Niagara Views

Listening in at our hazardous waste ground zero

Residents of Lewiston and Porter gave state environmental regulators another earful last week.

At issue -- though representatives of the state Department of Environmental Conservation claimed otherwise -- was the future of the Northeast's only commercial hazardous waste landfill, CWM Chemical Services.

The agency was tasked with devising a plan to guide the development of hazardous waste facilities in 1987.

CWM, located on Balmer Road, has been looking for permission from the state to construct a new landfill since 2003. The company wants to add 6 million tons of capacity.

Last week's public hearings on the latest draft plan -- Wednesday night in Niagara Falls and Thursday night in Lewiston Porter High School -- gave the public its second chance to comment on the draft in two years.

In the latest draft, the state asserted it finds no need to create additional landfill capacity within New York -- something many in the local community have been arguing. Here's my story from October when the lastest draft was released.

In each of the last two drafts, regulators have also contended waste sites are distributed fairly throughout the state, even though Niagara County is home to the only commercial hazardous waste landfill in operation.

Below, you can listen to some of the comments offered at Thursday's hearing at Lew-Port.

--Aaron Besecker

Assemblywoman Francine Delmonte

Jim Ward, from Sen. George Maziarz's office

Village of Lewiston Mayor William Geiben

Niagara County Legislator John Ceretto

CWM employee Chuck Aube

Laborers Local 91 representative Robert Connolly

Teamsters Local 449 President George Harrigan

Peter Cotter, UB Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

April Fideli, president of Residents for Responsible Government

The Rev. Charles Lamb, Youngstown resident

Amy Witryol, Lewiston resident

Lewiston Supervisor Fred M. Newlin II

A portion of comments from R. Nils Olsen Jr., UB Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

NT's finances, New Year's plans

Here's the story I wrote off last night's North Tonawanda Common Council meeting, dealing with a potentially troublesome short-term outlook for city finances.

Also, here's a link to yesterday's post, outlining the Council's agenda for last night's meeting.

The agenda items discussed by former mayor David Burgio (pictured below) were actually two separate things, despite how they were listed on the agenda.

Per last night's discussion, the Council is expected to vote on a request to hold a New Year's Eve ball drop at Webster and Sweeney streets when they meet again on Tuesday. The event will be almost exactly like last year's, though the beer tent will be curtailed slightly, Burgio told lawmakers.

Organizers are requesting use of the city's entertainment trailer and 40 garbage cans. They also want Webster closed between Sweeney and Tremont streets, and to close one block of Sweeney at Gateway Park. The Renaissance Bridge over the Erie Canal, connecting Webster in North Tonawanda and Main Street in the City of Tonawanda, would be closed an hour before midnight in order to prepare for the ball drop and fireworks.

Burgio also updated lawmakers on ongoing improvements to the greenhouses at the city's Botanical Gardens. The work is being done by volunteers with Project Pride, and has been funded through grants from the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and the Downtown Merchants Association in NT, Burgio said.

--Aaron Besecker

On tap tonight in NT

North Tonawanda lawmakers have a longer-than-usual agenda for their workshop, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. today in City Hall.

Here's what's on tap:

--Building Inspector Cosimo R. Capozzi is coming in to discuss a request for a portable sign from Vito's Avenue Pizzeria, 236 Zimmerman St.

--David Conti, chairman of the Property Maintenance Task Force, will discuss auction specs for the former Mirror Room, a vacant property at Eighth Avenue and Oliver Street starting at 6:15.

--Former mayor David Burgio is scheduled to talk with the Common Council on an issue titled "New Year's Eve ball drop, Botanical Gardens" at 6:45.

--City Accountant David Jakubaszek is scheduled to discuss "water/sewer budget" at 7.

--A general discussion is scheduled to begin at 7:30.

The meeting -- which is open to the public -- will be held in the office of the city clerk in City Hall, 216 Payne Ave.

--Aaron Besecker

Niagara and Utah: kindred spirits?

Nobody wants to live near a dump, especially when the dump is created with waste brought in from somewhere else.

That argument -- long utilized by some in Niagara County in the fight against the expansion of CWM Chemical Services' hazardous waste landfill in Lewiston and Porter -- is echoed in the fight to bring nuclear waste from outside the United States into Utah.

The Deseret News (Salt Lake City) published a story last week about a House panel's move to block a proposal to bring 20,000 tons of nuclear waste from Italy, dumping leftovers in a Utah desert.

