Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 5/20/2002Minutes of Regular Meeting May 20, 2002 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Lynn, Trustees Antil, Collyer, Kusse, Dunning, Mount and McNeil, Attorney Tyler, Treasurer Silber, Supt. of PW Cross, Fire Supt. Randall Others: Dan Higgins Ithaca Journal K. Newman 310 E. Upland St. Gillian Hagfors Cayuga Heights Road Wendy Kimble -Dugan 1010 Triphammer Road Fred Antil 320 E. Upland Road Don Campbell and Anita Watkins 11 Lowell Place Joy Barr 3 Triphammer Lane Joline DiGiacomo 323 The Parkway Harry A. Missirian 406 Klinewoods Road Stuart and Debora Blumin 627 Highland Road Tammy L. Palmer 903 Hanshaw Road Dooley Kiefer 629 Highland Road Lee Teichthesen 1020 Triphammer Road At 7:00 P.M. Mayor Lynn opened the meeting to the Privilege of the Floor. Village resident Lee Teichthesen spoke on behalf of the residents present regarding the increase in assessments that were received earlier in May. There was much discussion about the way the County prepares new assessments. Several residents were going to voice their concerns with the County and file grievances. Dooley Kiefer, the local representative on the County Board of Representatives, wanted everyone to know that the Village of Cayuga Heights was not "singled out" for increases. The assessment department is looking at trends in the areas and increases in values. If residents think they have been unfairly raised, they should make an a point r the assessors to go to their homes. At 7:30 Mayor Lynn stated that the County, not the Village calculates and sets assessment valuations and that he shares all the stated concerns. He urged all the residents to utilize the appeal process. He closed by repeating that the Village Board has no role in the assessment process. Dooley Kiefer will convey back to the County assessment department that the village residents need justification by comparable properties valuations for the increases that have been made. Until that happens, residents will continue to be unhappy. Dooley Kiefer then asked Supt. Cross to take care of the depressions in the roads due to the recent rain storms before the wane weather sets in. Corrections to the minutes of the April 15, 2002 meeting were discussed. There was one correction on page 1. In the first paragraph, the word "noted" was changed to "noticed ". Motion by Trustee Collyer VOTED to approve the Minutes of the April 15, 2002 Board of Trustees Meeting with the one correction noted above. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. Mayor Lynn presented his report: - The Village Department heads had just had their first joint meeting. They will be be meeting as a group to discuss various village matters and keep each other informed. At their meeting, Mayor Lynn will hand out a draft of a disclosure statement (which he also distributed to the Trustees) for review. All Department Heads and Trustees will be asked to file a disclosure statement at a later time. This will be discussed further at the June 17 meeting. Trustee Mount asked if there was a special need that we are doing this now. The Mayor explained that due to the impact on good government from conflicts of interest, it is important to disclose any conflicts, i.e., financial, etc. - A letter from George Pataki, Governor of New York, is on file regarding the significant changes to the building codes effective July 2002. IAWWTP — Issues were presented to the Consortium. If the Village decides to participate, there will have to be a public hearing where the citizens will have a chance to voice their concern, to be followed by a permissive referendum opportunity period. - Vital Communities Initiative — Dooley Kiefer presented a sample resolution of support for the adoption of Vital Communities Development and Preservation Principles as Interim County Policy and asked the Board to pass this resolution as a show of support for the County to adopt these principles for its own use. After questions and discussion, there was a Motion by Trustee Mount VOTED to Approve Resolution 5082 Support for Adoption of Vital Communities Development and Preservation Principles as Interim County Policy (copy attached) Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. 2 - WRC Water Quality Strategy— a copy of a summary of the draft Tompkins County Water Quality Strategy, developed by the Tompkins County Water Resources Council, )WRC) was distributed to the Trustees. Police Chief Lansing presented his report, which is on file. A copy of the new patch for the Police Department was shown to the Board. Chief Lansing reported that Attorney Tyler approved the contract by the County to share computer information between the Courts and the Police Department. Treasurer Silber asked Chief Lansing about the timetable for the new SUV to be in service and the Ford Explorer available for sale. The Chief said that this should all happen in the next week or two. Motion by Trustee Collyer VOTED to authorize the Police Chief to advertise the 1996 Ford Explorer to be sold to the highest acceptable bidder. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. At this time, Supt. Cross asked to introduce to the Board, acting in its capacity as the Village Planning Board, the application request from JJ's Cafe to expand their seating and counter space. Tammy Palmer, owner of JJ's Cafe was present and explained the proposed space increase. She explained that the Cafe would expand into the space previously held by the decorating shop. The expansion would entail adding 6 tables, 12 chairs and a counter with stools. There was some discussion on an increase in cars needing to park in a somewhat restricted space. Motion by Trustee Dunning as member of the Planning Board VOTED to hold a Public Hearing on the proposed JJ's Caf6 expansion on June 17 at 7:00 P.M. