Parks and Recreation Director Ann Smiley has officially retired after 23 years in Lysander.
The Lysander Town Board accepted her resignation at its July 14 regular meeting.
“We are accepting this resignation with regret,” said Supervisor John Salisbury. “[Ann’s] done an excellent job with the program in Lysander and I wish her the best.” As former commissioner of Onondaga County Parks, Councilor Robert Geraci also recognized Smiley for her achievements, saying she’s been one of the primary movers in the community of parks and recreation.
The board formally adopted rules for speaking at public meetings. The rules have been in place for years, Salisbury said, “this just formalizes [it].” Those who wish to speak must state their name and address. The board has recently faced opposition to this requirement from one person who wants to speak during town board meetings, but would rather remain anonymous.
The board authorized Salisbury to send a letter to CSX in support of a request made by the New York State Department of Transportation Planning and Program Management to make the Route 48 CSX crossing exempt. The rail line has been out of service for more than a year and CSX has no potential customers on the horizon, Salisbury said. This step would allow HAZMAT vehicles and school buses to pass without stopping.
The board awarded Christopher D. Zimmerman with a low quote of $10,500 contract to replace the soffit on Lysander Town Hall. Other quotes ranged from $17,500 to $22,463. Funds were allocated for this project in this year’s budget.
After receiving various proposals to redesign the town website, townoflysander.org, the town is contracting with the Syracuse-based advertising agency, Cowley Associates. The request for proposal stated the cost was not to exceed $14,000. Salisbury said the money will be spent over five years, with the first year costing approximately $6,000.
Two vacant parcels owned by the town, 8247 and 8251 Ashington Drive in the Whispering Oaks subdivision, are being sold to Staring Enterprises, LLC for $100,000 – the highest purchase offer the town received, Salisbury said. The lots were appraised at approximately $110,000. The money, Salisbury said, will go to the Whispering Oaks Sewer District to defray expenses in the district.
The board authorized the supervisor to sign wastewater treatment contract drawings, prepared by TDK Engineering Associates and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Application for Approval of plans, for a wastewater disposal system for the Whitetail Woods subdivision section B-1.
“The intent is that the entire peninsula will be sewered,” said town engineer Al Yager.
Currently, all houses in this area have septic systems. However, dry sewers that run from each house to the street will eventually be hooked into a sewer system with either a pump station or siphon system.
Councilor Melinda Shimer, liaison for the Toomey Residential boys’ group home, said the architect’s plans have been approved by the state; the project is now out to bid. There is no set timeline as to when the project will be awarded.
Work sessions are set for 6 p.m. on Monday, July 28, Aug. 11 and Aug. 25. Items to be discussed have not yet been scheduled.
The board will next meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 28 at Lysander Town Hall, 8220 Loop Road in Baldwinsville. To view the board meeting, visit pacbtv.org for times. To obtain a copy, call PAC-B TV at 638-2768.
