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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.16.2022_Final1 Minutes VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Zoom Meeting ID # 4118425407 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 7:00 p.m. MONTHLY MEETING MONTHLY MEETING Present: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbard, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton; Director of Public Works Wiese; Clerk Walker; Treasurer Dolch; Police Seargent Manning; Attorney Marcus. Absent: Police Chief Wright; 1. Call to Order: Mayor Woodard calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 16, 2021 (Exhibit 2022-124) Resolution # 9123 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves the February 16, 2022, meeting minutes as presented. Motion: Trustee Marshall Second: Trustee McMurry Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 3. Privilege of the Floor: • Village resident Charles VanLoan who lives on White Park Road states that he would like the Board to gather the specific (pick-up) data from TCAT bus route 83 as it returns to Triphammer Road. He further states that TCAT needs to justify this route change (using White Park Road) since they never see any riders on the bus. • Fire Superintendent Tamborelle joins the meeting at 7:05 p.m. • Village resident Charles VanLoan also states that his home was one of the six that is now being tested for lead in the water. He was informed in writing that the test results were -1.1 parts per billion. The current action level is 15 part per billion. The information is confusing and does not give a clear explanation of what is considered dangerous. He sees a need for public education and explanation for residents going forward. • Mayor Woodard agrees and states that we should let Bolton Point complete their independent examination of the Village water system before we ask for more specific information, but Bolton Point will continue to provide information to residents and explain any future results, but any amount of lead in drinking water is considered dangerous, even if it is well below the EPA’s required action level. Bolton Point recommends anyone with lead piping in the water system piping (interior and exterior) is to replace all lead piping. • B. Cross states that Bolton Point has been extremely responsive and is spending hours researching this issue for the Village. • Trustee Marshall states that he in favor of additional resources produced by Bolton Point that can help educate the public. • Trustee Salton joins the meeting at 7:25 p.m. 2 a. Climate Solution Presentation presented: Director of HeatSmart Tompkins Lisa Marshall provided a PowerPoint presentation about HeatSmart Tompkins. 3 • L. Marshall states that HeatSmart Tompkins is funded by NYSERDA. The goal of HeatSmart Tompkins is to provide support and advice as well as information to households on energy efficiency and heat pumps. We have been working with almost every municipality in Tompkins county. • To view this presentation click here. • Village resident and Climate Smart Community Task Force (CSCTF) Director Alice Wagenknecht-Wiesner states that the Village has a resolution in the agenda asking for Board approval to participate in a community campaign and lower energy costs for Village residents. 4. Report of Fire Superintendent Tamborelle: Submitted Report (Exhibit 2022-125) • Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that things are going well, and the new ladder truck is now in service. • Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that the spring recruit class started with twenty applications, and are now down to nine. 5. Report of Treasurer Dolch: Submitted Report (Exhibit 2202-126) • Village Treasurer Dolch states that the February bank to book reconciliations are complete and the only action item that needs to be approved is this month’s abstract. Approval of Abstract # 10 Resolution: 9124 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves Abstract #10 for FYE2022 consisting of TA vouchers 72-79 in the amount of $21,902.55 and Consolidated Fund vouchers 711-790 in the amount of $379,700.76 and the Treasurer is instructed to make payments thereon. Motion: Trustee Rennekamp Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none • Mayor Woodard states that it has been a long time since the books from the previous month have been closed on time. Motion Carried 6. Report of Mayor Woodard b. McMurry Resolution: The Board recognizes the outstanding public service of Trustee and Deputy Mayor Meloney McMurry. 4 RECOGNITION OF THE PAST AND CONTINUED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE OF MELONEY MCMURRY Resolution: 9125 WHEREAS, Meloney McMurry has served the Village of Cayuga Heights with distinct honor and dedication since starting her public service in 2015 as a Village Planning Board Alternate and later as a voting member; and WHEREAS, Meloney has shown integrity to her role as the Village Trustee since 2016, and as Deputy Mayor since April of 2019; and WHEREAS, Meloney has been a vital contributor to the Villages Human Resources Committee, Public Safety Committee, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Committee, and Chair of the Human Resources and Administration Committee; and WHEREAS, Meloney has made substantial contributions to the Village Emergency Plan, Village Zoning Law and was instrumental in the Villages Codification process of all Village Law and Ordinances; and WHEREAS, Meloney has served the Village as an alternate to the Board Of Directors of TCCOG and sits on the ITCTCP Policy Committee. