By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
The village of Baldwinsville is going to build a nature trail on the property previously called Fobes Island on the east end of Lock Street. The village board of trustees voted Oct. 20 to declare itself the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality review (SEQR) for the project, which will be funded through a grant. The board also approved a negative SEQR declaration for the trail project.
Village engineer Steve Darcangelo said the village has acquired a long-term lease from New York state on the property.
“We’re hoping to develop a nature trail down there because it has some very unique features,” Darcangelo said. “One is that it’s got a tremendous amount of river frontage on it, so it provides a very nice opportunity to allow people to get out and see a real, natural setting along the river.”
Darcangelo said the area is also home to various waterfowl, marine mammals and deer. Mayor Dick Clarke said that the trail could be a good place to spot eagles.
“I think that will be a beautiful spot once it gets developed,” Clarke said.
Also on the agenda
At the Oct. 20 meeting, the village board also dealt with the following issues:
• Sidewalks: The village is seeking a state grant to extend sidewalks and connect discontinuous sidewalks along state routes 31, 370 and 48. Clarke said the sidewalk extension project would eliminate congestion and make Baldwinsville more of a walkable village. The board voted to declare itself the lead SEQR agency and approved a negative SEQR declaration for the project.
• Water agreements: Darcangelo and Clarke recently met with Lysander Town Supervisor Joe Saraceni and town engineer Al Yager to discuss the intermunicipal lease agreements for a number of water districts. Darcangelo said the municipalities are “very close” to finalizing the agreements, which will “provide water at a reasonable rate” to residents and lend the village’s water services to the town. He said he expected the agreements to be ready for an effective date of Jan. 1, 2017.
• Public safety: Chief Michael Lefancheck reported that the Baldwinsville Police Department participated in a community forum on the heroin epidemic Oct. 18. He said the forum raised awareness about the BPD’s prescription and syringe drop-off boxes, and the department will be part of the Baldwinsville Central School District’s mental health education efforts in the future.
The village board also voted to approve the purchase of two Windham AR-15 rifles at the cost of $2,374 for the BPD. Lefancheck said this is the style of rifle used by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, so it will be easier to “share magazines in an active violent event.” He said the new rifles are easier to operate than the old pump rifles, which he said are “difficult at best” to use.
