POLAND - The Poland Town Board is discussing new parking regulations for the hamlet during the winter season.
Some residents have complained that some streets are difficult to travel after a heavy snowfall. Larry Mee, highway superintendent, said members of his department have a hard time getting equipment through on some streets because of parked vehicles on both sides. After discussion of the issue, the board voted to have a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. today before the board's regular meeting. The measure would call for alternate-side parking on Second and Third streets in the hamlet, from Nov. 1 to April 1, with a changeover time of 9 p.m.
Kathy Stanton, town councilwoman, said the representative of the Independent Living Center had done a walk-through of the town hall building, and she had agreed with the idea of forming a committee to look at accessibility issues. She gave recommendations for such a committee. Ms. Stanton said April Ericsson had said she would be willing to serve on such a committee. Also, a contact person at Chautauqua Opportunities has told Ms. Stanton about some possible grants to pay some of the costs.
Mee told the board that Kennedy Pride had requested approval to remove the one maple tree in Hallquist Park, which is in poor condition.He said his department members could do the job.
There is still no definite word on the Dry Brook Creek grant, which was announced this spring. Kelly Snow, town supervisor, said she would contact state Sen. Catharine Young's office to see if she has any more knowledge about the grant, and Mee said he would continue his efforts to find more information about the grant.
Snow told board members costs for workers' compensation will increase to the town next year. It is a separate line that used to be on the county's tax bill, but will now be in the town's bill.
Ms. Snow noted that everyone had received copies of the department budget worksheets. The budget must be approved by Nov. 8.
Mee said the railroad would be reconstructing the crossing on Quaint Road. The road would be closed from Clay Pond to Elmwood Avenue for at least two days. The third mowing of town roads has been completed. Mee said he received about 35 applications for the opening in the highway department. He hoped to have a decision on the new hire before the next meeting. Interviews were to begin with both the superintendent and other highway department workers. Mee said he was pleased with the response to the advertisement of the position.
Mee also said his department had been doing a lot of cooperative work with the state contractor on Route 62. The town has received a good supply from the millings. When the projects are completed, the state roads in the town should be in pretty good shape for a while, Mee said.
Dennis Stornes, assessor, said the state would require that a new round of assessments begin in 2013. As part of the four-year reassessment program, the state required local boards to pass a resolution in support. Board members passed the resolution. He also said a citizen had asked him why the town's taxable property had gone down. Stornes reminded the board that a big reason for this was the devaluation of gas production facilities within the town.
Alan Gustafson, code officer, told the board a school building had been erected on Hartson Road. He said that he has conducted some preliminary inspections of the building, but he has not received any plans for the building, so no building permit has been issued. He said that an engineer is working with the owners, but that there has been some issue about the necessity for them to comply with all the building codes. Gustafson said that he thought the building might already be being used, even though no permit has been issued. He wanted the board informed on the matter.