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Home My WebLink AboutTownBoard_Minutes_20171113Danby Town Board  Minutes of Regular Meeting  November 13, 2017 Present: Councilpersons: Rebecca Brenner, Leslie Connors, Ric Dietrich (Supervisor), Jim Holahan, Jack Miller Others Present: Town Clerk Pamela Goddard Code Paul Hansen Justices Garry Huddle, Theresa Klinger Public Ted Crane, Ronda Roaring, Katharine Hunter, Matt Ulinski, Jessie Tonjes, Adriana Hall, Pat Woodworth, Charles Tilton, Bill Evans. Regular Meeting Opened at 7:05pm Privilege of the Floor Ted Crane reminded the Board that the Community Council is presenting a puppet show and puppet making workshop on Saturday November 18, 2pm. On Dec. 3 there will be a presentation of planetary images. Planning Board Applicant Interviews Three applicants for the vacancy on the Planning Board, to fill the partial term arising from Anne Klingensmith’s resignation in July, were available for questions.The Town Board discussed and agreed on a set of standard questions to be asked of each of the three applicants available for interviews. •Why do you want to be on the Planning Board? •What do you hope to accomplish in serving on the PB? •How familiar are you with PB activities and processes? •What is your experience working in a group toward a common purpose? •What is your vision of Danby in relation to the Comprehensive Plan and PB? Jack Miller added a question regarding “hobbies” for Jessie’s interview. This question was not asked of the other applicants. Jim Holahan asked all the applicants how they would balance community goals for open space and rural quality of life with property owner interests in development. Jessie Tonjes lives on Coddington Road and is a clinical director for Blue Sky Center for Learning. She responded to the questions. Ted Crane lives on Comfort Road and is a retired computer systems analyst and graphic designer. He responded to each of these questions. Pat Woodworth lives on Gunderman Road and is a retired math professor. She responded to the questions. A fourth applicant, Ed Bergman, will be invited to be interviewed at the next TB meeting, Nov. 20. ! Warrants ABSTRACT #10 OF 2017: GENERAL FUND #441-496 for a total of $41,569.50 Moved by Connors, Second by Miller. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich HIGHWAY FUND #209-235 for a total $75,424.40 Moved by Connors, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich Voucher #224, for “Safety Clean” was missing from the folder. This will be reviewed at the next TB meeting. WEST DANBY WATER DISTRICT #39- 45 for a total of $6,693.13 Moved by Brenner, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich  Town Board_Minutes_20171113 • Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Page ! of !1 3 Approve Town Board Minutes MOTION—APPROVE MINUTES Moved, That the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of October 2 and 9, 2017. Moved by Brenner, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich MOTION—APPROVE MINUTES Moved, That the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of October 16, 2017. Moved by Holahan, Second by Brenner. The motion was tabled. Jack Miller stated that he had some questions regarding the minutes of this meeting and requested that approval be delayed. Clerk Goddard offered to answer questions he might have. This offer was declined, at this time, by Miller. Recreation Partnership Contract Renewal/Approval Brenner explained the status of the Town of Danby contract agreement with the Intermunicipal Recreation Partnernership. A new five year contract has been drafted and reviewed by various municipal attorneys. Approval of this contract must be passed by a resolution of the Town Board. The proposed contract was previously distributed to the TB by email. There are no substantive changes from the previous five year contract. Supervisor Dietrich made a statement regarding the uniqueness of this partnership and described how this has worked well for the residents. Danby residents have high participation in Rec. Partnership programs. Programs are evenly divided between art and sports related programs. These programs are targeted to elementary school aged children. RESOLUTION NO. 70 OF 2017 - APPROVAL OF RECREATION PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the Intermunicipal Recreation Partnership Agreement, effective January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2022. Moved by Brenner, Second by Dietrich. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Miller, Dietrich. Discussion of Board Applicants The Board agreed to hold discussion of the applicants to the PB vacancy until all are interviewed. The fourth interview was anticipated for the next week. There was a discussion of other vacancies pending in January, 2018. Clerk Goddard confirmed that she has contacted all of the persons whose terms are expiring at the end of 2017. Information was shared about a pending vacancy to the Environmental Management Council. Bill Evans reported that he will not seek a voting seat on the EMC, but will remain involved as an associate member in “dark sky” considerations. Anne Klingensmith has expressed interest in being appointed to this position. Jack Miller Jr. left the meeting at 8:15pm Emergency Weather Notification System Brenner made a report regarding a test group for a new NOAA weather alert system. This system will send out information about weather conditions, particularly