Village Board discusses grants, zoning and racing law

   The Caledonia Village Board met Tuesday, January 16, 2007 with a lengthy agenda of business to take of. Present: Mayor Joe Caluorie, Trustees Teresa Truman, Steve Polo, Diane Fowler and Steve Boscoe; Village Clerk Ann Marie Grattan.

   Kathleen Brown, President of Caledonia Library Association, presented information pertaining to the 2007 library budget and their funding request to the Village. As an Association Library, Caledonia’s primary revenue source is funding provided annually by the Town and Village of Caledonia. Brown explained that Caledonia Library Association has been operating at a deficit in recent years due to decreased funding. They hope to reverse that trend through education and continued financial support.

   Trustee Teresa Truman presented an update on a Small Cities Grant the Village is pursuing to improve the infrastructure of targeted streets. Trustee Truman said the grant could be lost due to a lack of cooperation from residents who didn’t complete and return the questionnaire. Truman plans to investigate whether or not the Village can still apply for the grant using the data from those streets that did complete the paper work.

   The Village Board spent a considerable amount of time debating the proposed changes to the local law, Chapter 162 Racing & Similar Events. This law applies to the Livingston County Agricultural Society & Fair at Caledonia and their ability to host events throughout the year at the fairgrounds. The LCAS Fair Board has been at odds with the Village and some of their West End neighbors in the past for holding the second demolition derby and other events at the fairgrounds, which the current law prohibits.

   Trustee Truman put a motion on the table to amend the local law to permit the second demolition derby and to increase the fine for violating Chapter 162 Racing Law & Similar Events to between $250 and $2,000. Village Trustees approved the amended local law 4-0. A public hearing on the newly amended Racing Law will be scheduled in the near future.

   The VB discussed the status of the Caledonia Police Department. Mayor Caluorie said the department is working efficiently under Officer David Richardson and that the new part time officers are working out well. Trustee Boscoe said it is important to restore professionalism to the police department and confidence in it among the residents and agreed with the Mayor that it is moving in that direction.

   The attorney representing RAM Reality addressed the VB again to request that they consider the company’s request for rezoning of the parcel to permit the commercial units to be converted and leased as residential apartments and to make clear the zoning regarding the duplex units. RAM Realty own the 260 block of North Street that includes the U.S. Post Office, a building of commercial spaces and the residential duplex apartments behind it. The VB explained their concerns about changing zoning in one particular area and said they were interested in reviewing zoning in the entire village.

   "I think we need to look at rezoning the whole village," Trustee Diane Fowler commented.

   "We should make the Strategic Plan into a Comprehensive Plan where we review all zoning," Trustee Boscoe added.

   Interpretation of the current zoning in that area, B-2, was discussed. Mayor Caluorie said that they needed to include the opinions of other boards, including the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Board and the County Planning Board. RAM Realty will revise their official application for rezoning of the parcel before they come back to the VB for their consideration.