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By Joshua Maloni
Managing Editor
Trustees in the Village of Lewiston voted Monday to give Clerk/Treasurer Amy Salada permission to contact Munistat Services Inc. for guidance on taking a bond anticipation note in the amount of $355,000 to cover construction costs related to the southern portion of Lewiston Landing (behind Water Street Landing). The bulkhead, brick walkway and utilities are in need of repair.
The village has qualified for a New York Department of State award that would cover 50 percent of the cost. The remaining 50 percent - Lewiston's share - would be a combination of money and in-kind services.
"In order for our engineer to go and look for bids, we should have the money to pay them," Salada said.
Village of Lewiston engineer Mike Marino said the $355,000 "includes planning, design, construction itself. That will carry it right through. But this way you can keep rolling with it. You know 50 percent of that money is coming back from the state, but you have to have the money available to pay to get reimbursed."
"Instead of holding up paying someone, we'll have the money on hand," Salada said.
"We're still continuing to look for funding for the other half of that, too," Marino added. "That's a possibility, too. But in order to keep it rolling - to be able to work construction contracts - you have to (have money in place). An accountant will want you to have the money in the bank for it."
Salada noted the village's accountant, Pat Brown, of Brown & Company, agreed with this strategy.
Marino didn't yet know how Lewiston's 50 percent would be divided. The village's Department of Public Works would be responsible for completing the in-kind services.
Trustee Vic Eydt expressed concern over the amount of money to be bonded. Salada told him, "This is only giving me permission to look into it - to look into calling the attorney to see what we have to do. This isn't saying we're going to do it yet. This is only giving me permission to look into it."
News and notes
•Lewiston Police Department Chief Frank Previte said he's tasked an officer with walking Center Street and enforcing traffic laws. This four-hour shift will continue while the weather permits.
•The Department of Transportation has had conversations with board members and DPW Superintendent Terry Brolinski about making repairs to Center Street, which is a state road.
"Superintendent Brolinski and myself, as well as Trustee (Bruce) Sutherland met with a gentleman from DOT this past Friday, and we walked Center Street to see all the bad spots," Mayor Terry Collesano said. He added, "Several of the places that we found as damaged and in need of repair, DOT is going to come in and they're going to coordinate it with Terry and his crew ... to fix all those little potholes and all those raised bricks and so forth."
The village also is working with National Grid to install brighter streetlights on South Fourth Street near Artpark.
•Salada informed residents, "Unpaid village taxes will be accepted until Oct. 31. On Nov. 2, the unpaid village taxes are forwarded to Niagara County real tax office for collection."
The village had $37,287.15 in unpaid taxes as of Monday night.
•Nov. 2 also is the final DPW brush pickup until spring.
•The New York State Conference of Mayors recognized Salada and village employee David Wager for 25 years of "distinguished public service" to the community. Collesano presented Salada and Wager with certificates on NYCOM's behalf.
The New York State Conference of Mayors recognized Amy Salada and David Wager for 25 years of service to the village. They received a certificate from Mayor Terry Collesano.