By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
Finally some good news gathered at Liverpool Village Hall.
We’ve recently covered a couple of acrimonious village board meetings that culminated in a move to abolish the village justice court.
And on March 21, the trustees’ bent over backwards to accommodate Dunkin’ Donuts’ request for permission to operate a drive-thru window at a proposed Second Street location. Our representatives unanimously OK’d the drive-thru despite the fact that nearly a dozen residents, including former Mayor Jim Farrell and current Zoning Board Chairman Mike Romano, publicly spoke out against allowing drive-thru restaurants in the village, which is already overwhelmed with traffic.
With its March 21 approval, the trustees — Mayor Gary White, Christina Fadden Fitch, Dennis Hebert, Nick Kochan and Jim Rosier — ignored the directives of the 2009 Comprehensive Plan and ignored residents who turned out to oppose the drive-thru at a Feb. 29 public hearing.
The village planning board continues reviewing the proposed DD site plan at meetings at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28 (rescheduled from April 25) and May 23, at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.
Crumbling cobblestones
So after all that bad news — exacerbated by a sketchy accusation of harassment against the mayor — what is the good news?
Well, at its April 14 meeting the village board approved a proposal from CNY Construction Group to repair the deteriorating cobblestone wall on the Tulip Street side of the Village Cemetery. The trustees committed up to $8,000 for the wall’s repair.
“Work should start within a few weeks,” reported cemetery committee Chairman Mike Romano. “The estimate was very reasonable, and the village has funds.”
Since early 2013, orange mesh fences have blocked motorists from driving on the two-ramp cemetery entrance on Tulip Street where the stone retaining wall is crumbling. The ramps date back to the early 20th century, according to Liverpool village historian Dorianne Elitharp Gutierrez.
Cemetery clean-up May 14
Meanwhile, Romano and his committee members have scheduled a Community Clean-Up Day at the 170-year-old cemetery from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday May 14.
“If there’s enough interest and enough work, some of us may work into the early afternoon,” Romano said.
Village residents may suggest areas in the cemetery which may need attention. “Input is welcome,” he said, “if anyone wants to take a walk around the cemetery to identify and suggest simple, safe work that could be done by a group of village volunteers.”
The cemetery committee will participate in the Historical Yard Emporium 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, on the lawn of the Gleason Mansion, 314 Second St. Hosted by the Historical Association of Greater Liverpool, the Yard Emporium will feature Victorian Era entertainment by the acoustic duo Merry Mischief.
Gull eyes June 1 re-opening
The outdoor decks will soon be expanded by 400 square feet at the Barking Gull, 116 S. Willow St., at the corner of Lake Drive. Management will close the rooftop outdoor bar in favor of a first-floor outdoor bar on the expanded patio, according to Josh Gormel.
Josh’s family owns three village bistros, also including The Retreat and The Cobblestone.
The expanded decks should give the Gull more of an authentic “tiki bar” look. The Gormels hope to have the Gull barking around June 1; retreatrestaurant.com/pages/gull/gull.html.
Platinum anniversary
To celebrate its 20th season, CNY Jazz will present a cabaret concert with singer Janis Siegel, at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Sheraton Syracuse University Grand Ballroom, 801 University Ave., on the SU Hill
Over her four decades with Manhattan Transfer, Siegel sang lead on hits such as “Operator,” “Birdland” and “The Boy From New York City.” At the Sheraton, Janis will perform Great American Songbook tunes backed by the 16-piece CNY Jazz Orchestra.
The Le Moyne Jazzuits will open Sunday’s show with their swinging singing.
“We’re deliberately pulling out all the stops to give our 20th season a huge sendoff,” according to drummer Larry Luttinger, a founder of CNY Jazz. Luttinger lives in Liverpool.
Advance-sale tickets cost $25 at cnyjazz.org/subscribe, or 479-5299, and admission at the door costs $30, or $10 for students.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
