Town of Lewiston restructures environmental commission, OKs Modern CHA

Board pays tribute to Marjorie Maggard

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Monday’s Lewiston Town Board work session was an active one, with a public hearing on changes to the Lewiston Environmental Commission; discussion on the Citrene Power LLC community solar farm planned at Modern; and discussions on a funding request from the Village of Lewiston (see related story).

The meeting began with tributes and a moment of silence in honor of Town of Lewiston Historian Marjorie L. Maggard, who died last week.

“Marge was a big part of our Town Hall,” Supervisor Steve Broderick said. “She worked very hard for very little; she didn’t ask for much.”

Maggard, age 85, passed away on Feb. 6. She served as historian for the town and was active in many local interests, including as treasurer of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of Lewiston Museum Board, the Town of Lewiston Historical Commission, the WNY Commission and the Niagara County Historical Board. Maggard was also a member of the Town of Lewiston Zoning Board of Appeals.

“She worked hard for the veterans,” Broderick said, noting Maggard’s most recent involvement in running the town’s “Hometown Heroes” banner program. “The flags you see around town on the posts in the summertime are because of Marge Maggard. … She’s going to have big shoes to be filled. … Hopefully, we can find the right person who puts the dedication in Mrs. Maggard did.”

Councilman John Jacoby, Town Board liaison on the Historical Commission, spoke of Maggard’s tenacity and her willingness to work: “I don’t think I’ve met anyone in town government who worked harder. She just went about her business. She had the energy level for someone 40 years younger. And she will be sadly missed.”

“She never asked for herself,” Broderick added. “And I know our Building Department is going to miss her the most, because Mrs. Maggard never came in empty handed. … Yes, she will be missed; just please keep her in your payers.”

Soon after, board attention turned to changes being considered for the Town of Lewiston Environmental Commission. The town seeks to eliminate the current structure of the Environmental Commission and “to rename and reapply the Town of Lewiston Planning Board as the Planning and Environmental Review Board,” announced Tamara Burns, deputy clerk.

No residents spoke, and a public hearing on the matter closed soon after.

In his remarks, Town Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Tim Masters offered praise for the changes planned, explaining there will be greater transparency with town discussions and future actions: “I’ve been a big proponent of this change; I think it will streamline the process. It will not only streamline the process, it will make a better process, a clearer process.”

Masters explained the new structure will see the town’s Planning Board function both “as an environmental and planning review board. We put some really quality people on that Planning Board recently. (Also) the town engineer, the town attorney, the town building inspector, the fire inspector.”

“All these people come to the Planning Board meeting every month, where the Environmental Commission was a little bit of a disadvantage (from limited participants),” he said.

“To me, the diversity, and of thought and experience (in) the Planning Board and group of town employees that come to each and every meeting that we get input from, will make a better process. I personally think it’s more environmentally friendly and protective board.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Broderick said. “The goal (here) is to make it better and make it work. And it wasn’t better. … I believe this is the best thing to do long-term, and we can continue to tweak it.

Broderick said the board would not take any action on the proposal, as the town continues to receive public comments and officials are working on a final plan.

In other news from the session:

•The town reported progress on the access agreement with Citrene Power LLC. The Connecticut-based company is seeking to construct a 2.5-megawatt community solar energy system on a 10-acre closed landfill at the Modern Disposal property on Model City Road. Citrene attorney Henry Zomerfeld of Hodgson Ross LLC said the company was waiting on Modern to finalize the final language on town access to the property, which is part of town-Modern discussions for a community host agreement.

“We have a negotiated and partially executed access agreement; we’re just waiting on that to be notarized by Modern,” he said.

Building Inspector Tim Masters said the approved Modern CHA would allow the town access to the energy facility to conduct annual safety inspections and related activity on the site.

Jacoby said, “This is what we’ve all been waiting for, for so long – to put these things on top of brownfields. It’s a win-win for us.”