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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.20.2005 Minutes.pdf Page 1 of 5 Minutes of Regular Meeting June 20, 2005 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Lynn, Trustees McNeil, Mount and Collyer, Atty. Tyler, Police Chief Lansing, Supt. Tamborelle, Treasurer Silber, Supt. Cross, Clerk Manning Absent: Trustee Antil, Trustee Staley (arrived late – 9:00 pm), Supv. Quick Others: Ezra Cornell, Marian Kira, Alexander Kira, Fair Gouldin, Charlotte Shull, Paul Curtis ****************************************************************** At 7:00 pm, Mayor Lynn called the Meeting to order. The first order of business was a presentation by Mayor Lynn of a Plaque of Appreciation to Marian Kira. Mayor Lynn thanked Marian for her time, effort and dedication she has put forth in her many years of service to the Village. Marian expressed her thanks for the thoughtful recognition. The next order of business was the announcement of the death of our Trustee, Philip C. Tavelli. Mayor Lynn asked for a resolution recognizing Phil for his time as a Trustee on the Board. Motion by Trustee McNeil Seconded by Trustee Collyer Whereas Phillip Charles Tavelli was duly elected to a two-year term as a Trustee of the Village of Cayuga Heights on April 5, 2004: and Whereas Phil Tavelli was especially conscientious in fulfilling his obligations as a Trustee in spite of the unrelenting stress and suffering due to his illness–his valiant struggle with pancreatic cancer led to his death on June 7, 2005; Therefore be it resolved that the Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights herewith seek to acknowledge Phil’s thoughtful contributions as a Trustee as well as his warmth and good humor, and to express their sorrow and regrets for his untimely death. Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, McNeil, and Mount voted YES. ***************************************************** Privilege of the Floor Ezra Cornell, a resident of the Village, expressed his concern about the proposed renovation to the Village Hall. He feels that the renovation is not necessary and is a waste of money. The focus now should be on repairing the roads, not renovating a building. The Mayor explained that the major reason for the renovation is to comply with the disabilities act. Mr. Cornell still expressed his feelings that the expansion is out of line. Mayor Lynn thanked him for his comments. The Mayor next asked for a motion to approve the minutes of April 12, 2005, which were deferred to this meeting, and May 16, 2005. Motion by Trustee Mount Move to approve the minutes of April 12, 2005 Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, McNeil, and Mount voted YES. Page 2 of 5 Motion by Trustee Mount Move to approve the minutes of May 16, 2005 with a correction to the date of the minutes. Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, McNeil, and Mount voted YES. ***************************************************** Special Report Paul Curtis presented an update on the Cayuga Heights Deer Project. A copy of Mr. Curtis’ report is attached to these minutes. Trustee Collyer asked about future work with the project. Is any aggressive work being done by the State Trustee Collyer asked about the recent talk about chronic wasting disease among deer. Paul said that it is a non-issue in Cayuga Heights. Oneida County is the only location in New York State that has reported any diseased deer. Trustee Collyer asked if the state was aggressively assisting in any deer project. Paul said that they had in the earlier stages of the test. Paul then told the Board that absent of any new funds, the study will end now. Trustee Mount asked if the residents should complain about the deer population more. Paul said that he would not be able to react to residents complaints. Residents need to put the Board on notice if they desired a continuation of the project. Mayor Lynn asked Paul to let the Board know if the current funding continues. ************************************************************** Report of the Police Chief – Report was distributed and is on file. Chief Lansing is working diligently with the County on the 911 upgrade. He will hopefully make a presentation to the Board on the new 911 computer system at the July meeting. Discussion needs to begin on who is going to pay for the new 911 system. Mayor Lynn asked if the Village will have an opportunity to ascert its views on the new system. Chief Lansing said that the Trustees definitely should be able to. The County definitely needs to address the police/fire issues throughout the County. More to come on this subject in his report in July. ************************************************************** Report of the Fire Superintendent – Report was distributed and is on file. Ladder Truck 231 will be dedicated on July 12 at 1:00 pm. Invitations will be sent out soon. Attorney Tyler asked about rust on 202, which the Chief refers to in his report. It appears mainly cosmetic now but needs to be treated before it becomes more serious, said the Fire Supt. ***************************************************************** Report of Working Supervisor – Report was distributed and is on file. Supv. Quick was not in attendance. ********************************************************************* At this point in the meeting, Mayor Lynn told Fire Supt. Tamborelle and Chief Lansing that they could leave if they wished after they give their reports. This also pertains to Supervisor Quick, who was absent from this meeting. At this time, Treasurer Silber wanted to report on the storm damage from a nearby lightening strike that occurred to the Village hall on Tuesday, June 14. It was determined that lightening came into the building, probably through the cable line into the Police Department television, and damaged various pieces of equipment. He expects the damage to be over $1000. ********************************************************************* Page 3 of 5 Report of the Supt. of Public Works – Supt. Cross reported that the trickling filter project is substantially complete. Both filters are back on line. Photos of the trickling filters at the WWTP were distributed for the Trustee’s to see. Supt. Cross reported that the project was very successful. Everything on the project went very smoothly. There were no cost overruns, and one change order at no cost. We are now in the process of receiving money from the DEC for the project. The next project to be completed is the phosphorous