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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-13 558 1 Town Board Minutes May 13, 1996 TOWN OF DANBY TOWN BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting 6 : 00 P. M. May 13, 1996 PRESENT: Supervisor Oltz Councilpersons : Edward Inman, Rosa. Lee Johnson, Joseph Schwartz, Howard Steiner Others Present: County Representative - Frank Proto Town Clerk - Carol Sczepanski Members of the Public: John Augustine, Alice and Peter Supa, Roy Casterline, Nancy Weitzel, Carolyn and Anatal Eberhard, Rick Dobson, Walter M. Sczepanski, Tom Davis, Carl & Daniel Sullivan, Brian Eden, James L. Jackson, Karel Sedlacek, Inn Houghton, Thomas and Katherine Halton, Joel Gagnon. Herb Engman (Arrived at 8 :00 P.M. ) Supervisor Mary Oltz called the meeting to order at 6 :00 P. M. and led all present to the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. ADDITIONS or DELETIONS TO AGENDA Councilperson Schwartz asked the for discussion of a security problem in the Ithaca City Schools. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: General Fund Warrant No. 5 of 1996 - Approved A motion was made by Councilperson Schwartz and seconded by Councilperson Steiner to approve the General Fund Warrant No . 5 of 1996, voucher numbers 119- 152 in the amount of $6, 783 . 22. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously Highway Fund Warrant No 5 of 1996 - Approved A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Johnson to approve the Highway Fund Warrant No. 5 of 1996, voucher numbers 61 - 80 in the amount of $ 17, 580 . 93 . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No. 5 of 1996 - Approved A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Schwartz to approve the West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No. 5 of 1996, voucher numbers 18 - 20 in the amount of $248 . 65 . 559 2 Town Board Minutes May 13, 1996 A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously • Town Supervisor' s April 1996 Report - Approved A motion was made by Councilperson Schwartz and seconded by Councilperson Steiner to approve the Town Supervisor ' s April 1996 Report as submitted. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Carried Unanimously Town Clerk' s April 1996 Report - Approved A motion was made by Councilperson Schwartz and seconded by Councilperson Inman to approve the Town Clerk ' s April 1996 Report as submitted. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously Approval of April 8, 1996 Town Board Minutes : A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Schwartz to approve the April 8, 1996 Town board Minutes as published. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously • PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Councilperson Schwartz reported he attended a meeting held by a group of parents from Danby who are concerned about the violence at the Ithaca High School. From the information presented at the meeting the situation at the Ithaca High School is unacceptable. A group of concerned parents have obtained over 300 signatures on a petition asking that the Ithaca High School hire a professional security firm to provide security for the students. They have obtained affidavits from many students who are concerned for their safety due to lack of security. Supervisor Oltz reported that the owners of the Hatfield Estate are willing to donate some property located on Gunderman Road to the Town to be used for a community center. Members of the Public: Gail and Darel Sullivan - 2401 Danby Road - Said she was here for information about NYSEG Pipeline. 560 3 Town Board Minutes May 13, 1996 Biian Eden - Signer Hill Road, Spencer, NY - sent a communication to land owners he believes may be directly affected by the NYSEG Pipe line Proposal. He reported that the NYSEG project is moving along. He said he would like to speak with the concerned residents after the meeting. Walter M. Sczepanski - reported that today there were surveyors placing stakes and maping the a portion of his crop land and agriculture operation in an area that is not on the proposed route . . another They had already surveyed the property without prior notification, without permission and with NYS Police car standing Also surveyed was a neighboring property where the owners had denied NYSEG permission to enter onto their property. It appears that NYSEG is trying to speed up the process by • failure to notify affected landowners and their response to no prior notification is that it was an oversite. Jim Houghton - 1560 Coddington Road reported that NYSEG has a certain corridor that they are allowed to operate in and believes it is 1 , 000 feet from an