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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-27-TB-FINAL-minutesTOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses June 27, 2023 The meeting was held in person at the Town Hall at 10 Elm St., Trumansburg NY as well as via Zoom videoconference. Notice of Town Board meetings are posted on the Town's website and Clerk's board. Video recordings of meetings are available on Youtube at httlis://www.voutube.com/chcinnei/UCWV/s--ci9CIjH/Xdk9YxZvPw. CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Olson called the meeting to order at 7pm. ATTENDANCE: TOWN OFFICIALS Supervisor- Katelin Olson Board members- Michael Boggs, Mary Bouchard, Rich Goldman, Liz Weatherby Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato In -person: Bart Gragg Via Zoom: Roxanne Marino, Linda Liddle APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion: Mr. Boggs moved to approve the agenda with the additions of the RCAP contract and an Executive Session for land negotiations. This was seconded by Mr. Goldman and passed unanimously. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (3 minute limit) Ms. Marino said that she supports the latest draft of the water policy but made a few additional suggestions. CONSENT AGENDA: (Resolutions # 118-122) ACCEPT PLANNING BOARD MEMBER RESIGNATION RESOLUTION #118 OF 2023: ACCEPT PLANNING BOARD MEMBER RESIGNATION WHEREAS, the Town Board appreciates Elizabeth Garner's service to the Ulysses Planning Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board accepts Elizabeth Garner's resignation, submitted to the Town Clerk on 6/26/23, effective immediately. APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD RESOLUTION #119 OF 2023: APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING BOARD RESOLVED that the Town Board appoints Matt Butler, currently serving as an alternate to the Ulysses Planning Board, to fulfill the balance of the appointment, through December 31, 2025. 1 TEMPORARY NO -PARKING FOR RABBIT RUN, CEMETERY ROAD, AND FALLS ROAD RESOLUTION # 120 OF 2023: TEMPORARY NO -PARKING FOR RABBIT RUN, CEMETERY ROAD„ AND FALLS ROAD WHEREAS, it is in the public's interest that the increased parking needs related to the GrassRoots Festival and related activities are regulated on narrow Town roads during the month of July; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board approves the temporary elimination of parking along Rabbit Run, as well as Cemetery Road between Route 96 and Falls Road, and Falls Road between Route 96 and Cayuga View from July 13, 2023 through July 27, 2023; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board directs the Highway Superintendent to post no - parking areas. CANCEL AUGUST 22, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD RESOLUTION #121 OF 2023: CANCEL AUGUST 22, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD RESOLVED, the Town Board cancels its regular meeting on August 22, 2023. END PROBATION PERIOD FOR EXISTING EMPLOYEE RESOLUTION # 122 OF 2023: END PROBATION PERIOD FOR EXISTING EMPLOYEE WHEREAS, the 2021 contract between the Teamsters and the Town of Ulysses allows the Highway Superintendent to request that the Town Board reduces the standard twelve-month probationary period for a Highway employee to six months; and WHEREAS, the Highway Superintendent requested that Dennis Achilles probation period be reduced from twelve months to six months on June 19, 2023; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board approves the reduction in probation from twelve months to six months for Dennis Achilles retroactively effective as of June 19, 2023. Moved: Mr. Boggs Seconded: Ms. Bouchard Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 6/27/23 OLD BUSINESS: AUTHORIZATION TO SECURE ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR 2023 Mr. Goldman noted that this policy is cheaper than the one previously presented. 2 RESOLUTION #123 OF 2023: AUTHORIZATION TO SECURE ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR 2023 WHEREAS, the Youth Commission advises obtaining accident insurance in order to provide additional coverage to Recreation Program participants who potentially have health insurance that would not cover all medical costs associated with a no-fault injury during programming; and WHEREAS, funds from the Youth Commission Budget will be utilized to pay for the cost of this insurance policy; WHEREAS, the Board agrees to purchase the insurance coverage as outlined at the meeting, totaling $1906; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign documents to secure accident insurance as quoted in the June 8, 2023 document. Moved: Ms. Bouchard Seconded: Mr. Boggs Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 6/27/23 SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY- Discussion Ms. Parlato reiterated that the goal of the policy to expand communication with citizens, push out notifications and direct people who would like to comment or get more information to follow up via website, email or phone. Social media will not be used as a public forum. The board discussed. Mr. Goldman sought clarity around the term "town business" in the final paragraph. Ms. Olson agreed to ask the attorney for clarified language. WATER DISTRICT CREATION/EXTENSION POLICY- Discussion The board discussed the current draft and added a few language changes. APPROVAL OF RCAP SOLUTIONS CONTRACT Mr. Boggs attended last night's WSPPC meeting to hear feedback on the contract. RESOLUTION #124 OF 2023: APPROVAL OF RCAP SOLUTIONS CONTRACT WHEREAS, RCAP Solutions is a publicly funded organization that provides services to rural communities; and 3 WHEREAS, RCAP Solutions is well -suited to provide survey support for the Town and the Water Source Protection Plan Committee; and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board is appreciative of the volunteer expertise of the members of the Water Source Protection Plan Committee; and WHEREAS, the provision of these services is at no cost to the Town and will result in a survey process with the professional management of data and the delivery of the data in useful ways to the Town, hereby saving the Town significant staff time; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the contract with RCAP Solutions for survey services scheduled between June and November 2023; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor and the Chair of the Water Source Protection Plan Committee, or their designees, will serve as contacts for RCAP Solutions for the duration of the contract; and FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board directs the Town Clerk to provide the signed copy to RCAP Solutions. