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Home My WebLink About2025-07-22-TB-FINAL-minutes1 TOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses July 22, 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- Rich Goldman, Michael Boggs, Liz Weatherby Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato Via Zoom (due to extenuating circumstances)- Board member- Mary Bouchard (arrived at 7:01pm) OTHERS: In person- Nancy Zahler, Maureen Shallish Via Zoom- Linda Liddle, Natasha APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ms. Olson requested to add the following items to the agenda: JCA presentation, speed reduction announcement, and Gorge Road temporary parking discussion. Mr. Boggs moved to approve the agenda as amended. This was seconded by Ms. Weatherby and passed unanimously. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 minutes per person): (none) JACKSONVILLE COMM ASSOCIATION (JCA) PRESENTATION: Ms. Zahler thanked the board for their support as it allows the park to be maintained and open year- round from dawn to dusk. She shared the following updates: • Restroom: o Bathroom is accessible, operational and cleaned regularly 2 o Can now host events with this improvement • Upcoming solar panels: o Panels on restroom will allow for light in restroom as well as pavilion o Would like to get internet as well with remote lock for restroom o Would like to get surveillance cameras to discourage vandalism/trash o Hoping to get done in the next few weeks • Safety recommendations by insurance company o Coat metal roof on pavilion o Put balusters on bridge • Clean up day: o Weather was not great but various community members showed up o Recs for tree plantings o Pulled out big roots • Community picnic is scheduled for Sun., 8/10 from 12-2pm • New signage • Would like to see about more low maintenance plantings- maybe a pollinator garden OLD BUSINESS: SPEED REDUCTION REQUEST UPDATE: NYS DOT has responded to the board request to lower speed limits around the new Taughannock Park parking lot to help with increased traffic: • Reduced from 55 to 35 mph: o Gorge Road (from Jacksonville Road to NY-89) o Rice Road (from Cayuga View Road to Taughannock Park Road) • Jacksonville Road (from Cold Springs Road to Taughannock Park Road) will be lowered from 55 to 45 mph • Taughannock Park Road (from Jacksonville Road to NY-96) will be lowered from 55 to 45 mph INTRODUCTION OF “A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW § 3-C” AND SCHEDULING PUBLIC HEARING Ms. Olson clarified that passage of the law does not mean the board is planning to override the limit, but this allows the option. She further noted that preventative passage of this law is standard practice for many municipalities. She said that the town may be looking at a 17% health insurance increase for 2026. RESOLUTION # 111 OF 2025: INTRODUCING A PROPOSED LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT WHEREAS, a local law entitled “A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW § 3-C” was introduced at this meeting, and WHEREAS, the Town Board desires to hold a public hearing with respect to the adoption of said Local Law. 3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that a public hearing shall be held by the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses with respect to the adoption of the aforesaid Local Law on August 12, 2025 at 7pm at Town Hall, 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg, New York; and it is further RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause public notice of said hearing to be given as provided by law. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Ms. Weatherby Ms. Olson made a friendly amendment to change time from 7:05pm to 7pm. This was approved by the mover and seconder. Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 7/22/25 DISCOVER CAYUGA CONTRACT Ms. Olson said that the town is part of a consortium with other municipalities for stormwater permits and NYS now mandates that educational component be provided. The group is selecting the floating classroom (Discover Cayuga) to provide the education. RESOLUTION # 112 OF 2025: APPROVAL OF DISCOVER CAYUGA CONTRACT WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses contracts with the Storm Water Coalition of Tompkins County, an intermunicipal agency, for assistance with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s); and WHEREAS, new New York State permitting requirements necessitate the Storm Water Coalition to provide public education; and WHEREAS, the coalition is sharing the costs of this new expenditure, and it has been approved by nearly all of the other municipalities in the agency; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board approves the Town Supervisor to sign the contract with Discover Cayuga for public education services for $700. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Ms. Weatherby Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye 4 Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 7/22/25 SCHEDULING A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PARK DONATION Ms. Olson said that it came to our attention that Ag & Markets must do an additional review. We are waiting on this and anticipating that it will come back in a few weeks. If we get it back she would like to schedule a special meeting for the Town Board to take action on the donation. Once a date is decided, the public will be alerted. ROAD CLOSURE Ms. Olson noted that new lot at upper Taughannock is scheduled to open soon. NYS Parks and the Highway Superintendent are concerned that folks may try to park on Gorge Road instead, which is not suited for this purpose. A 2-month no parking order is suggested as the parties consider longer term plans. RESOLUTION # 113 OF 2025: APPROVAL OF DISCOVER CAYUGA CONTRACT WHEREAS, New York State Parks has expressed concerns to the Town that the opening of the new paid parking area at the northern end of Taughannock State Park will likely result in parking along Gorge Road; and WHEREAS, Gorge Road does not have a suitable shoulder for safely allowing routine parking in the right of way; and WHEREAS, the Highway Superintendent is in favor of temporarily closing parking along a portion of Gorge Road to determine if it helps improve public safety; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Ulysses Town Board directs the Highway Superintendent to post no parking signs along the first 2000 feet of Gorge Road northwest of Jacksonville Road for two months, effective July 23, 2025. Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Boggs Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 7/22/25 UPCOMING EVENTS August 12 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall August 26 – Regular Meeting CANCELLED 2026 Budget Meetings: • Monday, September 8 (10am), • Wednesday, September 10 (9am), 5 • Wednesday, September 17 (9am) • September 9 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RESOLUTION # 113 OF 2025: APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approve the meeting minutes as presented from July 22, 2025 (regular meeting). Moved: Ms. Olson Seconded: Mr. Goldman Olson aye Boggs aye Bouchard aye Goldman aye Weatherby aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 7/22/25 BOARD NOTIFICATIONS: Ms. Weatherby shared that the first 3 chapters of the draft Comprehensive Plan are available for review. Ms. Liddle shared that the WSPPC is finalizing their water protection plan draft. They will send it to the board soon and present it at the 8/12 board meeting. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3 min limit per person): Ms. Shallish inquired about budget meetings and the public meeting for land donation. With concern for potential noise due to motorized recreation, she asked if language in the donation agreement might be changed to use the term “non-motorized” recreation. Ms. Olson said that zoning laws could address this issue as all uses will go through the planning board. ADJOURN: Mr. Goldman made a motion to adjourn at 7:56pm. This was seconded by Ms. Bouchard and passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk, 7/25/25