HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-2013 minutes
Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, November 12, 2013
CHFD Station BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00p.m
Present: Mayor Supron; Trustees: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton; Attorney Marcus;
Fire Superintendent Tamborelle; Superintendent Cross; Asst. Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie; Police Chief
Steinmetz; Clerk & Treasurer Mangione.
Call to Order: Mayor Supron called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Resolution #7386
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minutes of the October 15, 2013 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees
Meeting be approved as written in Exhibit FYE2014-32 with changes as noted by Attorney Marcus.
Motion: Trustee Riesman
Second: Trustee Hamilton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays: none
Motion carried
Resolution #7387
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minutes of the October 21, 2013 Joint Meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights
Board of Trustees and Planning Board be approved as written in Exhibit FYE2014-33.
Motion: Trustee Hamilton
Second: Trustee Robinson
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, and Robinson
Nays: none
Abstentions: Riesman and Salton
Motion carried
Resolution #7388
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minutes of the November 6, 2013 Special Meeting of the Village of Cayuga
Heights Board of Trustees be approved as written in Exhibit FYE2014-34 with a change as noted by Attorney
Marcus.
Motion: Trustee Karns
Second: Trustee Riesman
Ayes: Crooker, Karns, and Riesman
Nays: none
Abstentions: Hamilton, Salton, and Robinson
Motion carried
2. Report of Fire Superintendent Tamborelle: (Exhibit FYE2014-35)
Submitted report (website – contained in Meeting Packet November 12, 2013)
November, referred to as Movember, is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. The department’s firemen are
growing mustaches and beards to show their support.
3. Report of Asst. Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie: (Exhibit FYE2014-36)
No report was submitted this month.
The department is wrapping up loose ends. No problems have been identified. Fall leaf pick-up is progressing
smoothly and will continue through the week of December 15th. During the following week, the crew will
travel all Village streets and perform leaf pick-up as needed even if there is snow on the leaves. Police Chief
Steinmetz thanked the DPW crew for their work clearing weeds and evergreens from the side entrance walkway
to the police department.
4. Mayor Supron read a statement addressing an issue that had been raised during a previous Privilege of the Floor
session regarding a FOIL request questioning the U.S. citizenship of Trustee Riesman.
5. Privilege of the Floor (PoF):
Mayor Supron opened PoF and welcomed those present.
John Novarr shared his appreciation for the work performed by the Board of Trustees who he considers his
friends and neighbors. A mailing sent to residents of the Village which was critical of the elected Board of
Trustees is felt by him and others to have been in poor taste as well as contrary to the sense of community that
the Village values.
Amber Kubesh spoke about her disagreement with the imposition of a minimum charge on water/sewer bills.
Mayor Supron is a member of the Bolton Point Water Commission and gave an overview on the membership of
the commission and need for a base charge regardless of water usage. The Commission has been discussing
implementation of a base charge and a per gallon usage rate to replace the minimum usage method. The change
would take place in 2015.
PoF was closed.
6. Report of Mayor Supron:
a. Appointment of Peter Salton to the Tompkins County Healthcare Consortium Board as representative for
the Village.
A cost analysis comparing Teamster’s Insurance to the Consortium’s cost is underway.
b. Comprehensive Plan (CP) 10/28/2013 draft
http://www.cayuga-heights.ny.us/CompPlan.html
Trustee Hamilton wondered if public meetings should be held prior to a Public Hearing. The determination
was made that further meetings are not necessary.
Resolution #7389
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A Public Hearing on the Village’s Comprehensive Plan be held on December 9,
2013 at 7:10 p.m.
Motion: Trustee Crooker
Second: Trustee Karns
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
Attorney Marcus mentioned that a meeting to complete the SEQR review will need to be held. NYS has
released a new form, which the Village has not yet needed to file. The Planning Board will work on Part I; it is
likely that portions of the Comprehensive Plan can be used as input. SEQR Part II will need to be completed by
the BOT. This could be done at the meeting following the Public Hearing.
c. Deer Management update
i. Negotiations on the contract with White Buffalo will be discussed in executive session.
ii. Mapping results obtained from the property use forms is ongoing.
iii. Proposed Local Law J (Exhibit FYE2014-37) change to the Village’s Weapon Discharge
Regulation
The revision would allow landowners with a nuisance permit from the DEC to use a long-bow to
harvest deer on their property.
Resolution #7390
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A Public Hearing on the Village’s Proposed Local Law J be held on December 9,
2013 at 7:05 p.m.
