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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04 NewsletterApril2023TownofDanby,NewYork DanbyTownNewsDanbyTownNews PublicHearingsPublicHearings April4at6pm First-LocalLawtoamendthetownzoningto covercannabisretailoperations. Second-Locallawtocreatedrainagedistrict Moreinformationabouttheseproposedlaws areprovidedbytheTownPlanneronp.3.The completeproposalsareavailableonthetown website-danby.ny.gov. PublicInputSession April19at6pm Thisisnotanofficialpublichearing.itisaspecial sessiontoreviewallsectionsofaproposalfrom WarrenCrossforanewdraftlawregardingnoise concerns. Seep2formoreinformation. MorePancakesMorePancakes April16th8-11amAApril16th8-11amApril16th8-11am TheDanbyVolunteerFireCompanywillbe havingadrive-thrupancakebreakfastfor$10on April16thfrom8amto11am. Wea HelpusgettheJawsofLife! PleasecheckourFacebookpage (fb.com/DanbyVolunteerFireCompany)orour website(danbyfiredept.org)formore information. 1 April2023TownofDanby,NewYork FFrroomm tthhee TTooTTTTwwnn SSuuppeerrvviissoorr JJooeell GGaaggnnoonn Afterafewmonthsofrelativequiet,Iamconfident thatseveraloftheitemsinthisissueoftheTown Newswillbeofinteresttomany.Iamreporting onlywhatisnotcoveredelsewhere.Pleasedon’t complaininacoupleofmonthsthatyoudidn’t knowwhatwascomingup.Thepurposeofthis newsletteristoletyouknow! NoiseIssueRevisited LastFall,WarrenCrossvolunteeredtoreviewhow noiseconcernshavebeenhandledbyothertowns. Basedonhisextensiveresearchoflocallawsand contactswithlawenforcementofficials,he presentedapossiblelocallawtotheTownBoard. Similarlawsreducenoisecomplaints.Acopyof thatproposalisavailableonthetownwebsite (danby.ny.gov)orfromthetownclerk’soffice. TheTownBoardwouldlikeinputfromtown residentsonallsectionsoftheproposal.Therewill bepublicinputsessionatthebeginningofthe townboardmeetingonApril19 that6pm.Input canbesentbymailoremailtothetownboard (townboard@danby.ny.gov)atanytimeuptothat date. GoalSetting In2021,theTownBoard,withinputfromstaff,put togetherawishlistofcapitalprojects.While planningforcapitalprojectsisimportant,itiseven moreimportantthatsuchplanningbewithina contextofbroadergoals.Manyofthosegoalsare expressedintheComprehensivePlan,sothat documentiscentraltoouroverallplanning. Strategiesforimplementationchangewith changingcircumstances,sotheyneedtobe revisitedregularly.TheComprehensivePlanitself needstoberevisitedsoon–itisalready12years sincethelastmajorupdate. Focusingongoals,whichtheTownBoardis addressing,raisesquestionsabouthowandwhen (andoftenwhere).Forexample,acommunity centerhaslongbeenlistedasagoal.Theland purchasedforwhatisnowcalledDotsonParkwas acquiredspecificallytositeacommunitycenter. Theareasetapartforitturnedouttocontain significantwetlandareas.Isthelandstilluseable foracommunitycenter?Ifnot,thenwhereelse mightonebelocatedandwhatdoweneedtodo toadvanceidentifyingandsecuringasite?What shouldbeincludedwithinacommunitycenter? (Muchthoughtandeffortwasalreadyinvestedin askingthatquestionatthetimeofthepark’s creation,butchangingneedsanddesiresmight changethemix.)Whataboutseniorhousingand childcare?Couldtheybepartofit?