HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes of the Board Meeting July 13, 2009.pdf
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Minutes of the Board of Trustees July 13, 2009
Village of Cayuga Heights
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely, Supt.
Cross, Ass’t Supt. Frisbie, Chief Boyce, Treasurer Silber, Clerk Manning
Absent: Trustee Andolina, Fire Supt. Tamborelle
Others: Sarah Hatcher, Mindy Mindlin, James LaVeck, Jenny Stein
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Mayor Gilmore called the meeting of the Board to order at 12:00 noon.
The minutes of June 8 were presented for approval.
Motion by Trustee Bors
Seconded by Trustee Supron
Move to approve the minutes of June 8 as amended.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.
Report of the Treasurer
Treasurer Silber reported on an article he read in the New York Times, which he will
forward to the trustees regarding rising pension costs. He is concerned that the rise in costs
could be significant. His concern continues about cost pressures in general. Our labor
costs are fixed due to labor contracts but other costs are rising due to market fluctuations.
The Mayor asked about other ways to offer retirement benefits other than NYS Retirement.
Treasurer Silber said that the Village could go to a 401K type retirement program and opt
out of NYS Retirement, but he is not aware if this is permissible.
A bond resolution was then presented approving Bolton Point to construct a road in
connection with settlement of a lawsuit. The Village’s share is approximately $70,000.
Mayor Gilmore gave an overview of the land issue in question, and explained how it
pertained to the building of the road. Repayment from the Village will come through
water rates, i.e. the amount the village pay’s Bolton Point per gallon will go up slightly.
The road will become part of the Village of Lansing’s infrastructure, built to their specs, so
it will be maintained by the Village of Lansing.
Motion by Trustee Donner
Seconded by Trustee Szekely
Move to pass Resolution BOND RESOLUTION #6510
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At a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights,
Tompkins County, New York, held at the Village Hall, in Cayuga Heights, New York, in
said Village, on the 13th day of July, 2009, at 12:00 o'clock P.M., Prevailing Time.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jim Gilmore, and upon roll being called,
the following were present: Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely.
Absent: Trustee Andolina
BOND RESOLUTION #6510 DATED July 13, 2009.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $750,000 JOINT
SERIAL BONDS OF THE VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS, THE
VILLAGE OF LANSING AND THE TOWNS OF LANSING, ITHACA
AND DRYDEN, ALL IN THE COUNTY OF TOMPKINS, NEW YORK,
TO PAY THE COST OF THE VILLAGE'S SHARE OF A STIPULATION
AND AGREEMENT.
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights, Tompkins
County, New York, in conjunction with the Village of Lansing, and the Towns of Lansing,
Dryden, and Ithaca, has heretofore determined and agreed to participate in the provision of
a joint water project and to contract joint indebtedness therefor in accordance with
Section 15.00 of the Local Finance Law pursuant to an Agreement of Municipal
Cooperation for Construction, Financing and Operation of an Inter-Municipal Water
Supply and Transmission System (the “Intermunicipal Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the project hereinafter described has been determined to be an
Unlisted Action pursuant to the regulations of the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation promulgated pursuant to the State Environmental Quality
Review Act, the implementation of which as proposed, it has been determined will not
result in any significant environmental effects; and
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WHEREAS, all other conditions precedent to the financing of the capital project
hereinafter described, have been performed; and
WHEREAS, it is now desired to authorize the financing of such capital project;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights,
Tompkins County, New York, if the within resolution in substantially identical form is
adopted, approved and made effective by the other participants in the aforedescribed
Intermunicipal Agreement as follows:
Section 1. For the specific object or purpose of paying the cost of (i) the
reconstruction of the existing road; and (ii) and construction of new extension thereto at
Bolton Point to be known as Bolton Road pursuant to a Stipulation and Settlement
Agreement in settlement of the matter of Crossmore v. Town of Ithaca, Town of
Lansing, Town of Dryden, Village of Lansing, Village of Cayuga Heights and
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission, Index No. 04-0752,
Supreme Court, County of Tompkins in accordance with Opinions of the State Comptroller
82-354, 86-43 and 86-87 and Opinions of the Attorney General Inf. 81 (1968), such cost
being in addition to that to be paid with $600,000 reserve fund monies of the Southern
Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission and thus constituting the maximum
estimated cost to this municipality, being a maximum estimated cost of $750,000; there are
hereby authorized to be issued $750,000 joint serial bonds of the Village of Cayuga
Heights, Tompkins County, New York, together with the Towns of Ithaca, Dryden and
Lansing and the Village of Lansing, all of the County of Tompkins, New York, pursuant to
the provisions of Section 1 of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of New York as
amended and of Title 1A of the Local Finance Law.
