HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06 NewsletterJune 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Danby Town News
Taps Across America
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Sydney
Camp #41, will hold a memorial service at the
monument in front of the Danby Town Hall, 1830
Danby Road, beginning at 2:15, on Memorial Day,
Monday May 29th, followed by the sounding of Taps
at 3 p.m.
Taps Across America, the National Moment of
Remembrance, is an annual event that asks
Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local
time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of
one minute to remember those who have died in
military service to the United States.
Tap the Keg Fundraiser
Danby Volunteer Fire Company
The Rhine House (632 W Seneca St, Ithaca) is
generously donating a keg and sponsoring the
space for the Danby Volunteer Fire Company
(DVFC) "Tap the Keg" event on June 10th from 2-
8pm. This fundraiser aims to generate funds for
DVFC's essential Jaws of Life Fund, dedicated to
saving lives during vehicle and other
emergencies. Proceeds from every beer
purchased from the donated keg will go directly
to DVFC's Jaws of Life Fund, supporting the
maintenance and upgrading of life-saving
equipment.
The event promises an enjoyable day for all, with
delicious food, a raffle featuring prizes from local
businesses, and a kid-friendly atmosphere.
Children will have a blast participating in water
can games and receiving fun, educational
handouts such as fire helmets and safety
pamphlets. DVFC seeks to promote fire safety
awareness among families while providing an
enjoyable experience for everyone. Socialized
and friendly dogs are also welcome!!
For further event details or to contribute to
DVFC's cause, please see us on the web at
danbyfiredept.org or
fb.com/DanbyVolunteerFireCompany.
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Notes From the Town Board
Noise Issue Update (Pat Woodworth)
We have gathered additional information with regards to the state public nuisance law, (Pl 240.20).
Under that law, a person is guilty of disorderly conduct for making “an unreasonable noise ... with the
intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof..” The
Deputy Counsel for the State Police noted that, to determine if any specific noise complaint violates PI
240.20, it would “need to be assessed in the specific factual context of a particular incident”. That
means that the law does not apply to all incidents of “unreasonable noise”. Westlaw, a legal research
platform, provides many examples of instances where the state law does and does not apply. We are
still looking into more details about when it would apply and when it would not apply.
The NYS Police Department noted that the state police do not enforce local deputy counsel of the
ordinances. We are investigating how local noise laws in other municipalities are enforced. We will
again check with the Tompkins County Sherriff’s office to determine when the state law is appropriate
and if they enforce local laws.
Particularly for business operations, our zoning regulations are crafted to limit noise. We will double
check them for gaps.
While the investigation is continuing, the town board will invite some residents to engage in a
discussion of the Town’s attempt to help residents who have serious noise complaints.
Spectacular Conservation Easement (Joel Gagnon)
The Town Board accepted a conservation easement on a beautiful property on Bruce Hill, donated by Dan
Hoffman, who has owned the property for almost half a century. It includes a gently sloping portion that is one of
the best potential orchard sites in the town. No immediate plans to use it that way, but this conservation
easement will preserve its potential in perpetuity. Spectacular views from the property and of the property from
the valley below make this a real gem among the (now 7) town-held conservation easements. Your property need
not be fantastic to be worth protecting in this way. Giving up some or all of the development potential
complements the protection we have through zoning, helping retain open space and rural character.
Computer Technology and Security for town (Katharine Hunter and TCNS team))
Improving technology, reliability, efficiency, and security is vital for the well-being and cyber security of
Danby. Small towns are not immune and are targeted by cyber threats.The data shows that cyber
threats and bad actors go after smaller targets, associating small size with a lack of
resources/preparedness. Costs associated with breaches are discussed in NY State publications and
are more than lost time and inconvenience; they include notification costs to all records and NYS Office
of Attorney General, Division of State Police and NY Deptartment of State's Division of Consumer
Protection. Cyber insurance policies have multiple requirements for coverage. To that end,
Danby is upgrading our technology infrastructure and security. Starting with systematic reviews of our
current IT, we are putting in place controls and training on new technology. We partnered with TCNS
who takes a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to our infrastructure plans and day-to-day
operation, setting us up for the future in a secure and efficient way. This investment and new
partnership will serve us well into the future, and help with the growth in, and adaptability of, our town.
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Beyond the scope of cyber security, we are creating a safer infrastructure that is faster with more data
backup that is better suited to the town’s specific needs. This will empower town staff, boards and
councils to focus on what matters most, the work of the town and well-being of its residents. This
investment is good for the town, and demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding the community's
resources.
