Millwood Matters
May 2, 2008
by Gene Nadel
Millwood Fire Consultant Report to Be Presented May 19th; LWV Adds Comments
John Nickerson with Hala Makowska at BOFC meeting
The eagerly awaited needs study for the Millwood Fire District will be presented to the public at an open session to take place on Monday evening, May 19th at a site to be determined. The scheduling of this event was announced last Monday at the April meeting of the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners by Board Chairman Anthony Olenik and John L Nickerson of JLN Associates, the fire protection consulting firm.
Mr. Nickerson responded to questions at the monthly meeting and indicated that he and his colleague,James Healey, were pleased with the cooperation received from various town and fire officials who had been interviewed to date. The final report was originally targeted for the end of April, but was slightly delayed as additional appointments were still outstanding with several parties whose input was being sought, This brief extension also allows all interested residents a further period within which to submit their comments and suggestions.
Sheila Crespi, co-president of the New Castle League of Women Voters and Chair of the Local Planning Committee expressed the League’s keen interest in the firehouse project and followed up on questions her group had raised earlier concerning the scope of the environmental review for the proposed new structure. With respect to a question regarding possible environmental implications arising from outdoor activities on the site, board attorney John Kirkpatrick assured that this issue would be appropriately addressed. He also indicated that the matter of the covenants on the Realis property continues to be under discussion, but further commented that the fire district was in a stronger legal position than that of the former private owner against whom the neighbors had earlier won their case. Mr. Kirkpatrick appreciated the interest of the LWV and was confident that each of their issues would be properly covered.
Active Millwood Task Force May Meeting
Continued interest with firehouse matters and concern regarding a steep slope driveway proposal on Inningwood Road featured discussions at last night’s May (first Thursday of the month) meeting of the Millwood Task Force.
While individual MTF members may have submitted their personal views and comments to the fire consultant for the needs study, the task force members agreed last night on the text of a formal response from the group as a whole. While expressing strong confidence in the ability and efforts of the consultant, the overriding concern of MTF remains the determination of the appropriate size and cost of a new building that will properly serve the needs of the fire district. Hopefully, the report will provide the guidance needed
for our community to move ahead in proper fashion.
Further on firehouse matters, Supervisor Barbara Gerrard, present at the meeting, became the innocent bearer of some unfavorable news. She shared a letter from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, copied to the Town and received today, deferring approval of certain storm water pollution plans subject to further action. We trust that the problem is a minor one and can be resolved at little cost.
Steep slopes and such are a Planning Board matters and the burden in dealing with these problems rests with those good folks who have the expertise that MTF members lack. Speaking of the Planning Board, MTF is hoping that in the near future the two groups can join in a walk through the Millwood business area to aid in upcoming studies and planning.
New Retail In Millwood—Welcome to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
A pleasant event will occur tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd, when two new stores will open in the Millwood Town Plaza, (the shopping plaza on Route 100 with Spaccarelli’s Restaurant). The public is invited to join in the ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce Matero Fine Jewelry and Design as well as Loungerie. New
Castle Supervisor Barbara Gerrard is scheduled to perform the ribbon cutting ceremonies at 2:30, but the grand opening festivities will go on all day from 9 in the morning to 5 pm., alongside the town-wide clean up.
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