Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 6/19/2000Minutes of the Regular Meeting June 19, 2000 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn and Dunning, Attorney Tyler, Treasurer Silber, Fire Chief Evans, Supt. of Public Works Cross, Clerk Kord Absent: Police Chief Lansing, Trustee Meinhardt Others: Fred and Fair Gouldin, Paul Curtis, Jerry Van Buren, Charlotte Shull, Christy Sullivan, Dick Staples, Jeff Cox, Kay Newman. Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM and opened the meeting to the Privilege of the Floor. Paul Curtis of the Cayuga Heights Deer Feasibility Study gave an overview of the findings of the project at this stage. There have been 50 deer tagged and 5 of those deer have been killed in road accidents. Through reported sightings and infrared camera photos, it has been determined that there is a herd of 126 -131 deer in the Cayuga Heights community which translates to approximately 70 per square mile. It is estimated that after the spring fawning that number will rise to approximately 90 per square mile. It has been determined that the female deer do not move much from their established areas, however the yearling males have been sighted at Dryden Lake, the Lab of Ornithology and one was spotted in the Finger Lakes National Forest and then traveled to Geneva where it was killed in a traffic accident. The community has been very cooperative in reporting their deer sightings. Future plans for the Deer Study committee include the continuation of data collection, the possibility of trapping and tagging of more deer after the spring fawning. They plan to hold a public Meeting in the late fall to present their findings and they will draft a report for the Board of Trustees in early winter. The Mayor thanked them for their work to date. There was no correction to the minutes of previous meetings. Motion by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming VOTED to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of April 17, 2000, and the Regular Meeting of May 15, 2000. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. The Mayor reported on the following: - The Regional Planning Project Group met June 7 and June 9 and will meet again July 11 concerning the Joint Sewer Project. They are committed to have a list of tasks for consideration at the July 7 meeting. - The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency will hold a Public Hearing at the Cayuga Heights Village Hall on 7/17/00 at 1:00 PM concerning the Bonding for the new Healthcare Facility at Kendal at Ithaca. - The Environment Management Council met June 14 to discuss the County Tower Project and Solar Heating at the new Tompkins County Library. - The Cayuga Lake Waterfront Revitalization Plan has asked that Tompkins County be named the lead agency to coordinate the SEQR process. Resolution 5201- Name Tompkins County Lead Agency Motion by Trustee Lynn, seconded by Trustee Fleming, VOTED to approve Tompkins County to be lead agency in the Cayuga Lake Waterfront Revitalization Plan to coordinate the SEQR process. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn, and Dunning voted YES. The Ithaca - Tompkins County Transportation Council Policy and Planning Committee will meet 6/20/00. The City of Ithaca is now joining. This meeting is to discuss traffic reduction through Public Transit. The Northeast Senior Citizens provided documentation of their contributions to the Village Community this past year and have asked for a donation of $1,000. This amount was previously approved and will be paid out of the July vouchers. Mayor asked that the Board consider a revision of the Dog Control Ordinance to include required clean up of dog waste is necessary. Mayor Anderson and Dooley Kiefer of the Tompkins County Board worked up a priority list for Cayuga Heights concerns for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Management. There is a possible bill in Albany requiring police to live in the community they serve. Dooley Kiefer has informed the Mayor that in order to receive State and Federal Grants it is necessary for the Village to have a formal master plan. David Tyler will look into what may be necessary to accomplish such a plan. Mayor Anderson has received a letter from Judge Galbreath informing the Village that he will be living for 2 years in Faculty in Residence at Cornell. This is a temporary address change and he has not changed his legal residence. The Community Arts Partnership has monies available for arts related projects. The Mayor received a note from Lary Parlett of Bolton Point informing the Village that Kevin Kaufinan's son has died and there will be a Memorial Service 7/10/00. The Intermunicipal Cable Commission will meet 6/21/00 to give an update on their negotiations and the mapping project for rural cable lines. There will be a Citizens Study Group meeting on 6/10/00 to solicit information on how to spend the counties share of monies from the Tobacco settlement money. The chairman of the Group, Chuck Brodhead is a Cayuga Heights resident and will represent the Village. Renwick Dr. closed on 6/12/00 for bridge replacement and will remain closed throughout the summer. There has been a complaint about the size of the brush piles at the Village Barn facility on Sheldon Rd. Supt. of PW Cross explained that the Village will be renting a tub grinder in the near future in order to reduce the piles. There will be an Open House for the USDA Farm Services, Rural Development, Natural Resources on 6/21/00 from 10 -2. The Tompkins County Farm -City Day will be held 8/12/00 from 11 -4 at the Carey Farm in Groton. The report of the Police Chief, which is on file, was presented. 