Brockport discusses funds for environmental, park use

Brockport discusses funds for environmental, park use

It's been a long time coming but the Village of Brockport has been offered $62,000 from G.E./Black & Decker for environmental and/or community recreation enhancements. GE and Black & Decker were accused of polluting the village for more than 30 years when pollutants were discharged into soils and storm sewers in the Lyman Street area.

It was in 2000 when state health department officials pinpointed contaminants and a lawsuit was filed by families in the area.

Brockport Village Manager Ian Coyle explained: "The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Village of Brockport, GE and B&D is a compromise and settlement for the village's costs and damages (consultants, engineers, legal costs, storm sewer work, etc.) incurred as a result of the environmental conditions in the area."

At the October 16 village board meeting, Mayor Morton Wexler opened a public hearing to gather information on a memorandum of understanding from G.E. for the use of the funds, $37,000 of which was dedicated to make physical improvements to parks at Lyman and Barry Streets. "The money can be used for additional projects in the parks or to address environmental or community related concerns," Wexler said.

The additional $25,000 is also earmarked for environmental or park enhancements or upgrades. "We are going to follow the desires of the community," Wexler said. "Once the projects are chosen, the village will provide a written description of the project to GE and work should commence."

Resident John Lessord suggested the board consider using some of the funds to replace benches between the Park and Main Street bridges. "Sidewalks should be put in between Lyman and Locust and Barry and Frasier Streets to connect them. That would benefit the whole community."

Bob Canham, an advocate for the newly dedicated South Avenue park area, which is home to a historic beech tree, requested funds to install two iron benches in the South Avenue park. "That project could be completed out of the $25,000 community funds," he said.

Andrea Perry, a member of the village's park committee, requested fence repair, a new swing set, rubber mats and mulch under a new swing set at the Barry Street park.

Resident Kathy Snyder agreed that it would be nice to have sidewalks for the children to use to get to and from the various parks.

While the ultimate decision on how to allocate the funds will be made by village officials, they will be collecting suggestions until mid-November. "Please send us a letter or call the village hall with suggestions," Wexler said.

In other matters the board:
•Approved, by a three-to-one margin, a $300 donation to the Brockport Merchants' Association request for its annual community Halloween party. Trustee Connie Castaneda opposed the motion.

•Police Chief Daniel Varrenti said the department's National Night Out event, which was moved to September 22 because of unseasonably hot weather in August, drew 500 individuals.

•Village Code Enforcement officer Scott Zarnstorff told village officials the village had been victorious in court in its case against a property owner who had violated occupancy codes. The court awarded the village $11,500 in fines and penalties.

•Heard from Fire Chief Laurence Vaughan that the fire department was responding to an average of 7.3 calls per day - up from 6.7 per day in 2006. They had responded to 716 fire calls year to date and 1,389 EMS calls.

•Vaughan reported that the four streets affected by the October 13 snowstorm were back "in business" with electricity as of about 6 p.m. on October 16. Barry, Victory, Keable and Evelyn Streets lost power as a result of the storm.