HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-12-TB-FINAL-minutes_w-appv 21
TOWN BOARD MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING
Town of Ulysses
May 12, 2026
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
CALL TO ORDER:
Ms. Olson called the meeting to order at 7:03pm.
ATTENDANCE:
TOWN OFFICIALS:
In person-
Supervisor- Katelin Olson
Board members- Steve Manley, Liz Weatherby, Michael Boggs
Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato
OTHERS:
In person-
Jessica Geary (MRB Group), Linda Liddle, Sarah Adams, Geri Keil, Kate Stewart, Don Ellis,
Dolores Higareda, Rich Goldman, Shirley Brown, Maureen Shallish, Nancy Cusumano, Vivien
Rose, Pat Jung, Krys Cail, Joyce Garzon, Liz Kyle, Vivien Rose, Steve Nicholson, Sheryl Rakowski,
Marie Roenke
Via Zoom-
John Hopple, Dean Lemont, Jenny
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Ms. Weatherby moved to approve the agenda as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Manley and
passed unanimously.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
Vivien Rose shared a resolution with the Town Board. (See Appendix)
Pat Jung from Village Grove encouraged the board to create more senior housing. She said she was
lucky to find a home at Village Grove.
Sarah Adams (Falls St.) shared her thoughts. (See Appendix)
PUBLIC HEARING: 2025-2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DRAFT
Mr. Boggs moved to open the hearing at 7:14pm. This was seconded by Ms. Weatherby and passed
unanimously.
Comments from the following people who spoke can be found in the Appendix:
Nancy Cusumano
Don Ellis
2
Vivien Rose
Cynthia Mannino
Geraldine Keil
Dolores Higareda said that the wording and grammar of the plan was confusing and hard to
differentiate between village and town. She also noted issues with the Transportation section with
regards to pedestrian & cyclist safety, and the use of village statistics.
Rich Goldman said that the board should wait to vote on adoption of the plan until the Town Board
vacancy is filled and that more thought on the plan is needed.
Krys Cail (3110 Dubois Rd.) said that more data is needed on how/where water flows in the town. She
expressed concerns about climate change and consideration of drainage being put in ag areas
without oversight.
Shirley Brown (5664 Pine Ridge Rd) encouraged the board to slow down and prepare for climate
change, managing water, and a population influx to this area.
Marie Roenke (2586 Agard Rd) said that rezoning ag land to residential will take land from farmers
and she will do anything she can to stop that.
John Hopple (Perry City Rd) is concerned about land being changed from ag to residential, how this
will change the nature of the area, and that topography did not seem to be taken into consideration.
Krys Cail spoke again and said that economic development section doesn’t seem based on local data
and said public water without sewer it is not an environmentally conscious decision.
Vivien Rose spoke again and said that we need to start protecting nature now to have the things we
care about in the future.
Cheryl Rakowksi (Krums Corners Rd.) said that a local farm added drainage and now water has risen
up in a new spot. She thinks the plan is ambitious but the speed is concerning.
Shirley Brown questioned if dry land is used for housing then will ag land have to be on wet land.
Mr. Boggs moved to table the hearing at 8:14pm. This was seconded by Mr. Manley and passed
unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
2025-2045 DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (DISCUSSION)
Ms. Olson responded to comments made during the hearing with the following:
• the board is in the process of hearing from the public at this time and will discuss things as a
board after all public input
• the Town board’s “acceptance” of the plan only means that they have accepted the draft
document developed by Comp Plan Steering Committee (CPSC) over the past 3 years
• TCAT runs through the town on Route 96 and is used by summer rec program and others
• 1/3 of households in the town outside the village have access to public water
• The plan means to address the housing needs evident from past public comments
• CPSC wanted to encourage medium density (definition of which is in current zoning law) in the
areas with transportation and water
3
• The Future Land Use Map (FLUM) is not a zoning map, but rather a conversation about the
future
• The community has said it wants both housing and ag. How to do this?
