HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-17 Town Board Minutes
Mee ng Minutes
Venue: Zoom Videoconferencing
Roll Call:
Town Board Joel Gagnon, Supervisor
Leslie Connors
Jim Holahan
Sarah Schnabel
Ma Ulinski
County Legislator Dan Klein
Town Jus ce(s) Garry Huddle
Town Planner David West
Town Code Enforcement Officer Steve Cortright
Town Bookkeeper Laura Shawley
Recording Secretary Janice Adelman, Town Clerk
Absent:
Guest Presenters:
1. Call to Order at 19:07
2. Addi ons/Dele ons to Agenda
2.1.Addi ons
2.1.1.Possibility of part- me as-needed Motor Equipment Operator
for Highway
2.1.2. Network Security Needs
2.1.3.Budget Transfer
2.1.4.Cannabis Resolu on Public Hearing
2.2.Dele ons
3. Privilege of the Floor
3.1.Ronda Roaring read a le er to the Danby Town Board regarding planning,
subdivisions, building permits, and cer ficates of occupancy. Roaring’s
le er was not submi ed to the Town Clerk and therefore does not appear
here.
3.2.Ted Crane politely re-stated that there are ongoing problems with the town
Mary Ann Barr 2021
The Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
Town Board Regular Meeting
Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
website, specifically that documents that are displayed in windows within
the website itself (iframes) some mes take minutes to load and can be
incredibly slow. Suggests it be looked at as it is not only one resident
affected or one ci zen’s inability to view it, it seems to be happening to
many people. At best, can easily demonstrate that it is not at the receiving
or transmission end, but at the sending end at the server. Crane stated that
he has provided such informa on to the Town. Crane also noted that he
would really appreciate being able to see documents that are relevant to
the mee ng well before the mee ng starts; earlier he saw nothing on the
website that looked like an agenda for tonight.
4.Interview Applicants for West Danby Water Advisory Commi ee
4.1.Benjamin Coakley
4.2.Marie Monroe
5. Correspondence
5.1.Library Entrance Sign to be provided by TCPL
5.2.Resident on Larue Rd hopes to get internet at home with the help of
infrastructure money from the town. Resident is contac ng the town
directly for support per Hafele’s sugges on. Resident is reques ng a return
call.
5.2.1.The supervisor will respond to this person.
6. Announcements
6.1.Board/Commi ee Posi ons to be Filled
6.1.1.Vacancies will be filled for the Board of Zoning Appeals, the
Conserva on Advisory Council, the Planning Board, and the
West Danby Water District Advisory Council.
6.1.2.Applica ons for posi ons on these Boards and Councils to be
submi ed to the Town Clerk; applica on forms are available
online at h ps://danby.ny.gov/depts/boards-and-commi ees/
6.2.Danby Code Enforcement Officer, Steve Cortright, will provide Code
Enforcement du es for the Town of Caroline on an interim basis, as
requested by Caroline Town Supervisor Mark Whitmer, and agreed to by
Cortright and Gagnon.
6.3.COVID at Highway Briefing
6.3.1.2 employees in the Danby Highway Department tested posi ve
for COVID-19.
6.3.2.The Department closed for the remainder of the current week
and will remain closed next week for the holiday.
7. Reports & Presenta ons
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
7.1.Dan Klein, County Legislature
7.1.1.Klein expressed congratula ons to everyone who won their
elec on.
7.1.2.Sta on Road Stream Restora on Project that has been
con nuously delayed for years; latest update is that it is
scheduled for Summer 2022.
7.1.3.Convening shared services panel: sugges ons to share resources
and save money include
7.1.3.1.buying of snow and ice cu ng edges for highway
departments throughout the county;
7.1.3.2.expansion of municipal health insurance consor um
outside of Tompkins County. The more municipali es
that get added, it drives costs down for everyone.
7.1.3.3.A study will be done to inves gate county-wide
coding enforcement. A simple study to determine
what county-wide code enforcement would look like
and whether it would save towns money. Klein
reiterated that it is simply a study, and does not
indicate what will happen in the future.
