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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-25-TB-FINAL-minutes1 TOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses March 25, 2025 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 7pm. ATTENDANCE: TOWN OFFICIALS: In person- Supervisor- Katelin Olson Board members- Mary Bouchard, Liz Weatherby, Michael Boggs, Rich Goldman Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato Bookkeeper- Blixy Taetzsch Recreation Director- Will Glennon WSPPC (Water Source Protection Plan Committee) member & CSAC (Conservation & Sustainability Advisory Committee) chair- Roxanne Marino OTHERS: Mark Sherman, Diane & Sam Vann, Tyler Sherman, Ben Darfler, Sage & Weston Peake, Via Zoom- Sandy, Marvin Pritts, Jay Hart & Patty Porter, Erica, Samsung, Steve Manley, Matt Taves APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion: Ms. Olson requested the addition of a Taitem Engineering proposal related to an energy study. Ms. Bouchard moved to approve the agenda with this amendment. This was seconded by Mr. Boggs and passed unanimously. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 minutes per person): Comments on offer to donate land for recreation purposes: Sage Peake read comments (see attached). Diane Vann said that she walks the road and enjoys the country setting and those that live closest will suffer. Patty Porter said she is not against having a park but moved to Cold Springs Road from South Hill where it was noisy all night long. She wonders how the town will limit access at night to maintain neighbors’ privacy. She suggested pine trees as a buffer. 2 Diane Vann added that perhaps the entrance could be in a different place such as Halseyville Road. Matt Taves said that he supports the donation and doesn’t think it will be like South Hill. Ben Darfler said he has faith that the town and other boards can mitigate concerns and issues for it to be successful. PRESENTATION: Recreation Department Spring Update Mr. Glennon said that there is a need for additional recreation space for both youth and adults as town programs often have space issues as they must work around the school’s needs, which are substantial. He said that all 84 slots of summer camp sold out in 27 minutes with 20-56 campers on the waitlist for each week. A CIT (counselor-in-training) program has been added to meet the need for activities for older youth. The camp is geared to K-6 graders. Ms. Olson added that the program has improved in the past years in that camp is not cancelled if weather is bad. Additionally, kids are bussed to Watkins Glen State Park for swimming if there are HABs at Taughannock Park. Mr. Glennon was excused at this time (7:36pm). PRESENTATION: 2024 Year End Financial Overview by Town Budget Officer Ms. Taetzsch shared 2024 end-of-year actuals (spending and revenue) vs. what we estimated as we budgeted for 2025. Her general assessment is that we did a good job budgeting albeit a bit conservatively. Ms. Olson asked Ms. Taetzsch to share how the Town of Newfield manages the costs of their park. Ms. Taetzsch responded that Newfield got the land and did not do anything with it for a decade. Then volunteers raised money and got grants for a basketball court and soccer field. It does not have a bathroom. She said that the rec programs use it heavily and have had none of the issues that Ulysses residents are concerned about. They would like to add a pavilion and restrooms. Grant funds have paid for fencing, wifi, and cameras. Tax dollars are used for DPW maintenance, which is less than $5000/year. OLD BUSINESS: NYCLASS Ms. Taetzsch of the program, which is a NYS municipality investment pool. It is set up to maximize earnings and be liquid for easy access. RESOLUTION #65 OF 2025: NYCLASS WHEREAS, New York General Municipal Law, Article 5-G, Section 119-o (Section 119-o) empowers municipal corporations [defined in Article 5-G, Section 119-n to include school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, counties, cities, towns and villages, and districts] to enter into, amend, cancel, and terminate agreements for the performance among themselves (or one for the other) of their respective functions, powers, and duties on a cooperative or contract basis; 3 WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses wishes to invest portions of its available investment funds in cooperation with other corporations and/or districts pursuant to the NYCLASS Municipal Cooperation Agreement Amended and Restated as of August 1, 2023; WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses wishes to satisfy the safety and liquidity needs of their funds; Now, therefore, it is hereby resolved as follows: That Katelin Olson, Town Supervisor of the Town of Ulysses is hereby authorized to participate in the NYCLASS program under the terms of the NYCLASS Municipal Cooperation Agreement Amended and Restated as of August 1, 2023. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 ENGINEERING PROPOSAL FOR ENERGY STUDY Ms. Olson said that the town needs guidance on the best plan for solar panels as part of the NYSERDA $100K grant award. The options include new panels at Town Hall and Town Barn, continuing with the panels we have, or setting up a ground mount array at highway barn to provide credits for town hall electricity use. Ms. Marino noted that once the town makes a decision and enters into a contract, there are 2 years to complete project. Ms. Olson said that we only received one response to the RFP even though it was sent to more than 3 firms. $5000 was budgeted for this purpose and the proposal came back at $6300. RESOLUTION #66 OF 2025: AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN TAITEM PROPOSAL RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign the Taitem Engineering proposal for energy engineering services for the town barn. