HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-22-TB-FINAL-minutesTOWN BOARD MEETING
Town of Ulysses
October 22, 2019
Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us.
The meeting was held at the Ulysses Town Hall at 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg.
Notice of Town Board meetings are posted on the Town’s website and Clerk’s board.
ATTENDANCE:
TOWN OFFICIALS PRESENT:
Supervisor- Liz Thomas
Board members- Nancy Zahler, Richard Goldman, John Hertzler, Michael Boggs
Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato
OTHERS PRESENT:
Linda Liddle, Dan Schappi
CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Thomas called the meeting to order at 7pm and moved into a Public Hearing on the 2020
Budget. (See separate minutes)
The regular meeting resumed at 7:12pm.
APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
RESOLUTION 2019-179: APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the agenda for October 22, 2019.
Moved: Mr. Boggs Seconded: Ms. Zahler
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
(none)
REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES:
(none)
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GENERAL TOWN REPORTS:
Mr. Boggs shared that the final drawings for the town hall heat pump project have been completed.
Ms. Zahler let the board know that she will send an update on the Jacksonville gas station.
Ms. Thomas shared the following:
• Registration materials for the Association of Towns annual meeting and training in February
are available.
• The official map for the town has been completed.
Mr. Boggs further shared that he attended a week-long water training and has been in contact with
Bolton Point regarding the shutdown of Ithaca’s aerator and Ulysses subsequent high TTHM readings
earlier this year.
OLD BUSINESS:
2020 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
RESOLUTION 2019-180: APPROVAL OF THE 2020 BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF ULYSSES
WHEREAS the Town Supervisor presented the 2020 Tentative Budget to the Town Clerk and
the Town Board on September 24, 2019, and
WHEREAS the Town Board discussed and considered the 2020 Tentative Budget at meetings
on 9/24/19, 9/25/2019, and 9/26/2019, and
WHEREAS the Town Board adopted the 2020 Preliminary Budget on October 8, 2019 and set
the Public Hearing date for October 22, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. at the Ulysses Town Hall; and
WHEREAS notice of the Public Hearing was in the newspaper on October 11, 2019 and also
posted to the town’s email listserv, and website, and
WHEREAS a Public Hearing was held on October 22, 2019 where all members of the pubic
were able to comment on the Preliminary Budget, and
WHEREAS the tax levy limit set by the New York State Office of the State Comptroller for the
Town of Ulysses for the year 2020 is 4%,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Town Board accepts the 2020 Preliminary Budget to become the Final
Budget for 2020 for the Town of Ulysses with a resulting 3.69% increase in the overall tax levy
which is within the tax levy cap of 4% resulting in a
1.90% decrease in the final tax rate of $2.640090/$1,000 taxable assessed value (TAV) for
Ulysses residents living outside the Village of Trumansburg and
1.32% increase in the final tax rate of $1.225487/$1,000 TAV for residents living inside the
Village of Trumansburg.
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Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT: RE-DECLARATION OF LEAD AGENCY FOR A LOCAL
LAW TO REPEAL AND REPLACE CHAPTER 212 OF THE TOWN OF ULYSSES CODE (ZONING LAW)
RESOLUTION 2019-181: STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY REVIEW ACT: RE-DECLARATION
OF LEAD AGENCY FOR A LOCAL LAW TO REPEAL AND REPLACE CHAPTER 212 OF THE TOWN
OF ULYSSES CODE (ZONING LAW)
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses (hereafter “Town Board”) adopted a
resolution number 174 of 2019 on October 8, 2019 titled “STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
REVIEW ACT DECLARATION OF LEAD AGENCY FOR A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND THE TOWN OF
ULYSSES ZONING LAW”, and
WHEREAS, since then there have been some changed circumstances including the discovery of
the omission of some provisions in the draft law that was presented on October 8, 2019, and a
decision to repeal and enact a new zoning law (as opposed to merely amending the existing
zoning law), and
WHEREAS, in light of these developments the Town Board wishes to rescind its Resolution
Number 174 of 2019 adopted at the October 8, 2019 Town Board meeting and in its stead
adopt this new resolution, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of Ulysses finds it necessary to repeal in its entirety the Town of
Ulysses Zoning Local Law as codified in Chapter 212 of the Codified Laws of the Town, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board seeks to ensure maximum consistency with the adopted 2009
Ulysses Comprehensive Plan and related Future Land Use Plan and the adopted 2013 Ulysses
Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board directed that a draft local law, entitled “A LOCAL LAW REPEALING
IN ITS ENTIRETY THE TOWN OF ULYSSES ZONING LAW AS ADOPTED BY LOCAL LAW NUMBER 3
OF 2013, AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 212 OF THE LAWS OF
THE TOWN OF ULYSSES, AND IN ITS PLACE ADOPTING A NEW ZONING LAW,” be prepared for
the Town Board's consideration; and
WHEREAS, 6 NYCRR Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires
that a Lead Agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in
accordance with local and state environmental law; and
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WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental review, the
Lead Agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and
carrying out the action; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board is the local agency with primary responsibility for approving the
action; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has compared the proposed action with the criteria for
determining significance in SEQRA 6 NYCRR 617.7;
Now, Therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Town Board as follows:
1. The Town Board rescinds its Resolution Number 174 of 2019 adopted at the October 8,
2019 Town Board meeting and its stead adopt this new resolution, and
2. The Town Board of the Town Ulysses hereby determines that the action is subject to
SEQRA.