existing proposed route . Rick Dobson - reported that NYSEG had been refused entry on his property three times and that today they arrived in force with the State Police to gain entry to his property. He feels that they did not follow proper procedure. If the pipeline would benefit his neighbors and community he would not object. Pete Supa - Johnson City - reported that there are many things to be concerned with regarding the NYSEG Pipeline. He suggested that affected residents call and complain as silence indicates that they approve. Carolyn Eberhard - 2434 Coddington Road - left handouts for the Board and residents of of persons to contact with problems and concerns regarding the NYSEG Pipeline project. John Augustine - 109 Rich Road - is concerned about the proposed NYSEG pipeline and has just learned that it may cross about 2500 feet on his property. He wants to know how or why they can come onto your land without prior notification. Kathy Halton - 2505 Danby Road - NYSEG has surveyed some of their property without permission to enter the property. Karel Sedlacek - 39 Maple Avenue - he asked the Board if they had time to review the materials he submitted related to a procedure policy for highway department maintenance of road repairs on or near residential properties. He said that he thinks that the Town should pass a local law or a formal ordinance of procedure for trimming brush and widening ditches . Dan Sullivan - 2401 Danby Road - requested that the Town Board take an official stance requesting that NYSEG and the PSC slow down the process until the facts can be shared with the residents. James Jackson - 7 Valley View Road - reported he has a lot of water damage and continuing water from the creek that is near his property. The bridge is in need of repair and the creek needs to be cleared of large boulders. • Town Board Response: Councilperson Steiner reported that the Town of Danby and the Tompkins County Board of Representatives have responded to the Public Service Commission in the form of a resolution requesting that they reopen the entire project for public hearings for people in the Town of Danby who were not given the opportunity to attend hearings related to the pipeline. Councilperson Schwartz said that he consulted with the Highway Superintendent and that the area where NYSEG had proposed the pipeline was very wet due to the beaver dams near Steam Mill Road. Supervisor Oltz said that she would contact the Highway Superiontendent and the Town Attorney regarding the Proposed NYSEG pipeline through Town of Danby Properties . In a previous discussion with the Town Attorney he suggested that a representative from NYSEG schedule a meeting with the affedted landowners. 561. 4 Town Board Minutes May 13 , 1996 Supervisor Oltz responded to Mr. Sedlecak ' s concern of Highway Department p rocedures and said that she will ask Mr. Hall to meet with the Board to discuss the possibility of developing a criteria for notification to residents when it is necessary to open ditches or trim brush in the road right-of-ways on their property. County Representative Report 1 ) NYSEG - Pipeline - Representative Proto reported that the Board of Representatives has received an information packet from. NYSEG and he believes that they may approach the • County with in additional request related possibly related to the to Home Rule Laws . He told the public that there was safety in numbers but they must address each complaint and concern on an individual basis also. The original plans that the Farm and Agrictural Protection Board reviewed were for the Coddington Road route and the amount of farmland that was involved was minimal. He suggested that the Farm and Ag Protection Board be consulted regarding the new proposed route . 2) Road Work Procedures - encouraged the Town to follow up on trying to work out a set of procedures for road work pertaining to private property. 3 ) Reading Centers - volunteers will meet with Finger Lakes Library Staff on Saturday, May 18, 1996 to disucss how to increase usage . 4) Tours of County Roads - The County Board of Representatives went on a tour and had the opportunity to view the Comfort Road Bridge from both sides . 5 ) Hillview Road Landfill Closure - the Board passed a resolution for Phase III of the Hillview Road Landfill Closure Plan. 6) Farmland and Protection Board - a resolution was passed and sent to the Satate regarding the sponsoring of the Circuit Breaker of taxing for farming and agriculture that would allow farmers a credit on their State Income Taxes. 