Island Dispatch, 1994-08-12

              THE ISLAND DISPATCH X-PRESS 1 Hour Dry Cleaners "Truat the X-Parta" Drop off your clothes with confidence 2275 Grand Island Blvd Town Hall Square Ca11... 77KLEAN Mon-Fri - 6:30-7 PM; Sat - 8 AM- 6 PM ~ Furniture Inc. Interior Design .Service llowa: Mm, Wed., A Thun. 9-9 Hi. k Sal. 9 lo 5 • Tuca. 9 (il Noon 6001 Pmui Rd I'.na I'.. _ai,l Plata • M>< NY 14J04 297-6666 Kidds Kapsul hands At Nike Base As part of tbe ongoing annual upgrading and renovation of town playground equipment, a Kidds Kapsul has been erected at tbe Nike Base in tbe new playground area adjacent to the tennis courts and baseball field. Tbe play area has been moved from tbe ball-playing field area and will now be handicapped accessible as well as more convenient for use by all. Tbe Kapsul and tbe accompanying bank of swings will have a safety surface of 12 inches of tbe Fibar System. Tbe improvements have all been included in the budget listing for the annual improvement. Tbe new area will contain all the regular playground equipment and be the center for the regular Recreation Department summer programs which meet Monday through Friday, 9 A.M. to 3 I'M. through Aug. 19. The area is also available at other times for unsupervised use. Photo by Barbi Lare Planners Table Rezoning Request: Approve Plat Plan THE PLANNING Board at a lively meeting Monday tabled action on rezoning 1501 Ferry Road for commercial use, but paved tbe way for more discussion on tbe request to allow constructing a storage building on the property. Faced with a substantial agenda, the planners agreed to recommend final .plat approval of River Meadows subdivision. Waterbourne Group, tbe developers, have agreed to repair existing sewers and take steps to rectify a drainage problem in the area. Nearby residents at a public hearing Aug. 1 protested the plan because presently there is only one access road into the 59-lot subdivision. Objections to the Ferry Road rezoning were cited in a 90-signature90-signature petition as well as a legal petition presented to the town board at tbe Aug. 1 public hearing. According to information presented by a Ferry Village resident, the legal petition requires a four-vote majority of tbe Town Board when officials vote on a decision. Before tabling tbe request for rezoning, the planners indicated it would be discussed at a mediation session. Creating a Master Plan for Ferry Village will also be considered. MEK WEATHER: The Old Farmer'! Almanac »_yi • Aug. 12: Gear, cool; then light rain. Aug. 13-18: Sunny, warm; few showers.  Isle Food Distribution Set ERIE COUNTY 10th District Legislator Charles M. Swanick will sponsor a federal food distribution at the Grand Island Senior Center, located on the former Nike Base, 10 A.M. to noon Monday, Aug. 29. Eligibility requirements (family size and income) are as follows: (1) $1,074, (2) $1,453, (3) $1,833, (4) (5) and (6) $2,970. The following information must be presented when applying: proof of monthly gross income (four paycheck stubs, unemployment book, copy of Social Security check or bank statement); an item with name and address (utility bill, driver's license, bank statement); and Social Security number. Distribution will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call Swanick's office at 773-1441 or 877-3986. E-ZPass Criticisms Heard at State Level TOWN SUPERVISOR Jim Pax, County Legislator Chuck Swanick and a group of Grand Island residents traveled to Albany last week to discuss concerns over E-ZPass with a representative from Governor Cuomo's administration. Ron Rock, the secretary of transportation, beard many details about ongoing problems for the first time. "We wanted to make sure that the people who have influence with tbe Thruway Authority understood the difficulties that this system has caused," Swanick said. "While this new technology may prove to be a benefit for many people, the problems need to be resolved." Issues raised at the meeting ranged from technological glitches that have frequently caused multiple and incorrect billings and the lack of an E-ZPass office on the Island to unclear signs and confusing light codes. According to Pax, Tbe residents of Grand Island who have raised questions or asked for our help have been ignored by the Thruway Authority. They have a monopoly set up, and feel they do not need to worry about complaints. We have no other way to get to our homes and businesses, so we will have to accept their terms. "I feel that the residents of Grand Island are in a unique situation and should be offered acceptable alternatives. Let us use the commuter books if we choose to, and put an office here on the Island," Pax continued. "These are certainly not unreasonable requests. They make good business sense and they also lessen the inconvenience of the people most affected by tbe changes." Patrick Kelly, one of the Island residents who attended the meeting, felt that tbe meeting went well. He said that the Thruway Authority stated that tests for E-ZPass were done on a bridge that did not utilize any commuter books, tbe system they replaced here. "How could they compare information from a different system than we had and then tell us their way is belter?" Kelly would like to see the commuter books reinstated as an alternative to E-ZPass. "If the books were sold at the E-ZPass office, there would be no slowing down the traffic lanes," be said. "Giving an attendant a ticket is no slower than giving them cash. If I choose to wait in line rather than use tbe new system and go through the designated lane, at least it's my choice. As it is now, my choices have been taken away from me." Kelly also pointed out that, ironically, tbe lane designated "E--ZPass Only" is removed when traffic is heavy, thereby slowing pass users. Dorothy Rowswell, who also attended tbe meeting, said, "I felt it was the first time the concerns raised by tbe residents have gotten beyond the blind eye and deaf ear of the Thruway Authority. It was very encouraging. Although nothing was promised, they did listen to us, and Mr. Rock did stale that he would take our case to tbe governor." Among points to be raised with tbe governor will be restoration of the commuter books for at least a one-year trial period, opening an office on tbe Island, and setting up a better line of communication to resolve f jturc disputes. Jim Watts, who represented the Concerned Citizens group, felt that Rock was "somewhat taken aback by tbe seriousness of tbe problems. He definitely got tbe message, though. We can make this into a political issue for the governor during the election if that's what it takes." Swanick feels that tbe meeting was the first step in taking these problems to a higher level. "Our main objective in this meeting was to make our concerns known to someone who could influence the Thruway Authority into changing their way of doing business," be said. "It is imperative that the Thruway Authority is made to listen to the voices of the people it affects each and every day." Vol 51 No15