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Section 2. It is hereby determined that the plan for the financing of said
specific object or purpose is by the issuance of the $750,000 joint serial bonds authorized
to be issued pursuant to this bond resolution. The total amount of joint indebtedness to be
contracted for said improvements is $750,000 and the amount initially estimated to be
allocated and apportioned to the Village of Cayuga Heights is $69,525.
Section 3. For the purposes of Section 15.10 of the Local Finance Law relating
to the allocation of joint indebtedness, the amount of joint indebtedness to be apportioned
and allocated to each of said Towns and Villages, shall be in the same proportion as the
consumption of water in each of the Towns of Dryden, Ithaca, and Lansing and the
Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing shall bear to the total consumption of water for
the entire joint water distribution facility, which is estimated to be, and for purposes of
determining gross indebtedness of each of said municipalities in their respective debt
statements pursuant to Section 15.10 of the Local Finance Law and therefore the amount to
be allocated for the purpose of ascertaining each of the respective municipalities’ debt
contracting powers, shall be as follows:
Dryden $ 27,975 3.73%
Ithaca $392,925 52.39%
Lansing (Town) 112,500 15.48%
Cayuga Heights 69,525 9.27%
Lansing (Village) 143,475 19.13%
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to be in conflict with or to supersede the provisions
of Section 5 of this resolution relating to the annual apportionment of the amount of
principal and interest on the bonds herein authorized to be issued as among said Towns and
said Villages, nor the manner of collection and payment of the amounts of annual debt
service provided to be apportioned annually by said Section 5. The Supervisors of said
Towns and the Treasurers of said Villages are hereby authorized to act jointly to make
application to the State Comptroller for the allocation and apportionment of said joint
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indebtedness in accordance with the provisions of this section and to perform all acts and
furnish all information required in connection with such application.
Section 4. It is hereby determined that the period of probable usefulness of the
aforesaid specific object or purpose is fifteen years, pursuant to subdivision 20(c) of
paragraph a of Section 11.00 of the Local Finance Law. It is hereby further determined that
the maximum maturity of the serial bonds herein authorized will exceed five years.
Section 5. Subject to the provisions of the Local Finance Law and this section,
the power to authorize the issuance of and to sell joint bond anticipation notes in
anticipation of the issuance and sale of the joint serial bonds herein authorized, including
renewals thereof, is hereby delegated to the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca, the chief
fiscal officer of said Town acting on his own behalf and on behalf of the chief fiscal
officers of the Towns of Dryden and Lansing and the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga
Heights. Such joint bond anticipation notes shall be of such terms, form and contents and
shall be sold by said Supervisor in such manner as may be prescribed by a bond
anticipation note certificate, as authorized by Section 30.00 of the Local Finance Law;
provided, however, that any bond anticipation notes so issued shall be the joint
indebtedness of said Towns and said Villages and shall be executed in the names of the
Town of Dryden, the Town of Ithaca, the Town of Lansing and the Village of Lansing and
the Village of Cayuga Heights, and shall be signed by the Supervisor of the Town of
Dryden on behalf of said Town and shall have affixed thereto the seal of the Town of
Dryden, attested by the Town Clerk of said Town; shall be signed by the Supervisor of the
Town of Ithaca on behalf of said Town and shall have affixed thereto the seal of the Town
of Ithaca, attested by the Town Clerk of said Town; shall be signed by the Supervisor of
the Town of Lansing on behalf of said Town and shall have affixed thereto the seal of the
Town of Lansing, attested by the Town Clerk of said Town; shall be signed by the
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Treasurer of the Village of Lansing on behalf of said Village and shall have affixed thereto
the seal of the Village of Lansing, attested by the Village Clerk of said Village, and shall
be signed by the Treasurer of the Village of Cayu ga Heights on behalf of said Village and
shall have affixed thereto the seal of the Village of Cayuga Heights, attested by the Village
Clerk of said Village. The chief fiscal officer of the Town of Ithaca to whom is hereby
delegated the power to authorize the issuance of and to sell such joint bond anticipation
notes, shall file an executed copy of each such bond anticipation note with the finance
board of each of the aforesaid municipalities prior to the issuance of the bond anticipation
note or notes authorized by such certificate.
