Town of Lewiston reorganizes for 2025

Town announces Jan. 27 public hearing on Community Solar application

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The Town of Lewiston got down to business for 2025 on Monday, with a number of approvals, authorizations and appointments set for the upcoming year.

Among the host of approvals announced by Supervisor Steve Broderick:

•Member audit schedules and work sessions and meetings for the Town Board. Also, meeting schedules for the town’s Planning and Zoning boards and its various commissions and committees.

•The 2025 holiday schedule.

•The IRS mileage reimbursement rate at 70 cents and fee rates set for assessor/map copies.

Also, the cell phone stipend for select town officials, authorizing 2025 credit card use/payments for town departments, and setting the dishonored check fee at $20.

•Bank on Buffalo and M&T as the official town depositories. Also, the authorized signors for payment of checks, the town’s procurement policies and guidelines on investments.

The board approved its meeting procedures under Roberts Rules of Order, followed by a number of appointments and confirmations. Included were:

•Nick Fiutko as town assessor and Alphonso Marra Bax as town attorney.

•Seaman Norris was named attorney for the town under contract.

•Building Inspector Tim Masters was named as compliance officer, and Christopher McAuliffe was reappointed as storm water management officer.

•Engineering services for the town will again be provided by GHD Consulting.

•Fire inspectors are Pat Martin (part-time) and Sam Ricotta. Broderick announced the naming of Jim Bos as fire prevention chair.

•Jeff Cosgrove was named deputy highway superintendent and Louise Maggard was reappointed as historian.

•George Adamson was named town prosecutor.

•Highway Superintendent Mitch Zahno was reappointed as parks superintendent.

•Frank Previte was reappointed as Lewiston Police Department chief.

•Tim Smith was reappointed recreation director.

•Town Clerk Amy Smith was designated as records/access officer and RMO. Tamara Burns was named deputy registrar, with sub registrars Linda Kreps and Briggett Cogland.

•Melinda Olick was reappointed as senior citizens coordinator.

•Supervisor’s confirmations include William Conrad as deputy supervisor, Natalie Soffritti as confidential secretary, and Jacqueline Agnello as finance director.

•Isaiah Milne was reappointed as the town’s part-time junior accountant and Municipal Solutions was named as its grants consultant on a case-by-case basis.

•Dresher-Malecki as town auditor.

•Dan Zahno was named water foreman, and Jeff Ritter as chief operator of the water treatment plant.

•The town’s pay schedules for 2025 were approved as presented.

•The town’s official/secondary newspapers include the Niagara Gazette and the Tribune/Sentinel.

•Broderick said his board liaison appointments this year would remain the same as in 2024. They include: Bax – board of ethics, ex-officio; Councilman Rob Morreale – building inspector’s liaison; Councilman Jason Myers – Cable Commission; Bax – CWM Siting Advisory Committee; Broderick – engineer; Morreale – Environmental Commission; Councilman John Jacoby – Fire Bureau (with Broderick named as the alternate); Morreale – highway drainage; Jacoby – historical preservation; Broderick – Justice Court; Sarah Waechter – Lewiston Council on the Arts, Town Recreation and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; Jacoby – Lewiston Public Library; Myers – Lighting Advisory Board; Broderick – Upward Niagara Chamber; Morreale – Modern CAC (currently on hold); Broderick – personnel; Jacoby – Lewiston Police; Broderick and Jacoby – town and village police liaisons; Morreale – Planning Board (Waechter to serve as alternate); Broderick – risk manager; Myers and Broderick – Sanborn Professional Association; Waechter – senior citizens; Myers – Signage Committee; Jacoby – Tower/Wind Energy Research Committee; Broderick – Water Department; Morreale – WPCC; and Jacoby – Zoning Board of Appeals (Morreale as the alternate).

•In remaining appointments, Amy Smith was named as minority business officer and women’s business officer. Atlantic-Inland Inc. was designated as electrical inspector. Lisa Wisnieski will be bingo inspector. Broderick will serve as records appeals officer.

•Members of the town’s Cable Commission and Board of Ethics were approved. James Abbondanza was named chair of the former, while Fred Caso was named to fill a vacant seat on the latter. Suzanne Pardee was named Board of Ethics chair.

•The town’s Lighting Advisory Board was approved, as presented, with John Barber named as chair.

•Broderick said no action would be taken with the Modern CAC, and the town’s Recreation and Advisory Committee membership would remain the same as last year.

In news from the brief work session that followed, the town announced it would hold a public hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, concerning a pending site plan application by Community Solar. For more information on the session, visit www.townoflewiston.us.