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Home My WebLink About2021-04-27-TB-FINAL-minutes1 TOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses April 27, 2021 Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us. The meeting was held via videoconference on the Zoom platform. Notice of Town Board meetings are posted on the Town’s website and Clerk’s board. CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Olson called the meeting to order at 7pm. ATTENDANCE: The Town Clerk called the roll: TOWN OFFICIALS PRESENT: Deputy Supervisor- Katelin Olson Board members- Michael Boggs, Mary Bouchard, Rich Goldman Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato Second Deputy Supervisor- Michelle E. Wright Conservation & Sustainability Committee (CSAC) Chair- Roxanne Marino EXCUSED: Supervisor- Nancy Zahler OTHERS PRESENT: Liz Thomas (Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Organization (IO)), Steve Penningroth (Community Science Institute (CSI)), Cait Darfler (Environmental Management Committee (EMC)) APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 2021-90: APPROVAL OF AGENDA BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the agenda as amended for April 27, 2021. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Ms. Zahler absent Ms. Olson aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Ms. Bouchard aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/27/21 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (none) BRIEF REPORTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Arbor Day Tree Planting Event April 24, 9:00am at the Fairgrounds Ms. Olson noted that she attended the tree planting & ceremony. Town of Enfield Bicentennial Celebration May 8, 1:00PM at Enfield Community Building Ms. Olson noted that she will attend this and invited others. February 2021 Financial Report has been finalized Ms. Wright noted that March reports are coming soon. Ms. Bouchard asked whether there is a shorter report. Ms. Wright responded that unfortunately, there is not much leeway with the reports that are available with the software that we have. Seeking NYS guidance on post-COVID hybrid public meetings Ms. Olson noted that current state law (outside of Executive Orders allowed for COVID) is more restrictive and doesn’t allow voting via video. She added that TCCOG will draft a resolution to request that the law be changed to permanently allow voting remotely as this allows for better participation. PRESENTATIONS: Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Organization & Water Resources Council- Liz Thomas Ms. Thomas gave a presentation that included the following topics: • An overview of local/regional water organizations and the roles they play • Guiding documents for the IO = Cayuga Lake Restoration plan & NYS HAB action plan • Threats to the lake: storms, HABS, invasive species • Solutions- prevent pollution at its source, monitoring, regulation, education & outreach, coordination of efforts • 2021 work plan • Funding structure update Tompkins County Environmental Management Council – Cait Darfler Ms. Darfler shared the following items from the EMC: • They have continued meeting through COVID and have benefitted from remote meetings- better attendance. • The chair is new and Ms. Darfler is a vice chair • Held annual conference (via zoom) • 40th anniversary is this year • Tries to connect all the various state/local environmental groups via a bi-weekly newsletter • Happy to bring others in for presentations Community Science Institute- Steve Penningroth Note: Due to technical difficulties this presentation took place later in the meeting OLD BUSINESS: APPOINTMENT OF TREE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS RESOLUTION # 91 OF 2021: APPOINTMENT OF TREE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses adopted Local Law #1 of 2021 creating a Tree Advisory Council on February 9, 2021 and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board asked the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee, that proposed the Tree Advisory Council, to recommend members to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the local law, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, upon recommendation of the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Committee, that the Ulysses Town Board hereby appoints the following volunteers who have applied for and are eligible to serve, with terms to be decided at a future meeting: • Andrew Hillmann • Gregory Peck • Pamela Markham • Don Ellis • Marvin Pritts • John Wertis the elder RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board hereby appoints Andrew Hillmann as chair of the Tree Advisory Council through December 31, 2021 with the terms to be determined. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Ms. Zahler absent Ms. Olson aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Ms. Bouchard aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/27/21 Community Science Institute- Steve Penningroth Mr. Penningroth shared a presentation that included the following: • Monitoring programs • Sampling locations • Phosphorus averages since 2006 • E. coli output at Trumansburg Sewer plant (before and after the plant upgrade) & along the lake • Drainage areas along the lake NEW BUSINESS: SUPPORT FOR ULYSSES BRIDGE-NY APPLICATIONS RESOLUTION #92 OF 2021: SUPPORT FOR ULYSSES BRIDGE-NY APPLICATIONS WHEREAS, funding programs like BRIDGE-NY recognize that infrastructure replacement costs exceed the ability of the local municipalities to maintain bridges and culverts in a timely fashion, and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has demonstrated the ability to administer federally funded projects, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board enthusiastically supports the BRIDGE-NY applications for the Curry Road and Maplewood Road culverts as well as the Durling Road Bridge, and FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board wishes to express appreciation to New York State Department of Transportation for administering this funding opportunity. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Ms. Bouchard Ms. Zahler absent Ms. Olson aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Ms. Bouchard aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/27/21 AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE SAFETY MEASURES AT WD#3 WATER TANK RESOLUTION # 93 OF 2021: AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE SAFETY MEASURES AT WD#3 WATER TANK WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board approved expenditures related of a WIIA grant to install an aerator/mixer system to reduce chlorine biproducts from the water tank serving Water District #3 in Jacksonville that included a $15,000 allowance within the general contractor’s budget and WHEREAS, at the recommendation of the Town’s engineer MRB Associates, the Ulysses Town Board agreed in November 2020 to allow the use of up to $8000 of the contractor’s allowance to install a safety walk and guardrail on the top of the water tank to safely service the newly installed blower and vent and WHEREAS, when Aquastore, the manufacturer of the tank reviewed the draft plans for installing the maintenance safety additions approved by the Town Board, they determined that to maintain the warranty on the tank, the design needed to be changed, resulting in a price increase, including fabrication and installation, to $15,000, using the fully budgeted allowance and WHEREAS, to avoid the increased expense, the Town explored other alternatives that would allow for the safe maintenance of the rooftop blower and vent and WHEREAS, neither the Highway Department staff nor Bolton Point contractors felt they could safely perform the required maintenance safely without a catwalk and railing and WHEREAS, the estimates for relocating the newly installed roof top equipment to the ground would be more costly at $17,000- $20,000+ and would further delay the completion of the project, now therefore be it RESOLVED, upon recommendation of the Town Supervisor, that the Ulysses Town Board hereby authorizes MRB to direct the contractor to procure and install the tank-manufactured catwalk and railing for the inclusive price of $15,000, which is available within the approved grant. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Discussion: Mr. Boggs explained the importance of safety since the blower will require on-going maintenance for several years. He expressed concerns about the informality of the design presented by MRB. The board discussed issues of safety, cost, time, and process. Ms. Olson requested that the board develop questions to move the process ahead quickly. The board identified the following issues to reconcile: • Getting a valid design • Whether the grant/contract allows working with an additional contractor • Cost & safety • Whether the blower can still get serviced in the meantime without safety rail… Mr. Goldman moved to table the resolutions. This was seconded by Mr. Boggs and passed unanimously. DISCUSSION OF NEXT STEPS FOR FALLS ROAD WATER DISTRICT Ms. Olson noted that the ARP funds may be available for water infrastructure and thinks that the town should re-explore this option as there are new residents on the road and a water main is already there. The board reviewed the process to form a district and agreed to continue discussions FUTURE MEETING TOPICS: • May 11- Review 2022 Proposed budget Process • Schedule Exec Session meeting for personnel issues PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. Marino looks forward to in-person meetings again and would like to keep it as an option. She added that Ag & Markets are generally opposed to creation of water districts in ag districts. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RESOLUTION 2021-94: APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approve the minutes of the April 13 meeting. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Mr. Boggs Ms. Zahler absent Ms. Olson aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Ms. Bouchard aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/27/21 ADJOURN: Mr. Goldman moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:16pm. This was seconded by Ms. Bouchard and passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk 4/12/2021