GENESEO – The Village of Geneseo has scheduled a public meeting for community members to learn more about the timeline and specifics of the Main Street restoration and repaving project.

The June 1 Village Board meeting at the Village Building from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. will be an opportunity to meet the professionals who will be doing the work on Main Street, which includes removal and repaving of the sidewalk on the East side of Main Street between the bear fountain and North Street, and a complete resurfacing of that stretch of Main Street as well.

“There has been some concern raised by the merchants,” said Village Trustee Sandra Brennan. “I talked to a shop owner this past week and they asked if there would be a public meeting. It’s important that we communicate what is going to happen. People have asked which side of the street will be worked on.”

The Village Board has been discussing a variety of ways to help businesses maintain foot traffic to their storefronts while the project is going on, particularly for Special Tees (57 Main St.) and Cricket’s Coffee Company (53 Main St.), where more than 1,200 cubic yards of contaminated soil will also be removed.

“This could impact several businesses very severely, and we want to make sure we are accommodating,” said Trustee Bob Wilcox at Monday’s Village Board Meeting. “For example, if a tank is right in front of somebody’s door, we have to make sure that the businesses does not suffer as a result of that.”

Mayor Richard Hatheway said that though there will be inconveniences, the point of the project is to make Main Street nicer. The project will replace 2,300 feet of old, outdated municipal water main and 285 feet of sewer lines.

“Vehicle traffic will be maintained,” said Mayor Hatheway, “but we will have to suck it up a little.”

PHOTO CAPTION: (Photo/Conrad Baker)

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