HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpec Mtg. Minutes 4/28/1953182
MINUTES of a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of
the Village of Cayuga Heights held on ,Tuesday, April. 28; 1953,",.
at 7 P-M. in the schoolhouse.
PRESENT Henry J..Shirey, Mayor
E. A, Whiting, Trustee
Frederick G. Marcham, Trustee
Sanford S. Atwood, Trustee
C: -H. Guise, Treasurer
Carl' Crandall, Engineer`
Lowell.George,.Police Commiesioner,
1'. The minutes' of April 16th were approved with the following,
correction:.'
orrection item 13; add.to end of sentence ,Pat individual. .I,houee,"'..
2. The "following bulls paid on ;authority, of, the Mayor were.
approved:
GENERAL
Postmaster, Ithaca 52.40
3, The following, additional bills were approv.ed.,for payment:
GENERAL
Ithaca Journal 3.76
Paul Bradford 50.00
POLICE WATER & FIRE
City of Ithaca Fire Department 57.55
SANITATION .
Stevens Service'Station
1.50
HIGHWAYS
Stevens Service Station 1.50.
N.Y,State Else. &"Gas Corp. - Apr. lights 1.23
McKinney Agency, Inc. 1 99 :00
4. Mayor Shirey said he had a request from 'the Clerk to
investigate the legality, of the action taken by the Trustees at
the last meeting with reference to the appointment of.the Tompkins
County I Trust Co. as the.depositary of the Village because of the 1.
fact that Trustee Chamberlain ;16' Vice President of the'banki' The
Mayor stated that he had referred to..the law on the subject and
while satisfied the Trustee action was, legal he had.-.written .the
Attorney General. -for an opinion so that there might be,.no, "question,
about the matter. Following a discussion of some complaints that'..
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had been received because of transferring the Village account from
the First.National'Bank to the'Tompkine.County Trust Co. from
persons interested in the'First National. Bank
IT',1AS.VOTED.that,: the' aotion taken at the April 16th meeting
be amended to'_read ae follows:.'RESOLVED;:That the Fi.rst'National
Bank of� aca, N: X be designated as the official depositary
•of general funds'of, the Villag6.until June_1, 1953 and that the',.
'Tompkins County Trust Co. of Ithaca;. N,: . be, designated as the
:official depositary of general fun de of the Village through the
remainder of the 'ifiscal_y6ar 1953-54, the 'capital., re serve, funds
to,be left in the.'First National, Bank., `
5. The Mayor;reported that he had met with.Mr. John Miller,
County Superintendent ' of Highways, C. H. Newman, Attorney, Mr.
Downey,'Town'•Superintendent of Highways r. The subject was the
turning back of certain county roads to the Village for maintenance
as of Jan. 1, 1954. They unofficially said they will recommend
turning over the following roads from the county road'system:
Pleasant Grove Road # 122
-Cornell Golf Course Line North to Hanehaw Road #.606
:32101 .608 mile
North Triphammer Road # 122
C__&A atatre Road # 606 North to Ithaca Lansing Town Line
3015 .57 mile
Triphammer Road #'166
Ithaca City Line North to .State Road:# 606,
57001 1.080 mile
Klinewood Road'# 18
&.J:% 3tn4e Road #. 60$ East,.to Triphammer Road
2550. 483'mile
North Sunset Drive '4 165'
&#,•ate.Road.# 34A South'to Pleasant Grove Creek
5570 Smile ,.
,j. 7377.9T miles
They requested, however, that they retain North Triphammer Road
until such time as they can improve its as this road is to be im-
proved for a considerable distance northward and they wish to
retain the portion from the.Lansing line south, namely .57 mile,
so that this section can be,improved in.the same manner as the-
section to the north that lies without the Village. When this is
completed, they will turn it over to the Village. As far as the
State highways. were: concerned the Village agreed.they would not.
..which is now
object to retaining. Wyokoff.Road .as a state Highway and would object
to 1-e� the maintenance.of Hanshaw, and Cayuga Heights Roads.
