HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing/Reg Mtg. Minutes 3/17/1997VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES r !S
Minutes of a Public Hearing of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga
Heights, duly published and posted, held March 17, 1997 at 7:20 PM in the
Village Hall to consider a Resolution in Support of Request of The Southern
Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission for Special Legislation Authoriz-
ing a Joint Capital Reserve Fund.
PRESENT: Mayor Anderson; Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse;
Attorney Tyler; Treasurer Silber; Supt. of P.W. Cross; Police Chief Wall; Fire
Supt. Day.
OTHERS: John Majeroni, Bill DeWire, Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms: Hoyt, Kay Newman, Mike
2ona, Bruce Hoyt.
Mayor Anderson opened the Public Hearing stating its purpose. Attorney Tyler
mentioned that this matter is pending in the State Legislature. There were no
questions or comments and the Public Hearing was declared closed at 7:30 PM.
Minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga
Heights held March 17, 1997 immediately following the Public Hearing.
PRESENT: As above.
OTHERS: As above.
Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order, opening it to comments from the audience.
John Majeroni, Cornell University Director of Real Estate, appeared before the Board
to argue that the contractors who are working on the Convenient Care Surgicare
expansion project had connected (without Cornell's• permission) into a new sewer
line on Arrowwood Drive rather than the existing Convenient Care line, and there-
fore, the sewer unit dispensed to Convenient Care from the University's allocation
is unfair and Cornell should not be penalized for the contractor's mistake. It was
explained to Mr. Majeroni that he raises two separate, unrelated issues and the
unit allocated was justified. Mr. Majeroni requested that the unit be reinstated
since it is a matter of expansion of an existing building. He was told a deter-
mination would be made later in the meeting.
Bill DeWire, Executive Director of Kendal at Ithaca, appeared to discuss numbers con-
cerning occupied residential units and full -time staff as they relate to sewer and
water units to be charged to Kendal's 1997 -98 Village tax bill. He advised the
Board.that there are currently 60 empty apartments /.cottages. It was explainedto
Mr. DeWire that it is Village policy to initiate sewer charges when a connection
has been made to the sewer system and inspected and not when occupancy actually
occurs. The Board will consider Mr. DeWire's request for an adjustment of the
numbers projected for 1997 -98; to wit: 226 total units.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
VOTED to approve the minutes of a regular meeting held February 17, 1997 as
furnished Trustees in copy form with corrections to: Page 1 - first item under the
Mayor's Report: ...stating that the future plans are for the sewer plant use only
and "not for resale." Page 2 - under the Attorney's Report: ....special legislation
has been "presented" to the State Legislature ... Page 3 - Under Treasurer's
Report: .,trashtags from the Village Office for "resale." Trustees Bisogni,
Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted.YES. Trustee Collyer Abstained.
Mayor's Report:
-Board approved the transfer to the Town of Ithaca of $5,750 in County Youth Service
Funds the Village is eligible to receive in State aid for recreation and youth
services. Reminder: there is still a vacancy on County Youth Board.
Minutes of Regular Meeting - 3/11,;97
,�f u•
3
- Letter from Town Supervisor, Catherine Valentino re the two Village -owned parcels.
She states that the parcels are assessed in compliance with the formula they use
and suggests the Board may wish to consider alternatives to avoid this assessment
in the future.
Supt. of P.W. Cross submitted his monthly report which has been filed.
After discussion concerning the rebuilding of N. Triphammer Road and the extent of
improvement the Board wishes to see happen, Supt. Cross was asked to prepare the
necessary.materials re cost, etc., for presentation at an upcoming meeting.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
RESOLUTION 4810 - AUTHORIZE PURCHASEOF SEWER JET FOR WWTP
VOTED to authorize Supt. Cross to purchase a Sewer Jet from Foster's Equipment, Inc.
at a cost of $21,900 for use at the WWTP. Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira,
Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
WWTP Report: Daily avg. flow - 2.125 mgd, Max avg. flow - 3.45 mgd, w/0 permit
exceptions.
Supt. Cross spoke briefly about DPW concerns and it was agreed to hold Executive
Session later in the meeting to discuss same. DPW members sent a letter listing
their concerns about employment benefits to each Trustee and the latter confirmed
having received a copy.