Section 6. The faith and credit of said Town of Dryden, Tompkins County,
New York; said Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York; said Town of Lansing,
Tompkins County, New York; said Village of Lansing, Tompkins County, New York, and
said Village of Cayuga Heights, Tompkins County, New York, are hereby jointly pledged
for the payment of the principal of and interest on said joint bonds as the same become due
and payable. The principal of said joint bonds and the interest thereon shall be apportioned
annually among said Towns and said Villages in accordance with the Intermunicipal
Agreement hereinabove referred to in the recitals of this resolution, on the ratio which the
consumption of water from the system in each of said municipalities bears to the full
consumption from the entire inter-municipal water distribution facility, such ratio to be
annually determined in accordance with the aforesaid Intermunicipal Agreement
Supplement, the share of said principal and interest to be borne by the aforesaid Towns,
shall be annually assessed, levied and collected within said Towns as follows:
a) From the several lots and parcels of land in each of Water District No. 1,
and Snyder Hill, Monkey Run, Hall Road, Turkey Hill and Royal Road
Water Districts of the Town of Dryden, in the manner provided by law.
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b) From the several lots and parcels of land in the existing Town of Ithaca
Water Improvement Area in proportion as nearly as may be to the benefit
which each lot or parcel of land therein will derive therefrom.
c) From the several lots and parcels of land in the Consolidated Water District,
in the Town of Lansing at the same time and in the same manner as other
Town charges.
The Village of Cayuga Heights shall annually levy and collect a tax sufficient to pay the
share of said principal and interest to be borne by said Village, as the same may become
due and payable, and the Village of Lansing shall annually levy and collect a tax sufficient
to pay the share of said principal and interest to be borne by said Village, as the same may
become due and payable.
If not paid from the aforesaid sources, all the taxable real property in said Town of
Dryden, and all the taxable real property in said Town of Ithaca, and all the taxable real
property in said Town of Lansing, and all the taxable real property in said Village of
Lansing, and all the taxable real property in said Village of Cayuga Heights shall be jointly
subject to the levy of an ad valorem tax, without limitation as to rate or amount suffi cient
to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds as the same become due and payable.
Section 7. The validity of such joint serial bonds and joint bond anticipation
notes may be contested only if:
1) Such joint bonds are authorized for an object or purpose for which said
Towns and said Villages are not authorized to expend money, or
2) The provisions of law which should be complied with at the date of
publication of this resolution are not substantially complied with, and an
action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within
twenty days after the date of publication, or
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3) Such joint bonds are authorized in violation of the provisions of the
Constitution.
Section 8. Upon the adoption of this resolution by each of the aforesaid Towns
and the aforesaid Villages, and the publication thereof with the notice provided for herein,
the Clerks of each such Town and each such Village shall file with the Clerk of each of the
other Towns and of the Villages a certified copy of this resolution and a printer’s affidavit
or affidavits, as the case may be, of publication thereof with the required notice or notices,
as the case may be.