Motion: Trustee Salton
Second: Trustee Hamilton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
iv. DEC License to Collect or Possess: Scientific #1708 with Modification #4 has been granted. A
copy has been posted to the website.
d. Proposed Local Law I (Exhibit FYE2014-38) Lock Box
Resolution #7391
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A Public Hearing on the Village’s Proposed Local Law I be held on December 9,
2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Motion: Trustee Robinson
Second: Trustee Crooker
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
7. Report of the Trustees:
No items to discuss
8. Report of Chief Steinmetz: (Exhibit FYE2014-39a,b,c)
Submitted report (website – contained in Meeting Packet November 12, 2013)
Although there is no concrete evidence, there are persons of interest in the recent burglaries in and around the
Village. The investigation is ongoing.
Sale of the surplus Expedition has not yet taken place. State-line Auction will sell the vehicle for a flat $95 fee
with a minimum bid. The vehicle will continue to be insured.
Police Department renovations have been discussed in the Public Safety Meeting. The project with the highest
priority is the creation of a women’s locker room. There will be no change to the building’s footprint;
Superintendent Cross will work on a timeline with cost estimates.
9. Report of Superintendent of Public Works Cross:
a. Fred Gillette, regional DEC representative reported that there has been no negative feedback concerning the
Village of Cayuga Heights Sewage Treatment Plant’s 0.35 phosphorus limit request (DEC Case No.R7-
20060111-2). This past month’s testing results continue to be favorable. In all likelihood the ruling will be
issued in another month; until that time all provisions remain in full force and effect.
b. Initial steps have been taken by the NYSDEC to establish the Southern Cayuga Lake Phosphorus Technical
Advisory Committee (SCLPTAC) Charter. This is in fulfillment of the U.S. EPA requirement to regulate
the total maximum daily phosphorus load in the southern part of the lake. Membership was not to include
stakeholders; however some early appointees do not meet the criteria. Mayor Supron with Superintendent
Cross’ input will write a letter questioning the make-up of the committee.
c. Village resident Ingraffea’s claim has been formally rejected by the Village’s insurance carrier. If the
Board wishes to resolve the issue sooner, any settlement would need to include an agreement that the suit
would be withdrawn. Further discussion would be more appropriate during executive session.
d. The Planning Board gave final approval to two (2) Kendal projects. The larger being addition of twenty-
four housing units and expansion of their nursing care facility. The other project is for a salt storage
building.
e. Existence of a Cornell Heights Historic District has been confirmed. It consists of delineation by the
National Park Service listing a number of homes in the City of Ithaca and Village of Cayuga Heights. The
Village has no obligations unless a proposed project in the Historic District were to involve state or federal
funding.
Further discussion of the Kendal project included information that the number of new residents will be at least
twenty-four but not more than forty-eight. The expansion will not result in an increase in the property taxes
assessed to the Kendal community until the project is complete.
10. Report of Clerk & Treasurer Mangione (Exhibit FYE2014-40a,b)
Submitted report(s) (website – contained in Meeting Packet November 12, 2013)
Resolution #7392
WHEREAS, Diligent efforts to collect unpaid taxes by the Village of Cayuga Heights of the Town of Ithaca in
the County of Tompkins have been made; and,
WHEREAS, The Collector of Taxes has certified a list consisting of the taxes remaining unpaid upon the
Village Tax Roll; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York § 1442, an alternative method
for collection of delinquent village taxes exists.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
This Board of Trustees requests the collection of delinquent Village of Cayuga Heights tax in the amount of
$22,898.09 on ten (10) properties with $1,831.86 penalties and $20.00 in late fees be submitted to Tompkins
County.
Motion: Trustee Crooker
Second: Trustee Salton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions:
Motion carried
Resolution #7393
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Abstract #6 for FYE2014 consisting of Trust and Agency Vouchers 55 - 65 and
General Fund vouchers 367 - 449 in the amount of $639,058.30 is approved and instruction is given to the
Treasurer for payment thereon.
Motion: Trustee Riesman
Second: Trustee Salton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
Resolution #7394
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Blanket budget revisions to close out FYE2013 are approved and instruction is
given to the Treasurer to make journal entries as necessary.
Motion: Trustee Salton
Second: Trustee Hamilton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
11. Report of Attorney Marcus:
One piece of information to be relayed to the Board during an attorney and client privileged session.
Resolution #7395
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Discussion of a session of matters leading to the appointment of a particular
person or corporation in addition to potential litigation requires the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga
Heights to enter Executive Session.
Motion: Trustee Riesman
Second: Trustee Karns
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
The meeting will reconvene after the Executive session with possible action items.
Meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees was suspended by Mayor Supron at 8:43 p.m.
Executive Session
Resolution #7396
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A discussion of a session of matters leading to the appointment of a particular
person or corporation in addition to potential litigation requiring the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga
Heights to enter Executive Session has been completed.
Motion: Trustee Crooker
Second: Trustee Hamilton
Ayes: Crooker, Hamilton, Karns, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton
Nays or abstentions: none
Motion carried
Meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees was reconvened and ended by Mayor Supron at
9:00 p.m.