Here's The Salt Lake Tribune's editorial on the issue.

--Aaron Besecker

Playing politics with NT Walmart

Allegations that prominent Niagara County Republicans sought to delay a proposed Walmart project came to light Tuesday night, and are detailed in a story here.

Click on the story link to find snippets of audio recorded during the Common Council meeting. You can listen to Dennis J. Barberio, council candidate, Aldermen Brett M. Sommer and Kevin J. Brick Jr., along with Mayor Lawrence V. Soos, address the issue in their own words.

--Aaron Besecker

Lewiston monument a labor of volunteers

Lee Simonson, described as the "architect" of efforts to build an Underground Railroad monument in Lewiston, got a surprise Wednesday night.

The former Niagara County legislator will be honored by the Western New York Association of Historical Agencies with its annual individual achievement award for his work during the last three years developing the sculpture designed by artist Susan Geissler.

"It was his commitment and his conviction and perseverance and stroke of genius in engaging Susan Geissler that made this magnificent work of art a reality," said Pam Hauth, executive director of the Historical Association of Lewiston. "He is extremely deserving of this recognition."

Simonson, Hauth said, took an idea to honor the freedom seekers and volunteers on the Underground Railroad to fruition by writing proposals, securing funding and pushing the idea forward.

His work was done entirely as a volunteer.

"He has been tireless in his endeavor to see this human experience brought to us and cast in bronze," said Diane Finkbeiner, another project volunteer.

An unveiling Wednesday night of the bronze and stone sculpture was a celebration of work done by volunteers like Simonson. They hope those efforts will shine for years to come.

The monument, Simonson said, "will have such an effect on those who see it that its impact will echo throughout future generations."

- Denise Jewell Gee

College student from NT named in suit over alcohol death

A Geneseo State College student from North Tonawanda has been named in a $2.5 million lawsuit over an alcohol poisoning death of another student earlier this year.

According to a story published today by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Adam C. Brownstein of North Tonawanda is one of eight defendants in a civil suit filed by the father of the deceased student, 19-year-old Arman Partamian.

More from the story by Staff Writer Bennett J. Loudon:

Partamian, who lived in a dorm at SUNY Geneseo, was found dead in a bed at 4359 Lower Court St. in the town of Geneseo. The address is the headquarters of the Pigs, an outlawed off-campus fraternity. The blood-alcohol content in various parts of his body ranged from 0.39 to 0.55 [percent].

As part of an initiation process, Partamian and two other pledges were forced to play drinking games and consume excessive amounts of alcohol over several days, according to the suit.

A Williamsville man had faced a charge of criminally negligent homicide, but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, according to the D&C's story.

--Aaron Besecker

Planned Walmart on table in NT

North Tonawanda lawmakers are being asked to give the last needed approvals for a proposed Walmart when they meet in City Hall tonight.

Following up on last night's action by the city Planning Commission, the Common Council will consider granting easements and rights of way for the proposed project during a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m.

The proposed sale of 1.6 acres of land to Walmart -- including portions of Bluebird Drive, Lyric Avenue and a 30-foot service road -- will also be considered.

The asking price for the land: $81,150.

Other things on the lawmakers' agenda:

-The proposed transfer of the former Engine 2 building and property at Oliver and Sommer streets to the Active Hose Fire Co. No. 2.

-A proposed memorandum of understanding between the city and workers at the Wastewater Treatment plant who are members of the Local 7692 of the Civil Service Employees Association. The city is working on a lease agreement with a private company for the use of a portion of the plant for carbon regeneration. The draft agreement discusses staffing levels.

--Aaron Besecker

Chimpanzees on TV

In case you missed two chimps from The Primate Sanctuary in Niagara Falls on the National Geographic Channel on Tuesday night, you still have a chance.

An episode of "Explorer" called "Chimps on the Edge" will re-air at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The National Geographic Channel can be found on Time Warner Cable, channel 120; Dish Network, channel 186; and DirecTV, channel 276.

Here's the story published by The Buffalo News on Tuesday about the episode.

Click here to watch a clip.

--Aaron Besecker

Chatter on low-cost power

I wrote a story published today about a hearing on the state's discount electricity programs held in Niagara Falls.

Some audio clips from the session -- including portions of comments by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster and the Citizens Budget Commission's Elizabeth Lynam -- are available under the "related content" section near the top of the story.

--Aaron Besecker