<!--Matt Winterhalter--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Matt Winterhalter</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:matt.winterhalter@niagara-gazette.com">matt.winterhalter@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Filling a vacancy on the board was the first order of business during Tuesday night’s village trustee meeting.
With his wife Jackie standing by his side, Bruce Sutherland was sworn in as the newest member of the board. He had served on the village Planning and Historical Preservation Commission before resigning Tuesday night.
A Lewiston-Porter graduate, Sutherland returned to the village eight years ago. He has a Masters in management from the University of Southern California. Sutherland also served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel and worked as a captain on a major airline. He has three children and three grandchildren.
Sutherland also serves on the board of trustees for the Historical Association of Lewiston as treasurer and building/grounds representative and on the Niagara Frontier Country Club board as grounds chairman.
“You have set a positive course for Lewiston,” he told fellow trustees Tuesday night, “and I hope to contribute to those ends.
“I’m happy to join you guys.”
Village Mayor Bill Geiben joked that despite the fact Sutherland was a Lew-Port graduate, he was never a student of his, before adding in a more serious tone, “I know he’s a gentlemen who comes to board meetings prepared.”
Sutherland replaces former trustee Mike Marra, who was elected to the Lewiston Town Board in November. Despite the fact Marra’s term isn’t up for another two years, Sutherland will have to run for election to the board in June.
He won’t be alone.
Geiben said every member of the board with the exception of Trustee Ron Winkley will see their terms come to an end in June.
As for the village’s Planning and Historical Preservation Commission, Ernie Krell was unanimously approved to take Sutherland’s spot Tuesday. Loretta Frankovitch was also voted to a spot on the board. She replaces another board trustee, Victor Eydt.
In other action, the board approved agreements with Amendola Properties, for property off of N. Sixth Street, and the Hastings Family, for the former Frontier House, to use the two parking lots for public parking.
“(Richard Hastings) is moving ahead with development,” Geiben said after the meeting. “But he’s not ready to make any announcements.”
Geiben added that Hastings has also agreed to “spruce up the property.”
