The Lysander Town Board handled a variety of town business at its May 28 meeting:
• Landscaping: The town will purchase $671.50 in landscaping supplies from Ballantyne Gardens of Liverpool for improvements to the front of the town hall. The town will purchase $1,576.75 in “hardscape” supplies, such as stone mulch, from Mill Creek Earth Products of East Syracuse.
Highway department employees will handle the installation of the hardscape items and local volunteers will take care of planting. Councilor Roman Diamond is in charge of coordinating volunteers for the project.
• Public hearings: The town board held three public hearings Thursday night.
The public hearing for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which opened Feb. 9, was closed. Councilor Bob Geraci said the final version of the plan, which comes to the board for a vote June 8, will include provisions for preserving the sewer capacity on Hayes Road and Route 370 west of the village.
Supervisor John Salisbury said the CLUP will help reduce pollution of the Seneca River.
The board also held a public hearing on new subdivision regulations, which came about because of the CLUP.
Finally, the board heard comments on a zone change request from General Business District to Agricultural District for the property at 9386 Oswego Road. The property owner wants to build a house there, and is not able to do so under the current zoning.
Resident Kevin Rode asked about the zoning surrounding the property.
“There are some businesses there existing. It is an isolated pocket of the general business district,” said town engineer Al Yager, adding that neighboring properties to the north and south were zoned agricultural.
The town board will vote on these issues at its June 8 meeting.
• Lamson Road Water District: Residents in favor of the formation of the Lamson Road Water District will soon head out with their petitions.
Under Article 12 of New York State Town Law, if the properties of those who sign the petition make up more than 50 percent of the total assessed value of the proposed district, then the town board will consider a resolution to create the district. A public hearing will be held and if the town board votes to approve the district, the proposal goes before the state Department of Audit and Control for a final decision.
Cindy Todd, a Dinglehole Road resident who is not in favor of creating the water district, suggested that someone not in favor of the district accompany the petitioners to make sure they present the information fairly to residents. Salisbury told her while the town prepared the petition for these residents to make sure the petition complied with the state’s regulations, the town has nothing to do with carrying out the petition.
Todd also asked what recourse people against the water district would have if it passed.
“A resident could bring what’s called an Article 78 proceeding against the town,” town attorney Tony Rivizzigno said. Someone who brings an Article 78 proceeding may argue that the town’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious” or not supported by “substantial evidence.”
