Village of Lewiston amends historic preservation law

by Joshua Maloni

Village of Lewiston trustees amended the municipality's historic preservation law on Monday, adding maintenance and repair provisions.

Following a discussion with the New York State Historic Preservation Office, and "knowing what our law read," Mayor Terry Collesano said, "(We) thought that it would be good for the village to add this to our historical preservation ordinance that we already have, to give us some teeth as to making sure that people will comply to the preservation of the historical buildings."

The amendment reads, "No owner or person with interest in real property designated as a landmark or included within a historic district shall permit the property to fall into a serious state of disrepair so as to result in the deterioration of any exterior architectural feature which would, in the judgment of the Historic Preservation Commission (aka the Planning Board), produce a detrimental effect upon the character of the historic district as a whole or the life and character of the property itself."

No specific property was mentioned in conjunction with this change in law. Violation of the law could result in a daily fine of up to $250.

Trustees had considered extending the Planning Board's purview to include general residential additions. In other words, a resident looking to add onto a garage or build a shed, for example, would've been asked to visit a Planning Board meeting and hear aesthetic suggestions. The Village Board had previously scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 20 to discuss this option, but trustees voted Dec. 6 to not extend the Planning Board's duties.

•In other news, Michael Marino, the village's engineer, informed trustees the Niagara County Planning Board approved of the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours proposal that was recently presented to the Planning Board. No further discussion was held on this topic.

•The Village Board approved a facility contract for Niagara University Repertory Theatre to use Academy Park from 1:30 until 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, July 18-29, 2011, and then again from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1-19, 2011. Student actors will present 45-minute stories for children.

•Barbara Coppock was reappointed to the Lewiston Public Library's board of trustees effective Jan. 1, 2011. The library board recently approved Jill Palermo as director.

•Village Department of Public Works Superintendent Bryan Meigs extended a special "thank you" to David Millville of Sanborn for his donation of 25 hay bales to the Tuscarora Street snow sledding hill.