HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 1/15/1973VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS
MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held at 7 :30 P.M. in the
Village Hall on Monday, January 15, 1973.
• PRESENT: Mayor F. G. Marcham, Trustees David J. Allee, Harold R. Fisher, Verne A.
Fogg, Carl H. Nelson, Claire C. Nulle, Rane F. Randolph; Treasurer, Gordon B. Wheeler,
Engineer- Zoning Officer John B. Rogers; Attorney Roger B. Sovocool, Fire Chief
Ned G. Boice; Police Chief Harlin McEwen.
OTHERS PRESENT: 15 or 16 residents and representatives of the Ithaca Journal and
radio stations.
Mr. Hahn of the Village spoke disparagingly and at length in regard to the Sales
Tax. He said that now that the Village has elected to receive its share it should
distribute it to individual Villagers, each to have his equal share, and not
distribute it on the basis of assessments. It was explained to him and the others
present that the Village will lower the Village real estate tax bill but that the
amount is not known until after next year's budget is prepared which will not be
completed until late in March. The Village has every intention to have this change
be an advantageous one to the Village residents in terms of their total real estate
tax bills. The Village has no machinery for distributing the money equally to each
individual.
Mayor Marcham again summarized the "cluster housing" concept and stated that as
our Zoning Ordinances now stand it is not permissible. The question is whether the
Board feels we should consider a Zoning Ordinance change, or study the matter as
a Planning Board or reject consideration. A few residents gave their opinions and
views.
49 RESOLUTION # 2040 - PUBLIC HEARING - CLUSTER HOUSING
VOTED to hold a Public Hearing to discuss the question of cluster housing in the
Village, the hearing to take place at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 27,1973 the
same date as the Annual Residents Meeting.
The Clerk is instructed to have notice in the paper at least two weeks before the
Public Hearing for the benefit of Village residents.
At 8 :15 P.M. the visitors left and the Board resumed its regular meeting agenda.
VOTED to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 18, 1972 as
previously sent Trustees in mimeographed form.
VCTED to approve the Abstract of Audited Vouchers dated January 15, 1973 except to
withhold $500 from the total bill of $10,559.00 to Cayuga Motors Sales Corporation
for the cab and chassis until delivery in Ithaca. The amounts approved are:
General Fund - $18,504.41, Sewer Fund - $2,524.40, Sewer Capital Fund - $29,766.83.
Mayor Marcham to write a letter to the Conference of Mayors on the way our purchase
of the Garwood Packer has been manipulated.
Mayor Marcham gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. The contracts
• drawn in connection with bidding in the sewer remodelling are the subject of legal
%ction now before the courts. Attorney Sovocool has filed a brief stating the
Village position in answer to the brief filed on behalf of the General Contractor's
Association of New York. He has worked many hours on this case and has visited
New York to meet with our consultants and their lawyers. He has been urged to give
full attention to this matter and advised that his actions will fall outside his
general responsibilities as attorney for the Village.
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Minutes 1/15/73
Page 2
The Environmental Protection Agency of the State and other State officials know
that we are involved in this litigation; they follow it with much interest. They
advise us to go forward with the processing of the papers. Teetor- Dobbina have
these matters in hand.
RESOLUTION # 2041 - LETTER OF AUTHORITY
VOTED to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of authority to Teetor - Dobbins to
provide the necessary construction inspection services for Contracts 2, 31 4 and 5
with the size and nature of the supporting staff to be agreed upon between the
Village and Teetor - Dobbins.
Mayor Marcham reported on the many calls and other protests against dogs roaming
the Village, making excessive noises, etc. A draft of a Dog Ordinance is prepared
and he wishes the Trustees to please go over it and be prepared to take the matter
up at a later meeting.
The Mayor reported receiving a letter from Mr. Petruccelli of the Environmental
Protection Agency urging the Village to supply at once maps showing the location of
work conducted during the past two years in the Village on sewer lines to correct
infiltration. Mr. Rogers has prepared maps for this purpose.
