school street parking lot

The resolution to move forward with repaving of the School Street parking lot was on the table during City Council’s business meeting Monday at City Hall.

“The street is in poor condition and my suggestion is that we continue to move forward,” said City Manager Jason Molino. “If it deteriorates even further, then we would be looking at not just repaving, but rebuilding the whole parking lot, which would cost significantly more.”

“I believe the $30,000 could be better spent elsewhere or saved,” said Jim Rosenbeck. “We should invest in neighborhoods, streets, sidewalks, that’s where the focus should be.”

Lisa Whitehead thinks the money could be better spent on other city projects as well.

“Let’s use the money to improve and beautify Batavia in a better way, improve our sidewalks and our streets, all Batavians use those,” Whitehead said. "We can clean up the condemned houses that are in foreclosure.”

Both Rosenbeck and Whitehead are Libertarian candidates for City Council.

Molino explained that the money comes from a grant by the New York Main Street Program and can only be used within the boundaries of the program, primarily between Center and Liberty streets.

”The money cannot be used outside those boundaries and it can only be used for streetscape improvements in that area,” Molino said.

The Batavia City Council unanimously agreed to pass the resolution to approve the transfer of $30,000 to the General Fund Parking Lots Budget. The issue of construction of a dumpster enclosure has been shelved for now.