HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01 Town NewsletterJanuary2024TownofDanby,NewYork DanbyTownNewsDanbyTownNewsDanbyTownNewsDanbyTownNewsDanbyTownNews 1 DANBYFIREDISTRICTDANBYFIREDISTRICT ORGANIZATIONALMEETINGORGANIZATIONALMEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Organizational Meeting for the Danby Fire District of the Town of Danby, County of Tompkins, New York,willbeheldonTuesdaythe9th dayofJanuary2024,at7:00P.M.at the Danby FireStation,1780Danby Road, Town of Danby, County of Tompkins, New York. The regular meetingwillfollow. By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Danby Fire District. SharonGaden,Secretary December12,2023 DanbyVolunteerFireCompany HappyNewYear!DanbyVolunteerFire CompanywillcontinuehostingPancake breakfastsin2024.Drive-thruorstopinforaplate ofPancakes,FrenchToast,Sausage,Scrambled Eggs,andHomefriesallfor$12.JoinusSunday, January14th,8am-11amforbreakfastandsupport ourJawsofLifefundraiser. Wearethrilledtohavetakendeliveryofthe upgradedrescuetools("JawsofLife")thatYOUthe amazingDanbycommunityhavehelpedfundraise fortheinitialpayment.WeareSOclosetomeeting ourgoalofthatinitialpayment. Futuredates:February11th&March10 th January2024TownofDanby,NewYork NotesfromtheSupervisorNotesfromtheSupervisor JoelGagnonJoelGagnon Bythetimeyouseethismessage,2024willbeathand.Ihopeitcanbeayearinwhichwelooktowhat wecanaccomplishtogether.AllthenegativitysurroundingtheelectioninNovemberandtheleadupto itwasenervatinganddisheartening.IbelievethatalmosteveryoneIhaveknownwhohasservedthe towninthe40orsoyearsIhavebeenobservingandparticipatinginlocalgovernmenthasdonesowith thebestinterestsofthetownanditsresidentsaprimarymotivefortheirinvolvement.Ichallenge myselfandyoutolookpastthedifferencesandseethegoodinbothfriendandfoe.Insteadoffinding fault,canwenotinsteadengageinarespectfuldialogthatseekstounderstandandfindcommon ground?Thatwouldbeanewyear’sresolutionworthinvestingin. TaxReliefforConservationEasements WhenthetownsoughtStatelegislationauthorizingtaxabatementinexchangeforacommitmenton thepartoflandownersnottodeveloptheirland,allinvolvedthoughtthatthiswouldmakeitpossibleto providerelieffromincreasinglyburdensometaxesonland.Undevelopedlandrequireslittletono servicesandisacriticalpartofruralcharacter,howeveryouunderstandthatterm.Therecentdiscovery thatexistingconservationeasementswouldnotbeabletoparticipateintheabatementprogramwasa bodyblowtoourobjective.Whattodo? TheConservationAdvisoryCouncilconsideredthatquestionatlengthattheDecembermeeting.The groupdecidedtodowhatitcouldtomakethecurrentauthorizationmoremeaningful.Thatmeans doingmoretotrytogettheschooldistrictstoparticipate(theycanoptin,butdonothaveto).Optingin isrevenue-neutraltotheschooldistrictsandwouldresultinasmallincreaseintaxesfordistrict residents.TheCACwasalsounanimousinwantingtoincludecurrenteasementpropertiesinthe program.Wewillprobablyhavetogobacktothestatetotrytogetthat.TheTownBoardatthe December20meetingsentthematterbacktotheCACforfurtherclarificationofwhatitiswewantto askforbeforereachingouttoRepresentativeAnnaKellesandSenatorLeaWebb. Vacancies Wehavegottenapplicationstofillmostexpiringterms,buttherearestillopeningswithnoapplicants. Notably,welacksomeonewillingtorepresenttheTownontheCounty’sEnvironmentalManagement Council.ThereareadditionalspotsontheConservationAdvisoryCouncilandontheDanbyYouth Commission.AlloftheseareimportantpositionsthattheBoardwouldliketofill.Donotdoubtthatyou couldmakeadifferencewereyoutovolunteer.Allofusarebusyandstretchedfortime,buttogetherwe shapethefutureofthetown.Justthinkwhatmorecouldbeaccomplishedifyouwerepartofthat. ApplicationformisonthewebsiteorcanbehadattheTownClerk’sOffice. TownBoardMeetingdays Reminder:ThetownboardwillmeetonthefirstandthirdMondaysofeachmonthbeginningwiththe secondmeetinginJanuary. 