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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-10 Danby Town Board Minutes of Regular Meeting December 10, 2012 Present: Supervisor: Ric Dietrich Councilpersons: Leslie Connors, Kathy Halton, Dan Klein, Dylan Race Others Present: Deputy Town Clerk Susan McLellan Bookkeeper Laura Shawley Code Officer Sue Beeners Public Garry Huddle, Ronda Roaring The Regular Meeting of the Danby Town Board was opened at 7:02pm. Privilege of the Floor Ronda Roaring requested that mention of Email correspondence to the Town Board regarding the Conservation Advisory Council be noted in the official minutes. Klein informed the Board that he will miss the January 2013 meetings, as he will be traveling through Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Approve Minutes Minor typos were corrected. RESOLUTION NO.106 OF 2012-APPROVE NOVEMBER MINUTES Resolved,that the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of November 12, 19 2012. Moved by Halton, Second by Connors. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich Warrants GENERAL FUND #489-531 for a total of$20,292.93 Moved by Race, Second by Klein. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich WATER DISTRICT FUND #064-069 for a total$2,128.20 Moved by Halton, Second by Klein. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich HIGHWAY FUND #169-182 for a total$25,865.00 Moved by Connors, Second by Halton. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich Town Board_Minutes_20121210 Monday,December 17,2012 Page 1 of 4 Tourism Signage Klein brought an issue/request to the Board. The Chamber of Commerce is writing a grant to use hotel tax money for improved signage, directed at tourists, in Tompkins County.The Chamber has requested that Towns which have gotten support funds for signage in the past write letters of support for this grant. If the grant is awarded,Towns would be asked to match funds with in-kind support (such as labor and materials). Klein clarified that, although his salary also comes through the Hotel Tax,he receives no personal benefit from this grant proposal. There was a general discussion about tourism signage. Roaring asked questions and commented about the grant application program and process. She had concerns about whether signs regarding Jennings would, in fact,be installed. She wanted to have more research into the proposal to determine whether this would benefit Danby. There was a discussion about trail head signs. Klein clarified that there is not a set plan for the proposal.This grant would allow the creation of a plan, including the hire of a consultant. RESOLUTION NO.107 OF 2012-APPROVE SIGN LETTER Resolved,that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the the Town Supervisor to sign a letter in sup- port of a grant application through the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce for tourism signs. Moved by Klein, Second by Halton. The motion passed. In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich Town Response to Extended SGEIS Comments There was a preliminary discussion of measures to respond.The Danby Gas Drilling Task Force will discuss the issue at its December 12 meeting. Halton noted two current problems: the DEC is drafting regulations before the Environmental Impact Statment is completed and there is not sufficient time for public comments at the end of year/holiday season. There are also concerns regarding a lack of transparency in the Health Impacts review. Halton has made preliminary notes about the proposed regulations, as currently released. She re- ported that several areas of concern remain in the revised regulations. She will share this information with the rest of the Board. Halton recommended that the Town review letters written by the Tompkins County Legislature and TANG working group. These letters could serve as a template for a letter from Danby.A recommendation should also be coming from the DGDTF. CSEA Negotiations Dietrich informed the Board that a contract with the CSEA union should be ready for action at the next Board meeting.The Town Attorney is reviewing the final contract. Insurance Review Dietrich explained the need for a review of the current insurance plans,particularly the general liability insurance,now covering the Town. This needs to be done every few years. Dietrich and Shawley described information which is being collected from three separate insurance companies. Dietrich asked the Board how involved it wishes to be and whether it would be comfortable with a recommendation from Town Hall staff. Don Barber may make a presentation to the Board about NYMIR either during the December 17 or the year end meeting.A decision needs to be made by the end of the calendar year. Biomass Boiler Dietrich and Shawley gave an update regarding design flaws which needs to be fixed. The fur- nace works and is supplying the highway department with heat. There are still"kinks"in how the boiler integrates with