M'burgh Village to Study Alley Ownership

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - In July 2019, the Village of Middleburgh agreed to "bare minimum maintenance" on the alley between Middleburgh Hardware and Cullen's bakery. Now, the owners of the hardware store want to take ownership of the alley.

Rich and Heather Vilegi attended the August 4 village board meeting and gave their reasons for assuming full ownership of the alleyway, known as the Van Dyke Alleyway.

Mr. Vilegi said his parents, the prior owners of the hardware store, and he and his wife, have plowed and filled potholes as well as they could. Mr. Vilegi called it a "pothole heaven."

DPW streets superintendent Cole Keyser said it is difficult to get the village truck in the alleyway to do any work.

John Wingfield of the ZBA said the land has to be abandoned in order for the village to allow ownership. The neighbors of the property would have "right of first refusal." A public hearing would be needed before any action could be taken.

Village attorney Fred Mauhs suggested studying the issue before taking any action.

He said the village "better go slow and do more research." He said he knows about the abandonment of town roads and suggested that the three sides get together and discuss the issue.

Mayor Tim Knight added, "We're more than interested," but the village has to do some research.

Trustee Bob Tinker is interested in having someone else take care of the alley.

"If we can figure it out, we should get rid of it," Trustee Tinker said.

Mr. and Mrs. Vilegi thanked the board for their time.