LEWISTON: Reiter still in a ‘Pickle’

Lewiston

March 8, 2010

By Nick Mattera The Niagara Gazette Mon Mar 08, 2010, 09:51 PM EST

The Town Board discussed opportunities to obtain Niagara River Greenway funds for two park projects and put a lid on the controversy surrounding the use of a town-owned vehicle at Monday’s work session.

The board unanimously approved a resolution to decommission an 11-year-old highway department truck and transfer its usage to the town. A second motion, also unanimously passed, allows Supervisor Steven L. Reiter to use the vehicle, which Reiter has dubbed “The Pickle”, for town business in lieu of vouchering for mileage.

According to a letter from Deputy Highway Superintendent Kevin Payne, the 1999 Chevrolet half-ton pickup is no longer deemed serviceable to the his department and he was therefore leaving its use to the town.

The board said Reiter’s use of the vehicle would be cheaper than paying the 50 cents per mile allowable by the IRS.

“I don’t have any big problem with this,” board member Ernest Palmer said. “The cost that we are paying for gasoline, I’m sure, is still less than any voucher for mileage that would be submitted.”

The question of Reiter’s use of the vehicle was raised by Democratic Party Chairwoman Diane Roberts when she alleged she saw Reiter’s truck at a Realty USA office in the Village of Lewiston after normal business hours.

Reiter said the time in question was prior to the January reorganization meeting and he was meeting with board members individually to decide on department heads.

Reiter said the truck will be parked every night at the town highway garage.

“I would prefer to park it at the highway garage because its like home to (the truck),” Reiter said. “That way it’s visible, everybody will know where it’s at.”

During January, Reiter used $309.84 in town-purchased gasoline, in February, the amount dropped to $249. The gas allowance is taken from the $12,000 Supervisor Contractual line in the budget, which can be used for supplies, gas and other miscellaneous expenses incurred over the course of a year.

Reiter added during the meeting that he didn’t think the truck would make it through the rest of his two-year term.

In other matters, board members said they are requesting greenway funds for two separate park projects that are “shovel ready.”

Board member Michael Marra said the town is in the process of putting together two proposals to submit to a greenway committee which would ask for $212,775 in funding at Kiwanis Park and $51,000 at the Lewiston Plateau Dog Park.

He added the town currently has about $1.2 million in greenway funds available.

At Kiwanis Park, the board is proposing the addition of two large playground units to replace a current one built in 1995. The playground would include a state-of-the-art “GT Jams Unit” which is a series of percussion instruments, which will be accessible to residents with disabilities. There will also be proper curbing and ramps to provide access to the park for the disabled.

The playground floor will be made with a rubber surface to ensure safety.

Mike Dashineau, director of parks and recreation, said no town funds have gone to the dog park so far. He said the greenway funds would primarily be used for fencing and small amounts of landscaping.

The board will submit the presentations on Monday, which is followed by a 30-day public comment period. Town officials should know in early May whether the projects are eligible for funding.

The board also voted to allow the highway department to purchase a $99,000 tractor trailer and a $44,527 trailer.

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