7.1.4.Although broadband availability has been discussed a lot, cell
phone recep on hasn’t. Klein is trying to get this topic on the
table. It will be on the next TCOOG mee ng agenda.
7.1.5.County Budget was finalized and adopted; no change in the tax
levy this year. Although there was no increase in the tax levy, it
does not automa cally mean that your taxes will not change as
there are other factors that go into that assessment.
7.1.6.Southern Tier 8 (a regional planning organiza on made up of
eight con guous regions including Tompkins County) submi ed a
grant applica on for broadband expansion that includes 78
houses in Danby to be covered by Point Broadband/Clarity
Connect.
8.Budget Transfer Request
Resolu on 165 of 2021 To Approve Budget Transfers
Moved By: Connors Seconded By: Holahan
RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the following budget
transfers:
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Fund Transfer from Transfer to Amount
Gen A9040.8 Workers Comp A9060.800 Health Insurance $5,140
Gen A5132.4 Garage Contractual A9060.800 Health Insurance $1,881
Hwy DA9040.8 Workers Comp DA9060.800 Health Insurance $10,851
Hwy DA9040.8 Workers Comp DA5110.400 General Repairs $5,000
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 165 approved
9. Consent Agenda
9.1. Warrants
9.1.1. General Fund No 21 Vouchers 360–387 for $64,503.82
9.1.2. Highway Fund No 21 Vouchers 254–269 for $71,661.95
9.1.3.Water Fund No 21 Voucher 35 for $33.35
Resolu on 166 of 2021 To Approve Consent Agenda
Moved By: Connors Seconded By: Holahan
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 166 approved
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
10. Old Business
10.1. Review of submissions for environmental review of Solar Farm
10.1.1.There is an updated applica on packet (version 3) on the
website through the Planning Department’s page. However, it
is s ll not a completed applica on.
10.1.1.1.Norbut has another wetlands delinea on
planned.
10.1.1.2.Planner West also commissioned a consultant
10.1.1.3.Norbut is reviewing the concerns around the
loca on of the interconnect facility and moving
it farther back from Rte 96b
10.1.1.4.Norbut is also wokring on clarifiyng the design
around wetlands and streams
10.2. Consider COVID Response Level and adjust if desired
10.2.1.Currently all buildings are open and masks are required.
10.2.2.Consensus among staff and officials was that all were
comfortable leaving the level as is.
10.3. Work Place Violence Resolu ons
10.3.1.Report with recommenda ons is available online
10.3.2.At the next mee ng, Councilperson Ulinski will bring a
resolu on to approve the report and its recommenda ons be
adopted, and to create the Threat Assessment Team. A second
resolu on will seek to authorize safety and security building
upgrades.
11. New Business
11.1.Possible Part- me as-needed Motor Equipment Operator for Highway
11.1.1.The ra onale is to have a back-up operator available in the
wings to cover as needed; this has happened on an informal basis
but Highway would like to make this more formal.
11.1.2.Current opera ons include 6 people with CDLs and 1
mechanic. One person has resigned. It’s not to put anyone on staff
on a regular part- me basis, but to have this line approved by Civil
Service so that Highway could get someone when needed.
11.1.3.Although the 6th posi on will remain vacant for now, Highway
would like to keep this posi on on the books while trying to make it
work with five employees.
11.1.4.A resident suggested checking with NYS funding op ons that
would enable the employer to get reimbursed for wages paid out to
employees who are out sick with COVID.
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Resolu on 167 of 2021 To Approve a Possible Part-Time As-Needed Motor
Equipment Operator for the Highway Department
Moved By: Schnabel Seconded By:Connors
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 167 approved
11.2. Cannabis Resolu on Public Hearing
11.2.1. We are required to pass a local law by December 31 to opt-out
of allowing retail marijuana dispensaries in Danby. If we opt-
out, we can change it back in the future. If we do nothing and
opt-in, we cannot choose to opt out later.
11.2.2. The ques on is whether we want to do this or not and if so, to
schedule the public hearing.
11.2.3.Planner West chimed in regarding revenue being shared based
on the percentage of sales in the municipality. If the town opts-
out, there is no revenue; but we will only benefit if there are
sales in the town.