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Boggs Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 6/27/23 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Goldman moved to go into Executive Session at 7:53pm for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. This was seconded by Mr. Boggs and passed unanimously. Ms. Bouchard moved to end Executive Session at 8:14pm. This was seconded by Mr. Boggs and passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS (Cont'd.): LAND ACQUISITION UPDATE Ms. Olson noted that the board has been discussing land acquisition for recreation purposes for a few months. It is a goal in line with the comprehensive plan. NYS requires an environmental review (SEAR) is necessary. Because acquisition is the only action at this time, there are no negative findings. RESOLUTION #125 OF 2023: APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO LAND NEGOTIATIONS 4 WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board previously submitted a purchase offer for land to expand recreational opportunities in the Town in March 2023, but said offer was rejected; and WHEREAS, the prior purchase offer was $129,000 for 13 acres, or approximately $9,923/acre, and included deed limitations restricting its development potential; and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board remained committed to addressing constituent concerns about the lack of recreational land in Ulysses, as reflected in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, surveys conducted by Trumansburg Community Recreation, and on the shared experiences of the Ulysses Recreation Department related to more demand for space than is currently available through the Trumansburg Central School District; and WHEREAS, the Town Supervisor has continued to work with Trumansburg Community Recreation to find suitable land per the request of the Ulysses Town Board; and WHEREAS, the property owners of 2141 Kraft Rd. approached the Town of Ulysses in April 2023 with an offer to sell a portion of that land (the "Property"); and WHEREAS, Trumansburg Community Recreation has reviewed the proposed location, agrees that it is well -suited for recreational development, and has submitted a letter of support for acquisition of the Property; and WHEREAS, Trumansburg Community Recreation and the Town of Ulysses intend to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to help codify and outline how their organization can support fundraising efforts that will be critical to the development of a park and recreation facility; and WHEREAS, the Town is concurrently working with New York State Parks to develop an extension of the Black Diamond Trail to run from the Village of Trumansburg to Taughannock State Park, and the Property is accessible to the current Black Diamond Trail; and WHEREAS, the specific size and scope of potential park and recreation facilities at the Property is to be determined at a later date, once funding and plans are completed as to incorporation of some or all of the Property into other park and recreation opportunities locally; and WHEREAS, the Town has other potential uses of the Property for additional Town purposes, to the extent some of the Property remains not needed for park and recreation purposes; and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board has available $210,000 in unallocated American Recovery Plan Act funds, as well as $8,500 in a dedicated reserve fund for purchase of recreational property, in support of achieving the goals of Trumansburg Community Recreation; and WHERES, the Town has commissioned an appraisal of the property, and $7,000/acre has been determined by a third -party appraiser to be the Property's fair market value; and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board desires to enter into a contract with the Property's owner for the purchase of 30 acres of the Property at a cost of $7,000/acre, to be used by the Town for Town purposes, including but not limited to parkland and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Ulysses Town Board has reviewed Parts 1 and 2 of a Short Environmental Assessment Form prepared concerning this potential purchase; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board hereby determines that the potential acquisition of the Property is an Unlisted Action pursuant to SEQRA, and hereby makes a negative declaration concerning the environmental significance of such potential acquisition; and be it further RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board hereby determines that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the Town to authorize the Town Supervisor to enter into negotiations as set forth hereinabove and below; and be it further RESOLVED that the Supervisor is authorized to sign a purchase contract for up to 30 acres of the Property on commercially reasonable terms and conditions at a price of $7,000/acre, and at a maximum expense to the Town of $210,000, not including appraisal, title search, abstract, survey, and other regular closing costs and fees, to be paid for through the Town of Ulysses' American Recovery Plan Act allocation and use of up to $8,500 of the aforementioned reserve fund; and be it further RESOLVED that the Town Supervisor is authorized to enter into agreements, pending legal review and approval as to form, for the acquisition of services related to regular real estate transactions, including a survey, an abstract, title search, legal fees and any other standard real property closing costs and fees; and be it further RESOLVED that the Town Board, after consultation with community stakeholders and further discussion, clarification and identification of specific park and recreation opportunities, as well as other Town needs, will then make final decisions regarding the extent of park and recreation use of the Property; and be it further RESOLVED that this resolution is subject to permissive referendum; and be it further RESOLVED that the Town Clerk is directed to undertake any public notification as required by law and provided a certified copy of the resolution to the Town Attorney. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Boggs Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 6/27/23 NEW BUSINESS: CREATION OF A DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS (DPW)- Discussion Ms. Olson noted that this department title would be more in line with the current duties of the highway dept. The position of director would be created and the elected highway superintendent would be named to that position. There would be no effect on the budget. If the board is amenable, additional steps will include discussions with the union, and adoption of a local law. UPCOMING EVENTS: July 4 — Town buildings Closed for July 4th July 11— Regular Town Board Meeting July 25- Regular Town Board Meeting APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RESOLUTION #126 OF 2023: APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approve the meeting minutes from June 13, 2023 (regular meeting) as presented. Moved: Mr. Boggs Seconded: Ms. Bouchard Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 6/27/23 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 min limit per person): Ms. Marino would like to begin working on the RCAP survey now that the contract has been approved. She requested that a spot on the August 8 agenda to share an update. Ms. Liddle shared that she is concerned about the 75% threshold on the water district policy. She feels that it could have a negative effect on farming because large development could be encouraged by adding public water to an area. Ms. Marino added that NYS Ag & Markets doesn't support public water in ag areas. ADJOURN Mr. Goldman made a motion to adjourn at 8:41pm. This was seconded by Ms. Bouchard and passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk 716123 7