Elected vs Appointed Officials (Joel Gagnon)
Neither Town Clerk nor Highway Superintendent are policy-making positions. Both have evolved over
time into increasingly demanding jobs requiring training and skills to do well, yet both are elected
positions for which the only qualifications are being a citizen, a resident of the town, and over the age of
18. As elected positions, they answer to the people and not to the Town Board. While that can work
when the office-holders are committed to cooperating with the Board, it is inherently prone to turf
guarding and conflict. While the Board can add to the duties of each, there is little recourse if
performance falls short (except for the purse strings, a blunt instrument for coaxing cooperation). Too,
those with the skills are often put off by the need to run for the office. Why, indeed, should they have to?
The Board is weighing whether to consider proposing the change from elected to appointed for both of
these positions. To make the change we would pass a local law (or possibly 2 laws, one for each office).
The change is subject to a mandatory referendum, meaning the voters decide whether to accept the
change. If we want that referendum to be on the ballot this November, the law needs to be passed
before August – soon! Is this year a good time to propose to the voters that we make the switch?
Answering that question is part of the equation. We will decide within a month or so, and you are
welcome to add your opinion. Deciding to proceed will require a public hearing before the Board acts,
yet another opportunity to address the issue before it goes before the voters for the final word.
Weather Catastrophe (Joel Gagnon)
I had 24 degrees this May 18th morning, the worst freeze for this stage of the season in my lifetime and
very hard on the plants. Some trees leaf out late and usually avoid frost damage. Among them are
walnuts, chestnuts, mulberries, pawpaws, persimmons, locusts, and catalpas. All zapped harder than I
have ever seen before. Grapes, kiwis, pears, strawberries similarly. Ornamentals like ferns, wisteria,
bleeding heart, lilies, and hostas also. Most of these plants will refoliate, but as with spongy moth-
debilitated plants, the weak specimens will not all recover. We are seeing changing environmental
conditions that will change the nature of the plants occupying our local ecosystem over time. What was
well adapted in the past might not fare well in the future, influenced by this kind of climate change and
the impact of pests, disease, and humans.
My landscape has evolved over time, with successes replicated and failures replaced. I think we need to
take the same approach to our neighborhoods and our town. Let us encourage more of what works and
mitigate or replace what isn’t working!
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Derelict Buildings and Junk (Joel Gagnon)
No action yet, but the Board will be considering how best to address several buildings in the town that
are in very rough shape. Some have been effectively abandoned by their owners. My sense is that the
Board would be reluctant to force demolition, especially if restoration is viable. We may seek grant
funding to help owners who lack the means to save their houses and are at risk of losing them. We may
need quicker action to stabilize deteriorating structures to buy time to seek longer-term and more
comprehensive resolutions. How to do that? We will explore options.
Then there are the junk law violations. Danby’s junk law is a compromise between property rights and
public standards of acceptable property maintenance. In Danby, you can have your junk as long as you
keep it out of sight. That means either inside or fenced from view. There are a few properties that are
way out of compliance, and not because they have not been asked to address the situation. Again, we
will want to know why they have not acted. Is it because they are physically or financially incapable?
Could volunteers help with that? If the non-compliance is just a lifestyle choice, we can insist on
compliance – including taking violators to court if necessary. Voluntary compliance is much to be
preferred, since it is cheaper for both the property owner and the town.
Notes from the Planner's Desk David West
Hello again, Danby!
The Planning Department has been hard at work moving forward several initiatives that implement the
Town's broader vision. This month I'm going to give updates on three topics:
Short Term Rental Survey, County Parks and Trails Grant, CDBG Homeowner Rehabilitation Program
As always, feel free to reach out to the planning office by email at planner@danby.ny.gov with any
questions about current programs, development regulations and review, or future community needs.
Short Term Rental Survey - The Town commissioned a survey of residents’ thoughts, attitudes,
personal experience, and hopes and fears about short term rental of property in the town. The survey
was specifically crafted to be as neutral as possible and not lead respondents to a particular outcome.
The survey was mailed to every household and also shared online through Facebook and with links on
the Town's webpage. We received over 160 responses, which is an extremely good return for our
community and gives a reasonable level of confidence that the results of the survey represent the
perspective of the Town's residents as a whole. A complete tabulation of results is linked on the agenda
of the May 17th Town Board Meeting.
The overall impression of the results shows a few things. First, the number of people who believe
that short term rentals should be banned entirely is extremely low, and the number of people who
would prefer no regulations is slightly higher than the number of people who think there should be
some regulations. On this question the margin of error is greater than the difference between the two
groups but it's safe to say it's close to half-and-half with a bias towards no regulations. Among those
who want regulations, the responses showed that many more people were comfortable with light
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
requirements, like registering with the Town, while few were interested in strict rules such as limiting the
number of days a property can be rented. The Town Board got a first glimpse of the results on May 17th
and appointed a committee of Leslie Connors, Steve Weissburg, representatives from the Planning
Board, and Planner David West to get together and discuss the next steps that the Town would take.