“Itdepends”is afairresponse.Thechoiceswemakeinadvancing ourgoalsbothopenandforecloseoptions.We needtoprioritizedecisionstomakeanyprogress atall,whichiswhytheBoardistakingthisup. InformationTechnologyandCyberSecurity BoardmemberKatharineHunterisexploringthe town’soptionstomeetourITneedsandprotect thetownfromattacksthatcouldcompromiseour informationandfunctioning.Thisischallenging. TheBoardislookingtomeetourneeds,since avoidingproblemsiswayeasierthandealingwith themoncetheymanifest.Potentialprovidershave beenandarestillbeingconsultedandevaluated. Itisalreadyapparentthatwhateverweendupwith willcostmorethanthelimitedprotectioncurrently inplace. 2 April2023TownofDanby,NewYork NotesfromthePlanner'sDeskNotesfromthePlanner'sDesk DavidWestDavidWest WCDBGHomeownerRehabilitationGrant – TheTown’sHomeRehabilitationprogramisrunning.This2yearprogramisbeingmanagedbyThoma DevelopmentConsultants@(607)753-1433.Ifyouareinterestedinapplying,pleasereachouttothem soonasfundingislimited.Toqualify,homeownersmusthavelow-to-moderateincomeandthe propertymustbeinneedofsignificantrepairs.Theaveragehomeintheprogramwillreceiveabout $25,000inwork,includingthingslikeroofing,insulation,windowanddoorrepairorreplacement,as wellaselectric,plumbing,andheatingwork. CannabisBusinessLocalLaw - TheTownisconsideringanamendmenttothezoninglawtoaddsomerestrictionsforCannabis Businessesthatincludesaleoron-siteconsumption.Theproposedrulesaddarequirementthat consumptionsitesuseairfiltrationequipmentsothatsmellsaren’tanissuebeyondthepropertyline andsomebasicrulesaboutsignageontopoftheTown’sCommercialDesignGuidelines.TheTown BoardwillhaveapublichearingonthelawattheirApril4meetingandmayconsideradoptionthat night. Storm-waterDistrict#1 - ThesubdivisionactionthatcreatedtheBeardsleyLanedevelopmentcamewitharequirementthat certainstorm-waterinfrastructurebebuilttoprotecttheenvironmentfromthenegativeimpactsof addingasignificantamountofnewimpervioussurfaceincludingtheroads,driveways,androofsofthe newneighborhood.Itwasalwaystheplanthatthedeveloperwouldsetupadistricttocover maintenancecostsdowntheroad,oncethelastlotwasdeveloped,toavoidputtingaburdenonthe restoftheTown.Unfortunately,thatinfrastructurewasnotproperlycaredfor,thelastlothasnotbeen developed,andthedeveloperstoppedpayingtaxesontheparcelssetasideforstorm-waterponds. ThisledtoforeclosurebyTompkinsCounty,whoturnedthelotsovertotheTown.TheTownisnow settingupaSpecialDistrictthatincludesallofthehomesandlotsbenefitingfromthatoriginal subdivisiontoensurethatthoseresidentscanpayfortheupkeepoftheinfrastructurethatallowedtheir neighborhood.Thisisalongoverdueprocessbutwehopetoclearthebureaucratichurdlesthisyearso thattheinfrastructurecanbeproperlymaintainedtoprotecttheenvironmentandproperty. FEMAFloodMaps - FEMAhasreleaseddraftfloodmapsthatwilladjustexistingfloodhazardareasinWestDanbyalong theCayugaInlet,MichiganHollow,andDanbyCreek,andwilladdnewfloodhazardareasalong ButtermilkCreek,impactinghomesinCentralDanby.Whenfinalized,themapswillresultina requirementthathomesinthefloodplanepurchaseFloodInsuranceiftheyaresubjecttoafederally insuredmortgage.TheTownisapartoftheNationalFloodInsuranceprogramandassuchwillneedto updateourFloodDamageProtectionlawinordertoensurethatfloodinsuranceremainsavailableto residents.  