Highlights from the Angola Village Board Meeting

     The Angola Village Board met on March 19, 2007. This was the last regular meeting for Trustee Jonica DiMartino. Elections were held on March 20th for a two Trustee positions. The Village of Angola opened its regular board meeting with queries from residents of Sunset Blvd. Water runoff from the fields between JT Waugh and WT Hoag Schools caused basement, sidewalk, and road flooding. It has been a problem, off and on for the past 30 years. This is a particular safety problem for school children who walk to and from school, at times they have to walk in the street because of the flooded sidewalk. Trustee Houston suggested the problem could be rectified with moving the drainage grate from the other side of Sunset Blvd. to handle the deluge. Trustee John Wilson was well aware of the problem, and had worked, literally out in the water, to remove blockage caused by a temporary National Fuel dig. The cleaning of the swales on the field and the repositioning of the storm drain are now on the Village “to do” list. Mayor Frawley said that he will get everyone involved in. Trustee Wilson cautioned that in times of excessive water accumulation that area needs to be monitored closely. Most importantly, the drainage system only works if it is intact. The complication of National Fuel’s dig blocking a drain, added to the situation. The school does monitor their property and drains. Wilson reported that the water had not slowed until it came to the blocked drain. Communications and Committee Reports

     Mayor Frawley reported receipt, through the efforts of Assemblyman Quinn’s office, of $5,000 for an oil/ water separator unit. The Mayor is looking forward to the March 22nd meeting of the Erie County Association of Governments. At this meeting, one of the topics for discussion will be the contract between Erie County and EXspand. Hopefully some resolution will come that will allow movement on the Village properties currently controlled by EXspand. Trustee Bill Houston reported on several items of local interest. A check for $2,500, representing 25% of last year’s grant request for the $10,000, was received for Phase 2 of the Street Scape Project. The Village can now place an order for light standards for Commercial Street. New York State Parks and Recreation Department will be holding a meeting at the Adam’s Mark Hotel April 22- 25th. Houston said that a local representative will attend, since it is rare they hold a meeting in our own backyard, and we need to capitalize on that. Minutes from the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) meeting state that the Wheel Chair Van has only one volunteer driver, Angola resident Ebert Inman, and may have to be halted due to lack of additional volunteers. Also the fact that the van is beginning to wear out is a consideration for the ending of the service. Mr. Houston attended a LUCA meeting to learn more about taking the Census accurately. He reports that in the past, a multiple unit dwelling, (i.e. four apartments with one water and one electric meter) were counted only as a single family. This would leave three of the families potentially uncounted. It is a problem when these numbers are then used to determine our governmental representation. N.E.S.T. will be at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Plantasia Garden and Landscape show with a booth on composting, March 22-25. Mr. Houston said he gave a paper to the Lake Shore Central Key Communicators saying that not everyone needs to go to college. It does look good to have a record of every going to college, but we need people to be technicians to fix things. There will be another meeting coming up in April. Zoning Board Chair Paul Cooper added that the Allied Trades Union regularly offers testing to get into an apprentice program. It may be an option for some students. Mr. Houston said that the Village Association meeting at the Angola Village Inn was a remarkable success, the set up was nice, with plants and desserts provided by local businesses (Bella Terra Greenhouse and The Whistle Stop Bake Shop). He suggested that the Village would have to enlist Jonica DiMartino for organizing future events. Mr. Houston remarked that Senator Dale Volker and Cheektowaga Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak introduced legislation to keep Saint Joseph’s Hospital open. Lake Shore Hospital, although it isn’t getting the attention from the state it deserves, is putting in the local effort to stay open. Trustee Mike Stockman reported that the search for a Fire Truck is progressing very well. A Depot Meeting is scheduled for March 28 at 7pm at the First Congregational Church. Tickets are still available for the fund raiser (at the Village Hall). Stockman thanked Trustee