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Town of Lewiston reorganizes

by jmaloni
Sat, Jan 12th 2013 12:20 pm

Moves on town development issues

by Terry Duffy

You can say one thing about Steve Reiter and the Lewiston Town Board: They certainly operate quickly.

In the course of less than an hour, the Lewiston Board handled reorganization for 2013 and addressed a number of work session matters before convening to executive session. Highlights of the evening were:

The board approved a number of procedural adoptions, including setting the 2013 holiday schedule, naming the official town newspaper and town depositories as well as setting the Town Board work session and regular meeting schedules.

The board will hold work sessions on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. Dates are Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, November and October sessions to be announced (due to holidays), and Dec. 9.

Regular meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month and include: Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 25, April 22, a May date to be announced (due to Memorial Day), June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, Sept. 23, Oct. 28 and Nov. 25. December's session to be announced, as well as the final audit.

The session also saw a number of appointments and/or confirmations in various town departments.

Included are:

•Assessor's Department: Linda Johnson, town assessor; Molly Penale, assessor information.

•Town attorneys: Mark Davis, attorney, Michael Dowd, counsel to the town.

•Building Department: Tim Masters, building inspector/SEQR compliance officer; Sandy VanUden, clerk typist; Chris McAuliffe, ordinance enforcement officer; Robert Martinez, zoning officer, part time.

•Engineering services: Nussbaumer and Clarke Inc. Clerk: John Sharpe, engineering services.

•Fire/Haz-Mat Department: Pat Martin, fire inspector, part time; Don Consentino, fire inspector, part time; Kathy Kifer, typist, part time; Les Myers, fire prevention chair.

•Highway Department: Kevin Payne, deputy highway superintendent; typist Patti Atkins. Also approved was the 2013 salary schedule for highway/drainage employees.

•Historian: Robert Martinez.

•Justice confirmations: Maria Sicurella and Mary Kinney, clerks.

•Parks: Mike Dashineau, superintendent.

•Police: Christopher Salada, chief; Lisa Rizzo, typist. Also approved was the 2013 salary schedule for the LPD sergeant, officers and constables.

•Receiver of taxes confirmations: Darlene Norwich and Rosalie Kilmer, both deputy receiver.

•Recreation: Mike Dashineau, director; Cheryl Nowocien, typist, part time.

•Registrar, records access officer: RMO and recycling officer, Carol J. Brandon.

•Senior Services: Jeanette Collesano, director; Catherine Burnett and Carol Jacobs, service aides, part time; Gerald Burnett, Arthur Fitzpatrick and Tom Butkis, plus two alternates, van drivers, part time; Don Clark, laborer.

•Senior citizens' leader, part time, Susan Letourneau (Lewiston and Sanborn seniors).

•Supervisor's confirmations: Katelyn Allan, junior accountant; Michael Johnson, finance director; Barbara Cich, confidential secretary/senior typist/risk manager; Gary Catlin, deputy supervisor; Brown and Company, auditor; Bernie Rotella, grant writer.

•Town clerk's appointments/confirmations: Carole Schroeder, first deputy town clerk/deputy registrar; Donna Garfinkel, deputy town clerk/substitute registrar; Barbara Joseph, deputy town clerk; David Sheriff, dog control officer; Jen Rossman, deputy dog control officer/laborer.

•Water personnel, Steve Reiter, administrator.

•Water Pollution Control Center: Jeff Ritter, chief operator.

•Appointments, board liaisons: Steve Reiter and Town Board members; stormwater management officer, Glenn Caverly; Carol Brandon, minority business and women's business officer; Atlantic Inland Inc., electrical inspectors: Mike Dowd, records appeals officer; Reiter and Ernie Palmer, town/village police liaisons; Dave Sheriff, bingo inspector.

A number of appointments were made to the following town commissions and committees: Cable Commission; CWM Siting Board; Environmental Commission; Board of Ethics; Historic Preservation; Lighting Advisory Board; Modern CAC; Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; Personnel Committee; Planning Board; Senior Advisory Board; Signage Committee; Tower/Wind Energy Committee; and Zoning Board of Appeals. (Member lists to be included in a future Sentinel report.)

With reorganizing completed, board members moved to their work session, where news came on the following:

•Town attorney Mike Dowd reported a stalemate continues among family interests linked to the Legacy Drive parcel in the town following the death of its owner. "The parties cannot resolve this," said Dowd. He advised the board close a public hearing convened from last June concerning the Legacy Drive transfer and instead re-advertise for a new public hearing to be held to address condemnation of the Legacy Drive property. The board approved for a public hearing to be held on Monday, Jan. 28, at 5:30 p.m.

•Moving to the proposed recreation/senior center eyed for land on the Lew-Port campus, Reiter said the town was evaluating the land acquisition and letter of intent received from the Lewiston-Porter School District concerning the sale. That night the board approved for the town to solicit requests for proposals to cover design elements, engineering, construction, and construction management services related to the center's future construction. A groundbreaking for construction is anticipated this year.

•The board approved changes concerning setbacks of properties in the new, as yet developed, Sullivan Court subdivision found along the lower escarpment area off Ridge Road. Reiter requested the changes to allow for future construction of new home builds in the Sullivan Court area, which extends off Cliff Road, from Ridge Road.

•The board concluded its evening with discussion and praise of the Lewiston Family Ice Rink operations, which continue to the end of this month in Academy Park. Reiter reported the rink thus far has seen 7,500 users over a period of 33 days and the facility has already matched the attendance and revenue realized by the town over its 61 days of operation last year. "The rink has seen a lot of use; it's good, clean fun for the community," said Reiter. He thanked Parks/Recreation Director Mike Dashineau for all his efforts, including securing numerous sponsors, that have helped make the facility a success this winter, and also the Village of Lewiston, for its cooperation with the town on Academy Park improvements and related support.

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