County Parks and Trails Grant - Working with the Community Park Association, the Planning
Department submitted and successfully won a $5,000 grant that will pay for wood to build elevated
walkways for parts of Dotson Park's trail system that are often wet or muddy. I'd like to thank Amanda
Piha for her willingness to work with me on this and for her dedication to the park and Danby community
and also the Tompkins County Legislature for reviving this program to fund small local improvements.
The Park Association will be looking for volunteers to help build the movable walkways once we get the
contracting all worked out with Tompkins County.
CDBG Homeowner Rehabilitation Program - The Town's consultant, Thoma Development, has
received 19 applications for the program that is currently funded for 11-14 homes. This is a 2 year program
and we are about 6 months in. If the Town is able to build up a wait list of another 15 homes (owned by
low income homeowners) then we could apply for more funding as soon as this year. We don't have to
wait until the end of the current program. Thoma is currently in the process of testing, scoping, and
bidding out the first 5 projects which will then come to the Town Board for final approval. It's not too late
to put in an application. You can learn more by calling Thoma at (607) 753-1433 or visiting
danby.ny.gov/news.
Tompkins County Legislator News Dan Klein
Migrants
For the most part, I try to keep national politics out of local politics. But recently, national politics may
have come to us. As I write this in mid-May, the big news is that there is an increase in the number of
migrants crossing the southern border, many are coming to NY City, and some may be coming upstate.
Many of the surrounding counties are trying to ban migrants from coming in. Tompkins County will not
be doing that. As of this writing, we don’t have any details about what might happen locally. Tompkins
County is working on a plan to house migrants if necessary, and we are exploring ways to get financial
assistance to do so. I know that feelings run strong on this topic. I am proud to be part of a community
that is welcoming and looking for ways to help.
Immigrants
Khuba International is a not-for-profit organization that wants to set up a farm and four houses for
immigrant families. The organization owns land in Danby on Hornbrook Road near Nelson Road. Their
project, called Uhuru Creek Farm, does not conform with Danby zoning regulations. They will be
working with the Town to explore options. Tompkins County granted the project $74,086 from the
Community Recovery Fund, most of which can only be used if the Town approves the project.
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
A Long Strange Trip
I take my job very seriously, but that doesn’t mean that there is no place for humor and fun. I try to
deliver at least one line at every meeting to make people laugh. A little laughter helps with the
sometimes boring work of government, and it also helps with the tenseness that can develop around
difficult topics.
I recently had the County issue a proclamation officially declaring it Grateful Dead Day in Tompkins
County on May 8, 2023. This was in commemoration of that band’s most famous concert on May 8,1977,
at Cornell University. The recording of that concert is archived in the Library of Congress. The
proclamation also welcomed the current version of the band, who played here on May 8, 2023. We had
the proclamation printed on tie-dyed paper and submitted it to the Cornell University archives.
Reactions to the proclamation seem to be mostly amusement and pride.
Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)Margaret Corbit
The Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) met on Tuesday, May 9. Here are the highlights:
Ronda Roaring brought up the important impact of invasive plant species. The worst offenders are
listed down the page at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html. But many of us local hobby
horticulturists are guilty of planting things that escape into the landscape. We agreed that CAC would
set up an information table at the plant exchange in May. Member Brittany Lagaly volunteered to
provide information pamphlets and to talk to the local plant enthusiasts.
This discussion led to a broader one on outreach and engagement. Renee Owens offered to write
periodic local wildlife stories for our web site, and brought up the possibility of running a fun BioBlitz
next year. We continue to work on plans for making our website more friendly and inviting.
We also had a very important discussion about the need for a set of guidelines for Town officials that
would help them decide whether to seek advice from the CAC on development and other land use
decisions. Jonathan Zisk has begun drafting a document.
The New York State Association of Conservation Commissions (NYSCACC) will be holding its annual
conference in Ithaca this September. Look for details to be posted at https://nysacc.org/.
We discussed the impact of the new flood plan map. Talk to the Town Planner if you believe your house
is included and haven’t already attended an information session.
If you are a Danby resident and interested in conserving the natural environment of our Town, please
contact us. We are especially interested in recruiting folks to hike the fields and woods for the annual
easement monitoring program.