11.2.4.Most board members did not have a strong opinion either way,
but also did not feel the need to opt-out.
11.2.5.Many felt that the board did not have enough informa on to
make an informed decision.
11.2.6.Councilperson Connors will do further research and report
back at the next mee ng.
11.3. Appointment(s) to Fill Vacancies on Water District Advisory Commi ee
Resolu on 168 of 2021 To Appoint Ben Coakley to Fill the Remainder of Anna
Finley’s Term Through the End of 2021
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Holahan
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 168 approved
Resolu on 169 of 2021 To Appoint Marie Monroe to Fill the Remainder of Bruce
Richards’ Term Through the End of 2022
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Holahan
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 169 approved
11.4. Resolu on 170 of 2021 To Nominate George Adams to Represent Town
of Danby on the County Environmental Management Council
Moved By: Connors Seconded By: Schnabel
Vote:
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 170 approved
11.5. Agreements/Contracts with NGOs in 2022
11.5.1.Supervisor Gagnon clarified that the previous Board mee ngs
that created a Town Policy that the town not disseminate money to
non-governmental organiza ons without a contract in place only
applies to funding requests in 2022, not 2021.
11.6. Consider Authorizing Purchase of Beacon Cloud-Based Interface for Meter
Reading in Water District
11.6.1.Around 120 meters are located throughout the Water District
with electronic readers. The data from these readers should
interface with the billing so ware. To date, this func onality has not
been implemented. The meter reader company, Badger, is sunse ng
the old so ware and moving to a cloud-based system precipita ng
the need to use their proprietary Beacon Cloud-based interface
so ware with an es mated cost of $10,000.
11.6.2.Recommenda on from Water District Commi ee is to approve
the $10,000 costs
11.6.3.Some ques ons remain:
11.6.3.1.We need something that will read the Badger Meters
Automated Meter Applica on; does this exist?
11.6.3.2.Will this work offline as there is spo y networking
op ons?
11.6.4.The Board tabled this discussion without approving the
purchase.
11.7. Resolu on 171 of 2021 To Grant Access Through Water District Property
for Cleanup on Adjacent Finger Lakes Land Trust Property
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Ulinski
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 171 approved
11.8. Consider Adding $500 to $4000 Authoriza on of Wired Broadband
Survey
11.8.1.The contract provided was at a cost of $4000 plus expenses up
to $500 consis ng of preparing the report and mileage
incurred.
11.8.2.Ulinksi noted the $4500 was the original quoted price.
11.8.3.Gagnon requested that a comple on date be included in the
contract.
Moved By: Ulinski Seconded By: Holahan
Vote:
Councilperson Aye No Absent
Connors X
Holahan X
Schnabel X
Ulinski X
Gagnon X
Resolu on 172 approved
11.9. Network Security Needs
11.9.1.Our current network setup needs to be addressed given that
we are not currently protected against high-level a acks.
11.9.2.Town Clerk Adelman reached out to vendors, one of whom
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Town of Danby Board Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021 at 7:00PM
came recommended by the Town’s new phone management
team, All-Mode Communica on, to discuss our recent shi s to
more network-based solu ons (i.e., cloud-based office suites,
VOIP phone service).
11.9.3.The types of service provided by network solu ons providers
covers mulitple layers of security, 24-hour monitoring, and
essen ally the abliity to detect and intercept any threats before
it reaches any of the Town’s end-users. This kind of service
obviously comes with a higher price tag.
11.9.4.Supervisor Gagnon pulled from the agenda the detailed price
quotes from vendors that Adelman had submi ed so that the
Board could have an ini al discussion about it.
11.9.5.Clerk Adelman will con nue to research this topic and come
back at the next mee ng with addi onal informa on, including
comparisons with other towns in Tompkins County.
12. Discussion of Next Mee ng Agenda
12.1.Workplace Violence Resolu on
12.2.Facility Upgrade Resolu on
12.3.Cannabis Report from Councilperson Leslie Connors
12.4.Water Meters Update regarding the system and what they are bringing
up for approval
12.5. Network Security Op ons from Clerk Adelman
13. Adjourn at 21:30
Submi ed by Janice Adelman
Town Clerk
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