2 January2024TownofDanby,NewYork TompkinsCountyLegislatureNewsTompkinsCountyLegislatureNews DanKleinDanKlein HereisabriefroundupofsomeofthemanyissuestheTompkinsCountyLegislatureisworkingonand discussing. RapidMedicalResponse –Thisisaprojectthatwillstation3emergencyresponsevehiclesstaffed withEmergencyMedicalTechniciansaroundthecounty.Mostpeopleagreethatthisprojectholds tremendouspotentialforimprovingpublicsafety.Whatwedon’tagreeonyetishowtopayforit,and thatconversationwillbecontinuing,probablyformonths. Broadbandinternet –Ourgoalistoprovideaccesstobroadbandinternettoeveryoneofthe1,200 unservedaddressesinthecounty.Thisisacomplex,expensiveproject.Wehopetomakerealprogress onthissoon,althoughitwilllikelytakeafewyearstofullycomplete. TC3–TompkinsCortlandCommunityCollegeisseeinganupswinginenrollment.GoodnewsfromTC3 hasbeensomewhatrareinrecenttimes,sothisisespeciallygratifying. TCAT(TompkinsConsolidatedAreaTransit)–Busservicenationwidehasnotrecoveredfromthe pandemic,andourcountybusserviceisnoexception.TCATwillbegettinganewGeneralManager soon,andwehopethat2024willbeayearofrebuilding. TriennialAssessment –Whatwearediscussingispossiblyswitchingpropertyre-assessmentsfrom everyyeartoevery3years.Thereareprosandconsforbothsystems.Thisisacomplexissue,andIam stilllearningmoreaboutit.Iwillwritemoreaboutthisastheissuedevelops. RedHouse –Anhistoricbuildingat408NorthTiogaStreetisownedbytheCountybuthasbeen deemednotneededforCountypurposesandisforsale.Wewillcontinuetoanalyzethepurchaseoffers toseewhatwouldbebestintermsoffinancialandcommunitybenefit. Cybersecurity-TheCountyparticipatedlastmonthinaday-longcybersecurityworkshopgivenbythe NYSDept.ofHomelandSecurity.Ithighlightedbothhowvulnerableeveryoneistothismenace,but alsohowrelativelystrongTompkinsCounty’sdefensesare.Wewillcontinuetoimplementsuggested initiativestokeepourinformationsafe. CARETeams -CityandCountyCARE(CrisisAlternativeResponseandEngagement)teamsarestarting. Thisisaprogramwhereamentalhealthprofessionalispairedwithalawenforcementprofessionalto respondjointlytocertainkindsofpolicecalls.BoththeIthacaPoliceDepartmentandtheCounty Sheriff'sDepartmenthavelaunchedthisprogramwithstafffromtheCountyWholeHealthDepartment.  TownNewsReminders IfyouwouldliketoreceivetheDanbyTownNewsONLYonthewebsite,pleasesendanemailwith yourrequesttotownnews@danby.ny.gov. likewise,ifyouhaveanysuggestionsforformatting,content,etc,pleasesendthatinformationto townnews@danby.ny.gov. January2024TownofDanby,NewYork ConservationAdvisoryCommitteeConservationAdvisoryCommittee MargaretCorbitMargaretCorbit TheDanbyConservationAdvisoryCouncil(CAC)December12.Herearethehighlights: TheCACmeetingbeganbyconsideringtheimpactthattherolloverinTownstaffwillhaveonour activities.Weagreedthatfundingforwebdesignwillbehelpfulandlookforwardtoworkingwiththe newclerk.Severalmemberssharedideasforreorganizingouronlineresources,bothpublicand private,astheTowntransitionstothenewcloud-basedplatformforinstitutionalsupport.Oursisavery modestpartofamajorproject.OurbiggestneedistohaveacoherentsystemfororganizingEasements andfacilitatingtheirmonitoring.SeveralCACmemberswillmeetinJanuarytoplanourspace. WediscussedprogressonfourEasementsindevelopment.Membersareworkingcloselywith landownerstocraftplansthataccommodatetheirexpectations.WhileTownConservationEasements donotcreate“preserves,”whichwouldrequirefundingandstaffing,wetalkedaboutthepossibilityof optionallyincorporatingasectionintheoriginalEasementthatgivesrecommendationsforfutureland useandmanagement.Forexample,suchasectioncoulddescribetheimportanceofkeeping grasslandsmanagedtosupportbirds.EveryEasementisauniquedocumentcreatedforthespecific propertybytheownersandCACmemberswithlegaloversight. OurnextmeetingisonJanuary9at7pmintheTownHall.Communitymembersarewelcometoattend.  