HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 6/8/195435
MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Village Board held on Tuesday, June 8,
1954 at 7:30 at the Village Office. ;
PRESENT: H. J. Shirey, Mayor
S. S. Atwood, Trustee
F. G. uarcham, Trustee
Lincoln Reid, Trustee
E. A. Whiting, Trustee
T. F. Sharp, Trustee
T. P. Wright, Trustee
Carl Crandall, Engineer
C. H. Guise, Treasurer
Lowell Georo.e, Police Commissioner
C. T. Sayles, Chairman Fire Service Committee
Acting Mayor Whiting presided in the absence.o£ Mayor Shirey in the early
part of the meeting..
Resident L. K. Thaler appeared for the purpose of inquiring as to the Trustees
knowledge of the rresent status of Plan B, Route 13 cut -off. He was advised that
there had been no communications from or conferences with the State officials since
the Trustees position was defined by the action of April 5th, which action was pub-
licized in Letters to various state, county, torn and city officials. Mr. Thaler
feared that plans were being furthered without knowledge of the Village officials.
Engineer Crandall expressed the thought that the Village would have an opportunity
to participate in any edditional planning work on this project through the public
hearing which was next on the agenda but which had not been called as yet.
1. The minutes of the iay 11th meeting, mimeographed copies of which had
been sent to all officers of the Village, were approved without reading, with the
suggested change regarding collection of obligations of properties in the I -later
District as follows:
Omit the second sentence "The Village frill assume, etc ", and substitute --
"The Trustees will transmit annually to the To:m Board a statement of
the property liable to taxation for the payment of such obligations,
installments and interest as the sane appears on the torn assessment roll,
Accompanied by. an apportionment upon the taxable property of the amount
to be raised." V.L. Sec 329 -J.
2. The Clerk reported that no persons appeared at the public hearing on tha
proposed ordinance to abolish the Cayuga Heights dater District. This is the legal
step advised by Attorney Newman to implement the May 11th action in preparation for
extension of water service in the annexed area under authority of the Village.Board.
IT WAS VOTED unanimously to approve the following ordinance:
YII The Cayuga Heights 'dater District, the territory of which is now
wholly included within the Village of Cayuga Heights, New York, be and
the same hereby is abolished.
Effective date of this ordinance - July 1, 1954
3. The following bills paid on authority of the Mayor were approved:
GENERAL
G. A. Hill - office items $73.55
T. G. ifillers - office supplies 5.45
New York Telephone Co. - phone 13.48
Ithaca Journal - notices 8.14
36
GENERAL (continued
New York Electric & Gas - office lights $ 3.07
Norton Printing - Fire Dept. questionnaire 36.00
Ethel eaten - blinds 35.61
L. W. School - wax floors 14.30
C. H. Newman - legal 35.00
POLICE, WATER & FIRE
McKinney Agency- .Sire. comp. 126.00
N. Y. S. Emp. Rot. System - Contr. fiscal yr. 298.00
3 -31 -54
SANITATION
College Chevrolet - truck 5.85
W. D. Lyme - May 20.93
HIGH+IAYS
General Crushed Stone - stone & blacktop 308.63
New York State Else. & Gas - May lights 189.23
Stevens Service Station - t -lay 4.40
W. D. Lyme - Nay 20.94
Town of Ithaca - April $66.88 - tlay 748.59 815.47
General Crushed Stone - stone & blacktop 634.75
WATER SERVICE ACCOUNT
C. H. Newman - legal 30.00
4. The followirig additional bills were approved for payment:
GENERAL
Corners Community Center - office rental 4_2 -54 -
2 -28 -55 $ 550.00 .
POLICE, WATER & FIRE
City of Ithaca - Fire Service Contract
1 -1 -54 to 12 -31 -54 6,000.00
Lester A. Fowler - repair auto fender 6.00
5. IT WAS VOTED to approve the temporary appointment of Francis D. Cochran
as road maintainer at a salary rate of $55.00 per week.
6. The report of the tlayer was delayed until the arrival of Mayor Shirey,
as he wished to speak on the matter of annexation. This subject, the Mayor stated,
required consideration because of action of the City on the Village Engineers request
of Yay 3, X954 for disposal of sewage from a contemplated extension of sanitary
sewers within the Village. The Cityts action of May 28, 1954, denying for the present
this request, was as follows:
"RESOLVED, that the request of Cayuga Heights Village and Eastwood
Sewer District for sewer service be denied for the present in
accordance with the joint policy of the Common Council and Board
of Public Works, dated July 19. 1953 and as amended November 4, 1953,
which emphasizes the advisability of annexation as a necessary. step
to insure these city services, '
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights
and /or other fringe areas desiring city services be requested,to
furnish the City.with an authentic desire of their residents for
annexation, obtained either by public hearings or referendum."
37.
The matter of extension of sanitary sewer service is urgent. Under the present
City policy, as expressed by their action of Nay 28th, it would be necessary for
the Village to construct its own sewage disposal plant. In this event, all Village
sewage would be routed to the Village plant and the Village would be independent of
the City for this service. The very existence of such a facility would be a bar
to later consideration of annexation. The same would apply if the Village builds
tip its own facilities for other services such as fire department and water. The
Mayor felt that this is a crucial year, either join with the City now or not in
the next 20 years.
