HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes of the Regular Meeting November 19, 2007.pdf 1
Minutes of the Board of Trustees November 19, 2007
Village of Cayuga Heights
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount, Staley, Chief Boyce, Ass’t. Supt.
Frisbie, Supt. Cross, Fire Supt. Tamborelle, Attorney Tyler, Treasurer Silber
Absent: Trustee Antil, Trustee Bisogni
Others: Anita Watkins, Chris Anagnost
The Mayor opened the November meeting of the Board of Trustees at 7:00 P.M.
The minutes of October 17, 2007 were discussed and an approval was requested.
Motion by Mayor Lynn
Move to pass Resolution 6293 approving the Minutes of October 17, 2007 as
distributed.
Mayor Lynn, Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
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No one wished to speak at Privilege of the Floor.
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Report of the Mayor
Cornell Deer Damage Remediation Report – Mayor Lynn reported that he has a copy of
this report which Cornell prepared by Paul Curtis describing what Cornell has proposed for
deer management. Trustee Mount asked to see a copy of the report.
Mayor Lynn distributed a copy of a letter sent to Dr. Judith Pastel, Superintendent of
Ithaca City School District (ICSD). As a result of the TCAT bus issue discussed at the
October Board meeting, Supt. Cross and Mayor Lynn met with Officer Lanning (CHPD)
and two technical reps of ICSD to discuss serious deficiencies in the area near the Parkway
entrance to Cayuga Heights Elementary School. The letter to Dr. Pastel asks for a meeting
between the Mayor, Supt. Cross and the ICSD administration. A meeting with Paul Mintz,
Business Manager of ICSD, is scheduled for November 26. The ultimate decision on any
bus route changes still remains with TCAT.
The SPCA went to the Council of Governments requesting more money for mandated dog
control. The Town of Ithaca handles the contract for the Village. Some other
municipalities feel that the cost to run the SPCA is too high and are looking for alternate
solutions.
Since the Corners Auto Repair Center (C.A.R.S.) will be leaving the Village at the end of
November, a Resolution has been prepared expressing the Village’s thanks for their years
of service. The Trustees will sign the Resolution and the Mayor will deliver it to C.A.R.S.
Tim Ciaschi will not be tearing down the existing building (service station) until the
Village receives the building application for the proposed new building or buildings
planned for the site.
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The Shared Municipal Services Incentive (SMSI) Grant application requires that the
municipalities pass their own resolutions in support of the effort to conduct a countywide
evaluation and planning study of water and sewerage services. The Village passed a non-
binding Resolution of support as follows:
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Collyer
Motion to pass Resolution 6294 in support of the County-wide Water and Sewer
Evaluation.
Whereas, the Tompkins County Economic Development Strategy’s goals include
increasing and diversifying the county’s housing supply and revitalizing the county’s
unique commercial districts and town centers; and
Whereas, the Economic Development Collaborative was organized to formalize,
strengthen and deepen the cooperation among the many local agencies and municipal
bodies addressing economic development issues in the County to make the process more
effective through common goals and approach; and
Whereas, the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) is a member of the
Economic Development Collaborative, which is currently working to address the goals of
the County’s Economic Development Strategy, and
Whereas, the TCCOG supports the development of a county-wide evaluation of water and
sewer infrastructure and the development of a conceptual plan of water and sewer
infrastructure needs to support future planned growth to meet county housing and
economic development goals; and
Whereas, the Economic Development Collaborative has suggested the creation of an
updated, county-wide evaluation of existing water and sewer infrastructure and the
development of a conceptual plan of water and sewer infrastructure needs to support future
planned growth to meet county housing and economic development goals; and
Whereas, the Village of Cayuga Heights is a member of the TCCOG; and
Whereas the last county-wide evaluation of water and sewer infrastructure was completed
in 1994; and
Whereas and updated evaluation would facilitate the development of housing within town
and village centers, commercial revitalization of those centers and growth in the tax base,
with the most efficient use of public dollars for infrastructure; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Village of Cayuga Heights supports the development of a county-wide
evaluation of water and sewer infrastructure and the development of a conceptual plan of
water and sewer infrastructure needs to support future planned growth to meet county
housing and economic development goals by an engineering consultant; and be it further
Resolved that the Village of Cayuga Heights pledges to work with the Engineering
Consultant to ensure cooperation of its planning and engineering departments with this
project.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
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Mayor Lynn reported that Sally Grubb will serve as an alternate on the Zoning Board of
Appeals (ZBA) for a 5 year term (2012).
The new Cornell Child Care Center on Pleasant Grove Road needed to have an official
address assigned to it. 120 Pleasant Grove Road was the designated address.
Motion by Trustee Staley
Seconded by Trustee Kaplan
Motion to pass Resolution 6295 assigning the address of 120 Pleasant Grove Road, Ithaca,
New York 14850 to the Cornell University Child Care Center presently under construction.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
Mayor Lynn discussed the fence ordinance change issue which was the subject of a public
hearing at the October meeting. At the public hearing, a variety of issues were expressed.