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork FairHousingMonth - AprilisNationalFairHousingMonth,celebratingthepassageandprotectionsoftheFairHousingActto eliminatehousingdiscriminationandcreateequalopportunityineverycommunity.Thereareaseriesof trainingsavailablefromthestateforrealestateprofessionalsandhomebuyersthatanyonecanaccess here:https://dos.ny.gov/news/new-york-state-celebrates-fair-housing-month.Thelawprohibits discriminationinthesale,rental,andfinancingofhousingbasedonrace,color,religion,nationalorigin, sex,familialstatus,ordisability,anditrequiresFederal,State,andlocalgovernmentstoproactively dismantlethediscriminatorystructuresthatheldbackpeopleofcolorandotherunderserved populationsfromequitableaccesstotheneighborhoodsoftheirchoice.TheTownhasdesignatedthe TownPlannerastheFairHousingOfficer.Youcanreachhimat planner@danby.ny.govor607-592-0417 withquestionsaboutFairHousingprotectionsortofileacomplaintofdiscrimination.Ifyoudon’tfeel comfortablereachingouttotheTowntherearealsoresourcesavailablefromtheTompkinsCounty HumanRightsCommissioner’sOffice,LawNY,andCNYFairHousing. TompkinsCountyLegislatureNewsTompkinsCountyLegislatureNews DanKleinDanKlein Recently,aresidentwrotetomeabouthowtheCountyLegislaturetapsintotheknowledgeofthe peoplewholivehere(thanksJR).Itmademethinkthatitwouldbegoodtowriteaboutadvisoryboards thismonth. TheCountyhasover40advisoryboards.Someareveryspecific(e.g.theAirServicesBoard),some requirespecificskills(e.g.CommunityMentalHealthServicesBoard)andsomearegeneral(e.g. WorkforceDiversityandInclusionCommittee). Advisoryboardscanbereallyinteresting,dynamicgroups.Ortruthfully,theycanbealittleboring. Butboringdoesn’tnecessarilymeantheyarenotimportant.Joininggroupsandattendingmeetings requiresalotofpatience,andisnotforeveryone.Someboardsfunctionmostlyaswaystoexchange information.Someboardswilllaylowforawhileandthensomethinginterestingandimportantcomes up.(TheEthicsAdvisoryBoardisagoodexampleofthat).) Veryoccasionally,wecreateanewadvisoryboard.IbelievethelastonetobecreatedwastheClimate andSustainableEnergyAdvisoryBoard,approximately4yearsago.Recentlywehaveeliminateda few,suchasthePersonalEmergencyResponseServiceAdvisoryBoard,whichhelpedwithaCounty programthatprovidesmedicalalertdevices. ThereisacurrentopeningforaDanbyresidentontheTompkinsCountyOfficefortheAgingAdvisory Committee.ThereisalsoanopeningforaDanbyresidentontheHillviewRoadLandfillCitizens AdvisoryCommittee,forsomeonewholivesnearthatretiredlandfillinWestDanby.Contactmeabout theseopeningsorifyouwanttoknowaboutanyotherCountyadvisoryboardopportunities.More informationcanalsobefoundbysearchingfor“TompkinsCountyadvisoryboards”.  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork ConservationAdvisoryCouncil(CAC)ConservationAdvisoryCouncil(CAC)MargaretCorbitMargaretCorbit TheDanbyConservationAdvisoryCouncil(CAC)metMarch14(viaZoombecauseofbadweather). Herearethehighlights: WeapprovedtheannualreportandsentitontotheTownBoard. Weconfirmedthatwearestilllookingfornewmembers.MembersmustbeDanbyresidentsand interestedinconservingthenaturalenvironmentofourTown.Theirinterestcanrangefrom orienteeringtooutreach.Weareespeciallyinterestedinrecruitingfolkstohikethefieldsandwoodsfor