HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02 Town NewsletterFebruary 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Danby Town News
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Meeting change
The second town board meeting will be on
Wednesday, February 21 and not Monday,
February 19. (Note: Monday, 2/19 is a
federal holiday-Presidents Day)
More Pancakes!!
Danby Volunteer Fire Company is still fundraising
for our new Jaws of Life with Pancake breakfasts.
Drive-thru or stop in for a plate of Pancakes,
French Toast, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, and
Homefries all for $12. Join us Sunday, February
11th, 8am-11am for breakfast and support our Jaws
of Life fundraiser. Last month we took delivery of
the upgraded rescue tools ("Jaws of Life") that
YOU the amazing Danby community have helped
fundraise for the initial payment. We expect the
new tools to be in service by the time you read
this and our last two breakfasts should help us
cover the entire price by donations.
Future date: March 10th
Beautification
The Tompkins County Beautification Program
gives grants to municipalities in Tompkins
County to implement beautification projects.
Funding comes from the Tompkins County
Tourism Program. Projects need to be on
public land highly visible to the public. Danby
has funded projects in the past with this
grant. The application needs to be submitted
by the end of February. If you have
suggestions for potential projects or want to
shelp with a project , contact Leslie Connor
at lconnors@town.danby.ny.gov.
Public hearing
February 21 at 6pm
Local law to increase the senior and
disabled exemption scale as allowed by
revised state laws. (Details on p2)
February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Appointments
Thanks to the following residents of Danby who have been appointed to serve the town as follows:
Conservation Advisory Council: Joel Gagon, Anne Klingensmith, Brittany (Lagaly) Stein
County Youth Partnership Recreation Board: Marnie Kirchgessner
Danby Youth commission: Madeleine Ulinski; West Danby Water District: Peter McDonald
Board of Zoning Appeals: Tobias Dean; Planning Board: Scott Davis
Pond Supervisor/Recreation Supervisor: Mary Ann Kozak; Asst Recreation Supervisor: Jeremiah Kozak
Energy Advisor/Climate Smart Communities Coordinator: Jim Holahan
Representative to Energy Management Committee: Jeffrey Simmons
Chair of Planning Board: Jody Scriber; Chair of Board of Zoning Appeals: Earl Hicks
Co-chairs of Conservation Advisory Council: Margaret Corbit and Jonathan Zisk
Welcome
A very warm welcome to Mariah Dillon, Danby's new town clerk.
Notes from the Town Supervisor Joel Gagnon
We decided to propose a local law that would raise the income limits for senior and disabled tax
exemptions for town property tax. The new limits (50% reduction for incomes under $35,000, with
lesser reductions as income increases until it no longer applies for incomes over $43,400) match the
levels previously adopted by the County. Ours haven’t changed since 2006. If adopted, the reduction in
the tax base would be about in a tax rate increase of 5 cents/$1000 of assessed $3,665,290 and result
value. More information is available on the town website (danby.ny.gov). You can also contact me or
the Town Clerk if you would like it emailed to you.
What to do about the tax abatement in exchange for conservation easement law is resolved for the
moment. We will approach our State Assembly member Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb
seeking modification of the state enabling legislation to make it possible to include all Town of Danby
conservation easements, not just those acquired since we passed the local law implementing the
program. The two most recently approved easements qualify with the existing law, but the six
previously approved do not. We will revisit the larger issue of tax policy driving development where we
don’t want it later.
We are prioritizing drafting a local law to put in place a permitting process for large special events.
There are no provisions for these in our zoning law, which makes them illegal. We want to make it
possible for them to happen legally, but with guidelines. The Town Planner was charged with bringing a
proposal back to the Town Board in February. We hope to have something to propose in March.
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New Flag
We want to thank Denise Benjamin McDermitt for her donation of a new flag for the town hall
given in honor of John Benjamin and all other residents of Danby who proudly served our country.
February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Notes from the Planner's Desk Greg Hutnik
Khuba International
There have been recent articles in area newspapers and local chatter about a farming community
coming to Danby on Hornbrook Road (tax parcel . This is looking more and more true. I met
6.-1-18.25)
with representatives of the organization and their consultants in early January to discuss their proposal
and provide preliminary feedback. They intend to formally submit a Site Plan application to be
reviewed at the February 20 Planning Board meeting. Keep a lookout on the Town’s website for an
agenda for this meeting (typically posted a week before the meeting) for more information about the
proposal.