Mayor Marcham received a letter from Walter Schwan, Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca
indicating the intent of the Town to use Village Fire Service during the calendar
year 1973. Mr. Schwan also asked for a long term contract for fire protection
service to the Town for a period of at least ten years.
RESOLUTION # 2042 - FIRE CONTRACT
VOTED to instruct the Mayor to write a letter to Walter Schwan, Supervisor of the
Tom of Ithaca to inform him of a Fire Protection Contract drawn up for a period
of five years with a renewal clause for another five years with the formula to be
renegotiated at that time.
Treasurer Wheeler asked if the Board had any questions concerning his six months
report. There being none the Board accepted the six months report in the following
amounts:
General Fund 22,284.20
Sewer Plant Fund 9,449.78
Sevier Lines Fund 23,603.72
Water Lines Fund 12878.24
Sidewalk Fund 61505.05
Capital Fund - Sewer 124,232.07
Trust & Agency Account 1,043.55
RESOLUTION # 2043 - APPROVE TRANSFERS
VOTED to approve the following transfers:
0
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.. Minutes 1/15/73
From
A1990.0 Contingency
A1990.0 it
General Fund
To
A9554.0 Sewer Lines Assess.
A3410.2 Fire Dept. Eq.
$60.00
2,000.00
Page 3
Will be returned
when $ is trans-
ferred from Re-
serve Fund
A1990.0
"
A3410.53
Fire Dept.
Ins.
11.00
A1990.0
it
A5110.51
Streets Supplies
13000.00 Overspent
A5110.4
Sts - Contr. Svs.
A8160.21
Refuse -Main.
Eq.
13000.00
A1990.0
Contingency
A9995.5 Other - Ins.
275.00
Sewer Fund
G1990.0
Contingency
G8120.2 Sewer Lines -
Eq.
1,500.00
G1990.0
it
G8130.53
Sewer Plant
- Ins.
1.00
The Treasurer returned his 1972 Tax Warrant and Account of Uncollected Taxes and
filed same with the Clerk as required by Real Property Tax Law. The Trustees
certified the list of unpaid taxes as presented by the certificate of the Treasurer
and filed same with the Clerk showing a balance of $1,915.38 without penalties.
The Trustees returned the account of unpaid taxes to the Treasurer for collection
as required by Real Property Tax Law in the amount of $1,915.38 (Attached).
RESOLUTION # 2044 - UNPAID TAXES
VOTED that the Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights do credit the Treasurer
with the amount of $1,915.38 unpaid taxes according to the provision of Real Property
Tax Law.
RESOLUTION # 2045 - TAX SALE
VOTED that the unpaid taxes on properties on LIST OF OVERDUE TAXES AS OF JANUARY 1,
1973 be advertised for sale in issues of the official newspaper on February 6, 13
end 20, 1973 to recover unpaid taxes in the amount of $1,915.38 as listed. The
Tax Sale to be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 24, 1973 at the Village
Hall.
The Board asked the Engineer to get information on the purchase of a new backhoe
to be used in connection with sewer lines and to report his findings at the next
meeting for consideration.
Engineer Rogers gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office. His
reported that North Sunset Drive has now been opened for traffic over the culvert
that was replaced over Remington Creek and that Ralph C. Garvin retired at the end
of the year. Many sewer lines have been replaced.
On December 21, 1972 notice was received that the Association of General Contractors
had started legal procedures to prevent us from opening bids or awarding contracts
for the sewer plant additions. Upon the legal advice of the Village Attorney bids
were opened and made public the same day as scheduled.
.' Minutes 1/15/73
Page 4
The Engineer read a letter from Mr. Grossvogel asking the Board to consider what
should be done about his water situation because of the changing water pressure
during the replacement of the culvert on North Sunset Drive. Engineer Rogers
explained that the City informed him that the pressure of water in the lines
south of the culvert would not be affected by an increase in water pressure.
