HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-05 Town Board Minutes, DRAFTD R A F T
Meeting Minutes
Roll Call:
Town Board Joel Gagnon, Super visor
Leslie Connors
Paul Hansen
Katharine Hunter
Patricia Woodworth
Town Planner Greg Hutnik
Town Bookkeeper Laura Shawley (videoconference)
Recording Secretary Janice Adelman, Town Clerk (videoconference)
Transcript and audio recording are available online.
1. Meeting Called to Order at 18:08 by Supervisor Gagnon
2. Additions/Deletions to Agenda
2.1.To Zoom or Not to Zoom
3. Privilege of the Floor
3.1.William Jason Perkins, resident.
Spoke to the music festival that occurred a couple of weekends ago. As a nearby
resident, he stated that he did not support the festival happening, did not know
it was scheduled to occur, and does not want it to happen again.
3.2.Sallie Fuller, resident.
Spoke to the music festival
3.3.Ted Crane, resident.
Pointed out “the obvious” that the audio is terrible and recommended staying
with Zoom. Spoke to the music festival noting mistakes were made by the
organizers and the town.
3.4.Garr y Huddle, resident and Town Justice.
Stated that the music festival does not belong in the Town.
3.5.Russ Nitchman, resident
Spoke to the noise issue. Also announced the Danby Roots Party and officially
requested that the Roots party be granted two pages to include their
perspectives and positions in the Town’s newsletter.
4. Correspondence
Mary Ann Barr 2021
T he Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
danby.ny.gov
Town Board Regular Meeting
Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 6:00PM
D R A F T
Town of Danby, New York 5 September 2023 Town Board Meeting Minutes
5. Announcements
6. Reports & Presentations
6.1.Town Clerk: August 2023 and July 2023
6.2.Code Enforcement Officer
6.3.Town Planner, Greg Hutnik
6.3.1.Has been settling in during a quiet time.
6.3.2.Completed one subdivision approval on Nelson and Makareinen
6.3.3.Fielding requests and calls.
7. Meeting Minutes
7.1.6 December 2022
7.2.21 December 2022
7.3.19 April 2023
7.4.24 April 2023 Regular Meeting Continued
7.5.2 May 2023
7.6.6 June 2023
7.7.21 June 2023
7.8.5 July 2023
7.9.19 July 2023
7.10.1 August 2023
7.11.16 August 2023
Discussion centered around typos and incomplete sentences. Woodworth and
Connors claimed that the minutes were unprofessional and not worthy of proper
record-keeping status.
8. Warrant Abstract No 18
8.1.Resolution 187 of 2023 To Approve the General Fund Vouchers 275–285 for
14,502.71
Moved By: Connors Seconded By: Woodworth
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 187 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
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Town of Danby, New York 5 September 2023 Town Board Meeting Minutes
8.2.Resolution 189 of 2023 to Approve the Highway Fund Vouchers 179–190 for
$35,840.71
Moved By: Connors Seconded By: Woodworth
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 189 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
8.3.Resolution 188 of 2023 to Approve the Water Fund Voucher 28 for $70.00
Moved By: Woodworth Seconded By: Connors
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 188 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
9. Business
9.1.Noise Law Proposal
9.1.1.Gagnon suggested that attorney Guy Krogh review this proposal.
9.1.2.Lengthy discussion ensued around language and stipulations in the
proposal.
9.1.3.Residents from both video conference (e.g., Ted Crane; Garry Huddle)
and the in-person meeting room (unnamed individuals) were given an
opportunity to make comments.
9.2.Update on Response to BBQ VII and Consideration of Next Steps
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Town of Danby, New York 5 September 2023 Town Board Meeting Minutes
9.2.1.A notice was mailed to Angelo Peters (BBQ VII Organizer) that he was in
violation of Town Zoning; the festival went ahead as planned.
9.2.2.The enforcement section of the Zoning Law has not been updated and
has a $350 maximum penalty for a violation; this is far below what has
already been spent discussing the issue with the lawyer as well as by the
Highway Department placing “No Parking” signs. There was agreement
that the enforcement section should be updated to more meaningfully
penalize violations..
9.2.3.The Board expressed a general desire to prosecute nonetheless. It was
noted that despite a low fine, violation of the zoning law is a
misdemeanor and conviction becomes a part of the perpetrator's
criminal record. Board Member Hansen (who previously served as Code
Enforcement Officer) will work with Planner Hutnik on the process for
enforcing the repercussions of violating the Zoning law; Hutnik will
proceed with prosecution.
9.2.4.The Board noted that some sort of mechanism needs to be added to
enable such events to legally take place, but with permitting and review
by the Planning Board.
Resolution 190 of 2023 To Extend the Meeting by 15 Minutes
Moved By: Woodworth Seconded By: Gagnon
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 190 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
9.3.Next Batch of Approvals for CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Program: Piombino,
Taraszkiewicz, Schilling, Lopez, Collins
Resolution 191 of 2023 To Approve the CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Applications
from Piombino, Taraszkiewicz, Schilling, Lopez, and Collins
Moved By: Gagnon Seconded By: Connors
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D R A F T
Town of Danby, New York 5 September 2023 Town Board Meeting Minutes
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 191 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
9.4.To Zoom or Not to Zoom
Resolution 192 of 2023 To Purchase One Zoom License from Rene Carver
Moved By: Woodworth Seconded By: Hansen
Vote:
Councilperson Aye Nay Abstain
Connors X
Hansen X
Hunter X
Woodworth X
Gagnon X
Resolution 192 of 2023 passed on 5 September 2023
9.5.Request from Danby Roots Party to be allowed two pages in the Town
Newsletter.
The Board discussed the issue of what should be included in the Town’s
newsletter and whether that could include external information, including
election material. The consensus was that the newsletter contain town official
and staff correspondence rather than external materials nor be a forum for
election information.
10. Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda
11. Adjourned at 20:27
Recorded by Janice R. Adelman
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D R A F T
Town of Danby, New York 5 September 2023 Town Board Meeting Minutes
Town Clerk
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