Gowanda Village Board covers extensive agenda

by Karen Blake

     During a lengthy meeting Tuesday evening, Gowanda Village Board members heard committee and department reports and discussed a number of wide-ranging items and recommendations.

     The Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department’s hosting of last weekend’s Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firefighters was deemed a huge success on all accounts, with participants from the visiting fire companies complimenting on a well-run and fun event.

     Village Trustee and fire company member Dale DeCarlo said, “Overall, the event went very well, with 56 fire companies participating and Gowanda providing 44 dugouts” (places for them to stay). He especially thanked the police department and Gowanda Ambulance, and said there were few problems.

     Gowanda Police Chief Joseph Alessi congratulated Gowanda’s Bob Coudrey (who is president of the Southwestern Firemen’s Association) and the Gowanda Fire Department members for the “spectacular job” they did on,the firefighters’ convention.

     The convention generated some discussion about the condition and maintenance of the municipal/fire hall building, particularly the upstairs meeting rooms. The board decided to have a workshop meeting to determine the needs of the building, including capital improvements and maintenance.

     The Summer Recreation Program was “outstanding,” according to Village Recreation Director Mark Benton. The recently completed six-week summer program averaged 150 kids a day, including about 15 teens, the toughest age group to keep interested, Benton said.

     With 21 days out of 29 with rain, without the location of the activities at the Gowanda Middle School, this year’s program would have been lost, he said. Benton lauded the cooperation of all involved; counselors, the school, the village board, office staff and employees and volunteers.

     The summer program included daily activities such as tennis, music, arts and crafts in the cafeteria, activity in both gyms or outside, the weight room was open, and a full swim program under the instruction of Stefanena Kysor, who was congratulated on bringing home a gold medal at this year’s Empire Senior Games. Speaking about the summer swim program, Kysor said for the first time in her career, every child “submerged,” swimming underwater, retrieving objects from the pool floor, etc. “They all did it!” Kysor exclaimed.

     Special events for the children included the Zoomobile, Karate demonstrations, visits from Cooperative Extension, the Glen Colton concert, learning to paddle kayaks, a talent show, and trips to Darien Lake and the North Haven Therapeutic Riding Center. There were also boys’ and girls’ basketball “camps” and a weekly newsletter. Benton is looking forward to the program becoming even better next year.

     For this fall, Benton announced a soccer program is being organized to start Sept. 7, to play behind the Center Street School, and he is seriously working on having ice skating this winter.

     Also on the agenda was Lauralee Sprague, director of Community Health and Wellness for the TLC Network, who told board members about “Target Your Heart,” a new Western New York-wide program aimed at the number one health risk for both men and women. Sprague stated that “Western New York has the highest rate of cardiovascular disease in the country, with Syracuse area being number two. She said 40 percent of all deaths annually are heart-related with estimates of $368 billion in just health care and lost productivity costs.

     The “Target Your Heart” program, with participation by health care providers, schools, churches, government and the public, is trying to change those numbers. It has worked in other areas with high-risk factors, including Finland, according to Sprague, and features “eat, walk, quit and win” - keying diet, weight and blood pressure management, and smoking as target areas. She hopes Gowanda can find ways to be a part of the “Target Your Heart” program, and invited everyone to join the third “Walk for Health” in the village on Thursday, starting out at Tri-County Hospital.

     In other business, the Gowanda Police Department for July reported 153 complaints, 22 arrests, 20 traffic tickets issued, five motor vehicle accidents, and six curfew citations issued. Chief Alessi reminded area residents that the Village Curfew Law is being enforced. Anyone under the age of 18 will be off the streets by 10 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and by 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

     Alessi also congratulated Detective Steve Raiport who was hired by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, and noted Raiport will also continue to stay on with the village police force.

     Anna Sage updated the board on the status of the missing Gowanda Sesquicentennial sign that was stolen from Broadway Road recently. She said a replacement sign, this time bolted to the post, would cost $385. Board members agreed it was important that the sign be replaced (the insurance had a $250 deductible).

     Others spoke up, saying they might get donations for the sign. Village Attorney Deborah Chadsey started the contributions out with a check for $100.

     Sage said she will paint up the edges and refurbish the remaining signs, and continue maintaining the flowers and landscaping around them.

     Board members praised Sage for her longtime efforts for the signs, saying they were an asset to the village.

     The board heard from Jack Torrance regarding the VCR (Village Center Revitalization) Committee and the Planning Board Summary report. The VCR Committee recommended and the board approved the bid of $114,050 for Street lighting from Tunney Electric; and approved going out to bid for the next portion of the Streetscape Project including benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and planters on Sept. 1, opening bids on Sept. 20.

     After considering Planning Board recommendations, the board approved designating Phil Palen, the village historian, and Bill Peglowski as co-Webmasters for the Village of Gowanda, coordinating information for the Web site between the village and STW (Southern Tier West), and authorized $70 for the “Domain” registration fee.

     Torrance noted a minimum of five businesses in the village commercial area must be willing to participate in the Erie County Commercial Center Improvement Program for facades, etc. to be eligible for funding.

     The “Sign Local Law” regulating signs in the village is under review by the village attorney. The Planning Board recommended a proposed Adult Business Local Law be drafted using local laws of Springville and North Collins as patterns and forwarded to legal counsel for review to ensure the local law finally drafted will be able to withstand legal challenge. Attorney Chadsey explained that the village “can control, but not prohibit” adult entertainment as it is an issue of free speech under the Constitution.

     The board also:

   •  Approved the request to hire Nick Blasz as part-time patrolman for the Gowanda Police Department.
   •  Noted the “9-11” ceremony will be on Friday, Sept. 10.
   •  Accepted Village Building Inspector Gary Brecker’s recommendations for an application for a business permit for a thrift store at 32 West Main St. (the former Hallmark Store); and approved building permits for enclosing an existing patio on Crestwood Drive; an addition on the back of a house at 112 Walnut; replacing a house roof at 284 Jamestown St.; and a privacy fence at 368 Palmer St.
   •  Approved a number of requests for use of Chang-Hu Park for weddings, concerts, etc.
   •  Appointed Denise Damon to the Recreation Commission.
   •  Noted latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and CAN go into the regular garbage for pick-up as long as it has hardened in the container. Oil-based paint should be disposed of during county Hazardous Waste Collection Days.
   •  Authorized Public Works Superintendent Mike Hutchinson to begin working on the water service agreement with the Town of Perrysburg.
   •  Appointed Louise Hubbard as “sub-registrar.”
   •  Eliminated a (vacant) clerk position.
   •  Abolished position of Bingo Inspector (as Gowanda Moose no longer has bingo).
   •  Approved bid for engineering services from Mark Burr for the Creekside Restaurant demolition.
   •  Approved FEMA grant close-out for project with Cattaraugus County for acquisition of Chapel Street property.
   •  Noted the Commercial Street repaving close-out came in under budget at $109,980.
   •  Heard from Mike Hutchinson who said he has contacted DOT again about fixing the low manholes and water boxes and wrong striping after the recent repaving of West Main and Jamestown Street.
   •  Noted Erie County dropped rabies vaccine bait by air July 27 and will be out again Aug. 20.

     Next month’s board meeting will resume on the regular schedule and will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building.