CDBG Multifamily Housing Rehabilitation
The Town was recently awarded $153,900 to rehabilitate multifamily housing (2-4 unit buildings) that
are rented by low-to-moderate income residents. A Request for Proposals will be issued soon to solicit
a consultant or consulting firm to manage the administrative and program delivery tasks. Once a
consultant is selected and contracted with the Town in mid- to late-February, the Town will begin the
process of accepting applications for multifamily housing rehabilitation. Stay tuned!
Zoning Amendments
Though the Town recently went through a major process to update its Zoning Law, there have been
some “kinks” found in it that deserve to be ironed out. A full list of higher and lower priority
amendments were previewed at the November 20 Town Board meeting (see meeting material on the
Town website for more details) and the Board will begin reviewing these amendments at the January 22
Town Board meeting. A public hearing will be scheduled at a later date to formally adopt any
amendments.
Fair Housing
The Town of Danby is committed to providing Fair Housing within constitutional limitations to all Town
residents. The Federal Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of
housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status. If any individual
or family feels that they have been discriminated against in obtaining suitable housing of their choice or
if anyone requires additional information regarding Fair Housing, they can contact Greg Hutnik, Fair
Housing Officer, at 607-592-0417 or planner@danby.ny.gov, Monday through Friday between the hours
of 9 a.m until 4 p.m.
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to schedule a time to meet, please call 607-592-0417
or email planner@danby.ny.gov.
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February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Notes from the Code Officer Steve Cortright
Hello Danby residents, as we find ourselves coming out of our most recent polar vortex, I have some
information I would like to share. Over the last several weeks I have responded to several 911 calls for
chimney fires as your Code Officer and as a Danby Fire District Volunteer Firefighter with the West
Danby Fire Department. You may wonder why does West Danby respond to fires in Danby? The answer
to that is we are one Fire District with two station who respond together and help each other.
This fact aside, I would like to share a couple of other facts with you. FACT: at two of the last three
chimney fires that have occurred in our Town it was discovered that the stoves were installed without
the benefit of a building permit. I am still investigating the status of the third fire. FACT: The Town of
Danby and New York State require a building permit to install a solid fuel burning appliance AKA wood
stove, pellet Stove, coal stove, corn stove and so on. This also applies to the chimney for new or a
replacement chimney for an existing solid fuel burning appliance.
I have seen time after time, after time, and heard from fellow Code Officers across the County about
solid fuel burning appliances that were installed without a building permit that cause a fire that
damages the house that have left the homeowners to pay for the repairs out of pocket because their
insurance company denied their claim due to an illegal installation.
Other items that may have to be addressed because of a solid fuel burning appliance installation is
adding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as making sure your street address is clearly
visible from the road and that the address numbers are a minimum of 4 inches tall and preferably
reflective. As a side note: both the Danby and West Danby fire Departments sell the green reflective 911
address signs that you see around Town, applications are available at my office in Town Hall.
I would also not be doing my job as a firefighter and Code Official if I did not remind you to burn only
seasoned firewood and please no trash in your wood stove. Seasoned firewood is wood that has air
dried for an extended period of time, preferably at least one year. The ideal moisture content for
seasoned fire wood is 20%. Inexpensive moisture meters can be purchased to check your wood if you
wish. Along with burning seasoned firewood it is your responsibility to maintain and keep your chimney
clean throughout the heating season. If you are unable to do this, I would highly recommend that you
hire one of several professional chimney cleaning services from around the area.
I would like to say please get a building permit, please burn only seasoned firewood, quality wood
pellets or coal and please maintain your chimney. The process for a solid fuel burning appliance
building permit is very easy, provide me with a building permit application, a copy of the installation
manual for the appliance, required insurance documents for either your contractor or for you if you are
doing the installation yourself and a $25.00 fee. Once the permit is issued it is a matter of 1 or 2
inspections and upon a compliant installation a certificate of compliance is issued and you have a
legally installed solid fuel burning appliance for which you are responsible for the appropriate use and
maintenance.
