HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes of the Regular Meeting February 20, 2007.pdf 1
Minutes of the Board of Trustees February 20, 2007
Village of Cayuga Heights
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Lynn, Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, Staley, Attorney Tyler,
Police Chief Lansing, Fire Supt. Tamborelle, Supt. Cross, Asst. Supt. Frisbie, Treasurer
Silber
Absent: Trustee Collyer
Others Present: Larry Fabbroni, P.E. & L.S., Scott Gibson, Wayne Matteson, Mark
Mecenas, Caroline and Jeff Rusten, Carol and Ron Schmitt, Leonard Elkins, Judy
Vergillio, Curt and Ann Ashman, Katrina Thaler Medeiros, Paul Tavelli, Andy
Sciarabba, Scott Howard, Anita Watkins, Don Campbell, Phillip Albrecht, Joe Perry,
Tim Ciaschi, Birgit Speh, Allen Back, Lawrence Heotzlein - Cornell, Don Gordon -
Cornell.
At 7:00 P.M., the Planning Board opened the continuation of the Public Hearing begun
at the prior meeting on January 20, 2007 on the Upland Road Estates Subdivision, a
proposal by developer Mark Mecenas to subdivide 6 acres of land that fronts onto East
Upland Road into 8 building lots. Supt. Cross explained the ZBA findings at their
meeting held on February 5, 2007. The ZBA had denied the variance requested by Mr.
Macenas for the one lot that was under the size requirements specified by the Village
Ordinance. The Mayor then opened the floor to the audience for their comments, stating
that the Clerk’s office had received a number of written comments which had been
distributed to the Board. Supt. Cross reported that he had attended a meeting of
concerned residents the previous week, listening to, and addressing their concerns.
Trustee Mount and Trustee Antil publicly disclosed living near the proposed subdivision
property but affirmed they could vote impartially on the subject of the Upland Road
Estates Subdivision. The Public then offered their comments to the Board. Jeff Rusten
asked the Board to come up with a list of “conditions” that the builder would have to
review and agree to on each lot before the Board agrees to approve each building on
each lot. Katrina Maderios-Thaler asked that more constraints be put on the
performance bond for the pond, and wanted to know who would look over the pond after
all the lots are sold off. [Title to “the pond lot” will be retained by the Corners
Community Center.] Don Campbell asked if the Board was planning to close the Public
Hearing at this meeting. He felt that there still are uncertainties that should be
resolved….Is there enough time in 62 days to get the answers to some outstanding
questions? Anita Watkins asked Supt. Cross to again explain Stormwater Management,
which he did. Mark Macenas then spoke about the development plan. Larry Fabbroni
spoke on the drainage issues and how these issues require so much more engineering in
the way of plans because of the new rules set up by the DEC. Leonard Elkins informed
the Board of the possibility that there was a munitions storage bunker buried on one of
the lots. Trustee Mount asked who was responsible for any information on possible soil
contamination. Supt. Cross said that the developer will have to investigate the
possibility of a buried munitions storage bunker.
At this point, Mayor Lynn stated that any additional comments from the Public would be
received at the Village Clerk’s Office before the SEQRA review, which was then
scheduled for March 7 at 5:30 PM a the Village Hall. The deadline for accepting public
comments was March 5 per Attorney Tyler.
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Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to close the Public Hearing at 8:02 PM for the Upland Road Estate
Subdivision.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
At 8:05 P.M., Tim Ciaschi and xxxxxxx of Egner Associates presented a tentative plan
for a new building on the corner of Hanshaw and Pleasant Grove Road where Skip’s
Service Station presently is located. The Board listened, asked a few questions, then told
Mr. Ciaschi that he should present Brent Cross with more concrete plans when he is
ready to move in that direction.
