Appraisal complete for 246 Dover Road buyout
NEWFANE — NEWFANE - In what seems like a never-ending saga, the final buyout for the property at 246 Dover Road continues creeping along to its resolution.
The house at that address was damaged during Tropical Storm Irene, and since then, the town, the state, the property owner, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have inched toward transferring ownership to the town so it can demolish the condemned structure.
At the Feb. 22 Selectboard meeting, Administrative Assistant Shannon Meckle told the board the appraisal is complete and has been forwarded to the state. She said officials are working on an offer to the property owner, and once she signs, the closing date can be scheduled.
“Hopefully we can get it demolished fairly quickly,” Meckle said.
Huskies in trouble
NEWFANE - Because of repeated complaints about her huskies escaping, kennel owner Samantha Rivera may lose her kennel license.
At the Feb. 22 Selectboard meeting, the board went into executive session with Animal Control Officer Michael Young and Administrative Assistant Shannon Meckle to discuss the matter and what to do about it.
“Because the board is concerned with legal ramifications should they move forward with penalties and enforcement, they felt it best to discuss options in executive session,” Meckle told The Commons.
According to Meckle, at the request of the board, she has contacted Town Attorney Richard Carroll to get his advice.
In the meantime, Town Clerk Gloria Cristelli told the board she would notify Rivera that she is temporarily unable to issue her a kennel license renewal.
Planning Commission regains quorum, seeks Village Center Designation
NEWFANE - The town's Planning Commission is working toward applying to the state to have Newfane designated as a Village Center. This certification will allow the town to apply for grants and other resources from the state's Agency of Commerce and Human Development.
Planning Commission member Tim Cawrse told the Selectboard at the board's Feb. 22 meeting the commission had recently received an $8,000 grant, requiring no matching funds, to help apply for the designation.
But, as Cawrse told the board, the commission lost two members, and without a quorum, “we can't conduct a legal meeting,” he said.
Town Clerk Gloria Cristelli and members of the board gave Cawrse suggestions to reach out to the public, and apparently it worked.
According to Administrative Assistant Shannon Meckle, at the Planning Commission's organizational meeting on March 3, the Selectboard appointed Bob McCandless to the group, “giving them a third member, which will allow them to operate,” she said.
“In the meantime, I believe there are three people interested in two positions, and the Planning Commission will be meeting with the candidates and coming to the Board with their recommendations,” Meckle added.