FORESTVILLE - Bids for the sale of the dump truck were not opened at the Forestville Village Board's Tuesday meeting after the proper procedures for advertising the bids were not followed. The bids will be re-advertised and the 1993 one-ton dump truck, with plow, is available for viewing at the village barn between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

A special meeting will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. to open the bids for the 1993 dump truck and new Class A pumper for the fire department. The bids will also be awarded at the meeting.

Rex Tolman, project engineer for the ongoing water project, came to discuss the survey of the water mains, which will cost an estimated $40,000. Tolman wants the survey to be done "before the snow flies."

"If the funding is available, I think we should move forward with it," Tolman said.

The board moved to go forward with the survey and will meet with Tolman at 2 p.m. on Sunday for further discussion of the project.

Cleaning of the creek was briefly discussed. Mayor Richard Yeager said that he was told by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that only a 100-foot area would be addressed.

"With everything winding down from the flood and with the collapse of the building, I'd like to thank everybody again who helped out with that - county workers, state workers, fire departments, volunteer firemen, fire police, village workers," Yeager said. "It was a trying experience."

Resident Sharon Smith inquired about the ownership of the recently demolished building on Main Street and wanted to know who paid for the demolition.

Yeager responded that the building is owned by three separate parties and said the village is in litigation and is in the process of "recouping" the funds used for the demolition. Essentially, he said, the taxpayers will be paying for the demolition "down the road."

"It was a safety hazard - had to be done right away," Yeager said. "You could not say 'Well, let's wait and see...' It would still be standing there and the bricks would still be falling."

Yeager said the village was advised by the zoning officer, village attorney and the Chautauqua County Fire/EMS to demolish the building.

"It was sad - it was pretty emotional," Yeager said. "But it had to come down."

In other business:

Smith, of the Skate Park and Playground Committee, spoke about the progress of the project. Smith and her son, Kyle, are doing research on grants and collecting facts and figures on the village. In order to gauge community support for the project, Smith issued petitions to local businesses and collected 350 signatures within a week. The committee will meet again at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 in the fire hall. Anyone who is interested in the project is welcome to attend.

Jeanne Polisoto submitted a letter to the board and voiced her concerns about the tree that was removed from her property without her permission; her letter to the board about the issue, with FOIL questions, had yet to yield a response. Polisoto also addressed complaints about her presence on Cedar Street and wanted to clarify that she was there to do business.

The board voted to end the designated period of probation on Nov. 1 for Village Clerk Marcia Petersen, one month early.

The mayor commented that he has received complaints and reminded residents to comply with the dog leash law. As the winter season approaches, the mayor said, there will be no parking on the streets from 2 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1 through April 15 for snowplowing, and it will be enforced.

"I'd like to encourage all voters to get out and vote on Election Day," Yeager said after the meeting. "Even if the candidates do not have any opposition, give them your support because we need everyone out to vote and voice their opinion to make this a better county to live in."

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