Lakewood Mayor Breaks Tie In Dock Vote
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LAKEWOOD -- After much debate, the Lakewood Board of Trustees Monday approved a measure to buy a new dock for Lakewood Beach at Richard O. Hartley Park.
The vote on the $14,545 structure was deadlocked at two votes for the purchase and two votes against with Mayor Randy Holcomb casting the tiebreaking vote with an amendment, that if there is low traffic at the beach, the dock will be put up for sale.
Trustees Ben Troche and Richard Fischer cast "no" votes while trustees Nancy Jones and Ellen Barnes cast "yes" votes.
Barnes noted that the beach belongs to village residents and the new playground at the park will serve as a magnet to attract swimmers to the beach. The board approved the opening date of the beach as June 29. The operating times are scheduled for Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The L-shaped, 81-foot dock, purchased from Metallic ladder Operations, of Randolph, is comprised of six sections with two ladders and space for a lifeguard chair.
"I think the dock is necessary," Barnes added.
Troche countered.
"I'm iffy about it because looking at the statistics, I don't think it's a good investment. This year I want the beach to succeed. I want the beach open, and next year I think we (as a board) re-evaluate the dock issue," Troche said.
Fischer said trends are different now from years past and he doesn't believe there will be enough swimmers to warrant the investment. Fischer said the beach used to have a different setup. There used to be floating platforms farther away from the shore where people could dive into deeper water. With the new dock, he said, swimmers will not be allowed to dive into the water from any part of it.
Barnes said she has received many comments from village residents as well as non-residents.
"They like the idea of being able to go down there (to the beach) and go swimming. I think the new playground is constantly now a magnet for people. I think more and more people are going to come down, and it does give people something to do. … I think we need to go forward with it and make it as safe, and usable, and nice as possible," Barnes said.
Holcomb had one addition to the resolution.
"I could be in favor of this (purchase) if we add that the dock is sold if it is not used. I don't want (it) parked on the beach for five years. My resolution would be to approve the purchase of a new dock to be placed at the Lakewood Beach at Richard O. Hartley Park, and it would be sold if it is not used," Holcomb said.
In other business:
¯ The board approved to pay Sivak Stonemasonry, of Bemus Point, $2,800 related to the changes to the stairs at the playground at Richard O. Hartley Park. The charge will be covered by the LWRP Grant for Improvements and the Lakewood Community Development Corporation.
¯ The board approved Skyler Long of Jamestown as a new members of the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department, and also granted him out-of-district status.
¯ The board approved the Village Yard Sale June 2-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (716) 763-8557
¯ The board approved a contract with Solitude Lake Management for the application of Aquathol K and ProcellaCor EC aquatic herbicides to areas of Chautauqua Lake bordering the village. The area in Busti and Lakewood being proposed -- but not yet approved by the DEC -- totals 194.6 acres
The next meeting is scheduled for May 22, at 6: 30 p.m.