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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 3/15/2004Minutes of Regular Meeting March 15, 2004 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Lynn, Trustees Antil, Staley, Mount and ICussc and Collyer. Arty. Tyler, Fire Supt. Tamborelle, Police Chief Lansing, Supt. Cross, Supv. Quick, Treasurer Silber. Absent: Trustee McNeil. Invited Guest: Phil Tavelli, Justice Glenn Galbreath Others: Catherine O'Hora, Robert Smith, Don Gordon, Salah Hasan, all of Cornell University. Also, Jack Rogers, and Joe Lisi, (Lt., CHFD) At 7:00 pm, The Board of Trustees met as a Planning Board. Mayor Lynn opened the meeting to a Public Hearing. The Board then convened is a Planning Board. Supt. Cross introduced the topic- Proposed Local Law #2 of 2004 which would provide administration for the enforcement of the NYS Building Code in the Village. There were no comments from the public. At 7:05 pm, the Mayor asked the Trustees to approve the minutes of the February meeting which were previously distributed to the Trustees. The changes were as follows: Page 2, 2 "d paragxaph....ittned to signed and paver toper. Page 4, 1st resolution should be numbered "6055 ". The following sentence should be added to the end of paragraph 1...A copy of the draft local lain was distributed by Sipt. Crory to each Traslee. Page 5, 1st resolution should be numbered "6056 ". 2 "d resolution should be numbered "6057 ". Under "Report of the Attorney ", the items should be numbered, 1, 3, 4, 2. Page 6, 1" resolution should be numbered "6058 ". Motion by Trustee Antil Seconded by Trustee Mount Move to approve the minutes of February 17, 2004 with the above corrections. Trustees Anti], Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. At 7:15 pm, Supt. Cross introduced the next topic for the Planning Board. Cornell University has applied for a permit to construct an addition on the Africana Studies building at 310 Triphammer Road. As required by the Village's Zoning Ordinance, all building construction located in a Multiple Housing District is subject to Site Plan Review by the Planning Board. Since the property is designated as an educational institution, and it was determined to be a Type 2 action; then, therefore no SEQR review is required. Page 1 of 7 Privilege of the Floor — Jack Rogers gave a history on the Remington Road situation: Remington Road was closed for 25 years, to be opened if property owners wanted to sell their property. Three years after a request to open the road was received, the road was opened. Mr. Rogers felt that the utilities were supposed to be paid 100% by the Village. He would like gas and power installed in the road. Mr. Rogers requests that the Board make a decision on this situation. He has brought it to the Board's attention for well over two years. Attorney Tyler asked Mr. Rogers how many lots he owns on the road. Mr. Rogers replied that he owns eight lots, and that lie paid die utility costs of extending server lines under Remington Road prior to the paving of the road. The Village should pay at least for installation of street lights, he stated. Also, there seems to be a question about who actually owns the lower section of Remington Road....the Village or the town. Mayor Lynn has asked Attorney Tyler to look at the whole situation and report back to Mr. Rogers and the Board. ******************************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Announcements of the Mayor Mayor Lynn reminded the Board that elections will be held on Tuesday, March 16, and urged all to vote. Wies van Leuken, a resident of Cayuga Heights, will accept the position of the Village's representative with the Time Warner Access Oversight Committee. The Courier continues to receive rave reviews thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Trustee, Elizabeth Mount The Tompkins County Dept. of Planning will give a presentation at the May board meeting at 7:00 pm on the Comprehensive Plan for the County. Kathy Wilsea of the Dept. of Planning also invited the Board to attend an open house on May 4 at the town offices. The Mayor alerted the Board that budget issues to be presented at this meeting may necessitate another meeting on March 29. Mayor Lynn presented an engagement letter from Susan Brock which describes her arrangements to work on intermunicipal sewer projects that benefit the six participating municipalities (Town of Ithaca, City of Ithaca, Town of Dryden, Village of Cayuga Heights, Town of Lansing and Village of Lansing). The Village of Cayuga Heights will pay one -sixth (1/6) of her bills at an hourly rate of 5140.00 for such work. Attorney Tyler stated that he had reviewed a copy of the letter and found it satisfactory. Motion by Trustee Collyer Seconded by Trustee Antil Move to approve the Letter of Engagement from Susan Brock as outlined above. Trustees And), Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Page 2 of 7 Annual Report of the Justice Court — Report Distributed to the Board Judge Galbreath reported that events over the past year. The major event was that acting Judge Bud Larkin resigned in the fall due to health reasons. Judge Galbreath is working on finding a replacement fox Judge Larkin. The person he had in mind is already an acting justice and cannot take this position. As of now, we do not