HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-10 t 4� � Ii
I _: . H I ( y
U I1 . ,, a
1379
1 Town Board Minutes
September 10, 2001
TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 10 , 2001
7 : 00 P.M.
Regular Meeting
PRESENT :
Supervisor Edward Inman
Councilpersons : Joel Gagnon, Norbert Nolte , Naomi Strichartz, Gladys Varona-Lacey
Others Present:
Carol W . Sczepanski - Town Clerk
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Susan Howe - Highway Department Secretary
Guests :
George Franze and Debbie Teeter
Members of the Public :
Mary Oltz, Ric Dietrich, Eileen B . Wright, Laurene Gilbert, Ames Brown, Joan & Roger Grant,
Nancy Weitzel, Walt Sczepanski, Al Becker
Supervisor Inman called the meeting to order at 7 : 02 and led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
to the American flag .
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Danby Community Park
Mary Oltz reported the committee who searched for property for a community park had the final
closing on the property today. They are now going to work on fund raising and have applied for a
grant.
Ames Brown - Congratulated the two members of the Board who attended the meeting with Senator
Kuhl today.
REPORTS
EMC (Environmental Management Council
Councilperson Gagnon reported that Steve Uzman from West Danby will temporairly report to the
Board on the activities of the EMC . At the next meeting Dave Furness from the DEC Region 7
Supervising Forester will address the EMC on the management of the State Forest with respect to
gas drilling.
Highway Report - Written report for August received.
Zoning Report - Susan Beeners reorted that she has received a partial application for a boarding
facility for dogs to be located on Marsh Road. The application will be addressed as a re-zoning issue
as it would require a planned development zone . A building permit will be issued this week for the
co-location of antenae on the Durfee Hill telecommunication towers . An application for a new
telecommunications tower proposed to be located near Yaple and West King Roads may be
withdrawn. She said she has not been working on the comprehensive plan.
Planning Board Report
Planning Board Chair Laurene Gilbert reported that at their last meeting Linda Hansen suggested that
we hold off on further discussion of the proposed zoning changes until we have a chance to see the
various references to section 600 of the Danby Zoning Ordinance related to site plan review for public
utilities . Planning Board Member Dan Klein wrote up explanations for the Board refer to easily .
Senior Citizen Report
Nancy Weitzel reported that the Danby Senior Citizens had an exciting program at the September
1 X80
2 Town Board Minutes
September 10, 2001
meeting. The entertainment was provided by Fred Moore . In August the seniors went on a trip to
Auburn for a tour of Willard Chapt4the Merry-Go-Round theater to see "Cabn. ret", and dinner at
Springside Restaurant. We are now working on programs and/or trips for the fall and winter .
Tompkins County Vital Communities Initiative Committee
Councilperson Gagnon reported that he attended a workshop in January and the summary
presentation. of the TompkinscountsVital Communities Initative Committee . There was some
question in our participation in the counties comprehensive planning process . He has received the
report and the working draft of planning for a comprehensive plan. He will share the report with the
Board .
OLD BUSINESS :
Benjamin ' s One Stop Update
Susan Beeners reported that she expects to receive consent from the owners attorneys to allow the
Town to proceed and bring contractors into the structure so that we can obtain estimates for a partial
demolition leaving the mechanics garage . Consent should be received this week. She has formalized
specifications for the request for estimates from demolition contractors and also asbestos surveying
and abatement work. As soon as consent has been obtained site visits can be scheduled . A consulting
engineer will be involved .
Supervisor Inman reported that the Town is looking at having an individual person or company do
the esbesWs investigation to eliminate a big company bidding on the abatement .
Building Committee :
Councilperson Nolte reported that we have received an estimate from Fenton for the excavation for
approximately $2 ,600 and the masonary work was $6,700 for the portico and sidewalks on the front
of the Town Hall building. There is also some carpentry work to be done on the posts .
The Clerk reported that the main entrance to the front of the building is not acceptable for elections .
GUEST SPEAKERS :
Cooperative Extention Agricultural Program
Debbie Teeter from the Cooperative Extention Agricultural Program introduced George Franz from
Franz and Associates who are doing the loc./resins t _w P ; s Development Rights Feasibility Study . She
spoke briefely about the Town agricultural profile that they are putting together at Cooperative
Extention. She presented each Board member and the Clerk with a copy of the report . The report
for the Town of Danby is on data gathered from the most recent agriculture reviews . She said that
the County would like to create maps that accurately portray land that is agricultural and explained
the difference between agricultural districts and agricultural assessments .
George Franz- explained that he has been hired by Tompkins County to study the feasibility of
setting up a purchase of development rights program to protect agricultural land . This means that
the County would offer the landowner (or specific) landowners cash in return for the development
rights to their land. The majority of the farmers in Tompkins County are near, at or beyond
retirement age and no young farmers with the financial capability of buying a farm . A purchase of
development rights will preserve agricultural land by making it financially possible to transfer a farm
from one generation to another. They will be looking at fairly large contigous blocks of actively
farmed land, soils quality, and where the County Ag Districts are located . George said that farming
is no more compatible with residential development than industry is compatible with residential
development. He asked the Board to study the report and to respond.
