Village of Lewiston adopts budget, approves Alphonso I. DiMino Memorial Band Shell events

Trustees seek comment on Lewiston Landing parking plan

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The Village of Lewiston Board approved the new fiscal year budget at a work session on Monday.

Specifically, trustees voted in favor of a motion to authorize the levy of real property taxes for the 2023-24 tax warrant, directing the village clerk to receive and collect taxes in the amount of $1,273,499, with a re-levy of water and sewer charges in the amount of $25,240.08 – a total warrant to collect $1,298,739.08, and to establish the tax rate at $7.964858 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Alphonso I. DiMino Bandshell Events

The Village Board approved two event requests for usage of the Alphonso I. DiMino Memorial Band Shell at Academy Park:

√ Greater Niagara Ballet Company will present a “Summer Showcase” from 6- 7 p.m. Friday, July 14.

√ Kenmore East High School music department will host a performance by the Tuscarora Nation Traditional Dance Group from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27.

Reflecting on more activity in the park, Deputy Mayor Vic Eydt said, “This is great.”

“It’s really getting used this year,” Mayor Anne Welch noted.

In Other News

Three public hearings were set for the 6 p.m. monthly meeting on Monday, May 15:

•Trustees seek comment on a proposed plan to add parking spaces on the north side of Water Street – at the Onondaga Street corner.

•The board seeks to eliminate two sections of the village code:

√ Local Law No. 13-2023 – Remove Section 9.D.B.1.vi

“Restaurants and drinking places provided all service and on-premises consumption take place within an enclosed building except, that after notification by registered or certified mail of all owners of abutting property and subsequent acceptance in writing by said property owners, and subject to the recommendation by the planning commission and subject to all conditions imposed by said commission, service and consumption may also take place in completely defined outdoor cafe areas.”

√ Local Law No. 14-2023 – Remove the following verbiage from Section 10.G.2

“The applicant shall also furnish a signed statement by all abutting property owners saying that they agree to the construction and have no objections.”

•A third public hearing will be held in regard to rezoning:

√ Moving the following properties from B-1 (general business, multiple family, townhouse) to R-2 (residential, two-family, townhouse): 120 N. Seventh St. (SBL 101.11-1-53), 140 N. Seventh St. (SBL 101.11-1-54), 160 N. Seventh St. (SBL 101.11- 1-55), 170 N. Seventh St. (SBL 101.1 T-1-56), 715 Onondaga St. (SBL 101.11-1-57), and 725 Onondaga St. (SBL 101.11-1-58).

This is contingent on prior approval from the Niagara County Planning Board.

Meetings are held in the Morgan Lewis Village Boardroom inside the Red Brick Municipal Building at 145 N. Fourth St.

Board members also awarded Candella Construction a contract to remodel the Academy Park bathrooms, in an amount not to exceed $32,076.18. The village received three bids, and this company presented the lowest-priced proposal. Welch said the project would be funded by a New York State Department of Public Transportation grant.

Since Ken Candella is the village’s building inspector and zoning officer, the structure will be reviewed and certified by Tim Masters, his contemporary from the Town of Lewiston. Trustee Tina Coppins said Candella Construction must contact the town to apply for a free inspection permit.