Special Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Status of Water Project
Special Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Status of Water Project
The Ellicottville Town Board has decided to immediately terminate its engineering consulting services contract with Clark Patterson Lee following a closed-door session during the Wednesday, May 18th monthly session.
The Board also set up a special meeting for Wednesday, May 25th to discuss how to proceed with a pending $5.3 million water system upgrade project that was to get underway this spring. Clark Patterson Lee had been assisting the Town's Engineering Department in planning the project and the bidding process.
In March, the Board tabled action on several bid offers covering only a portion of the project that were reportedly higher than earlier estimates, pushing the estimated $5.3 million project to a possible cost of $6.6 million. The project was designed to improve and expand water tanks, well house, pumps and distribution, improve electrical service and backup power generation. Major funding was being sought from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation.
Officials said at that time they must determine how to proceed with the project in phases or in some other way that doesn't change the scope and jeopardize state funding. At the Town Board's April Board meeting the project remained on hold, while Town Engineer Ben Slotman, Town Accountant Andy Toth and Board members met April 14th to discuss funding.
In another matter, Highway Superintendent Kevin Woodin said his department is shorthanded. During his report to the Board, he said two former employees have offered to fill in so services can be performed efficiently. Tim Raab and George Hinman, Jr. will be called whenever a part-time worker is needed until the openings are filled.
The Town has posted its ad for a laborer, commercial driver and heavy equipment operator on the town's website, ellicottvillegov.com, but no applicants have applied. The Board authorized advertising for Highway Department candidates, and applicants for the position of assistant engineer, on the employment platform "Indeed."
Town Supervisor Matt McAndrew reported that the May 7th Ellicottville Great Valley Trail (EVGV) fundraiser at Steelbound Brewery was a success. He also noted that MDA has completed 95% of its work on the 2.0 miles of the EVGV Trail, connecting the Village Park, Parkside Drive and Elizabeth Street. The EVGV fundraiser was also the occasion to unveil Steelbound's EVGV Trail Ale, which McAndrew described as "tasty."
The trail may also get a boost from efforts of GOBike Buffalo and the Cattaraugus County Economic Development, Planning and Engineering Department to seek some of a $7.5 million funding pot for a Greenway Valley Trail connection with bike trail developments near the Naval Park. Once completed, the 80.1-mile trail would connect the Buffalo Niagara region with EVGV, Salamanca, Olean, Hinsdale and Greenway Trail connections with the Rochester canal trail system.
New details for proposed lighting on the streets at Pine Tree subdivision will be discussed with residents before exploring the project further. Slotman reported his research into the matter, and compared the current $9.70 per-fixture cost to $12 each if new lighting is installed. He said the new lights would be mounted to a three-foot tall post at four spots in the development. The lighting from National Grid carries a $14,000 price tag, which could be split into two $7,000 payments, and would also require $100 per month in maintenance and operation costs. Further information about brightness, effectiveness and direction of the lighting fixtures will require further research.
McAndrew then reported that a revision will be made to a market value appraisal of the 1,800 square foot wing of the Town Center, which officials hope to lease to Cornell Cooperative Extension after a number of renovations to the building are completed.
He said Michael Gagliano of KLW Appraisal Group of Buffalo will update his as-is value opinion and a prospective market value he assigned to the CCE portion of the building, based on a hypothetical assumption he made prior. Payment for the three-page assessment dated Feb. 9th was approved by Board members, who stated the values were too low and asked for the revision.
"He's got better information now to update the assessment. It was confusing but he has a clearer idea of the situation," McAndrew reported, noting Gagliano did not say there would be an additional cost for the work.
The Town purchased the facility for $1 from CCE and the agency has remained in place under a 10-year, zero-cost lease that will transition to a new five-year lease January 2023. CCE is to receive a discount for the cost of its renovations to its wing, based on averaged differences between appraisals being conducted by both parties.
McAndrew reported he attended a very informative presentation on Cattaraugus County's expanded appraisal services to 14 municipalities, noting there is now a waiting list of three towns hoping to sign up for the service as the county's municipalities decide to transition away from local elected and appointed assessors. He said two municipalities are assessed per yearly at the outset, and then are maintained at 100 percent equalization rate (current market value).
A proposal to provide a School Resource Officer from the Town's Police Department was addressed by Police Officer-In-Charge Don Auge. Auge said he has been unable to schedule a meeting with school officials to provide information he had gathered over the past three months. "Things are on hold now," he said.
The Ellicottville Town Board will next meet in a special session at 6:00pm on Wednesday, March 25th, and then in regular session at 6:00pm on Wednesday, June 15th.