Island Dispatch, 1999-01-08

              Island DISPATCH Complete community coverage Monday I ; Nilte Madness "kW«S-4mP'- - - -  f>ssB?SUas) li liis Issue: Lots to do,.* See page 10 January 8, 1999 _X3E_ - 20 Pages 650 VoL 54 No. 39 (716)773-7676 over I .. ~ . „\ , . , ,  , "As thie voice of Grand Island* TT "7. T*— "~ 7m Highway crew works overtime clearing snow by Larry Austin Thursday's sunshine offered a brief respite for Grand Island Highway Department workers who spent a long week battling Mother Nature. Deputy Highway Superintendent Ray Dlugokinski, a 35-year veteran of the Highway Department, on Thursday said the Island experienced an "unusual amount of snow," more than the Highway Department has had to deal with in a few years. The weather presented a constant workload on the department since Saturday. It's been an "awful horrendous week" according to Dlugokinski, but the department was up to the task. The 14-member department put in plenty of overtime, he said, with some employees working 48 hours straight. The combination of freezing rain followed by deep snow made driving hazardous for motorists all over Western New York. Dlugokinski added that, for a couple of hours Wednesday night especially, whiteout conditions severely restricted visibility and slowed the snowplows down to a crawl. The Town usually uses six pieces of equipment, Dlugokinski said, but this week they had nine vehicles in use, plus they supplemented their* crew with workers from the water and sewer departments. Dlugokinski noted that the south end of the Island usually receives more snow than the north. It was no different this week as the south end was buried with 16 to 17 inches of snow while the north received 10 inches. SNOWSTORM - Town Hall appears buried under snow after this week's snow fall. Lake effect snow fell on the Island Saturday through Wednesday. Town reorganizes for the new year by Rick Forgione With the end of 1998, and the beginning of 1999, the Grand Island Town Board on Monday announced several reorganizational issues and appointments for the new year. They are: •Supervisor Peter McMahon informed the Town Board that he has appointed Michael Heftka as Deputy Supervisor for 1999 and Diane Nesbitt to continue as his secretary. •Mileage was set at 31 cents .per mile for town officials while conducting town business. •Assessment formulas for water, sewer and lighting districts were reaffirmed. : •The town's membership with the Association of Towns of New York State was renewed. •McMahon was authorized to attend the Association of Towns meeting in New York City on February 14 to 17 and cast one vote for the Town of Grand Island at the meeting. Town Attorney Will Wiles will act as alternate. •The town's membership with the Association of Erie County Governments was renewed. •The following petty cash funds were authorized: Receiver of Taxes & Assessments, $500; Town Clerk, $200; Sewer & Water Department, $100; Town Justices, $100; Highway Department, $125; Recreation Department, $100. •The rules and procedures adopted January 20, 1964 and amended January 18, 1988 and May 19,1997 were adopted. •The office hours of the Town Roesch to replace Nowak on Planning Board by Rick Forgione The Grand Island Town Board voted 5-0 to appoint East River Road resident Gary Roesch to a seven-year term on the Planning Board during its reorganization meeting Monday night. He will replace Tom Nowak, who has been on the Planning Board for 26 years. Nowak, who's term on the board had expired, had most recently served as chairman of the board. He was seeking re-election to the advisory board but the board voted to appoint Roesch instead. The decision was announced a little over an hour after the board, in an executive session, met with Nowak to finish up interviews for the position. In the past few years, Nowak has been publicly criticized for voting against possible expansions and projects on the Island and his unwillingness to support projects that deviate from the Town's Comprehensive Plan which was adopted in 1996. The most recent complaints came after Nowak publicly stated his disapproval for the proposed building of an Eckerd Drug Store at the comer of Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard. Roesch, who presently serves on the Conservation Commission and as chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, is expected to resign from the Conservation Commission to focus mainly on Planning Board issues. In a related matter, • the board voted 4-1 to appoint longtime Planning Board member John Trianda to a one-year term as chairman of the board. Councilman Michael Heftka, who cast the opposing vote, motioned to table the decision but didn't receive a second. Other appointments made to advisory boards were: •Andrew Liesenfeld and Gregory Butcher were reappointed as Dog Control Officers; Timothy Mordaunt was reappointed to a seven-year term on the Cable TV Committee; Kenneth Morgan and Imogene Zavodny were appointed to five-year terms on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board; Dick Earne was reappointed to the Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term; Maria Praystal was appointed to the Human Rights Swanick continues chairmanship Erie County Legislator Charles M. Swanick (10th District) was sworn in Thursday as the chairman of the Erie County Legislature for 1999. The Grand Island legislator was elected by a majority of his counterparts in the legislature to this third term as chairman. Swanick's duties as chairman include presiding over the county legislative sessions, as well as being more versed in county issues as a whole. The legislator emphasized he will continue his dedication to the residents of his own district."The chairmanship is demanding, but it will not in any way compromise the services offered at my district offices on the Island and in Tonawanda," Swanick said. Charles M. Swanick continued on page 7 continued on page 14