Fire Supt. Day presented his monthly report which is on file in the Village Office.
Supt. Day reported that the new fire truck has been received and accepted by the I
Dept. The Department will be inspected on April 1 by the Fire Insurance Offices.
The ratings.they provide will have an impact on commercial and residential insur-
ance rates in the protection area.
Treasurer Silber distributed financial and monthly reports which are on file.
Treasurer Silber reported that due to the on -going issue between the Blue Cross
and Cayuga Medical Center, there will be a delay in changing insurance coverage
for Village employees. The new target date - June or July. The Treasurer will
write to employees explaining the reason for the delay and will assure them they
will have adequate warning prior to implementation of new health benefits.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
RESOLUTION 4811 - OFFER HEALTH AND DENTAL COVERAGE TO PERMANENT
PART -TIME EMPLOYEES
VOTED to allow permanent, part -time Village employees to enroll in the health and
dental insurance plan at full cost to the employee. Trustees Bisogni, Collyer,
Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Collyer:
RESOLUTION 4812 - APPROVE TRANSFERS
VOTED to approve the following transfers as recommended by the Treasurer:
FROM
A1990.4
Contingency
TO
A1110.41
Justice Contr Expense
AMOUNT
$1,000
A1990.4
Contingency
A1420.42
Attorney Other
1,000
A1990.4
Contingency
A1640.4"
Central Garage Supplies
2,000
A1990.4
Contingency
A1640.46
Fuel Facility
2,000
A1990.4
Contingency
A3120.1
Police Dept. Pers. Sery
20,000
A3120.49
Police Dept. Eq. Maint.
A3120.41
Police Dept. Other
500
A1990.4
Contingency
A3410.11
Fire Dept. DPW Services
3,000
Minutes of Regular Meeting - 3/17/97
3
Ab142.1
Snow Salaries
A5110.1
Street
Personal Serv.
8,000
A1990.4
Contingency
A5110.42
Street
Supply
11000
A1990.4
. Contingency
A5110.47
Street
Eqpt. Rental
1d0
A1990.4
Contingency
A5112.41
Capital
Impr Contr Exp
18,000
F8350.1
Water Pers. Svcs.
F8350.42
Water
System Supplies
1,000
F8350.1
Water Pers. Svcs.
F8350.45
Water
System Contr Exp.
500
G1990.4
Sewer Contingency
G8120.42
Sewer
Line Supplies
500
I
Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
VOTED to approve the Abstract of Warrants dated 3/17/97 in the following amounts:
General Fund — $21,330.27; Sewer.Fund - $26,378.93; Water Fund - $1547.27 with the
addition of: Superior.- G8130.45 Sr. P1. Cont. Sery $700.00, G8130.47 Tipping Fee
$4114.05 and Thompson & Johnson - 'A5142.42 Snow Removal Supply $380.00.
Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Kozen voted YES.
Budget Draft O1 was distributed and reviewed.
Attorney Tyler submitted to Supt. Cross a map which corresponds to Village -owned
properties, rights -of -way and easements.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
04813 - RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REQUEST OF
THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION
FOR SPECIAL LEGISLATION•AUTHORIZING A JOINT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND
WHEREAS, the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (the
"Commission ").is a body formed by Intermunicipal agreement among the Towns of
Dryden, Ithaca, and Lansing, and the Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing,
all in Tompkins County,.New York, for the purposes (among others) of
constructing, maintaining, and operating water supply and transmission facilities
for the member municipalities of the Commission; and
WHEREAS,' the Village of Cayuga Heights is one of the parties to the agreement
establishing the Commission and is a member of 'the Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Commission supervised the construction of such facilities some.
