By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

The town of Lysander is moving ahead with plans to build a spray park within Lysander Town Park. The town board approved a resolution Jan. 18 authorizing the town to bond for up to $400,000 for the project.

Town officials stressed that the resolution does not mean the town is immediately spending $400,000, but allows the town the option to borrow money.

“This is a significant move. We’re authorizing the town to have the ability to borrow this kind of money,” said Deputy Supervisor Bob Geraci. “We’re not actually borrowing it at this point, but it’ll give the town the ability to put the project out to bid … so we can make a decision on going forward with the project, which I hope we do.”

Supervisor Joe Saraceni noted that the town has already spent “a significant amount of time” planning the proposed spray park and engaging in community outreach. He said the town has secured a $100,000 grant from New York state and has some funding available in the in-lieu-of-parks account.

Resident Kevin Rode asked if residents could petition for a referendum on the subject. According to Article XII, Section 91, of New York State Town Law, residents can challenge a town board decision through a petition, which must be signed by at least 5 percent of the number of voters in the last state gubernatorial election. Town attorney Anthony Rivizzigno said that would be about 300 signatures.

“Would the town help someone trying to carry a petition so the wording’s correct?” Rode asked.

“The last time I did that, I got in trouble,” said Rivizzigno.

In 2015, the town had Rivizzigno prepare a petition for residents who wanted to create a water district in the Lamson Road area. The Messenger wrote an editorial criticizing the town’s involvement in creating the petition: “To have the town write the petition for the residents in favor of the petition is tantamount to supporting the creation of the district well before both sides of the argument have been heard.”

As for the wording of a petition, Rivizzigno said, “There’s no magic words to it, it’s just a petition objecting to the resolution.”

Resident Fred Burtch said the public should have the chance to vote on the spray park expenditure. He said he is concerned about the town’s spending.

“If it has to be bonded out, that’s something that a greater amount of the public should be involved in the decision making process, just as they do with a new school project or a new fire project,” he said.

According to the Lysander Parks and Rec Department’s Facebook page, the park will not be complete for the upcoming summer.

“Realistically probably not this summer!” read a post on the page. “But we will look to start the project this year, if all goes well.”

The town is putting together an advisory committee for the development of the spray park. Anyone interested in joining the committee can call the Lysander Parks and Rec Department at (315) 635-5999.