By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
The Village of Liverpool Board of Trustees has opened three bids from contractors interested in working on renovations at the Village Cemetery. The 173-year-old graveyard is bounded on the east and west by Tulip and Alder streets and by Fifth and Sixth streets on the south and north.
At their May 18 meeting, the trustees looked over the three bids on work including improving walkways and drivable paths, installation of benches, trash receptacles and light poles and creating new entrance signage.
The low bid came in from Shawn Malone Excavating, at $383,200. Bouley Associates, Inc. bid $552,000, and Paul F. Vitale, Inc. bid the highest, $600,000.
The trustees – Mayor Gary White, Deputy Mayor Christina Fadden and Trustees Matt Devendorf, Michael LaMontagne and Jason Recor – asked Village Attorney John Langey to review the bids.
The board plans to convene a special meeting to award the bid.
Two and a half years ago, 128th District Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter announced that the village had received a $250,000 grant administered through the state Dormitory Authority earmarked for cemetery improvements.
On the recommendation of a cemetery advisory committee chaired by Dr. Michael Romano, the village hired Environmental Design & Research, a Syracuse-based landscaping firm, to prepare a schematic design for the restoration work. Prior to consulting with EDR, the cemetery committee had been meeting for more than four years during which it secured listings for the cemetery on both national and state Registers of Historic Places.
The cemetery is the site of more than 3,530 interments over the years. In 2000, there were 283 plots still available for purchase, but now there are no longer any plots available for sale.
At the May 18 meeting the trustees also approved a contractor to replace a non-operable barrier gate at the DPW garage off Onondaga Lake Parkway. Atlas Fence will install the replacement at a cost of $1,250.
The board also accepted an offer from the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison County Board of Cooperative Educational Services to upgrade the village website to make it more mobile-friendly at a cost of $2,520 for a three-year contract.
April police stats
Liverpool Police Chief Don Morris informed the village board at its May 18 meeting that officers made 21 traffic stops and issued nine citations for violations of the state’s vehicle and traffic laws during April.
In addition, two accidents were investigated.
Officers made 213 residential checks during the month while investigating a total of 291 complaints, incidents and calls for service.
LPD Officer David Sturtz has been appointed permanent full-time sergeant joining Sgt. Gerry Unger as the department’s two ranking officers.
