Island Dispatch, 1997-01-10

              Island DISPATCH I Cleaners 2279 Grand Island Blvd. TOWN MALI. SQUARE Imlm/xJ Own«d 6 Opmrmtm^" CALL 77KLEAN or 773-4114 January 10,1997 650 20 Pages Vol. 53 • No. 40 (716) 773-7676 "AsTh?voiceofGrand Island" y »  HOPES FOR PEACE BRIGHTEN THE WALLS- "The lobby of the Grand Island Town hall now boasts Kcollection of brightly colored posters. Painted by Grand Island students in grades 11,12, and 13 they are contest ltries in the Grand Island Lion Club's Peace Poster contest. DONATION ACCEPTED—Veronica Connor, member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation, is shown receiving a donation from Gayle Quint, President of the Grand Island Retired Teachers Association. The $200 donation is part of a distribution from the founders fund of the Western Zone of the New York State Retired Teachers Association. On Dec. 18, the Western Zone distributed $6000 in proceeds from the fund to 25 organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the Neighbors Foundation which provide charitable service throughout the eight counties of Western New York. Herbert Sullivan of Grand Island, Past President of Western Zone was recently appointed Chair of **c Founders Fund. Dispatch named official newspaper The Island Dispatch was named as official newspaper for the Town of Grand Island at Monday's reorganization meeting. Supervisor James Pax also added the Buffalo News, The Tonawanda News and the Grand Island Record to the list. When asked by businessman Jack Hugill how much additional money would be spent on the other papers, Pax responded, "Nothing." Pax added that the motion was to recognize the other papers as places to submit news items and such. An occasional ad for a position opening would be the only likely expenditure, he noted. As the official newspaper for the community, the Island Dispatch publishes legal notices which are paid for by the Town of Grand Island. Plan called feasibility study by Christopher Caile Monday's Town Public Meeting was first of the year, and as always it began with re-organization. Forty one matters relating to a broad spectrum of appointments, designations, authorizations, and approvals were decided. When Supervisor James Pax made a motion to adopt the "rules and procedures," however, Councilman Jim Sharpe requested an amendment "to review rules and precedings." This was accepted. This action reflected the requests of several residents during the proceeding workshop meeting to allow more public comment during town board meeting. Among the agenda items that followed, Sharpe had requested "Clarification of the Town Plan." Heated debate soon arose again over issues surrounding this proposal which had been adopted in the Town's Dec. 16 public meeting. During discussion Supervisor James Pax read a four page letter to the editor attempting to clarify questions that had arisen. On a positive note Pax welcomed inclusion of the Long Range Planning Committee. But then Pax surprised listeners by redefining his town center plan as not a plan but a "preliminary feasibility analysis." Problems and emotions had arisen over the subject of town center planning during the previous and particularly contentious Town meeting on Dec. 16. Rival Town Center plans had been up for consideration. The winning plan sponsored by Supervisor James Pax had been introduced to board members just days before. The vote was taken even though at least one Councilman admitted having incomplete information. There was little debate, and no public comment. The seeming unwillingness of Board members to consider issues raised by Councilman Jim Sharpe, or open the meeting to public comment particularly irked many in the audience. Several attempted to speak out, and would not sit down. An officer was asked to escort them from the meeting room. Many in the Business community appeared to deeply resent the fact that neither Councilman Andrea Moreau President of the Chamber at that time, and Councilman Dick Crawford who also is Co-Chairman of the Business Council would not second Sharpe's resolution to allow them to speak. During Monday's Town meeting the debate surfaced again with Sharpe trying to raise issues of total plan costs, involvement of the Long Range Planning Committee and compliance with the Town's 1994 Comprehensive Sharpe questioned the complete cost of the project. Adding in stage two, the total cost might surpass that of the Plan which he had presented. But Pax merely restated that the first stage would cost 5,000--$6,000.Addressing a possible legal question concerning the use of the Planning Board in his letter he had said "I don't believe there is one. An article in the Dispatch on Jan. 3, had questioned the Planning Board's use as coordinating agency with UB since the 1994 Comprehensive Plan had delegated the Long Range Planning Committee to prepare a conceptual town center plan. It was suggested any change would require public It "is simply not accurate that the Planning Board was designated as lead agency, or the Long Range Planning Committee had been excluded," Pax said. But "in the spirit of cooperation" he would welcome the Long Range Planning Committee's participation. Councilmembers Mary Cooke and Dick Crawford had already created an organizational chart "for discussion" that included the Long Range Planning Committee as equal to the Planning Board. It had been shown to the Board during an earlier workshop session. During later discussion it was decided to have a special workshop meeting on Wednesday to discuss the matter. Continu&d on o&qq 5 1996 The year in review See page 14 for a glance at May, June and July 1996 Grand Island events.