LOCKPORT – The Town Board may take action at its next session on approval of a zoning amendment that would allow Lafarge North America to expand its stone quarry in the town.
Supervisor Marc R. Smith seemed ready for a vote at Wednesday’s work session, but councilmen said they weren’t ready. Mark C. Crocker and Cheryl A. Antkowiak said they had hoped a Lafarge representative would be at the meeting.
“I don’t think I need many more answers from them,” Smith commented.
But he said Lafarge would be asked to send someone to next week’s meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The company wants permission to add a 150-foot-wide strip of land along the edge of its quarry along Hinman Road to its active mining area.
Lafarge has purchased numerous properties along Hinman Road with an eye to a major future expansion to the opposite side of the road.
“Definitely before they make any further expansion across the road, there will be a lot more discussion,” Smith said.
A new state permit would be needed, in addition to local approval.
In other matters Wednesday, Town Attorney Daniel E. Seaman said the town is negotiating a contract with the state Department of Transportation regarding the completion of the sidewalk along Robinson Road.
The sidewalk on the south side of the road currently stops at Centre Avenue, and the DOT plans to extend it all the way to South Transit Road next year.
Seaman said the DOT wants the town to reimburse it for the cost of a pedestrian bridge over Donner Creek, between the town office building and the Niagara County Water District pumping station. That would be part of the sidewalk route.
Town Engineer Robert D. Klavoon said the estimated cost of the bridge would be $43,000. Because of the requirement not to disturb the wetlands along the creek, the bridge would have a 50-foot span and would be 10 feet high, Klavoon said.
The board also ratified a new five-year contract with its local unit of the Civil Service Employees Association, including a 12.5 percent pay raise over the length of the deal and a new requirement that employees begin paying a share of their health insurance premiums, beginning in 2015.
Also, the board voted to buy 11 decorative metal poles, or bollards, from Reliance Foundry of British Columbia for $5,701.
Smith also announced that Crocker will be his deputy in 2013, succeeding Councilman Paul W. Siejak. The deputy supervisor is paid twice as much as the other councilmen.
Siejak announced that so far this year, 35,218 pounds of electronic waste have been dropped off at the town highway garage. The town has collected $2,476 as its share of the sale of the recyclable material.
The board also approved the purchase of a new Highway Department truck for as much as $160,000 from an International Truck dealer, and a four-wheel drive 2013 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck from Joe Basil Chevrolet for $27,649.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com
Supervisor Marc R. Smith seemed ready for a vote at Wednesday’s work session, but councilmen said they weren’t ready. Mark C. Crocker and Cheryl A. Antkowiak said they had hoped a Lafarge representative would be at the meeting.
“I don’t think I need many more answers from them,” Smith commented.
But he said Lafarge would be asked to send someone to next week’s meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The company wants permission to add a 150-foot-wide strip of land along the edge of its quarry along Hinman Road to its active mining area.
Lafarge has purchased numerous properties along Hinman Road with an eye to a major future expansion to the opposite side of the road.
“Definitely before they make any further expansion across the road, there will be a lot more discussion,” Smith said.
A new state permit would be needed, in addition to local approval.
In other matters Wednesday, Town Attorney Daniel E. Seaman said the town is negotiating a contract with the state Department of Transportation regarding the completion of the sidewalk along Robinson Road.
The sidewalk on the south side of the road currently stops at Centre Avenue, and the DOT plans to extend it all the way to South Transit Road next year.
Seaman said the DOT wants the town to reimburse it for the cost of a pedestrian bridge over Donner Creek, between the town office building and the Niagara County Water District pumping station. That would be part of the sidewalk route.
Town Engineer Robert D. Klavoon said the estimated cost of the bridge would be $43,000. Because of the requirement not to disturb the wetlands along the creek, the bridge would have a 50-foot span and would be 10 feet high, Klavoon said.
The board also ratified a new five-year contract with its local unit of the Civil Service Employees Association, including a 12.5 percent pay raise over the length of the deal and a new requirement that employees begin paying a share of their health insurance premiums, beginning in 2015.
Also, the board voted to buy 11 decorative metal poles, or bollards, from Reliance Foundry of British Columbia for $5,701.
Smith also announced that Crocker will be his deputy in 2013, succeeding Councilman Paul W. Siejak. The deputy supervisor is paid twice as much as the other councilmen.
Siejak announced that so far this year, 35,218 pounds of electronic waste have been dropped off at the town highway garage. The town has collected $2,476 as its share of the sale of the recyclable material.
The board also approved the purchase of a new Highway Department truck for as much as $160,000 from an International Truck dealer, and a four-wheel drive 2013 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck from Joe Basil Chevrolet for $27,649.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com