Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Town Board members admire Russell DeFranco's motorcycle after Tuesday's meeting in which they approved his appointment as a part-time Town of Niagara police officer. DeFranco brought his motorcycle for fellow bike enthusiast Supervisor Steve Richards to see and test drive. (photo by Susan Mikula Campbell)
Town Board members admire Russell DeFranco's motorcycle after Tuesday's meeting in which they approved his appointment as a part-time Town of Niagara police officer. DeFranco brought his motorcycle for fellow bike enthusiast Supervisor Steve Richards to see and test drive. (photo by Susan Mikula Campbell)

Eminent domain process begins

by jmaloni
Thu, Jun 17th 2010 05:00 pm
by Susan Mikula Campbell

The Town of Niagara Town Board gave approval Tuesday to go ahead with a plan to acquire by eminent domain property adjoining the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park on Lockport Road.

The property the town wants to acquire by eminent domain is a small strip of 0.87 acres, 90 feet wide and about 400 feet long on the right side of the entrance to the park.

Talks with the owners of property (part of a much larger parcel) have been going on for years, according to Town Supervisor Steve Richards.

Last month, legal representatives of the heirs of the owners suggested concessions for the larger parcel in exchange for the property the town wants, saying the U.S. Border patrol might build new offices there.

Richards trumped the offer by stating that the Coast Guard is looking at more than one location in the area, including the former U.S. Army Reserve site next to the Niagara Falls Airport, which the town now controls and plans to develop.

The property the town seeks by eminent domain would create a buffer from any development to the east of the park and save old growth trees there, permit straightening of the immediate entry off Lockport Road to a 90-degree angle and allow improvements near the entrance such as a park information board and a safe parking/drop-off area for bikers, walkers and skaters.

Under eminent domain, the property would be assessed by an independent appraiser and the owners offered a fair price, Richards said.

In other matters:

  • The board fought back against years of wrangling with local junkyards about keeping access clear for emergency vehicles and cleaning up their properties. Two of five junkyard license renewals (Airport Auto on Hyde Park Boulevard and Kach's Auto Service on Witmer Road) were rejected. The license of Metalico Niagara Inc. on Maple Avenue was narrowly approved by a 3-2 vote. Also approved was Garlock's Auto on Maryland Avenue, even though there was a remark about a continuing problem with cutting the grass there, and Satarian Auto Parts on Witmer Road.
  • The board enthusiastically approved the appointment of Russell J. DeFranco as a part-time Town of Niagara police officer, pointing out that he had an impressive resume after 20 years with the Niagara Falls Police Department. DeFranco retired from the Falls force in 2007 and is the current owner of the Allstate Insurance agency on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield.

DeFranco said he was putting in 12 to 14 hours a day when he first took on the insurance agency, "but now I've got the place running pretty good." He missed police work and started thinking, "what I wouldn't give to come back for a while."

He met with Town of Niagara Police Chief James Suitor during Police Week at Fashion Outlets of Niagara and discovered there were openings in the department.

DeFranco, a former Law Enforcement Academy instructor, said Suitor was looking for an officer who was able to break down barriers by getting out of the police car and speaking with people in the neighborhood.

Hometown News

View All News