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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2013 minutesMinutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, September 9, 2013 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. Present: Mayor Supron; Trustees: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton; Attorney Marcus; Superintendent Cross; Asst. Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie; Police Chief Steinmetz; Deputy Clerk Podufalski. Absent: Trustees: Crooker, Karns; Fire Superintendent Tamborelle; Clerk & Treasurer Mangione. Call to Order: Mayor Supron called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 1. Public Hearing: Local Law B - Parades and Special Events: Exhibit 2014-11 Mayor Supron opened the hearing at 7:05 p.m. The rationale for having this local law is to have a standard process for handling events which take place in the Village. No member of the public spoke. The hearing was closed. 2. Public Hearing: Local Law H - Care and Mowing of Property: Exhibit 2014-12 Mayor Supron opened the hearing at 7:08 p.m. Local resident, Florence Ricciuti spoke in favor of passage of this ordinance and its enforcement. She feels that in recent years a few residents have not maintained their properties and the failure to do so decreases property values. The Mayor asked if anyone else would like to speak, no one asked to be heard at this time and the hearing was closed. 3. Approval of Minutes: Resolution #7356 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minutes of the August 12, 2013 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Meeting be approved as written in Exhibit FYE2014-13. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Riesman Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried 4. Report of Fire Superintendent Tamborelle: (Exhibit FYE14-14) Submitted report (website – contained in Meeting Packet September 9, 2013) Superintendent Tamborelle was not in attendance. 5. Report of Asst. Superintendent of Public Works Frisbie: Submitted report (website – contained in Meeting Packet September 9, 2013) The department has been staying busy finishing up capital projects and handling other issues as they arise from storm damage. Trustee Hamilton asked how rain storm wastewater problems have been addressed. A few areas had to be evaluated following the worst rainfall: a Hanshaw Road property with a wide driveway was modified with the addition of ground-out channels to carry water away from the area; on N. Triphammer Road storm sewer piping was installed under the road; other areas are monitored and small problems resolved as they are noted. 6. Historic Preservation Committee (HPC): An Introduction Deputy Village Historian, Katie Aldridge and Carol Shiffman were introduced by Village Historian, Bea Szekely. Randi Kepecs may arrive as well. Rhonda Gilmore rounds out the committee in an advisory role. Rhonda teaches historic preservation. The Committee has been meeting regularly and is looking forward to the Village’s Centennial. Landmarks that lie within the Village are not a high priority for the HPC; their hope is to identify the unique character of the Village, the landscape history, and people who have lived here. Ms. Shiffman described a database that is being developed containing every house in the Village, stories of notable people who have lived in the Village, and information on the architecture of some of the homes. The expectation is that it will be created at no cost with the goal of having the database on-line. Some residents have lived in their houses for many years and the HPC hopes to capture their memories of Village life. Mayor Supron thanked the committee for their role in celebrating Marcham Hall and its newly completed renovations by offering house tours during the Block Party held on August 28, 2013. Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, September 9, 2013 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. 7. Privilege of the Floor (PoF): Mayor Supron opened PoF. Aileen Lambiase asked for clarification on items referenced in the Comprehensive Plan and for information on future handling of traffic and drainage vis-à-vis these items. Bea Szekely mentioned an article in the Cornell alumni newsletter on deer management program at Cornell. The Village of Cayuga Heights’ deer management history is covered in the article. On October 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Statler Auditorium on the Cornell campus, a talk by James Sturba, author of the book, Nature Wars, will be presented on the topic of deer population control. The mayor mentioned that Cornell is holding a conference on deer management the following day. PoF was closed. 8. Report of Mayor Supron: a. Appointment of Natalie Detert to serve as representative to the Tompkins County Youth Services Board representing the Village of Cayuga Heights (Exhibit FYE 2014-18) She will also serve as representative for the Town of Ithaca. Mayor Supron presented a brief biography of Ms. Detert. Resolution #7357 WHEREAS, Representation from the Village of Cayuga Heights serving on the Tompkins County Youth Services Board is deemed worthwhile; and WHEREAS, Natalie Detert will represent the Town of Ithaca on the Tompkins County Youth Services Board; and WHEREAS, Natalie Detert lives in the Village of Cayuga Heights and agrees to serve as its representative on the Tompkins County Youth Services Board. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Approval shall be granted Mayor Supron supporting the appointment of Natalie Detert to the Tompkins County Youth Services Board representing the Village of Cayuga Heights. Motion: Trustee Riesman Second: Trustee Salton Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried b. Comprehensive Plan (CP) 7/1/2013 draft & 8/27/2013 draft both available online http://www.cayuga-heights.ny.us/CompPlan.html Mayor Supron summarized actions that have been undertaken to edit the CP during the last month. She then asked Trustee Hamilton to point out sections that have been reworked for clarity and removal of redundancy. Trustee Riesman shared her experience with the Town of Ithaca’s Comprehensive Plan and its purposeful redundancy with the idea that few will read the entire document. Some confusion was created due to exclusion from redistribution of sections which were not changed. A meeting of the Board to discuss the CP prior to the next monthly meeting was suggested. Resolution #7358 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: A Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. for the express purpose of Comprehensive Plan discussion. Motion: Trustee Riesman Second: Trustee Salton Discussion: The current draft is available on the website. Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, September 9, 2013 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. Village Engineer, Brent Cross addressed a question raised during PoF concerning the CP and its lack of language relating to drainage. As an MS4 community, the VCH is required by the DEC to have stormwater management laws in place. Any project that would require approval(s) would be obligated to meet stormwater management provisions. c. Deer Management Planning (Exhibit FYE2014-20a,b) The letter to residents including a Property Use Permission Form that was approved at the August BOT meeting has been prepared. Once returned from the printer, they will be mailed. d. Local Law B: Parades and Special Events (Exhibit FYE2014-11) Mayor Supron asked the BOT if the law should now be brought to a vote. Attorney Marcus advised that the law be categorized as a Type II Action under SEQR Section 617.5C #27 and #15 and is thereby exempt. Any action which is deemed temporary in nature and not having a permanent impact on the environment falls into this category. Resolution #7359 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Local Law B: Parades and Special Events shall be categorized as a Type II Action under NYS SEQR. Motion: Trustee Riesman Second: Trustee Salton Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried Regarding passage of the law itself, comments were submitted in writing by Brian Eden concerning description of what constitutes a parade or special event. Chief Steinmetz stated that it is covered in the definitions. Resolution #7360 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Local Law B: Parades and Special Events shall be adopted as written. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Discussion: Trustee Riesman shared her understanding of reservations some hold concerning passage of this law. However, it is believed that it is important to have a mechanism allowing a group who wishes to hold a public event with a process to do so and thereby assuring safety through communication with Village Police and Emergency Response personnel. Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, Supron Nays or abstentions: Salton Motion carried e. Local Law H: Care and Mowing of Property (Exhibit FYE2014-12) As in the case of Local Law B, Attorney Marcus recommended that the law be categorized as a Type II Action under SEQR Section 617.5C #27 Subcategory #20 and is thereby exempt. Resolution #7361 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Local Law H: Care and Mowing of Property shall be categorized as a Type II Action under NYS SEQR. Motion: Trustee Salton Second: Trustee Hamilton Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, September 9, 2013 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. Resolution #7362 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Local Law H: Care and Mowing of Property shall be adopted. Motion: Trustee Salton Second: Trustee Hamilton Discussion: This law supercedes the current Local Law: Article III by date of adoption per Attorney Marcus. Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried 9. Report of the Trustees: Trustee Hamilton has tried to maintain recommendations during his edits to the CP. The new draft has been loaded to the website, not as a replacement for the previous draft but as an additional version. Trustee Salton reminded the editors that comments from the last meeting’s minutes should be incorporated into the current draft. 