By Russ Tarby

Contributing Writer

At its Aug. 17 meeting the Liverpool Village Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of longtime Liverpool Planning Board member John Eallonardo.

Eallonardo, a former employee of Onondaga County Parks, had served on the planning board for 17 years. He was appointed as an alternate board member in 2003 by then-Mayor Marlene Ward. Four years later he became a full-time board member.

But Eallonardo’s planning board service actually began nearly four decades ago, when he chaired the board in 1981 and ’82, after being appointed by then-Mayor Floyd Tillotson.

“When I left [in 1982], I could see that there was a talented and energetic group coming along that included Ken Sargent, Nick Kochan, Bill Bell and others,” Eallonardo recalled. “I stepped aside because during those years I was focusing on my work at County Parks including planning and management of the Onondaga Lake Park Trail, reconstruction of the zoo, reconstruction of Ste. Marie, P&C Stadium and all the Parks for Tomorrow.”

Among the park improvements Eallonardo oversaw were the Playground for all Children, new ball fields, a skate park and the Griffin Visitor Center.

Eallonardo’s decision to leave the village planning board comes less than three months after Peter Osborne resigned from the board in April.

The owner of Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture in Syracuse, Osborne brought his professional expertise as a “parkitect” to the table as a planner for 21 years, having first been appointed by Ward in December 1999.

Among the projects which the planning board nurtured during Osborne’s and Eallonardo’s tenures were the Meyer Manor Apartment complex, Dunkin’ Donuts, Colonial Laundromat and multiple Basin Block developments.

Osborne informed the trustees that he and his family will soon be moving outside the village, necessitating his resignation. Eallonardo decided to resign because, “It’s time for the next generation to take over. It’s important for younger people to get involved,” he said.

Planning Board Chairman Joe Ostuni Jr. said he and his fellow planners will miss Osborne’s and Eallonardo’s expert input.

“They both made significant contributions to the village through their many years of voluntary service on Planning Board,” Ostuni said.

Rounding out the board is former village Trustee Jim Rosier.

Two alternates, Jim Taft and Tom Tartaglia, have participated in planning board meetings since the resignations to ensure continued service to applicants appearing before the board, Ostuni said.

The mayor and village board make the appointments to planning board to fill vacancies.

On Aug. 17 after trustees accepted both resignations, the mayor appointed village resident and realtor Sam Reppi to fill one of the two vacancies. Reppi was recommended to the trustees by village Codes Officer Bill Reagan. An appointment to fill the remaining vacancy is still being considered.  

The planning board meets to approve site plans, subdivision plots, special permits and to review zoning, amendments or other development approvals. 

The planning board meets, as needed, on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.