by Mary Pankow
News Editor

     Trustee Dale DeCarlo opened Tuesday evening’s Village of Gowanda Board meeting with a moment of silence for Cattaraugus County Sheriff Dennis John and Buffalo firefighters Charles “Chip” McCarthy Jr. and Jonathan Croom.

     The public participation portion of the meeting was next, and a Torrance Place resident questioned the board about the zoning at the old AVM property. Her reason for asking stems from the noise generated by trucks pulling in and out of that area, some at 6 a.m. In addition, the village is building a DPW barn there, which is behind her house.

     Insisting that the area is zoned residential and the truck traffic is violating a sign on the street that prohibits trucks from traveling on that roadway, the resident asked for clarification on these issues.

     Mayor Dick Klancer informed her that where the DPW building is being constructed, it is zoned commercial.

     Public Works Superintendent Mike Hutchinson also commented, saying that the extra truck traffic was from the flood. Contractors have been utilizing the area. To alleviate the truck traffic and the noise that is generated, Hutchinson will request that the drivers use the back entrance to the property rather than Torrance Place.

     When asked about the highway barn that recently burned, Mayor Klancer explained that the building on Broadway Road was once owned by the village, but then the village sold it to Gernatt’s Asphalt Products and proceeded to lease it from them. It was used mainly as a repair shop, but did have equipment in it, such as the street sweeper, when it burned.

     In other matters, the board:
  •  Accepted the resignation of Jason Miller from the Police Department.

Learned from Police Chief Joe Alessi’s report that his department’s gratitude goes out to the firefighters from East Randolph for pumping out the Municipal Building’s basement.

  •  Rescinded a prior motion to hire soccer personnel because there is no suitable field for soccer this year due to the flood.

  •  Heard Trustee Dale DeCarlo express his appreciation, on behalf of the Gowanda Fire Department, to all the agencies and the 114 fire companies from across the state that came to help out during the flood and its aftermath.

     Disaster Coordinator Nick Crassi echoed DeCarlo’s sentiments, saying, “We appreciate everybody’s coordination and help.”

     Mayor Klancer agreed with DeCarlo and Crassi, adding, “The initial blow [by the flooding] was handled by Gowandonians. I can’t say enough about the village employees.

     “This was the worst experience I’ve ever been through, but we did well as a community. We have an unbelievable community; I can’t be prouder of this community.”

     Not a Gowanda resident, Treasurer Cindy Schilling stated how impressed she was with how things were handled during the flood, giving “kudos to the village board” in addition to expressing her pride in working “for people like you.”

     Deputy Mayor Carol Sheibley made a suggestion that the village look into the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007, which may provide assistance to flood victims.

  •  Authorized the resolution as prepared by the bond counsel for a Revenue Anticipation Note for capital improvements, not to exceed $550,000, in anticipation of FEMA and SEMO funding.

  •  Authorized the resolution as prepared by the bond counsel for a Bond Anticipation Note for $5 million for flood cleanup, etc., in anticipation of FEMA and SEMO funding.

  •  Accepted the landfill groundwater monitoring proposal from TVGA Consultants.

  •  Awarded the bid for emergency road repair to Olsen Paving for $909,000, in anticipation of FEMA reimbursement.

  •  Authorized the designing of an emergency water bill abatement application for residents to use during instances such as the recent flood, when some waterlines were severed, resulting in larger-than-normal water bills.

  •  Approved flood contracts with a variety of vendors, primarily dealing with the village’s water system/reservoir.

  •  Agreed to go to bid on dredging of the Point Peter Reservoir. Once dredged, this will allow for storage of spring water.

  •  Learned that Cattaraugus County will hold a household hazardous waste drop-off day on Oct. 3 at the DPW garage in Little Valley.

  •  Was informed that the Gowanda Fire Department will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Oct. 10. There will be a celebration, including fireworks.

     The next Village of Gowanda Board meeting is Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building, to be preceded by a workshop at 6 p.m.