Mike LaFlair – 2nd Ward Councilor

We are getting close to that time of year again where the town highway department will pick-up your leaves and brush. The upcoming times include the weeks of April 6 & 20, May 4 & 18. The leaves and brush should be placed at the edge of the property in large paper bags, boxes, or cans (nothing in plastic bags will be picked up). Larger piles will be noted and slated for later pickup with grapple equipment. The Highway Department does not pick up grass clippings. Brush piles should be no greater than five feet in length, six inches in diameter, with no metal or other materials attached to it, and placed out in separate piles. The Highway Department does not offer any special pickups. Please do not put yard waste in the road; it is hazardous and illegal!

There are a few wet spots in Reed Webster Park so do not be alarmed if you see some dirt fill being loaded there. Lanco, a local contractor, has agreed to do this for the town at no expense.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the premier parks and recreation advocacy agency in the country (www.nrpa.org). The NRPA offers two separate certifications for professionals in the field. The first is the Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and the second is the Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE). Taken from NRPA website:
The CPRE establishes a national standard for managerial, administrative and executive parks and recreation professionals. This mastery-level credential focuses on the practical knowledge and current real-world skills necessary in today’s changing park and recreation environment. In order to sit for the CPRE exam, candidates must possess a current CPRP Certification and have a Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of professional full-time manager experience or have a Master’s degree or higher and 4 years of professional full-time manager experience.

Our Parks and Recreation Director, Eric Bacon, has had his CPRP certification for several years now. Recently, he took the CPRE exam and passed it with flying colors. He became only the 3rd person in New York State and the 157th person in the country to achieve this distinction. Eric has done outstanding work here in the town of Camillus and I am proud to let the community know of his accomplishments. His dedication and passion is unwavering as he continues to pursue opportunities to advance his knowledge. What makes a community is its people and I want to congratulate Eric for his commitment in assisting in making ours stronger.

Construction of 96 apartments is set to begin behind the Costco store at the Township 5 shopping center. Morgan Management LLC, of Pittsford, will begin construction as soon as the weather permits, said Tom Valenti, partner in the Cameron Group, the developer of Township 5. Plans are for eight, two-story buildings containing 12 apartments each. Construction will take about a year. The market-rate apartments will be built north of the brand new shopping center, which opened at the northwest corner of Route 5 and Hinsdale Road in October with the Syracuse area’s first Costco Wholesale club store. The apartments will be connected to the shopping center by a road and a sidewalk. Valenti said the convenience of having shopping within walking distance, combined with easy access to Route 5, should drive demand for the apartments. They will be the first new apartments built in Camillus in some time, he said. Morgan Management is the same company that developed the Rivers Pointe apartments behind the shopping center that includes a Home Depot and a Target store off Route 31 in Clay.

Tomorrows Agenda for the Town Board Meeting:
NEW BUSINESS

1. Authorize Barton & Loguidice to prepare the portions of the MS4 Annual Stormwater Report that are required to be completed by the Town, at a cost not to exceed $2,400.00.

2. Accept the deed from the State of New York for the portion of the Erie Canal Lands located behind the New York State maintenance facility, surplus property No. 03-lll-821, Map 26-C, Parcel 45.

ADDENDUM

1. Reject all bids for the lease of the Town owned billboard at the corner of West Genesee Street and Munro Road.

2. Approve the sublease of the Crown Communications Cellular Tower to light squared which will pay the monthly sum of $500 to the Town of Camillus pursuant to the lease with any provided escalations.

The Brasserie, a new restaurant coming to Township 5, is aiming to create the vibe of a neighborhood bar with a European flair. The restaurant’s owners want it to become a weekly stop for people, not just some place customers visit for special occasions. The menu will include appetizers, salads, paninis and late-night dinner, said Michele Roesch, who will co-own the eatery with her mother Nora. The plan is to open in June. The Brasserie will have 16 taps for craft beer and live music on the weekends. The wine selection will include some New York varieties. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight during the week and until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Michele graduated last year from the College of Saint Rose in Albany and Nora runs the bar and restaurant at the Tuscarora Golf Club. Michele’s father is Jerry “Bones” Roesch, who served as one of the grand marshals in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Syracuse. Jerry Roesch owns George O’Dea’s pub in Syracuse’s Tipp Hill neighborhood. The Brasserie will be located in 3,000 square feet in the Township 5 building with Buffalo Wild Wings and GNC.

