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Vacant properties, garbage addressed
Two recurring town board themes were again addressed Monday, as 26 vacant properties were ordered to be cleaned up and secured from trespassers, and a postponed public hearing concerning potential changes to the town sanitation code was rescheduled.
Both issues are considered vital to neighborhood preservation efforts undertaken in recent years by the Town and homeowner's groups.
Town officials identified the 26 properties as vacant and unsecured during cleanup efforts following the freak October 12-13 snowstorm that caused extensive damage throughout Cheektowaga.
Eleven of the structures are located in the Pine Hill, Walden and Cedargrove neighborhoods, but seven are located in both the north Cheektowaga and the U-Crest areas. The 26th location is in south Cheektowaga.
"All of them are storm-related cleanups," Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak told the Times on Monday. "They just add to what we've had before."
The town board routinely directs the Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Office to "safeguard" premises that are deemed to be deteriorated, vacant, a hazard and a "danger to the safety and well-being of others."
However, the board typically deals with one or two properties per meeting.
Three of the properties are located on Orchard Place and have the same owner listed with the Town Assessor's Office: John Kokoszka and Wife of 211 Orchard Place.
"Sometimes we're dealing with absentee landlords," Gabryszak noted. "These are problems that we've faced before in the town...it's important now and is going to become even more important in the future."
While the potential negative effect that vacant and dilapidated structures can have on neighborhoods remains a concern, another neighborhood problem focuses on rodent control through tougher sanitation codes.
"We've discussed this a lot of times and the new law will have an effect on residents," said Councilmember Patricia A. Jaworowicz. "Residents will need to comply to the new law."
The board will host a public hearing on the potential changes at 7 p.m. December 4 at Town Hall. The hearing was originally scheduled for October 18 at Maryvale Drive Presby- terian Church, but last month's snowstorm forced the board to postpone the meeting.
Proposed changes include a new fine structure for noncompliance, redefining terms, and revisions to three sections of the code.
The board decided that lids will not be required on garbage containers once they are brought to the curb.
Councilmember Thomas M. Johnson noted that Erie County continues to require that lids remain on garbage receptacles at all times.
In other business on Monday, the board:
Approved a site plan from Garden Gate Health Care Facility, 2365 Union Road, to construct a parking lot expansion.
Granted Assistant Code Enforcement Officer Donald C. Bielefeld Jr. a six-month extension to comply with the town's residency code.
Accepted an easement agreement, subject to permissive referendum, with the owner of 3959 Union Road. The agreement would allow the town to perform sanitary sewer repair work on the east side of Union Road south of Orchard Place, in exchange for allowing the property owner an easement for parking and location of a trash bin on town property. See the legal notices for additional information.
Appointed Justin J. Tricoli to the position of Laborer in the Sanitation Department.
Retained Irene Kmiotek as a consultant to the Cheektowaga Drug Court through December 31, 2006.
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