DiMartino for the help she had given him over the past two years, and said that she has “left the Village in better shape than she found it.” Trustee John Wilson reports that, according to CSX, the Angola bridge will be put on a lower priority until they fix two other bridges. Wilson is writing a letter requesting that Angola be put on a specific schedule. He continues to photo log the exposed rerod and failing concrete. Wilson thanked Mayor Frawley for his representation on the school closing question at the School Board meeting. He thanked Trustee DiMartino for doing a terrific job, continuing, “You do so very much, and you do it well.” Trustee Jonica DiMartino reported that twenty-three people attended the Village Association meeting, and that all were impressed with the cooperative efforts of the local businesses in the Village. Many of the officials expressed an interest in coming back to the Village as visitors. She thanked Lori Szewczyk for her presentation at the meeting, and for her success in bringing significant funding to The Village of Angola for the past six years. Mrs. DiMartino reports that the Friends of the Library will hold an event at the Evans Center Fire Hall April 22nd. The Ethnic Food Showcase will feature local restaurant specialties from many heritages. Tickets for the event will cost $20, and $25 at the door. Trustee DiMartino thanked all for their well wishes and said, “Everyone connected to the Village works hard, putting their heart and soul into it.” She said that while they don’t always agree, it’s a healthy motivation to work through situations as a team. She said, “There is so much going forward. We have a lot to be proud of.” Mayor Frawley then commented that now he will need another 9/11 project volunteer. He said he appreciated all Mrs. DiMartino’s efforts and events. Mayor Frawley said that he is working on the Eden Evans Center Road, as a priority with other local officials. He said there is a need to rework the whole roadbed, as it is not just potholes. Frawley also reported that information from New York Conference of Mayors’ (NYCOM) projects that there will not be any money, for the fourth year running, for the Village of Angola’s Main Street repaving. The majority of the money has gone east of Erie County. Frawley said that NFTA reports riders are up on the Route 62 line from 60 persons to 280 regular passengers in one year. Discussions will continue for connector spurs from Evans, Brant and other southtown areas. There will be a meeting at HSBC Arena September 12-14th which will involve 390 CEOs from all over the country looking at manufacturing sites in the County. This will be an opportunity to showcase the area. The DPW was excused from its report to the Board because of its work, at that hour, on a water line break near the Old Water Plant building. Fire Commissioner Lynne Kaminski reporeds that Greg O’Connor, VP of the Fire Company, would like to have a Fire Department member participate on the newly formed welcoming committee. The Angola Fire Department would like to give a free smoke detector and information on how to volunteer in the department to new residents of the Village. Mrs. DiMartino said that the Friends of the Village will be carrying the welcoming program forward. Mrs. Kaminski also thanked Trustee DiMartino, “For all you’ve done, you have been tremendous to the fire department.” Mrs. Kaminski reported that the fire hall was rekeyed last month. Copies of the keys were given to the Village. The Code Enforcement report was excused because they were at school. Zoning Board Chairman Paul Cooper said that all was quiet in that department. He took the opportunity to say that Trustee DiMartino has been a tremendous asset to the Village, and that, “You’re hard work is obvious to everyone.” He then congratulated the three candidates for the next day’s election for running clean and informed campaigns.

New Business

     Authorized the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding implementing the SMSI grant for the SWEC Regional Water Project. The project will be administered at no cost to the Village of Angola.

Resolutions  

• Declared Fire Truck #7 as a surplus vehicle. Truck #7 is in need of major repairs and has been taken out of service. The cost of repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle. It will be offered on an international online auction on a reserve basis. The address for the auction is: www.auctionsinternational.com

• Approved a rate increase for outside water reader from $75 to $100 per meter. The meeting was adjourned to the Village Elections March 20th. The Multi-Board meeting will be held March 27th at 7 pm. The next regular board meeting will be held April 2nd at 7:30 pm, preceded by an organizational meeting at 6:30 pm.

