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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.20.2026 Minutes1 VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHT May 20th 2026 Zoom ID # 4118425407 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 7:00 p.m. MONTHLY MEETING Present: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson; Fire Superintendent Tamborelle, Police Chief Wright, Superintendent of Public Works Cross and Southard; Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder; Village Clerk Walker. Absent: Trustee Salton 1. Call to Order: Mayor Woodard calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Approval of the April 15, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes (Exhibit 2027 - 011) Resolution: 10053 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves the April 15, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes as corrected. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried •Mayor Woodard states that at this time, she would like Board approval to appoint Gina Middleton from PMV Legal as the Village Attorney for the official year. Resolution: 10054 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves the appointment of Gina Middleton from PMV Legas as the Village Attorney for one official year (2026-2027); and WHEREAS, the Village Board has received and reviewed a proposed Legal Services Agreement dated April 28, 2026, a copy of which is incorporated herein, from PMV Legal Group, PLLC, for legal services to be provided to the Village of Cayuga Heights; and WHEREAS, the Village Board finds it in the best interest of the Village of Cayuga Heights to enter into a legal services agreement with PMV Legal Group, PLLC, as outlined in said proposed Legal Services Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Village of Cayuga Heights Mayor is hereby authorized to execute said legal services agreement with PMV Legal Group, PLLC, with an effective date of May 20, 2026, through May 2027, and be it further resolved that this resolution shall take effect immediately. 2 Motion: Trustee Fleming Second: Trustee Biloski Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 3. Privilege of the Floor: Village resident and Planning Board Alternate G. Tiereny presents to the Board a petition of support for a moratorium on data centers in New York State. •Mayor Woodard states that we can discuss this now or wait, since it is on her report. •Trustee Hubbell states that he would be willing to discuss this now and vote on this tonight. •Trustee Conway states that a moratorium on data centers may not be the long-term solution, but this might be the only way to create thoughtful discussions and prevent repercussions later. Resolution: 10055 a. Resolution in Support of a Temporary Moratorium on the Construction of Data Centers in New York State S. 9144 (Krueger/Gonzalez) and A. 10141 (Kelles) WHEREAS, the rapid expansion of data centers presents one of the gravest affordability and environmental threats of our generation; WHEREAS, this expansion is increasing demand for energy, driving more fossil fuel pollution, straining water resources, and raising electricity prices; WHEREAS, New York experienced a 43 percent increase in residential electricity rates between 2020 and 2025, and the construction of data centers would exacerbate this trend; WHEREAS, data centers generate very high levels of e-waste containing toxic materials due to the short lifespans of GPUs in high-performance AI computing; WHEREAS, data centers negatively impact the quality of life in our communities, threatening our health, local businesses, and environment; WHEREAS, data centers produce very few permanent jobs; WHEREAS, state legislation, S. 9144 / A. 10141, would establish a temporary moratorium on the construction of new data centers in New York; 3 WHEREAS S. 9144 / A. 10141 requires the State to conduct a thorough analysis of the potential negative impacts of data centers on ratepayers and our health, communities, and environment. WHEREAS, S. 9144 / A. 10141 requires the State to issue rules and regulations to mitigate the negative impacts of data centers on ratepayers and our health, communities, and environment; THEREFORE, we, the Village Board of Trustees, urge the Legislature to pass and Governor Kathy Hochul to sign into law S. 9144 / A. 10141, establishing a temporary moratorium on data centers in New York. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried b. AOC Budget Resolution: •Mayor Woodard states that Wies Van Leuken, who is the Village representative to the Access Oversight Committee for Charter's Public Access Channel, is here to present the annual AOC Budget. •W. Van Leuken states that the Village Board of Trustees has to approve the recommendations for the 2027 equipment budget. •W. Van Leuken states that this money is for any studio equipment expenditure that may come up. Resolution: 10056 AOC Recommendations for 2027 Equipment Budget WHEREAS, Section 15.12 of the Franchise Agreement of January 2003 between the City of Ithaca and the franchisee Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (TWC) (“Franchise Agreement”), subsequently assigned to Charter Communications, Inc. d/b/a Spectrum Networks (Charter) after Charter's 2016 acquisition of TWC, requires the participating municipalities (City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Village of Cayuga Heights) to provide the franchisee with an annual written budget for Public, Educational and Governmental access operations (PEG) by June 30 of each calendar year; and WHEREAS, Section 15.12 of the Franchise Agreement requires that Charter direct PEG Access Staff to provide the Access Oversight Committee (AOC) with budget recommendations for the following year by April 30; and WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca's Ordinance #2003-17, Par 18-4-G, requires the Access Oversight Committee (AOC) to provide the Participating Municipalities with a recommended budget for the following year by May 31; and 4 WHEREAS, the Franchise Agreement authorizes Charter to collect $0.15 per subscriber per month to be used for the purchase of PEG equipment and facilities; and WHEREAS, the AOC has reviewed PEG’s current equipment and anticipates that new or replacement equipment will likely be needed in the future; now therefore be it. RESOLVED, that the AOC recommends a $15,000.00 contingency to purchase equipment as needed for the functioning of PEG operations, pending receipt and AOC approval of line-item estimates, and be it further RESOLVED, that the AOC forwards its recommendations for approval by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca Board and the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, so that they may meet their obligation to provide Charter Communications with an annual written budget for Public, Educational and Governmental access operations no later than June 30, 2026. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves of the AOC recommendations as written. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Fleming Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none •W. Van Leuken states that next year will be the fiftieth anniversary of Public Access. Motion Carried 4. Report of Treasurer Dolch: •Treasurer Dolch states that the April bank-to-book reconciliations are complete and have been signed off by Deputy Treasurer Conway. •Treasurer Dolch states that the New York State Office of the Comptroller has requested that our NYCLASS money be placed in a different account so it will not show up on the report as cash anymore. •Treasurer Dolch states that there will be two abstracts at the June meeting, one for the last month of the current fiscal year and one for the first month of the new fiscal year. •Treasurer Dolch states that the last thing on her report is for the Board to approve Abstract 12. Approval of Abstract 12: Resolution: 10057 5 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees authorizes and approves Abstract #12 for FYE2026, consisting of: TA vouchers 92-97 in the amount of $5,271.38, Consolidated Fund vouchers 810-892 in the amount of $387,522.35. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 6. Report of Village Engineer: •Mayor Woodard states that this will be Brent’s last Board Meeting before retirement as of May 31, 2026. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that he has enjoyed working for the Village for the last thirty-two years. He really appreciates the career that it has provided and appreciates all the hard work the staff and leadership have put into the Village. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that the Renwick Brook Culvert Replacement Project is moving forward. We did hear back from NYSDEC, who proposed that we move to an eleven-foot pipe versus the seven-foot culvert that we already have ordered. T.G. Miller was able to prove to them that the seven-foot culvert was enough, and we could move forward. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that we can now move forward with the contractor to begin in June. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that we will need to update the intended use plan for the NYSDEC Environmental Facilities Corporation by the end of this month. This will allow us to keep open the possibility of applying for more funding (Phase3) for the Village WWTP. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that GHD will supply us with that report to submit. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that we will be asking T. G. Miller to put together a design report for NYSDEC EFC to approve for the Village Water Infrastructure Improvements (Phase 1) •Village Engineer B. Cross states that the Cayuga Heights Road Sidewalk Project is still stalled. 7. Report of the Superintendent of Public Works Southard: •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that some of the scope of work on the water infrastructure project will change. We have decided to expand the number of piping and pressure-reducing stations since we have run into so many water main breaks. This area will include Wyckoff and Overlook Road. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that a new project map will be available from T.G. Miller sometime next week. 6 •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that he will be reaching out to NYSDEC for an update on approving the Cayuga Heights Sidewalk Project. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that there will be some work to do on our WWTP SPEDES Permit for the state. One is the cybersecurity plan as discussed last month, and an operations and maintenance plan. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that he will be sharing a link that shows all the NYSDOT projects and dates listed for New York. This will be a good tool to have. He has also begun working on the GIS software that Tompkins County has supplied. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that the Village Public Works Committee has decided to put a crosswalk near Oak Hill Road. This discussion grew into the need to maybe put crosswalks at every TCAT bus stop. We will be looking into a study or design needs that would qualify for funding. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that he will also research the removal of piping that contains Asbestos. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that he has joined the Southern Tier Building Officials Association as requested by B. Cross. