A regular meeting of
the Town Board of Grand Island, New York was held at the Town Hall, 2255
Baseline Rd., Grand Island, NY at 8:00 P.M. on the 2nd of October
2006.
Present: Peter
A. McMahon Supervisor
Mary S. Cooke Councilwoman
Richard W. Crawford Councilman
Gary G. Roesch Councilman
Susan J. Argy Councilwoman
Karen M. Cooney Deputy Town Clerk
Peter C. Godfrey Town Attorney
Also Present: John Whitney Town Engineer
Supervisor McMahon called the meeting to order at 8:00P.M.
Reverend Earle King, Jr. of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church gave the Invocation.
Councilwoman Mary Cooke led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATION:
Grand Island Memorial
Library 60th Anniversary
This is an opportunity for residents to comment on any matter regarding the meeting agenda items only.
Speakers: None
A motion
was made by Councilman Roesch, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to approve
Minutes of Workshop Meeting #46, September 18, 2006 and Minutes of Regular
Meeting #17, September 18, 2006, Workshop Meeting #47, September 25, 2006.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
PUBLIC HEARING:
Park Place Patio Homes –
Preliminary Plat Approval (Cluster Development)
A public
hearing was held at 8:00 P.M. for purpose of hearing anyone who wanted to make
comments in favor of or in opposition to Park Place Patio Homes – Preliminary Plat Approval
(Cluster Development)
Speakers in Favor: Sean
Hopkins, Al Hopkins, James Dinsmore
Speakers in Opposition: George
White, Sean Squire, Jen Persico, Sharon Federico, Pat Levitro, Julius Horvath,
Chuck Morrell
Supervisor
McMahon declared the Public Hearing closed.
A motion
was made by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilwoman Argy to table the
Preliminary Plat Approval for Park Place Patio Homes pending response from Erie
County on the coordinated review.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
1.
State of New York, Department of State – Agreement #T006423
– Scenic Woods/Bicentennial Park Master Plan
2.
Meeting Minutes – GIFTS Executive Team – August 8, 2006
3.
Erie County Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day –
Saturday, October 14, 2006
4.
Ambassador Niagara – Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge
Project
5. Meeting Minutes – Long Range Planning Committee – July 25, 2006
A motion was made by Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilwoman Argy to approve the consent agenda as distributed.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
SUPERVISOR McMAHON:
Authorize Supervisor to Sign
License Agreement with ASCAP
A motion
was made by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilman Roesch to authorize the
Supervisor to sign the license agreement with The American Society of
Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) at an annual cost of $280.00.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
Resolution of Support – NYPA
and the Public Power Coalition
A motion
was made by Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilwoman Argy to adopt the
amended Resolution of Support for a settlement agreement with NYPA and the
Public Power Coalition as follows:
WHEREAS, the
Public Power Coalition is an alliance of five communities – the cites of
Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, and the towns of Amherst, Grand Island, and
Tonawanda – that have intervened in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s
relicensing proceedings for the New York Power Authority’s Niagara Power
Project (the Project); and
WHEREAS, the Public Power Coalition communities
are located on the Niagara River or its main tributaries within a 15-mile
radius of the Niagara Power Project and represent 270,000 residents and major
industrial and commercial employers;
and
WHEREAS, the Project has had significant effects
on the Public Power Coalition communities that are not addressed in the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the New York Power Authority for the
Niagara Power Project that include the following:
·
Lack of low-cost
power from NYPA, as required by the existing operating license: This has
grievously harmed the industrial and residential tax base and local economies
of the Public Power Coalition communities.
·
Additional costs
required for water treatment resulting from turbidity: On average, PPC
communities expend $1,150,000 per year in additional water treatment costs as a
result of Niagara Power Project operations.
·
Additional costs for
erosion control: The cost of erosion control has been shown to be $1,000 per
foot of waterfront, or $11.5 million per year of additional costs for PPC
communities as a result of Niagara Power Project operations.