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees does hereby commend Meloney for her dedication, commitment, and outstanding past and continued public service to the Village of Cayuga Heights. • Trustee McMurry states that it has been an honor and privilege to serve in this role. Trustee McMurry states that she loves the work but is sad to be stepping away from it. However, she is not going far and is looking forward to becoming a member of the Village Planning Board at the April Village Organizational Meeting. • Trustee McMurry personally thanked each Village staff member for their hard work and dedication to the Village. Motion: Trustee Robinson Second: Trustee Marshall Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: McMurry Motion Carried c. Resolution on Climate Solutions: The Village pledges to support NYSERDA programs and promote the use of clean energy. 5 Resolution: 9126 WHEREAS NYSERDA is currently offering generous incentives for low-to-moderate-income households for insulation and air sealing, energy-efficient heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters, and WHEREAS, some of these incentives are time-limited, and WHEREAS, HeatSmart Tompkins is offering municipalities the opportunity to participate in a Campaign for Clean Heat to provide information and coordinate resident sign-ups for these services, and WHEREAS, the campaign offers residents free assessments for home energy improvements, and WHEREAS, successful participation in this campaign will result in greater comfort and energy savings for participating households and potential grant funding for the Village, and WHEREAS, the Village wishes to partner with HeatSmart Tompkins on this campaign, and WHEREAS, the Campaign will include a Clean Heating and Cooling Webinar in early May that will be open to all residents, and WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights wishes to help residents lower their energy costs, and to promote clean indoor and outdoor air, now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Cayuga Heights Trustees hereby approves the Village participation in the HeatSmart Tompkins Campaign for Clean Heat. Motion: Trustee Marshall Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried d. Budget Process Update: • Mayor Woodard states that the Village staff has submitted their budgets and she has updated those numbers into the General, Water, and Sewer Accounts. Mayor Woodard further states that the annual budget workshop is Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 9-12 noon. • Mayor Woodard also states that the Village saw a three percent increase in the overall assessment for this budget season. • Trustee Robinson would like to make sure that the tax summary will be ready for review and if it will reflect the correct numbers in order to establish the 2022 tax rate. 6 • Trustee Rennekamp states that New York State limits the increase in taxes to the lower 2% for the inflation rate based on your fiscal year budget. The Village had an increase in assessed value of 3.16 % so just by assessment alone we have exceeded the 2% cap. • Trustee Salton asks what the consequences are if we decide not to pass a local law to override the tax cap. He seemed to recall some benefit the Village would receive from the State of New York if a municipality did not override the tax cap. • B. Cross states that he remembers at one time NYS might have offered an Star Exemption to residents if the municipality did not exceed the tax cap. • Village Attorney R. Marcus states that if the Village does not adopt Proposed Local Law A 0f 2022 then the Village is mandated to reduce the tax levy. • Mayor Woodard ensures the Board that at the Village Budget Workshop the Board will be able to see the various options for setting the tax rate. Resolution: 9127 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees hereby schedules a Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law A of 2022- A local law to override the tax levy limit established in general municipal law 3-c for April 4, 2022, at 7:10 p.m. Motion: Trustee Robinson Second: Trustee Rennekamp Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried e. CHES 5K and Fun Run Event: The event will take place on May 7, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. • Mayor Woodard states that the applicants are asking for the Board to consider waiving the $25.00-dollar Special Events Permit fee. Resolution # 9128 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes waiving the Special Events Permit fee of $25.00 for May 7, 2022, Cayuga Heights Elementary School 5k and Fun Run. Motion: Trustee Marshall Second: Trustee McMurry Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 7 f. Covid-19 Testing: The Village has been testing employees who either would not provide proof of vaccination or are not vaccinated again Covid-19. • Mayor Woodard states that three of the five employees that are currently being tested are exempt from testing because they have recently tested positive for Covid-19. Mayor Woodard also states that