Mike LaFlair – 2nd Ward Councilor

Maxwell Memorial Library:
A Community Needs Assessment and Building Program Report
Commissioned by Maxwell Memorial Library
Study and Report by Rodney Perry, The Britton Consultancy, November 2013

In early 2013, the Board of Trustees and Director of Maxwell Memorial Library budgeted funds to hire a library consultant who could conduct a needs assessment of the library’s community, the Town of Camillus. They knew we needed to grow, but in what direction? In programs and services? In materials? In outreach? In physical space? In how their physical space is configured?

The library issued a Request for Proposal in Spring 2013. They received three viable responses from consultants from Long Island, Ithaca, and Rochester and ultimately selected The Britton Consultancy, with principle Rodney Perry, a retired librarian based in Rochester who had consulted with several other Onondaga County libraries in the past decade. Through the summer, Mr. Perry worked with library director Katy Benson and others to gather a deeper understanding of and data about Maxwell Library, the OCPL library system, and Camillus. In early October, the library hosted Mr. Perry as he led two focus groups comprising community members, patrons, library Friends, and board trustees. He also met with library staff to hear about the library’s functional needs.

In November 2013, Mr. Perry delivered a report to the Board in summary form, along with a presentation of recommendations for forward actions over the next few years and supporting data. Based on feedback from the Board and Director, he produced this final report in its complete form. The Maxwell Library Board and Director are acting on Mr. Perry’s “Thoughts and Recommendations” (page 26) and “Observations on the Way Forward” (page 28) by forming a library partnership with Fairmount Community Library and creating a steering committee with representatives from both libraries, the Town of Camillus, the West Genesee Central School District, and OCPL. This committee is charged with looking at how Maxwell and Fairmount can together serve Camillus residents now and in the future.  I am serving on this committee.  We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas about issues this report brings up and talking with you about them.

You can access the report by clicking here:  Britton_Report_FINAL_2014

A recent report on NY’s 50 safest cities finds Camillus coming in at 24.  It was developed from a website called Safewise.  They paired data from the FBI’s 2011 crime in the US report with their own internal research resulting in a comprehensive list for cities in excess of 15,000 residents.  Here are their comments:

A commitment to youth programming and affordable and diverse housing make Camillus an attractive place to live, and a good value. And when you call this western suburb of Syracuse home, your family will also enjoy safe neighborhoods. Less than 10 violent crimes were reported to authorities in 2011.  Camillus’ Town Shop was founded over 40 years ago with the goal of offering youth a place they could count on for guidance and support as well as engaging in cultural and recreational experiences. Town Shop also encourages community service. Kids participate in community events like beautification projects and serving meals to those in need. Guitars, kayaks, tents and cross-country skis are just some of the equipment young people enjoy access to. Trips and adventures like whale watching off Cape Cod round-out the diverse activities Town Shop offers. If you’re looking for a community that’s safe and values its youth, a move to Camillus could be in your future.

The proposed Tim Horton’s in the SW corner of the Home Depot Plaza parking lot has received all its necessary approvals.  I have reached out to the developer to see what there time table is for construction.  As soon as they respond I will inform everyone of their plans.

The Township 5 center is beginning to fill out after the Camillus Town Planning Board’s approval of site plans for five additional buildings destined for restaurants and shops.

Site plan approval is first step developers must take before work can begin on a project.

The new buildings are part of the $58 million project by the Cameron Group located off Route 5. It will have 600,000 square feet of space for stores, restaurants, a theater-bowling complex, and a 96-unit apartment complex. Work on the complex’s most anticipated retailer, the first Costco in the region, is slated to begin in May.

Some of the buildings already contain tenants, but plans for the largest, a 21,634 square-foot building, shows five sections for tenants that are yet to be named.

In addition to the large building, the board last week approved an 11,500 square-foot building that will contain a Buffalo Wild Wings, a GNC and an additional unnamed tenant.

Plans were also approved for an 11,039 square-foot building that will contain a Red Robin restaurant, Metro Mattress, Sally Beauty Supply and Mystique Nail Spa.

The Papaya Asian Kitchen and Bar is heading to a 9,107 square-foot building that also includes a Gertrude Hawks candy store and a Subway sandwich shop.

The smallest building approved is 7,250 square feet. It will contain Chat Wireless, Hair Studio One, Hoopla! frozen yogurt and Mesa Grande Taqueria.  Previously, Long Horn Steakhouse had building plans approved by the Planning Board and their construction will coincide with the other four structures.

These five buildings are for the “retail and restaurant” phase of Township 5. Overall, the general effect of the buildings will incorporate a village environment. Proposed plans for each of these buildings also call for the architectural elements to be extended around the entirety of the buildings as these buildings will be visible from all angles. Also, in each building there will be multiple store fronts and the proposed plan calls for landscaping in any common area for each of the buildings.

Here is the agenda for the upcoming ZBA meeting.  No items are on the docket for the 2nd Ward.

