Watkins purchases $49K replacement truck

WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen village board reviewed how the fire at the Human Services Complex last month affected the village, and authorized the $49,000 emergency purchase of a service truck, Monday, April 8.
A fire at the complex, Saturday, March 23, caused damage to a number of trucks and forced the relocation of the village and county offices that resided in the building.  Superintendent of Streets Don Perry said the trucks are all repaired, but the Bobcat and backhoe are still being fixed.  He added he did not know how much damage was caused because the department has not been able to go through all of the smaller pieces of equipment and items that were at the complex.  Perry said the fire did put the workers a little behind schedule.
Minard LaFever, manager of the electric department, asked the board to approve the $49,000 emergency purchase of a bucket truck for the village to use.  The original vehicle was taken to a mechanic.  He explained it would take eight to 10 months to order a regular new truck.  He added this vehicle is smaller than usual and suggested the village use it in connection with a primary truck in the future.  LaFever said it would extend the life of the other truck.
Mayor Mark Swinnerton and Trustee Scott Gibson questioned the need to purchase the $49,000 truck now and using two vehicles in the future, but eventually agreed.  Swinnerton said his concern was the expense would be picked up in the rates, but added “it sounds like a good plan.”  
The fire department’s report also addressed the fire.  Chief Dominick Smith wrote Watkins firefighters were on the scene for 12 hours.  He added the department was able to save many items and were helped by many other departments in the county.
In other business:
•  An agreement with Yaw’s Environmental was approved to be the chief operator of the village sewage plant for one year, June 1, 2013, to May 31, 2014.  The village will pay Yaw’s $30,000 for the year.  Swinnerton said this might allow the village to find an individual to fill the role or to pursue the study of a potential inter municipal plant with Montour Falls.
•  The board reviewed a plan by Glen Mountain Market to use a $15,250 Main Street grant to turn the gravel lot next to the building into a small park.  Swinnerton said the village would have to provide in-kind work to create the park and be in charge of maintenance for at least a five year period.  The village is waiting to hear more about the project.
•  Approval was given to the annual Concerts in the Park series to be held at Lafayette Park.  The concerts are Tuesday evenings, 7 to 9 p.m. from June 25 to Aug. 27.
•  The regular annual appointments were also approved, including naming The REVIEW&EXPRESS as the official paper of record.  Regular appointments included Donna Beardsley as clerk-treasurer, registrar, cemetery commissioner, and bingo commissioner, as well as the list of part-time police officers.