HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-12 1407
1 Town Board Minutes
April 12, 2004
TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
APRIL 12 , 2004
PRESENT :
Councilpersons : Joel Gagnon, Norbert Nolte, Naomi Strichartz, Gladys Varona- Lacey
ABSENT :
Supervisor Dietrich (Excused)
Others Present:
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Carol Sczepanski - Town Clerk
Susan Howe - Highway Dept. Secretary
Members of the Public :
Bill Farrell , Roy Casterline, Mauro Marinelli
Deputy Supervisor Naomi Strichartz called the meeting to order at 7 : 00 p .m . and led all present to
the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA :
Councilperson Varona-Lacey requested an Executive Session of the Board to review the proposed
CSEA Contract. No Board member objected .
Communications Received :
TCOMA (Tompkins County Municipal Officials Association Memo - Strengthening Home
Government for Towns & Villages .
Web Site Proposal
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
William Farrell asked if there was going to be a public hearing on the Proposed Highland Dog
Boarding Facility.
Deputy Supervisor Strichartz said that the scheduling of a public hearing for the Proposed Highland
Dog Boarding Facility is on the agenda and there may be discussion on the proposed local law
Roy Casterline reported that he is working on getting proposals for providing emergency power to
the West Danby Water District facility. He said that we ought to start thinking about how we are
going to get people together to get this done and something in place. The fire company are the ones
that turned the West Danby Fire Station into an emergency center and they should hook up power
to the water district pump to supply water during an emergency.
Susan Beeners said that some of the fire district members are reluctant to hook up .
Town Clerk Carol Sczepanski reported that from April 18 - 21 she will be at the NYS Town Clerks
Annual Conference . The office will be covered by her Deputy, Linda Howe. The Town Calendar
is very full with requests for meetings and use of the building. Often there is not enough advance
notice to properly advertise and post meetings and events . There have been complaints about the
Community Council garden on the Town Hall lawn that has turned out to be a weed patch.
Deputy Supervisor Strichartz said that she would find out from Community Council President Dan
Klein whether or not it was going to be cleaned up and used this year.
REPORTS :
Highway Report - Monthly Report for March 2004 submitted .
Sue Howe reported that the Highway Department needs to be notified on a timely basis of meetings
so that they can provide the information requested for the Board meetings .
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April 12, 2004
The agreement to spend highway funds needs to be signed by the Board.
Vendor Presentation (Salt Storage Facility) by Ken Karoglanian has been re- scheduled for
the May 10, Board Meeting .
Sue Howe reported that she has received two(2) additional quotes for the salt shed storage
facility.
The Highway Superintendent would like to look over the CSEA Contract before it is signed .
No changes in payroll can be made until the agreement has been signed.
Code Enforcement Office Report - Monthly report for May received.
Susan Beeners submitted information to the Board of the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan
entitled "Principles, Policies, and Action Items Draft Plan Review. " The County would like some
input from the Towns .
OLD BUSINESS :
Highland Farms Dog Boarding Facility
Deputy Supervisor Strichartz asked the Town Board to review the proposed local law for the
"Highland Farms Dog Boarding Facility" .
Motion to Set Public Hearing - Highland Farms Dog Boarding Facility
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Nolte that the Town
Board of the Town of Danby schedules a public hearing for May 3 , 2004 at 7 : 00 p . m . to consider a
local law for the Highland Farms Dog Boarding Facility proposed to be located on West Miller
Road.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Motion to Increase the Notification by Mail to 1 ,500 feet.
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby increases the "Notice by Mail" from 500 feet to 1 , 500 feet for
the Highland Farms Dog Boarding Facility proposed to be located on West Miller Road.
Discussion :
Councilperson Nolte said that 1 ,000 feet sounds more reasonable.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
CMC Proposal Preview for the Board - Mauro Marinelli
Susan Beeners said that this is not a public hearing but a preview for the Town Board for a proposed
subdivision. It will be returning to the Board if the Planning Board has a public hearing and grants
ina a
preliminary approval .
Councilperson Strichartz said that if neighbors who are going to be impacted by this development
are here and want to ask questions that they should feel very free to ask questions .
There were a few residents in attendance to see the preview presentation who did not sign an
attendance sheet. The residents border the proposed subdivision proposed to be near NYS Rte. 95B
and Comfort Road across from the Nelson Road intersection.
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April 12, 2004
Mauro Marinelli - Project Developer
Mauro said that he is one of the three partners in the CMC . The other partners are Barry Craddock
and Alvia Sviapa He said that he started with this project in January 2004 working with Allen
Engineering and with our Code Enforcement Officer. He described the layout of the subdivision,
road and location of the proposed lots . They have preliminary approvals from the state and from the
County. Deep hole tests and some perk tests have been done . They have preliminary approval from
Tompkins County Health Department for well and septic . They are about to do tests for the aquifer
showing that this development will not impact the aquifer. They are working with a hydro geologist
and have met with the Town engineer who wanted drainage fields . The development is for twenty-
two (22) new lots .
Councilperson Varona-Lacey asked what the price range for the housing in the development would
be and would there be multiple dwellings or duplex housing for affordable housing .
