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Olean committee refers city garage planning to strategic planning after salt-shed permitting issues
Summary
The City Operations Committee discussed a temporary salt-shed fix and regulatory limits on using a site near a stream, then voted to refer the broader city garage planning to the strategic planning body for a later meeting.
The City Operations Committee on March 4 debated short-term storage for road salt and broader planning for a new city garage, and voted to refer the garage planning to the city’s Strategic Planning group.
Committee members focused first on the city garage’s salt-shed needs after staff described regulatory constraints at a preferred site. "We have to get signed up by DEC," said Bill O'Brien, DPW director, explaining that a proposed Front Street location is close enough to a stream that state oversight and permitting apply.
The discussion centered on whether a prefabricated structure the Department of Public Works purchased could be moved to the garage lot as a temporary measure, and whether removing a condemned structure and reusing the purchased unit would avoid a separate DEC permitting process. Alderman John said moving the purchased structure would be a "temporary solution until you find a city garage, hopefully permanent location." O'Brien said the DEC permitting requirement for setbacks related to runoff means staff must “deal with that” before using the Front Street site.
Committee members asked staff to check regulatory and permitting details and report back. John asked staff to return with answers in four weeks; staff agreed to research contacts and permitting requirements and report back.
Later in the meeting, the committee voted to refer the city garage conversation to Strategic Planning, scheduling that referral for the committee calendar in May. The motion to refer passed after a second and an aye vote.
The committee also discussed, but did not resolve, longer-term location, budgeting and possible collaboration with neighboring municipalities. Several members urged that the city, not the council, prepare a plan and that the issue be incorporated into post-budget strategic planning.
No ordinance, contract or formal capital appropriation was adopted at the March 4 meeting; the action on the garage was a referral for further planning.
The committee cleared other items and adjourned after routine motions to approve minutes and close the meeting.