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that the NYSDEC has told us our SPEDES Permit has been approved, but we have not officially seen it yet. We are concerned about the testing requirements they might be requiring. •Mayor Woodard states that we have two resolutions to vote on that are associated with the Cayuga Heights Sidewalk Project and the EFC's intended use for water infrastructure. •Superintendent of Public Works Southard states that this is a formality, informing them that work will not begin this current year. Resolution: 10058 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT #1 TO THE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT CONTRACT WITH HUNT ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, LAND SURVEYORS & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DPC FOR THE CAYUGA HEIGHTS ROAD SIDEWALK PROJECT WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights is the local sponsor of a Locally Administered Federal Aid Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) project known as the Cayuga Heights Road Sidewalk Project, PIN 3950.86, D# 040716; and WHEREAS, the Village entered into an Architectural/Engineering Consultant Contract with Hunt Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors & Landscape Architects DPC, commencing November 2023, with a maximum compensation amount of $235,564.00, to provide professional engineering services for the P.E./Design, ROW Incidentals, and ROW Acquisition phases of said project; and 7 WHEREAS, it is necessary to extend the term of said contract from December 2025 to December 31, 2027, to allow sufficient time to complete the scope of services; and WHEREAS, this extension involves no change in the maximum compensation amount of $235,564.00; and WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has reviewed Supplemental Agreement #1 and finds it to be in the best interest of the Village to authorize its execution; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights hereby approves Supplemental Agreement #1 to the Architectural/Engineering Consultant Contract with Hunt Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors & Landscape Architects, DPC for PIN 3950.86, extending the term of agreement to December 31, 2027, with no change in the maximum contract value of $235,564.00; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor of the Village of Cayuga Heights is hereby authorized and directed to execute Supplemental Agreement #1 on behalf of the Village of Cayuga Heights. Motion: Trustee Hubbell Second: Trustee Biloski Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried Resolution: 10059 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF PROJECT LISTINGS TO THE NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES CORPORATION AND NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND (CWSRF) / INTENDED USE PLAN (IUP) FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2027 WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights owns and operates public water infrastructure serving residents within the Village and surrounding service areas; and WHEREAS, the Village has identified the need to replace approximately 6,000 linear feet of aging water distribution system infrastructure in order to improve fire flow capacities, improve system dependability, and prolong the operational life of the existing Cayuga Heights water distribution system; and WHEREAS, preliminary project cost estimates prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C. identify estimated construction costs in the amount of $2,025,000, contingencies in the amount of $405,000, estimated issuance costs of $72,900, and a total estimated financing amount of approximately $2,502,900; and WHEREAS, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) administer the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Intended Use Plan (IUP) programs for the purpose of providing low- interest financing and related funding opportunities for eligible municipal infrastructure projects; and 8 WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights desires to submit project listings for consideration under the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2027 Intended Use Plan; and WHEREAS, T.G. Miller, P.C., consulting engineers for the Village, has prepared the necessary project listing forms and supporting documentation for submission prior to the May 29, 2026, filing deadline. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cayuga Heights as follows: 1. The Village Board hereby authorizes the submission of project listings and associated documentation for inclusion in the FFY 2027 Intended Use Plan programs administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and the New York State Department of Health. 2. The project authorized for listing consists generally of the replacement of approximately 6,000 linear feet of aging water distribution infrastructure and related appurtenances for the purpose of improving system reliability, fire flow capacity, and long-term infrastructure integrity. 3. The estimated total project financing amount to be listed is approximately Two Million Five Hundred Two Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($2,502,900). 4. The Village Board hereby authorizes T.G. Miller, P.C. to prepare, finalize, and submit all necessary project listing forms, schedules, engineering information, cost estimates, and related supporting documentation necessary for inclusion in the FFY 2027 Intended Use Plan. 5. The Village Engineer and other appropriate Village officials are hereby authorized to execute and provide any additional information, certifications, or documentation reasonably necessary to effectuate said submissions. 