Mauro said that the price of a lot would be between $40, 000 and $45 ,000 and the housing around
$250,000 to $ 350,000 . He said that the design for the development complies with the Town of
Danby zoning regulations . This area is zoned low density residential.
Councilperson Gagnon said that one of the things the town is trying to avoid is the conspicuous
addition of dwellings in the middle of open fields which does more to destroy rural character than
anything else you could do .
Mauro Marinelli described the landscape, buffers, conservation area and location of the lots that are
planned for the development.
Susan Beeners said that under current zoning two family houses are permitted on a residential lot.
Councilperson Strichartz opened the floor to residents who live on Comfort Road to ask Mauro
Marinelli Questions regarding the road and invited all the residents in attendance to attend the
Comprehensive Plan Task Force meeting on April 14, 2004 at 7 : 30 P . M .
Several residents expressed the following concerns :
Increased traffic - speeding traffic is already a problem
Difficulty of getting onto NYS Rte . 96B from Comfort Road
Will development impact neighborhood wells
Councilperson Gagnon said that one of the questions we have before the committee is -Should we
do a moratorium or instead which would prohibit development while we entertain our options do
some quick changes to the ordinance .
NEW BUSINESS :
Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that
the Town Board of the Town of Danby approve and sign the Agreement to Spend Highway Funds
and approves the purchase of pipe for West Jersey Hill Road .
Discussion :
Sue Howe explained the items on the agreement to the Board and asked for direction on Account No .
DA5112 Chips budget items .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
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April 12, 2004
The Town Board of the Town of Danby signed the Agreement to Spend Highway Funds .
RESOLUTION NO. 33 OF 2004
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE SUNSET PROVISION
OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND
(LGRMIF)
By Councilperson Strichartz : Seconded by Councilperson Nolte
WHEREAS, the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund was created in 1989
to provide technical assistance and grants to establish, improve or enhance records management
programs in New York ' s more than 4300 local governments , and
WHEREAS , a sunset date for the LGRMIF was established in the original legislation to permit its
operation as a five year experiment, and
WHEREAS, the New York State Legislature since 1995 has twice extended the sunset date, most
recently to December 31 , 2005 , and
WHEREAS, the LGRMIF has effectively supported essential advisory services and 6 , 300 grants
totaling over $ 113 million to improve the management of records for over half of all NYS local
governments, and
WHEREAS , LGRMIF and the programs it supports continue to operate at a high standard of
excellence and provide direct and significant benefit to local governments at no cost to the taxpayers,
and
WHEREAS, the Town of Danby has benefited from technical assistance, training, publications, and
have received a grant totaling $4, 139 . 00 supported by the LGRMIF, and
WHEREAS, the LGRMIF continues to be critically important in the fulfillment of the many
records and information related responsibilities of the Town of Danby, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby supports the elimination of said
sunset provision of December 31 , 2005 in order to make the LGRMIF permanent .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
RESOLUTION NO. 34 OF 2004
DETERMINING VARIOUS FEE RATES FOR THE REVIEW OF CERTAIN
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey
WHEREAS, Resolution No . 72 of 1991 , "Establishing Fees for Building code, Zoning Ordinance,
Subdivision Regulation, and Other Enforcement Activities", provides that certain fees may be
charged by the Town to cover part of the cost of professional services, including, but not limited to,
engineering, planning, legal, and other expenses incurred by the Town in its review of application
materials for various development proposals and for its inspection of various development projects
if those projects are approved; and
WHEREAS, said resolution also provides that the hourly rates to be charged for Town staff may
be determined from time to time by the Town Board; now, therefore, it is
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby hereby determines the following :
1 . that the current hourly rate for the Town Code Enforcement Officer is $ 20 . 23 ; and
2 . that the current hourly rate for the Town Highway Superintendent is $28 . 05 ; and
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April 12, 2004
3 . the same formula for fringe benefits incurred by the Highway Department as
submitted for snow and ice .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Motion to Approve an Agreement for a Web Site
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Nolte that the
Town Board authorizes the Town Clerk to enter into an agreement with Lawrence Parlett to develop
a web site for the Town of Danby.
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Approval of Supervisor' s March Report - Deferred
Clerk' s March Report - Deferred
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Approval of General Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2004
A motion was made by Councilperson Nolte and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon that the Town
Board of the Town of Danby approves the General Fund Warrant No . 4 of 2004 voucher numbers
137- 194 in the amount of $ 9, 868 . 63 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Approval of Highway Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2004
A motion was made by Councilperson Nolte and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon that the Town
Board of the Town of Danby approves the Highway Fund Warrant No . 4 of 2004 voucher numbers
40- 53 in the amount of $ 17 ,564 . 86 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Approval of West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2004
A motion was made by Councilperson Varona-Lacey and seconded by Councilperson Nolte that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 4
of 2004 voucher numbers 13 - 17 in the amount of $ 775 . 88 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
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April 12 , 2004
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Gladys Varona-
Lacey that the Town Board of the Town of Danby adjourn to Executive Session for an update on
CSEA negotiations at 9 : 45 p . m .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
(Supervisor Dietrich absent)
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Nay
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye Carried
Board Meeting Reconvened
The Town Board reconvened at 9 : 55 p .m. and on a motion adjourned.
Oou?O' ,
arol W. Scze p anski Clerk
min-4- 12 . 04