Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing 9/18/1972VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS MINUTES of a Public Hearing held at 7:00 P.M. in the Village Hall on September 18, 1972 to consider the adoption of a Sign Ordinance to be Section 17 of ARTICLE IX - ZONING. PRESENT: Mayor F. G. Marcham; Trustees David J. Allee, Carl H. Nelson, Claire C. Nulle, Rene F. Randolph; Engineer John B. Rogers; Attorney Roger B. Sovocool; Fire Chief Ned G. Boice; Police Chief Harlin R. McEwen; Treasurer Gordon B. Wheeler. ABSENT: Trustees Harold R. Fisher and Verne A. Fogg OTHERS: Representative from The Ithaca Journal, Mrs. Christie, Mrs. Matyas and Prof. E. F. Roberts. Mayor Marcham opened the public hearing by reading the legal notice published in the Ithaca Journal according to law. The Board members present discussed different sections and paragraphs of the proposed wording and found it difficult to set standards for the size of signs because they were not aware of the size of some of the present unobjectional signs. Attorney Sovocool suggested a list be made of the present signs and their size in order to have some basis to start with in setting standard sizes for the various signs mentioned in the wording of this proposed ordinance. Mrs. Christie spoke on behalf of the Congregational Church and its sign which is larger than that allowed in the wording of this proposed sign ordinance. • Mayor declared the Public Hearing closed. MINUTES of a Public Hearing held at 7:15 P.M. in the Village Hall on September 18, 1972 to consider the addition of a Stop Sign to the present Traffic Ordinance - Article IV. PRESENT: Same as above. ABSENT: Same as above. OTHERS: Same as above. Mayor Marcham opened the public hearing by reading the legal notice published in the Ithaca Journal according to law. There was no discussion concerning this change, therefore the meeting closed. MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights held on September 18, 1972 at 7:30 P.M. in the Village Office. PRESENT: Mayor F. G. Marcham; Trustees David J. Allee, Carl H. Nelson, Claire C. Nulle, Rene F. Randolph; Engineer John B. Rogers; Attorney Roger B. Sovocool; Fire Chief Ned G. Boice; Police Chief Harlin R. McEwen; Treasurer Gordon B. Wheeler. ABSENT: Trustees Harold R. Fisher and Verne A. Fogg • OTHERS: Representative of Ithaca Journal, Mrs. Matyas and Prof. E. F. Roberts VOTED to approve the minutes of a regular meeting of August 21, 1972 copies having been previously sent Trustees in mimeographed form. Minutes 9/18/72 Page 2 VOTED to approve the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated September 18, 1972 in the following amounts: General Fund - $6,344.85; Sewer Fund - $7,343.80; Capital Sewer Fund - $320.00. Mayor Marcham went over the facts concerning the request of the Skating Rink Committee chaired by Mrs. Matyas. After discussion of many aspects of this matter it was felt the Mayor should look into the matter further. RESOLUTION # 2009 - MAYOR NEGOTIATE - SKATING RINK VOTED to instruct the Mayor to negotiate with the officers of the school district and other agencies with a view to arriving at an arrangement sharing joint responsibility, rights and obligations toward the blacktopping of an area east of the gym at Cayuga Heights School for neighborhood skating and /or outdoor play. The Board of Trustees takes the general position that it would be prepared to meet one half of the d -the -eoet_ct ma:ntenanee.; 4 7�IG SKq�JN� A'�EA, * 4toc,e -rt dG Mrs. Matyas said that perhaps the Mayor should meet with Mr. Banner and herself as a start towards these negotiations. Mrs. Matyas and Prof. Roberts left. Mayor Marcham gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. He reported a busy month. The Village took part in a further stage of the condemnation proceedings regarding the Liberman property and in the Bolton Point water hearings, as well as in a number of meetings preliminary to the water hearings at which plans were made concerning the tactics to be followed and the role each party was to play. The two matters, condemnation and water, are now in the hands of commissioners. • We await their decisions. Construction of the Sewer Plant is not yet in sight. The Army Corps of Engineers appear for the moment to be the last hurdle. The commander of the Buffalo Division advertised the request of the Village to lay an additional outfall pipe in our right of way in Cayuga Lake and invited persons who wished to protest the laying of the pipe to write to him. He received two letters, neither supported by engineering evidence. He sent these letters to me and said he would not issue a permit until the Village could prove that it had attempted to reach an amicable agreement with the two protesters. We have invited them to join with us in discussion of their grounds for protest. I will arrange for a representative of the State Environmental Protection Agency or the County Board of Health to be on hand as a third party at these discussions, so that he can testify that on our side the attempt to come to an agreement was made in good faith. In mid summer the Zoning Board of Appeals heard two requests for a variance in regard to that part of the ordinance that relates to fences. The requests related to the north part of the Village, and both sought a variance from that part of the ordinance which limited the height of fences to four feet. In one instance the plea for a variance was granted on the ground that the cause of offense the total ugliness of the Triphemmer Shopping Plaza - was major and justified the request. In the other the request was denied on the ground that the cause of offense - a proposed parking space for the patients of a dentist - did less hurt to the petitioner's privacy. The unsuccessful petitioner challenged the board's action. His neighbors to the number of 26 or so sent me a petition in which they • ask that the Zoning Board reconsider its action. Mr. Fleming, chairman of that Board wrote to the petitioner asking him to give, in essence, what led the Board to reject his petition. The petitioner replied to Mr. Fleming on Saturday saying he failed to see the logic in the argument presented for the Board. He hoped that the Zoning Board would consider his petition