Island Dispatch, 1997-09-12

              Island DISPATCH (716) 773-7676 i_f-% years "As the voice of Glrand Island" ; ;—i Vol. 54•N0. 21 650 20 Pages September 12,7997 SHOWCASE FAMILY RESTAURANTS 2352 Grand Island Blvd. • DINE IN TAKE OUT • NEW MENU • NEW HOURS OPEN EVERY DAY 7A.M.-MIDNIGHT 775-3211 Official Newspaper for the Town of Grand Island & the Grand Island School District Immediate Fed intervention unlikely, Swanick says by Christopher Caile Chuck Swanick, Chairman of the Erie County Legislature, said Thursday that he didn't believe any decision by the U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, over entering or not entering the Seance lawsuit seeking return of Grand Island will happen until December or early January. "The County has a tentative January date to proceed in court," said Swanick. "There is no reason for the Attorney General to decide until just preceding that date." The State and County who are fighting the Seneca's land claim seeking return of Grand Island have been seeking a new date in Federal Court so as to renew their motion for case dismissal. Decisions in two recent Indian land dispute cases before the U.S. Supreme Court make it now virtually impossible for Indian Nations to sue states to take their lands back. Following the latest decision in June the Senecas lobbied the Federal Government for intervention on their behalf based on a similar Fedearal action on behalf of the Senecas involving 50 acres of land on Cuba Lake in Allegany County in August. The Justice Department said on August 20 that the U.S. Attorney General may intervene in the Seneca suit. A Buffalo News story on September 7 reported that the Justice Department is likely to propose legislation that would offer the Senecas Federal and State money to settle the claim. The story noted a much smaller 1990 Seneca's claim involving leases on the Seneca Reservation in Cattaraugus County settled for $65 million. But Federal intervention is not assured. There is an internal battle in process. On one Side are Interior Department officials, including those in the Bureau of Indian Affairs who feel a duty to take the Seneca's side citing their trustee role over Indian lands. On the other side are some Justice Department officials who question the Seneca's historical and legal claims. Meanwhile Town, County and State officials have intensely lobbied against federal intervention. Ferry Village public hearing set by Christopher Caile A public hearing will be held next Monday, Sept. 15 in Grand Island town hall over the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Ferry Village Master Plan. The DEIS was accepted by the town board on July 21. Following was a 30 day written comment period for public input URS Greiner Inc., working as a consultant to the town, was given the job of preparing a document on the comments submitted. Just before the end comment period the town board received a lengthy 20 page plus document from David Birt of Orchard Road. The document critiqued in detail the whole Ferry Village Planning Committee Report. A summary letter on the report was later also sent to the Planning Board. Birt said residents wanted a change in the zoning ordinance that would allow property owners to rebuild as they wish in the event of fire or other damage, retain current zoning on vacant land and to maintain the Cox Road playground and surrounding park land as passive recreation areas. Residents, Birt said, also wanted to close the unused East River marina. Also an underwater preserve should be developed in the East River, a bikeway should be built along the north side of Ferry Community happening slated at Plaza The Grand Island Plaza Merchants Association and the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce have announced a "community happening" at the plaza's 40th anniversary on October 4. Cooke, Kaiser win GOP Primary by Christopher Caile On Tuesday GOP endorsed candidates Mary Cooke and Bruce Kaiser easily defeated Councilman Jim Sharpe in the Republican primary to represent the party for Town Council in the November general elections. Incumbent Cooke received 897 votes, challenger Kaiser had 798 votes. Incumbent and Independence Party endorsed Sharpe received 550 votes. Out of 5,000 registered Republicans, 1,248, or 25 percent, voted in Tuesday's Republican primary, approximately the same percentage as in the 1995 primary. There are approximately 12,000 voters registered on the Island. Cooke said, "Obviously I'm pleased. Tuesday I was a little hesitant, but obviously it went very well. We had a job to do and it is a validation of the Republican Committee that selected the candid—»n_.lM-—»«- ;■»;_.■ .__ M, rmm the Party and move on to November. We have only 55 days left." "I'm pleased with the response of the Republicans of Grand Island," said Kaiser. "After I got out into the neighborhoods and started to reacquaint myself with many of those on the Island I began to feel I had a lot of support and the people had confidence I could represent their views and ideas." Sharpe still committed to November race by Christopher Caile Although disappointed by the Grand Island Republican primary results for Council, Councilman Jim Sharpe said, "I am still committed to running in the November general election." On Tuesday Sharpe was defeated by the two endorsed Republican candidates Mary Cooke and Bruce Kaiser in a primary run off over who will represent the party on the Republican ticket in the November general elections. "I accept the results of having been defeated by the Republican Party but I will continue on until November as a qualified candidate and hope the issues become important to voters. "Sharpe is endorsed by the Independence Party and will run on that line in November. "I'm also disappointed that the Republican Party does not seem to understand the contribution I made over the last eight years. It seems the Republican party is absolutely not paying attention to the real and serious issues of what is wrong in our community. But I will continue to work on behalf of the principles and values I believe in," Sharpe said. In the coming months Sharpe plans to reach out to the voters and express his views, what he wants to accomplish as well as emphasize what he has done in the past. "It will be an education process for the voters," he said. Rift with Republican Party Sharpe said his problems with the Republican Party began in 1994 when he was a Republican Councilman. He had also been also appointed as Deputy Supervisor by Supervisor James Pax in 1992. "It began as a difference in philosophy on how to deal with issues," said Sharpe. "Any time I tried to deal with problems head on, Pax took the philosophy of hands off, don't get involved and it would go away. Or he let others deal with a problem, Pax himself preferring not to take a personal stand. I believed in dealing with things in the open, he (Pax) preferred doing things behind closed doors. When Pax began to undercut my effort and set me up in situations for a fall, I decided to challenge him in the 1995 Republican primary. I lost but still challenged him in the general election. The challenge was over the principle of how to conduct government and the choice was between Republicans. There was no Democratic Party challenger for Supervisor that year continued on page 3 continued on page 3 For details see page 7.