Holley says it’s working on brick problem in Public Square

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley village officials say some of the sinking bricks in the Public Square are a tripping hazard.

HOLLEY – Members of the Village Board are concerned about the condition of some of the bricks which line the walkways and center of the Public Square.

Board members say they are working the Department of Public Works to begin a program of fixing the problem.

At the Tuesday board meeting, trustees discussed the fact that some of the bricks are sinking and creating a tripping hazard.

“Where the bricks come to the sidewalk, they sink,” Trustee Stanley “Skip” Carpenter said.

He noted that no one has been hurt yet, but trustees decided to inspect the business district and begin the work of leveling the bricks off one section at time around the square.

“It’s an easy thing to do,” Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said. He explained that the bricks are set in sand.

Trustee Carpenter said the village encouraged the state Department of Transportation to use stamped cement when the Route 31 reconstruction project was completed about a decade ago. Carpenter said the village might consider eventually replacing the brick with stamped cement.

He explained that the sidewalk area outside Dan and Monica Seeler’s building on the east side of the square should be addressed before their new restaurant opens for business, which is expected to happen at the end of this year.

In other business, Mayor John Kenney, Jr. reported that he has signed the agreement between the village, the Village of Holley Development Corporation and the EPA which will allow the eight “Diaz homes” in the village to become the property of the VHDC. There is no word yet on exactly when the turnover of the properties will occur.

Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty said the process is now in the hands of officials in Washington, DC.