County Representative Report
Representative Frank Proto reported that he expressed to Senator Kuhl today how pleased he was
in the interest and support he has given to the Town of Caroline and the Town of Danby.
Farm and City Day - With the help of Cooperative Extention the County put together the annual
i
Farm and City Day and that it was well attended this year.
it I . ' , . � • � I r ' Vlr 441 u f� .� i 4
! 1 � ! ; LI' ICI � 1 ;It . 1
� ' � � " i its ''i irj t PI
f i j I 1 � ' 1 ' i ti HI < < < F ; 1
!
1381
3 Town Board Minutes
September 10 , 2001
Water Resources Council - did not meet last month. The coming agenda is for the Cornell Lake
Source Cooling Project.
County Telecommunication Towers - The letter sent to him by Ames Brown in regard to his
concern about the cell tower contractor has been referred .
County Budget Process - the proposal to vote on the County Budget for 2002 prior to the
November Election so that residents would know how each member voted - failed.
OLD BUSINESS :
NYSEG Plan - Request for Support
Supervisor Inman reported that he has received a request from Richard Charasky, Public Relations
Coordinator for the NYSEG Plan for support of a price freeze for seven (7) years by sending a letter
to Governor Pataki or with a resolution by the Town Board .
No action was taken.
NEW BUSINESS :
Natural Gas Drilling
Susan Beeners reported that she understands that the Town Board has directed her, Councilperson
Gagnon and the Town Attorney to draft an amendment to the Danby Zoning Ordinance to make
utilities by special permit in all zones . What is missing is what the definitation should be for utilities
with the exception of those for local service . It will be a simple amendement and will be discussed
by the Planning Board at their next meeting.
Approval of the Town Clerk' s August 2001 Report
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the Town Clerk ' s August 2001 Report as submitted .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Inman Aye Carried Unanimously
Supervisor' s August 2001 Report - Deferred
The Town Board deferred approval of the Supervisor' s August Report as it was unavailable for
review at this time .
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
General Fund Warrant No. 9 of 2001
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that
the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the General Fund Warrant No . 9 of 2001 voucher
numbers 347 - 385 in the amount of $ 6, 366 . 88 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Inman Aye Carried Unanimously
Highway Fund Warrant No. 9 of 2001
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the Highway Fund Warrant No . 9 of 2001 voucher
numbers 118 - 134 in the amount of $36,773 . 88 .
1382
4 Town Board Minutes
September 10 , 2001
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried Unanimously
Inman Aye
West Danb Water District Fund Warrant No. 9 of 2001
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded
r numbers 33ey 36 inP the amount of
Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 9 of 2001 voucher
$320 . 14 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried Unanimously
Inman Aye
HR- 1 - Account
that the Town
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded o Dundon Councilperson
Insul tion Nolte the amount of
Board of the Danby approve the HR- 1 Account charges
$ 8 ,000 . 00 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried Unanimously
Inman Aye
T & A Account
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded d by Councilperson St Rhea tz that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the T & Account
$ 159 . 50 payable to Barney, Grossman, Dubow and Markus for legal services related to Independend
Wireless One .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried Unanimously
Inman Aye
Hi hwa De artment Re nest
Councilperson Gagnon reported that there is a request in the Highway Department ort for the Report ort f from
ice
Highway Superintendent to be addressed regarding a resolution support
agreement with Tompkins County.
Councilperson
Strichartz said that she has sent the Agreement for Snow and Ice Re oon al the
County Intermunicipal Agreement to Attorney Richard Stumbar for review and d
suggested that we wait for his report.
RESOLUTION NO . 74 of 2001
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT ' S PROPOSAL
FOR THE SNOW AND ICE AGREEMENT
By Councilperson Gagnon: Seconded by Councilperson Nolte
WHEREAS, the Town of Danby Highway Superintendent and the Town Board have reviewed the
y 2002 County Snow and Ice Agreement, and
:
1383
5 Town Board Minutes
September 10 , 2001
WHEREAS, the Town of Danby Highway Superintendent has made a recommendation to the Town
Board of the Town of Danby that the Town be reimbursed for time and materials actually used for
the snow and ice removal on Tompkins County roads rather than by mileage ; now be it
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Danby supports the Town Highway
Superintendent' s proposal to charge for time and materials actually used for snow and ice removal
on Tompkins County roads rather than by mileage .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried Unanimously
Appointments for Interviews - Planning Board set
Appointments to interview for the Planning Board vacancy were set for Wednesday, September 12 ,
2001 at 7 : 00 and 7 : 30 .
ADJOURNMENT : ,
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9 :40 P . M .
" it L■Laint
Carol W . Sczepanyi /Town Clerk
min-9- 10 . 01