1-B    COMMUNICATIONS

1.   Supervisor Clark re Creation of part-time Van Driver position

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Graber, to create one part-time Van Driver position that is currently filled but not formally established with Erie County Personnel, and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.

2.   Supervisor Clark re Purchase of computer equipment

Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to authorize the purchase of computer equipment from Dell Computer Corporation at a cost $3229.95.

1-B    COMMUNICATIONS

3.   Supervisor Clark re Attendance at Annual Association of Towns Meeting

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to authorize the Supervisor, Council Members, Town Justices, Town Attorney, Deputy Town Attorneys, Town Comptroller and a Court Clerk to attend the 2002 Training School & Annual Meeting of the Association of Towns of the State of New York to be held in New York City, February 16 - 21, 2002 at a total cost not to exceed $1314 per person attending, noting that the cost of this training school and meeting was provided for in the 2002 budget.

4.   Supervisor Clark re West Seneca Town Band

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Supervisor Clark, to authorize the West Seneca Town Band to perform Wednesday evening June 12, 2002 at Seneca United Methodist Church for their annual strawberry festival.

5.   Town Attorney re SEQRA hearing on North America Center Industrial Park

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to adopt the attached resolution regarding the Notice of SEQRA Hearing for North America Center Industrial Park High-Technology, Manufacturing and Service Industry Development and reschedule the public hearing from January 14, 2002 to February 11, 2002 at 7:30 P.M.

*APPENDICES*

6.   Deputy Town Attorney re Amendment to rezoning & special permit for Union Road & Meadow Drive

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Supervisor Clark, to amend the rezoning and special permit originally granted on July 1, 1968 for Sublots 157 and 162 under Map Cover 1383 to delete the requirement of fencing where the said sublots abut the commercially zoned property to the north.

7.   Town Engineer re Hydrant addition on Gemcor Drive

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to approve the additional annual hydrant fee of $229.08 to Erie County Water Authority for addition of one hydrant and valve assembly at the end of Gemcor Drive in conjunction with the Johnson Asphalt Plant project.

1-B   COMMUNICATIONS

8.   Town Engineer re Purchases requiring Town Board approval

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Hicks, to authorize payment of the following vouchers for the Engineering Department:

On the question, Councilman Osmanski requested additional information on the NYSEG invoice for the traffic signal at Seneca Street and Hilldale Avenue.

Town Engineer George Montz responded that the standard signal pole was 30 to 32 feet high. NYSEG had to install a higher pole so the electric lines would be away from the signal pole and not create a conflict.

9.   Highway Supt. re Purchases requiring Town Board approval

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to authorize payment of the following vouchers for the Highway Department:

Supervisor Clark abstained from voting because one of the vendors was a client of an accounting firm that he had a financial interest in.

10.   Chief Gehen re Bid award for purchase of patrol vehicles

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to award the bid for four (4) marked and two (2) unmarked patrol vehicles to DeLacy Ford, 3061 Transit Road, Elma, NY 14059 at their low bid price of $95,770.

11.   Chief Gehen re Purchase requiring Town Board approval

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Wroblewski, to authorize payment of $1411.91 to George's Collision for repairs to Car #26.

12.   Recreation Director re Purchase requiring Town Board approval

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Hicks, to authorize payment of $2200 to the West Seneca Soccer Club for the purchase of soccer balls.

1-B   COMMUNICATIONS

13.   Senior Citizens Supervisor re Termination of K. Bond as part-time Van Driver & appointment of J. Fechtor

Motion by Councilman Osmanski, seconded by Councilman Hicks, to terminate Kevin Bond as part-time Van Driver effective January 14, 2002 and appoint John Fechtor as part-time Van Driver at a rate of $7.40 per hour effective January 14, 2002 and authorize the Supervisor to complete and sign the necessary forms for Erie County Personnel.

1-C   REPORTS

PROBLEMS OF THE PUBLIC

ASSISTANCE FROM COUNCILMEN DURING SNOWSTORM

Bruce White, 45 Kirkwood Drive, thanked Council Members Wroblewski and Hicks for their assistance during the recent snowstorm.

DUMPING OF SNOW IN SOCCER COMPLEX

Diane Siminski, 44 Parkside Drive, questioned if snow was being dumped in the soccer complex and was concerned that it would create problems for the surrounding residents when it thawed.