At 8:20, Lawrence Heotzlein of Cornell University presented their plan for building a
child care facility adjacent to ‘A’ lot on Pleasant Grove Road. Maps of the area and
plans were distributed to the Board. There was discussion on the size and use of the
proposed facility. Supt. Cross deemed Cornell’s application for this to be complete, and
advised the Board that there needed to be a preliminary site plan review. The plan is
classified as an “Unlisted Action” for the type of SEQRA action, and the Planning Board
will need to be designated as the lead agency to review SEQRA.
Motion by Trustee Antil
Seconded by Trustee Kaplan
Motion to declare the Planning Board to act as lead agency on the proposed Cornell
Child Care Facility.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
It was noted that the adjacent municipalities will be notified of this proposed plan.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to schedule a Public Hearing for March 19 at 7:00 PM at the Village Hall,
836 Hanshaw Road for the purpose of SEQRA and Site Plan Review of the
following application:
7:00 pm: request by Cornell University (owner/agent) to construct a 15,000 sf
building, and site improvements, to be used as a child care facility; located off
Pleasant Grove Road near entrance to A-Lot (tax parcel 14-4-2.2).
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
It was noted that a neighborhood meeting had been scheduled by Cornell University for
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March 1 at the Cayuga Heights Fire Station to discuss the plans for the proposed child
care facility.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Board at 9:00 PM.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
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At the end of a brief recess, the February 20, 2007 meeting of the Board of Trustees was
called to order at 9:05 PM. At this time, Mayor Lynn asked the Board’s permission to
move Treasurer Silber’s report on the agenda to this time in the meeting.
Transfers:
Motion by Trustee Bisogni
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to pass Resolution 6243 approving the transfers dated 2/20/07 as listed
below:
From: To: Amount
A01325.200 Treasurer Equipment A01325.410 Treasurer Contr Exp 2,000
A05142.200 Snow Equipment A05142.490 Snow Equip Maint 5,000
A08160.410 Refuse Contr Exp A08160.490 Refuse Eqpt Maint 4,100
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
Approval of Abstracts
Motion by Trustee Bisogni
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to pass Resolution 6244 approving the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated
2/20/07 in the amount of $171,397.90, and instruct that the Treasurer make
payments thereon.
Delete - Invoice to Hewlett-Packard for $54,000 on A01680.410.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, Mount, and Staley voted YES.
Treasurer Silber wanted to inform the Board that since Supt. Cross would be discussing
the water distribution lines upgrade project, he wanted the Board to know that we may
be transferring funds from the general fund to the water fund for this expense, or we may
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look at bonding and pay it back within the water rates, depending on the extent of the
expenditure to be incurred.
Treasurer will be looking for the budgets from each department head by the end of
February.
The Minutes of January 20, 2007 were presented for approval.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Move to pass Resolution 6245 approving the Minutes of January 20, 2007 with
corrections as noted.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, and Mount and Staley voted YES.
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Privilege of the Floor – No one wished to speak at the Privilege of the Floor.
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Report of the Mayor –
Mayor Lynn distributed the minutes of the Council of Government meetings to the
Board for their information. The Village needs an alternate on the COG, and Mayor
Lynn asked if anyone is interested to let him know.
Regarding the ongoing deer debate, the Mayor distributed a handout given out by the
D.E.C. at the meeting held at the Village of Lansing on deer management. If the Village
were to develop a culling plan and present it to the D.E. C., they will help us facilitate
the plan.
The Mayor will plan to bring the D.E.C. in to discuss options with the Trustees at the
May 21 Board meeting.
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Report of the Police Chief – Chief Lansing presented his report, which was distributed
and is on file.
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Report of the Fire Superintendent – Fire Supt. Tamborelle presented his report which
was distributed and is on file. The Fire Company will approve its officers prior to the
Trustees’ Organizational meeting. They will be presented at that time for Board
approval. Engine 202 needs approximately $3500 worth of rust repair done. The Fire
Company banquet is set for April 14 at the Country Club on Pleasant Grove Road. For
those who were not aware, Assistant Chief Marshall Stocker has moved to Boston. He
will be sorely missed.
