A new introductory local law to limit parking of vehicles on Visions Drive was defeated at the latest town board meeting after local residents spoke out against the action, although an amended proposal to limit certain parking on the roadway in question was floated and is being examined.
Introductory Local Law 2012-C, “A Law Amending the Town Code with Respect to the Parking of Vehicles on Town Roads,” specifically would have prohibited standing, stopping and parking along both sides of Visions Drive from Jordan Street to County Line Road. If passed, the law would have required the town to post “No parking” signs along the entire roadway.
The law was requested by Honeywell company as a safety issue due to its employees’ habit of parking on the roadway in winter in order to smoke in their cars. A letter from Honeywell to the town board earlier this year stated the company feared other cars or snow plows could collide with the smokers or their vehicles.
The board held a previously-scheduled public hearing on the proposed law at its Oct. 18 meeting, during which resident Roy Lootens objected to the law, stating that he never sees more than five or so cars parked on the road “for more than 15 minutes” at a time. He said the road is wide enough for cars to drive around any parked vehicles, and “I think it’s silly and would be a waste of the town’s money.”
Resident Julie Stenger, who also lives near Visions Drive, also said she did not “see a need” to limit parking there, and that the road is wide enough for cars to pass.
Town Councilor Nancy Murray said she agreed with Lootens. “I just don’t see a need for that,” she said.
The rest of the town board agreed with Murray, but, at the suggestion of Town Highway Superintendent Jim Card, discussed the possibility of prohibiting parking along a specific section of Visions Drive near the Honeywell plant. They tasked Card with measuring and photographing the specific road area in questions and reporting back to the board at its Nov. 1 meeting, at which time the board will reconsider the issue.
Since no board member made a motion to consider on the introductory law after the close of the public hearing, it effectively was postponed until the next board meeting.
Also at the meeting:
—Town Supervisor Terri Roney said Onondaga County officials recently notified the town that it will be reimbursed at a slightly increased rate per mile than previously stated. In September the board had authorized the town supervisor to sign the 2012-13 snow removal contract with Onondaga County for a base reimbursement rate of $95,609 plus severity funding, which equates to $6,335 per mile. The recent change increases the reimbursement to $6,600 per mile.
—Town Parks Department supervisor Sue Murphy said the public restrooms in the Sims Building in Austin Park will be closed for the season on Monday, Oct. 22.
—The board authorized the advertisement of bids for the lease and/or purchase of a Gradall for the town. Bid opening was scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9.
—Roney announced that the state Department of Environmental Conservation stated at the Oct. 16 hamlet meeting in Mottville that the environmental cleanup activities by Stauffer Chemical Company is progressing well and should be completed by 2013. The company has removed 370,000 tons of contaminated dirt from the site to date, and has spent $60 million on cleanup with another $40 million expected to be spent before the work is completed. The site will be cleaned to a commercial grade level.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
