HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 5/12/1950M
MINUTES of a regular meetiftg of the Village Board held on
Friday, May 12, 1950 at 7 :30 P.Id. in the schoolhouse.
PRESENT: C. J. Kenerson, Mayor
W. S, Randal, Trustee
C. I. Sayles, Trustee
Sherwood Holt, Trustee
L. C. Kent, Trustee
C. H. Guise, Treasurer
Carl Crandall, Engineer
H. J. Shirey, Police Justice
1. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kenerson who
greeted the 32 residents of the Village who represented a portion
of the signers of a petition to the Trustees to prevent the
construction of an apartment house dt 709 Triphammer Road.
Petitions as filed with the Clerk indicated a total of 70
signatures. Of these 58 were residents of the Village and 12 live
outside the Village. Prof. Freeman requested a reading of that
portion of the minutes of the meeting of Feb. 7th having to do
with the Village Trustee action in connection with the construction
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of'the apartment house. -These minutes were read by the Clerk.
'_drs. C. I. Sayles inquired whether or not this action of the
Trustees constituted a contract. Mr. Shirey stated that in his
opinion a contract did.exist to permit the construction of the
apartment house, inasmuch as the company had*been furnished a copy
of the Trustee action of Feb. 7th and had immediately acted thereon
by proceeding with actual plans and clearing the site. It was
estimated the company had spent from 15 to 20 thousand dollars and
Mr. Shirey said that if the Village refused to give water and sewer
connections at this time the company could sue the Village for
damages. Prof. E. L. Palmer spoke of his desire'to make a park
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of t:rle area and perhaps deeding it over to the Village at some
future date. Prof. Freeman stated that Mr. Indelicate had'told
him that if he, Indelicato, had known of the opposition to this
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development he would have sold out and constructed at another site.
Mrs. Sailor spoke of her disapproval of the project, stating that
there was a fire hazard there and that she was contemplating
selling her house and moving array as a result. Engineer. Crandall
said that an error was made when the Village was first formed in
placing the eastern boundary of the Village in the center of
Triphammer Road; that it would have been much better if the
boundary had been a few hundred Beet east of Triphammer Road thus
permitting similar zoning for both sides of the highway. Engineer
Crandall gave the historical background of. sewer connections, stating
that the 81ty had always respected the wishes of the Village in
what they wanted in the way of sewer and water connections and
likewise the Village had respected the wishes of those outside
the Village for sewer and water connections when it was possible.
He said the primary interest of the Trustees in allowing these
sewer connections on the fringe of the Village was a health measure
for the protection of the people in the Village by preventing the
affluent from septic tanks from flowing into Village streams and
gutters. Mayor Kenerson mentioned. that the Village had been
troubled by pollution of streams from septic tanks outside the
Village as far back as 1929. Trustee Sayles suggested that an
effort be made to get the Town of Ithaca to adopt a zoning ordinance
for the territory on the Village fringe. He said'that if the
people in the vicinity of the proposed apartment house wished to
get together and buy the company out that was their privilege, but
that the Village legally could not do it. It was suggested that
the Village should have had a.referendum of the residents of the
Village in connection with the granting of the permit for sewer
and water connections and that they hhould have a referendum in the
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future for all proposed connections. Prof. L. P. Wilson stated that
he was opposed to the apartment house but that he was a former.member
of the Board and realized how their business was carried on. He
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said that in no town or village or city in the country that he
knew of was it customary to obtain referendums in cases of this
kind and he thought the Board had acted in entire good faith and
Judgment in the matter. Engineer Crandall pointed out that as far
as the water connection was concerned there was plenty of water to
supply the apartment house without decreasing the supply or pressure
to any resident of the Village. E. A. Whiting stated that he was
pleased to note so much interest in Village affairs as evidenced
by the attendance, and called attention to the fact that at the
last annual meeting he was the only resident of the Village outside
of the Board and Officers in attendance and admitted that the only
reason he was there was because he had to attend as Chairman of
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the ?nominating Committee. He thought a better attendance at
annual meetings and village elections would be helpful to the Board
and highly educational to the voters. His remarks were met with
applause. Trustee Holt stated that he was opposed to the apartment
house but he called attention to the fact that the Village Dias no
control whatsoever over construction outside of the Village and
that there is no zoning ordinance in any part of the Town of Ithaca.
?is pointed out that there was nothing to prevent the construction on
the east side of Triphammer Road of gafages, stores, gas stations,
or junk yards, and that aside from an individual residence an
apartment house was much more desirable than many other things
that might be built. Mayor Kenerson mentioned that the new
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proposed hospital could be built on Triphammer Road, that it was
a. very desirable location and that the Village would be powerless
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s y o .
4. The Clerk was requested to read,the petition.received in
connection with the proposed new apartment house on Triphammer.
Road, which was done.
IT WAS VOTED that the petition as.rea.d be placed on file.
Mr. Shirey stated that the Village minutes of Feb*. 7th were
to prevent it. Mr. Woodcock inquired if the
visitors present
might adjourn to another room and discuss the
matter and thus
permit the'Board to continue with its regular
business. Mayor
Kenerson said. that this was entirely feasible
and invited any of
those present to either adjourn to another room
or to remain with
the Board while they completed their regular
business. Thus at
8 :45,the Board started its regular meeting.
2. The minutes of the April 3rd meeting
were read and
approved.
3., The following bills paid on authority of the Mayor were
approved:
GENERAL
Ithaca Journal
5.86
POLICE FIRE & WATER
City of Ithaca.
1.00
'
SANITATION
W. D. Lyme
15.07
Stevens Service Station
3.3
College Chevrolet Co'.