Section 9. Pursuant to Section 15.00(m) of the Local Finance Law, the powers
and duties of advertising such joint bonds for sale, conducting the sale and awarding the
bonds, are hereby delegated to the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County,
New York, who on his own behalf and on behalf of the chief fiscal officers of the Towns
of Dryden and Lansing and the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights shall advertise
such bonds for sale, conduct the sale, and award the bonds in such manner as he shall deem
best for the interests of the aforesaid Towns and Villages; provided, however, that in the
exercise of these delegated powers, he shall comply fully with the provisions of the Local
Finance Law and any order or rule of the State Comptroller applicable to the sale of
municipal bonds. The receipt of said Supervisor shall be a full acquittance to the purchaser
of such bonds, who shall not be obliged to see to the application of the purchase money.
All other matters except as provided herein relating to the joint serial bonds herein
authorized including the date, denominations, maturities and interest payment dates, within
the limitations prescribed herein and the manner of execution of the same shall be
determined by the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca on behalf of the chief fiscal officers of
the Towns of Ithaca, Dryden and Lansing and the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights.
Such bonds shall contain substantially the recital of validity clause provided for in Section
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52.00 of the Local Finance Law, and shall otherwise be in such form and contain such
recitals, in addition to those required by Section 51.00 of the Local Finance Law, as said
Supervisor shall determine consistent with the provisions of the Local Finance Law. Such
joint serial bonds shall be in fully registered form and shall be signed in the name of each
Town and Village by the manual signature of each respective chief fiscal officer and a
facsimile of the corporate seal of each Town and Village shall be imprinted thereon and
shall be attested by the manual signatures of each respective Town or Village Clerk. It is
hereby determined that it is to the financial advantage of each of the Towns and Villages
not to impose and collect from registered owners of such joint serial bonds charges for
mailing, shipping and insuring bonds transferred or exchanged by the fiscal agent, and,
accordingly, pursuant to paragraph c of Section 70.00 of the Local Finance Law, no such
charges shall be so collected by the fiscal agent.
Section 10. Any obligation issued under authority of this resolution shall contain
on its face a recital in substantially the following form: “This obligation evidences the joint
indebtedness of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, the Town of Dryden,
Tompkins County, New York, the Town of Lansing, Tompkins County, New York, the
Village of Lansing, Tompkins County, New York, and the Village of Cayuga Heights,
Tompkins County, New York.”
Section 11. Upon this resolution taking effect in and with respect to this Village,
and the adoption and taking effect of similar resolutions of the respective Town Boards
and Village Board of Trustees of the aforesaid Towns and Villages, the same shall be
published in full in, the official newspaper, together with a notice of the Village Clerk in
substantially the form provided in Section 81.00 of the Local Finance Law.
Section12. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote on
roll call, which resulted as follows:
Mayor Gilmore VOTING Aye
Trustee Bors VOTING Aye
Trustee Donner VOTING Aye
Trustee Riesman VOTING Aye
Trustee Supron VOTING Aye
Trustee Szekely VOTING Aye
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Treasurer Silber reported that transfers will be presented at a later time after year-end
closing.
The abstract of vouchers was presented.
Motion by Trustee Bors
Seconded by Trustee Supron
Move to pass Resolution 6511 approving Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated
7/13/09 and any amendments in the amount of $587,153.80 and instruct the Treasurer
to make payments thereon.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.
Treasurer Silber presented a grant application from Justice Galbreath for the Board’s
approval. The application asks for 5 filing cabinets at a cost of $2284.80.
Motion by Trustee Donner
Seconded by Trustee Riesman
Move to pass Resolution 6496 authorizing the Mayor to sign the 2009 Justice Court
Assistance Program grant application for a six vertical file 5 drawer letter w/lock
filing cabinets at an amount of $2284.80.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.
Report of the Police Chief – Report on file
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Chief Boyce presented his report. Trustee Bors asked about the status of the tasers that
were purchased for the Police Dept.. Chief Boyce said that a training module is being
developed and when everyone is trained, he will advise the Board. The Mayor would like
to have the Chief share the use of the tasers with the Board.
Trustee Riesman commented on the speed of cars/trucks/buses on Triphammer Road
between Hanshaw Road and Cornell campus. She would like to see a digital speed sign
permanently installed. Boyce said that the Village has the temporary speed trailer that is
moved throughout the Village, but she would like to see a permanent fixture. The Chief
cautioned that large trucks and buses look like they are going faster on small roads than
they really are, but he will look into the cost of a permanent fixture and report back to the
Board.
