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Home My WebLink About2024-11-04 Town Board MinutesTown of Danby � ;�- r-r Town Board Meeting Minutes j1 Held Monday, November 4, 2024 DANBY Board Members Present: Joel Gagnon, Town Supervisor Leslie Connors Katharine Hunter Patricia Woodworth Paul Hansen Town Staff: Laura Shawley, Bookkeeper Mariah Dillon, Town Clerk Greg Hutnik, Town Planner Other Attendees: Ted Crane Garry Huddle Ronda Roaring Theresa Klinger Captain Charles Tilton Jim Holahan Erin Caruth Public Hearing on the 2025 Preliminary get Public Hearing Opened at 6:06 PM All those who spoke at the public hearing: In Favor Garry Huddle Ted Crane Against Other Ronda Roaring' *Roaring voiced several issues with the budget. Shawley offered to address each of those issues by phone call. Public Hearing Closed at 6:20 PM Regular Meeting Called to Order 6:20 Additions/Deletions to the Agenda Help with the Local Law Questionnaire from General Code - Moved to the end of Business. Privilege of the Floor Ted Crane — Reminded everyone to vote in tomorrow's general election. "I guess the first thing that caught my eye was the change from what Joel wrote in the town board news that he would like to firm up exactly the structure, etc., etc., of the regulatory review committee is now changed to actually appointing them. And I'll come back to what were recorded as my comments in the minutes of the last meeting, basically that involving the public from the beginning of many activities, whether it's zoning or regulatory review or any of that, is a very important goal. And I thank Mariah for putting my comments in there in full. It's a very important goal, 1 1 P a g e whereas, in this case, you not only have not announced the availability of positions to this, but you basically pre -selected people. And I think you could do better than that. And other than that, I think it's really sad. I'm not, I don't know that it's your - anybody's - fault in this room, but it's really sad that you have to basically buy a whole - spend a whole bunch of money on a - new phone system. That's kind of just really sad. It really makes me wonder whether this could have been foreseen or some decision made early on to protect yourselves. And by that I do not mean yet another maintenance contract but selecting the right provider in the first place. Anyway, I don't want to drag this out. Please enjoy your meeting. I'll be listening. Thank you." Hunter Thanked the Danby Volunteer Fire Department for their participation in extinguishing the big fire near downtown on Friday night. "It was good that all the departments and all the towns worked so nicely together." Hunter mentioned that she received a letter from the Census Bureau and wanted to make sure that if people happen to hear about this or see one that they know that these are completely legal. It's from the census. It says you have to answer - your answer is required by law, and it has to do with the American Community Survey. And some people will have been selected. And I feel very fortunate that I got selected. I know this because when I was working for the census, this was one of the options for an additional job that was available. But so far, they're hoping to be able to do it with computers, so they can try to save money. So, if you get one of those, it says, census, United States, census, your response is required by law. It is true, it is good, and it's safe. It's not a scam." Correspondence Letter from the Department of Transportation regarding the request to reduce speed limits on some area roads. The DOT is looking into the request. Announcements Appointee Terms Expiring in 2024: Name Membership Name Membership Fairchild Water Adv Sorrentino DYC Chair Colbert Planning Board Kirshgessner DYC Member Jones BZA Member Hunter DYC Member Owens CAC Member Shawley Threat Assessment Hunter CAC Member Hunter Threat Assessment Corbit CAC Co -Chair Cortright Threat Assessment Zisk CAC Co -Chair Dillon Threat Assessment Barr Historian Jordan Threat Assessment Kirshgessner Recreation Partnership Hunter announced that Sorrentino was stepping down from his position as chair of the Danby Youth Commission. It was agreed that Sorrentino did a fine job as Chair and will be missed. Reports and Presentations • Supervisors Report 2 1 P a g e • Town Clerk Report • Code Officers Report • Planners Report: Planning Board Meeting on October 15, 2024 • No quorum - no official business • Presentation of City of Ithaca Drinking Water Source Protection Plan Build -Out Analysis with recommendations for Danby Planning Board Special Meeting October 29, 2024 • 201 Jersey Hill Road Minor Subdivision to subdivide 10 acres from the 70-acre parcel was approved • 202 Jersey Hill Road Minor Subdivision - proposal to subdivide 10 acres from the 87-acre parcel - sketch plat review • 1429 Danby Road - Sketch Plan Review of Cannabis Retail Dispensary November 19 Planning Board Meeting • 202 Jersey Hill Rd Minor Subdivision - public hearing scheduled to take final action • 104 Peter Road Site Plan Review for accessory structure coverage of 464 sq ft (over 400 sq ft requires SPR in Rural 1) - public hearing scheduled • 1429 Danby Road Site Plan Review for cannabis retail dispensary - public hearing scheduled • Ithaca Waldorf School Standard Subdivision Sketch Plat review - dividing 81-acre lot into two 12-acre lots and one 57-acre lot to be retained by school • Possibly reviewing contractor shop Site Plan Review for Hornbrook Rd property next to Highway Dept. No BZA Meeting in October and likely November Special Event Law - new information provided from legal counsel that may change the content of the law Drainage District #1 Stormwater Facilities Restoration Project RFP has been posted, due by Nov. 22. Meeting with a contractor on site this Thursday, November 7 to discuss scope of project. Meeting Minutes Resolution 245 of 2024 To Accept October 21, 2024, Town Board Meeting Minutes and October 25, 2024, Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Woodworth Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 245 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 3 1 P a g e