CHERRY VALLEY – Increasing traffic problems on Lancaster Street in
the village of Cherry Valley resulted in the Village Board’s approval
to appoint a village resident to monitor parking infractions and
administer traffic tickets to violators last month.
At last week’s meeting, Shirley Guanu, who officially brought the
issue to the board’s attention when she showed up with a list of
license plates numbers of drivers who committed a parking violation on
Lancaster, agreed to take the position following an investigation of
the liabilities that could come with the position. “I will do it for a
month and see how it goes, but first I want to check and see the
liability of it. I don’t want to be taken to court,” said Guanu.
The board was initially interested in appointing Village Trustee
Louis A. Guido to the position, but agreed that might create a conflict
of interest.
Guanu, who according to Mayor Don Brigham had volunteered for the
position several times, seemed a bit reluctant to take the position,
but ultimately agreed, saying, “something has to be done, and it has to
start somewhere.”
Cemetery
Linda Franzese addressed the board with a complaint that a lilac
bush she planted near a relative’s grave stone had been mowed down. She
explained to the board that she had been given permission by the
Village Board in the past to plant the bush.
Franzese wanted to verify with the board that she had permission to
plant the bush and be assured that if she planted another one it would
not be cut down.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Kelly Wright felt that
allowing people to plant trees and bushes in the cemetery creates a
great deal of work. “I would really not like to have trees or bushes,
it makes it hard to manage. They’re big and you can’t mow around them,”
said Wright.
Although it is not the board’s practice to allow residents to plant
trees and bushes in their cemetery lots, they felt that since
permission had been given to Franzese in the past, it would be
appropriate to allow her to replant her bushes. “We did give her
permission, so I guess we have to (allow Franzese to replant). But the
next person will probably be denied,” said Brigham.
Sidewalk committee
Guido presented the board with a letter he had received from New
York State Assemblyman Marc Butler, regarding a grant for the sidewalk
committee he had applied for. The letter explained that the village of
Cherry Valley would be placed on the request list for 2006, and that
grants offered run between $5,000 and $10,000.
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