have an acting Justice. Judge Galbreath does not feel that this is a matter of urgency at this time. He also said that there is a possibility that Justice Larkin may try to come back. Trustee Mount asked if the Judge would like to write an article for an upcoming issue of die Courier. He accepted die invitation, and also urged the Trustees to come and watch Court some Tuesday or Thursday night to get a "flavor" of the Court. Report of the Police Chief — Report Distributed Chief Lansing reported that the robbery of the Fleet Bank has been closed with an arrest of three individuals. The Chief presented his Annual Report and asked if there were any questions. Trustee Collyer asked why the number of tickets is down. Chief Lansing said that he had a personnel matter to be addressed in Executive Session, which would answer Trustee Collyer's question. The Mayor noted that there would be an Executive Session later in the meeting. Report of the Fire Chief— Report Distributed Fire Supt. Tamborelle reported that Cayuga Heights responded Mutual Aid to the Rose Inn fire. The Lansing Fire Dept. thanked our department for all our help. The Supt. distributed a bid tabulation on die ladder truck bid which was opened on March 8 and presented a report. The Board discussed and asked questions on his report. The next step in this process is to entertain a Resolution to have the attorney and treasurer engage bond counsel. The Fire Supt. will continue to do research on the proposals and check references. The prices in the proposals are good for 90 days. If the Board decides to proceed to Bond Counsel, prior to the April meeting the Village should talk to the Town of Ithaca to be sure they are still on board with their share of this purchase. The Town Fire contract will have to be reviewed. A Permissive Referendum will have to be advertised, and then at die May 17 meeting, a bid could be accepted. Between that time and delivery of a new truck, tie bond would be issued. Motion by Trustee Collyer Seconded by Trustee Antil Page 3 of 7 Move to pass Resolution #6059 authorizing the Treasurer to engage Bond Counsel at a cost not to exceed $4,000. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Supt. Tamborelle reported that the TIC (thermal imaging camera) has been purchased and it will be demonstrated at a meeting in the near future. A reminder — April 6 is the election of new officers. April 17 in the annual banquet. Report of the Supt. of Public Works — Report Distributed Supt. Cross reported that Action Item #4 on his report will be deferred until the May Board of Trustees meeting. Item #4 addresses the adoption of the Tompkins County Planning Department initiative to waive the requirement that the Village Planning Board seek Tompkins County Planning Department advice prior to approval of projects within 500' of any adjacent government property. Action Item #3 was then discussed. When the Village's WWTP was constructed in the early 1950's, it was intended to service residential customers only. Since there is also a need to serve some commercial customers, the Village established a formula to determine how to charge these non - residential customers for sewer service. At that time a typical single family house used an average of 328 gallons of water per day (translates into 16,000 cf /year). Therefore, each commercial customer is charged one sewer unit for every 16,000 cf used annually. Over the last 50 years, the traditional single family dwelling uses much less water, such that the current average household consumption is about 175 gallons per day (translates into 8,556 cf /year). Therefore, the residential customers are using proportionally less of the %X'WTP capacity and the commercial customers are using proportionally more of the capacity. One way correct this inequality is to modify the formula in the Village Sewer Ordinance to reflect this change. In doing so, the commercial customers would pay approximately twice what they have been charged in the most recent year. The two most significantly impacted properties would be Borg - Warner (about $25,000) and the Pyramid Mall (less than $6,000). There are some others in the Village of Lansing that would also see $2,500 to $5,000 increases. The added revenue would be used to help offset WWTP costs and would have the effect towards lowering the cost of sewer service to the average single family dwelling. If the Trustees conclude that this is a desirable change, the Village will need to modify the existing Sewer Ordinance. Then a public hearing will be required to make such a change. It was decided to defer further discussion on this issue until the May meeting. Motion by Trustee Antil Seconded by Trustee Collyer Move to set a Public Hearing for May 17 to modify the existing Sewer Ordinance. Trustees Anti], Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Page 4 of 7 Action Item #1 — Having held the Public Hearing for a Local Law to implement the enforcement of the NYS Building Code in the Village at the beginning of this meeting, it was proposed that the Trustees pass a resolution approving the NYS Building Code Enforcement Law. Motion by Trustee Antil Seconded by Trustee Mount Move to pass Resolution #6060 — Local Law #2 -2004: NYS Building Code Enforcement Law. Whereas, die State of New York Law embodies the NYS Building Code, (sometimes known as "The Uniform Code ") and Whereas, the State of New York requires all local municipalities to enforce die NYS Building Code, and \yAicreas, the Village intends to enforce the NYS Building Code which requires a local law to establish the specific administration of said code, and Whereas, the Village has drafted the aforementioned local law, and conducted a public hearing on said law, Now therefore, the Village Board of Trustees hereby adopts this Local Law for enforcement and administration of the NYS Building Code. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Action Item #2 — Approve site plan for the addition at 320 Triphammer Road. Having held the Public Hearing to approve the site plan for die addition at 310 Triphammer Road, and after discussion, Supt. Cross asked for a resolution for the approval. Motion by Trustee Antil Seconded by Trustee Kusse Move to pass Resolution #6061 to approve site plan for the addition at 310 Triphammer Road. Whereas, Cornell University has filed an application to construct an addition on to the existing Africana Studies building at 310 Triphammer Road, and Whereas, such application requires die Village Planning Board to perform a Site Plan Review because it is located in a Multiple Housing District, and Whereas, the Planning Board has determined that the project is a SEQRA TYPE II Action which is not subject to further environmental review as defined by die NYCRR Part 617.5(c)(8), and Whereas, the Village Planning Board has determined that the project will not have a negative impact on the neighbors or the Village's infrastructure, Now therefore, the Village Planning Board hereby confirms that the project is SEQRA Type II action not requiring further environmental action, and approves the Site Plan for the proposed addition to the Africana Studies building and authorizes the Building Commissioner to issue a Zoning Permit. Trustees Antil, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES Trustee Collyer ABSTAINS. Page 5 of 7 Report of the Working Supervisor — Report Distributed Supv. Quick asked the Treasurer to add the payment of $750 to Reeves Brothers for Mr. Reeves' bill for hauling brush to this month's abstract of vouchers. The Board will approve this addition when they approve the Abstract of Vouchers. Report of the Treasurer — The Draft Budget Treasurer Silber distributed the draft budget and explained his recommendations to the Board. Mayor Lynn proposed a special meeting to be held on March 29 at 7:30 pm for budget discussion purposes. Motion by Trustee Antil Move to hold a Special Meeting of the Board for budget purposes on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. At this point, the Treasurer submitted the draft budget for die year 2004 -2005 to the Clerk with one change and then presented it to the Board for discussion. There was a period of questions and answers by the Board with die Treasurer, whereupon the draft budget was presented to the Clerk to become the tentative budget for die year 2004 -2005. Treasurer Silber asked the Board's approval to apply for a grant along with the Fire Supt. for firefighter's assistance (Homeland Security). Motion by Trustee Antil Move to authorize the Treasurer and Fire Supt. to apply for a grant from Homeland Security for Assistance for Firefighters Program. Trustees Andl, Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Clerk's Report - The Clerk reported on the following: The Police 2000 Ford was sold by scaled bid for a price of $3929.00 There will be a NYCOM Volunteer Firefighting Workshop in Cayuga Heights focusing on the municipal administration of a volunteer fire department on May 20 at 7:00 pm at the Fire Station. Cayuga Heights will be hosting this event and it will be open to all neighboring municipalities with volunteer fire departments. A handout was sent to the Board with further information. This seminar is designed to focus on the issues facing a Page 6 of 7 municipal administration with a volunteer fire department. Please contact the clerk with questions or send your reservation in to NYCON1. The Clerk mentioned that Tompkins County is offering a Beautification Grant to all municipalities in the County. 11ils will be discussed more at the May meeting. **************************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Report of the Attorney - Attorney Tyler reported on the following: Attorney Tyler reported that the Kendall assessment was lowered to $32,500,000. This change will be effective until 2010. Attorney Tyler's work on fire access to private property is ongoing. The Attorney is also looking at the Piro Dept.'s proposed policy on active and inactive members. ***************************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Police Chief Lansing, who had previously requested an Executive Session at the end of the meeting, asked that due to the lateness of the hour, his Executive Session be postponed until the March 29 meeting. All agreed to hold the Executive Session at the beginning of the meeting. At tails time, Mayor Lynn presented a plaque to Trustee Bruce Kusse thanking him for his six years of dedicated service to the Village. Motion by Trustee Andl Move to adjourn the meeting at 11:30 pm. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Kusse, Mount, and Staley voted YES. Norma R. Manning Clerk Page 7 of 7