6. The Mayor explained that he had talked with Attorney .
Truman Powers of the City and found that the City had plans to
appoint a city: committee to follow up on.the Greater .Ithaca Fact
Finding. report to consider such matters as, the'possible annexation
of contingent areas and the possible extension of.city services
to these areas.as an alternative. .The Mayor suggested that it.,'
would be better to appoint a committee consisting of representatives
from the City, the Village, and the.Town. As a result of this
Mayor Cook of the City upon motion made by T. B. Maxfield did
appoint a committee consisting of Alderman Ken ,Johnson, Jr.., of
Ithaca's Common Council, from the City, Jim Conley from Ithaca's
Board of Public Works, and suggested that Supervisor Cordon appoint
someone from the,town and that Mayor Shirey appoint someone.from
the Village. Supervisor Cordon appointed T. B. Maxfield to
represent the Town of Ithaca and Mayor Shirey appointed Wilbur S.'.
Randel to represent the Village of Cayuga Heights: The Trustees
of the Village expressed their approval of the'action of the Mayor 1. in the appointment of W. S. Randel to represent the',Village in
these matters.':- The City Superintendent of Public.Worke; Frank.J.
Laverty, will "sit in on the committee sessions as•a non - voting
observer. The first meeting of the.committee.is scheduled for)
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April 29th.
7. The Mayor stated that he had received a letter from R. H.
Broad, Secretary. of the Tompkins County Board.of Health,.which was
accompanied by a proposed new sanitary code'for the County. He
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invited the Trustees to become familiar with the proposed code.
The Engineer stated that inasmuch as the local banks would not
loan money for construction in the Village of 0ayuga Heights
unless such construction was approved by the Board of Health he
decided that to simplify matters he would not issue any building
permits until the owner had received approval from the Board of
Health. The Clerk was requested to secure from Dr. Broad several
copies of the propos.ed sanitary code so that 'they might,be given
to the Village Trustees.
8. Treasurer.Quise reported that.the cash balance on.April
28th was $6,134.66:.
9. The Engineer reported that interest was growing between
the old Village and the old water district which now comprise the
enlarged Village, and,that::there was a proposal.to form a new
water,district to the east comprising loosely the territory in
school district,# 6 lying to the east which is not now included
in the Village, and that a meeting to, discuse.such water district
was scheduled for the current week.
10. The Engineer called.attention to the fact that a new law
was now.in effect which might make it possible for the Village
employees to join the social. security plan.! He said;if.this could
be'done_it,would.solve a; difficult problem, as'no provision has
been made as yet for such employees as Frank Haskins for a pension
upon retirement. He said that this matter had'been discussed at
Board meetings a couple, of, years ago and it was found that' while
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they could join the State Retirement plan the cost to the
employees and' the Village for back payments would be prohibitive.
The Clerk was requested to write the State Comptroller and ask
for copies of the bill and inquire if village employees would
be eligible.
11 Police;Commis'sioner George read his report. of the"
antivities of the.pobice department during.the month of.April '
and such report was ordered filed with these minutes and ave
found attached .:.;
12. The .Qlerk reported that Mrs'. Alison Bishop had .written .
to the Mayor. on April 16th and the Clerk was requested: to read
the communication.. 'Mrs: Bishop made..two •requests in her letter:
1) that she;be'permitted to buy from the.,Village a,certain.pie-
shaped piece of land approximately 100 feet long on the hypotenuse,
bordering on the lower part of Sunset Park adjacent to the old
gravel pit. Her'reasona for, wishing to buy _were that she did not .
feel it had any value to the.Village as park land, it would help
straighten the lines of her property, she had cared for this land
for some years as it,was in her line of view, and was somewhat
inaccessible from the park for proper care. As this park was
the gift of J. T.' Newman she reported she had received word.from
C. H. Newman that he would give legal permission to the Village,
to sell the.property,. After long'deliberation. the Trustees took.
the following action:
IT WAS.VOTED that the, request of Mrs. Alison Bishop to purchase
a strip of land off of Sunset. Park be denied for.the following;'.
