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Home My WebLink AboutTownBoard_Minutes_20150420Danby Town Board  Minutes of Regular Meeting  April 20, 2015 Present: Supervisor: Ric Dietrich Councilpersons: Rebecca Brenner, Leslie Connors, Jim Holahan, Jack Miller Others Present: Town Clerk Pamela Goddard Bookkeeper Laura Shawley Health Consortium Don Barber Public Ted Crane, Ronda Roaring, Frank Darrow, David Hall, Pat Woodworth, Charlie Tilton. The Danby Town Board Meeting was opened at 5:08pm Unity House Meeting The Board held a discussion with Unity House representatives regarding the neighborhood oppo - sition to a group home on Nelson Road, to house three individuals with developmental disabilities. Dialog between Unity House and the Town Board will be ongoing. 6:00 - Code Office Staffing Discussion- Planner Position Town Board voted to enter Executive Session to interview an applicant to the Planner Position. MOTION - ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION Resolved, that the Town Board of Town of Danby enters into executive session to discuss a potential appointment in the Code Office. Moved by Dietrich, Second by Connors. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Meeting recess at 6:50 - Meeting reconvened in open session at 7:00 Brenner departed due to family obligations. Privilege of the Floor Pat Woodworth presented a petition, for the record, regarding concerns related to proposed changes to Planned Development Zone #10 on Gunderman Road. The petition contains more than 70 signatures, primarily from residents on Gunderman Road. The petition, “urges the Town Board to re- ject the currently recommended rezoning and to consider an approach that would allow the types of uses currently proposed for PDZ10 without opening the door to future uses that could be much more impactful and inappropriate for the area.” Woodworth stated that this petition continues to be circulat- ed. She noted that residents in other areas of the town share these concerns. David Hall asked for a copy of the petition. He opted to hold any other comments for the discus - sion already scheduled on the agenda. Health Consortium Presentation Don Barber, Executive Director of the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium, made a presentation to the Board. He distributed copies of the Health Insurance Consor- tium Orientation Manual and a six page financial report, covering the period from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2014. The Consortium is growing, with the addition of municipalities from Cortland County. It is anticipated that at least two more Towns will join in 2016. The Consortium is able to remain in the black by being very efficient. Almost 99% of the Consor - tium income is from paid premiums and 93% of the expense distribution is for paid claims. The Con- sortium has been able to reduce premiums/reduce the rate of increase for the current year through the use of funds from the “Unencumbered Fund Balance.” It is expected that the rate of increase for pre- miums will be kept at 5% for 2016. Barber explained the organization and structure of the Health Insurance Consortium. He also de - scribed some new programs, as a sample “Wellness Policy Resolution.” Barber characterized the Consortium as, “inter-municipal cooperation at its best.” He congratulated Danby for being an active and engaged partner.  Town Board_Minutes_20150420 • Tuesday, May 5, 2015 Page ! of ! 1 3 Approve Electric Work Clerk Goddard presented two bids for electric work in the Town Hall, on behalf of Code Officer Cooper. This work needed to correct a problem of pipes freezing in the bathrooms during the winter. Westbrook has been used for other projects, with no problems. RESOLUTION NO. 49 OF 2015 - APPROVE BID FOR ELECTRIC WORK Resolved, that the Town Board of Town of Danby accepts a bid of $925.75 from Westbrook Enterprises, LLC for electric work in the Town Hall to correct a crawl space problem of freezing pipes. Moved by Dietrich, Second by Connors. The motion passed.  In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Water District Improvements Grant Voucher Clerk Goddard presented a voucher related to the West Danby Water District grant for Town Board approval. This is the final voucher for work on the Water District improvement project. RESOLUTION NO. 50 0F 2015 - AUTHORIZATION TO PAY - WATER DISTRICT GRANT Resolved, that the Town Board of Town of Danby approves special payment of an invoice related to the OCR WDWD Improvement Grant:Moody & Associates; equipment, labor, and materials related to installing a pump and submersible motor for the West Danby Water District. The total of this invoice, $14,917.06, to be paid out of a dedicated checking account for this purpose. Moved by Dietrich, Second by Connors. The motion passed.  