Village of Angola General Election Results

Elections were held in the Village of Angola on March 20, 2007 for two trustees and a village justice. Following are the results: Total number of votes: 373 Trustee position votes: Annemarie Tubinis 171 William Houston 315 James Carlson 221 write in votes Robert Beck, Jr. 3 Justice position votes Amy Hontz 287

Highlights from the Evans Town Board Meeting

By Evelyn Eriksen

     The Evans Town Board met on March 21, 2007. Councilman Paul Cooper was excused. Supervisor Robert Catalino, II opened the meeting with the statement he will read before each meeting stating that a Town Board meeting is a serious matter, open to the public under the Open Meetings Law, but not open for public participation except by invitation of the Board. No one addressed the Board during the Privilege of the Floor. Communications

     The Planning Board recommended approval of the minor subdivision petition of T.E. Connors, Inc. with the condition that the remaining portion of the parcel be annexed to the adjacent parcel. The letter was tabled until after the Public Hearing to be held later in the meeting.

Committee Reports

     Councilman Michael Spence reminds Easter Egg hunters in the Town to be ready at 9:45 next Saturday (March 31) morning at the Evans Town Park. The rain date will be Saturday, April 7. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance for the kids. Mr. Spence says to look for updates in the upcoming month to the town wide clean up days this Spring. There will certainly be coordinated efforts for Sunday April 22nd, which is Earth Day. Mr. Spence thanked out-going Sturgeon Point Advisor Mike Walters for his past efforts. He also mentioned the opportunity for someone new to work on the Sturgeon Point Advisory Board. Applications can be made with Mrs. Andrews in the Parks Department. Councilman Kathy Bartus reports that the ECIDA approved the project for the expansion of Goya Foods in Angola. The project includes a new warehouse. Mrs. Bartus advises any persons who are interested in working in the plumbing trade to apply now for a test to be given May 14th. She reports that a detour will be in effect on May 17th for Lotus Point Road at Lake Shore. Councilman Karen Erickson reports an Ethnic Food Showcase and Chinese Auction will be held to support the Angola Library at the Evans Center Fire Hall. The event is $20/ $25 at the door on Sunday April 22nd. Mrs. Erickson then gave part of Councilman Paul Cooper’s report which included: a report on a Fire Chief’s Meeting with Evans, Brant and Farnham - North Evans Chief Nick Mecca and Lake Erie Beach Chief Bill Hamm commended the Town of Evans Code Enforcement department for their quick response and attention to detail in getting on the scene of structure fires, they also reported on a presentation by Kevin Hughes from Erie County Emergency Services Disaster Coordination Unit - the county-wide reverse 911 system is now in place. Reverse 911 would call all phones in the specific area in an emergency and give information how to respond to an emergency situation. Hughes also reported that by the end of April, 8,000 pagers will have been distributed to emergency personnel in Erie County, paid for by the Department of Homeland Security, which will streamline county-wide communications in emergencies. Brant Fire Chief David Pero asked the Town Board to write a letter of support to FEMA for grant funding for a new tanker truck. Their current tanker is used regularly in mutual aid for Evans. Residents are also reminded that recycling bins, if needed, are available in the Supervisor’s Office at the Town Hall every business day. Supervisor Catalino reports that he attended the monthly meeting held by Legislator Reynolds. The immediate topic of discussion was the repair of Eden Evans Center Road. He also reports that the Life Guards at Bennett and Wendt Beach Parks will be there this Summer through coordinated efforts. He is hopeful that Life Guards can be on duty every day of the week this Summer. Mr. Catalino also said they discussed the overall Park and Ride picture in the South Towns. There is continued development along the lines of a routine path for pick up and drop off. This would be good going into the Summer months when people tend to travel here more for recreation and agriculture. Supervisor Catalino commended Lake Shore graduate, Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy James Mirusso for his breakthrough DNA work on the Joan Diver murder case. Officer Mirusso worked with a team of inspectors processing initial evidence. Their work lead to the arrest of Altemio C. Sanchez.

Public Hearing