Three public hearings preceded the Dunkirk Town Board’s regular meeting, with the West Dunkirk Fire Department, East Dunkirk Fire Department and a hearing on the town’s preliminary budget for 2010. There was no opposition, with a few town residents attending the first two hearings simply to show their support for the fire districts.
The West Fire District’s budget of $62,223 is a 3 percent increase from last year. The tax rate per thousand for fire protection in the West District increased from $1.83 to $1.89.
“(The budget) mostly increased because of utilities, fuel,” James Gee Jr., West Dunkirk fire chief, said.
The East Fire District’s budget of $117,775 is an increase of 2.67 percent from last year. The tax rate per thousand for fire protection in the East District increased from $1.52 to $1.56.
East Dunkirk Fire Chief Joel Biscaro explained there were some big changes from last year’s budget to 2010 out of necessity.
“Our tanker is a very old truck and is unsafe for the road,” Biscaro said.
The tank on the department’s truck is more than 50 years old and the district has already ordered the new truck; delivery is expected in the spring. Radio equipment upgrades are still planned but the truck took precedent. The department received a state low-interest loan and savings in order to fund the $300,000-plus truck.
“I’d just like to say, being a member of the East Town but not only that, being associated for the last 20 years with the West Town also, it’s money well spent, newly elected Councilman Juan Pagan said. “We’re all volunteers, we get up in the middle of the night — anytime of the day or night to respond to incidents, accidents, whatever the cost may be. As a resident of the town, I think it’s money very well spent to help these ladies and gentleman do what they have to do to keep us safer.”
Both budgets were later accepted at the town board’s regular meeting.
The town’s preliminary budget public hearing was unattended. The board discussed a few changes to be made. For town justice, the judges’ salaries were “equaled out a little bit better,” Town Supervisor Richard Purol said. The court clerk was given a 3 percent raise and $2,500 was added to the town prosecutor’s salary. General support was increased to $307,221 to $307,987.
For police in the town, 16 hours per week at 23.34 per hour was budgeted. For animal control, there is still no second officer to assist in emergencies but Purol said he added two hours per month at $10 per hour, which would total $240.
“We’ve had some serious issues with the dogs,” Purol reasoned.
Total public safety was changed from $45,416 to $45,447.
Some alterations were made to the preliminary budget due to incorrect calculations. Zoning was increased slightly. For total community service, $20,195 was changed to $20,318. State retirement was increased from $28,237 to $30,239.
Total appropriations for the tentative general fund budget were $444,280; the final figure was increased to $451,275.
Salaries are as follows: supervisor, $9,135; councilmembers, $4,788; two justices: one for $11,330, the second for $9,500; town clerk, $11,896; highway superintendent, $10,332.
The board voted to accept the budget.
At the regular meeting, the board discussed their proposed WECS (Wind Energy Conversions Systems) local law. Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro reviewed the town’s proposed law and sent several pages of material, along with a three-page summary of the current proposal for the board’s review. Passafaro advised the board to be cautious with densely populated areas.
“I think you have areas in the town of Dunkirk where you have more room, less room for these types of things,” Passafaro said. “I’m not so sure that we have enough area to be considered for a utility-type farm. But you never know, in conjunction with a project that might be in a neighboring town that would spread into the town of Dunkirk, you want to keep your options open there. Because quite frankly, what you want to do there is get the most bang for your buck for the town.”
Passafaro recommended the town revisit the small wind energy facility section to look for buffers, setbacks, height requirements and possibly area requirements. He suggested that solar, geothermal and biomass energy may also be avenues worth exploring.
The board intends to review Passafaro’s suggestions and the zoning board’s proposal in order to further polish the law and possibly set a date for a public hearing at the next meeting on Dec. 8.
New York state, Passafaro said, has established a policy that the state itself will have to generate a certain percentage of energy from nontraditional sources.
“There’s a push in that direction,” Passafaro said. “I think we tailor this thing to the town of Dunkirk.”
“I would rather be proactive,” Purol agreed.
At the Dunkirk Planning Board meeting, the board recommended by unanimous vote that the town serve as lead agency for the required State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) for the Advance Auto Parts retail store plan submitted. The store is intended to move to Vineyard Drive. Adam Fishel of APD Engineering said additional landscaping has been added to the western side of the project site, as per the recommendations made at the October planning board meeting, and submitted updated plans to the board.
The town resolved to declare itself lead agency and scheduled a public hearing for the plan on Dec. 8 at 6:45 p.m.
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adiodato@observertoday.com
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