The Village has received numerous comments and letters. The Trustees need to reflect and
see if they want to revise the existing ordinance. The public hearing needs to be re-opened
and closed at the December meeting. The Trustees will then have to decide if they want to
pass the proposed change as it is, or make changes to it. If changes are made, a new public
hearing will need to be re-advertised to review an alternate plan of the ordinance change.
Any substantial change to the existing proposal needs another public hearing. The Board
will not discuss the issue tonight because two trustees are absent.
Trustee Mount suggested that the trustees drive around the Village to see the different
kinds of fences that are out there.
Regarding the Warren property/proposed driveway, Ma yor Lynn sent a letter to Jim
Warren and Bryan Warren thanking them for installing the attractive gate at the proposed
driveway entrance.
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Report of the Police Chief – Report was distributed and is on file. Trustee Collyer asked
if the Chief has noticed an increase in the number of cars not stopping at stop signs. The
Chief had not, but said that he will ask his officers to be vigilant about watching for this.
The Chief asked for a resolution approving an expenditure for radio equipment from the
County.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Collyer
Motion to pass Resolution 6296 approving an expenditure from contingency NTE $6500
for radio equipment required for the police department and to piggyback the order onto the
County order.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
The Chief reported that one of the part time officers, David Buck, handed in his
resignation. That position will have to be filled soon.
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New hire, Officer Chad Lansing, is doing very well with his training period and should be
able to go on the next schedule which goes into effect on December 2.
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Report of the Fire Supt. – Report was distributed and is on file. Chief Tamborelle
reported that even though the bridge in Cornell is back in service, the number of mutual aid
calls to Ithaca hasn’t declined much. The Mayor asked the Chief to elaborate on what is a
“mutual aid” call and how the mutual aid system works.
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Report of the Ass’t. Supt. of Public Works – Report was distributed and is on file.
There were three more water main breaks in October. The water lines are showing
numerous breaks in the same area, due to mostly corrosion type problems and weakened
pipes due to soil conditions.
The water flow situation in the Village is still not fully resolved. Supt. Cross said that at
this time last year, there was discussion on having a company put on a demonstration of
pipe cleaning for the Trustees.
Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie talked to the Board about his request to promote D.P.W. employee
Chong You from Laborer to Motor Equipment Operator. Chong has been employed by the
Village for 10 years and has been a most reliable employee. He was the last laborer to
obtain a CDL license to better himself. He recently passed the CDL tests and is in line for
a promotion to advance to Motor Equipment Operator, the position left vacant when Tim
Eighmey was promoted to Sr. Motor Equipment Operator.
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Staley
Motion to pass Resolution 6297 promoting Chong You from Laborer to Motor Equipment
Operator.
Whereas the Department of Public Works has a vacant Motor Equipment Operator (MEO)
position open; and
Whereas Chong You has been employed with the Village of Cayuga Heights as a Laborer
since August 1998,
Whereas Chong You recently applied for and passed his CDL license test,
Therefore, be it resolved that Chong You be promoted to the position of MEO effective
November 20, 2007 at the MEO hire rate of $15.12/hour.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
Mayor Lynn complimented both Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie and Chong You for their
perseverance in promoting Chong to the position of M.E.O.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Kaplan
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Motion to pass Resolution 6298 to advertise and fill the position of Laborer as
vacated by the promotion of Chong You to Motor Equipment Operator.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
The Treasurer asked about the pros and cons of filling the Laborer position now instead of
waiting until the Spring. Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie explained his policy of “4 man” crew groups
of equal experienced team members.
A discussion about the upcoming snow teams and call-in procedures by the Police
Department then ensued.
Trustee Mount asked where the bulky trash collected by the DPW goes….it ends up at the
transfer station downtown.
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Report of the Supt. of Public Works –
Stearns & Wheler requests authorization to proceed with providing final design phase
engineering services in connection with redesign of the proposed cloth media filter system
for upgrading the Village’s wastewater treatment plant for tertiary phosphorus removal.
The redesign will utilize the existing intermediate settling tanks as a foundation for the
new effluent filter system. The redesign will significantly reduce construction cost by
eliminating the need for an entirely new effluent filter structure located as planned during
construction of the original plant. Stearns & Wheler is requesting an increase of $99,000
to complete the redesign and asks for the Board to approve Amendment No. 1 to the
original authorization.
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Staley
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights authorizes the Mayor to sign
Amendment No. 1 of the Agreement between the Village of Cayuga Heights and
Stearns & Wheler dated May 19, 2006. This Amendment No. 1 describes Redesign
Phase Services, Bidding Phase Services, and Construction Phase Services, as well as
Payments to Engineer and Period of Service.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
Stormwater Ordinance – As previously discussed, the Village has to prepare an annual
Stormwater Management Report by the end of this year. Another Village obligation as a
result of the EPA Phase II regulations is that all municipalities (within a specific
metropolitan areas) must adopt an ordinance that incorporates rules for developers,
contractors and DPW workers to follow. There is also a requirement for provision of
administration and enforcement of the regulations. The Village needs to act on this now.