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye 4 Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 TOWN HALL PARKING LOT PROJECT - PROGRAMMING Ms. Olson said that the pre-construction meeting for the town hall parking lot project will take place on Friday, April 11. RESOLUTION #67 OF 2025: TOWN HALL PARKING LOT PROGRAMMING WHEREAS, the upcoming reconstruction of the Town Hall parking lot will result in fewer overall parking spaces and increased accessibility; and WHEREAS, the Highway Superintendent/Director of the Public Works Department made recommendations to the Town Board for designating spaces and establishing parking spaces, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Highway Superintendent to establish 12-hour parking maximums for all Town Hall parking spaces, two designated handicap accessible spaces, two EV charging spaces (for public use), one parking space for the Town- owned vehicle, three public spaces with 2-hour limits, and 7 staff parking spaces with 8am- 5pm restrictions; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Highway Superintendent/Director of Public Works is designated as responsible for managing and enforcing parking restrictions. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Ms. Weatherby Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 NEW BUSINESS: LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR VILLAGE OF TRUMANSBURG CONGRESSIONAL ALLOCATION REQUEST RESOLUTION # 68 OF 2025: LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR VILLAGE OF TRUMANSBURG RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to submit a letter of support for the Village of Trumansburg congressional funding request for their water system. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Ms. Bouchard Olson aye Boggs abstain Bouchard aye 5 Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 DESIGN CONNECT Design connect is a student-led architecture & design program at Cornell. The group solicits actual projects in the surrounding community to lead a community design process. Ms. Olson said that this activity cannot be folded into the Comp Plan project because it is not part of the contract scope. She said that this could be used as a community process to develop the recreation land. She proposed that the town apply for this for the land donation even though it has not yet been accepted by the Town Barn. If that project falls through, the Habitat Nature Preserve can be a back up project. RESOLUTION #69 OF 2025: GATEKEEPER RESOLUTION FOR DESIGN CONNECT WHEREAS, the Design Connect Program is designed to help communities conduct planning activities at a minimal cost that engage public interest and opinion, and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has a potential park project and a preserve project that are eligible for selection, which would benefit the Town broadly and the taxpayer specifically in the 2025-2026 academic year; and WHEREAS, the cost for these services is $600, if selected NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to submit an application for the 2025-2026 Design Connect program, applying for both the potential park donation and the Salo Habitat Preserve for public engagement, community planning, and design services. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Ms. Bouchard Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 Ms. Olson asked if the board would be amenable to a public hearing on the acquisition of land for recreation. She added that the county and BZA have reviewed the FEAF (environmental review) and no comments. The Planning Board is scheduled to discuss on 4/1. 6 RESOLUTION #70 OF 2025: SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses is interested in hearing feedback on a potential park donation from the public; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board schedules a Public Hearing on 4/8/25 at 7pm for the purposes of hearing such feedback; and FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board directs the Town Clerk to advertise said public hearing. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/25/25 Ms. Weatherby reminded the board of a special meeting on Wed. 4/2 with the CPSC from 4:30- 5:30pm. UPCOMING EVENTS April 2- Town Board meet with CPSC 4:30-5:30pm April 8 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall April 22 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RESOLUTION #71 OF 2025: APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approve the meeting minutes as presented from March 11, 2025 regular meeting. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 3/11/25 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 min limit per person): Ms. Vann said that overall everyone knows that recreation is good but neighbors of the property will be very affected and this is not right or fair for them. 7 Ms. Marino said that CSAC recommends that the town and village fund the CCE Citizen Pruners program again this year in April and invited the board to reach out with questions as a decision will need to be made soon. ADJOURN: Mr. Goldman made a motion to adjourn at 9:10pm. This was seconded by Ms. Bouchard and passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk, 4/8/25 8 APPENDIX: