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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnnual Mtg. Minutes 2/24/1970VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS MINUTES of the Annual Resident's Meeting held in the Village Hall, 836 Hanshaw Road, Tuesday, February 24, 1970 at 7:30 P.M. PRESENT: Mayor F. G. Marcham; Trustees Ronald E. Anderson, Harold R. Fisher, Verne A. Fogg, Margaret McElwee, Carl H. Nelson, Rane F. Randolph; Treasurer Gordon B. Wheeler; Police Chief Jack W. McGraw, Sr., Fire Chief Richard A. Vorhis; Village Justice W. T. Dean, Nominating Committee Chairman Ralph R. Barnard, Nancy Glick of the Ithaca Journal, 5 members of Boy Scout Troop No. 4, and six residents. The meeting began with a ceremonial presentation to the Village of two flags, one the flag of the United States, given by Troop No. 4, Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council, Boy Scouts of America, the other flag of the State of New York given by the Cayuga Heights Branch of the Police Benevolent Association. Members of Troop 4 marched into the hall and two of them brought the flags to the Mayor. All persons present rose to their feet and the troop leader led the assembly in offering the pledge of allegiance. The flags were then given to the Mayor who accepted them for the Village, with the following words: "The Village of Cayuga Heights accepts these flags as a symbol of our nation and our state. They will always remind us that the Village, small though it is, is part of a great democracy and that the good health of the Village, with that of the nation depends upon the public spirit and generosity of the people young and old." A motion was made, seconded and carried that Mayor F. G. Marcham serve as Chairman of the meeting and Rose M. Tierney as Secretary. . Mr. R. G. Hahn requested to hear at this time the report of the nominating committee. Chairman Ralph Barnard gave the following names as candidates for the forthcoming election; For Village Trustee -- (3 Positions) For Mayor Rane F. Randolph, 335 The Parkway (Incumbent) Carl H. Nelson, 104 Northway Road (Incumbent) Harold R. Fisher, 110 Warwick Place (Incumbent) Mrs. Robert N. (Virginia) Powers, 106 The Parkway Charles W. Brodhead, 136 North Sunset Drive David D. Rector, 319 East Upland Road Frederick G. Marcham (Incumbent) Nominations fromthe floor were called for and Mr. R. G. Hahn nominated Robert Parmelee of 237 North Triphammer Road as a candidate for Mayor. It was seconded by Mr. John Quinn, carried and his name placed on the list of candidates for Mayor. Motion was made, seconded and carried that the nominations be closed. • In listing the Village affairs of the past year, Mayor Marchem reported as follows: We moved into this building. We completed the Northeast Sidewalk project. We have moved along in the program for remodeling and enlarging the sewer plant. Minutes 2/24/70 Page 2 We have resumed negotiations concerning formation of a County Sewer District to include the Village, the Northeast district of the Town of Ithaca and part of the Town of Lansing. The County provided funds for a reassessment of the problem by the engineers, O'Brien & Gere who made the first comprehensive study of the problem. Their report in preliminary form is now in the hands of the Chairman of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives. We have surveyed carefully the personnel policy of the Village and worked again at our wage rates and our fringe benefits, To remain competitive we thought it well to raise our wage scale and to increase fringe benefits. We have carried forward the elm disease tree removal program with general support from Villagers. We have continued our regular services in snow plowing, sidewalk plowing, garden refuse collection, as best we could. For ten years and more we have been able to hold the line on Village taxes which have remained at a rate proportionately lower than those of surrounding munici- palities. Two circumstances have now closed in upon us. First the need to keep pace with the wage and fringe benefits scales of our competition. • Second the practices of the County Assessment Office which assesses all property, e and old, at the valuation that prevailed in 1964. In our preliminary work on the budget for 1970 -71 we see clearly that we must recommend a tax rate increase in the neighborhood of from 20 to 25 %. As in the past the Village has continued to receive much generous and voluntary help almost day by day from Village Trustees, members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Nominating Committee and others. I express the thanks of the Village to them. Treasurer Wheeler presented his report for the period June 1, 1969 through Jnnuary 31, 1970 showing the following bank balances; General Fund $ 50,370 Sewer Disposal & Maintenance 115,965 Sewer Lines Extension 21208 Water Improvements 236 Capital Construction 6,404 Trust & Agency 2,132 Water & Sewer Capital Reserve 2,456 Streets Improvement 9,296 Fire Department Equipment 3,631 Tax Stabilization Fund 45,786 Total of all bank balances $2382484 The Village debt was reduced by $74,000 last year. . Minutes 2/24/70 Page 3 Mayor Marcham read the Engineer's report in his absence. The report for the past year mentioned the progress of the Sewage Treatment Plant Alterations and Additions, the completion of the sidewalks in the Northeast Sidewalk District, the removal of Dutch Elm diseased trees, the problems of refuse disposal and various other projects. The report is on file in the Village Office. Mayor Marcham also read Mr. Rogers report as Zoning Officer. There were 24 Zoning permits issued for an estimated $254,000 of construction in the Village. Police Chief Jack 19. McGraw, Sr. gave his report. Complaints have increased and the department had a very busy year. He reported the deaths of two patrolmen, Joseph W. Mace, Jr, a part time patrolman and William Reynolds, a full time patrolman. Robert G. Sims was hired to fill the full time patrolman's position. During November and December several house burglaries were committed which were thought to be committed by highly professional burglars. The officers of the Department continued to receive training in various fields this past year. This report is on file in the Village Office. Police Justice William Tucker Dean gave his report mentioning that the Village might at some point in the future consider retaining a part time Village Prosecutor who could assist the Police Department in such technical matters as drafting information and taking depositions as the City Prosecutor does. Because of the modern trend in criminal law, much depends upon legal niceties at the inception of each criminal case. • The move to the new hall has immensely increased the dignity and efficiency of the court. This report is on file in the Village Office. Fire Chief Richard A. Vorhis reported the department answered a total of 53 alarms last year. The new emergency vehicle, a 3/4 ton pickup truck with a utility box has proven to be a very worthwhile purchase. He will not be Fire Chief next year having turned in his resignation earlier. Mayor Marcham extended his thanks for the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. Vorhis as Fire Chief for the past four years. Mr. John C. Gabbard, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, was not present at this time so Mayor Marcham read his report. Only three appeals were reviewed last year by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Gabbard is resigning as Chairman of the Board because he and his wife are moving away. Gordon B. Wheeler drew attention to the furniture which was acquired through a labor of love by Mayor F. G. Marcham. All thought the furniture such as the large table and the small round table were perfect for the room. The pictures, maps of various cities around the world, donated by Professor John Reps and framed through the efforts of Mayor Marcham, were greatly admired. Mayor Marcham reminded everyone that Registration is on Saturday, February 28, 1970 at the Village Hall from noon to 9:00 P.M. and election will be here on March 17, 1970 from noon to 9:00 P.M. ' Meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.M. Rose M. Tierney Village Clerk