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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 3/19/2001Minutes of the Regular Meeting March 19, 2001 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Anderson, Trustees Kira, Fleming, Lynn, and Dunning, Attorney Tyler, Treasurer Silber, Fire Chief Evans, Police Chief Lansing, Supt. of Public Works Cross, Clerk Manning Absent: Trustee Kusse Others: Ann Antil, Kay Newman, Joanna Garrard (Attorney Tyler's office) Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM and opened the meeting to the Privilege of the Floor. Attorney Tyler introduced Joanna Garrard, who is a new associate in his office. The board welcomed her to the meeting. Motion by Trustee Kira, Seconded by Trustee Fleming VOTED to approve the minutes of February 19, 2001. Trustees, Kira, Fleming, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Mayor Anderson gave his report. He noted that the proposed modifications of the personnel handbook as presented at the last Board meeting would be reported by the Public Works Committee. - Supt. Cross will report on the proposed environmental review for the Unified Sewer Group. - Bolton Point had their regular meeting and reported that there are many municipalities who want water. - The Deer Control survey is continuing to be returned to the Committee and is being tabulated. - NESTS — A new planning project is being studied with the committee looking over requests for proposals for someone to head up the study. This will tie in with the Tompkins County Freight Movement already underway. A request has been received from the Town of Dryden asking the Village to verify how many sewer units they have accredited to them. They want to apply two units to the residential property next to the Ornithology Lab and two to the Ornithology Lab. They have 4 units available to use. They wish to use 4 units out of the current district. The District cannot be enlarged due to the present contract. Atty. Tyler will look at the contract to see when it expires. 1 There has been correspondence from the Teamsters and the Mayor reports that Laurie Johnston is answering their requests. Jeff Cox is interested in being the Village representative to the Environmental Management Council. He has the paperwork needed to submit to the County. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to recommend to the County Board that Jeff Cox is appointed to a one -year term on the Environmental Management Council. Trustees Fleming, Lynn, Kira and Dunning voted YES. The Mayor received a letter from a couple on Cambridge Place thanking Ed Quick and Chong You of the DPW for their quick and professional response to a sewage problem that occurred a few weeks ago. A letter was also sent to Fire Chief Evans thanking his department for their fast response to this problem. Although she will cease to be a Trustee after the end of this month, Trustee Kira has agreed to stay on for another two -year term as the Village's representative to the Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca Corporation. The report of the Police Chief, which is on file, was presented. Chief Lansing reported that he was not in attendance at the February meeting as he and Officer Day were attending a "Street Smart" seminar. Chief Lansing felt that it was not only helpful, but also a very eye opening experience. A new part -time clerk has been hired for the Police Department and Chief Lansing says that all is working out nicely. The report of the Fire Chief, which is on file, was presented and Chief Evans reported on the following: Elections for the Fire Department positions are scheduled for April 3. A list of nominees is attached. Chief Evans is alerting the Board to the fact that a meeting will have to be held after the election for the Board to review the new slate of officers. The Awards Banquet is scheduled for April 2151 at the new Fire Station. Supt. of PW Cross presented his report, which is on file. As discussed at the February Board meeting, the DPW is moving ahead with work on Highland Road. This will take up most of DPW time, so any catch up work that is needed on other Village streets will wait till 2002. Trustee Lynn asked that this be mentioned in the next Village newsletter. TCAT has submitted a proposed agreement to cover the maintenance and liability issues of locating their bus shelter in the Village Right of Way. (The shelter is already in place!) Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to allow the Code Enforcement Officer to issue a license to TCAT based on the recommendation by Attorney Tyler, and based on increasing their insurance levels as proposed by Attorney Tyler Trustees Fleming, Kira, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Supt. Cross stated that at some time, the Board would need to address new bus shelters in the Village. Supt. Cross gave the figures to fill in on his report under DPW Fuel Consumption Gas — 448.2 gallons; 507.2 gallons diesel. The new software will help keep better track of the inventory. Buildings and Grounds — Supt. Cross reported that the proposed HCP improvement project would include a new entry canopy to protect pedestrians entering the front door of the Village Hall. The recent snowstorm and subsequent thaw that caused large chunks of snow /ice to slide off the roof of the Village Hall demonstrated the need for this canopy. Wastewater Treatment Plant — Supt. Cross prepared an outline to explain the details on how the Cayuga Heights WWTP could become part of a new partnership. Supt. Cross would like to get the Board together at a separate meeting to discuss this. Trustee Lynn agreed that this is necessary. A special meeting will be planned after April's Organizational Meeting. Trustee Kira praised Supt. Cross's capsule comments on this whole situation. There was discussion on why Cayuga Heights lost population according to the 2000 Census. On the North Campus Gateway Committee Meeting — A presentation by the Transportation Council on the North Campus Road project will be forthcoming. We should expect a presentation soon. Attorney Tyler presented his report. Attorney Tyler passed on to Treasurer Silber and Fire Chief Evans the new fire safety standards proposed for passage this year at the National meeting. The Fire Access to Private Property project which has been discussed in the past needs to either get underway or be dropped from the list of priorities. Supt. Cross said that this is a low priority at this time, in terms of other demands on his time. Attorney Tyler expressed some concern about the issue; Trustees concurred with Supt. Cross. The Public Works Committee met on Thursday, March 15 to discuss the Overtime Issue and and Attorney Tyler asked Trustee Lynn to present their decision. Trustee Lynn reported that the PW Committee, which is made up of Supt. Cross and Trustees Lynn and Fleming, met with Laurie Johnston regarding the overtime issue. It was recommended to defer any action because the Village is about to enter negotiations with the teamsters. Supt. Cross suggested that new proposed Section 13 of Personnel Handbook be titled Transitional Duty instead of Modified Duty. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to approve proposed modifications to the Personnel Handbook proposed at the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees last month, i.e., Section 9, Section 10, Section 12 (new Section), Section 13 (new Section, to be retitled Transitional Duty), Section 14 (former Section 12), except for Section 8 (Overtime) which is deferred pending labor negotiations. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Treasurer Silber presented his report, which is on file. Under Section 5 of Transfers, Add: From Disaster Aid to Contingency -- $19,500. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Lynn VOTED to approve Transfers as presented with the one addition. Trustees Kira, Fleming, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. On the Abstract of Vouchers, Add: A05110.43, Haylor, Freyer and Coon, Truck Insurance -- $138.00 ll Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to approve Abstract of Vouchers as presented with addition of Haylor, Freyor and Coon. Trustees Kira, Fleming, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Motion by Trustee Kira, Seconded by Trustee Fleming VOTED to approve Resolution 5209 — A Resolution Authorizing the Treasurer, Jeff Silber, to claim unclaimed funds from the State of New York, Office of the State Controller on behalf of the Village. Trustees Kira, Fleming, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Budget Information — Treasurer Silber reported that there would be a 2% tax increase; sewer units would be $70 -85; water surcharge is eliminated; increase sales tax budget from 450 - 490. Trustee Fleming would like to go over the budget in detail before the organizational meeting. Everyone agreed that this is an appropriate tentative budget, Treasurer Silber filed the tentative budget with the Clerk and distributed it to the Trustees at this regular March meeting. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to move into Executive Session to discuss personnel involving a specific employee at 9:55 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Kira VOTED to move out of Executive Session at 10:30 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Clerk Manning reported on the following: The Records Management project is moving along nicely. The vault downstairs has been emptied and we are awaiting our new shelving. We are currently looking into software to document all the files that are being retained, as well as the ones destroyed. A new tax software package has been purchased by Williamson Law Book and will be in place in time for our tax season. This software will greatly improve the record keeping on tax payments, searches, penalties, and all other aspects of our taxes. At this time, the Board voiced its thanks to Trustee Kira for her 16 years of service, as this is her last Board Meeting as Trustee. The Board hopes to see her at the meetings in the future and looks forward to her continuing participation and the wisdom of her years of experience. Motion by Trustee Fleming, Seconded by Trustee Dunning VOTED to adjourn meeting at 10:45 PM. Trustees Kira, Fleming, Lynn and Dunning voted YES. Norma Manning Clerk