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried •Trustee Robinson states the only thing he would add is for the WWTP Committee to have the Village IT Committee review the cybersecurity plan. •Trustee Conway states that from the Village Finance Committee, we discussed the PBA Contract and tracked sales tax numbers. •Trustee Conway states that we originally were going to draw down about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from savings, but with sales tax revenue, it will more likely be around sixty to seventy thousand dollars. 8. Report of the Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder: •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that NYSEG/DDS should be finishing up this week. 9 •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that the DPW has completed three lead services this month. Currently, there are 51 services needing attention, with only 11 lead services left on the Village side. •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that T.G. Miller will be providing the annual I & I report to us sometime this month. •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that Limbwalker completed the tree removal in Palmer Woods Natural Area. They did an amazing job. •Mayor Woodard states that the DPW Staff will have to move the refuse pickup twice this summer. One on June 17 and again on July 1st. This is due to the DPW four-day work week and holiday schedule. •Mayor Woodard states that she wanted to bring to the Board's attention that a Village resident hired a company that supplies farm goats to eat vegetation. She is convinced the Village resident knew this was not allowed, but since it is a zoning violation, a resident has thirty days to come into compliance. Well, the goats were gone in one week. She hopes this does not happen again. •Trustee Conway states that he thought it was a nice way to control vegetation instead of clear-cutting. •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that he has one action item for the Board tonight. NYSEG has to move a natural gas line for the culvert project. Usually, we would charge them for working in the Village ROW. Since this is a Village project, we would like to waive the NYSEGS fee. Resolution: 10060 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees authorizes and approves waiving the Right-of -Way Permit Fee of $25 for NYSEG while they move the natural gas line associated with the Renwick Culvert Replacement Project. Motion: Trustee Hubbell Second: Trustee Biloski Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none •Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Cowder states that we are hoping for a pre-construction meeting in the first week of June. Motion Carried 9. Report of Police Chief Wright: •Chief Wright states that it was a busy month with a lot of different complaints and investigations. With the addition of our new full-time officer, calls have gone way up. 10 •Chief Wright states that the department is ready to go with the firearm transition from the. 40 caliber to the 9- millimeter Glocks. •Chief Wright states that after twenty years of Town of Ithaca Court coverage, the Village has terminated that contract. He never envisioned the Village covering the town for so long. This will free up our schedule and reduce liability. •Trustee Hubbell states that we also touched on the upcoming special traffic control. •Chief Wright states that there are specialized patrols that are grant-funded this time of year with graduations and proms. The Officers will concentrate on seat belts and driving while impaired. •Chief Wright states that the department is also the only department in the county that specializes in commercial motor vehicle traffic stops. This is our sixth year of enforcement, and a big part of what we do is education. •Chief Wright states that they even had a local business request for a training session on commercial vehicle safety requirements. 9. Report of Fire Superintendent Tamborelle: •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that the department will be graduating nine members this Memorial Day Weekend. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that the summer staffing levels will be low this summer. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that we have not had any interest in the old ladder track, so we are taking more pictures and are hoping we will not have to lower the price. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that we took possession of nine radios from the county, had to order some components for them, but they are a nice upgrade for the department. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that he spoke to Grant Champs; they are going to start onboarding grants and are hopeful that our department might be one of the first to receive a grant from them. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that he would like to request that the Board waive the Special Events Permit fee of $25 for movie night at the station. Resolution: 10061 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees authorizes and approves waiving the Village Parade and Special Events Permit Fee of $25 for the Cayuga Heights Fire Department movie night. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none 11 Abstentions: none Motion Carried •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that a topic that came up in the Village Public Safety Committee Meeting was repurposed older turnout gear. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that we had a small group travel to Peru and expressed that there was a need for gear. Well, a year later, we were able to send a bunch of gear down in large gear bags, paid for by Cornell University, and the students delivered them for us. Link to the article •Trustee Conway asks what we normally do with older gear. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that if we cannot give it away, then eventually we may throw gear away. •Trustee Conway inquires about the one fire inspection that has not been scheduled yet. •Fire Superintendent Tamborelle states that he has completed a lot this month, so having just one left to dig into is not bad. He will work on tracking the owner down next week. 10. Report of Clerk Walker: •Clerk Walker states that it has been a busy month, getting ready for tax bills to be mailed out on May 28, 2026. •Clerk Walker states that the Village Administrative Committee discussed the water billing cycle. The office has noticed over the last few years that bills do not arrive on the first day of the billing cycle. We would like to propose increasing the billing cycle to thirty days and increasing the penalty fee from ten percent to fifteen percent. •Clerk Walker states that he feels that Village residents would appreciate an additional ten days to pay their quarterly bill. •Mayor Woodard states that we need to account for thirty days, but February is a billing month with only twenty- eight days. •Clerk Walker states that he will reach out to Bolton Point about the proper terminology and billing for the four quarterly bills. •Clerk Walker states that he has the final draft of the Village Procurement Policy for the Board to vote on tonight. •Trustee Biloski states that the major changes were updating the base amount from $500 to $1000 and the requirements. We also modified the purchase order process to reflect that responsibility falls on the Village Clerk and not the Village Treasurer. •Trustee Conway states that it was his understanding that it was being reviewed initially just about the rules, about when we need to move money around, and what the process is for approval in those contexts. 12 •Clerk Walker states that we agreed that the language was correct, but we needed to do a better job educating staff on budgets and purchasing processes. Resolution: 10062 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees authorizes and approves the Village Procurement Policy as presented in Exhibit 2027-019. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried •Clerk Walker states that he will also need Board approval for the Arbor Day Proclamation that was slated for approval last month but never voted on. Resolution: 10063 WHEREAS, Arbor Day was created in 1872 in Nebraska as a special day for planting and celebrating trees and is now celebrated throughout the United States; and WHEREAS, trees provide important benefits in urban communities such as shade and cooler temperatures, cleaner air and water, increased property values, and habitat for wildlife; and WHEREAS, the Village of Cayuga Heights has been certified as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of its commitment to protecting its trees and woodlands; now. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, I, Linda Woodard, Mayor of the Village of Cayuga Heights, on behalf of Village residents and the Board of Trustees, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day in the Village of Cayuga Heights and urge all residents to protect and improve our environment and create a greener, healthier community by planting and caring for trees. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Fleming Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 11. Report of Mayor Woodard: d. Flock Camera Discussion: 13 •Trustee Hubbell states that we discussed Flock Cameras during this month’s Public Safety Committee Meeting. Each member had time to express their thoughts on the subject. •Trustee Fleming states that we are isolated now that the city and town have taken down their cameras. •Trustee Fleming states that after our contract is over, Flock will have access to our data for an unlimited amount of time. I think that's kind of concerning. And then also, the public knows there are security issues around the Flock cameras. •Chief Wright states that if you look at the Flock website, you will see thousands and thousands of success stories. It is an extremely useful tool for investigating murder and sex offenses that include rape, child abductions, and locating vulnerable elderly individuals or individuals with different mental health issues. •Chief Wright states that the Flock cameras have helped our department in several different investigations and hold accountable those individuals who are committing crimes. •Chief Wright states that his cameras can only be shared with agencies that we approve to share data with. He understands the concerns and respects the discussion. However, there is more data and tracking taking place with our cell phones than with any camera. •Chief Wright states that he proposed to the other agencies a solution to share data with each other only. That did not gain any interest at the county level. He believes strongly that as time goes on, the cameras will be back in place. •Chief Wright states that our contract expires in September of this year. To get rid of them before that time would be disrespectful to the community resident who donated that money, which was designed to help the police purchase technologies that the department uses to protect the community. •Mayor Woodard states that we do have time before the contract expires in September, and she does not disagree with Chief Wright, but since the county and city have removed their cameras, it really decreases the value of this policing tool. •Mayor Woodard asks Chief Wright if there are cameras in any other municipalities? •Chief Wright states that Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Trumansburg still have Flock Cameras. It seems they were waiting to see what others were going to do. •Trustee Robinson states that there seems to be some confusion about who controls the data and how the requests come in. •Chief Wright states that only the administrator (I) of the technology can give permission or approve a