theannualeasementmonitoringprogram. TheTaxAbatementCommitteewillmeetnextweektodecidehowtomoveforwardontaxrelief for conservationeasements.Thisisafirststepinprovidingreliefforconservationeasementdonors. ThedraftTimberHarvestLawisnowinthehandsofthePlanner,whoisseekingfeedbackfromtheDEC andTownAttorney(asrequestedbytheTownBoard)beforetheTownBoardtakesitupfor consideration. Thefinalhalfhourofthemeetingwasspentusinganonlinewhiteboardwith postitstobeginthegroupefforttorefinetheCACmission.Therewereveryvaluablediscussions. OurnextmeetingisonApril11at7pmintheTownHall.Communitymembersarewelcometoattendin hybridfashionorinpersonandalinkforZoomwillbepostedontheCalendar. WestDanbyWaterDistrictWestDanbyWaterDistrict ScottWendtScottWendt WestDanbyWaterDistrictwillbereadingmetersthe1stofApril.Thiswillbethefirstuseofnew softwarethatwillspeeduptheprocessofreadingyourmeter.Thesoftwarewillalsocutoutanyerrors madeinhandwritingourreadings. TheAprilmeetinghasbeenrescheduledtoMarch31@5pm. Moreinformation: TodSukontarak,long-servingSystemOperator,seekstoretire.Fornow,hehastradedpositionswith theAssistantOperator,ScottWendt.Afterawide-spreadsolicitationofinterestanddirectcontacts withpotentialcandidates,onestrongcandidateemerged. Allnewhiresrequiretrainingandmustserveanapprenticeshipunderacurrentoperator.Thetownhas alwayspaidforthetraining.TheTownBoardrecentlyapprovedtheadditionofanewtraineeposition soanapplicantwillreceivesomecompensationduringtheapprenticeshipperiod.TheWater Committeewillconsiderdetailsforthisposition,andmakearecommendationtotheTownBoard.  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork Fundingforthewaterdistrictisbasedonpropertytaxeswithinthedistrictandwaterusage.Lastyear thefundingstructurefordistrictrevenuewasmodifiedtoincreasetheamountbasedonusage. Previously,80%oftherevenuewasfromtaxesand20%wasfromusage.Therestructuringwas intendedtoreversethosepercentagesso20%wouldbefromtaxesand80%wouldbefromusage.But theincomeforthispastyearwaslessthanexpected.Determiningwhyandwhattodoaboutthe shortfallwillbeafocusoftheWaterCommitteemeetingat5P.M.onMarch31.Themeetingisin-person attheWestDanbyFireHall.Allarewelcometoattend. TownBoardSurveyTownBoardSurvey Short-TermRentalsinDanby TheTownBoardwantstoknowyourthoughtsaboutwhether,how,andtowhatextenttheuseofshort- rentalsshouldberegulated.TheTownplannerandTownBoardexpecttofinalizeasurveysoonthat willbesenttoallresidentstogatherinformationaboutyourexperiencesandconcerns.Anon-line versionwillalsobeavailableonthetownwebsite.TheTownBoardwantsyourinput,sopleasefillout thesurvey. DanbyYouthCommissionDanbyYouthCommission TheDanbyYouthCommission(DYC)isstilllookingforaresidentofWestDanbytojointhem.TheDYCis responsibleforcoordinatingprogrammingthatmeetstherecreationalanddevelopmentalneedsof youthintheTownofDanby.ItisimportantthattheDYCisrepresentativeofourlocalcommunity.We wouldlikearesidentofWestDanbytoroundoutourteam.Youcanfindoutmoreinformationaboutthe purposeandgoalsoftheDYContheTownofDanbywebsite.Ifyouareinterestedinjoiningan enthusiasticteamandhavetimeformonthlymeetings,pleasereachouttotheDYCChairpersonJamie Sorrentino(jsorrentino@danby.ny.gov)aboutformallyapplying. JenningsPond