filter project. An engineering report needs to be submitted to the DEC by the end of July. After the DEC approves the report, construction drawings will be drawn. Construction will hopefully begin in the Spring. The Kline Road bypass project is the other sewer related project with funding from the Bond Act. The project will be finished by the end of July. Attorney Tyler brought up the subject of the Holdsworth property as it pertains to technical trespassing by the Village with the Kline Road bypass project work. Specifically there is no easement from the property owner to NYSEG and the Village. Supt. Cross stated that there is a strip of land on a map at the County Clerk’s office which has a note that shows the land as supposedly being conveyed to the Village. However, it never was. Attorney Tyler said that the Village is not in a good situation. NYSEG is objecting to certain “hold harmless” language that Mr. Holdsworth has requested be added to the draft of the proposed easement. Supt. Cross asked Al Fulkerson about the history of the note on the map and is waiting for his response. Attorney Tyler will wait to hear from Supt. Cross after he talks to NYSEG. Updates on other projects – The water main project on Parkway Place is complete. Patching will be done soon. The landscaping part of the project on Klinewoods Road is moving along slowly. The drainage part of the project is working quite well. The ZBA granted a minor lot coverage variance for a property on Warwick Place. ********************************************************************* Report of the Treasurer – Treasurer Silber reported on the following: Year-end work is being done. Regarding the storm damage as reported earlier, if the charges the Village incurs are over $2000, the Village will file a claim with our insurance carrier. The EFC Bonds will close on or about July 28. Treasurer Silber presented the Abstract of Vouchers, noting that he is showing on this Abstract the bills that were paid outside of this Board meeting. Mayor Lynn said that this format of the Abstract is very helpful to the Trustees. Motion by Trustee McNeil Move to pass Resolution 6149 approving the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated 6/20/05 in the amount of $403,600.35, and instruct that the Treasurer make payments thereon. Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, McNeil, and Mount voted YES. It was noted that the Bond Resolution on the Building Renovation project which was supposed to be voted on at this meeting will not be voted on due to the fact that there needs to be a super majority of the Board in order to vote on it. ************************************************************************ Report of the Attorney – Attorney Tyler reported on the following: Page 4 of 5 The ZBA is not attendance at this meeting, so the discussion planned with them on the initiative by the County Planning Dept. which states that certain decisions can be made exempt which are otherwise subject to review by the County Planning Board, General Municipal Law 239 should be discussed at the next regular meeting. The N.E. Sr. Citizens Group is requesting a donation from the Village again. The Village can not give a gift to an organization, but it can make payments under an agreement for services provided. Therefore, a request will be made to Mr. DiGiacomo, Treasurer of the N.E. Sr. Citizens Group for a proposed agreement for services for the Trustees to see. Attorney Tyler requested an Executive Session at the end of the meeting. ************************************************************************ Report of the Clerk Clerk Manning reported that the tax bills were distributed along with a copy of the Village refuse and brush collection schedule, which was printed this year in bright pink. Another copy of the same schedule will be inserted in the Courier, which will be mailed out next week. The Clerk asked the Trustees to think of other ways the Village can “get the word out” to the residents as far as the schedules for garbage, bulky, brush and recycling, and other Village services that the Village office receives numerous calls about on a daily basis. The Treasurer suggested that a change be made to the automate the current phone system so that those calling are prompted to press a certain number to hear a schedule of services, thereby freeing up the number of those calls coming to the Clerk or Deputy Clerk. The Clerk will look into this change in service. ********************************************* Motion by Trustee Mount Seconded by Trustee Collyer Move to enter Executive Session at 9:25 pm to consult with Counsel on pending litigation and the collective bargaining agreement. Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, McNeil, and Mount voted YES Motion by Trustee McNeil Seconded by Trustee Collyer Move to come out of Executive Session at 9:46 pm. Trustees Collyer, McNeil, Mount and Staley voted YES. Note: Trustee Staley arrived at the meeting during Executive Session. ********************************************* It was noted that a special meeting should be scheduled to review the collective bargaining contract and vote on the Bond Resolution for the building renovation. A date and time of Tuesday, June 28 at 5:00 pm was tentatively planned with the Clerk contacting all the Trustees for confirmation of that date. Page 5 of 5 After discussion and input from Counsel on the merits, Mayor Lynn then asked the Board how they wanted to handle the claim for repair of a hole in a roof caused by windstorm damage from a branch falling from a Village owned tree, submitted by Village resident William Wasmuth. Motion by Trustee Staley Seconded by Trustee McNeil Move to deny roof claim Trustees Collyer, McNeil, Mount and Staley voted YES. Attorney Tyler was then instructed to send a letter to Mr. Wasmuth advising him of the denial of his claim. Trustee Mount, at this time, wanted to go on record praising Marian Kira for the great job she has done for the Village. In a conversation held some time ago, Trustee Mount asked Marian why she was on the Board of Trustees. Marian commented that it was important for there to be a woman on the Board, and that tradition continues. Mayor Lynn then told the Trustees that Village law permits him to appoint a replacement for Trustee Tavelli. The Mayor wanted the Board to know that he is working on finding a replacement. Motion by Trustee Mount Move to adjourn at 9:55 pm Trustees Collyer, McNeil, Mount and Staley voted YES. Respectfully submitted, Norma R. Manning, Clerk