New Milford Police Department officer Allie Slone was sworn in at Milford Town Council’s meeting Monday, April 8. The council also heard updates on the easement issues in North Park. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFree News

MILFORD — The Milford Town Council received an update from the Area Plan Commission about fences and structures in North Park easement areas at their Monday, April 8 meeting.

At the February meeting, several North Park residents had questions and concerns about being required to remove fences, sheds and the like from easement areas on their property. APC Director Matt Sandy informed the council that after reviewing the available information and ordinances, a conclusion about removal and deadlines had been reached.

Anywhere there is a pipe in the ground, all fences and structures must be removed within 30 days. The highest priority area is Alexis Drive. In utility easements with or without drainage, fences can remain, but structures cannot. Structures must be removed within 6 months, giving residents an October deadline.

Police Marshal Derek Kreider asked the council to participate in the oath of office for new officer Allie Slone. Slone is currently in the reserve academy and will finish next month.

“After the she’ll be ready to start her FTO period of training and hit the ground running,” Kreider said.

Slone was sworn in by Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall.

Assistant Fire Chief Todd Haines presented the council with two quotes for annual tornado siren maintenance: $918.75 per siren from Columbia City’s J & K Communications and $500 per siren from Ohio-based company Federal Signal. Some debate was had over the merits of local vs. out-of-state businesses. Since the two sirens were recently installed and annual maintenance is not a main priority yet, no final decision was reached.

Haines provided a rough estimate for the cost of decals for a new fire engine at $2,475.

He also stated there had been some issues with siren communication at dispatch and another test will be performed Thursday, April 11.

Wastewater superintendent Mark Brubaker informed the council of an unexpected charge for calibration of the recently installed chart recorder, bringing total costs up from the approved $3,966 to $5,048.90. The council accepted this revision and agreed with Brubaker that another company needed to be found in the future, as this was not the first time the town had been charged for something not included in the original quote.

Brubaker also stated chlorine disinfection and e. coli testing began Monday, April 1.

In street department news, spring cleanup is scheduled for April 25-27.

Street-sweeping season is beginning, so residents are advised to watch out for streetsweeper vehicles and keep debris out of the curb area.

Barb Zimmerman of the Milford Lions Club came forth with updates and requests regarding the upcoming Milford Family Fun Fest set for Saturday, May 25.

She proposed a list of street closings similar to past years. An exception was a request to close Main Street from Fourth Street to Syracuse Street on the day of the event. The council approved Zimmerman’s requests with the exception of the extension to Syracuse Street.

Zimmerman asked the council to include handwashing stations along with the usual portable restrooms. The council agreed to provide two stations at a cost not to exceed $250 each from LRS Restrooms.

The council approved giving a key to the Milford Community Building to the Lions Club on the day of the event for their own use, not the general public’s.

The council motioned to waive the customary $100 rental fee for the building for the day, as they would for the Kiwanis Club breakfast also taking place in the building on the morning of May 25.

Council member Jim Smiley, also a member of the Lions Club, argued that the fee should be waived for the Lions Club Breakfast on Saturday, April 20 as well. He pointed out that funds raised at the Lions Club breakfast always go toward the Milford Family Fun Fest. The Kiwanis breakfast on Saturday, May 25, however, does not contribute funds.

“People think they’re donating to the Milford Fest when they come to that breakfast because it’s the day of the Milford Fest,” said Smiley.

The council voted to waive the fee fees and will also be reevaluating the rate structure for the organizations using the community building next year.

The council also approved:

• Sponsoring one handicap accessible portable restroom for this year’s Food Truck Friday events, each month from June to October.

• Renewal of the water department’s GIS mapping subscription for $2,105.

• Permission for street, water and park superintendent Steven Marquart to start applying for Community Crossing Matching Grants.

• Permission for the park department to advertise for lifeguards.

Earlier in the day, the Milford Redevelopment Commission had their April meeting. The commission approved a confirmatory resolution to purchase the utility easement area and right-of-way in the Eastfield housing development from Miller Brothers Construction, as discussed at March’s meeting. The commission also approved an appraisal of the real estate to be acquired at a cost not to exceed $5,200.

Because payment for the purchase of the Eastfield utilities and right-of-way will take longer than 3 years, the town council will need to approve the commission’s payment plan at a later date.

The next Milford Town Council meeting will be Monday, May 13.

There will also be a special public hearing on additional appropriations for a new fire engine at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 15.