Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-7-14 minutes.pdf Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, July 14, 2014 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. Present: Deputy Mayor Salton; Trustees: Hamilton, Friend, and Robinson; Fire Superintendent Tamborelle; Superintendent of Public Works Cross; Asst. Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie; Chief of Police Steinmetz; Clerk & Treasurer Mangione; Attorney Marcus. Absent: Mayor Supron; Trustees Crooker and Woodard, Call to Order: Deputy Mayor Salton called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 1. Approval of Minutes: Resolution #7499 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minutes of the May 12, 2014 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Meeting are approved as written in Exhibit FYE2015-022. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Discussion: Clerk Mangione revised the minutes at the request of Police Chief Steinmetz concerning cases before the Village Court and the established policy of an officer’s prosecution of their own case. Ayes: Friend, Hamilton, Robinson, and Salton. Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried 2. Report of Fire Superintendent Tamborelle (Exhibit FYE2015-023) June was busy with routine calls. The Cayuga Heights Fire Department responded to the Simeon’s incident and set up the landing zone. Superintendent Tamborelle praised the cooperation displayed by the Village’s Police, Fire and Public Works Departments in response to the storm the previous Tuesday evening. There was a giant tree across Winthrop Place; area resident were impressed and appreciative for the assistance they received. Power was interrupted for approximately 12 hours for most of the Village with an area around North Sunset without electricity until Thursday. The Public Safety Committee met and discussed the purchase of a Tahoe at NYS Contract Pricing and putting the Department’s Durango in a Duty Chief role. The pricing has not been determined at this time; it will be somewhere between $28,000 and $32,000. It will cost an additional $7,000 to outfit the vehicle. Resolution #7500 WHEREAS, The Village of Cayuga Heights Fire Department is the beneficiary of Hanselman Family Trusts; and WHEREAS, The Village of Cayuga Heights Fire Department has determined that there exists the need for a vehicle; and WHEREAS, NYS contract purchasing for 2015 Tahoes will be made available in the near future; and WHEREAS, Village of Cayuga Heights Public Safety committee recommends the purchase of a 2015 Tahoe. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Approval is granted to purchase a 2015 Tahoe at NYS contract pricing plus the cost of outfitting the vehicle for service not to exceed $40,000, the expenditure will be reimbursed to the Village of Cayuga Heights from Hanselman Fund proceeds. Motion: Trustee Friend Second: Trustee Hamilton Discussion: none Ayes: Friend, Hamilton, Robinson, and Salton. Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried 3. Report of Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie: (Exhibit FYE2015-025) Public Works crews are still performing storm clean-up; a significant quantity of brush was generated. Hours of storm clean-up has caused delay of other seasonal work i.e. pothole patching and completion of culvert work on Klein Woods. The Board extended its thanks Mr. Frisbie and his entire crew for their dedicated and efficient work during and after the storm. 4. Privilege of the Floor: no speakers 5. Report of the Mayor On behalf of the Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG), Herb Engman prepared a letter for each participating municipality to optionally send to Comcast regarding its merger with Time Warner Cable (TWC). Local municipalities, the Village of Cayuga Heights among them, have been attempting to renegotiate their contracts with TWC. Until recently TWC has been unresponsive. The letter urges Comcast to delay the merger until new contracts are in place. The topic was discussed with opinions both for and against put forward. Resolution #7501 WHEREAS: Franchise negotiations between the Village of Cayuga Heights and Time Warner Cable are ongoing; BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights authorizes the Village Mayor to send a letter to Comcast opposing their merger with TWC until a new franchise agreement has been reached and entered into with the Village of Cayuga Heights. Motion: Trustee Robinson Second: Trustee Hamilton Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, and Robinson Nays: Salton Abstentions: none Motion failed 6. Reports of Trustees No agenda items were presented, however additional information on recent storm damage was discussed. 7. Report of Chief Steinmetz (FYE2015-026a,b,c) June is generally a slower month with Cornell students away; nonetheless the officers have been busy. In response to a question about identification of deceased deer, the Chief explained that the ear tag is removed and forwarded to Paul Curtis at Cornell for record keeping. a. The Police Department Policy and Procedure Manual revision has been completed. It has been a yearlong project. The last policy release was distributed to officers on July 3, 2014. A two week period for review and comment is extended after each policy release. Therefore, on July 17th all policies will be in effect. The Empire Group had been contracted to assist in review and revision of the manual. In those areas effecting human resources, Village Labor Management Attorney Laurie Johnston was consulted. Going forward, policies and procedures will be routinely reviewed and modified as needed. b. A draft Village of Cayuga Heights Emergency Plan (EP) was presented to the Board of Trustees in early 2012. It has been a lengthy project to complete the EP which is necessary to qualify for FEMA monies following an emergency. The Empire Group is meeting with Mayor Supron and Chief Steinmetz later in the week. A proposal to complete the EP will be the likely outcome of the meeting. 