PUBLIC HEARING/DECISIONS

1. Timoshuk Leonty TM#: 006.-01-04.4

6128 Breed Rd, Camillus, NY 13031

Area Variance(s): to build a new home 10’ from the north property line and 32’ from the south property line.

2. Paul Ponto TM#: 042.-04-18

120 Germania Ave. Syracuse, NY 13219

Area Variance: to build a 16’ x 30’ detached garage in the front of the rear of the house.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that 31 law enforcement agencies across New York State will share nearly $1 million in grants to reduce, solve and prevent crime. Administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Operation IMPACT Tools grants were made available to law enforcement agencies in 40 Upstate counties that had not otherwise participated in the state’s Operation IMPACT program.

The Town and Village of Camillus Police Department will receive funding in the amount of $33,800.00 to purchase covert law enforcement equipment that will assist our agency solving the increasing amount of burglary, larceny and stolen vehicle cases that are occurring in our community.

The Camillus Police Department was the only police agency in Onondaga County to be selected to receive funding under this grant.

For those interested in the future of Interstate 81, NYSDOT will be presenting the latest design alternatives for the removal/replacement of the I-81 viaduct on Thursday, May 1 at the Everson Museum. There will be presentations at 4:00, 6:00, and 7:30 p.m. For more information, please see the flyer below or visit www.I81opportunities.org.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is found in rock and soil. It enters a home through cracks and openings in the foundation. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is also the second leading cause of lung cancer. There are no immediate symptoms that will alert you in the presence of radon. It typically takes years of exposure before any noticeable problems surface.
Onondaga County has been designated by the New York State Department of Health as a “high risk radon county” based on average basement readings. Testing for radon is the only way to know if you have radon in your home. The Onondaga County Health Department is offering a limited number of free radon test kits. If you are interested in a radon kit, call the Onondaga County Health Department Bureau of Environmental Health at 435-1649.

Here is the Planning Board Agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.  Please note Item #2 is in the 2nd Ward:

New Business:

1. St. Joseph’s Church/5600 W, Genesee St. TM # 031.-07-40.0 Site Plan Review for Special Use (addition of multi-purpose room)
2. Frank’s Theatre/ Township 5 TM # 017.05-65.1 Amended Site Plan new construction

Here is the Agenda for Tuesday’s meeting:

PUBLIC HEARING (S)

1. Consider amending the Camillus Municipal Code, Chapter 34-Fences, §34.7-Exceptions, the purpose of which is to allow a fence in the front yard of the corner lot located at 125 Sylvan Way, TM# 030.-03-13.0.  (Per Councilor Dave Callahan)
2. Consider amending the Camillus Municipal Code, Chapter 34-Fences, §34.7-Exceptions, the purpose of which is to allow a  fence in the front yard of the corner lot located at 124 Patterson Drive, TM# 041.-05-26.0. (Per Councilor, Bill Davern)
3. Consider the zone classification from R1 to LBO for the property located at 202 Kasson Road, TM# 064.-07-35.0.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Approve the facility use agreement from June 30, 2014 – August 8, 2014 between the Town of Camillus and the West Genesee Central School District for the 2014 Day Camp Program and authorize the Supervisor to sign.  (Per Eric Bacon, Parks and Recreation Director)
2. Set the date, time, and place as May 22, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the Camillus Municipal Building to open sealed bids for the Terrace Way Sewer Repair Project..  (Per B & L Engineers, P.C.)
3. Approve the 2013 budget transfers.

Camillus Parks and Recreation Department:  (Per Eric Bacon, Parks and Recreation Director)

Amt. Transfer From:                               Transfer To:

$907.20   Town Shop Supplies                   Town Shop Mileage

$4,075.28    Administration Supplies     Rec Admin Supervisor

$694.50   Rec Admin.Equip                          Rec Admin. PR

$104.89   Rec Admin.Pro Dev                     Rec Admin.PR

$208.55   Rec Admin.Off Mach                   Rec Admin.PR

$2,317.24 Parks.Repairs & Parts               Parks.Personnel Services

$1,574.15 Parks.Repairs & Parts              Parks.Gas & Lube

$390.86        Parks.Repairs & Parts          Parks.Clothing

$1,595.81    Adult Activities Clerk         Adult Act.Contract Exp Snr CtrTrip

Buildings and Grounds:  (Per Tom Hart, Building and Grounds Supervisor)

Amt: Transfer From: Transfer To:

Amt: Transfer From: Transfer To:

$1006.76    Maint. Worker 3                Maint. Worker 1

$68.62       Maint. Worker 3                Maint. Worker 2

$239.13      Maint. Worker 3                Custodian P/T

$784.30      Town Shop                        Buildings Water                                                                                             $1,209.26   Dog Pound                         Sims Store

$107.47      Dog Pound                         Gillie

$7,578.64   Highway                             Municipal

$1,840.64   Highway                             Senior Center