I am always available to answer questions on what does or what does not require a building permit, or
any building code or energy code questions that you may have. Thank you, Steve
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February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Tompkins County Legislature News Dan Klein
I just completed my 10th year on the Tompkins County Legislature and I was voted by my colleagues to
be Chair of the Legislature for 2024. This is a big job and a big honor. The job, as I see it, is to help the
legislature have its best impact by working with our County staff, the public, our state and federal
representatives, the business community, the not-for-profit community, the educational community,
and everybody else who has is a partner in our quality of life in Tompkins County.
Here is a partial list of some of the big items the legislature will be working on in 2024:
●The County needs more office space as NY State is requiring us to move out of some of our
existing space, and as some of the space we currently occupy continues to push past its useful
life. Planning for a new super-green Center of Government building will likely involve significant
legislator and community engagement in 2024.
●The County received a grant and has been working with a consultant on developing a Strategic
Operations Plan to improve our delivery of services. We will finish the plan and vote on its
adoption in 2024.
●The County is currently planning to take action to make a dent in the number of people
experiencing homelessness and sleeping outside. There will be a lot more to say about this as
2024 progresses.
●The County has more than 40 advisory boards populated with over 300 volunteers. In 2024 all
these advisory boards will be required to review and update their bylaws.
●We have been without a permanent County Attorney for about 6 months. We hope to hire one
very soon.
●The County will be implementing a Rapid Medical Response project in 2024 which aims to
bolster the existing emergency medical services system and to decrease response times
countywide.
●The County has a goal of making broadband internet available to every address in Tompkins
County. We are waiting for the large amounts of federal and state money that has been set aside
for this purpose to be ready to distribute. We won’t finish the broadband project in 2024, but
hopefully we will get a good start on it.
●Reimagining Public Safety was a 3-year, multi-point plan which ends at the end of 2024. In 2024,
we will begin to evaluate that initiative and plan for what comes next.
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Office of the Aging public hearing in Danby
February 6 at 11 am, Danby Community Church
The office of the aging would like input from Danby residents about services they can provide.
February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Conservation Advisory Committee Margaret Corbit
The Danby Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) met on Tuesday, January 9 at 7 pm via Zoom due to
bad weather. Thanks to Joel Gagnon who set us up. Here are the highlights of the meeting .
We welcomed Anne Klingensmith to the Council as our first agenda item. The group approved the
2023 annual report, which was forwarded to the Town Board. And then we entered a deep discussion
on the fairness of taxing property owners for their undeveloped/open land. Some people believe these
owners should receive benefits for leaving the land undeveloped. Unfortunately, the Town is not in a
position to do this. However, undeveloped land included in a Danby Conservation Easement is eligible
for Town Tax abatement, with the approval to the Town Board.
A committee of members reported on their plans and efforts so far to organize and streamline the
easement monitoring process. Renee Owens will be coordinating monitoring. Anne Klingensmith will
put her skills to work on the organization of CAC online resources in general.
The Council agreed to invite Crystal Buck, CCE Farmland Protection and Ag Marketing Educator to a
meeting to learn more about her work. This led to another philosophical discussion about the
relationships we have with the Land (yes, capitol L) Are we simply creatures living on it, caretakers of it?
How do we motivate others to protect it? Good things to consider as we begin a new year.
Our next meeting is on February 13 at 7 pm in the Town Hall. Community members are welcome to
attend in hybrid fashion or in person.
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Danby Seniors Margie VanDeMark
The Danby Seniors will meet on February 1st and March 7th at 12 noon at the Danby Community
Church. All folks 55 and over are invited to join us for a dish to share luncheon.
At our January meeting we enjoyed a lively game of Bingo, called by Ted Merritt.
For the March meeting, Gail Mazourek has agreed to discuss her latest book with us. It was cowritten
with her daughter Cynthia and is tough to put down once you begin reading it.
Remember to check out and join the Danby Seniors Facebook page if you haven’t already!
Town News Reminder
If you would like to receive the Danby Town News ONLY on the website , please send an email with
your request to townnews@danby.ny.gov.
likewise, if you have any suggestions for formatting, content, etc, please send that information to
townnews@danby.ny.gov
February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Youth Programs Heidi Doggett hd289@cornell.edu)
Cold weather is finally here! That means Danby
Youth Programs are spending more time on fun
indoor activities, grabbing outdoor time
whenever the weather allows. There are two
middle school programs and two 4-5 grade
programs. We’re also planning two programs
over February break: a in indoor game day for
2/20 and the RYS Winter Olympics on 2/21.
