HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes of the Board of Trustees July 19 8-2-10.pdfMinutes of the Board of Trustees July 19, 2010
Village of Cayuga Heights
Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Present: Mayor Supron, Trustees Andolina, Crooker, Karns, Riesman, and Szekely,
Attorney Marcus, Treasurer Silber, Supt. Cross, Fire Supt. Tamborelle, Police Chief
Boyce, Clerk Manning
Others:
************************************************************************
Mayor Supron opened the meeting of July 19 at 7:00 PM and asked for approval of the
minutes of
June 14.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Trustee Szekely
Seconded by Trustee Andolina
Move to approve the Minutes of June 14, 2010.
Mayor Supron, Trustees Andolina, Crooker, Karn, Riesman, and Szekely
Voted YES.
Privilege of the Floor
Quite a few residents of Kendal of Ithaca attended the meeting to discuss a crosswalk at
the entrance to the facililty.
- Dorothy Rinaldo, Kendal spokesperson - thanked the Village for sending
representatives to discuss a crosswalk, stating that the idea of lengthening the
island and placing the crosswalk at that point was very pleasing to the residents.
All of Kendal crosses at that location. She also feels that having a crosswalk at a
bus stop makes the crosswalk very visible to drivers.
- Pete Bottorf – concerned about the temporary aspect of temporary deer fencing.
Fences will drive deer to other properties that are not fenced.
- Katie Stein – appalled at the potential tax increase that will come with a $1
million deer-killing proposal, which includes sharpshooters every year for 10
years. Urges residents to make their opinions known to the trustees.
- Sally Grubb – deer eat in her yard all the time. Supports temporary fencing while
working on the deer situation.
- Dominick LaCapra – problem is division – how do you count majority and
minority? Killing the deer will not keep other deer out of the Village. VCH is not
an enclosed entity. What if the Village is hit with a wrongful death suit?
Accidents can and will happen.
- Elizabeth Mount – wants to garden in her front yard, which does not abide by the
present setback rules. Applauds Mayor and Trustees Karns and Szekely for their
proposals on front yard fencing. Applauds the Board but things are moving too
slowly.
- Suzanne Van de Mark – Thanks to all for keeping VCH safe especially near the
school. Thanks for not allowing TCAT to bully their way through the Village.
Applaud face-to-face meetings and hopes for more.
- Derrick Stewart – supports TCAT resolution by Village. Fully in support of deer
remediation program.
- Leslie Danks Burke – Thanks to Board for TCAT conversations.
- Angie Baker – read an excerpt from a blog regarding hunters killing deer.
- Jenny Stein – deer accidents occur when cars drive faster than speed limit. Striker
lights, etc., are helpful but the Board is not interested in hearing about them.
- Charlene Temple – feels bad for gardeners who’s gardens are eaten by deer. Why
not have VCH zoning laws recognize that.
- Mary Tabacchi – supports temporary fencing idea.
- Claire Lunney – looking at hourses in VCH but won’t consider moving to a
community that kills deer.
- Barbara Foote – husband was hit by a deer when they first moved to Ithaca.
Privilege of the Floor closed.
Trustee Szekely spoke on the Kendal crosswalk. Kendal wants to move the current
crosswalk to the main driveway into Kendal. Thanks to various individuals involved
with discussions. Speaking to the Board, accessibility issue is a big issue for Kendal
residents. Chief Boyce’s idea of lengthening the island for a stopping point when
crossing N. Triphammer Road was a good one. When the last transportation study was
done in 1992, that was before the Kendal community moved in. Brent Cross commented
that in 1994 VCH reviewed the site plan review for Kendal. Part of the review was a
traffic study performed in 1993 with 1992 data. Cross then went thru the history of the
crosswalk at Kendal. The Village has now been asked to look at a crosswalk change. A
traffic study will be done but Cross thinks it is a less safe location. He won’t endorse that
location without completing a traffic study. The proposed location warrants a thorough
review before the Village moves forward. The quote the Village got from SRF
Associates for a traffic study is $3900. The Mayor said that she doesn’t want to debate a
crosswalk change as the Board all thinks it is needed. NYCOM said that a transportation
study is needed, so one will be done. She would like Cross to ask SRF to see what it
would take to make the crosswalk safe, NOT where the crosswalk should be placed.
Trustee Szekely said that the proposal should also include a visit to Kendal and a meeting
at which a presentation should be made. Trustee Riesman agreed and offered to make the
call to SRF. Cross said that he will negotiate this all with SRF. Trustee Karns would like
time constraints on the study (no later than end of October). There may be some work
that can be done now during the summer, but the counts should be done after Cornell is in
session. The money for the study will come from contingency.
At this point, Vern Rockcastle (an elderly resident of Kendal) let the Board know that it
is very difficult for the elderly to hear the discussions at the Board table.
The Mayor wished to summarize. Kendal has the support of the Board for a change in
the location of the crosswalk. NYCOM said that the Village needs to have a traffic study
performed. The study will include how the Village can make the new location of the
crosswalk safe. Trustee Szekely added that safe accessibility meets the needs of senior
citizens. The following motion was introduced:
Motion by Trustee Riesman
Seconded by Trustee Szekely
Move to pass Resolution xxxx authorizing the Mayor to ender into a contract with
SRF Associates to conduct a traffic study pertaining to providing a crosswalk on N.
Triphammer road at the Kendal entrance at a cost NTE $4300 paid from
contingency..
Mayor Supron, Trustees Andolina, Crooker, Karn, Riesman, and Szekely
Voted YES.
________________________________________________
Report of the Mayor