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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-24-TB-FINAL-minutes1
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Town of Ulysses
Sept. 24, 2024
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
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWVIs--g9CpHIxdk9YxZyPw.
CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Olson called the meeting to order at 7:04pm.
ATTENDANCE:
TOWN OFFICIALS:
In person-
Supervisor- Katelin Olson
Board members- Liz Weatherby, Rich Goldman, Michael Boggs
Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato
Town Bookkeeper/Budget Officer- Blixy Taetzsch
Youth Development Supervisor- Rachel Kennedy
Youth Development Staff- Zak Kozlowski
Via Zoom-
Planning Board chair- Karl Klankowski
CSAC chair; WSPPC & CPSC member- Roxanne Marino
Absent:
Board member- Mary Bouchard
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion:
Mr. Boggs moved to approve the agenda as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Goldman and
passed unanimously.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
none
PRESENTATION: Youth Services
Ms. Kennedy gave an update on the following:
Youth Employment Program (YEP):
• Summer 2024 highlights:
o 15 teens hired, aged 14-17
o 29 applicants total- couldn’t hire all due to the youth employment budget
o Those who weren’t hired were referred to TC Workforce Development
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o Site placements include Jenny Creek Flowers, Jojo Cooks, Library, nursery school and
more
• Plans for future:
o job fair
o collaborating with Learning Web & TC Workforce Development
o trying to support kids who would not be able to get a job on own otherwise
o exit interviews
Civics program info:
• sessions held fall 2023 and spring 2024
• encourages employment readiness + civic engagement
• develop youth feedback and voice for Comp Plan
• Improvements for this year- students initiate own program using Kingian non-violence
• feeds into New NYS Seal of Civics Readiness diploma program
College tours
• will visit 2 & 4-yr schools in 90 mile radius
• 6 tours with more intimate groups of kids for a more personal experience
• kids that might not have access to these visits otherwise
• some may be 1st in family to go to college
• CCC visit next week
• going into classes at school to pitch program
The group discussed target audiences and how to measure success.
Mr. Kozlowski shared information on the following programs starting this week for middle-schoolers:
• Youth Cross-Country
o 3rd-6th graders
o Fun for both kids who don’t necessarily want structured sports along with more
serious runners
• Outdoors Club
o 10 kids signed up + waitlist
o Posters and presentations at the school to recruit
o Wild foods, epic games, ropes
• Time spent talking with parents on the phone to explain what programs are - marketing
different to parents vs kids
• Getting to know kids leads to return participants
• Considering how to get testimonials from parents on what was noticed in the kids during and
after participation
Ms. Kennedy suggested that it may be worthwhile to have programs for 3rd & 4th graders who aren’t
interested in the musical or sports.
OLD BUSINESS:
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TOWN COURT CONSOLIDATION - UPDATE
Ms. Olson noted that the town passed a resolution on consolidation subject to permissive
referendum. The deadline passed without any petitions received to put the issue in the ballot. Due to
timelines with the Board of Elections, a candidate will still be on the ballot even though the town has
abolished the position.
NEW BUSINESS
TENTATIVE 2025 BUDGET
Ms. Parlato officially presented the 2025 Tentative Budget to the board.
Ms. Taetzsch said that this budget currently goes above the tax cap by about ~$32,000.
Ms. Olson noted that EMS revenue billing is down by about 30%. A new billing company may help
with this by with doing more follow up to collect funds although the town will need to consider how
aggressive to be.
Ms. Taetzsch added that EMS revenue in the last few years included appropriated fund balance .
Further discussion:
Property tax:
• WD3 taxes going down due to debt being paid off but putting some money into reserves
Fund balance
• Risky to use a lot at once
• Using FB to fund operations which is not a best practice
• Need some additional long term financial planning
The board discussed how much fund balance was appropriate to use and what the town’s policy
allows.
Discussion of DA fund:
• Machinery, snow removal, staff, benefits, small addition to reserves
• Will start tracking overtime in a separate line this year
• DA2665 revenue
2025-2026 ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES AGREEMENT
RESOLUTION #148 OF 2024: ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses is required to provide animal control services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the Animal Control
Services Agreement, and be it;
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board directs the Town Clerk to submit the signed
contract to the SPCA.
Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman
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Olson aye
Boggs aye
Bouchard absent
Goldman aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 9/24/24
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE (CPSC) PUBLIC INFORMATION PLAN (PIP) AND
WEBSITE
Ms. Weatherby shared that the CPSC desires to create a website specific to the project that is more
interactive and has capabilities than our current website.