Tompkins County is not advising what we should or should not test going forward. • Trustee McMurry would like to know of the five employees being tested how many of them are being tested in addition to the Village testing them. • Village Clerk Walker states that only one employee fits into that category. • Trustee Robinson suggests that the Board consider suspending testing with the understanding that if things change then the Board can reinstate testing. • Trustee Salton states that he agrees with suspending the weekly testing and by doing so would simply mean that we do not send anyone to the program that already exists. Resolution # 9129 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes Village Clerk Walker to notify the Village employees that are currently in the Village Covid-19 testing program that the program is now paused. This pause in testing is subject to review at any time in the future. Motion: Trustee Robinson Second: Trustee McMurry Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried g. RaNic Golf Club: • Mayor Woodard states that the new owners of the former Ithaca Country Club now RaNic Golf Club will be submitting a Planned Development Zone application at the April Board of Trustees meeting. • Village Attorney R. Marcus reminds the Board that their responsible for deciding what is an allowable use in the proposed PDZ that the applicant submits. In essence the Board is changing the Village Zoning Law for that particular property. • Trustee Hubbell asks if this new proposed development would use the new “stretch” building code. • B. Cross states that the only way for a local municipality to enforce the "Stretch Code" is to petition the NYS Department of State for a more restrictive local law. He also states that the applicant’s architect is likely to provide similar or equivalent energy measures to the project. This information would not be part of the zoning law or the PDZ but would be a topic for the Village Planning Board to take into consideration at the site plan review. • The Town and City of Ithaca already have an enhanced code similar to what the state is looking to bring forth. 8 • Trustee McMurry states that the Board of Trustees responsibility in a PDZ is to determine if this project has enough benefit to the Village that is worth changing amending our Zoning Law. • Trustee Marshall asks if this projects criteria for benefiting the Village is based on one hundred percent of the Village Comprehensive Plan? And is there some standards or variations from the comprehensive plan? • Village Attorney R. Marcus states that if the applicant can convince the Board that changing the allowed uses is a net positive then the degree of divergence from the existing zoning of that property is not relevant. • Planning Board Chair F. Cowett would like to know what happens after the Village Planning Board completes site plan review and sends the project back to the Board of Trustees for final approval. Does the Board of Trustees have the ability to make changes? • Village Attorney R. Marcus states that is a topic for more discussion since this would be the first time a PDZ could reach that point in the process. • Trustee Hubble inquiries about the building schedule of this project. • B. Cross states that for this year (2022) it is just planning. Construction could begin at the beginning of 2023. • Mayor Woodard will send out the PDZ information from RaNic Golf Club by email tomorrow. h. AUD and Insero Audit: • Mayor Woodard states that due to health concerns former Village Treasurer J. Laskaris is not able to continue to work on the remaining questions for the FYE2021 AUD and this year’s INSERO internal audit. • Mayor Woodard has reached out to the NYS Comptroller’s Office, and they are aware of our situation. i. Proposed Budget Projects: Exhibit 2022-134 • Trustee McMurry states that the discussion at the last Board meeting led her to believe the proposed seventh police officer position belonged in the general budget not in special projects. • Trustee Robinson states that it shows up on this exhibit but is budgeted correctly in the Budget workshop binders. • Police Sergeant Manning states that Chief Wright watched the Zoom meeting that he missed from last month and has inserted a Q/A section addressing those concerns from the February Board Meeting. • Seargent Manning states that policing is changing and the role an officer has is changing as well. As Chief Wright presented a new position would be covering the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift which allows more room administrative flexibility as well as added services to the community. • Trustee Robinson states that his concern is the step increases which is a long-term cost to the Village. He also asks if the investment of another full-time position would offset the overall cost when retirement occurs. 9 • Seargent Manning states that if we have a staffing issue or somebody retires, the department will at least have all shifts covered by full-time staff and we won’t have to force people into work since we could backfill. Three senior positions within the department could retire in the next one to three years. The addition of the seventh office creates a buffer and cost savings from having to train someone new and fill part-time hours while field training occurs. • In closing Sergeant Manning states that when the department was short-staffed the core group of full-time officers stepped up and covered most of the hours. He has never seen a better more dedicated group of individuals who put the Village in front of their own needs. • Trustee Salton states that he appreciates the presentation by Sergeant Manning. He also states that he is envisioning a new staff development model that will strengthen the department with the seventh position and the Board should view this as appropriate for this discussion. • Trustee McMurry states that when an emergency happens the type of knowledge a full-time officer has of the community is critical to the safety and wellbeing of the residents. The other aspect that hasn't been discussed that came up a lot in police reform is diversity. Our department has the opportunity to do that now with the introduction of the seventh position. 7. Report of The Trustees: • Trustee Hubbell states that he will distribute the Cayuga Lake Watershed Annual Report to the Board through email. 8 . Report of Police Chief Wright: Submitted Report (Exhibit 2022-130) • Mayor Woodard asks about the two mental health calls and if the officers feel that they are sufficiently trained to handle these calls. • Seargent Manning states that we are, and the department is always looking for more opportunities to learn more. As for the specific two calls, the level of care taken by our officers to defuse the situation only shows that we care. On a side note, the addition of another full-time officer would also allow the department to participate in more training outside of scheduled shifts. 9. Report of Director of DPW Wiese: Submitted Report (Exhibit 2022-131) • Director of Public Works states that he completed three sump pump inspections in February. • Director of Public Works M. Wiese states that when there is downtime the DPW staff has been straightening street signs throughout the Village. Director Wiese states that this is another example of the pride the guys have for the Village. • Director Wiese states that he is adding $5,000.00 to account A1640.200 to replace the Furnace in the DPW. Director Wiese states that he is also looking at a heat pump system since he is also looking for a new AC unit for the same area. 10. Report of Village Engineer Cross: • Village Engineer B. Cross states that the Right-Sizing Culvert Project is moving forward. A public presentation was held on February 28, 2022, and there has been some level of communication with almost all twenty-five property owners. All property owners have received a sample easement with a map of their property. 10 • Village Attorney R. Marcus has reviewed the construction specification and contractual documents. • B. Cross states that it has been determined that the Board will have to complete SEQR for the Right-Sizing Culvert Project. • Village Attorney R. Marcus states that the Board of Trustees agrees with part-1 of the SEQR and moves on to part-2. 11 12 13 14 15 16 Resolution # 9130 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes the findings in the SEQR short forms part-1, part -2 and part -3 and as a result, the proposed action does not result in any significant adverse environmental impact and Mayor Woodard will sign the determination of significance as the officer in the lead agency. Motion: Trustee McMurry Second: Trustee Marshall Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none 17 Motion Carried 11. Report of Clerk Walker: Submitted Report (Exhibit 2022-133) • Clerk Walker states that the new Village website is up and running. In the first week, we have seen over 130 people visit the site. • Clerk Walker states that the Village Election had fifty-four people turn out to vote. • In closing Clerk Walker states that he has several I.T. policies that he will be presenting to the Board at the April monthly meeting. 12. Report of Attorney Marcus: • Village Attorney R. Marcus states that he has devoted some time to a recent FOIL Request. 13. Executive Session: Mayor Woodard asks the Board for an Executive Session at 9:53 p.m. Resolution: 9131 WHEREAS: The NYS Open Meeting Law §105 prescribes matters for which a public body may conduct an executive session; and, WHEREAS: Upon a majority vote of its total membership, taken in an open meeting pursuant to a motion identifying the general area or areas of the subject or subjects to be considered; and, WHEREAS: The conduct an executive session for these enumerated purposes only, provided, however, that no action by formal vote shall be taken to appropriate public money: THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT An Executive Session of the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees are conducted for the purposes of subsection (F), the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation. Motion: Trustee Robinson Second: Trustee Marshall Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried Resolution: 9132 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees exits the Executive Session and returns to an open meeting. Motion: Trustee Marshall Second: Trustee Robinson Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Hubbell, Marshall, McMurry, Rennekamp, Robinson, and Salton Nays: none 18 Abstentions: none Motion Carried 14. Adjournment: Mayor Woodard adjourns the meeting at 10:38 p.m.