2 The report of the Fire Chief, which is on file, was presented and Chief Evans reported on the following: The department responded to 54 emergency calls this month. Chief Evans thanked the DPW for their help during the 2 recent storms. The Cayuga Heights volunteers now occupy the Collins house at the comer of Hanshaw and Warren Roads. A fence has been erected around the property to discourage unauthorized persons from entering the property. Proper signage will be installed soon. Peter Jacobson has resigned his position as Rescue Director because he is leaving the area and Pat McKeever has taken his place in that position. The remaining officers have all been promoted up one place, leaving the Fourth Lieutenant position vacant. Chief Evans has joined the Southern Tier Chiefs Association. A report from Paul Sarokwash, Clerk of the Works of the Firehouse Project, was presented, which is on file, on the progress of the project. Supt. of PW Cross presented his report, which is on file, and reported on the following: The Village's insurance company has rejected claims by 4 motorists that had tires destroyed by a protruding water valve on Triphammer Rd. The claims were rejected because there was no prior notification of a hazard. Mr. Cross asked the Board to consider paying the claims since work had been accomplished on the road and valve earlier in the day. There was a brief discussion of the situation and Mr. Cross was asked to contact the Insurance Company and ask them to reconsider. Mr. Cross reported on the progress in the purchase of the new full -size dump truck. Mr. Cross would like to purchase an optional combination dump /sander unit for $8,985.00, which would make the total cost for the truck $99,728.00. Resolution 5202 - Approve Dump Truck Purchase Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to authorize Supt. of PW Cross to purchase the truck with optional combination dump /sander unit at $99,728.00. Trustees, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn, and Dunning voted YES. Mr. Cross has had a brief discussion with Pleasant Grove Lane resident and Real Estate Agent, Beth Ganem about locating another DPW site for dumping. Ms. Ganem will try to locate an appropriate site. The Board asked that the changes to the lights recommended at the Village Barn be accomplished as soon as possible. And that Mr. Cross set a timetable for the clean up at the barn site. The sewer plant has exceeded the 2 million - gallon flow rate for the last three months because of the abundance of rain in the area. Attorney Tyler reported on the following: Relative to a recent complaint as to applicability of zoning on a specific claimed home occupancy/business, this is a matter of interpretation for the Zoning Board 3 of Appeals in the event that the plaintiff is not satisfied with the Zoning Officer's decision. The PBA contract has been agreed upon by the bargaining committees for each side and Attorney Tyler presented a memo to the Board from Laurie Johnston giving a summary of the negotiated contract. See attached memorandum dated June 19,2000. Resolution 5203 - Accept PBA Contract Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to approve the Police Benevolent Assoc. Contract as agreed for a four -year term, and authorize Mayor to sign it. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn, and Dunning voted YES. ***************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Treasurer Silber reported on the following: - The Bonding process for the Firehouse Project is progressing smoothly. - He is working on year -end accounting issues. - The new accounting software is working well - Some changes and upgrades to the computers are to be accomplished in the near future. - There was one item to be added to the Abstract of Warrants - Add to the General Account: Haylor, Freyer & Coon - $35,150.85. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to accept the Abstract of Warrants with one addition, in the following amounts: General Fund, $107,837.10; Sewer Fund, $60,307.27; Water Fund, $4,754.66; Capital Fund, $96198.38. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn, and Dunning voted YES. ***************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Clerk Kord had no report and announced that this was her last meeting as clerk since she would be resigning as of 7/7/00. The Board thanked her and noted that she had served ably during her two -Oyear tenure. Mayor Anderson noted that there have been 19 applicants to fill the Clerk position and that a replacement should be found soon. ***************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to adjourn at 9:32 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Elizabeth Kord Clerk 4