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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 12/15/1997258 VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held December 15, 1997 at 7:30 PM in the Village Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Anderson; Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt; Attorney Tyler; Treasurer Silber; Supt. of P.W. Cross; Police Chief Wall; Fire Supt. Day. ABSENT: Trustee Collyer. Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira: VOTED to approve the minutes of a regular meeting held November 17, 1997 as previously furnished Trustees in copy form. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. Mayor Anderson reported on the following: -The Ithaca Journal plans to expand its local news coverage and to help them meet this goal, the Mayor has been asked to participate by submitting to the guest column each month. -The Board is asked to consider appointments: an elected official to take the place of George Conneman on the SCLIWC, ZBA vacancy, one opening on T.C. Youth Board and two openings on the Joint Youth Commission. It was suggested that Karen MacDonald may be interested in one of the "youth" openings. -The Mayor introduced the subject of SCLIWC's need for a storage building. In his discussion he noted it would be a capital project and required Trustees' approval. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira: RESOLUTION 4878 - APPROVE MATERIAL STORAGE BUILDING CAPITAL PROJECT OF SCLIWC WHEREAS, paragraph 1(c) of the intermunicipal agreement establishing the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (of which the Village of Cayuga Heights is a member) authorizes the Commission to make capital improve- ments to the projects, subject to approval and authorization of all members thereof, and WHEREAS, the Commission has proposed a capital project consisting of the construction of a 40'x80' pole barn design structure with 14' of clear height inside the structure at a maximum estimated cost not to exceed $75,000, and WHEREAS, it is proposed to pay the cost of such project from current bud- get funds and not from a joint capital reserve fund, and WHEREAS, the Town of Ithaca on behalf of the Commission has through its engineering department undertaken the responsibility for the design, contracting, construction and inspection of the project, NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED by the Village Board of the Village of Cayuga Heights as follows: 1. The capital project by the Commission referred to herein in the recitals above is hereby approved at a - maximum estimated cost not to exceed $75,000 on the following conditions: (a) Payment for such project shall be from current budget funds unless otherwise authorized by all members of the Commission. (b) The Commission shall obtain all other approvals by members of the Commission necessary to authorize the project. 0 Minutes of regular meeting - 12/15/97 2 259 (c) All requirements of General Municipal Law Article 5 -A are complied with as well as all other applicable laws, statutes, rules and regulations. ® 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the receipt by the Commission of approval of such project by all other members thereto. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. - Meetings: December 16 - joint meeting of ITCTC, water options study group meets Thursday, December 18 (effects of the recent oil spill will be discussed), next meeting of NESTS will be January 7, Village of Lansing has an open house on December 19, 4 -7 PM. - Renovations to the Village 'Hall to meet ADA requirements need to be addressed. Attorney Tyler reported on the following: - Regarding the two Village -owned parcels abutting the Sewer Plant: He and Supt. Cross had submitted the request to the County Assessment Dept. to consolidate them in early November. Town of Ithaca has also requested from the Village a resolution of intent not to market or develop the parcels. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira: RESOLUTION OF INTENT NOT TO MARKET OR DEVELOP NEWLY CONSOLIDATED PARCEL - NO. 4879 WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights owns and operates a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) which is located substantially within the bounds of the Village, but with two small abutting parcels being located beyond the Village boundary and within the Town of Ithaca, and WHEREAS, in the past the Town has billed the Village on these two abutting lots (T.P. 18 -1 -1.1 and 18- 1 -1.2) for water and sewer benefits, which for 1997 amounted to $808.38, and WHEREAS, in consideration of the ongoing use of said two parcels in con- nection with the WWTP and other official Village Department of Public Works Activities, the Town has agreed to eliminate or reduce to nominal level such water and sewer benefit charges to the Village, and WHEREAS, as a condition thereof, the Town has requested the Village consoli- date said two parcels into one parcel, which request has been effected by formal written application from the Village to the Tompkins County Division of Assess- ment submitted on November 10, 1997, and WHEREAS, the Town has requested the Village formalize its stated intent not to develop said consolidated parcel for other than Village Department of Public Works and WWTP purposes, it is RESOLVED, that the use of combined tax parcels present 18 -1 -1.1 and 18 -1 -1.2 (presently being consolidated into one parcel) is hereby declared to be (and intended to continue to'be) for Village Department of Public Works and Waste Water Treatment Plant purposes, and that the Village has no long term plan or intent to otherwise develop or market the said newly consolidated parcel. