BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Massena Village Board will hold three public hearings during the board’s meeting today, Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

Officials and members of the public will be able to discuss a proposed local law that would create designated no parking and no standing zones near the J.W. Leary Junior High School.

Officials have discussed public safety and traffic flow concerns with the area in recent months, with multiple officials saying the area has become dangerous for pedestrians with some parents not using the designated pickup and drop-off lanes.

School officials also informed the board that alternative pick-up and drop off times were not possible due to staffing shortages.

Officials will also hold a public hearing for a potential amendment to the village code that would see the cost of solid waste disposal rise from $21.50 to $25 monthly, $43 to $46.50 bi-monthly and $64.50 to $68 quarterly. The effective date would be March 15.

Officials say the increases are necessary due to the county raising the rates charged to the town from $103 to $108 per ton for solid waste disposal and $30 to $45 per ton for recyclables.

According to Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller told board members during the December meeting that the county’s rates have increased due to DANC raising it’s rates for waste disposal for the county.

Solid waste disposal rates have remained at $21.50 since 2015, officials say.

The third and final public hearing is for a RESTORE NY grant the village is applying for to benefit the Schine Theater restoration project.

Officials say the village has been successful twice before with the RESTORE NY grant program, including with the Mercantile building at the corner of Main and Water streets, as well as the Gristmill on Water St.

Officials are hoping to secure funding for the project after state officials opted to not award over $2 million in DRI funding for the Schine Theater project.