twenty years ago; and
WHEREAS, the age of such facilities, as well as the increased demand for
water and related services from the Commission's facilities, has resulted in
needed capital improvements to the systems of a cost in excess of $3,000,000; and
WHEREAS, the Commission and the Village of Cayuga Heights believe it is
prudent and appropriate to establish a. joint Capital Reserve Fund to permit
accumulations of moneys to fund some of the needed capital improvements; and
WHEREAS, there is some question as to the legal ability of the member
municipalities to create such a joint fund without special legislation
authorizing such a fund, and in particular for. Villages to.create such a fund
without the necessity of a permissive referendum; and
WHEREAS, the inability to create a joint capital reserve fund will greatly
handicap the construction, replacement, and enlargement of the facilities which
provide water to residents in the five municipalities, as well as, on occasion,
to residents in other municipalities in 'Tompkins County;
Minutes of Regular Meeting - 3117197
0
!lid NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights finds by
reason of the foregoing that there exists a necessity for the passage of the
law annexed hereto entitled "An Act to Amend the General Municipal Law to
Authorize Certain Municipalities in Tompkins County to Jointly Establish.a
Capital Reserve Fund" pursuant to which authority is given to the Commission
and its member municipalities by joint agreement to establish a capital reserve
fund for capital improvements as defined in the GeneraL Municipal Law, such
establishment to be authorized without the need for any referenda; and it is
further
RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights hereby requests and urges the
Governor and-State Legislature of the State of New York to enact the requested
special.legislation; and it is further
RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the Village of Cayuga Heights be, and he hereby
is directed to communicate the request-of the Village of Cdyuga Heights for
adoption of such legislation -to the Legislature and Governor of the 'State of
New York in the manner required by Section 40 of the Municipal Home Rule Law,
and to take.such further action as he deems necessary or appropriate to
effectuate-the intention of these resolutions.
trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
Police Chief Wall presented his statistical report which has been placed on file.
Motion by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming:
RESOLUTION 4814 - AUTHORIZE CHIEF WALL TO HIRE PART -TIME OFFICER
VOTED to authorize Chief Wall to hire Debra L. Lawrence to the position of part -time
Police Officer to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Paul Van Vorce.
Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming; Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kozen:
RESOLUTION 4815 - AUTHORIZE RENEWAL OF BC /BS CONTRACT FOR PERIOD OF TIME
VOTED to renew the BC /BS Contract, Regionwide II coverage, at monthly premiums of
$265.56 for Individual rate and $645.10 for Family rate, until such time as a
different, suitable carrier can be found. Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming,
Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
The Board set the date of the Organizational meeting for April 7, 1997.
A Public Hearing on the 1997 -98 Budget will be held April 7, 1997 at 7:00 PM.
A Public Hearing for.consideration of proposed Local Law U1 of 1997 entitled,
"Establish Sewer Rates for the 1997 -98 Fiscal Year" will be held April 7, 1997
at 7:25 PM.
The Board decided on the following: The Cayuga Medical Center sewer unit taken
from Cornell University's allocation for expansion of the Community Care Facility
stands as is. Re Kendal at Ithaca, the Board adjusted the number of full -time equivalent
employees from 160 to 102, thereby changing the sewer units from 20 to 13. The
number of living units and health care bed units remained as projected in March,
1996. A total of 219 Sewer and Water Units will appear on the 1997 -98 Village
Tax Bill.
Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira:
RESOLUTION 4816 - ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
VOTED to enter Executive Session at 11:15 PM to discuss terms of conditions of
employment. Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming, Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
Minutes of Regular Meeting - 3/17/97 5 �f
The first discussion concerned the mandated salary differential between the
Police Chief and the highest salaried member of the Police Benevolent Assoc.
Motion by Trustee Collyer, seconded by Trustee Kusse:
VOTED to increase Chief Wall's annual salary the necessary amounts required by law.
Trustees Bisogni, Collyer, Fleming,-Kira, Kozen, Kusse voted YES.
The second discussion was related to the concerns of the D.P.W. personnel as
per their letter to the Trustees. The Board noted that their duties, responsi-
bilities and scheduling are not directly comparable to those of the police
officers, and that comparisons with other area D.P.W. are more in order.
The Superintendent and the Trustee Public Works Committee will meet with-the
employees on these concerns and will hopefully schedule monthly meetings in the
future.
The Board reconvened into regular session at 11:37 PM.
Motion by Trustee Kozen and seconded by Trustee Kusse to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 11:37 PM
it
Mayor Anderson