Registration for these two programs will be up
soon. Registration for our regular programs is
currently open at bit.ly/41jUwDO.
NOTE: Danby’s registration slots for
Wednesday’s Dungeons & Dragons/Magic: the
Gathering program are full, but there is still
room in the program! This is a joint program run
by a team of educators, and the other educator
still has slots open through her registration. If
you want to register for this program, just do it
through Beth Bannister’s program page:
http://bit.ly/3Gmz9sU
Questions or suggestions? Email Heidi Doggett.
Cozy Winter Cooking
3:30-5:30 at Boynton Middle School
Mondays 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, *NO PROGRAM
2/19*, 2/26
Cozy up for comfort food and cooking
challenges with stews, chili, pot pie, turnovers,
and more. Vote on each week’s menu and use a
budget for ingredients.
Fort Building (4-5 grade)
2:30-5:30 at Dotson Park/Danby Town Hall
Tuesdays 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, *NO PROGRAM
2/20*, 2/27
When weather allows, build forts using
branches and knotweed at Dotson Park. During
inclement weather, build indoor forts at Town
Hall using fort kits and sheets.
Dungeons & Dragons/Magic: the Gathering
3:30-5:30 at Boynton Middle School,
Wednesdays: *NO PROGRAM 2/7*, 2/14, *NO
PROGRAM 2/21*, 2/28, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27,
*NO PROGRAM 4/3 OR 4/10*, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1,
5/8, 5/15, 5/22, 5/24, 6/5, 6/12
Choose from Magic: the Gathering (we can
provide cards), youth-run and adult run D&D
campaigns, and other games including outdoor
time when the weather is good.
Winter Crafts (4-5 grade)
2:30-5:30 at Danby Town Hall
Thursdays \2/1, 2/8, 2/15, *NO PROGRAM
2/22*, 2/29
Choose from a rotating selection of craft
options. Bring your own ideas and be ready to
vote on next week’s crafts with the group.
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Playing dungeons
and dragons
Winter crafts -
Adorable clay
polymor miniature!!!
February 2024 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: Pat Phelps
patriciaphelps2.0@ gmail,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
February brings a new selection of picture books from TCPL
There are numerous bestseller lists
and book awards published each year
and several of our books are included.
Here are just a few that haven't already been mentioned:
Light Perpetual-Francis Spufford
Great Circle-Maggie Shipstead
Friends and Strangers-J. Courtney Sullivan
Every Heart A Doorway-Seanan McGuire
Percy Jackson Series-Rick Riordan
(recently made into a Disney+ series)
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Over 1,000 items were signed out from our little
library this past year and while it is only staffed by
volunteers 6 hours each week, it is accessible to
patrons whenever the Danby Town Hall doors are
open. We invite you to come and see all there is to
offer. While you're there, help us with the monthly
jigsaw puzzle!
February 2024 Town of Danby, New York
Monthly Meeting Schedule At-A-Glance
Group Day Date Time Call-in by Phone Meeting ID
Town Board* Min 2/5 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 980 8515 9868 754633
WDWD Wed 2/7 5:00pm In person West Danby fire station
CAC* Tue 2/13 7:00pm 1-929-205-6099 972 1566 0090 423584
FD Tue 2/13 7:00pm I n person at the Danby Fire Station
DYC Thurs 2/8 7:00pm Online - contact jsorrentino@danby.ny.gov
PB*Tue 2/20 7:00pm 1-646-876-9923 958 0817 5336 245871
Town Board* Wed 2/21 6:00pm 1-929-205-6099 971 0723 2988 535713
BZA* Tue 2/27 7:00pm TBD
FD Tue 2/27 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 Tuesday, 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
Meets: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7pm
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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February 2024 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
Paul Hansen
H Katharine Hunter
Pat Woodworth
townboard@danby.ny.gov
Town Clerk
Deputy Town Clerk
Hours: Mon–Fri
11am–6pm
Mariah Dillon
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
Greg Hutnik, 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
From:
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
PRST STD
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No.428
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: +1-607-277-4788
https://danby.ny.gov
Welcome to the
Danby Town News!
Questions? Email us at
townnews@danby.ny.gov