7) Assessment Board of Local Review - will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 1996 from 3 :00 to 6 :00 P. M. 8 ) Tompkins Community Hospital - The Tompkins Community Hospital Board has retained a nerosurgen that will be on staff soon. 9) Sanitary Code Committee - is reviewing Article 8 - regarding subdivision. 10) Recreation Partnership - the Town of Danby had an 800 % increase in participation (261 participants) since the program began. 11 ) Long Rang Environmental Planning in Tompkins County - "Framework for Long Range • Environmental Planning in Tompkins County" was distributed to the County Board. He has requested ten ( 10) copies for the Town of Danby. Couricilperson Inman asked Representative Proto how the County stands with the issue of adding the Solid Waste Fee to the Town and County Tax Bill. Representative Proto said that he has been opposed to adding the Solid Waste Fee to the tax bill from the beginning. The County Board has been told that by including the fee with the tax bill will be a savings to the County of between $20, 000. 00 and $ 50, 000. 00 and will ease the paperwork in administration. The solid waste fee is billed on January 1 and is really unfair. He said he feels that if the tax payers want it on their tax bill we should respect their wishes, and if they don't we should respect that as well. If there is a savings of $50, 000. 00 it is in the Solid Waste Department. COMMUNICATIONS: 1 ) Supenisor Oltz reported that in the matter of The State verses The Town of Danby Planning 5 Town Board Minutes May 13, 1996 Board Petition - The Town has prepared an answer to the petition and filed a Responding Affidavit. 2) Supervisor Oltz has has made an appointment with Tom Corey to review the Town insurance. REPORTS : 1 ) Danby Youth Commission - 2) Code Enforcement Report - April 1. 996 received • Planning Board Report: The Planning Board is reviewing Town of Danby Subdivision Regulations for possible revision. SOLID WASTE FEE RESOLUTION NO. 35 of 1996 RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO TOMPKZNS COUNTY SOLID WASTE FEE ADDED TO TOWN AND COUNTY TAX BILL - Approved By Councilperson Steiner: Seconded by Councilperson Schwartz WHEREAS, a bill has been introduced in the New York Senate and Assembly (s6367 & a9222) with the purpose of adding solid waste fees to the Tompkins County and Town tax bills ; and WHEREAS, this bill if approved would allow the county to direct the collection of this fee be turned over to the towns; and WHEREAS, this bill would create additional costs to the towns ; and WHEREAS, no discussion of impact had been initiated by the county with the towns; and WHEREAS, the county had previously expended taxpayer dollars to establish the software and hardware to support the Solid Waste Department ' s collection of this fee; and WHEREAS, the county has expressed its desire to eliminate the fee in the future; and WHEREAS, the appearance of this fee on taxpayers annual bill will be interpreted as a tax increase and the towns will have no control in setting this fee; and WHEREAS, the Solid Waste Department is a part of the county government and is generating its operating budget through the tipping fees, recyclable sales and solid waste fees; and WHEREAS, a change in the method of collection would distort the actual costs of operations; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Danby Town Board goes on record as opposing this amendment to the Real Property Tax Law, and be it further • RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is directed to forward copies of this resolution to the following: NewYork State Senator John R . Kuhl NewYork State Senator James Seward New York State Assemblyman Martin Luster Tompkins County Board of Representatives : Stewart Stein Frank Proto Tom Todd 3 6 Town Board Minutes May 13, 1996 A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows : Inman Aye Johnson Aye Schwartz Aye Steiner Aye Oltz Aye Carried Unanimously Safety at Ithaca High School The Board discussed the issue of Safety at the Ithaca High School. Councilperson Schwartz said that it was clear to him from communications with some of the parents and students that there is a security problem at the Ithaca High School. If the students have a real fear for their safety, then something needs to be done . The first and immediate threat is the violence and many parents and residents would like professionally trained security personnel at the Ithaca High School that can deal with the increasing problem with gangs and violence . Councilperson Steiner agreed with Councilperson Schwartz that there is a problem with violence and lack of security in the Ithaca High School that should be addressed. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 8 :20 P . M. &ea") driaA,i7 Carol W. Sczep s , Town Clerk min- 5- 13 . 96