DanbySeniorsDanbySeniors MargieVanDeMarkMargieVanDeMark DanbySeniorsinviteallthose55andovertojoinusformonthlydish-to-shareluncheonsatthe DanbyCommunityChurch….alwaysthefirstThursdayat12noon.We’llnextmeetonJan.4,andalso onFeb.1.WordisthatTedMerritthasagreedtocallBingoinJanuary. WehadalovelyluncheonatLaTourelleonDec.7 th….appropriateasEmilyWigginswasafounding memberbackin1968.BigthanksgotoTheresaKlingerandTammyLopezforputtingtogetherthe arrayofgreatprizesandtheniceslideshow!Theresadidagreatjoboforganizingthiseventand keepingtrackofthe 96attendees.SueSilltookmanynicephotosthatdayandtheyareonthe FacebookpageforDanbySeniors.Severalbakersmadecookiesandwealsohadabigsheetcakefor our55 thanniversary.JohnSimonprovidedgoodmusicwithguitarandsong. DanbyVolunteerFireCompany We'dliketocongratulateourelectedLineandStaffOfficersfor2024. Chief-JohnGaden;1stAssistantChief-DanSaracino;2ndAssistantChief-PeterGoodman; 3rdAssistantChief-JethroForbes;Lieutenant-SimonWyatt President–PeterGoodman;VicePresident–DerekDougherty;Treasurer–SteveHilsdorf Secretary–SharonGaden;DirectoratLarge–IvanRoss LineOfficers,pendingapprovalfromtheDanbyFireDistrict,willbesworninattheDanbyFire DistrictOrganizationalmeetingonJanuary9th. January2024TownofDanby,NewYork YouthProgramsYouthPrograms HeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.edu)HeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.edu)HeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.edu)HeidiDoggett(hd289@cornell.edu) 2023iscomingtoanend,andwe’vehadso muchfunthisyearinDanby’syouthprograms. WefishedinJenningsPond,visitedTwilight AlpacaFarm,madesalsa,putonamusical, playedtaginthewoods,anddecoratedlotsof cupcakes.We’veplayedover60hoursof Dungeons&Dragons!There’ssomuchmoreon thewayfor2024.Beginningthesecondweekof Januarywe’llhavetwoprogramsformiddle schoolersandtwoprogramsfor4-5graders. The4-5gradeprogramsaren’tquitereadyto announceyet,socheckoutourprogramlistfor updatesatbit.ly/41jUwDO.Themiddleschool programsareasfollows: CozyWinterCooking 3:30-5:30atBoyntonMiddleSchool, Mondays1/8,*NOPROGRAM1/16*,1/22,1/29, 2/5,2/12,*NOPROGRAM2/19*,2/26 Cozyupforcomfortfoodandcooking challengeswithstews,chili,potpie,turnovers, andmore. Dungeons&Dragons/Magic:theGathering 3:30-5:30atBoyntonMiddleSchool, Wednesdays1/101/17,1/24,1/31,*NO PROGRAM2/7*,2/14,*NOPROGRAM2/21*, 2/28,3/6,3/13,3/20,3/27,*NOPROGRAM4/3 OR4/10*,4/17,4/24,5/1,5/8,5/15,5/22,5/24, 6/5,6/12 ChoosefromMagic:theGathering(wecan providecards),youth-runandadultrunD&D campaigns,andothergamesincludingoutdoor timewhentheweatherisgood. Wewillalsohavesomeprogramsduringthe Februarybreak.Staytuned!  Dungeons and Dragons Makiing pupptetswith LilySilly Snowphotos DotsonPark January2024TownofDanby,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:PatPhelps patriciaphelps2.0@gmail,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 DanbyLibraryNewsDanbyLibraryNews CindyParlettCindyParlett January2024-newselectionofAdultFictionfromTCPLwillarrivethismonth. WealsohaveseveralbooksbyKenFollet, aWelshauthorofthrillersandhistoricalnovels FallofGiants ; EdgeofEternity ; WinteroftheWorld . ElmoreLeonardwasanAmericannovelistand screenwriter.HisearlynovelswereWesterns, buthelaterwrotecrimefictionandthrillers. TheFXseries,Justified,isbasedononeofhisnovels featuringU.S.MarshalRaylanGivens. Wehave- RidingtheRap ; Raylan;and CubaLibre .  January2024TownofDanby,NewYork MonthlyMeetingScheduleAt-A-GlanceMonthlyMeetingScheduleAt-A-Glance Group Day Date Time Call-inbyPhone MeetingID TownBoard*Tues 1/2 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 98085159868 754633 WDWD Wed 1/3 5:00pm Inperson WestDanbyfire station CAC*Tue 1/9 7:00pm 1-929-205-6099 97215660090 423584 FD Tue 1/9 7:00pm I npersonattheDanbyFireStation DYC Thurs 1/11 7:00pm Online-contactjsorrentino@danby.ny.gov PB*Tue 1/16 7:00pm 1-646-876-9923 95808175336 245871 TownBoard*Mon 1/15 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 97107232988 535713 BZA*Thurs 1/23 7:00pm TBD FD Tue 1/23 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:4thTuesday,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  January2024TownofDanby,NewYork TownOfficialsTownOfficials MainPhone:+1-607-277-4788 TownSupervisor JoelGagnon,x1010 supervisor@danby.ny.gov TownBoard Meets1stTue and3rdWed LeslieConnors PaulHansen HKatharineHunter PatWoodworth townboard@danby.ny.gov TownClerk DeputyTownClerk Hours:Mon–Fri 11am–6pm MariahDillon 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-Wed 8am-11am GarryHuddle TheresaKlinger DianeGair dgair@nycourts.gov TownPlanner Hours:Mon–Fri byappointment GregHutnik,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