again. Minutes 9/18/72 Page 3 Village Law, as I understand it, takes pains to assign separate jurisdictions to • the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Village Board and in particular forbids a member of the Village Board to sit on the Zoning Board of Appeals. In zoning the initial decision is with the Zoning Officer, the right to hear appeals from his decision lies with the Board of Appeals. The Village Board of Trustees has only the power to alter the general policies that constitute the zoning ordinance. Mayor read a letter from David Flavin whereby he gave notice to end his lease December 1, 1972 for that part of the Village Hall which he presently is occupying as a jewelry store. His lease may be terminated on 90 days written notice. RESOLUTION # 2010 - ADVERTISE FOR NEI TENANT VOTED to authorize the Village Clerk to advertise for rent that portion of the Village Hall which is now occupied by Flavin's Jewelry and located in what was the garage of the former owner. The terms of a lease to be negotiated. Trustee Randolph asked if that portion of the building known as Flavin's Jewelry is now covered by fire detection protection. This will be looked into. A letter of resignation was read from Mrs. Mary Freeman who was appointed as a Village Representative on the Tompkins County Planning Board. Mayor Marcham drew attention to the last paragraph which refers to many evening meetings. He suggested we keep this in mind when we approach someone to replace Mrs. Freeman. • Mayor Marcham mentioned a request from the First National Bank for an additional sign to be placed at their branch here and said the Board could pass over this request until the next "meeting... After much discussion regarding the property at 511 Kline Road and owned by Dr. Sobel who has requested he be allowed to erect a wall which would have to be placed in the road right of way since the corner of the house already infringes on the road right of way, it was decided that Mayor Marcham approach Dr. Sobel to seek other remedies for the drifting snow this winter. Dr. Sobel may renew his request next year. Fire Chief Ned G. Boice gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. He spoke about the fire hazardous conditions at the Corners Community Center, that no attempt had been made as yet to correct the condition. It was decided that Mayor Marcham by letter should exert some pressure on Mr. Heasley, President of the Corners Community Center, Inc. Police Chief Harlin R. McEwen gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. RESOLUTION # 2011 - SIGNS ON TRIAL BASIS VOTED to authorize the Police Chief to initiate on a 120 day trial basis the following changes in traffic control signs: Change the Yield Signs at Wyckoff and Kline Road to Stop Signs; change the Stop Sign at The Parkway and Highgate • Road to a Yield Sign. Minutes 9/18/72 Page 4 There was a discussion regarding the Law Enforcement - Community Relations Committee of Greater Ithaca and its request for the Village to consider an appropriation toward the cost of a staff position for the committee. The Board seemed to feel they agreed with the principle but would like to know more of the structure and purpose of the committee. RESOLUTION # 2012 - ABANDONED PROPERTY DISPOSAL VOTED that the Village Board of Trustees does hereby elect to exercise through the Chief of Police, or his agent designated in writing, the rights and privileges granted in Article 7 -B of the New York State Personal Property Law with respect to the handling of lost, mislaid, and abandoned property which is deposited with r the Village Police Department. This policy to be carried out as approved by the Board of Trustees and to be placed on file with the Village Clerk. Treasurer Gordon B. Wheeler said he would mail the 3 months Treasurer's Report as soon as it was complete. He asked for approval of transfers. VOTED to approve the following transfers: From To $_ Reason A1990.0 Contingency A1210.5 Mayor's Exp. 10.00 No funds in budget A1990.0 Contingency A1640.2 Central Gar. Eq. 100.00 " " it it A1990.0 Contingency A5110.51 Streets Supp. 22000.00 Overdrawn A1990.0 Contingency A9995.5 General Ins. 407.00 Ins. higher than expected A1990.0 Sewer Pd. Conting. G8130.5 Sewer Plt. -Other 750.00 Overdrawn Exp • A1990.0 Contingency A1640.1 Garage Salary 100.00 None in budget Engineer John B. Rogers gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. He also stated that General Arborists are on the job of tree removal from Village property and should be finished by the end of the week. Trustee Nelson reported many unsightly places in the Village which have brush, garden refuse, etc. piled alongside the road and in a condition that prohibits the Village work force from picking it up. RESOLUTION # 2013 - MAYOR ENFORCE ARTICLE III VOTED to authorize the Mayor to write after notice of an unsightly condition to those property owners about the unsightly condition of their property setting a time limit for it to be improved or Article III of the Ordinances will be enforced. Attorney Roger B. Sovocool gave his report stating that we may not have a report on the hearings concerning the valuation placed on the land taken from Mr. Liberman for two or three months. The Attorney will draw up a contract as recommended by the Fire Council for Fire Protection of the northeast and Forest Home areas of the Town of Ithaca. This • contract to be approved by the Town of Ithaca and the Village by January 1, 1973. Minutes 9/18/72 Page 5 The Clerk gave her report and it is on file in the Village Office. RESOLUTION N 2014 - REDUCE SEWER RENT ASSESSMENT VOTED to reduce the sewer unit assessment for David T. Barr of 3 Triphammer Lame from two units to one unit. w x x RESOLUTION N 2015 - AMEND ARTICLE IV - TRAFFIC ORDINANCE VOTED to adopt an amendment as follows: ARTICLE IV - TRAFFIC ORDINANCE Section 5• d. Hazardous Intersections Designated. Those intersections described in the following subsections are hereby designated as hazardous intersections for the purpose of this section. (1) A stop sign is required at the following intersections: ADD (f) Oak Hill Place from the south at its intersection with Oak Hill Road. Effective October 1, 1972• Meeting adjourned at 10:05 P.M. Rose M. Tierney Village Clerk •