Collins Town Board supports Hollywood Theater

by Richard Westlund

     At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Collins Town Board took up the question of priorities for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) request. The town has the possibility of receiving a $90,000 grant for community development.

     Travis Heath from the board of the Gowanda Area Restoration Committee spoke at the meeting and requested that the Collins board sponsor the Hollywood Theater restoration project in its CDBG request. The idea was discussed.

     Supervisor Don Tew said he had received complaints about the project from citizens saying they felt that there was not enough public accountability on the project.

     Heath replied that the development committee was planning to work on the marquee and other outside features so that the public could be more aware of progress being made.

     Councilman Ken Martin spoke in favor of supporting the project saying that Gowanda was the hub of the area.

     Other considerations for the CDBG were sidewalks in Collins Center and Rural Transit for the area. It was discussed that an income poll for Collins Center (on which the success of a sidewalk block grant would depend) was very poorly responded to, and therefore a request for that purpose would not be likely to succeed. The board then voted to list its priorities for the grant to be: 1) the Hollywood Theater in Gowanda; and 2) Rural Transit.

     Lillian Stillman and Sharon Swanson appeared before the board again in their pursuit to get the vacant home and lot next to the fire hall in Collins cleaned up. They appealed to the board asking for help in finding who owns the property. They said that the owners on all records they have access to are listed as the previous owners who are now deceased. The tax bills are sent to a post office box, which the post office says is a vacant box and all mail sent to it would be returned. Yet the taxes are being paid.

     As no one on the board deals directly in tax collection, they could be of little help; but suggested to the ladies that the tax collector must have some information.

     In other matters, the board:

*     Heard Highway Superintendent Joe Gernatt report that Bagdad Road will be repaved within the next two weeks. He asked the board to have the rumble strips put back in the new pavement, as they have been a factor in reducing accidents at the Bagdad/Route 39 intersection. He suggested that they not be made quite as deep.

     Gernatt also requested that another traffic study be done on Bagdad Road with an eye to setting the speed limit at 45 mph, rather than the present 40 mph. These requests were both granted by the board.

*     Heard a report from Town Attorney Jim Musacchio that he has been in contact with the owner of the property on School Street in Collins Center regarding cleaning up their yard. He has been promised that the yard would be cleaned up within the next two weeks.

*     Set a public hearing on the Town of Collins Budget for Monday, Nov. .3, at 7:15 p.m. in the Collins Town Hall.

     The next regular meeting of the Collins Town Board will be held on Monday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Collins Town Hall.