<!--Mark Scheer--><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 Mark Scheer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com">mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
City officials may spend more than $8,000 on the construction of a cabinet to house pieces of memorabilia donated at City Hall.
Members of the City Council are expected to vote today on a recommendation that Viola Cabinet Co. on Hyde Park Boulevard be hired to build a cherry wood display cabinet that would hold items donated to the city by various community groups, sports figures and organizations over the years.
The agreement calls for the city to pay the cabinet company $8,640 to build and install the case, which would include framed doors with tempered glass, shelving, lighting and security locks on all doors.
The project stems from a recommendation made last year by former council chairman Chris Robins who suggested a case might be a good way for the city to allow residents to enjoy items that have been donated to city officials over the years, including autographed pieces such as items signed by former Niagara Falls High School basketball star and current NBA player Jonny Flynn.
Funding for the construction of the display case would come from a portion of the interest earned on the city’s share of casino revenue.
“We’ve collected a lot of stuff over the past few years and we don’t have a place to display them,” said current City Council Chairman Sam Fruscione. “Nobody in the community can come out and appreciate them, so I think it’s a good investment.”
