By Nick Mattera
A motion by the Town Board to approve work by the Army Corps of Engineers at the former Lake Ontario Ordinance Works site was rescinded following a brief executive session during Monday’s Town Board work session.
The Army Corps had sent a letter to Supervisor Steven L. Reiter outlining a series of jobs that would eliminate imminent public safety hazards present at former Department of Defense-owned site. Work would include:
n Demolishing above ground structures including reinforced concrete, railings and wood tanks.
n Installing perimeter fencing, signage and steel gratings over pits.
n Characterizing water and sludge found in pits
n Transportation and disposal of non-hazardous debris
The letter asked the town to sign off on the work and forward a copy to Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, and the Corps so a project schedule could be created.
The town originally voted to sign off on the letter but following an executive session, it revoked its decision.
“We pulled back the motion to approve the scope and referred it to the attorneys to make sure that we are signing off on the full extent of the work that needs to be done,” board member Alfonso Bax said.
The entities have discussed for years who is ultimately responsible for certain portions of the 7,500 acre site and Bax said the town is being diligent to ensure it is not signing onto or accepting liability for something it shouldn’t.
The work is being paid for with funds from the Office of Economic Adjustment, with the help of Slaughter.
Reiter said the site poses a danger to students who cut through it to get to and from Lewiston-Porter schools.
“Its a very dangerous situation, there is evidence children are riding four-wheelers or even walking through and if they fell in one of those pits you may never find them again,” Reiter said. “On top of that, we don’t really know what’s in the bottom of them.”
Reiter said following the meeting the attorney’s would asses the situation and make a decision on how to move forward.
