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Retired teacher keeps grinding pages Month-long Commun ity Calendar pages 12-13 Falcons prepare for page 24 --------- - a - T ” ■ The Ovid Jazeiie ESTABLISHED 1815 • OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF SENECA COUNTY f • Number 51 December 27,1995 50C Q -'j -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- t — Ovid supports highway funding byNEILCHAFFIE The '1 own of Ovid could lose about $40,000 yearly in funds supplied the town ’ s highway department if the state ’ s Consolidated Highway Im provement Program (CHIPS) ends as scheduled in 1996. Highway Superintendent Jack Wickham said the town receives about $28,000 in construction funds and another $12,000 for operation and maintenance costs He said the construction funds are used to do about half of the depart ment ’ s summer road work. CHIPS funds are supplied to other towns in the area and are based on the miles of highways in a town. Ovid has 42 miles while the Town of Romulus has 22 and receives less in CH Il ’ S monies. The Ovid Town Board went on record at its Dec. 13 meeting in favor of continuing the program. Supervisor Robert N. Favreau noted that the pro posed state budget unveiled by Gov. Pataki late in the week called for addi tional highway funds. The governor asked for $1 billion for bridge and highway repairs over the next five years, but how much of that would fil ter down to the town level remains to be seen. Richard J. Brown, executive secre tary-treasurer of the state Association of Town Superintendents of High ways, said in a letter to Ovid officials that local governments are responsi ble across the state for 9.000 bridges and 95.000 miles of highways. 85 per cent of the roadways in the Empire State. “ The need for secure funding for local transportation in 1996-97 and beyond is immense...\ Brown added. He asked Ovid officials to adopt a res olution advising state legislators of “ the need for secure and adequate funding.\ The Ovid resolution, approved unanimously by the town board, will be included with those from other towns in the state and pre sented to legislators and the governor. Romulus town board discusses re sidents' lakefront concerns at Willard byNEILCHAFFIE Development of the Willard Drug Treatment Campus lakefront in the Town of Romulus remains up in the air. Supervisor Raymond Zajac told the town board at its Dec. 20 meeting. Zajac said he has written to state Corrections Commissioner Philip Coombe Jr. and has yet to hear if any thing is planned. The board talked about a public meeting to discuss lakefront ideas with a state represen tative and to get some in-put from resi dents. The suggestion came from Councilman Kenneth Riemer. Zajac suggested, however, that the board wait a little longer with the hope that Commissioner Coombe might respond to his tetter. The board agreed, but Councilman James Wyck off said he hoped the state would Brown said his state association ’ s Transportation Industry Committee plans to continue meeting with state lawmakers to push for support at die state level of highway funds for local governments. Ixical officials said the CHIPS program, unless it is renewed, would end after the coming 1996 con struction season. It could be renewed, replaced by some other program or dropped entirely. The town board also was reminded (hat a federal law enacted in 1991 pro vides for drug and alcohol testing of commercial motor vehicle drivers. Those jurisdictions with more than 50 drivers began their testing program this year. Those with less than 50 drivers, such as local governments, come under the program with the arrival of the new year. The board agreed to become part of a Seneca County Personnel Depart ment program. Frank J. Sinicropi, per sonnel officer, said in a letter that a number of towns could form a pool to set up a training program and conduct the random sampling at a lower cost than by going it alone. 'Hie board also discussed the pos sible purchase of a new road grader for the Highway Department. It would replace one purchased and in use since 1956. Looking ahead to the end of the holiday season and the large number of unwanted Christmas trees that pile up. the board welcomed word from the Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation Service that it would dispose of the trees if a site could be found. I he board offered the use of its transfer station on Center Road and pointed out that trees would be turned into mulch and it would be available to anyone needing it. I he final meeting of the year was set for Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. and the 1996 organizational meeting for Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. make its feelings known early in the new year. A creek emptying into Seneca 1-ake on the campus grounds and a pier at the site have for many years attracted smelt and trout fishermen. In addi tion. an area of the lakefront had been used for swimming, sightseeing and boating. An old pier is in disrepair and no longer used by anyone. With the coming earlier this year of the drug treatment facility, Zajac said he was told by Coombe the lake front would be open, could be devel oped in a joint venture with the town and would be maintained by the state. T he public was free to use the lake front while the former psychiatric cen ter was in operation. The state is using about one-fifth of the 660-acre campus Season's Greetings Decorated Christmas trees, like the one above, are just one sign that the holiday season has arrived. All of us at the Finger Lakes Community Newspapers would like to wish you a safe and happy new year. now and Romulus residents tell town officials they are no longer welcome even on the unused areas of the grounds. Zajac said the possible loss of the lakefront was a major concern of town residents he talked with during his re election campaign this past fall. For that reason, he said, the subject was discussed with Commissioner Coombe. A letter was sent in a follow up to the discussion. Riemer suggested during the town board meeting that a session b* ‘ held to gather the thoughts of the public. Wyckoff said the meeting should include state representatives because people are going to want to know if spring fishing will be allowed on the campus. The councilmen agreed to hold up on the meeting to give Com missioner Coombe more time to respond to the lakefront issue. Another factor that touched off lakefront concerns in Romulus was the posting this fall of a lakefront trail, formerly a roadway, extending from Willard north toward Sampson State Park. The area was closed to hunters and now to vehicles except by permit. 'Hie condition of the old roadway was cited as the reason for its closure. Just off the roadway is a firing range used by law enforcement agencies and the general public. Signs at the northern boundary were ripped down earlier this month and tossed into Seneca Lake. 'Hie area is patrolled now by state park police and others. The area borders acreage acquired by the state a few years back for prison construction and promptly closed to hunters even though the land is vacant. T he prison plan was put on hold because of the state ’ s financial pinch. Gov. Pataki ’ s proposed i dget is likely to stir up interest in a prison >e site. He is asking the State Legislature for monies to build three 1500-bed facilities. I o