.reasons: that this matter has,been considered by a previous' Board
and did not.receive favorabl e, consideration and that while it
might be accomplished legally the Board feels that it is inadvisable
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to enter upon a policy of selling a portion of a park deeded to it
as a park, and because there was ,a certain moral.obligation to use
this land according to the deed, of gift and not get involved in the
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questionable matter of selling off a portion.of a.speeifically
restricted gift
,The: Trustees then took up..the_.second request, of.Mrs.- Bishop,
which was to lengthen.,the Pipe, culvert at the entranoe.oP her
property,.as it constituted a hazard to: those entering ,the property
and sometimes resulted in cars getting in the ditch because. they
were unable to see:from the drivers seat the length';of ;the culvert.
After..discuesion of this matter,
IT" WAS VOTED that:the request of Mrs. Bishop for the lengthen-
ing of the pipe culvert.at the entrance of her property be denied
for the reason that 6he trustees have a long established.policy
that the construction of entrances to,private property.; are handled
at the_ expense of the property owners and.that tax,moneys in this
aonnection are used only for construction' of, public highways.
13. The Mayor requested that the* following letter from the
Clerk of the Town of Ithaca be spread upon the minutest.
"Mr. Henry Shirey; Mayor,
Village.of Cayuga Heights,
Northway Rd., Ithaca; N. Y.;:.•:
Dear, Mr. Shirey;
Mr. Gordon has'requested• that a copy of,a resolution adopted
at a meeting of the Town Board held on April 22 1953, be sent to
you for your files.,. ..'
Moved.by Justiee,Maxfield.,that we request the City.of.Ithaca
and the Village of Oayuga Heights to join th the formation
of.a committee to present definite, plans;for.action based,
upon.the'Greater.Ithaoa,Fact Finding report, and authorize the
Supervisor to represent'the Town' Board .in the appointment of
such "a committee. Seconded by Councilman Chase and duly
adopted.
Very truly;
Rachel T. Hansh' aw
Clerk— Town of Ithaca"
14. The Engineer reported that he had,hired.John C: Maloney,.
son of John M. Maloney ,:as a Village road maintainer to.-begin
work on April l6th at the !rate of $220 per.month,to be paid semi-
monthly.
17 -• 1110 .�'+I1�111 OQ1 L :VVVA" UQ : YLIC Y" Y110, VVMMLL YYQO MYJJVAU Ucu. UV
revis "e the Toning ordinance was making progress and had another
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meeting scheduled'for May 12th:;.The`Ongineer gave an outline 'of
the present thinking, regarding the proposed new ordinance so that
the Trustees,_could b e� considering their proposals with a,view to
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taking final acti "on when the committee made its report.:
16. The Clerk reported that he'had received a letter from
Charles H. Nel?Man which stated that the'Board of Directors of the
Cayuga "Heights Land Corporation had authori zed. a conveyance`.to.
the Village of' the 25,foot trail between, Forest Drive and Comstock
Road, subject to the rights.of adjoininS owners; and also. the
area east of Forest Drive which is marked on Mr. CrandallIs map
as ""Park Area dnd Trail" Forest Drive 'easterly to
the,line of the east boundary of Lot 7, and not including the area
on ganshaw Road which i.s marked "Reserve "; this portion also to
be subject to the rights of adjoining owners.
IT WAS VOTED to accept the proposal of the Cayuga Heights Land.
Corporation as quoted above, provided a satisfactory deed :is
prepared.
17. The Clerk reported on the cost of listings in the telephone
directory for various village officers and as the cost quoted.amounted
to $5 per month per, individual name it was agreed that action.on .
this matter be postponed until;the Ilayor could eonf er..with,Mr. Keep;
Manager of the Telephone Co.
18. The Clerk reported that he had had a confereation with •,
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Mr. Robert Allen regarding excessive speeding on North Sunset Drive
and on'Cayuga Heights Road. The Engineer stated that this could
not be brought under proper control until the Village could erect
25 miles per hour speed signs which would be erected,soon. In the
meantime the police officer could only give warnings but was not
in a position trn make arrests.
19. The Clerk reported that he had had a regi
pedler for a license and inquired as to a possible
covering pedlars. After discussion it was decided
regarding pedlars was impractical.
20. The next meeting.was set for May 15th at
102 Northway Road for the purpose of levying taxes
property for 1953.
21. Adjourned at 11 P.M.
Clerk.
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zest from a
ordinance
that'an ordinance
5:30,P.M. at
on the Village