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Lewiston Town Board hears about mounting repair work

Sat, Apr 18th 2015 07:25 am

Projects include muck pumps, curbing, roof work

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Spring is well underway, and with it has come a number of projects to be addressed in the Town of Lewiston.

•Immediate repairs of a muck pump above the hill occupied significant discussion at Monday's Lewiston Town Board work session. Town Highway Superintendent Doug Janese reported one of the town's two muck land pumps that operate on the north side of Saunders Settlement Road has seized under a heavy spring water drainage backload of 12 feet of water. The remaining pump is operating 24 hours a day and cannot keep up with the load.

"The pump seized; it drains hundreds of acres of farmland on the north side of Saunders Settlement Road and it could affect spring planting," Janese said.

He told board members he was uncertain of the damage and that repairing the unit could prove difficult, as well as costly, as qualified contractors are not found nearby. Janese estimated it could cost upward of $4,500 to just remove the unit to evaluate the damage.

Town Attorney Brian Seaman said the town would need to abide by state bidding procedures with three quotes for work. Discussion then ensued on how the town could best get the repair work done as soon and cost-effectively as possible.

Councilman Al Bax, who serves as board liaison on highway, suggested Janese go ahead and obtain bids. Funding for the work would be handled at the onset via Highway Department accounts, then possibly the town's general funds. The matter was left with instructions for town highway crews to remove the damaged unit, have a physical inspection done, and then arrange for quotes on repairs and the scope of work, with consultation by Town Engineer Bob Lannon of Conestoga-Rovers & Associates to carry out the project.

It met with immediate board approval.

•Another new and pressing project in the town involves replacement of what Janese and Lannon called country curbing - sloped design curbs found in a number of the town's subdivisions - which are deteriorating and disrupting adjacent roads and drainage in the affected areas. Janese said a main problem area is found on Lauren Court in the Raymond Drive subdivision, and the ultimate repair project would include paving and may be costly.

"It would be well north of $35,000" when all is said and done, Lannon said of the Lauren Court repairs, which would involve replacing the country curbs with standard curbs, adjusting any drainage issues, repaving and, ultimately, addressing any lawn and landscaping work on the connecting private properties.

The matter was left with the board approving Janese to compile a list of needed country curb replacements throughout the town and for Lannon and CRA to conduct engineering studies to determine the cost.

•Still more repair work discussed that session focused on what Lannon and Town Building Inspector Tim Masters called "severely leaking roofs" on a number of town buildings, including Town Hall, the Lewiston Senior Center, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lewiston Library and areas of the highway department garage.

Funding was discussed briefly. Town Supervisor Dennis Brochey said he was looking into town grant funding, Lewiston library grant funding, and New York Power Authority hydro monies to address the work. The matter was left for Lannon and CRA to develop a package of design specs for the needed work on all town buildings, and then pursue a funding plan.

In other news:

•Brochey announced Mark Briglio would be appointed as deputy supervisor following the retirement of Sean Edwards last month due to health reasons. Briglio is a town resident and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston. He is expected to be sworn in and assume the post at an upcoming Town Board meeting.

•Town Clerk Donna Garfinkel reported the town's special election to abolish the elected position of receiver of taxes and assessment and transfer those duties to the town clerk was approved by Lewiston voters by a count of 167 to 30.

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