WASHINGTONVILLE — Local businessman Bryce Gillam presented village council with plans to build a second self-storage site in the village during Monday’s meeting.

The owner of the Boston Street Storage facility said the new facility will be located at 485 Main St. (state Route 14) where an abandoned house sits.

Gillam said he recently purchased the lot, had it surveyed and wanted to show council the project before proceeding.

He said he will tear everything down “and clean the lot” up before building. He added he wasn’t certain how the building will go. Plans call for 12 small and four large storage units.

The village has no zoning and he wanted to make sure the building didn’t infringe on alleys or properties.

He asked for a variance and wondered where he needed to go.

Mayor Herman Frank said the building was right on Washington Street and off the edge of the road. He told Gillam he came to the right place and commended him for bringing his plans to council.

Councilman Al Vignon said there was a set-back requirement noting that, “If he’s 10 feet back, he’s good.”

Councilwoman Brenda Briden said the back corner is about a foot-and-a-half into the alley and wondered how that would affect the village and Councilwoman Peggy Frank said, “It isn’t a problem if his property goes into the alley.”

Solicitor Jeffrey Heintz said if the surveyor is right  it meant we paved part of his property (years before).

Heintz said that every time these issues come up it’s around the alleys and lots that were planned more than a 100 years ago.

He added if the survey is accurate, regardless if it extends into someone’s garage or shed, it can be a problem “particularly if it affects how people get through there.”

Briden said she wanted to make sure it doesn’t cause a problem.

“It isn’t an issue in regard to your property,” she said to Gillam and Heintz said they would need to know where the alley is and Frank said, “Mr. Gillam is giving us a foot-and-a-half of our alley.”

Referring to the proposed building site, Councilwoman Becky Vignon said, “It would be nice to tear that place down.”

Gillam said in regard to his Boston Street facility, which has fences, keypad admittance and cameras, that he’s done everything he can to keep it as secure and nice as possible.

In other business, Heintz advised council he prepared public records request policy guidelines as had been discussed at previous meetings.

“Everything that has to do with the conduct of business in village is public record,” he said, explaining the goal is if someone makes a public records request they don’t have to wait six months.

“It’s not like it’s anything out of the ordinary,” Heintz said and council unanimously adopted the public request policy while Fiscal Officer Dale Davis said it would be included in the village’s next annual audit.

Davis also said he prepared a list of the terms of office for councilmembers this year as an informational item; and street Superintendent Ed Garrett asked about street lights that were out, one on Boston Street in particular.

Garrett said he was told there had to be a least three lights out before “anyone comes out.”

Davis advised him to get the pole number and Frank said he would have the police chief look into it.

Frank gave the monthly police report noting there were 375 security calls, 95 traffic warnings issued and 98 traffic citations. There were 16 public assists.

He said the police department wanted residents who plan to be out of town for long periods to advise police in advance, so extra security checks can be made.

lshields@salemnews.net