3. The Town Board hereby determines that the action does not involve a Federal agency,
and does not involve other agencies, except that the Town Board has sought the
advisory input of the Planning Board and the Zoning Update Steering Committee,
which had representation from the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the
Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Committee
as well as the Jacksonville Community Association.
4. The Town Board hereby makes a preliminary determination that the proposed zoning
changes are a Type I Action under State Environmental Quality Review Act Section
617.4, and the Town Board hereby establishes itself as Lead Agency for purposes of
SEQRA for this Action.
5. A copy of the proposed Zoning Law and a copy of this Resolution shall be sent by the
Town Clerk of the Town of Ulysses to all persons entitled to notice pursuant to NY
Town Law §264 and NY General Municipal Law §239-m including, to wit,
a. The Ulysses Planning Board,
b. The Ulysses Zoning Board of Appeals,
c. Building and Code Inspector of the Town of Ulysses,
d. Tompkins County Department of Planning,
e. Clerk of the Tompkins County Legislature,
f. Seneca County
g. Schuyler County
h. Town of Covert
i. Town of Hector
j. Town of Enfield
k. Town of Lansing
l. Town of Ithaca
m. N.Y. State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets,
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n. N.Y. State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, and
o. N.Y. State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Moved: Mr. Hertzler Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
INTRODUCING AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON A LOCAL LAW REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY THE
TOWN OF ULYSSES ZONING LAW AS ADOPTED BY LOCAL LAW NUMBER 3 OF 2013 AMENDED FROM
TIME TO TIME, AND CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 212 OF THE LAWS OF THE TOWN OF ULYSSES, AND IN
ITS PLACE ADOPTING A NEW ZONING LAW
RESOLUTION 2019-182: INTRODUCING AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON A LOCAL LAW
REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY THE TOWN OF ULYSSES ZONING LAW AS ADOPTED BY LOCAL
LAW NUMBER 3 OF 2013 AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 212
OF THE LAWS OF THE TOWN OF ULYSSES, AND IN ITS PLACE ADOPTING A NEW ZONING
LAW
WHEREAS, the Town Board received a draft of the proposed local law to amend the Town’s
zoning laws and at a duly convened meeting of the Town Board on October 8, 2019, set a
public hearing to be held on November 18, 2019, and
WHEREAS, some changes have since been made to the draft local law as well as a decision to
repeal and replace rather than amend the existing zoning law, and
WHEREAS, an updated proposed Local Law titled: A LOCAL LAW REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY
THE TOWN OF ULYSSES ZONING LAW AS ADOPTED BY LOCAL LAW NUMBER 3 OF 2013,
AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND CODIFIED AS CHAPTER 212 OF THE LAWS OF THE TOWN
OF ULYSSES, AND IN ITS PLACE ADOPTING A NEW ZONING LAW was introduced at a Town
Board meeting on Oct. 22, 2019, and
WHEREAS, Municipal Home Rule Law §20(5) requires that a public hearing before a local law is
adopted by the Town Board, which public hearing must be held upon at least ten days’ notice;
and
WHEREAS, Town Law §264(4) also requires that a public hearing be held prior to adopting (or
amending) zoning regulations,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on November 18, 2019 at 7:00pm
at the Trumansburg Fire Hall, 74 W. Main Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886 on the proposed
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Local Law Repealing in Its Entirety the Town of Ulysses Zoning Law as Adopted by Local Law
Number 3 of 2013, Amended From Time to Time, and Codified As Chapter 212 Of The Laws Of
The Town Of Ulysses, And In Its Place Adopting A New Zoning Law; and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall cause notice of such public hearing to be published and
posted as required by law, at least ten days before the date thereof.