8. Report of Superintendent of Public Works Cross a. There has been a problem at the Waste Water Treatment Plant this spring. The outfall pipe from the plant into the lake starting floating at middepth, midway along its length. A scuba diver was engaged to examine the pipe and the pipe was weighed down. It was determined that the venting system was not working properly. Although the immediate issue has been resolved, a permanent solution will be developed. b. In the budget for fiscal year ending May 31, 2015 an account for building maintenance was funded. The slate roof contractor will be estimating repair costs during the next week. Another item to be covered is lighting in the Court Room. He asked for feedback on a design currently on display in the Court Room. There are concerns about changing the character of the room as well as energy efficiency requirements. c. The Zoning Review Committee continues to meet every other week. It has chosen to follow current sectioning of the code. Many of the topics are complex; additionally the current code is silent on several topics. For example, there are no definitions of what is a farm animal and what is a pet. d. A drainage problem on Cambridge is being addressed through a neighborhood effort to develop a solution. The summer intern has been working on mapping the area. Brent will present detailed information on any proposed project at a future meeting. e. Kendal is prepared to obtain a permit for its expansion project. The project is estimated at $29,000,000 and will take approximately one and a half years to complete. Since inspections will take place primarily in 2015, the permit fee should logically be allocated between this fiscal year and next. There may be specialty inspections requiring the Village to hire outside inspectors. It is not a union project and therefore there may be protesters at the entrance to the site. 9. Report of Clerk & Treasurer Mangione (FYE2015-027) Resolution #7502 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Requests for Waiver of a Real Property Tax Penalty are granted to Mr. Peter Bellisario and Mr. Wee Ming Yeo due to extenuating circumstances. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried Resolution #7503 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Abstract #15 for FYE2014 consisting of Consolidated Fund vouchers 1018 - 1050 in the amount of $ 11,661.42 is approved and the Treasurer is instructed to make payments thereon. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried Resolution #7504 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Abstract #2 for FYE2015 consisting of Trust and Agency vouchers 1 – 12 in the amount of $16,747.68 and Consolidated Fund vouchers 17 - 101 in the amount of $284,606.99 is approved and the Treasurer is instructed to make payments thereon. Motion: Trustee Friend Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried 10. Report of Attorney Marcus Joint Project Planning is underway between the Village of Lansing and the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC) to install a new water main running under Route 13. Engineering work has resulted in the determination to build one larger pipe rather than two as previously planned. Given the legal side of the planning process, the Town of Dryden attorney feels that this type of project triggers a required authorization under town law which doesn’t apply to villages. The other town attorneys have agreed to proceed in the same manner in order to get this completed. Additional documentation was generated for the towns because their decision to proceed is subject to permissive referendum. Because the towns are following this formal process, it was required that the villages add some formality to the process. The Village of Cayuga Heights’ involvement is limited; it is only involved as a member of SCLIWC. Nevertheless it is proposed that each of the member municipalities take a similar series of steps to approve SCLIWC entering into this project and following completion, entering into an agreement with the Village of Lansing to occasionally use the water main. In order to conform to the procedures that all the other municipalities are undertaking, the Village needs to authorize SCLIWC to take this action. A SEQR review on the action to authorize must take place prior to authorization. A negative determination was reached since the action has no environmental impact. Resolution #7505 SEQR Review of Village of Lansing/SCLIWC Joint Water Main Project WHEREAS: A. This matter involves consideration of the following proposed action: This project is a joint water project for a new water main crossing under NYS Rte 13 and connection of the new main to the existing Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC). In addition, the Village of Lansing will be replacing approximately 1,650 lineal feet of existing water main. The project involves uncoordinated environmental reviews by the Village of Lansing and any other involved agencies. SCLIWC will use the new water main on a temporary emergency basis in the event that the existing crossing cannot be used. The Village of Lansing will own the new water crossing to service the Village of Lansing water system; and B. This proposed action is an Unlisted Action for which the Village of Cayuga Heights, as a member municipality