The Town Highway Department has been cramped for a long time. Town Councilman Kerry McGuinness says the department has been encroaching on its neighbor’s property for 20 years. But that could change in the future. The department may eventually have room to expand.
One possibility is on Holloran Road. The developer of a 10-lot subdivision has offered to dedicate a 35-acre parcel to the Town. There are wetlands on the site, but most of the property is usable. The Highway Department could stockpile supplies for chip sealing there, and could use the area to dump shoulder cuttings and other debris.
John Atzl represented the developers, the Fini Brothers, at the Town Board’s Feb. 4 work session. He said that there’s been difficulty marketing the property because of its size. The area was cleaned up in 2003, and received a clean bill of health.
If the Town accepted the dedication, the land would come off the tax rolls, but the Town would be getting the property for free. Mr. Atzl, an engineer, suggested that the area could be used for walking trails, a dog park or a playground if the Highway Department didn’t want it.
Steve Gaba, the Town attorney, summed up the board’s reaction to the proposal. “The sentiment of the Board,” he said, “is that the Town would be inclined to accept the offer if the Planning Board approved it.”
The other possibility for expansion is the Hand property next to the Highway garage. “We have appraisals,” Supervisor Randy Clark reported at the Feb. 4 meeting. “But we’ve never said ‘yea’ or ‘nay.’”
The last administration had a contract prepared with a selling price of $722,500. The board has never approved the contract. And, since three of the members are new, the supervisor asked for their opinions.
Peter Russell said that, before he made a decision, he would want to see the property and speak to the highway superintendent. Mr. Clark was willing to go that route, but he repeated a question that was raised by a board member last fall. “If we don’t do it,” he said, “what’s our Plan B?”