SCCSD prepares for Vets Park sublease referendum
SALAMANCA — On Dec. 18, residents of the Salamanca City Central School District have the opportunity to vote on a referendum concerning a potential multi-million-dollar project in the community with no additional cost to district residents.
Approval of the referendum would allow the district to sublease Veterans Memorial Park from the city of Salamanca for 50 years as well as purchase two properties adjacent to Seneca Intermediate School on Fern Avenue.
“The last couple of weeks have been somewhat organizational in nature,” said Robert Breidenstein, district superintendent. “We’ve been waiting for all of the pieces to fall into place.”
In the coming weeks, several meetings have been scheduled by the district throughout the Salamanca area for residents to hear the plans and ask questions about the potential project.
The meetings are set for:
Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.: Title VI PAC Meeting at the Allegany Community Center
Nov. 19 at 4 p.m.: Salamanca High School Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Nov. 26 at 6 p.m.: Holy Cross Athletic Club (downstairs)
Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.: Salamanca Board of Education meeting
Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.: Salamanca Common Council meeting
The meetings will open with a two-to-three-minute video presentation created by Warrior Vision Media Department students as an explanation of the sub-lease and why it is needed, followed by a presentation by the Breidenstein.
“There were about 50-plus people in the room,” he said of the Nov. 1 meeting. “Lots of good questions about the impact his might have on the community. The general tenor seemed to be supportive and positive of a pretty significant financial investment in Vets Park.”
The district entered into informal discussions with the Seneca Nation of Indians and Salamanca Recreation Commission in the fall of 2017, Breidenstein said. In January 2018, the first formal discussion was hosted in the Seneca Nation Council Chambers with the Nation, city and the district.