Mr. Grossvogel states that his water line has a reducing valve. The Engineer
remarked that if he has this valve he should have no trouble. The Board asked
the Engineer to inspect, if possible, and find out if there is a pressure reducing
valve installed in the line at the Grossvogel property and to report his findings.
Engineer Rogers also reported that Mrs. Kent of East Upland Road requests that some
hedge near the road be removed. It was suggested the Police Chief and the Engineer
check it out and work out a suitable solution.
The Zoning Officer reported on a request to locate a Medical Building in a
residential zone. He was instructed to deny the request. If the request should
then be brought before the Board it will consider whether to rezone to accommodate
such a building.
Attorney Sovocool• reported on the legal action against the Village in regard to
the way the specifications were written for the bidding on the expansion of the
Treatment plant. The Attorney has prepared a brief with advice from the law firm
of Walker and Walker, attorneys who work with this type of legal action and were
the attorneys used by Teetor - Dobbins in their preparation of the specifications.
We have no way of knowing whether we can meet the time of 45 days to award the
contract. It was determined by the Board to proceed as if we will meet this time
limit and if necessary hold a Special Meeting for any further action which may be
needed.
Attorney reported a bill from Walker and Walker for $1,357.45. The Board wishes
to review the conditions and responsibilities of all parties concerned before
reaching a decision on this bill.
Attorney Sovocool has applied for renewal from the Department of Agriculture and
Markets for permission to continue our diseased elm tree program.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad has given the Village a right of way for use in the
laying of a new outfall pipe into Cayuga Lake for our sewer plant expansion program.
The Attorney will now proceed with the condemnation of that portion of the land
of Mr. Liberman necessary to be used for storage of pipe during work on the outfall
pipe.
RESOLUTION # 2046 - FLAVIN'S LEASE
VOTED to authorize the Mayor to sign a three year lease for the rental of that part
of the Village Hall property converted from a garage to Flavin's Jewelry. The
lease to be with David Flavin and William E. Seymour for $225.00 per month from
January 1, 1973 through December 31, 1975.
The Fire Chief gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office.
RESOLUTION # 2047 - BID - LADDER TRUCK
VOTED to authorize the Fire Chief and Fire Council to prepare specifications for a
new ladder truck for the Fire Department - Forty Five Foot Aerial Ladder Truck -
with the understanding that the payment be made, if possible, in the year 1974.
The Clerk to advertise for bids.
Minutes 1/15/73
Page 5
There was a discussion on whether to change the name of the Fire Department
Equipment Fund but it was tabled.
Police Chief McEwen gave his report and it is on file in the Village Office.
RESOLUTION # 2048 - RADAR
VOTED to authorize the Police Chief to lease for a period of three months the
Kustom radar at $71.62 per month.
�t �t
RESOLUTION # 2049 - ADDITION TO PERSONNEL HANDBOOK
VOTED to add to the number 12, Educational Incentives, Personnel Handbook, the
following paragraph:
Members of the Police Department who have earned college credit hours towards
an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Police Science or Law
Enforcement shall, after earning a minimum of 12 credit hours with a grade of C
or higher, and upon submitting satisfactory evidence to the Village Treasurer,
receive additional annual compensation of $7.50 for each credit hour. Such
compensation shall become effective June 1, 1972 for total hours credited to
that date. Compensation for additional hours earned after that date will become
effective on June 1st of each succeeding year.
is RESOLUTION # 2050 - ADOPT SIGN ORDINANCE
VOTED to adopt an amendment to Article IX - Zoning by changing the heading of the
present Section 17 to Signs and to renumber the following sections accordingly.
The new Section 17, Signs to read as follows: (Copy attached)
The Clerk gave her report and it is on file in the Village Office.
RESOLUTION # 2051 - APPOINTMENT - ELECTION
VOTED to authorize the Mayor to make his appointments for Inspectors of Election
and Nominating Committee.
Meeting adjourned at 10 :30 P.M.
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Rose M. Tierney
Village Clerk