SwimminginDanby?NeedLifeguards! OurbeautifulJenningsPondRecreationalAreaoffersfishing,canoeing,kayaking,hikingtrailsand scenicviews.JenningsPondisattheheadwatersoftheButtermilkFallswatershedandispartof ButtermilkStatePark.TheTownofDanbyfundstheJenningsPondSwimprogrameveryJulyand August.Butweneedlifeguards!NowisthetimetoenrollintheYMCAlifeguardtrainingprogramfor anygoodswimmerover16.TheJenningsPondSwimProgramwillreimburseprospectivelifeguardsfor anyexpensesincurredforlifeguardtraining.Formoreinformation,callortextMaryAnnKozakat607- 342-7969.  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork YouthProgramsYouthPrograms HeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.eduHeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.eduHeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.eduHeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.edu ThismonthDanbyhastwoongoingyouth programs.Youtharestillfreetoenroll!Wewill haveseveralmoreprogramsopeningsoon. Pleasecheckourwebpageforup-to-date offerings. https://ccetompkins.org/4-h-youth/rural- youth-services/rys-program-sites/town-of- danbyoremailHeidiDoggettat hd289@cornell.eduwithquestions. IMOPORTANTNOTE:thecurrentroundof Dungeons&Dragons/Magic:theGatheringat BoyntonwillendonApril5.Wewillbeginanew oneonApril19andcontinueuntiltheendofthe schoolyear.Youthwhoarecurrentlyenrolledin thisprogramwillneedtoregisteragaininorder tocontinue. Dungeons&Dragons/MagictheGathering (6-8grade) BoyntonMiddleSchool3:30-5:30 Wednesday4/5 Upcomingprogram:Wednesday4/19,4/26, 5/3,5/10,5/17,5/24,5/31,6/7,6/14 Thisisacontinuationofourincrediblypopular WinterD&D/Magicprogram.Bothnewandold participantsarewelcome.Ifyouryouthwas registeredfortheJanuary-midAprilprogram, theywillneedtoregisteragaintocontinueafter Springbreak.WehaveagroupofMagicplayers andseveralD&Dcampaigns,withopportunities foryouthtoruntheirowncampaignsorone- shotsoncetheyhavetheknowledgetoleadand theskilltohelptheirpartyworkasateam. Art&Soul(6-8grade) BoyntonMiddleSchool3:30-5:30 Thursday3/30,4/6 Joinusforavarietyofartsandcraftsprojects. We’vegotshrinkart,Sculpey/polymerclay, resin,beads,andmore.Possibleprojects includeembeddingLEDsinresintomakelight- upgems,bookbinding,andclaycharmsmade tolookliketinyfood.Bringyourownideas!  March23hike Morecreatingwith resins(Art&Soul program) April2023TownofDanby,NewYork DanbyCommunityGroupsDanbyCommunityGroups DanbyCommunityLibrary Contact:CindyParlett library@danby.ny.gov OpenTue1-3pm, Thur&Sat10am-12pm DanbyFoodPantry DanbyCommunityChurch Contact:JoanBarber Open:3rdThur4-6pm DanbyFoodScrapsPickup everySat9am–noon behindTownHall DanbyCommunityParks Association(DCPA) Website:dotsonpark.org dotsonpark@gmail.com DanbyRuralCemetery Contact:SharonBoda Sharonboda@gmail.com DanbySeniors Contact:JudyCuyle gnatcat87@yahoo,com Luncheons:1stThuratnoon DanbyCommunityCounci l President:PamelaGoddard Website:danbycc.org Meeting:1stThur7pm DanbyTosspots (Open AlcoholicsAnonymous Meeting) Wed7pmvirtual WestDanbyCommunity Association(WDCA) Contact:PatCurran pc21@cornell.edu DanbyLibraryNews Puzzles,puzzles! Eachmonthadifferentpuzzleisondisplaytobeassembled. Wehaveashelfofpuzzles;300and500pieces. Youmayborrow,keep,orexchange,whicheveryouprefer. Welikethesmallersizesonlybecausetheyfitonourtable. MysterybooksfromTCPL havebeendelivered. DanbySeniorsDanbySeniors ThenextDanbySenioursluncheonisonThursday,April6atnoonintheDanbyChurch. Pleasebringadishtoshareandtableservice. Comeandvisitwitholdandnewfriends.  