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. -Elena Flash has received a revised version of the franchise agreement from Time - Warner which she is in the process of reviewing. The March 31st deadline still holds, per the Village'Board's action taken at its 11117/97 meeting. The Village's position has been communicated to Ben Curtis, Chair of the IMCC and Carol McTague of the Public Service Commission in Albany. - Discussion ensued concerning the Village's approach to developing legislation that would protect it from uncontrolled future cellular tower sitings, as a result of burgeoning growth in that industry. The current situation of the Frontier 260 Minutes of regular meeting - 12/15/97 3 application for a tower in the Town of Ulysses which has been much in the press was reviewed. Ulysses is the only Tompkins County municipality with an ordinance in place. A draft local law proposing a moratorium was introduced by Trustee Meinhardt and filed with the Clerk. After review and discussion of its contents, it was moved by Trustee Fleming and seconded by Trustee Kira: RESOLUTION 4880 - PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PROPOSED LOCAL LAW ill of 1998 VOTED to hold a Public Hearing on January 5, 1998 at 5:30 PM to consider a proposed Local Law U1 of 1998 entitled, "Moratorium on Telecommunications Towers, Village of Cayuga Heights, Tompkins County, State of New York. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. The Mayor is instructed to advise Don Barber, president of the T.C. Municipal Officials' Association, in response to his request that local governments work together concerning cellular towers, that the Village Board has taken this action but is not yet prepared to commit to a particular avenue toward enact- ment of cellular tower regulations. Supt. of P.W. Cross presented his monthly report which is on file. Supt. Cross reviewed the bid results for the used sidewalk plow and made his recommendation. Moved by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira; RESOLUTION 4881 - AWARD BID FOR USED SIDEWALK PLOW VOTED to award the bid for a used sidewalk plow to Wm. H. Clark Municipal Equip- ment, Inc., low bidder, to purchase a fully reconditioned 1981 Trackless MT for $14,975.00. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. Supt. Cross reported that sewer flows pare back up for November. He will do comparison data on flow meters at the sewer plant to determine where the problem lies. Fire Supt. Day presented his monthly report which has been placed on file. Supt. Day reported that he and Supt. Cross met with Bob Mitchell, Architect with Mitchell /Ross Associates,-on December 2 when a feasibility study of the Fire Station was carried out. He hopes to receive a response by early January. Treasurer Silber distributed Abstracts and Financial Reports. Referring to Resolution 4871 (Nov. meeting) to authorize purchase of.a pick -up truck for the Fire Dept. contingent upon existing budgetary funds, the Treasurer reported that although there are not funds specifically for this purchase (bonding was earlier discussed) it can be purchased within the confines of the budget using General Fund surplus $. As per Trustee Collyer's request at the November meeting that the Treasurer prepare a preliminary budget, Treasurer Silber reminded the Board that the budget process begins in January with a memo to Department Heads to submit their requests which ultimately become the Tentative Budget. Keeping the concerns of Trustees in mind to adhere to an increase in the neighborhood of 2%, he will counsel Department Heads to strive for this. As a cautionary note, he mentioned that scheduled salary increases alone would consume the entire 2% increase.. Treasurer Silber reported that the independent auditors report (Trustees had copies before them) was a "clean" report except for some minor questions in.the records of the Justice Court which he will address. In lieu of a representative from the firm of Ciaschi, et al, to present the findings of the audit, the Board was satisfied with the Treasurerys summary. 1 s Minutes of regular meeting - 12/15/97 4 261. Re the BC /BS of CNY coverage for Village employees, there is still no contract with Cayuga Medical Center, and the Treasurer reported that. the Empire Plan may be interested in covering Village employees and is awaiting a response from Cayuga Medical Center-as to whether they are a participating provider. BC /BS of Rochester was mentioned and this may be a feasible option - the Treasurer will investigate. His next step will be to open a dialogue with the PBA. Treasurer Silber presented a proposal for a new telephone system in the Village Hall, stating the funds had been allocated for this project. Moved by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming: RESOLUTION 4882 - AUTHORIZE INSTALLATION OF NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM IN VILLAGE HALL VOTED to approve the installation of a new telephone system in the Village Hall at a cost of $19,000 to be paid for with last year's funds to be reappropriated from the General Fund surplus. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, . Meinhardt voted YES. Moved by Trustee Kusse, seconded by Trustee Bisogni: RESOLUTION 4883 - CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO BE USED FOR PICK -UP TRUCK FOR F.D. VOTED that the pick -up truck for the Fire Department will be disbursed out 6f contingency funds. Trustee Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. Moved by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira: RESOLUTION 4884 - APPROVE TRANSFERS VOTED to approve the following transfer as recommended by the Treasurer: FROM TO AMOUNT A1990.4 Contingency A8160.49 Refuse eqpt maint $1,500 Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. Moved by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming: VOTED to approve the Abstract of Warrants in the following amounts: General Fund - $25,447.50; Sewer Fund - $30,192.51; Water Fund - $27.85. Trustees Bisogni, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt voted YES. Police Chief Wall presented his monthly report which is on file. Trustee Fleming moved and Trustee Meinhardt seconded to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 PM. ' Anne Krohto Clerk