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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-28 - TB Town of Ulysses Special Town Board Meeting August 28, 2006 Present : Supervisor Douglas Austic (absent) ; Town Council Roxanne Marino, Don Ellis, Rod Ferrentino and Lucia Tyler; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia; Deputy Supervisor Richard Coogan. Meeting was called to order at 7 PM . The first order of business was to appoint one of the Town Board members to run the meeting in Mr. Austic ' s absence. Ms . Tyler moved, seconded by Ms . Marino the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses appoint Mr. Ellis to run the meeting. Mr. Ferrentino aye Ms. Tyler aye Mr. Ellis aye Ms . Marino aye Adopted . Ms. Marino suggested that the Town Board change the date of the Regular Town Board meeting for September 12 , 2006 because that date is Primary Election day. Other items on the agenda are the following : • Update on the Comprehensive Plan Committee • Joint Town/Village Water • Search for new attorney • Zoning Updates Regular Town Board Meeting Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Ms . Tyler the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses change the date of the Town Board Regular meeting to September 11 `h, 2006 . Mr. Ferrentino aye Ms. Tyler aye Mr. Ellis aye Ms . Marino aye Adopted. Update on the Comprehensive Plan Committee Ms . Marino gave a reported that at the Comprehensive Plan Committee meetings the committee has been working on drawing up a new survey to be distributed to residents of Ulysses. The committee reviewed other surveys before Ms . Simon compiled all of them into one . This draft was previously distributed to the Town Board. A sub-committee is working on the large survey to trim it down to a couple of pages and a lot fewer questions . A discussion took place as to if the Town Board should review before the survey was mailed out. The Board felt that the committee would most likely want their input. The goal of the committee is to try and get the survey sent out by the end of October or November and try to get it back before the end of the year. Special Town Board Meeting 2 August 28 , 2006 Ms. Marino said that if Board members have general thoughts to pass them on to the committee or send them to her. The meetings are the fourth Tuesday of every month. Mr. Ferrentino expressed his concern that the Town Board should review the survey before it is mailed out. Ms. Marino feels that there may be specific things the Town may want asked that could help with things such as the Zoning Law revisions. Ms. Marino urged Mr. Rachun to think about questions that he may want to see in the survey. Mr. Rachun said that the Board may want the Planning Board to look over the survey. Mr. Rachun also pointed out that very few responses were received from residents living at the lake. 2007 Budget Ms . Marino stated that the Board may want to be looking to what they may need with the 2007 Budget approaching. Attorney for the Town Mr. Wilson had previously stated that he would provide a list of attorneys that have - municipal experience . Mrs . Georgia said that she would remind Mr. Wilson to provide that to the Board. Another idea was to check with Tompkins County Bar Association about their newsletter but it is not a monthly issue. Mr. Ellis said that he would be glad to draft a letter to the Bar Association. Mr. Ferrentino said that the Town could contact the surrounding towns and get a list of other attorneys who are presently Town Attorneys . This is printed in the County Directory. The Board continued with this discussion and said that they as a Board will need to identify what they are looking for in an attorney such as experience, pay on retainer or hourly, attendance at meetings, and weekly hours in the office and other things such as these. Once the Board has a list, pick the top three candidates and then interview. Ms . Marino and Ms . Tyler suggested advertising and they both said that they could come with some kind of wording for an ad at the September meeting on the 11th . Mr. Ellis said he could write it up and email everyone a draft. Maybe a news article could be done about Mr. Wilson retiring and that the Town is looking for a replacement. Mr. Ferrentino suggested forming a committee to nail down what the Board is looking for in terms of nature of service and expertise, and then work on the nuts and bolts of an agreement etc . Mr. Ellis asked Mr. Ferrentino to put together a list of what he was saying. The committee could make sure that there is a follow through on the advertising. Mr. Ferrentino feels that Mr. Austic and or Mr. Coogan could handle this because they are in the office all day. Ms . Marino said that Mr. Austic is out of town and it should be worked on now. Ms . Tyler said that she would be willing to work on this . Mr. Ellis also said he would be willing to work on it also . Special Town Board Meeting 3 August 28 , 2006 The Board continued the discussion on what they would want to pay an attorney and the different ways the attorney will charge . Ms. Tyler suggested that there will be a committee of two