snow squalls, to a targeted area more quickly than in the past. The intent is to let drivers know of potential hazardous road conditions. Brenner has been added as a “weather ambassador,” as an elected official and through her position at Cornell. This allows her immediate access to the information received and distributed by Beth Harrington and Tompkins County Emergency Response. Weather Ambassadors will help to get information out to the public in a timely manner. There was discussion of how this is different from “NY Alerts” and other notification systems and how the NOAA may fit in with the County notification system. Dietrich shared information regarding how this system may evolved into Town-specific weather alerts. It is not clear when or if such a system will come online, who will manage this system, and how information will best be directed to residents. Additional information should be available in early 2018. Joint Boards Meeting Dietrich reminded the Board about a “scoping meeting” to be held Tuesday, November 28. There was a brief discussion regarding gathering ideas and discussion topics for the meeting. Planner Randall is drafting a list of discussion items for this meeting. Crane asked whether there would be public input solicited at the meeting. Dietrich responded that the public would be invited to contribute thoughts on priorities for 2018 during board meetings following the Nov. 28 scoping meeting. Dietrich noted that there was a high rate of success in meeting goals and completing initiatives raised during the Joint Boards Scoping meeting for 2017. A substantial list has already been compiled by Planner Randall. Some projects from this year will carry over to 2018.  Town Board_Minutes_20171113 • Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Page ! of !2 3 Ridgecrest Road Building Demolition Order Code Officer Hansen reported about investigation and determination of an unsafe building at 285 Ridgecrest Road. The building has been found to have asbestos in the insulation. The estimated cost of remediation is $30,000, which the property owner is unable to pay. The property owner resides out-of- state and no one is living there. Hansen is unaware of any State program to help with the cost of removing asbestos. Hansen outlined the steps in the process of addressing and remediating the problem of an unsafe building. After reviewing the building report, distributed at this meeting, the Board needs to pass a resolution ordering the Code Enforcement Officer to serve notice on the property owner. There was discussion regarding the timeline and process of demolition notification. Part of the discussion involved whether the demolition cost falls to the property owner or to the Town, and what happens if the property owner is unable, or doesn’t pay the cost of demolition. Additional information is being solicited from the Town Attorney. RESOLUTION NO. 71 OF 2017 - DETERMINATION OF UNSAFE BUILDING, AND REPAIR OR DEMOLITION ORDER Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby has received a “Report to Repair or Demolish and Remove house at 285 Ridgecrest Road,” determines that the building at 285 Ridgecrest Road is unsafe and dangerous, and orders the Code Enforcement Officer to serve notice on the property owner in the manner provided in Local Law #4 of 2000 for the repair or demolition and removal of building. Moved by Brenner, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.  In Favor: Brenner, Connors, Holahan, Dietrich. Court Grant - Justices Report and Request There was a substantial discussion regarding what happened to delay the completion of work related to a grant award obtained by the Town Justices’ office. Justices Klinger and Huddle informed the Board that they were in danger of losing $7,000+ in grant money, as the handicap access ramp project was not completed in the time allowed. The project needed to be completed within 180 days of the grant award, which would have been late August. In order to consider an extension of the grant deadline, the Courts Grant agency required a clear reason for the delay and a date for the work to be finished. This project had been combined with a larger project to remodel the front of the Town Hall. The bids received for that project were far over the anticipated budget. In relation to that bidding process, a redesign and rebuilding of the handicap ramp was put on hold. The Justices have learned that work related to the Court Grant should have been kept distinct from the larger Town Hall project. For various reasons, the sidewalk/handicap ramp project was stopped. There was a discussion regarding how to frame this process in a way that would be acceptable to the granting agency. In addition to rebuilding the handicap access ramp, the grant proposal included construction of a portico/covered entrance to the Town Hall for the Danby Court. After much discussion, the Board encouraged the Court to drop the handicap access project from the grant and use the remainder of the funds for the Court entrance portico. This should use the remainder of the grant funds. The Board and Justices hope that this will satisfy the granting agency and that there will be no damaging repercussions for future grants. !! Adjournment The meeting adjourned at at 9:10 pm. !!!! ______________________________________ Pamela Goddard, Town Clerk Town Board_Minutes_20171113 • Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Page ! of !3 3