of SCLIWC, is an involved agency for the purposes of environmental review; and C. On July 14, 2014, the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, in performing the lead agency function for its independent and uncoordinated environmental review in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law - the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQR"), (i) thoroughly reviewed the Short Environmental Assessment Form (the "Short EAF"), Part 1, and any and all other documents prepared and submitted with respect to this proposed action and its environmental review, (ii) thoroughly analyzed the potential relevant areas of environmental concern to determine if the proposed action may have a significant adverse impact on the environment, including the criteria identified in 6 NYCRR Section 617.7(c), and (iii) completed the Short EAF, Part 2; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, based upon (i) its thorough review of the Short EAF, Part 1, and any and all other documents prepared and submitted with respect to this proposed action and its environmental r eview, (ii) its thorough review of the potential relevant areas of environmental concern to determine if the proposed action may have a significant adverse impact on the environment, including the criteria identified in 6 NYCRR Section 617.7(c), and (iii) its completion of the Short EAF, Part 2, including the findings noted thereon (which findings are incorporated herein as if set forth at length), hereby makes a negative determination of environmental significance ("NEGATIVE DECLARATION") in accordance with SEQR for the above referenced proposed action, and determines that neither a Full Environmental Assessment Form, nor an Environmental Impact Statement will be required; and: 2. The Responsible Officer of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees is hereby authorized and directed to complete and sign as required the Short EAF, Part 3, confirming the foregoing NEGATIVE DECLARATION, which fully completed and signed Short EAF shall be attached to and made a part of this Resolution. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried Resolution #7505 Village of Lansing - SCLIWC Route 13 Joint Water Main Project Approval WHEREAS: This project is a joint water project (the "Joint Project") for a new water main crossing under NYS Rte 13 and connection of the new main to the existing Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission ("SCLIWC"), of which the Village of Cayuga Heights is a member municipality. In addition, the Village of Lansing will be replacing approximately 1,650 lineal feet of existing water main. The Joint Project involves uncoordinated environmental reviews by the Village of Lansing and any other involved agencies. SCLIWC will use the new water main on a temporary emergency basis in the event that the existing crossing cannot be used. The Village of Lansing will own the new water crossing to service the Village of Lansing water system; and WHEREAS: On July 14, 2104, the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, in performing the lead agency function for its independent and uncoordinated environmental review in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law - the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQR"), (i) thoroughly reviewed the Short Environmental Assessment Form (the "Short EAF"), Part 1, any and all other documents prepared and submitted with respect to the Joint Project and its environmental review; (ii) completed its thorough analysis of the potential relevant areas of environmental concern to determine if the proposed joint project may have a significant adverse impact on the environment, including the criteria identified in 6 NYCRR Section 617.7(c); (iii) completed the Short EAF, Part 2; and (iv) completed Part 3 and made a negative determination of environmental significance ("Negative Declaration") in accordance with SEQR for the Joint Project and determined that an Environmental Impact Statement would not be required; and WHEREAS: The Village of Lansing has obtained engineering and related plans for the Joint Project, including estimated and projected shared costs and expenses to be incurred by the Village of Lansing and SCLIWC in the aggregate amount of $396,500, such initial shared costs (and future additional costs) intended to be included in an intermunicipal agreement to be executed by and between the Village of Lansing and SCLIWC; and WHEREAS: The Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees wishes to authorize the expenditure of funds by SCLIWC for SCLIWC's portion of the shared cost for the Joint Project, which expenditure by SCLIWC will include the amount equal to the share of SCLIWC project expenses paid by the Village of Cayuga Heights as a member municipality of SCLIWC; WHEREAS: The Village Board of Trustees wishes to express its approval of the Joint Project and i ts approval of SCLIWC entering into the necessary intermunicipal agreement for the Joint Project between the Village of Lansing and SCLIWC; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: The Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees hereby authorizes (i) the Joint Project to proceed, (ii) the completion and execution of the intended intermunicipal agreement by and between the Village of Lansing and SCLIWC, (iii) the expenditure by SCLIWC of SCLIWC's share of the costs for the Joint Project. Motion: Trustee Friend Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Friend, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion carried Meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees was adjourned by Deputy Mayor Salton at 9:19 p.m.