for the attorney, Mr. Ellis and herself The other Board members agreed. Town Historian Mr. Ellis asked the Board what they wanted to do about a Town Historian. The Board discussed advertising the position. Mrs . Georgia said that Nancy Dean had expressed interest in the future but not until she retires . Mrs. Georgia did receive a letter of interest from Janice Ferguson. Mr. Ellis volunteered to get a hold of Carissa Mann Parlato who writes for the Free Press and have her do an article that the Town is looking for a historian. Zoning Changes Mr. Rachun said that the Planning Board reviewed the changes and had no additional changes or additions . Mr. Rachun will get the list of changes out to the Board for their review before the next Board meeting. The Board discussed setting a Public Hearing at the September 11th, 2006 and then try and pass the Zoning amendments at the October or November meeting. The Board also said that the attorney will need to review the proposed changes . Audit Mr. Ellis asked if there was any news on the audit. Mrs . Georgia said that the auditors came last Monday and they finished and left on Thursday. The Town received a bill for work in progress of $4000 . The auditor said she would be furnishing her report as soon as possible . Ms. Tyler asked if David Iles came in for any part of the audit. Mrs . Georgia responded that he had not . Joint Water Meetings Ms . Marino reported that there was one more go around about the cost to the Village and it seemed to Ms . Marino that the basic bottom line that everyone agreed upon that it is a large number, about $ 70, 000 per year, depending on what assumptions you want to use for lost revenue for the Village . It also is agreed that it is going to cost a lot any way it is done to gain a second source for the Village. The discussion came around to if the Town ' s Water District #5 project could be modified to reduce some of the cost. A discussion also took place if Water District #5 could be used to serve the Village as a primary source as opposed to a back up , providing a more stable long term primary source for the Village. The general consensus of the meeting was to continue thinking and working on different issues . Ms . Marino said that Mr. Austic will investigate with Bolton Point the possibility of supplying the Village their primary source of water. Mr. Austic will write letters to Bolton Point and the Town of Ithaca on this subject. Special Town Board Meeting 4 August 28 , 2006 Ms. Marino said another item that the Village brought up was Zoning/Planning issues and there was a discussion of some sort of Intermunicipal cooperative planning where zones would be defined where the Town and the Village work together to do better planning in these areas. It was suggested that each Board pass a resolution to commit to doing this relative to zoning. Public Informational Meeting Ms. Tyler suggested that the Board needs to have another informational meeting on Water District # 5 that was promised at the last informational meeting. Mr. Ellis said he felt that without any information it would be a bad time to do it. The Board just sat here and said that they do not have information organized well enough to inform themselves so how would we dare try to inform the public at this time . Ms . Tyler said she feels the Board has more information now then when the Board had the first hearing. Mr. Ellis said that it is a requirement to have a public hearing in the district process . Ms . Tyler felt that information at that meeting was not gathered from people in the district such as, do you have a water problem, what ' s the nature of your problem and would you be willing to pay for water if it were this target service charge. The Board mentioned that they have heard about petitions but have never really received all that have been talked about. The Board discussed mailing out postcards (to only residents within the District) with a very basic survey about interest in Water District #5 and what type of questions should be asked. Mr. Ferrentino said it should only be yes or no do you want water. Ms. Marino said she thought it should have something about the range of cost. The Board continued with what should or could be on the survey. Mr. Ellis said that if we are going to do something then he thinks the Board needs to be very clear what it is they are trying to learn. Ms. Tyler asked the Board members if this information they could gain on a survey would be valuable to them . Ms. Marino felt it could be . Mr. Ferrentino felt it was not necessary. Mr. Ellis said that if the general consensus of the Board is to do the survey Ms . Tyler should bring a resolution forward to the Board with the questions and vote on it. Mr. Ellis asked to have it emailed to him because he is associated with several people who do surveys and he would really like to ask them about her questions . Hearing no further discussions, Ms . Tyler moved, seconded by Mr. Ellis to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned at 9 : 15 PM Respectfully submitted, Special Town Board Meeting 5 August 28 , 2006 Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG: mlg