Town Attorney Tim Greenan responded that the snow that was placed in the soccer complex was created within the same basin, so when it melted it would eventually end up in that watershed and Cazenovia Creek. They were not adding any water to what was collected in that area. The basin extended well beyond where the snow was being stored and it should efficiently go through the water system.

SNOW REMOVAL ON CAMBRIDGE AVENUE & SNOWPLOWING PERMITS

Clifford Dusch, 109 Cambridge Avenue, commented that a pile of snow was placed in front of his house by a high lift or town vehicle and he questioned when it would be removed.

Highway Supt. Pat Finnegan stated that his department was still in the process of conducting street surveys to determine which had a major problem with parking and at intersections. This was their first concern, but the piles of snow would be addressed at a later date if site distance was a problem.

Mr. Dusch also suggested that snowplowing permits be required within the town along with an insurance policy to cover damage to sidewalks and curbs. He further thought that each snowplow should have a number on it so they could determine who was responsible if any damage occurred.

PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

TOWN OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENT ON SNOWSTORM

Councilman Hicks commended Highway Supt. Pat Finnegan, Chief Gehen, and the board members for a fine job during the recent snowstorm. He was happy to see the community come together when needed.

PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATIONS BY BOARD MEMBERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

TOWN OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS COMMENT ON SNOWSTORM

(cont'd.)

Supervisor Clark stated that many different agencies cooperated during the snowstorm that began December 24th and continued until January 1st. Approximately seven feet of snow fell, but the Town of West Seneca remained a safe place with no fatalities and only a few minor injuries. A state of emergency was declared on Thursday, December 27th at 3 P.M. and remained in effect until Friday, January 4th at 3 P.M. The Town of West Seneca and neighboring towns were designated red zones by the Erie County Emergency Operations Center during the initial phase of the storm, but West Seneca was the first town to be downgraded to yellow. The town established an emergency operations center at Town Hall at 8 A.M. on Saturday, December 29th and closed it down at 8 P.M. on Monday, December 31st. They were staffed with five to seven extra personnel at all times and received 245 calls for assistance. A triage priority system was established to handle the calls and color coded forms were developed by Disaster Coordinator Mike Kerl that worked very well. The roads were open in a short period of time following the storm and Supervisor Clark contributed this to the monumental efforts of the Highway Department. He noted that residents were attended to as needed with assistance from the fire service and outside agencies, and he thanked the volunteer firefighters that came from the southern tier with snowmobiles and stationed themselves at Winchester and Seneca Hose fire halls. The National Guard also helped out with a high lift and two dump trucks. NYS Corrections sent six 6-man crews along with corrections officers, and there were dozens of contractors with backhoes and snow removal equipment. AmeriCorps furnished two to three crews at all times along with a backhoe operator to open driveways and help out senior citizens and others who needed assistance. Supervisor Clark stated that preliminary cost projections for the town were approaching one million dollars in snow removal and emergency operations. Property damage ranged between six and eight million dollars, but the Building Inspector's office was still in the process of compiling a list, and he thanked Building Inspector Bill Czuprynski, John Gullo and Bob Pinnavaia for their assistance. Supervisor Clark noted that businesses in town also lost revenue, and they were attempting to have the federal declaration expanded to include private business and loss of revenue due to the snow emergency. He encouraged residents and businesses to report property damage to FEMA at 684-8481. A temporary field office for disaster preparedness was opened at the West Seneca Developmental Center where they were trying to provide information and assistance to residents and businesses and working with the agencies on final cost calculations. The long term financial impact of the storm damage and snow removal was still being assessed. Supervisor Clark thanked Chief Gehen, Pat Finnegan and Town Engineer George Montz for their cooperation during the snow event. He also thanked the residents for their patience and the contractors who helped out.

Councilman Osmanski thought the Highway Department did an outstanding job at clearing the snow. He also commended Chief Gehen and Mike Kerl for coordinating the emergency operations.

Mr. Finnegan thanked the board members for their help in his department and for relieving him for some much needed rest during the storm. He also thanked Funk Landscaping for allowing the town to dump snow in their parking lot on Orchard Park Road.

BUFFALO NEWS REPORTER KAREN ROBINSON WELCOMED

Supervisor Clark introduced and welcomed Karen Robinson, new reporter for the Buffalo News.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Supervisor Clark, seconded by Councilman Osmanski, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 P.M.

PATRICIA C. WISNIEWSKI, RMC/CMC
TOWN CLERK