RESOLUTION # 149 OF 2024: AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT WEBSITE
AND UTILIZE WEB APPLICATIONS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses in undertaking a comprehensive plan process and is
committed to engaging and soliciting public opinions; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has a Social Media Policy (established in 2023 and affirmed by
the Town Board in January 2024) that is intended to direct official Town actions related to
websites and social media, with a priority on providing information to the public and not
engaging in the creation of a public forum; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses Comprehensive Plan Committee would like MRB Group, the
consultant hired by the Town of Ulysses to guide the Comprehensive Plan process, to host a
website for the purposes of sharing publicly available information and enabling w eb
applications to solicit and engage public feedback on Comprehensive Plan topics; and
WHEREAS, while the collecting of public opinions is not expressly permitted in the Social
Media Policy, the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan prioritizes gathering and collecting
public comments and this can be achieved through a standalone website and web applications
that do not create a public forum in violation of the Social Media Policy; and
WHEREAS, it is more efficient and financially prudent for this work to be accomplished by a
third-party vendor under an existing contract than by Town staff on the current website;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes MRB Group, overseen by the Town
Planner and the Town of Ulysses Comprehensive Plan Committee, to create a standalone
website for engagement on the Comprehensive Plan process and utilize web applications that
collect public opinions and solicit information, with the following conditions:
1. The Town’s Communications Manager shall either review or designate someone to
review the material posted to the MRB website and the web application content to
ensure compliance with the resolution, and any violations or concerns regarding these
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materials shall be promptly addressed with MRB Group and edited or removed as
necessary.
2. The independent website shall identify that it is approved by the Town of Ulysses and
clearly identify that it is part of the Comprehensive Plan process. This language will be
approved by the Town’s Communication Manager or designee.
3. The website is subject to records retention requirements by New York State and the
Town of Ulysses, and the Records Manager is directed to ensure a process whereby
these records are collected and saved as required by law.
4. All information posted to the website shall be public information (reports, data,
educational information) and is not editorializing on the part of either Town officials,
members of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, MRB Group or their affiliates.
5. All web applications utilized will be for collecting information from the public as part of
the Comprehensive Plan process and will not be used in such a way that creates a
back-and-forth dialogue between members of the public (i.e. public forum).
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Ulysses recognizes the Social Media Policy and
approves this unique deviation for the purposes of fulfilling its essential responsibility of
engaging public feedback as part of the Comprehensive Planning process.
Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Ms. Weatherby
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Bouchard absent
Goldman aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 9/24/24
RESOLUTION # 150 OF 2024: ADOPTION OF THE TOWN OF ULYSSES’ PUBLIC INFORMATION
PLAN (PIP)
RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board adopts the Public Information Plan (PIP), which was
developed and reviewed by the Town of Ulysses Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.
Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Bouchard absent
Goldman aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 9/24/24
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NEW BUSINESS continued:
BUDGET:
A FUND:
Rec budget:
• Program funded in conjunction with Tompkins County, United Way, and Village of
Trumansburg
• Mr. Goldman inquired about the net funding vs. expenses for the program
• Ms. Olson said that the town is providing the program cheaper than when CCE did
• Discussion of program and taxpayer costs and how to quantify
Other lines:
• Money budgeted for Camp Barton transition that will be recouped in time
• Recommended investments in IT
B fund discussion will take place at Oct. 8 mtg.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 8 – Regular Town Board meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall
October 9 – Public Meeting on Preliminary Design of the Curry Road Bridge (possibly a special Town
Board meeting if a quorum is present), 5:30 -6:30pm @ Town Hall
October 22 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
RESOLUTION #151 of 2024: APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approves the meeting minutes, as amended:
• 8/13/24 Regular Meeting
• 8/21/24 Special Meeting
• 9/9/24 Special Meeting
• 9/10/25 Regular Meeting
• 9/11/24 Special Meeting
• 9/12/24 Special Meeting
Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Ms. Weatherby
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Bouchard absent
Goldman aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 9/24/24
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 min limit per person):
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Ms. Marino followed up on water testing results, noting that it is a part of the Water Source
Protection Plan that is currently being developed.
At this time, the Zoom was accidentally disabled and Ms. Marino could not reconnect.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Mr. Goldman moved to go into Executive Session at 9:34pm for the purpose of discussing pending
litigation. This was seconded by Ms. Weatherby and passed unanimously.
Mr. Goldman, moved to end Executive Session at 9:37pm. This was seconded by Ms. Weatherby and
passed unanimously.
ADJOURN:
Mr. Goldman made a motion to adjourn at 9:38pm. This was seconded by Ms. Bouchard and passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk
10/3/24