10. Report of Chief Steinmetz: (Exhibit FYE2014-08) Submitted report (website – contained in Meeting Packet September 9, 2013) a. Sale of used vehicle (Exhibit FYE2014-09) The vehicle has been detailed in preparation for its sale; the service cost is $220. The Chief will ask the Board for a budget revision at the end of the fiscal year if necessary to cover the cost. b. A Village prosecutor has yet to be retained to represent the Village in matters that may require one’s services. Trustee and attorney Salton may be willing to perform in this capacity, unless it presents a conflict of interest. Attorney John Stevens has represented the Village on similar occasions. c. The procurement of protective vests for police officers is contained in the FYE2014 budget at $7,000 with a matching grant. The vests in use expired in July, but the grant money has been delayed. The Chief wanted the Board to be aware and decide if the purchase should go ahead. Once a certification expires the vest no longer meets testing standards for protection. 8. Report of Superintendent of Public Works Cross: a. Transition of enforcement of the lawn maintenance ordinance to Village law enforcement will now take place. With the passage of Local Law H, certification of the law by the Clerk or Deputy Clerk allows a property owner to be served under the law for failure to appropriately maintain the exterior of their residence. b. NYSDEC has delayed a decision on the Village’s wastewater treatment phosphorus limit request until the end of September. c. Road construction outside the Village has had an impact on traffic within the Village. Hanshaw Road work has a one-way traffic pattern heading out of the Village, however on occasion traffic has been restricted even further. Fire Superintendent Tamborelle and Superintendent Cross have discussed the situation with the contractor in an attempt to improve communication regarding travel restrictions which could impede emergency response. The City of Ithaca’s water project at the corner of Thurston and Stewart Avenue has also caused travel issues. Bolton Point’s water transmission main project on Pleasant Grove Road has not caused significant delays. The Town of Ithaca Engineering Department is acting as subcontracting engineering firm on the project. d. The DPW is to be commended for all their efforts during the month of August. They not only worked on multiple capital projects and responded to rainstorm related issues in addition to regular work assignments, but assisted in preparations for the Marcham Hall Open House held in conjunction with the Community Block Party on August 28, 2013. The property at 620 Cayuga Heights Road obtained zoning approval and a building permit to convert the garage into a dwelling unit. The question before the board is what to designate the address for the new residence. It has frontage N. Sunset Drive and number 329 is available. Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Monday, September 9, 2013 Marcham Hall BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 7:00 p.m. Resolution #7362 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The portion of the property at 620 Cayuga Heights Road that has been redeveloped into a single family residence shall be designated as 329 N. Sunset Drive. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Salton Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried e. Thankfully damage was isolated during recent heavy storms. The Mayor mentioned that Brian Eden will be visiting the village offices this week to discuss drainage issues resulting from large storms. 9. Report of Clerk & Treasurer Mangione (Exhibit 22a, b) Submitted report(s) (website – contained in Meeting Packet September 9, 2013) a. Deputy Clerk Podufalski presented a request from resident Azure Davey for a refund of water and sewer penalties due to her address change reported to Bolton Point but not recorded by them. Resolution #7363 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Resident Azure Davey for a refund of water and sewer penalties if it is determined that her payment history has been current for the past two (2) years. Motion: Trustee Hamilton Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried In addition to the vouchers listed on Abstract #4, a voucher from BDGMO, LLP and one from Teamsters Local #317 Health Insurance were added, bringing the total of the Abstract to $403,446.22 Resolution #7364 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Abstract #4 for FYE2014 consisting of Trust and Agency Vouchers 31- 42 and General Fund vouchers 194 - 268 in the amount of $403,446.22 is approved and instruction is given to the Treasurer for payment thereon. Motion: Trustee Riesman Second: Trustee Salton Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried Report of Attorney Marcus: No additional items to discuss. A decision was made to enter Executive Session to discuss a claim received which could evolve into litigation. There will be no need for action following the session. Resolution #7365 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Possible litigation resulting from a resident’s claim received by the Village of Cayuga Heights requires the Board of Trustees enter Executive Session. Motion: Trustee Salton Second: Trustee Hamilton Discussion: Ayes: Hamilton, Riesman, Robinson, and Salton Nays or abstentions: none Motion carried Meeting of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees was adjourned by Mayor Supron at 8:57 p.m.