• The goal is to increase housing to 8 units/year. The current average is 7 units/year. Infill
development seems most logical for this
• It’s better to figure out how to connect folks to water where it already exists rather than put
in new water lines
Ms. Weatherby shared the following:
• The comp plan is only for the town. The village has its own separate comp plan so village
items are not be discussed in this plan
MUNICIPAL BOARD & STAFF REPORTS:
Mr. Manley shared the following discussions from the Youth Commission meeting:
• Potential school day schedule changes for next school year
• How to connect our youth program to school and expand its reach
• Relationship with Ithaca youth
Ms. Olson shared the following updates from Three Falls LDC:
• Voted to hire Fisher Consulting (who created the concept plan) to create funding sources
• Private fundraising will not be enough- will need NYS funds- estimating $15-20 million over
next 10-15 years
• Updating website- threefalls.org
• Working on safe access to waterfall
Ms. Weatherby also shared that the Planning Board approved the Open Dev. Area.
NEW BUSINESS:
DESIGNATING JULY 2-11 “CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF FREEDOM DAYS”
RESOLUTION #92 of 2026: DESIGNATING JULY 2 – JULY 11 “CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF
FREEDOM DAYS” IN TOWN OF ULYSSES, NEW YORK
WHEREAS, Delegates to the Second Continental Congress from 12 colonies voted to dissolve
political bands with Great Britain on JULY 2, 1776, with New York delegates abstaining; and,
WHEREAS, Delegates to the Second Continental Congress from 12 colonies voted to approve
the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and ordered it printed and dispersed on JULY 4, 1776,
with New York delegates abstaining; and,
WHEREAS, the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was printed overnight with two names, John
Hancock, president of Congress, and Chas. Thomson, secretary, by Printer to Congress John
Dunlap and ready for sending on JULY 5 and 6, 1776; and,
WHEREAS, General in Chief George Washington received the DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE and ordered it read to Continental Army brigades in New York City on JULY 9,
1776; and,
4
WHEREAS, the New York Provincial Assembly approved the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
and ordered it published “with Beat of Drum” in Westchester County on JULY 11, 1776; and,
WHEREAS, John Adams, delegate from Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the Committee
of Five who drafted the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE wrote to his wife Abigail on JULY 3,
1776 that, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History
of America. - I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the
great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn
Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with
Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent
to the other from this Time forward forever more.”; and,
WHEREAS, 28 Revolutionary War veterans settled in Town of Ulysses, among them
Trumansburg founder Abner Treman and Jacksonville founder Jeptha Lee;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board hereby designates July 2 –
July 11, 2026 as “CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF FREEDOM DAYS” in the Town of Ulysses; and be
it
FURTHER RESOLVED that residents in the Town of Ulysses are encouraged to celebrate with
readings of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and other acts of commemoration in
accordance with conscience, belief, and applicable law.
Moved: Weatherby Seconded: Olson
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Manley aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 5/12/26
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 26 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall
June 4 – Board (Town, Planning, Zoning) member annual training, 5pm @ Town Hall
June 9 – Regular Town Board Meeting, 7pm @ Town Hall
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
RESOLUTION #93 of 2026: APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RESOLVED, that the Ulysses Town Board approves the meeting minutes from the April 28
meeting as amended and the May 5, 2026 meeting as presented.
Moved: Boggs Seconded: Olson
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Manley aye
Weatherby aye
5
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 5/12/26
BOARD NOTIFICATIONS:
None
BUDGET MODIFICATIONS:
none
PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS:
RESOLUTION #94 of 2026: PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS
RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approves payment of Vouchers #207-252 in the A-SW
Funds totaling $87,990.37.
Moved: Olson Seconded: Manley
Olson aye
Boggs aye
Manley aye
Weatherby aye
Vote: 4-0
Date Adopted: 5/12/26
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR (3-min limit per person)
Maureen Shallish said that she appreciates the work and changes on the Comp Plan draft based on
comments and the survey.
Shirley Brown said that septic can be devastating to ag land, but sewer can have an impact as well as
once it is put in, it will not be removed and could remove ag land from production and we may need
it in the future.
Vivien Rose said that we need to consider housing affordability and processes that contribute to that.
ADJOURN:
Mr. Manley made a motion to adjourn at 8:59pm. This was seconded by w and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk, 5/22/26
6
APPENDIX:
Included:
Public comments (some received in advance and some made at meeting).