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Ass’t. Supt. of Public Works - Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie’s report was distributed and is on
file. Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie distributed a map which is used for the “tree study”. Orange
marks the trees in the Village ROW.
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Report of the Superintendent of Public Works –
WWTP Piping Modifications – The cost estimate for the phosphorous filter project has
run way over budget. As an alternative to a new structure, Stearns & Wheler (S&W) has
suggested that we could use the infrastructure currently used as intermediate settling
tanks if we alter the piping to the existing trickling filter from series to parallel
operation. S&W presented this concept to the NYSDEC and has received a favorable
response, including the preservation of the bond act grant funding. Supt. Cross showed
the Trustees a sketch of the concept of series to parallel operation and explained further
the proposed plan, wherein the recently completed enhancement of the trickling filters
was key, including an estimate cost for the work based on time and materials amounting
to approximately $50,000. Supt. Cross asked the Board’s approval to proceed.
Motion by Trustee Bisogni
Seconded by Trustee Staley
Move to pass Resolution 6246 authorizing Stearns & Wheler to proceed with
preparation of Engineering Report to modify the trickling filter piping from series
to parallel operation; and to authorize Yaw’s Environmental to make the piping
modifications as additional services under the current contract for WWTP
operation. Since this project is a minor modification to an existing utility building,
it is considered a Type II Action under SEQRA and therefore is exempt from
further review.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, and Mount and Staley voted YES.
Phase I Water System Improvements. T.G. Miller Engineers were hired to produce
construction specifications and drawings for two small water main extensions and
installation of 14 new fire hydrants in the southern part of the Village, known as Phase I.
They have completed that task and the plans are now ready to be used to seek bids from
contractors. This requires that the Trustees approve the plans/specs for advertisement to
the contractors. The engineer’s cost estimate for the proposed Phase I work is $116,000.
The actual bids will be presented to the Trustees hopefully in March for approval of a
contract with the low bidder. In the meantime, the plans and specs need to be submitted
to the Tompkins County Health Dept. for their approval. After the Health Dept.
approval, the Village will need to conduct an impact assessment (part II) of the SEQRA
Short Environmental Assessment Form. Prior to award of the contract, the Village will
need to make a determination of no significant impacts as a result of the SEQRA review.
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Antil
Motion to pass Resolution 6247 declaring the Board of Trustees as Lead Agency for
the SEQRA review; and authorize T.G. Miller Engineers to advertise and receive
bids for the Phase I Water System Improvements Project.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, and Mount and Staley voted YES.
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Report of the Attorney –
- Council of Government – There has been a push to create a “draft agreement” to
formalize sharing of equipment (and equipment operators) between
municipalities which has been a long-standing practice on a “hand-shake” basis.
A key concern is to ensure insurance coverage “dovetails” between the sharing
municipalities.
- Wadach Sewer Line Project – all the information is not compiled yet. Hopefully,
Supt. Cross will have a report in March.
- The question of ice removal on sidewalks and who is responsible was again
brought up. The Prior Notice rule applies to this subject.
- Training for Planning Board and ZBA – Cortland County was scheduled to hold
a training session in March with information pertinent to both the Planning Board
and the ZBA. There was much discussion on whether the two Boards be
requested to attend that training, or should the Village get training of its own for
the Boards. By law, both the Planning Board and the ZBA are required to attend
4 hours of training each year. This subject will be discussed again at a future
Board meeting.
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Report of the Clerk – The Clerk had nothing to report.
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Mayor Lynn wanted to reiterate that the Board has a “full plate” with the Macenas
subdivision project. The next step that the Board has to perform is the SEQRA. Supt.
Cross needs to begin identifying issues that will be addressed when the Board makes its
final decision on the subdivision.
Motion by Trustee Bisogni
Seconded by Trustee Staley
Move to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 P.M.
Trustees Antil, Bisogni, Kaplan, and Mount and Staley voted YES.