He told the board the session, the continuation of discussions facilitated with State Parks from input by State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman John Ceretto, has led to development of a memorandum of understanding on a 20-year operating agreement.

It has also led to an understanding with State Parks and the town with regards to the State Environmental Quality Review Act process and improvement projects at JDP. Under the scenario, future improvements "would be started as funding for projects are approved," said Town Supervisor Steve Reiter. He said that while the town would have lead agency status on future projects with SEQR, existing projects under the JDP master plan would continue to fall under State Parks review under the current operating agreement.

More to come on this as discussions with State Parks continue.

In other news:

•After years of non-action by its most recent owners and continued town frustration, the Town Board moved to proceed under the eminent domain procedure law to acquire a lot on the western terminus of Legacy Drive, between Creek and North Ridge roads, to enable dedication of the road and completion of housing begun years earlier. The town noted that buildings were built on eastern portions of the block in the early 2000s but never completed, certified for use nor occupied and had fallen into disrepair.

The town will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 25, at 5:45 p.m., to review its eminent domain plans, dedication of the road and future uses of the property.

•The board instructed Town Attorney Mike Dowd to review particulars of the town's noise ordinance following a meeting Tuesday involving Sanborn residents and Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada about noise issues in the hamlet resulting from local bars and businesses. Reiter said he felt the current law was "too vague and non-enforceable" and suggested Dowd look into it.

•The board decided to take no action on a resident's request for additional street lighting on Cayuga Drive following input from Councilman Ernie Palmer. "I'm not sure a street light would solve this," said Palmer of the resident's complaints of a stolen mailbox and vandalism on the property due to inadequate lighting on the street. Palmer suggested instead additional police patrols in the area to monitor the problem. "I'm not sure street lights are the answer," said Palmer.

He said he would ask Salada, who was not present at the session, to expand LPD patrols of the area.

•The board approved its 2012 summer schedule, which like in year's past eliminates Town Board work sessions for the months of June, July and August. Town Board regular sessions would continue to be held at the end of the month and additional sessions would be scheduled as needed.

•Reiter appointed council members Al Bax and Michael Marra to review a proposal received by the town from Cascade Engineering for use of larger recycling and garbage containers by residents and consideration of a biweekly pickup system for recyclables. No action was taken with the proposal yet to be studied.