The Angola Village Board met on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Trustee Jim Carlson was absent.

Jim Pinto addressed the Board regarding the switch from Village Police to Town Police. The Village budget year runs from June 1 to May 31. In the last Village tax bill covering June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008, residents were assessed for police services for January 2008 through May 2008. The Town took over the Department and Village residents are now assessed for police services in the Town portion of their property taxes. The Town budget year runs from January through December 31. Village residents have paid for police services for January 2008 through May 2008 twice. Mr. Pinto asked if the Village property owners will see a reduction in their taxes for this double payment. He was told that the 2008/2009 Budget is beginning to be prepared now and the tax rate is expected to be reduced by approximately $6 per $1000 of assessed value which is the savings anticipated from the elimination of the Village Police Department. The amount of savings the Village experienced from January 2008 through May 31, 2008 because of the elimination of the Police Department will not be known until after the Budget Year is closed on May 31, 2008. When the savings to the Village has been determined and any interest earned on those savings calculated, the Village will pass on the savings to the property owners by being able to reduce the tax rate for the 2009/2010 Budget year.

Mayor Howard "Hub" Frawley reported that he had received a letter from Trustee Jim Carlson stating he would be resigning from his position as trustee for medical and personal reasons, effective January 31, 2008. The Board accepted Carlson’s resignation with deep regret.

Trustee Bill Houston reported that the complaints of sewer smells have been discussed with the Sewer Department and the Village has been put on the list to have the sewers cleaned and flushed in early spring.

Houston also reported that Village property owners might be interested to know that there is funding/loans available for the rehab of rental housing.

Trustee Denise DeJohn reported that March 13, 2008 will be World Kidney Day in New York State. The purpose of the day is to bring attention to kidney health, risk factors for kidney disease, early detection and the role of the kidneys in maintaining overall health.

DeJohn also encouraged everyone to go to the Lake Shore High School Band’s fundraiser concert by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Thursday, January 31 at 7:30 in the High School Aud.

Trustee John Wilson reported that N.E.S.T. is moving forward with recycling issues.

All Board members expressed their regrets in the resignation of Jim Carlson. They all mentioned he will be sorely missed.

Mayor Frawley reported that he is talking with Evans Supervisor Fran Pordum about holding quarterly joint board meetings between the Village and the Town.

In other matters, the Board

• Appointed Trustee John Wilson as representative to sit on the N.E.S.T. (North East Southtowns-Solid Waste Management) Board. The Village also appointed Trustee William G. Houston as an alternative representative for the Year 2008.

• Adopted an Employee/Public Official Policy to provide a procedure for employees to resolve disputes or complaints concerning the terms and conditions of their employment and for the removal of public officials from office. This policy shall not supersede or replace any provisions of the law and/or collective bargaining agreements providing for alternate procedures applicable to a public official and/or employee.

• Repealed the Village’s existing Harassment Policy and adopted a new Harassment Policy addressing procedures for reporting, investigation and resolution of complaints of harassment, sexual or otherwise.

• Received a letter from a resident about snowplowing that was referred to the DPW.

• Approved the purchase of a 1/2 page ad for the Middle School Musical’s, The Music Man, program book.

The next meeting of the Village Board will be Monday, February 4, 2008 at 7:30pm. All are invited to attend.

The Evans Planning Board met on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 to review plans for the development of an approximately 12,500 square foot Walgreens Pharmacy (on the site of the Block Hotel) and the associated redevelopment of the Block Motel located on the corner of Route 5 (Erie Road) and Lake Street.

The Town of Evans was first approached in September 2007 by the HDL Properties concerning the development/demolition of the Block Hotel and the rehabilitation of 14 residential units at the Block Motel site. In November 2007, formal application was made to the Town. Reviews of the project have been received from the appropriate water, sewer, fire, code enforcement and historic preservation offices. Missing from the review, at this time, are significant engineering comments necessary to resolve certain questions of the Village Engineer. Therefore the Planning Board took no official action at the meeting.

Available for review were the revised elevation drawings/renderings of the façade of the proposed Walgreens store and the site plan. Planning Board Chair Sandy Brant thanked the project team for all the work they had done thus far with the Board to arrive at the "neighborhood feel" façade, site landscaping/lighting and signage design plans. "We [Evans] deserve the best." We are no different than Clarence.

The Board opened the discussion to members of the audience and received questions regarding the planned detention pond, the location of the dumpster, sidewalks and traffic studies. The Board was asked to "take care before development so as not to have to fix it after". The Board was also thanked for their concerns on lighting and Dark Sky compliance and drainage.

The project was tabled until revised plans would be received and be reviewed.