request to share license plates that are stored on the cameras. Now, with that being said, he believes all data should be shared with other departments because that would lead to quicker resolution of an investigation, which is the best way to utilize the technology. •Chief Wright states that the only information collected by these cameras is the rear view of a license plate, nothing else. To access the data, there has to be a legitimate investigation/incident with a report number that has to 14 be entered into the Flock system, which is time-stamped and signed off by the agency and officer. •Trustee Fleming states that the University of Washington did a study and found that the “front door” system is working; it’s the “back door" system that they found had many ways data was accessed unknowingly. The Flock system is not a great product and could be designed to a higher security standard. •Trustee Fleming states that, for example, Flock still has hard-coded passwords that are outdated, and for what we are paying, we should be getting a much better product. One thing to remember is that Flock owns the data; they can control where it goes and where it does not. They can use that data for any purpose, which could open a revenue stream in the future. •Trustee Conway states that he has only heard from residents who want the cameras removed. He knows there is a little bit of bias in how much information is conveyed. But both for personal privacy and due to the fear of the Federal Government or any other party getting control of the data is counter to our community's intent. •Trustee Conway states that he knows it has been helpful with investigations but is not confident in Flock, so he supports discontinuing the use of the cameras. •Trustee Hubbell states that we should put together a synopsis that provides all the facts from these conversations, which will allow us to make a very clear decision at next month's meeting. •Trustee Biloski states that from a safety perspective, she is in favor of keeping the cameras, but Flock should be doing more research on the concerns of data breaches. •Chief Wright states that he has the same concerns, the “back door” security aspect. His thirty-plus years of experience led him to want to use any available tool to protect the public. He knows Flock is interested in providing more confidence that the data is secure. •Trustee Conway states that from a safety perspective, we all agree that the cameras are important, but there is a risk involved. •Mayor Woodard states that the potential for misuse is huge, and the immigration issue is just one aspect of it. She knows where she stands on this topic, but we do need to come prepared to vote on this next month. •Trustee Fleming states that we are all in agreement to let the contract run out. •Trustee Conway states that he would like the Board not to treat donations differently from general operating money. We should not have private citizens funding something they want, especially if it’s a contentious issue. He appreciates and is grateful for the fact that this community is very generous, but we should be cautious. e. Non-Profit Events in the Village: •Mayor Woodard states that this topic came up from a request from the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce to have an open house for networking. •Mayor Woodard states that given our current zoning law, this is not an allowed use. 15 •Village Engineer B. Cross states that we need some kind of criteria for the Village Code Enforcement Officer on what can or cannot happen as an allowed use. •Mayor Woodard states that we will have Village Attorney G. Middleton research zoning laws similar to those for us to review. •Trustee Conway states that this is a great segue to thank all the Village support for the Cayuga Heights Elementary School 5k Fun Run. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that this is a great example of the fact that we have a permit process for events like this when the event uses Village property. We are just lacking a process for events on private property. • Superintendent of Public Works C. Southard states that he has hosted similar events; members get the benefit of hosting events as part of dues as members of a chamber. f. Brent Cross Resolution: •Mayor Woodard states that she would like to read this special resolution in full Resolution: 10064 RECOGNITION OF THE PAST AND CONTINUED OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE OF BRENT CROSS WHEREAS, Brent started his professional career after earning his construction technology degree from Tompkins Cortland Community College, before graduating from Clarkson University in civil and environmental engineering; and WHEREAS, Brent received his New York State Professional Engineering License and joined the Village of Cayuga Heights in March of 1994 after starting his own engineering business, and WHEREAS, Brent became only the third Village Engineer in the history of the Village, and added the responsibilities of Village Superintendent of Public Works, stormwater manager, and code enforcement officer; and WHEREAS, Brent was vital to overseeing the Village's first major construction project, Kendal at Ithaca, and many more through his career at the Village, as well as the most recent Village Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion project; and WHEREAS, Brent built long-lasting relationships with regional officials, staff, and leaders of other local municipalities over the thirty-two years at the Village, and WHEREAS, Brent leaves behind a legacy of knowledge, mentorship, and public service to the Village of Cayuga Heights, which would take hours to acknowledge all his accomplishments. THEREFORE, the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees, Village Police Department, Village Staff, and Auxiliary Staff publicly state their appreciation for all the years of service to this community and the professionalism and integrity Brent has instilled in all of us with his leadership and compassion to make this a better place to work and live. 16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees does hereby commend Brent for his dedication, commitment, and outstanding past and continued public service to the Village of Cayuga Heights and the community. Motion: Trustee Biloski Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none •Village Engineer B. Cross states that he is very thankful for the opportunity to work with a lot of great people, both staff and elected members. He strongly believes that treating everybody who came through that door at Marcham Hall with respect is the key. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that he took great pride in being consistent and fair with every resident, which led to a wonderful career at the Village. •Clerk Walker states that we will all celebrate Brent’s career at Hopshire on June 7, 2026, from 1-4 p.m. Motion Carried g. Intermunicipal Wastewater Agreement: •Mayor Woodard states that this is a renewal agreement with the "Gang of Six," basically the five municipalities the Village WWTP services plus the City of Ithaca. •Mayor Woodard states that very little has changed in this agreement. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that this agreement presented tonight provides that, in the event that the village cannot supply sewer units to another municipality, we would divert sewage to the IAWWTF and would not get charged for that diversion. It would be labeled the Town of Ithaca sewage, and we would lose that revenue. •Mayor Woodard states that on the subject of sending sewage down to the IAWWTF, this spring has been very wet, and we have had to send I & I down to the IAWWTP in order to stay below two million gallons per day at our plant. Resolution: 10065 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes Mayor Woodard to sign the Intermunicipal Wastewater Agreement as presented in Exhibit 2027- 023. Motion: Trustee Hubbell Second: Trustee Biloski Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none 17 Motion Carried h. Town of Ithaca Fire Support Contract: •Mayor Woodard states that this is a five-year contract. We spent a little bit of time going over how money is allocated as expenses when our Village funding for the fire department is grant-related. We agreed that the first $50,000 the Village would cover, and anything over that could be expensed to the Town of Ithaca. •Mayor Woodard states that this change works in our favor. We all agreed that we could submit all expenditures less than any grant money under $50,000. •Village Attorney G Middleton states that she would like to inform the Board that her firm also represents the Town of Ithaca and wants to disclose that if there were a situation, the Village would need to waive concern with regard to potential conflict. •Village Attorney G Middleton states that the Town of Ithaca has already agreed to this on their side. Resolution: 10066 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes the Firm of PMV Legal Group PLLC, specifically Gina Middleton, a waiver of conflict for her to review the Town of Ithaca Fire Support Contract as presented in Exhibit 2027-024. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Biloski Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried Resolution: 10067 BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes Mayor Woodard to sign the Town of Ithaca Fire Support Contract upon review and approval by the Village Attorney. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Fleming Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 18 12. Report of the Trustees: •Trustee Conway asks for an update on the East Upland Estates Project. •Mayor Woodard states that the applicant showed up to the last Planning Board Meeting with a revised plan that represented a fifty-foot setback from the wetland. They did this because of a court injunction stating that the NYSDEC rule change was unlawful. •Mayor Woodard states that after some discussion, it was clear to the applicant that we (the Board of Trustees) would not allow a wetland setback less than the agreed-upon one-hundred-foot setback. •Village Engineer B. Cross states that since that meeting, he can confirm that the original plan is what they will bring forward at the June meeting. 13. Report of Village Attorney: •No report at this time. 14. Executive Session: Resolution: 10068 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 under a motion identifying the general area or areas of the subject or subjects to be considered; and, WHEREAS: The conduct of 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 is conducted for 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 Conway Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried Village Board of Trustees exits an Executive Session and returns to an open meeting. 19 Resolution: 10069 BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and appoints Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Aaron Cowder as the interim Village Code Enforcement Officer until September 30th 2026. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried Resolution: 10070 BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees approves and authorizes appropriating $1200 a month from June to September to Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Aaron Cowder for added responsibilities involving Code Enforcement. Motion: Trustee Conway Second: Trustee Hubbell Ayes: Mayor Woodard; Trustees: Biloski, Conway, Fleming, Hubbell, and Robinson Nays: none Abstentions: none Motion Carried 14. Adjournment: Mayor Woodard adjourns the meeting at 10:03 p.m.