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork MonthlyMeetingScheduleAt-A-GlanceMonthlyMeetingScheduleAt-A-Glance Group Day Date Time Call-inbyPhone MeetingID Passcode TownBoard*uesT /44 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 98085159868 754633 WDWD Fri 3/31 5:00pm Inperson-West Danbyfirestation CAC*Tue /114 7:00pm 1-929-205-6099 97215660090 423584 FD Tue 4/11 7:00pm InpersonattheDanbyFireStation DYC Thurs 4/13 7:00pm Online-contactjsorrentino@danby.ny.gov PB*oneN 1-646-876-9923 95808175336 245871 TownBoard*Wed /194 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 97107232988 535713 BZA*Thurs 4/25 7:00pm TBD FD Tue 4/25 7:00pm Inperson attheDanbyFireStation Seethe Danbycalendar forthefinal,mostup-to-datedetails. (Acronymsintheabovescheduleareidentifiedbelow.) *Thesemeetingsarehybrid(i.e.bothonlineandin-personattheTownHall) Boards&CommitteesBoards&Committees PlanningBoard(PB) Chair:JodyScriber planningboard@danby.ny.gov Meets:3rdTuesdayat7pm BoardofZoningAppeals(BZA) Chair:EarlHicks bza@danby.ny.gov Meets:4thThursday,asneeded ConservationAdvisoryCouncil(CAC) Chair:MargaretCorbit cac@danby.ny.gov Meets:2 ndTuesdayat7pm DanbyYouthCommission(DYC) Chair:JamieSorrentino jsorrentino@danby.ny.gov Meets:2ndThursdayat7pm FireDistrict(FD) Secretary:SharonGaden, secretary@danbyfiredistrict.org danby.ny.gov/depts/danby-fire-district DanbyVolunteerFireCompany(DVFC ) Chief:JohnGaden, jgaden@danbyfiredistrict.org danbyfiredept.org WestDanbyFireDepartment(WDFD ) Chief:RobertMcCray rmccray@danbyfiredistrict.org westdanbyfire.com WestDanbyWaterDIstrict(WDWD) Contact:ScottWendt , swendt@danby.ny.gov Meets:1stWednesdayat5pm  April2023TownofDanby,NewYork TownOfficialsTownOfficials MainPhone:+1-607-277-4788 TownSupervisor JoelGagnon,x1010 supervisor@danby.ny.gov TownBoard Meets1stTue and3rdWed LeslieConnors HKatharineHunter SteveWeissburg PatWoodworth townboard@danby.ny.gov TownClerk DeputyTownClerk Hours:Mon–Fri 11am–6pm JaniceAdelman CindyKatz clerkoffice@danby.ny.gov x8001 Highway Superintendent DeputyHighway Superintendent Hours:Mon–Thu 6am–4:30pm KeithShipman,x8009 highway@danby.ny.gov JackShawley,x1012 jshawley@danby.ny.gov TownJustices CourtClerk Hours:Mon-Tue 8am-11am GarryHuddle TheresaKlinger DianeGair dgair@nycourts.gov TownPlanner Hours:Mon–Fri byappointment DavidWest,x1007 planner@danby.ny.gov CodeEnforcement Hours:Mon-Fri byappointment SteveCortright,x1006 code@danby.ny.gov Documents/ Historian MaryAnnBarr,x1008 mbarr@danby.ny.gov Bookkeeper LauraShawley,x1011 lshawley@danby.ny.gov  Danby, NewYork From: 1830DanbyRoad Ithaca,NY14850 PRSTSTD U.S.PostagePaid PermitNo.428 Ithaca,NY14850 Phone:+1-607-277-4788 https://danby.ny.gov Welcometothe DanbyTownNews! Questions?Emailusat townnews@danby.ny.gov Orshareyourpreferencesat https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/WMCz9T