NYSDEC has published a draft model Stormwater Ordinance which we will adapt for
ours. A copy of the NYSDEC version of the draft model will be available for inspection at
the Village Clerk’s office. It can also be viewed online at the NYSDEC website. A Public
Hearing will need to be scheduled to hear public comments on this proposed ordinance.
Motion by Trustee Mount
Seconded by Trustee Collyer
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Motion to pass Resolution 6299 to set up a Public Hearing at 7:00 P.M. on Monday,
December 17, 2007 (prior to the regular Board Meeting) to consider the enactment of
proposed Local Law #2 of the Year 2007 for Stormwater Management and Erosion
and Sediment Control.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES.
A copy of the draft ordinance will be delivered to the Trustees on December 10, 2007.
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Report of the Treasurer – Treasurer Silber presented the transfers and abstract of
vouchers.
Motion by Trustee Collyer
Seconded by Trustee Kaplan
Motion to pass Resolution 6300 approving the transfers dated 11/19/2007 as listed
below.
From: To: Amount
A08160.410 Refuse Contr Exp A08160.490 Refuse Eqpt Maint 2,000
A09010.800 EMP BEN: Retirement A09015.800 EMP BEN: Police/Fire Retire 8,730
G01990.400 Sewer Contingency G08130.150 Sewer Plant Pers Serv – OT 2,000
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Collyer
Motion to pass Resolution 6301 approving additional transfers dated 5/31/2007 as
listed below.
Account Title Amount
A01990.400 Contingency (24,600.73)
A01640.460 Cent Garage Fuel System (12,270.00)
A01680.410 Info Tech Contr Exp (5,890.00)
A03120.410 Police Contr Exp 240.00
A03410.410 Fire Contr Exp 1,350.00
A09554.900 Transfer Capital 41,170.73
F01990.400 Water Contingency (1,310.00)
F08350.410 Water Contr Exp 1,310.00
F09010.800 Retirement 230.00
F09030.800 FICA (230.00)
G01990.400 Sewer Contingency (670.00)
G09010.800 Retirement 670
Motion to pass Resolution 6302 approving the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated
11/19/2007 in the amount of $324,116.77, and instruct that the Treasurer make
payments thereon.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES
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Treasurer Silber addressed the Trustees regarding the future of health insurance for
retirees. Due to the ever rising cost of health insurance, and the burden it is placing on the
Village, the Trustees should consider changing in some way the manner in which health
insurance is offered to retired employees starting with new non-bargaining unit employees
after January 1. Employees under contracts will follow. In 2009, the Village has to start
showing the insurance as a liability on our books. Treasurer Silber will prepare materials
relative to costs for the Board to review and discuss.
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Report of the Attorney – Attorney Tyler reported on the following:
As an addition to the Treasurer’s report, Attorney Tyler said that he feels the State of New
York will soon discover that it can’t afford its Retirement System.
Regarding the fence issue, an individual who is unhappy with a particular fence in the
Village should appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) whose job it is to grant
variances and provide interpretations of decisions, if requested, made by the Code
Enforcement Officer. Petitioners should write a letter to the ZBA asking for an
interpretation on Supt. Cross’s decision regarding a specific fence in question. This comes
after a letter from Dooley Kiefer asking for the correct procedure to address the
“misconstruction” by Supt. Cross on a particular fence.
Mayor Lynn also urged the Trustees to look at the fences around the Village and be
prepared to discuss the fence issues before the Board at the December meeting.
Attorney Tyler received a letter from Attorney Tavelli asking for an extension of time on
Upland Road Estates. He is waiting for a no action letter from the Attorney General’s
Office, which is expected within the next 60 days.
Regarding the Tien dam issue, a letter was prepared and delivered by Supt. Cross. Mr.
Tien asked Supt. Cross to look at the progress Mr. Tien had made, and he had knocked
down quite a bit of debris. Supt. Cross said that it had to be completely cleared by winter
and Mr. Tien wrote a letter accepting responsibility to remove it completely by December
15.
A letter was received by Attorney Hooks stating that Ms. Wadach is amenable to
proceeding in accordance with the terms outlined in Tyler’s letter to Hooks of October 18,
2007. Atty. Tyler asked Supt. Cross if the work could be completed before winter weather
set in. Supt. Cross replied that it can be done now, and then touched up in the Spring.
Supt. Cross will convey this to Ms. Wadach.
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Report of the Clerk – The Clerk presented a list of unpaid taxes to be sent to the County for
relevy and asked for a resolution of the same.
Motion by Trustee Collyer
Seconded by Trustee Staley
Motion to pass Resolution 6303 sending the list of unpaid Village taxes to the County
for relevy.
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Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES
The Clerk is talking to people about our web site and the redesign of it. Trustee Mount is
very interested in making the website more informative and user friendly. There was a
discussion on communicating to the residents, the role of the website, informative emails,
etc. This topic will be discussed more in the near future.
Mayor Lynn said that from now on, our meeting agenda that is distributed with the packet
will be a DRAFT Agenda so there can be changes made to it up to the Board Meeting.
Motion by Trustee Kaplan
Seconded by Trustee Staley
Move to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 PM.
Trustees Collyer, Kaplan, Mount and Staley voted YES