Town of Niagara: Fee schedule approved for town park

by Susan Mikula Campbell

With spring slowly starting to break through, the Town of Niagara Town Board on Tuesday did some cleanup by approving a resolution leftover from winter, a contract and some road repair.

Agreement was reached on the new rental fee schedule for use of structures in Veterans Park on Lockport Road.

Town residents will face no charge for reservations at the various pavilions in the park, but must supply a returnable $100 security deposit. Rental for the Calvin K. Richards Community Center would be $25 per hour with a $150 deposit. A baseball diamond would be $50 per game with a $100 deposit.

For non-residents, fees for pavilion reservations range from $75 to $125 per day (depending on pavilion used), with a $100 security deposit. Community center reservations would be $30 per hour with a $150 security deposit and baseball diamonds would be $55 per game with a $100 deposit.

Winter took its toll on town roads, so the board approved a supplement to its agreement to spend highway funds for the 2014 road paving plan.

Highway Superintendent Robert E. Herman said normally road work starts in June, but work will be starting immediately on Homestead, Richmond, Third and Fourth avenues. In the case of Richmond and Fourth avenues, "this winter just broke them apart," he said. Homestead, currently a one-way street, will be changed to a two-way street to alleviate some of the traffic. Nearby Military Road is busier than ever due to business construction.

Herman is hoping to have work done by the end of May.

Belden Center resident John Parfinski presented the board with a list of areas needing to be cleaned up and asked for code enforcement. These ranged from garbage on lots in the 3000 block of Lockport Road and the 2900 block of Portland Street to a "no trucks" sign sitting on a town road at Hyde Park Boulevard and Louisiana Avenue. He also wanted to know if any progress is being made on demolition of abandoned houses and the sewer/road project in Belden Center.

Anna Barone of Hickory Lane asked that the town do something to prompt cleanup of a large yard facing her home that is filled with garbage, leftovers from dog walkers and droppings from overgrown evergreens.

The board approved a six-year CSEA union contract covering water, sewer, highway, police and office employees. Details won't be released until after a vote by union members.

Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Danny Sklarski described the contract agreement as "affordable for the residents and businesses of this town" and "a good situation for both parties."

The board also approved several requests to renew special use permits for new and used auto sales for AA Used Cars Co. on Porter Road, George's Auto Sales on Witmer Road, David Chevrolet Buick on Niagara Falls Boulevard, Jetport Inc. on Porter Road, Cecconi's Chrysler on Military Road, Jose's Car Corner on Military Road, Cataract City Auto Sales on Packard Road, United Auto Foreign & Domestic Inc. on Fashion Outlet Boulevard and George's Auto Sales on Military Road.

Junkyard license renewals were approved for Kach's Auto Service on Witmer Road, Metalico Niagara Inc. on Maple Avenue and Satarian Auto Parts on Witmer Road.