Work progresses on facility Newstead, Akron plan to share
A good deal of site work has been completed for the Newstead/ Akron public works facility planned for Clarence Center Road — the bulk of it done by town and village work crews.
Akron Public Works Superintendent Robert Kowalik updated the Village Board at its work session Monday about progress on the estimated $3.5 million project set to go to bid in December.
A high area in the 22-acre site that was vacant land “has been graded down” and the topsoil removed to a rear area. That graded area will be the site of the public works headquarters for both municipalities. A road into the site has been “stoned up,” Kowalik said, along with a parking area.
Because the site incorporates the village’s composting site, leaves collected throughout the village this fall are being disposed of on town park land off Buell Street.
Trustee Kathryn Capan, noting all the work being done by village and town employees, said she would like to see “an estimate of our savings by using our own work forces made known to the public” at some point.
Kowalik acknowledged that the prevailing wage rates of the local work force and the fact that village and town heavy equipment is being used for the work translate into considerable savings.
“It’s not chump change,” said Trustee E. Peter Forrestel, who estimated it will probably exceed $100,000. But a more exact figure won’t be known until the work is completed.
Bids are expected to be opened in January, with work on the building to start in early spring.
In other action, the board referred to Village Attorney Daniel Shonn for review a policy on the use of Tasers prepared by Village Police Chief Richard Lauricella. The Town of Tonawanda recently donated a surplus Taser to the village.
Village officials stressed that all members of the Akron Police Department will be trained and certified in the use of the device.
Lauricella said both the Lewiston and Town of Tonawanda police departments have offered to assist in training. But the village will probably use the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, because it already provides firearms certification for the Akron department.
Shonn presented the board a draft of an agreement with the Town of Newstead for building inspector/code enforcement officer services. Worked out with Town Attorney Nathan Neill, the agreement is still awaiting a final decision on how much the village would pay the town for use of that officer on Akron business.
“We’re getting the flavor now . . . we’re in the home stretch,” said Forrestel.
The village’s current part-time building inspector’s position would be eliminated.
Village officials also noted that Modern Recycling has converted to “single stream recycling,” which means village residents no longer have to separate their recyclables. Everything can be placed in the same bin. Also, acceptable materials now include cardboard pizza boxes with a nonwax finish, retail plastic bags and metal kitchen cookware.
The board’s regular meeting lasted just half an hour, with no resolutions adopted.
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