The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Residents resist fencing in wooded area
Lot in Carinci Park to be cleaned up
A $16,000 fence that would delineate only one side of a wooded area at Carinci Park on Sconondoa Street from nearby residential properties became the main topic of conversation at Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting . proposal for the roughly one acre city- owned wooded lot also included $ 20,000 for removal of downed trees and limbs, and sending letters to nearby residents asking them to remove any personal property from the parcel. The proposed fence would have run along the rear property line of residents whose back yard looks out onto the wooded area of Carinici Park. Oneida Parks and Recreation Director Luke Griff said he had concerns there was a potential for injury in the wooded space which has remained undeveloped, and that it might be a liability for the city. He also explained that a nearby resident has been mowing in the lot,
which could be an encroachment issue. That resident, Steven Loucks of Sconondoa Street, explained that he mows grass where possible in the lot in an effort to keep mosquitoes at bay and to make an enjoyable space for nearby residents and park visitors to use. Loucks said he has also asked the city if he could purchase the property. He said he also cuts up trees that have fallen down. “I just wanted it cleaned up,” Loucks said, adding that he tries to keep it as neat as possible for whoever wishes to use the area. Oneida City resident Vicky Arnold, who lives near the wooded parcel, said children often do play there, and asked for the city’s help in cleaning up and furthering development of trails to use. “It needs to be made safe for kids,” Arnold said. “It can be cleaned up a little bit at a time.” Arnold offered to volunteer for the effort. On Wednesday, items that could be found in the woods included chunks of concrete blocks with rusty steel rebar in them, downed trees and brush, wooden boards and logs that were deposited there by flood waters last summer that invaded the flats neighborhood of Oneida. In addition, there were mosquitoes. In addition, there are remnants of the Sconondoa Athletic Club, a neighborhood recreation center that existed over 50 years ago at the park that featured a clubhouse that once was the site of clambakes. There once was an outdoor bocce and shuffleboard court, of which remnants can still be seen. Two light poles still stand whose power supply has long since been removed, and the clubhouse is long gone. However, residents are still playing horseshoes in the aged pits. At the end of the discussion, the Common Council unanimously voted down the fence resolution, and opted for organizing a volunteer group to do cleanup work at the spot. Arnold said she hoped that work would begin soon. In other action, a public hearing was held for a number of proposed changes to the city ordinances, which include: • Eliminating a section relating to registering bicycles in the city of Oneida, as this has not been done in almost 30 years; • Revising a section pertaining to how six residents in the Kenwood Sanitary Sewer District are billed; • Removing a dollar amount for fees found in the streets, sidewalks and public places chapter; • Removal of a dollar amount for fees in the section relating to the subdivision of land; • Removing language stating that the police department needs to inspect taxicabs as they already get a New York State inspection • Removing language stating the police department registers off- road recreational vehicles The fulltext of the changes can be viewed here: http:// www. ci. oneida. ny. us/ Press % 20 Release/2014/PHORDINANC% 20AMENDMENTS5- 20- 14. pdf Regarding the ban on skateboards from streets, sidewalks and city- owned parking lots in the city, Recreation Commission member Joe Magliocca said the existing code does not address other types of wheeled devices people now use such as Razor scooters and in- line skates. The councilors agreed the section of code could possibly be given a second look to see if more changes need to be made. The proposed changes will be put to a vote at an upcoming meeting. The Common Council also: • Approved bids for hydrants, ductile iron pipe, fittings, valves, and couplings for the water department; • Authorized budget transfers to cover the cost of water meter servicing at the HP Hood facility, and further authorize a budget amendment for the rental of an excavator for the fire on Hubbard Place; • Approved a specia l events application from the YMCA for the Frank Di Christina Memorial Walk to be held on July 12; • Approved a bid for a tracked excavator i n the amount of $ 82,449 to be awarded to Admar Supply in East Syracuse for use by the Water Department for Fish Creek water transmission line project and other projects. A story that appeared in the print version of the June 3 Oneida Dispatch incorrectly reported proposed changes to a city ordinance regarding bicycles. The Dispatch regrets the error.