Warrant Abstract 21 of 2024 Resolution 246 of 2024 To Accept General Fund Vouchers 408 - 420 for $17,267.79 Moved by Connors Vote: Connors Hansen Hunter Woodworth Seconded by Gagnon Yes Yes Yes Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 246 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Resolution 247 of 2024 To Accept Highway Fund Vouchers 202 - 206 for $3,770.54 Moved by Connors Seconded by Woodworth Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 247 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Warrant Abstract 20 of 2024 January — June Credit Card Charges Resolution 248 of 2024 To Accept General Fund CC Vouchers 364 - 407 for $15,136.17 Moved by Woodworth Seconded by Hansen Vote: Connors Abstain Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 248 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Resolution 249 of 2024 To Accept Highway Fund CC Vouchers 198 - 201 for $343.62 Moved by Woodworth Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Abstain Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 249 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Resolution 250 of 2024 To Accept Water Fund CC Vouchers 31 - 34 for $1,926.18 Moved by Woodworth Seconded by Gagnon is Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 250 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Business Animal Control Service Agreement Resolution 251 of 2024 To Authorize the Town Supervisor to Sign the 2025 - 2026 Animal Control Service Agreement Moved by Connors Seconded by Hunter Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 251 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 New Phone Service Contract Mitel is no longer offering business phones and is transferring our phones to Ring Central, unless we contract with a new phone service provider. Dillon shared the three quotes received, from TCNS, Ring Central and Vonage. Dillon was tasked with finding out what phone services other towns are using and obtaining references for TCNS. Approve the 2025 Preliminary Budget Resolution 252 of 2024 To Approve the 2025 Preliminary Budget Moved by Woodworth Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Seconded by Gagnon Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 252 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Proposed Local Law to Amend Senior and Disab Hearing? Tax Exemption Law - Set Public Supervisor Gagnon gave some background for making language modifications to the Senior Disability Tax Exemption law in terms of adding more inclusive language to 5 1 P a g e describe married partners. Gagnon checked with the Town Attorney who had no problem with the proposed change in language but recommended checking for concurrence with Jay Franklin, Director of Assessment, who confirmed that he was okay with the new language, preferring "married couples" over "spousal partners". The draft was prepared using the "married couples" term, since it mirrors the wording in the State enabling legislation. Resolution 253 of 2024 To Set a Public Hearing for December 2, 2024, to Consider Amending the Senior and Disability Tax Exemption Law language Moved by Connors Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 253 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Regulatory Review Committee Resolution 254 of 2024 To Appoint Gagnon, Connors, Hunter, Colleen Cowan, Scott Davis, and Kelly Mahar to the Regulatory Review Committee, Chaired by Hutnik Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Hansen Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 254 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Changing the language of the Procurement Policy to encourage bids from women- and minority - owned businesses, and labor surplus areas. Planner Hutnik addressed the board with recommendations for revising the Procurement Policy language so that our solicitation of bids would look good in the eyes of the State. He stressed the importance of reaching out to minority and women owned businesses. Discussion ensued regarding requirements for Requests for Proposals, preferred contractors and limits, or lack thereof, and whom the town would be required to contact. Hutnik will seek clarification from Thoma (who suggested the additional language be added to the procurement policy)and bring them back to the Board. ARPA Commitment Uvdate Current ARPA Funds committed and spent were displayed. The town has committed $254,538.67 of the $343,520.00 Awarded, leaving $88,981.33 for additional projects. Purchasing the Soal Arrays for 6 1 P a g e $73,100.00 was discussed. Also discussed were additional expenses for the Water District Office building ($5,000), Automatic door openers and the Fire Hydrants upgrades. Holahan provided an update on the maintenance fees for the Solar Arrays. Holahan recommended that money allocated for the Solar array be placed in a designated account for Sunvestment. Shawley will investigate getting a contract to purchase the arrays, and designating the money as Holahan specified. Gagnon encouraged the board to consider purchasing the solar arrays as soon as possible. AOT Annual Meeting Resolution 255 of 2024 To Authorize Dillon and Connors to be the Town Representatives at the AOT Annual Meeting in February 2025 Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Hunter Vote: Connors Yes Hansen Yes Hunter Yes Woodworth Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 255 of 2024 passed on November 4, 2024 Reconsider Timing of Special Event Law After speaking with the Town Attorney, Hutnik realized several potential exemptions might be problematic and raised legal concerns. Hutnik will gather more information to bring to the Board. It was suggested that this could be dealt with in the Regulatory Review Committee. Discussion of General Code Requirements General Code sent several questions regarding the Laws we have sent for the codification project. While many questions have been answered, several questions remain. Connors, Dillon and Gagnon will be meeting with General Code in the next week or so to discuss. Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda Nothing was mentioned Adjourn 8:12 PM 7 1 P a g e