LIBERTY — On Monday, November 20, the Town of Liberty board held a public hearing regarding the petition for application of the Transportation Facility Overlay Zone on premises located at 1784 State Route 52, LIberty. No one opposed the application at the hearing, so the board proceeded with the approval at the board meeting immediately following the hearing. The approval means that the project qualifies for inclusion in the existing Transportation Facility Overlay Zone, a necessary step toward final approval of the pending transportation facility project.

As part of the project application process, town attorney Ken Klein reviewed the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) questionnaire with the board. After a brief discussion, the board approved the SEQRA responses. Klein pointed out that there would be little environmental impact of the project due to it being merely a repurposing of an existing facility, from a lumber yard to a transportation facility. Building footprints, paved areas, highway access, drainage, and lighting will be minimally changed. Klein noted that surveyor George Fulton, of Livingston Manor, prepared the site plan.

The project is on the Industrial Development Corridor on Route 52, east of Liberty, and remains as commercial-industrial use. Project developer Phil Vallone, president of Rolling V Bus Corporation, thanked the board for their support. The next step in the facility approval process is with the Town of Liberty Planning Board.

In other business, the board approved the final bids for the sale of 14 surplus pieces of equipment excessed by the highway department. It was noted that using on-line bidding resulted in much higher sale prices than traditional bid notices. The board was pleased that the highway department sales raised enough to cover the cost of a new excavator.

Interim Town Supervisor Russell Reeves noted that he has been working with Brian Rourke, the supervisor-elect, to apprise him of current board happenings, statuses of grants and projects. Once the county certifies the election results, Rourke will be Town of Liberty Supervisor officially.

A group of Liberty High School students attended the meeting for their Political Science class. Hope Bloat commented that she felt the meeting moved quickly. “Refreshing,” was Monica Ponce's response after seeing all of the work the councilmen are doing.