BROCTON - Town of Portland leaders are sticking to their guns in their attempt to have the highway garage floor repaired.
The council voted earlier in the year to obtain the services of Urban Engineers Inc. as a third-party facilitator to professionally assess the potential fix for the floor. Repairs made to date have been unsatisfactory to the town and the highway department, and Urban Engineers submitted its assessment earlier in the year to the engineering and contracting firms involved.
"I've been in contact with E & M Engineering and H & K, and they still want to try and do some grinding on the floor. That's not what Urban Engineers recommended. I think we should still recommend what the proposal from Urban calls for; we don't want to get into any more attempts at grinding. I think it needs to be done the way their report said," said Town Supervisor Dan Schrantz, during the town council meeting.
Council members concurred and Schrantz noted he will be returning to the two firms to reiterate the board's stance that the resolution they want to see for the garage floor is what is recommended by the third party facilitator.
In other matters, council members discussed efforts to assess the restoration work under way at the Boltz residence as a result of Water District 7 being created.
Each council member inspected the property once Sicar Construction showed up to try and restore the property to its original condition.
All agreed that on the surface the job appears to be satisfactory, but none were sure what the condition of the property in question would be like if the couple attempted to mow that section with lawnmower, as they claim they were able to do before construction work dismantled their property.
"We have to be satisfied to the best of our ability with what we can do as a board. If we're just going by the pictures, I'm not sure. I know I wouldn't put a lawnmower out there at this point. I think it could stand another layer or two of dirt. The contractor is saying they've made an effort to correct it, but they were the ones who made it worse in the first place," stated Councilman Rick Manzella.
Manzella, who is an independent grape farm owner familiar with maintaining property, and other council members suggested a better picture might be visible once the land is brush chopped to see if ruts still exist on the property.
"I think we should tell them, we want to see it brush chopped, and another two loads of dirt put in there," added Schrantz.
Bicentennial Committee Chair Dave Travis reported that the celebration's website is currently up and running, and can be found at portlandbicentennial.org. The committee is busy selling hats and custom designed community calendars, which will feature birthdays, memorials, anniversaries, or any other special event marked at each date as fundraisers for the grand celebration planned for the town's 200th birthday.
A Nov. 3 spaghetti dinner at the Brocton Legion has also been slated for fundraising. The committee is putting together a wine tasting event to be held at 21 Brix later this year. Also in November, committee members will be selling chances on a New York Lottery number-based fundraiser. Anyone wishing to join in the planning stages of the celebration is invited to attend the committee's next regular meeting, to be held today at 7 p.m. at the Legion.
Schrantz also reported that core samples, as well as soil samples have been taken as part of the Peerless Street Bridge project.
"All are being analyzed, and a complete report will be given to E & M Engineering. They will then contact us with final plans drawn up for two different types of structures, and then we can proceed forward," stated Schrantz.
Water Maintenance Worker Drew Smith also reminded council members that the water tower inspection deadline is soon approaching, and provided the council with two quotes from firms that could provide that work.
The council resolved to obtain the services of Pittsburgh Tank & Tower, which will complete an exterior and interior inspection of the structure, and provide the town with a full report and DVD of their inspection process.
Council members also approved a Sept. 8 Com-munity Carnival to be held at Portland's Community Park, presented by Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. The town supervisor advised Town Clerk Roxane Sobecki to follow up with the town's insurance provider to confirm insurance coverage for a slated bounce house as part of the festival.
Schrantz also has communicated to the town departments he would like to see budgets turned in on or before Sept. 7, because the council will be preparing to review and adopt an annual budget. Members will also be meeting with Town Assessor Deanna Wheeler Thursday to discuss a possible re-valuation in the town.
The town council will reconvene on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. for its next meeting.
