By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Get ready to see fewer hanging planters in the North Union Street median next year — especially if they restrict motorists’ sightline in the vicinity of crosswalks in Downtown Olean.
The Olean Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to amend the City Code on vertical sight requirements, which Public Works Director James Sprague said would impact the placement of the hanging planters, but probably wouldn’t restrict them completely.
The code will restrict planters in the 3-7 foot tall range
Ward 1 Alderman Lawrence Bennion Jr., said he thought the amended code would apply to the entire median.
Sprague said his interpretation of the code was that the hanging planters would be permissible in areas far from pedestrian crosswalks where it could impair drivers’ vision. They could be put in other areas of the median where they didn’t block drivers’ line of vision to a crosswalk, he explained.
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., D-Ward 6, said planters could be used if they were less than three feet tall.
Alderwoman Somnya McCall, D-Ward 4, said the city should pass the information on to the city’s volunteer Beautification Committee so they can plan for median plantings next year.
Mayor Bill Aiello said he would pass the information along to the committee.
The mayor said he had hoped to be able to update the council members on the city’s water infiltration study of the sewer collection system, but no analysis was available due to the NOAA website being down
Ramboll Engineering, which is monitoring sewer data in conjunction with hourly rainfall, was unable to analyze initial data due to the website being down temporarily.
“Ramboll Engineering is planning a visit during the week of Dec 8,” Aiello said. They will begin to evaluate pump stations including South Fourth Street. The firm has already begun to analyze the South Fourth Street and Martha Avenue pump stations.
The work is being done under a $500,000 engineering grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The City of Olean has recently agreed to an amended DEC consent order to end the overflow of untreated sewage into the Allegheny River. From 2022 to 2024, the city discharged 847,500 gallons of untreated sewage into the Allegheny River, Olean Creek and McCann Brook.
The consent order must be complied with by March 1, 2028, years ahead of the date agreed to under a 2003 DECF consent order.
IN OTHER ACTION, aldermen:
- Approved purchase of a Kabota side-by-side vehicle for the Public Works Department for $37,382. It will be used to plow snow in the winter and will be used by the Parks Department during the summer.
- Approved a $58,394 change order to the Millennium Construction contract for Walkable Olean III on East State Street. Additional wiring was needed for decoration at the Barry Street roundabout.
- Awarded the 2025-26 tree removal contract to Scutt Stump Grinding.