Also coming soon is Mitsuba Japanese Steakhouse, an Asian fusion, hibachi-style eatery. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant expects to open this summer. The Township 5 location will be Mitsuba’s fifth. The chain has a hibachi spot and a fine dining location in New Hartford, along with restaurants in Rome and Ithaca.

An Auburn-based Tex-Mex restaurant, Mesa Grande Taqueria, is set to open at the development in the next few weeks.

The U.S. Rowing will be bringing the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in Masters Rowing to Onondaga Lake this summer! The event will involve several hundred rowers and will bring millions of dollars in economic activity to the area. This was made possible by the Onondaga County Legislature investing $50,000.00 in a new, seven lane, 2,000 meter rowing course. I hope all of you will take some time to come out and enjoy the competition for yourselves this summer! The success of this event will determine if we can bring more races, and possibly larger races, to the area in the future. Our local rowing club, the Syracuse Chargers, is looking to secure as many regattas as possible. The legislature will be doing all they can to assist in bringing in more of these great events to the lake and the greater Syracuse area.

For more on the event or on the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club, you can visit their website with a link to the story here –

http://www.chargersrowing.org/

A message from the Camillus Police Chief in regards to Township 5 – I know there was some concern what the impact of Township Five would be regarding matters of public safety. Since the opening of this new retail/residential complex on October 23, 2104 we have responded to businesses at Township Five 59 times including:
Alarm Calls – 31
Ambulance Calls – 7
Motor Vehicle Accidents – 5
Suspicious Vehicles – 3
Traffic Stops – 3
Assist a Citizen – 2
Miscellaneous – 8

We are hopeful that as Township Five adds more tenants and completes build out that the call volume and criminal activity at this location remain low.

I will keep you advised.

The commission on local government modernization, Consensus CNY, has finished the first phase of its work. The baseline review of all local government services has been done. You’ll see an announcement below of four sessions in which the results will be presented, sessions that will also be the kickoff of phase two – the collection of ideas for change. We’re organized governmentally for horse and buggy days, which puts us in the slow lane on our journey to economic and other kinds of greatness we have the potential to achieve. Join us! Shape the Future of Syracuse and Onondaga County. You’re invited to join Consensus – the commission on local government modernization – as it kicks-off a series of community conversations across Onondaga County on the future of local governance.

City Hall Commons
201 E. Washington Street, Syracuse
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 from 12:15 to 1:30 pm
RSVP requested: www.consensuscny.com

This session will feature a special presentation by Dr. Joseph Stefko, CEO of the Center for Governmental Research, detailing the commission’s newly published “Preliminary Baseline Review: Who Does What & What it Costs.” You can access the report here: Consensus-Baseline-Report Your priorities and input are the critical next step in guiding the commission’s study of options outlining how we are governed, and how our public services are delivered. All are encouraged to be a part of these public discussions, which will lead to the commission’s recommendations to be released at the end of this year. Onondaga County is the first location in New York to undertake this type of review and communitywide conversation. Upcoming sessions include:

Southwest Community Center
Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 6:00 pm

DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Salina Town Hall
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm

Additional sessions will be added across Onondaga County in the coming weeks. Visit www.consensuscny.com for information on future meetings and to sign up for weekly Consensus emails.

As everyone is aware we have had an exceptional winter. Due to persistent cold and snowfall there has been a higher level of accumulation. The public is being asked, if they are able, to clear any fire hydrants on their property and to assist anyone who isn’t able in clearing hydrants on their property or alert the fire department so they can clear it. We have great fire departments that support our town but they are served volunteers, your neighbors. Please assist if you can.