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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 12/20/2004Minutes of Regular Meeting December 20, 2004 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present. Mayor Lynn, Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, Tavelli, Arty, Tyler, Police Chief Lansing, Supt. Cross, Clerk Manning. Absent: Trustee McNeil, Fire Supt. Tamborelle, Supv. Quick Others Present: Alice McDonald, IHS Student At 7:06 pm, Mayor Lynn opened the meeting. The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the minutes of November 15, 2004. Motion by Trustee Mount Seconded by Trustee Antil Move to approve the minutes of November 15, 2004 with minor corrections noted. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES. ********************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Privilege of the Floor — No one wished to speak at Privilege of the Floor., Mayor's Announcements The Mayor had no specific notices but advised the Board that there would be a brief Executive Session at the end of the meeting. ******************************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Report of the Police Chief — Report was distributed and on file. Chief Lansing commented that November was a particularly busy month. Trustee Collyer brought up the subject of parking on Cayuga Park Road. He would like to institute a no- parking rule on the east side of the Road due to the parking problems there have been due when the President of Cornell has his parties. The Mayor asked Trustee Collyer to discuss this situation at the Public Safety Meeting and then bring it before the Board. Report of the Fire Superintendent — Chief Tamborelle was not present. His report was distributed and is on file. Treasurer Silber asked that the minutes reflect the official transfer of the old police car (2001 Ford) to the fire department as their support vehicle replacing their support vehicle that was involved in a property damage motor vehicle accident. Page 1 of 5 Report of Working Supervisor — Working Supt. Quick was not in attendance, however, his report was distributed to the Trustees and is on file. Report of the Supt. of Public Works -- Supt. Cross explained the resolution that will be put before the Trustees tonight. In June 2005, some of the flow from the Cayuga Heights Sewer Plant will be diverted to the Ithaca plant. A number of operational details need to be stated. The diversion will be a permanent diversion, not an "emergency" one. The language of the agreement allows the operators of the plant to make the decisions on diverting. The Kline Road Bypass will be a full-time open connection. There were questions raised by the Attorney and the Treasurer on money issues and negligence; however, the Mayor assured all that the agreement on the table only gives the Mayor die authority to sign after all the details are discussed. Motion by Trustee Staley Seconded by Trustee Antil Move to approve Resolution 6112 Authorizing the Mayor to sign the Agreement (known as the Plant -to- Plant) with the Owners of the Ithaca Area WWTP (IAW%VTP) to Coordinate Transfer of Sanitary Sewer Flows to the IAWWTP (Text of resolution from Brent) Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and TaveW voted YES. Supt. Cross discussed a proposed language change in the sewer ordinance to change the billing process method. Supt Cross has been working with Treasurer Silber and Bolton Point on this proposed change. There were no actual numbers or language ready for this meeting, so there will be a public hearing at the January 2005 meeting to discuss these proposed changes. The Mayor has directed, with the consent of the Board that the hearing proposed for this meeting be deferred to January 18 at 7:00 p.m. before the regular January Board Meeting. The preliminary report from the road engineering firm hired by the Village has been received. The Public Works Committee will meet in January and a presentation will be scheduled for the January Board Meeting if the Public Works Committee deems it necessary. Trustee Staley asked about the time table of the monies needed as it pertains to the budget. Supt. Cross said the original plan- was to have the project ready to begin in the next budget year. Supt. Cross then spoke on behalf of the Space Committee. The Committee received a preliminary report from Schickel Architecture on the proposed plan for this building. They provided 3 version of their own, plus the version as presented to them by the Space Committee. The per square foot cost was priced fairly high due to keeping with the architectural integrity of this building. The Committee asked them to re -issue a report using different materials to try to being the cost down. The Space Committee will be making a full report to the Board either in the January or February meeting. Supt. Cross commented that he is also concerned about activities at the President of Cornell's house. The parties there are having an impact on the residential aspects of the Village and wonders if there is a violation of zoning laws having campus activities at a Village residence. The Mayor acted to end the discussion at that point. Supt. Cross wanted to reiterate that he is getting ready to act on this situation. No action is required by the Board. Page 2 of 5 Report of the Treasurer — Treasurer Silber distributed his report and it is on file. He is beginning to work on GASB34 which is an accounting method that we need to have in compliance by the fiscal year ending in May. He will be working with our auditors in the next few months on this project. Treasurer Silber also pointed out that regarding the upcoming budget season, the pension and health insurance numbers are staggering. This will be a huge Village expense. The Budget packet is distributed in January which will give department heads some operational guidelines. Treasurer Silber presented budget transfers. From: To: Amount A01990.400 Contingency A03410.430 Fire Dept. Insurance $10,050 A01990.400 Contingency A09010.800 NYSERS Retirement 10,000 A01990.400 Contingency A09015.800 Police 8, Fire Retirement 19,110 F01990.400 Water Contingency F08350.410 Water System Contr Exp 10,000 G01990.400SewerContingency G08130.490 Plant Equipment Maint 5,000 W WTP Fund Balance H08130.200 Trickling Filter Project 200,000 EFC Revolving Fund (Short Term BAN) H08130.200 Trickling Filter Project 250,000 Capital Fund Balance (Village Hall) H01620.200 VCH Hall Design Study 3,800 Motion by Trustee Staley Move to pass Resolution 6114 approving the transfers dated 12 /20/04 as listed above. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES Motion by Trustee Antil Move to pass Resolution 6115 approving the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated 12/20/04 in the amount of $354,773.96, and instruct that the Treasurer make payments thereon. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES At this point, Mayor Lynn spoke on the importance of getting the Trustees involved in the budget process before it's time to approve the budget. The Mayor explained that the trustees rely on the department heads to give an idea of what needs to be done in their respective departments and the Trustees need to hear that. The Dept. Heads look to the Trustees for guidance on structuring their individual budgets and the Trustees rely on the Dept. Heads for their ideas pertaining to their budgets. Report of the Attorney — Arty. Tyler said that there has been no decision by Judge Mulvey on the matter of the Wilkinson Estate. There will be an invoice coming from the Attorney for this litigation. Hopefully a decision by the end of December will be rendered; if not, then•definitely in January. Susan Brock has agreed to look at our local laws regarding Sewer and Drains 87 #1 to conform to DEC regulations. Page 3 of 5 The Mayor brought up the fact that all our contracts which have expired need to be re- negotiated now that all negotiations on current contracts are finished. Attorney Tyler will meet with Supt. Cross and Treasurer Silber on this. Vcrizon Wireless is not ready to present a proposal to the Board on a wireless tower in the Village. They are re- tooling their plans. Attorney Tyler will keep the Board posted on developments, The revisions to the pre - treatment agreements discussed at the November Board meeting are completed. The situation with the sign ordinance will be a low priority for resident's sensitivities until the next election. ***************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Clerk's Report - Clerk Manning wanted to remind everyone of the Holiday Party scheduled for December 22 at noon at the Fire Station. ***************************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Other Business: Discussion on the Tompkins County Draft Comprehensive Plan which was distributed previously to the Trustees. This plan is geared towards municipalities with a lot of land to be developed; however, it seems to be a positive step for all municipalities to vote in favor of it. Supt. Cross issued a vote of support for the plan. Trustee Collyer voiced a concern that if we do approve it, is we giving the County the authority to do things further down the line without our approval? Supt. Cross assured him that the plan is just to be used as a road map of sorts. The Villages are in charge of their own — our map is our Comprehensive Plan. Motion by Trustee Mount Seconded by Trustee Staley Move pass Resolution #6113 Support for Adoption of Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan of December 2004. WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Planning Department, with guidance, advice, and recommendation from the Tompkins County Planning Advisory Board, has developed a Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan that addresses regional and intermunicipal issues that affect the daily lives of Tompkins County residents, such as housing, transportation, jobs, the environment, and neighborhoods and communities, and WHEREAS, the Draft Comprehensive Plan was presented at 17 community groups and advisory board meetings, and 14 open houses and public meetings in all municipalities in the county, for feedback and comments, and WHEREAS, an over - arching principle of the Draft County Comprehensive Plan is that Tompkins County will work proactively with towns, villages, the City of Ithaca, and State and Federal agencies to cooperatively address regional issues, and WHEREAS, the County recognizes that while New York State clearly places land use authority in the hands of its towns, villages, and cities, it also specifically recognizes that intermunicipal planning is needed to cooperatively address regional issues and encourages the development of county comprehensive plans to address development and preservation issues that transcend local political boundaries, and Page 4 of 5 WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan provides a strategic framework for addressing issues of mutual concern to municipalities throughout the County, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Village of Cayuga Heights supports the adoption of the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan by the Tompkins County Legislature. Trustees Antil, Mount, Collyer, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES Motion by Trustee Antil Move to enter Executive Session at 8:37 PM to consult with our Attorney on a personnel matter. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES Motion by Trustee Antil Move to enter Executive Session at 8:53 PM to come out of Executive Session. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES Motion by Trustee Collyer Move to adjourn meeting at 8:58 PM. Trustees Antil, Collyer, Mount, Staley, and Tavelli voted YES Respectfully submitted, Norma R. Manning, Clerk Page 5 of 5