HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport of the Mayor 7/17/1972REPORT OF THE MAYOR
7/17/72
The principal events of the month affecting the Village, as I have had to deal
with them, concern the Sewer Program. A visit by Mr. Ehrenfest of Teetor - Dobbins
gave me opportunity to learn that the main reason for the delay in granting.us a
permit to put the 2nd contract out to bds was the fact that the Federal Office that
issues such permits had moved from Edison, N.J. to New York City. He assured us that
there was no cause for alarm about the delay. Hdebbought with him a copy of the drawings
and detailed specifications that will be used in the building.
We have received the first check from the Federal Government for the sum of
$75,000. Letters from Representative Robison and a telegram from Senators Javits
and Buckley announce that the Federal Government has increased its award to the
Village by $250,000. This means that the total federal grant is over $1,000,000.
I have worked on a possible ordinance for putting restraints on dogs in the
Village. As I suggested when I last mentioned this subject the choice seems to be
between an ordinance that is directed against the "nuisance dog" and one to deal
with all dogs. The problem with the first is to define the offender. If the wrongful
act is chasing cars and bicycles does the dog offend if it chases frequently, four
times, more than once. I ghtought it best to take the other course, that is to
require that all dogs be kept on their owners property or when not there be kept on
a leash. In the matter of barking dogs I proposed standards that were less rigorous.
The devastation caused by Bloods in June and July led to an early response in
the Village, where the Fire Company issued a call for supplies and money. Villagers
and others from the City and neighboring towns gave generously, with the result that
many truck loads of supplies and a sum of more than 1300 became available for relief.
The Police Department gave assistance by helping to convoy the column of trucks that
left the Ithaca area. The Village contributed the services of a truck and its operator
during the period when there was greatest need for service of that kind.
Representatives of local governing bodies visited the Elmira - Corning area. I
was not able to go but Trustee Fogg went as representative of the Village. This
visit and subsequent meetings led to formation of the New York Mayor's Disaster Fund.
The organizers of this Fund have prepared an elaborate publicity program for the
purpose of raising money and have sent me specimen radio announcements, programs
for conducting fund raising breakfasts, letters with which to answer donors,
specimen envelopes for donors to use and examples of disaster posters. The question
arises whether this should be a Village enterprise or whether we could make our
contribution most effective by putting ourselves under the direction of Mayor Conley
and contributing to his fund.
This questioli is high- lighted today by the fact that the Village is holding a
check for $.�r#3 'which was handed tocme by Jim Dunston in behalf of the Merchants of
the Community Corners who collected it among themselves and had the aid of the young
persons who ran a hot dog and coke sale on the Village Green. The check is made out
to the Mayor's Relief Fund, with the intent, I believe, that I ah ould pass it on to
Mayor Conley.
During the floods the Engineer and the Superintendent, as well as the Police
Department and the Fire Department kept continuously on the alert and responded to
many calls for assistance and pumping service. I had a number of calls. All of
these I passed on to other Village officials. Each day during the crisis I made a
number of tours of the Village to check on trouble situations. None of the culverts
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I saw were full td overflowingg though the one near Winthrop Drive had a clearance
of only afew inches as it passed under North Triphammer Road. The torrent of water
in that creek was the highest I have ever seen it. I had protests regarding a
culvert from Mr. Locke, of Triphammer Road and from Mr. Stuart Lewis, Mr. Lewis
wishes to present his protest at a later time. Mr. Locke's letter is as follows:
Chief Ned Boice has carried out an inspection of fire hydrants in the Village
to determine how easily recognized they are and whethertthey stand free so they can
be readily used. He reports as follows:
How this condition has come about; whether by accident or intent, I do not
know. My vie*tib that the Village has the duty and the right to keep the hydrants
clear and visible and that the Village work force should do this work when in the
judgement of the Fire Chief and the Superintendent it needs to be done.
I asked Mr. Ron Anderson to take a vacant seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals
and he has agreed to do so.
The Tompkins County Comprehensive Health Planning Council, a body which seeks
to persuade citizens and officials of the County to offer recommendations for
remodelling Tompkins County Hospital, will hold a meeting at 8 o'clock on July 27
at the Women's Community Building in Ithaca. At that time it will seek the advice
of persons from the City and Town of Ithaca.
F. G. Marcham