1 .8E
City of Ithaca
56.06
N.Y State Dent. of Public Works
2.88
W. D. Lyme
12.71
HIGHWAYS
14• D. Lyme
15.07
Stevens Service Station
3.32
N.Y.State Elec. & Gas - Apr.lights
180.23
Mrs. Frank Haskins
23.00
Jim's Fix -it Shop
20.50
College Chevrolet Co.
17.83
City of Ithaca
20.02
Arthur Machen
39.40
General Crushed Stone Co.
33.57
W. D• Lyme
12.771
C J Rum e 3 C
9 69
s y o .
4. The Clerk was requested to read,the petition.received in
connection with the proposed new apartment house on Triphammer.
Road, which was done.
IT WAS VOTED that the petition as.rea.d be placed on file.
Mr. Shirey stated that the Village minutes of Feb*. 7th were
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legally binding and that.if we refused to let the company connect
they could sue the Village for dawages. The question was.raised
as to whether or not it woizld be legally possible to extend the
limits of the Village to take in properties bordering on the
east of Triphammer Road and it was decided that this should be
Investigated. Trustee Holt,said that if we refused permission
to the Highland Road Construction Co. to connect with the sewer
it was his opinion that they could still construct the apartment
house and dispose of sewerage through chlorination. Engineer
Crandall said that as he remembered the discussion back in February
the primary reason the Trustees voted to let the company connect
.was to protect the health of the residents of the Village and that
the financial return was entirely minor. After further discussion
IT.47AS VOTED that it would not be desirable for the Trustees
at this time to break their contract with the Highland Road
Construction Co. which contract was considered as consummated by the
Village action on -Feb- 7th and the notification to the company of
such action on Feb. 8th.
IT :'AS VOTED that no sewer connections be allowed.in the
future for new construction outside the Village unless such
construction fell-within the limits of the Village zoning ordinance
In effect for that part of the Village adjacent to the new
construction.
IT WAS VOTED•that the above resolution be recommended to all
future Boards for observance.
5. Treasurer Guise reported a balance on hand as of -April
jOtY. of ,"2,144.03. He reported that all payments on curbs and
gutters on Northway Road that were due by April let have now been.
paid.
a
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IT WAS VOTED to pay the City of Ithaca on June 10th the
sewer rental invoice of 05,000 ani
the fire service contract bill of
Treasurer Guise stated that
Informed of transfers of property
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I the hydrant charge of $800, and
42,56$.50.
he had difficulty in being
and it was thought advisable that
the Trustees write a new ordinance to cover the transfers of
property so that the Village would know of changes.
6. The.Engineer reported that he was working on the new
zoning ordinance and found it desirable to send out a questionnaire
to all residents in zone 1 to get specific information from each
as to the number of apartments that they had in their houses. It
was noted that as a result of this two cases had already arisen of
persons having three apartments.
The Engineer reported that there was a break in the sewer line
at Wyckoff and ISline Roads which was being repaired by the City
but he stated that a major job would have to be done in this
vicinity which had long been contemplated but would have to be let
out on contract. He noted that there was sufficient funds in the.
Water & Sewer Capital Reserve Fund to pay the cost of this.
The Engineer reported that Harold Simpson had bought the
late Mrs. Jane Neiman's house.
7. Trustee Sayles noted that rabies shots *.could be given at
the school next Wednesday at 7 O'clock and recommended that the
Village support this measure and get publicity in the newspaper.
9. Treasurer Guise and Clerk Trousdale recommended that we
follow the State Auditor's suggestion that bound assessment books
' be used in the future and a sample book was passed out for the
Inspection of the Trustees.
IT WAS VOTED that the Village adopt the use of bound end
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printed assessment books to replace the present loose leaf assess-
ment roll and'thelr purchase was authorized. Clerk Trousdale
said that the present loose leaf assessment roll would continue to
be used in the future as a field book.so that comparative assess-
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ments for years back would be readily available for use at the
time of assessing properties and whatever assessment was decided
upon would be noted in the field book and then copied.long hand
in two copies of the bound assessment roll book.
9. The Clerk reported that lie had not yet heard from.County
Health Officer Spring regarding revision of the milk and saftitation
ordinances. The Clerk read a letter from Dr. Spring dated April
3rd regarding sanitary conditions in the vicinity of Sheldon Road.
The Clerk read a letter from D. S. Perry 'in which he explained
his desire for permits for himself and his son to pack cartridges.
Following discussion
IT WAS VOTED that the Clerk b'e authorized to issue licenses
to pack cartridges and shells if in hie judgment such license is
Justified following investigation by Police Officer
10. Mr. Shirey as Secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals
reported on the hearing held -on May 8th regarding Idrs. Cicchettils
three apartment house on^Triphammer Road. Approximately to
people attended and the Zoning Board reviewed her petition. Due
to the fact that she had leases running to Sept. 1, 1951 the
Zoning Board ruled that her house must be converted to a two
apartment house by October 1, 1951; that if she did not convert by
that date she would be subject to payment of a §`100 fine per day.
Due to the lateness of the hour it was decided to consider
the revision of the ordinances at the next meeting.
11. The time of the next meeting was set for June 6th and
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4S.
upon invitation of Mayor Kenerson it will be held at.his home.
12. Trustee Bayles invited all members of the Board,,the
' Officers and their wives to visit at Star Lake Inn on June 2.7, 2$2
and 29, stating that he would be.pleased to have them as his
guests free of charge for a.24 hour.'pe.riod: The Board expressed
its appreciation of the invitation of Trustee Sayles.
13. Adjourned at 10:50 P.M.
Clerk.
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