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
West Danby Water District Ben Coakley
A Message to Water District Customers
As you probably remember, the West Danby Water District reworked our water rate structure and
special district tax levy at the end of 2021. Our goal was to make it so that the water rate covered 80% of
the annual cost to operate the water system, with taxes covering the remaining 20%. You likely noticed
this year that your water bills are higher, and we hope you also noticed that the special district tax on
your property taxes was lower.
Unfortunately, there was an error in our rate calculations, and the new water rate does not cover 80% of
the cost to operate the water system. As a result, the District has a budget shortfall of about $15,000 this
year. We have reserve funds to cover this shortfall, but we will need to raise the water rate significantly
next year.
The current water rate is $0.46 per 100 gallons used. Our proposed water rate for next year will be
around $1.07 per 100 gallons used. We know this will result in a large increase in your water bills, but the
new rate would be in line with other municipal water systems in the area. The District’s overall budget is
not increasing by a significant amount.
We’ll send out a letter to all customers soon with more details. Please email the Water District Advisory
Committee at wdwater@danby.ny.gov, and attend our June meeting on Wednesday, June 7, at 5pm at
the West Danby Fire Hall, with your questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Danby Seniors
The next Danby Seniors luncheon is on Thursday, June 1, at noon at the Danby Church.
Please bring a dish to share and table service.
Future events:
July 6 - Danby Seniors barbecue at the American Legion at noon. Cost for members is $8. Advanced sign up is
required. For more information and to sign up, contact Margie VanDeMark at margievan@live.com
July 11 - trip to Silver Birches, PA for a rock and roll show (50's, 60's, 70's music) and lunch.
The bus will leave the Danby Church at 8:00am and return at 6:30pm. At this point, there are no
available seats but there is a waiting list. To be added to the waiting list, contact Theresa Klinger at
tklinger617@gmail.com.
August 9 - trip to Alexandria Bay, NY
The bus will leave the Danby Church at 8:30am and return at 7:30pm. For more information or to make
a reservation, contact Nancy Gould at ngould@yahoo.com.
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Jennings Pond Mary Ann Kozak
Lifeguards needed at Jennings Pond!
Our beautiful Jennings Pond Recreational Area offers fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking trails and
scenic views. Jennings Pond is at the headwaters of the Buttermilk Falls watershed and is part of
Buttermilk State Park. The Town of Danby funds the Jennings Pond Swim program every July and
August. But we need lifeguards! The Jennings Pond Swim Program will reimburse prospective
lifeguards for any expenses incurred for lifeguard training. For more information,
call or text Mary Ann Kozak at 607-342-7969.
Youth Programs - General Information
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Danby Youth Commission Jamie Sorrentino
Danby Youth Grant application deadline coming up!
The Danby Youth Commission offers $100 grants for youth to participate in recreational activities of
their choosing. Perhaps your family could use this financial support for your kiddo's summer camp?
There are ten $100 grants awarded each year. The deadline for the next round of the Danby Youth
Grant application is June 15th, 2023. A link to the application and eligibility criteria can be found on
the Town of Danby website.
Registration for the spring and summer sessions of Danby Youth Programs are open!
We’re using a new, more streamlined registration system. Register for programs at
bit.ly/41jUwDO. Contact Heidi Doggett at hd289@cornell.edu or (925)240-3572 with
questions.Summer programs begin the last week of June. Most are up on the registration
site, and few more will be released shortly. The summer list is long, so check out the link
for a full list. Only June programs are listed here.
Hay bale
games
Explore, Play, Craft fun
Lemon Mousse
YUM!
June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Youth Programs Heidi Doggett (hd289@cornell.edu)
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Danby Community Groups
Danby Community Library
Contact: Cindy Parlett
library@danby.ny.gov
Open Tue 1-3pm,
Thur & Sat 10am-12pm
Danby Food Pantry
Danby Community Church
Contact: Joan Barber
Open: 3rd Thur 4-6 pm
Danby Food Scraps Pickup
every Sat 9am – noon
behind Town Hall
Danby Community Parks
Association (DCPA)
Website: dotsonpark.org
dotsonpark@gmail.com
Danby Rural Cemetery
Contact: Sharon Boda
Sharonboda@gmail.com
Danby Seniors
Contact: Judy Cuyle
gnatcat87@ yahoo,com
Luncheons: 1st Thur at noon
Danby Community Council
President: Pamela Goddard
Website: danbycc.org
Meeting: 1st Thur 7pm
Danby Tosspots (Open
Alcoholics Anonymous
Meeting)
Wed 7pm virtual
West Danby Community
Association (WDCA)
Contact: Pat Curran
pc21@cornell.edu
Danby Library News Cindy Parlett
Our trip to the Spring Friends of the Library Sale was successful.
