Here are a few highlights from the May 20, 2008, Town of Canandaigua Board meeting.

Bob Styker from the Ontario County Soil and Water Commission gave a presentation on creating grassed waterways to control storm water runoffs. This presentation highlighted the need for municipal and private cooperation to achieve long-term solutions. Mr. Styker and Highway Superintendent Jim Hecker explained that our town has a project that fits the need for such cooperation, as it crosses Buffalo Street and on to the Outhouse property.

Our supervisor noted that there would be a FREE HOUSEHOD HAZARDDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY on September 15, 2008, at the County landfill. You must pre-register. Details will appear on the Town of Canandaigua Web site (new window).

Talks are ongoing with the City regarding the future structure and cost sharing of our joint paid and volunteer fire department. Supervisor Lloyd Kinnear and Councilperson Oksana Fuller are our representatives in those discussions.

After a presentation from the Parks and Recreation Committee detailing the proposed improvements for Fire Hall Park, the board approved spending $8,856 for 52 trees for the park. This will be the first phase in the development of this park as outlined in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan which the Town Board adopted last year. The other was to approve $7,594 to upgrade existing playground equipment in Pierce Park.

The Board approved resolutions moving the Pactiv Small Cities grant process along. This will enable Pactiv to receive the grant funding, once new jobs are created.

The Board is still working on the resolution to increase the Parks and Recreation fees assessed to new dwellings built in the town. Our town attorney, Carol Maue, promises it will be ready for a vote at the next meeting.

There was an agreement reached concerning the official subcommittees of the Town Board and the Open Meetings Law. It was decided by common consent to treat the Code Committee meetings, and any other subcommittee meetings for which this law applies, as open to the public for the remainder of the year. You will see the public notices in the Daily Messenger announcing the meetings. The Board agreed to reassess these subcommittees and applicable rules of procedure at the next organizational meeting in January 2009.