May 11, 2026
Town of Ulysses Town Board
10 Elm Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Re: Public Comment on the Ulysses 2026 Comprehensive Plan
Dear Members of the Town Board,
I’m a resident of Ulysses writing to comment on the 2026 Comprehensive Plan. I’ve
been following along these months through the rigorous comp plan process. I want to
say upfront that this is a real improvement. Some things I think the plan gets right and a
few places where I’d like to see it go a step further.
What the plan gets right
The 2009 plan had no climate chapter. Adding one and tying it to things that actually
affect this town (algae blooms in Cayuga Lake, flooding along our creeks, what
changing weather patterns mean for local farms), is the most important change in this
update. It needed to be here.
The housing chapter is also long overdue. The 2009 Comp Plan barely touched
housing. The 2026 plan says the housing shortage is real, the stock is aging, and
people are paying too much and offers practical responses: accessory units, smaller
housing types, and incentives for affordable development. That’s the right direction.
On farmland, I’m glad to see the plan move past "protect agriculture" as a general
aspiration and start naming tools: Purchase of Development Rights, Transfer of
Development Rights, succession planning, loan programs for young people trying to buy
into farming. That’s a more serious treatment of the issue than we’ve had before.
I also want to call out the Resource Conservation designation on the future land use
map as a great addition. Applying it along the lakeshore and in the Waterburg Road
area shows the plan is willing to make a real commitment to protecting the places that
matter most. That kind of forward-looking land use decision is exactly what a comp plan
should do.
Where I’d like to see more
I know comp plans are meant to be guiding documents. The details lie in zoning, local
laws, and standalone plans that come after. But a comp plan can still clearly state that
those follow-on documents will be created, which is different from suggesting they might
be. A few places where I think the plan should be more direct:
• On climate: The plan notes that the Town doesn’t have a Climate Action Plan but
doesn’t commit to making one. I’d like to see it say plainly that the Town will
develop one. My understanding is that the Climate Smart Communities program,
which Ulysses is already enrolled in, has a benchmark for exactly this, so it’s not
starting from scratch.
• On housing and sustainability: The plan says it wants house plans that meet the
Town’s sustainability goals, but those goals aren’t defined anywhere in the
document. I’d like to see the plan commit to defining them, even just by pointing
to an existing state standard as a baseline, so this doesn’t stay circular.
• On legacy parcels: The plan shows it can make forward-looking land use
decisions, as it does with the Resource Conservation designation. I’d like to see
that same thinking applied to the nonconforming uses scattered around town, like
the junkyards along Route 96. These sites are already legal nonconforming uses
under the zoning code, so the plan doesn’t need to say anything to let them keep
operating. But it could say something about what we’d like those sites to become
over time, which would give the planning board a policy basis to encourage
better outcomes when those properties eventually redevelop.
The gap I’m pointing to isn’t about timelines or implementation details. It’s the difference
between "the Town should explore developing a Climate Action Plan" and "the Town will
develop a Climate Action Plan." The first is a nice idea. The second gives future boards
something they’re accountable to. That’s what a comp plan is for.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment, and for all the work that went into this plan.
Respectfully,
Cait Darfler
32 Whig St Trumansburg
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Alison M. Weaver
246 Pennsylvania Avenue
Trumansburg, New York 14886
May 12, 2026
RE: Support for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update
Dear Town Board Members,
I am writing to express my strong support for the adoption of the proposed Comprehensive
Plan. I was a member of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee for 30 months and know
the amount of time, revisions, and thought that was placed into this document by members.
Additionally, comments from the community were also considered when making numerous
revisions to this document.
I believe this document offers a forward-looking, realistic vision for the Town of Ulysses that
balances growth with the preservation of our community’s character. Adopting this plan is
essential for guiding future zoning decisions, supporting regional planning efforts, and
strengthening our ability to secure grants for capital projects.
I also feel it should be noted this was to be in effect in 2025 as a 2025 – 2045 Comprehensive
Plan Update. I feel it detrimental to not keep moving forward to adopt this plan as it was
originally slated to be completed in 2025. It was voted by members to extend to give more time
to review and make changes to the draft.
I urge the Town Board to adopt the 2025 - 20245 Comprehensive Plan and begin the necessary
implementation steps to ensure a vibrant future for the Town of Ulysses.
Sincerely,
Alison M. Weaver