In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Code Office Staffing Discussion - Planner Position Town Board discussed potential applicants to the Planner Position. Dietrich expressed his view that the candidate interviewed has a strong resume and significant relevant experience. He asked whether the TB wished to interview other candidates. Connors and Holahan stated that they saw no need to interview other applicants. Code Officer Beeners will continue to work on a limited basis as part of a transition to the new Code Office/Planning team. Code Officer Cooper will be leaving at the end of May, with his final standard work week the first week of May. RESOLUTION NO. 51 OF 2015 - CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF PLANNER Resolved, that the Town Board of Town of Danby appoints C.J. Randall as Town of Danby Planner, at an average work week of 24 hours per week, and an annualized equivalent 2015 salary of $37,837.00, with said appointment to be on a provisional basis pending her successful completion of the Civil Service examination for said position; and it is Further Resolved that the effective date of the start of employment shall be subject to arrangement with and approval by the Town Supervisor. Moved by Miller, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Legislator’s Report Dan Klein gave an update on New Year’s Eve SWAT incident on Hornbrook Road. That after - noon, the Tompkins County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee voted 4-1 to proceed with an out- side evaluation of the incident. The committee will consult with the division of the Federal Depart- ment of Justice that investigates such incidents. The investigation would not only examine what hap- pened during the three day incident but also the contributing factors leading to the incident. Questions will be asked regarding what could have been done more effectively, including the mental health sys- tem, drug courts, and the systems for serving warrants. Further details are still to come. This may need approval from the full County Legislature. Klein stated that he is in support of an outside evalu- ation. Klein noted that the questions presented by the Town of Danby regarding the SWAT incident still need to be addressed. He is working on this. Klein reported that the County Planning Committee is working on a Trails Plan. They are inter - ested in creating a trail head at Jennings Pond to connect to the Finger Lakes Trail. The committee recognizes that a trail head at Jennings Pond would require a land owner agreement or small land ac- quisition to establish a connection to the Finger Lakes Trail. There was some discussion of the com- plications of making such arrangements. Dietrich asked whether this committee is aware that the Town of Danby petitioned NYS for such a trail head several years ago, and that the petition was denied. The trail would need to go through a wetland. A trail was started, but further sections were never completed. Connors expressed a concern that, if such a trail is created, it be located away from certain sensitive areas containing endangered plants and otter habitat. Klein said that he would bring all of this information to the Planning Com- mittee. Klein reported that the Town of Danby has again been awarded $16,000 for Danby Fun Day 2015. These funds are through the Community Celebrations grants funded by the hotel tax. Town Board_Minutes_20150420 • Tuesday, May 5, 2015 Page ! of ! 2 3 Clerk Goddard asked for an update on the Van Pool project. Klein reported that the project is not progressing smoothly. The company, V-Ride, and TCAT are having difficulty arranging a contract together. There is an additional problem related to V-Ride’s belief that sales tax needs to be charged, even though TCAT and the County are tax-exempt. This issue is in negotiation. Zoning Change Recommendation from Planning Board Dietrich reminded the TB to review material that had been forwarded by the Planning Board in February, regarding proposed changes to land use and zoning regulations. These changes are intended to address weaknesses that had been found as part o the review of the Comprehensive Plan during the Autumn. Dietrich suggested that the next step should be to send this to the Town Attorney for review. RESOLUTION NO. 52 OF 2015 - ATTORNEY REVIEW OF PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES Resolved, that the Town Board of Town of Danby authorizes the Town of Danby Attorney to review proposed changes to Land Use and Zoning Regulations, as recommended by the Danby Planning Board on February 19, 2015. Moved by Connors, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Aquifer Protection Ordinance Update Dietrich on provided a brief update on the status of the draft Aquifer Protection Ordinance. The Town Attorney has reviewed the draft and sent it back to Steve Winkley. ! Discussion - Gunderman Road Planned Development Zone The Board asked David Hall for an update on the status of required information regarding the proposed changes to PDZ#10. Hall acknowledged the concerns expressed in the petition. He stated that his professionals are still working on the proposal and that it is still, “a work in progress.” He is working for balance between limitations and flexibility which will make any venture there viable. !!! Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm !!!!!!!! ____________________________________ Pamela Goddard, Town Clerk Town Board_Minutes_20150420 • Tuesday, May 5, 2015 Page ! of ! 3 3