Brockport compiles capital improvement plan

Spurred on by conversations with state and federal representatives, Village of Brockport officials have begun the process of delving into the village's needs and working on a capital improvement plan to address those needs.

"There are things we need to do in order to attract people to come to Brockport and to help maintain the quality of life for those who are already here," Mayor Josephine Matela said.

Matela said the County of Monroe has a detailed capital improvement plan that outlines all infrastructures in the county from streets, to sidewalks, drainage and buildings. The compilation of the village's plan, she said, will include the items Monroe County has in their plan and will also involve a review of historic records, and conversations with people throughout the village to assess the village's needs. In addition to addressing necessary items, Matela said a capital improvement plan also takes into consideration "wish list" items.

"The plan will change with time," she said. "It will be a living, breathing document."

The plan's compilation is a big undertaking, she said, but the village plans to work with Chatfield Engineers to develop it. "Chatfield is familiar with the village, they have done engineering work with the streets and sewers," she said. "We are hoping that in a couple of months we can get a preliminary plan together … there is a lot of data that needs to be gathered."

Putting together a capital improvement plan will really make the village look at its needs and will hopefully help draw more state funds to Brockport. The capital improvement plan will also be used as a starting point to help the village determine what it needs, where it is going and how to get there. "We would also be supplying Senator (George) Maziarz, Assemblyman (Charles) Nesbitt and Congressman (John) LaFalce with copies of the completed plan so they know what our needs are," she said.

At a recent conference of mayors, Nesbitt and Maziarz urged Brockport officials to supply them with a "wish list" for improvements within the village. It is possible, depending on the project, that the village could be in line when lawmakers have discretionary funds available. Discretionary funds are usually set aside for specific uses and the village could find themselves in line for that funding if any of their projects coincide with the discretionary funds that may be available.

"We really feel this is the way to go," Matela said. "The village can't really figure out where we are going until we have a plan in place."