|
Disaster committee considered in Sloan
In the wake of last month's unexpected storm and hectic aftermath, officials in the Village of Sloan are considering establishing a shelter for residents before the start of the winter season.
Sloan Highway Department Commissioner Sean McGee, as well as members of the Sloan Village Board, expressed interest at Tuesday's meeting in setting up a command (gathering) post and Village Disaster Committee, which will be cochaired by McGee and Village Clerk Debbie Smith. McGee stated other local department heads will likely join the committee, including Sloan Mayor Leonard Szymanski, Cheektowaga Police Lieutenant Scott Prell, Sloan Fire Chief Barry Ping and Senior Center Director Ed Derenda, among others.
"If (a big storm) happens again, all village residents need to be taken care of," McGee said. "It'd be great to get a lot of people together on this."
McGee said the command post would likely be based in Sloan Village Hall at the corner of Halstead Avenue and Reiman Street, adding, "this should be a central location for the village." The highway commissioner also described the relationship between the village highway department and fire department as "phenomenal."
Ping stated that the fire department took part in a grueling cleanup and restoration process after the October 12-13 storm, which left many resi- dents without power and with flooded basements, as well as scattered wires, trees and other debris. He added that many firefighters worked approximately 60 hours from Friday to Sunday following the late-Thursday snowfall.
The Sardinia-Chafee, Angola and Wheatfield-St. John's fire companies also helped in cleanup relief in the village.
Village Trustee Anthony Sisti also thanked local resident Ricky Krew for using his pump and hose to clear out several flooded basements throughout Sloan.
In other action, Szymanski explained that after lengthy negotiations with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, a new bus schedule will go into effect in the village on December 24. The mayor said that the number of buses leaving and entering the village will be cut from the current 66 to 24 per day. Two late buses, at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to accommodate residents working in Thruway Plaza, will also be part of the new schedule. The old bus routes will be configured via Broadway.
Village residents, particularly those on Halstead and Reiman Street, had spoken out during the past few months about speeding buses. Sisti warned those in attendance to be wary of that same prob- lem, despite the new route schedule.
"This doesn't mean buses on Halstead and other streets will slow down," Sisti stated. "You have to be on guard. Lessening (the number of bus routes) won't slow (buses) down."
During the public comment session, one Jackson Avenue resident expressed dissatisfaction with the village taxes, wondering why the 38 percent hike in 2005, which remained the same during this past May's budget summary, had not yet been lowered.
"I understand the increase, but what's going on here?" the man asked. "It seems like once it goes up, it's not coming down."
Sisti replied by noting that the previous administration left the current board with a $90,000 deficit and no money in its contingency, or "rainy day," fund following the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The trustee stated that the board made up part of the deficit over 2005-2006 but is still "in the hole" by approximately $52,000. He added that the former administration did not pay its village sewer tax for two years, leaving a $1.6 million bill, which was eventually lowered to $160,000 through negotiations by the current administration.
"I think we've done exceptionally well to hold (the taxes) down and still offer services such as sewer, garbage and others," Sisti stated. "What other municipality offers those kinds of things for $600 (residents' cost)?"
Smith added that Sloan's auditor informed the village board that the previous administration had also overspent its 2004-2005 budget by approximately $380,000, including $1,000 in bounced checks. She also stated that $20,000 in the village's contingency fund in 1997 had evaporated to nothing when the current board came into office.
"We were left in a fiscal mess," Smith stated. "For our first three months after taking over, we were concerned about just meeting payroll. Now, we're working toward savings."
Also on Tuesday, McGee stated Sloan's parking ban, which prohibits parking on streets between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., went into effect Tuesday.
The board approved the following items Tuesday:
A village caroling and Christmas party taking place on December 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at St. Andrews Church. Tree-lighting at Village Hall and a performance by the John. F. Kennedy High School Band at Sloan Fire Hall will also take place.
The referral of Delinquent Village Property Taxes in the amount of $46,204.20 to Erie County.
The Sloan Senior Department holding a Christmas party and candle-lighting event at 2 p.m. on December 17.
| 