Moved: Ms. Zahler Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
NEW BUSINESS:
WAIVING MARRIAGE LICENSE FEES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
RESOLUTION 2019- 183: WAIVING MARRIAGE LICENSE FEES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
WHEREAS, on Aug. 18, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed a bill waiving New York State's portion
of the marriage license fee (currently $22.50) for active duty military personnel, and
WHEREAS, the bill also provides for towns and cities to elect to waive their portion of the fee
(currently $17.50) for a marriage license and certificate,
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED that to support those serving our country, the Town Board of the Town of
Ulysses hereby waives the Town’s portion of the marriage license and certificate fee for active
duty military personnel, subject to proof of military identification and duty status to the Town
Clerk.
Moved: Mr. Boggs Seconded: Ms. Zahler
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT- SETTING JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
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RESOLUTION 2019-184: SETTING A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT OF THE TOWNS OF ULYSSES, HECTOR AND COVERT
RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board will hold a joint Public Hearing on the 2020 Fire
Contract to provide fire protection for the Fire Protection District of the Towns of Ulysses,
Hector, and Covert at the Ulysses Town Hall on November 12, 2019 at 7:00pm.
Moved: Ms. Thomas Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
MAILBOX REPLACEMENT POLICY FOR SNOW PLOW DAMAGE
RESOLUTION 2019-185: ADOPTING A POLICY FOR MAILBOX REPLACEMENT FOR THE
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS the Highway Department is responsible for taking reasonable steps to keep Town
and County roads clear of ice and snow during the winter months and the rights-of-ways free
of tall vegetation during the rest of the year, and
WHEREAS the NYS Attorney General has ruled that mailboxes installed in a public right-of-way
are not subject to repair by the municipality in which they reside, and
WHEREAS many Town residents have installed their mailboxes within the road right-of-way,
and
WHEREAS while Highway Department Personnel make every attempt to avoid damage to
mailboxes that are placed in a road right-of-way, sometimes damage to these mailboxes that
are too near the road does occur, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses Highway Superintendent and Town Board want to have a clear
policy on repair or replacement of mailboxes that are in a Town or County road right-of-way,
THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the following is the Town of Ulysses policy for mailbox replacement:
Mailboxes should be installed outside of the road right-of-way, but may be installed in the
road right-of-way as long as the post is no closer than 3 feet from the edge of the pavement.
If an installed mailbox, or its post, in the right-of-way is damaged by the Town of Ulysses
during regular maintenance of the roads, the Town of Ulysses Highway Department will make
repairs as follows:
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• The Town will replace the mailbox and/or post if, after inspection by the highway
department, the damage was determined to be caused by the Town of Ulysses, not by
other causes such as rotted wood or rusted metal or another preexisting defect.
• If damaged, the post will be replaced with a 4” pressure treated post.
• If damaged, the mailbox will be replaced with a standard metal mailbox.
• The mailbox and post replacement will be completed as soon as possible, but in no
case longer than within 6 months of the damage.
• A temporary box and post may be necessary if the ground is frozen or for other
reasons.
• Specialty mailboxes or posts will be replaced according to the specifications above. The
replacement will not replicate specialty posts or boxes.
• The Town will consider the mailbox or post as “damaged” if the post and/or mailbox is
no longer usable.
Moved: Ms. Thomas Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
AUTHORIZING REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT GOVERNING THE TOWN’S
PARTICIPATION IN THE HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM
RESOLUTION 2019-186: AUTHORIZING REVIEW OF THE MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT (MCA) GOVERNING THE TOWN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE HEALTH CARE
CONSORTIUM
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses is a founding member of the Greater Tompkins County
Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (Consortium), and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Cooperative Agreement requires all partners to review and provide
amendment language, if any, regarding the MCA by March 1st of the anniversary of the fifth
year, which is March 1, 2020 and
WHEREAS, the Consortium's Board of Directors needs to review, discuss and make decisions
on any proposed changes to the Municipal Cooperative Agreement prior to March 2020,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board charges the Health Consortium representatives Rich
Goldman, Nancy Zahler and Carissa Parlato with reviewing the MCA and bringing any
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proposed changes or comments to the Town Board by December 10, 2019 for discussion to
comply with the Consortium's requested January 1, 2020 deadline for written comments.
Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Discussion- need to look at retiree policy, two person policy, costs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
MONTHLY BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RESOLUTION 2019-187 : APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approves the minutes of the regular Town Board
meeting on 10/8/19.
Moved: Ms. Thomas Seconded: Mr. Boggs
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Hertzler aye
Mr. Boggs aye
Mr. Goldman aye
Vote: 5-0
Date Adopted: 10/22/19
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
(none)
ADJOURN:
Mr. Goldman moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 pm. This was seconded by Mr. Hertzler and
passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk
10/29/19