In regard to the legal aspects, the enlargement of the City of Ithaca to
include the territory of the Village of Cayuga heights can only be accomplished
by an act of the State Legislature, and that act will provide for a vote of the
inhabitants of the territory to be annexed. The Village Board has no authority to
conduct an official referendum on the subject, and any informal poll that is taken
will not be binding upon the inhabitants. However, the Village Board may initiate
and pay for a study of the subject in the course of which the wishes of the people
may be ascertained in such manner as the committee making the study determines.
The Mayor proposed that a meeting of Village inhabitants be held at an
early date, at which time full discussion of the matter by the residents, supplemen-
ted by answers to specific questions by experts, such as Professor Hill and Carl
Crandall, would be followed by an informal poll on the matter of annexation.
A full discussion followed in which such factors relating to annexation
as costs, advantage and disadvantages of political union, representation of an
annexed Village in City government, present attitude of the City with respect to
annexation and distribution of costs for service extensions if the Village were
part of the City, the immediate and future tax burden of the Village residents
if annexed to the City, were brought up by members of the Board.
A motion that the Mayor appoint a committee to meet with a similar City
committee to discuss the various ramifications of annexation, failed by lack of
a second.
The need to inform the Village residents ahead of any meeting, together
with the desire of the Trustees to make haste slowly but wisely on this important
matter, lead to the following action:
IT W S VOTED that steps be taken by the Village Engineer to prepare a
suitable brochure regarding annexation problems, such brochure to be reviewed by
the Village Board as a first step in informing Village residents of points of
issue to be discussed at a Village meeting.
7. The Treasurer reported a balance of $6,534.67 in the general-fund on
May 31, 1954. He also noted that collection of taxes since June 1st had been very
satisfactory, giving a net cash balance as of this date with all bills paid of
about $15,000 in the General Fund.
8. The Engineer reported that road treatment work was well under way and
that the use of a coarser stone resulted in less dust and would likely give better
traction in the winter. There were several favorable comments on the quality of
the work being done by the Town Highway Department for the Village. An arrangement
has been made with Arborists, Inc. for selective tree spraying in the Village.
A permit was issued to the New York State Elactric and Gas Corp., with fee set
at $200.00, for necessary street openings and later replacement, for a proposed
high pressure gas main. A number of building permits had been issued for new and
remodeling construction.
' In regard to extension of sewer service, the Engineer explained the needs
for land and an outfall in Cayuga Lake, for any proposed sewer plant and mains,
and since such land would be in the Town of Ithaca, in the general area of the
Tri -State Egg Plant, he suggested an appropriate resolution be adopted asking for
38
consent of the Town of Ithaca to locate a. sewage plant and sewer lines within
the Torn. Therefore,
IT WAS VOTED to request approval of the Town Board for location of a
sewage plant, laying of sewers and outfall into Cayuga Lake, on lands in loca-
tions within the Town of Ithaca, subject to approval of the New York State Board of
Health, such locations as generally defined by the Village Engineer. To be
effective when and if such sewage plan is approved by the people of the Village.
The Clerk was asked to transmit this action to the Town Board with request
for an answer before a possible meeting on annexation later in the month.
9. The report of the Police Commissioner was presented-noting the
activities of the department during the month of May.
10. C. I. Sayyles reported for the Fire Committee making the following
points:
1. The Town is receptive to the Village providing Fire Service in sections
of the Torn adjacent to the Village. The Town might provide a piece of
equipment for this purpose.
2. Mr. Sayles was advised by Attorney Newman of three ways in which fire
protection could be legally set up for the Village.
a. Form a Fire District in conjunction with the Town. This is a
rather complicated undertaking.
b. Form a Corporation to sell fire protection to the Village and Town.
This plan has some advantages.
c. The Village Board under its orm powers may form a Fire Department,
and has power to sell service to the Torm. This plan is recommended.
3. Under the Village I.aw, not only is a referendum on the matter of a
Fire Department not permitted, it is expressly forbidden. '
It is necessary to publish and put out to bid any bond issue over
$20,000. The Village can go directly to the banks for the sale'of any
less amount. The purchase of Fire Department building and equipment
could he financed by separate bond issues, if desired.
4. The State Insurance Rating Bureau advises that the present B rate on
household fire insurance could be maintained with a volunteer company
of 30 men, 15 to be active, purchase of suitable fire fighting equipment
and a siren.
5. The response to the questionnaire to residents on their interest in
a fire department has brought response from about 100, 40 for active
members and 60 for sustaining. An additional 10 replies made no answer
to the questions, but indicated opposition or suggested delay or interest,
in annexation with the City.
6. Negotiation with 1-fr. Heasley on purchase of a building and land has
been deferred until annexation has been studied. Equipment cost would be
around $15,000. There is a possibility of some financial aid in connection
with coordination with Civil Defense.
11. The Clerk asked for an expression from the Board on summer hours
policy for the Village Office and on policy for vacation for the office secretary,
Mrs. Schoel. It was decided to close on Saturday in July and August, the
Saturday hours to be added to the daily hours, keeping the total weekly hours ,
at 23. The daily hours may be set as convenient on this basis.
' Following one year of service the vacation period would be two weeks,
with the office to be kopt. open in this period for the regular hours by employing
a substitute. For this year, a.vacation of an extra day on each of the 4th of
July and Labor Day weekends was agreed upon.
12. The time set for the next regular meeting was September 14, 1954..,
at 7:30 P.M. at the Village Office,
V
13. Adjourned at 11:15 P, M-
W. S.'Randel
Clerk
39