the existing backup system. The changes should not be very expensive. Town Board_Minutes_20121210•Monday,December 17,2012 Page 2 of 4 There was a discussion about when to hold an open house/public tour of the system. Dietrich suggested that the tour of the highway department system might be combined with a town-wide tour of home boilers and heating systems. The Danby Land Bank is interested in creating a Town inven- tory of such systems.Dietrich included this suggestion in his Supervisor's article in the December Danby Area News. If there is not interest in a town-wide tour, a public event at the highway barns will be held in January or February. Road Use Law Revisions Beeners has sent a list of proposed changes to the Road Law to Town attorney Guy Krogh.There are places in the law that require clarification of the permitting process. One section has a circular rationale related to a requirement for a road usage worksheets. There is a clarification needed in the exemption for the construction of of structures like two family homes. Logging would be changed to be included as a construction activity and would need to fill out a traffic worksheet. These processes need to be adequately described in the law. These clarifications and modifications have been worked out between the Highway Department and Code Enforcement office and are now being reviewed by the Town's legal counsel.A recommen- dation for a fee schedule is also under review. Youth Services Update Dietrich reported that recent meetings with the County facilitator for youth services have not gone very well. He is concerned about the process of re-visioning programming through the use of consultants and a perceived lack of clear communication between agencies. Dietrich reported a recent meeting of the Danby Community Council. He informed the Board that Julie Kulik will leave her position as youth program coordinator at the end of the year. The DCC is working on a plan for the next year. Dietrich characterized the DCC discussions as healthy. The Danby and Caroline Town Supervisors are working together to secure funding for the program. Vault Improvements Sue Beeners reported on the now completed insulation project.The vault interior has been insu- lated, lined with sheet-rock, and painted. Improved shelving will be installed at some point. Dietrich commended the staff on the improvements made during the past two years in the organization and condition of the archive vault. Committee Appointments The Board held a discussion of the procedure related to committee appointments.Notification of Board vacancies was inadvertently left out of the December DAN. There was a brief notice in the November DAN. Klein was concerned that notification be published prior to making appointments. There was concern that the application is not on the Town web site. The application is available through the Town Clerk's office.Notification should run in the January DAN.Appointment action will take place in January. Comfort Road Speed Limit Beeners and Connors initiated a discussion regarding a recommendation to lower the speed limit on Comfort Road. This recommendation came from H&E Stork and from residents on the road. The issue was part of a larger discussion before the Planning Board. There was a discussion of which sec- tion of the road to reduce speed and what speed is suitable for the road conditions.The primary inter- est seems to be in the area between West Miller Road and NYS Rt.96B. There was some discussion as to whether this petition should include South Danby Road. There is particular concern about Comfort Road due to the expansion underway at Stork. Town Board_Minutes_20121210•Monday,December 17,2012 Page 3 of 4 Klein suggested that the Board gather feedback from residents prior to writing a letter of request to the County highway department. Connors offered to write something for the Danby Area News. The Board will continue consideration about the speed limit question in February. Beeners advised the Board that the Code Assistant,Matt Cooper,has been in communication with the DOT about a traffic study on NYS Rt.34/96 to see whether it would warrant a speed reduction in the West Danby area. Further information will be coming to Board in the event that action is taken by the DOT. Short Reports and Correspondence Reports from the Code Enforcement office,Town Clerk's office,Highway Department, and Town Justices were circulated. Huddle informed the Board that he can now accept credit card payments via the internet for tickets and fines. Only a few judges in the county accept payments this way. McLellan reported that the animal control officer has ticketed dog owners who were very delinquent in their renewals.All of those owners have since taken care of their dog licensing. Dietrich circulated a report from the County Broadband Committee. Adjournment The Meeting was adjourned at 8:23pm. Susan McLellan,Deputy Town Clerk Town Board_Minutes_20121210•Monday,December 17,2012 Page 4 of 4