Here are some of the titles we were able to pick up.
The Boys From Biloxi - John Grisham
Dark Sacred Night, and Fair Warning - Michael Connelly
One Step Too Far -Lisa Gardner
The House of Kennedy-James Patterson
Spare-Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post-Allison Pataki
Lucy by the Sea-Elizabeth Strout
The Diamond Eye-Kate Quinn
The Latecomer-Jean Hanff Korelitz
Cloud Cuckoo Land-Anthony Doerr
Something to Hide-Elizabeth George
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, # 12, #14, #15, #16- Kinney
Big Nate Lives it Up, and Big Nate Blasts Off-Pierce
The Babysitters Club, #1-9 -Martin & Telgmeier
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West Danby Cemetary Association Sandy Fish
The annual meeting of the West Danby Cemetery Association will be held on May 27th at the West
Danby Fire Hall on Sullivan Dr. The meeting will be held 10:00 am. We encourage all lot owners and
family of members to attend. Any questions please call 607-502-5923.
June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Monthly Meeting Schedule At-A-Glance
Group Day Date Time Call-in by Phone Meeting ID Passcode
Town Board*ues T 6/6 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 980 8515 9868 754633
WDWD Fri 6/7 5:00pm In person - West Danby fire station
CAC* Tue 6/13 7:00pm 1-929-205-6099 972 1566 0090 423584
FD Tue 6/13 7:00pm I n person at the Danby Fire Station
DYC Thurs 6/8 7:00pm Online - contact jsorrentino@danby.ny.gov
PB*Tue 6/20 7:00pm 1-646-876-9923 958 0817 5336 245871
Town Board* Wed 6/21 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 971 0723 2988 535713
BZA* Thurs 6/27 7:00pm TBD
FD Tue 6/27 7:00pm In person at the Danby Fire Station
See the Danby calendar for the final, most up-to-date details.
(Acronyms in the above schedule are identified below.)
*These meetings are hybrid (i.e. both online and in-person at the Town Hall)
Boards & Committees
Planning Board (PB)
Chair: Jody Scriber
planningboard@danby.ny.gov
Meets: 3rd Tuesday at 7pm
Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
Chair: Earl Hicks
bza@danby.ny.gov
Meets: 4th Thursday, as needed
Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
Chair: Margaret Corbit
cac@danby.ny.gov
Meets: 2nd Tuesday at 7pm
Danby Youth Commission (DYC)
Chair: Jamie Sorrentino
jsorrentino@danby.ny.gov
Meets: 2nd Thursday at 7pm
Fire District (FD)
Secretary: Sharon Gaden,
secretary@danbyfiredistrict.org
danby.ny.gov/depts/danby-fire-district
Danby Volunteer Fire Company (DVFC)
Chief: John Gaden,
jgaden@danbyfiredistrict.org
danbyfiredept.org
West Danby Fire Department (WDFD)
Chief: Robert McCray
rmccray@danbyfiredistrict.org
westdanbyfire.com
West Danby Water DIstrict (WDWD)
Contact: Scott Wendt,
swendt@danby.ny.gov
Meets: 1st Wednesday at 5pm
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June 2023 Town of Danby, New York
Town Officials
Main Phone: +1-607-277-4788
Town Supervisor Joel Gagnon, x1010
supervisor@danby.ny.gov
Town Board
Meets 1st Tue
and 3rd Wed
Leslie Connors
H Katharine Hunter
Steve Weissburg
Pat Woodworth
townboard@danby.ny.gov
Town Clerk
Deputy Town Clerk
Hours: Mon–Fri
11am–6pm
Janice Adelman
Cindy Katz
clerkoffice@danby.ny.gov
x8001
Highway
Superintendent
Deputy Highway
Superintendent
Hours: Mon–Thu
6am–4:30pm
Keith Shipman, x8009
highway@danby.ny.gov
Jack Shawley, x1012
jshawley@danby.ny.gov
Town Justices
Court Clerk
Hours: Mon-Wed
8am-11am
Garry Huddle
Theresa Klinger
Diane Gair
dgair@nycourts.gov
Town Planner
Hours: Mon–Fri
by appointment
David West, x1007
planner@danby.ny.gov
Code Enforcement
Hours: Mon-Fri
by appointment
Steve Cortright, x1006
code@danby.ny.gov
Documents /
Historian
Mary Ann Barr, x1008
mbarr@danby.ny.gov
Bookkeeper Laura Shawley, x1011
lshawley@danby.ny.gov
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Danby,
New York
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Ithaca, NY 14850
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Phone: +1-607-277-4788
https://danby.ny.gov
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