·
The proposed
settlement between the NYPA and earmarked communities in Erie and Niagara
counties, which do not include PPC communities, would cause additional social
and economic damage to PPC communities;
now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board
of the Town of Grand Island supports a settlement agreement between NYPA and
the PPC communities that includes the following provisions:
·
$5 million per year
for water treatment and erosion control, for the duration of the license
·
$5 million per year
for economic development, for the duration of the license
·
A one-time payment of
$50 million for major flood and erosion control projects PPC communities must
undertake as a result of Niagara Power Project operations
·
30MW of low-cost
power per year (to be used by residents, municipalities, and businesses),
provided at the same rate as power given to “host communities” under the
proposed settlement, for the duration of the license; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the PPC communities call upon United
States Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton; Representatives Louise
Slaughter, Brian Higgins, and Thomas Reynolds; the members of the Western New
York State Legislative Delegation to the Assembly and Senate; and Governor
George E. Pataki to intervene on behalf of the PPC communities with both NYPA
and FERC to urge the New York Power Authority to reach a settlement agreement
with the PPC communities; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
certified copies of this resolution be forwarded to all of the above-mentioned
elected officials.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
Appointments – Parks &
Recreation Advisory Board
A motion
was made by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to appoint
Joseph Ilecki to fill the remainder of an unexpired term ending December 31,
2008 and Donna Tomkins to fill the remainder of an unexpired term ending
December
31, 2010 on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
Appointments – Economic
Development Advisory Board
A motion
was made by Councilman Roesch, seconded by Councilwoman Argy to appoint Bonnie
Sciuk to fill the remainder of an unexpired term ending December 31, 2007 and
LuJean Jennings to fill the remainder of an unexpired term ending
December
31, 2008 on the Economic Development Advisory Board.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
COMMUNICATIONS - OTHER TOWN
OFFICIALS:
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING
& WATER RESOURCES – JOHN WHITNEY:
Change Order No. 1 – Grand Island Boulevard Sanitary Sewer
Construction – Job No. M-22-04
A
motion was made by Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilman Roesch to approve
the Change Order for Grand Island Boulevard Sanitary Sewer Construction – Job
No. M-22-04. Change Order No. 1 is for
the labor and materials to install a guard rail for pump station #21 as
required by DOT. The Change Order will
result in the net increase to the contract of $16,928.00.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy,
McMahon
Noes 0
ZONING OFFICER – JOHN
McCARTHY:
Special Use Permit Renewal – Joseph Higgins – Keeping of 3 Agricultural Animals
on 4.35 Acres
A motion
was made by Councilman Roesch, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to renew the
Special Use Permit for Joseph Higgins, for keeping of 3 agricultural animals on
4.35 acres on Ransom Road. The property
has been inspected and it is unchanged.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
COMMUNICATIONS - GENERAL
Bill Torchia – Request
Waiver of Subdivision Regulations – West End of Bush Road Near Alt Boulevard
A
motion was made by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to
approve the request for Waiver of Subdivision Regulations at the west end of
Bush Road near Alt Boulevard for Bill Torchia subject to the Zoning Board of
Appeals issuing all required variances, proof of filing of deeds from the Erie
County Clerk’s office showing the lots have been combined and approval of the
Town Attorney.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE:
A motion was made by
Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilman Roesch to pay
Vouchers #84258,84456
- #84569
General $ 29,290.68
Highway $ 23,190.55
Sewer $ 10,217.27
Water $ 5,854.74
Capital
$206,730.00
Lighting $ 116.00
Total $275,399.24
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Buckhorn Estates (Formerly
Buckhorn Park/Long Road Subdivision a.k.a. Lang Farm) Now Known As Ash Brooke
Court Estates – Preliminary Plat Approval
A motion
was made by Councilman Crawford, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to grant
Preliminary Plat Approval for Buckhorn Estates (Formerly Buckhorn Park/Long
Road Subdivision a.k.a. Lang Farm now known as Ash Brooke Court Estates.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
Waterford Park Subdivision –
Preliminary Plat Approval (Revised Plan)
Remains
Tabled.
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:
A motion was made by Councilman Roesch, seconded by Councilwoman Cooke to Suspend the Rules to consider setting a Public Hearing to solicit project ideas for Community Development Block Grant funding for 2007.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT FUNDING:
A motion
was made by Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilman Roesch to set a Public
Hearing for Monday, October 16, 2006 at 8:00p.m. for the purpose of hearing
recommendations for Community Development Block Grant funding for 2007.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
This is an
opportunity for residents to comment on any matter regarding Town government on
any subject.
Speakers: None
FROM
THE TOWN BOARD:
Councilwoman
Cooke: Library Celebration
October 21, 2006 from 2:00-4:00p.m. , Hazardous Waste Drop-Off flyer posted in
Town Hall foyer.
Councilman
Roesch: Beaver Island
Parkway Cleanup
Councilman
Crawford: Public Hearing –
Park Place
Supervisor McMahon: Halloween October 31, 2006 – Trick
or Treating hours from
5:00-8:00p.m
ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Cooke, seconded by Councilman Crawford to adjourn the meeting at 8:39p.m.
APPROVED Ayes 5 Cooke, Crawford, Roesch, Argy, McMahon
Noes 0
A moment of silence
was observed in memory of the following:
Frances
Ficorilli
George
Backlund
Charles
Truitt
Respectfully
submitted in the Town Clerk’s absence,
Karen Cooney
DeputyTown Clerk