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES acting as the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board. Fire Supt. Randall presented his report, which is on file. There was discussion regarding the address line on the report. Should properties be identified? The issue of right of privacy was discussed. The Mayor thinks that the report should contain the type of service rendered. Trustee McNeil asked if the identification of properties served could be limited to Village of Cayuga Heights vs. Town of Ithaca. It was decided that the address should be taken off altogether. Chief Randall will look into this change. Trustee Mount asked if all the information on the Q report is really necessary for the Board to see. Attorney Tyler commented that it gives the Board a sense of what the department is doing throughout the month, which it needs to properly oversee the Fire Department. Supt. Cross asked about the pumping done during the rain storm in May. Chief Randall said that a report would be given at the June meeting. Chief Randall addressed the part of last month's minutes where it noted that the Chief was not in attendance. He wanted to explain that he was at first told that if he didn't have anything to report, that lie didn't need to attend. That, however, has changed. Chief Randall or an assistant chief will be in attendance at every Board meeting. The Fire Company has offered to purchase a sign for the front of the Fire Station — a marquee style similar to the Lansing Fire Department sign. Treasurer Silber would like to have Bob Mitchell sign off on the sign from architectural point of view. Trustee Mount asked how the sign was selected. The Chief said that the Fire Company picked it out. Chief Randall will submit a plan for the sign to Supt. Cross for his approval. Chief Randall, on behalf of the Fire Company, is requesting permission to paint basketball stripes on the parking lot in the back after it is sealed. The Chief will remind the Board about it after the pavement sealing is completed. Superintendent of Public Works Cross presented his report, which is on file. Cayuga Park Road property — There seems to be an ongoing problem with ROW damage along Cayuga Park Road caused by vehicles (cars and delivery trucks) going to social events at the Cornell's Presidents' house. Trustee Collyer gave a brief synopsis of the history of this problem. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the Village will give Cornell permission to present to us a firm proposal to, at their expense, improve the property for them and us. Uwe Reichenbach as withdrawn his request to have his private driveway named Tyler Court, and instead requested that we give him a number on Tyler Road — #2. Motion by Trustee Antil VOTED to assign the address of 2 Tyler Road to tax parcel 1.-1-2. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. Personnel — Based on the continuing status of Ed Quick on Workers Comp, Supt. Cross asked the Board to appoint Mike Newhart to temporarily fill the vacant MEO position left open by Ralph Newhart, who was previously temporarily moved up into Ed Quick's position. Motion by Trustee Antil VOTED to appoint Mike Newhart to the vacant MEO position on a temporary basis. 4 Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. Attorney Tyler presented his report. NYSEG — Discussion on the reply to NYSEG's attorneys from Attorney Tyler. Supt. Cross requests that a pro forma permit be issued to NYSEG, and Attorney Tyler will amend his draft letter to NYSEG's attorney to that effect. The draft letter, previously distributed to the Trustees, was then approved for transmittal. Town of Dryden Sewer District No. 1 - Village of Cayuga Heights Agreement Attorney Tyler presented the contract between the Town of Dryden and the Village of Cayuga Heights which would extend on a year -to -year basis, and provides for the special circumstance of the O'Connor property. Motion by Trustee Collyer VOTED to authorize the Mayor to sign the Contract between the Town of Dryden Sewer District No. 1 and the Village of Cayuga Heights on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. The question arose as to whether we ask the O'Connor's to consolidate their lots from 3 to 2. (They did not disclose to us that there was a vacant lot.) There was no resolution to this question. Atty. Tyler indicated he would follow up with the O'Connor's attorney, Michael Lane. Payment has not been resolved yet with the electrician on the fire station. There will be a meeting between Mayor Lynn, Supt. Cross, Attorney Tyler, and Treasurer Silber regarding the Yaws Contract. The Treasurer did not have a report, but said that there were a number of vouchers this month for payment. Motion by Trustee Collyer VOTED to approve Abstract of Vouchers for payment. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Collyer, Dunning, Mount and McNeil voted YES. The Clerk reported that the tax bills will be mailed on May 31. Trustee Mount inquired about the Village's web site and inquired if a copy of it or a notice about it's address on the Web could be inserted in the Cayuga Heights Village brochure that is sent out with the tax bills. It was decided that since there are some corrections that need to be made on the site, it's information will not be printed in the brochures. Motion by Trustee Antil VOTED to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm. Norma Manning Clerk