Hearing scheduled for Deanna Drive in the Town of Boston

The Boston Town Board agreed to schedule a public hearing concerning the rezoning of land behind Deanna Drive. The board agreed to schedule this hearing for March 7 at 7:40 p.m. in light of a decision made by the town planning board on Jan. 24 to reject a proposal to rezone the land behind Deanna Drive to allow for more dense development. The action happened at the Feb. 1 meeting.

In the planning board’s decision to make an “unfavorable recommendation” to rezone the land, members cited their “opposition to high density housing, resistance to sprawl [and] lack of access to amenities” among other concerns as a part of the reasons why they rejected the proposal.

Town Councilman and planning board liaison Jeffery Genzel, said that the rezoning of land from R-A to R-3, which would allow for more dense development, received a positive recommendation from both the town engineer and the town planner, who said that it fits within the town study.

The Boston Planning Board meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

In another matter, Town Supervisor Martin Ballowe and Councilman Jay Boardway said that they would meet with Hamburg Town Supervisor Steven Walters on Feb. 3 to discuss the cost of the town’s dispatch agreement with Hamburg. Boardway reported that the Town of Boston pays Hamburg $82.07 every time there is a fire or EMS dispatch. Because Boston shelled out approximately $54,000 for dispatch calls last year, Boardway said that the town is seeking to “renegotiate its contract” with Hamburg.

The supervisor cited Orchard Park’s cost per dispatch as being $17.50. One of the reasons why Boston is seeking to renegotiate its contract with Hamburg.

In other board news:

• Cathy Maghran’s application to become a member of the planning board was approved and Anthony Zenuik was appointed as an alternate member to that board.

• Normand and Sandy Queeno, Patrick Penrod and Dan Thiel were appointed to positions of fire police within the Boston Fire Company, under the condition that “certificates of proper training be turned into the town clerk.”

• The board approved a motion to allow the Boston Democratic Club to use town facilities on Saturday, April 7 for the annual Easter egg hunt, as well as a motion to approve the Boston Emergency Squad to use town facilities on Feb. 25 for its MCI drill.

• Genzel said that services for the new Cole Road water extension will begin in the spring.

• Ballowe reported that the town is utilizing money from a NYSERDA grant to update lighting and signs within the town hall to make them more energy efficient.

•Town Clerk David Shenk said that the town will abide by a recent law signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to increase the public’s “understanding” of what its local municipality is voting on before a meeting by posting its board packets to the town’s website on the Friday before the board meeting.

Shenk added that the online packets will be removed on the Thursday after the meeting and that some information could be blacked out for legal reasons.

• The town received a $100,000 grant for the Boston Crossroads storm drainage and a $265,559 grant for its Rural and Transportation Service. According to Genzel, the Rural and Transportation Service helps seniors and the disabled in the town travel elsewhere within Erie County.

• The board agreed to pay all fund bills in the amount of 89,300.62.

• Councilman Gary Vara announced that Conservation Advisory Council is looking for new members. Interested parties can contact Vara by email at CouncilmanVara@TownofBoston.com or by phone at 941-6113 ext. 39.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.