Newark East Ave. bridge is a go
In a special village board session held Friday, the contract for reconstruction of the
East Avenue bridge was awarded.
 It was necessary for the board to re-word
and pass a new resolution that allowed for a higher cost of construction. The bids had all
come in too high to stay within the $800,000 limit. The total cost of the bridge project
including engineering costs and contingencies is now estimated at $860,000.
The new resolution, introduced by village trustee John Palermo and seconded by Norm
VanDemortal, will allow the board to accept the low bid of $718,480 from Vector
Construction and proceed with the bridge rehab at once.
Trustees Palermo, VanDemortal, Blandino and Mayor Pirelli voted for the new resolution
while trustee Tony Virts.
Trustee Virts, was upset about the source of the additional monies to be used to get
the bridge project off the ground. Virts had hoped to direct upwards of $100,000 towards
beautification projects and a possible skating rink. Mayor Pirelli called the bridge
critical.
In a letter to the board dated the same day as the meeting, David W. Fradin, President
and Chief Operating Officer of IEC Electronics made a turse statement regarding the
bridge: 'If we believe that this community is not supportive of the needs of a company
such as IEC, we may choose to redeploy our resources to communities that are more
supportive.'
In other matters dealt with at the special Friday meeting:
- the board voted to schedule a public hearing September 15 at 7:20 p.m. regarding
changing the speed limit on West Shore Blvd. from 30 MPH to 45 MPH.
- Highway Manager Jim Sadler was gven the go-ahead to rent a tub grinder at a cost of
$3,500 to be used at the Vienna St. landfill.
- The board (minus Trustee Virts who had excused himself from the meeting at 5
P.M.) went to executive session to discuss personnel and real estate matters.
- After the executive session, a motion was made by Trustee VanDemortel to address the
three proposals in effect for purchase of land in the industrial park. Trustee VandeMortal
made a motion that the village sell a parcel of land to Pal Mart to expand their existing
business to accommodate a nationally recognized fast food chain (Arby's) and
additional fueling capacity. The motion failed to get a second.
- The board re-entered executive sesson to discuss real estate matters.
- After re-convening, there was a motion by Trustee Blandino, seconded by VanDemortel, and
unanimously carried, to sell the parcel of land behind Pal Mart to Richard Wheaton and
Alan Shober for the purpose of constructing a recreational facility to include miniature
golf, batting cages, and go carts. Several contingencies were part of the proposal.
Among them were the requirements that Wheaton and Shober must first purchase the Eastern
Dairy (Palmer) and Bilotta Buildings before taking title to industrial park property.
- Several residents attending the special meeting were upset that the meeting was held in
the small board conference room when the large court room was not being used. Village
Clerk/Treasurer Michael Tonovitz later indicated that he took full responsibility for this
oversight. Tonovitz indicated that normally, special sessions are held in the conference
room, and he should have moved the meeting to the court room.
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Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513
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