Mayor Gilmore asked Chief Boyce to make a presentation at the August 10 meeting on
how he manages the full/time and part/time officers and how he fills the gaps between
them.
Chief Boyce then reported on the status of the police clerk position. Jean Eaton, Police
Clerk for the past 20 years, has decided to retire at the end of October. The Chief will
make a full presentation at the July 20 Board meeting. His tentative plan is to fill the
position in July, hire by August 10 and get the person on board by September 1 for a 2
month training period. Trustee Riesman asked about the need for an 8 week training
period saying that she felt it was excessive. She asked what the customary training time is
for this type of position. Though there is no Village policy on training time, Chief Boyce
stated that a long period of training is needed for this position and feels that 2 months is
adequate for the training that is needed. Trustee Donner said that he did not think 2 months
was too long. The issue of training in general was then discussed by the trustees. Trustee
Szekely asked if there was a training manual for the police clerk position. The answer was
no. There was discussion on creating a manual and Treasurer Silber ssaid that this would
be a good time to develop one for the position. It was decided that the 2 month training
period would be discussed again.
Report of the Fire Superintendent – Report on file. In Fire Supt. Tamborelle’s absence,
Treasure Silber advised the Board that there may be a slight change in the amount of
money originally discussed for the Baltimore Fire Expo due to some items left out of the
original discussion.
Joe Lisi, Lieutenant in the CHFD has agreed to take the lights down off the big tree in the
front of Marcham Hall.
Report of the Ass’t. Supt. of Public Works – Report on file
Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie reported that the DPW is working to control any storm water
damages…ditches, water off roads, etc. Crack sealing has been performed on some
Village roads. The dept. is keeping up with trimming brush back off the roads and is
keeping up on mowing. Trsutee Szekely asked about any drainage damage, and Ass’t
Supt. Frisbie said that there hasn’t been much damage.
When Frisbie was on vacation, Tim Eighmey, in his capacity of acting Ass’t. Supt. of PW,
asked the Mayor to talk to Kendal about the stream on their property as there was a lot of
growth in and around it. Upon his return from vacation, Frisbie walked the stream and has
determined that the growth will not become a problem. The Mayor will talk with Frisbie
about this further.
There is currently water leaking in the private property part of the parking lot of Marcham
Hall, which belongs to Dr. Rubenstein . It will be repaired on Tuesday.
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Ass’t. Supt. Frisbie has board approval to advertise a bid spec for a sidewalk plow and
mini-excavator.
Report of the Supt. of Public Works – Supt. Cross reported that the water main project is
in progress, and Larry Sharpstein is on site to answer any questions from property owners.
The DPW was visited by the DEC for an inspection of our fuel tanks and two tanks are in
need of registration renewal along with a spill prevention plan. The Village needs to hire
someone to form a spill prevention plan, and Supt. Cross would like to hire an Engineer for
under $2500 to do this.
Motion by Trustee Donner
Seconded by Trustee Bors
Move to pass Resolution 6512 authorizing Supt. Cross to seek a consulting engineer at
a cost not to exceed $2500 to form a spill prevention plan, and authorize the Mayor to
sign the contract.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.
Jerry Smith, Yaws, on behalf of the Village of Cayuga Heights, applied for an energy
efficiency rebate for approximately $1500.
Report of the Clerk - Due to absences of trustees for the regularly scheduled August
meeting, the date will be changed from August 17 to August 24.
Motion by Trustee Riesman
Seconded by Trustee Supron
Move to pass Resolution 6513 changing the August 17 Board Meeting to August 24 at
7:00 PM at the Village Hall.
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.
This will be advertised in both the Legal Notices and put on the website, as well as signed
in the Village.
Trustee Szekely commented about the request by Bolton Point that she replaced her water
meter, which resulted in a charge to her.
Motion by Trustee Supron
Seconded by Trustee Donner
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:40 PM
Mayor Gilmore, Trustees Bors, Donner, Riesman, Supron and Szekely voted YES.