HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-20 Meeting Minutes
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
Ronda Roaring
Theresa Klinger
Garry Huddle
Jim Holahan
1.Call to Order 6:04
2.Additions/Deletions to Agenda
3.Privilege of the Floor
Theresa Klinger - Regarding the Board of Elections moving to even years, the changes do not impact the Town
Justices. For those with a two-year term, who are up for election in 2025, they will have a one-year term.
Garry Huddle Inquired about the lawn mowing at the fire station. Supervisor Gagnon clarified that the Fire
District has its own contract with lawn service.
Ted Crane Wanted the camera moved so that he could see the entire Town Board.
4.Correspondence
4.1.Board of Elections Moves to Even Year Cycle
5.Announcements -
Katharine Hunter Reminded everyone about the Taps Across America event at Town Hall and the
other event in Ithaca.
Supervisor Gagnon reminded everyone that the school board elections were the following day,
May 21, 2024.
6.Reports & Presentations
6.1.County Legislature Representative Dan Klein
6.2.Highway Superintendent - Laura Shawley, Secretary to the Highway Superintendent, reported
that the Highway Department is getting ready for summer projects, and it’s basically business as
usual.
6.3.Update on Transition to Office 365
Dillon reported that the transition to Office 365 is making progress. Our IT consultants were on site to
assist anyone needing help loading multi-factor authentication (MFA) onto their phones. The email
switchover is scheduled for May 30, and document migration will follow after.
1
Mary Ann Barr 2021
Town of Danby
1830 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Danby Town Board Meeting Minutes
Held: Monday, May 20, 2024 6:00 PM
7.Meeting Minutes
7.1.Resolution 146 of 2024 to Approve May 6, 2024 Town Board Meeting Minutes
Moved By Connors Seconded by Hunter
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 146 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
8.Warrants Abstract 09 of 2024
8.1.Resolution 147 of 2024 to Approve General Fund Vouchers 148 - 164 for $19,841.79
Discussion ensued regarding the inclusion of several outstanding Cintas bills going back to
December. Dillon reported uncovering several misplaced invoices.
Moved By Connors Seconded by Woodworth
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 147 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
8.2.Resolution 148 of 2024 to Approve Highway Fund Vouchers 79 – 92 for $41,640.02
Connors asked about the newest voucher, #92 for a loader contract, $18,771.
Moved By Connors Seconded by Gagnon
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 148 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
8.3.Resolution 149 of 2024 to Approve Water Fund Vouchers 11 - 13 for $155.56
Moved By Connors Seconded by Gagnon
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 149 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
9.Business
9.1. Resolution 150 of 2024 to Approve the Use Town Hall for May 30th Meeting for Mobility Vision for
Tompkins County
Moved By Woodwoth Seconded by Gagnon
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 150 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
9.2. Change Town Board Meeting Days?
The board found no compelling reason to change the Town Board meeting day.
9.3. Schedule Special Meeting to Discuss Sewer Study and Next Steps?
Supervisor Gagnon and Planner Hutnik met with Hunt engineers who conducted a sewer study. Gagnon said
that it was an extensive study and warranted an entire meeting to focus on the study. Hutnik and Gagnon
would like to have the engineers present the study to the Town Board at a special meeting. Discussion ensued
regarding the cost of putting in sewers to residents. Grants would be necessary as the unsubsidized cost for this
infrastructure in a small town like Danby would be excessive. Hutnik mentioned a grant that may cover as much
as 85% of the cost of the system. He encouraged the Board to apply for the grant even if the town did not
move forward with the sewer system.
Resolution 151 of 2024 to Approve Supervisor Gagnon to Schedule a Special Meeting to look at the
Sewer Study.
Moved By Gagnon Seconded by Hansen
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 151 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
9.4. CAC Recommendation to Seek Expanded Scope for Tax Abatement for Conservation Easement
Properties
Dan Klien was unable to assist with the effort to expand the scope of tax abatements tor everyone with a town
conservation easement. The tax exemption would exempt a percentage of a property from taxation.
Supervisor Gagnon clarified:
The way it works under the provisions of that local law, which is based on the enabling legislation from the
State, it enables temporary easements, which we haven't had and do not yet have, but if you do a temporary
easement, the amount of the exemption varies depending on the length of time under which you have your
land under protection. It starts at 15 years, which gets you 50% off the town tax of the land. It doesn't affect the
taxation of buildings. It starts at 50% for 15 years, and then if you commit for a longer period, it goes up from
there. A permanent easement gets you 90% off on your property tax on protected land. Public access is not
required for a conservation easement. The public benefit is that the land is not developed.
The Town Board is motivated to get the folks who have Town of Danby easements included in tax exemptions.
Connors has questions about including easements that were done by the Finger Lake Land Trust or other
easement programs. She said she didn’t have enough information about other easements.
Supervisor Gagnon mentioned an easement provided by the Humane Society.
Supervisor Gagnon said, “ All conservation easements serve the primary purpose of removing development
potential.”
The Board expresses a need to understand what land is currently under a conservation easement, whether a
Town of Danby easement or another program easement. Supervisor Gagnon will reach out to Jay Franklin from
the county Assessment Office to get more information for the Board.
9.5. Resolution 152 of 2024 to Approve the Appointment of Connie Sczemanski to be on the Youth
Commission - Term to be Determined.
Discussion ensued about how long of a term she would have.
Moved By Hunter Seconded by Woodworth
Roll Call:
Connors Yes
Hansen Yes
Hunter Yes
Woodworth Yes
Gagnon Yes
Resolution 152 of 2024 passed on May 20, 2024
9.6. Consider Changing Email Policy to Decrease Number of Addresses
Discussion ensued regarding who is required to have a town email address. Dillon will put together a list
of staff and committee chairs who should be required to have a town email, for the Town Board.
9.7. Decide Whether to Pursue Codification Using General Code
Dillon went over the benefits of having the town laws codified by General Code, the company that does most
of the codifying for towns in New York State. Discussion ensued regarding other towns, the costs (initial, annual,
and ongoing costs) and the process for getting local laws codified. Hutnik spoke about the ease of searching for
laws that have been codified, and how this effort will benefit the residents of the town, especially with the new
online zoning map that are now online. He also mentioned that most of the software for the code officer and
the planner requires that town laws be codified before implementing. Dillon to provide the board with the
process for how to get new local laws codified. Supervisor Gagnon will bring it up at the next meeting.
9.8. Further Discussion of ARPA Spending Priorities
Woodworth offered her support for using the ARPA funds for the Ramp project for Town Hall. (Current ramp
does not meet code requirements.) Discussion ensued regarding the numerous specifications regarding when,
where, how, and costs associated with a new ramp and possible new entryway for the Town Hall.
Supervisor Gagnon clarified the the ARPA money must be committed or spent, by the end of the year.
Hansen pointed out that the town could commit the money to the Highway projects and then have the money
allocated to the highway be spent for other things.
ARPA items discussed included upgrades to hydrants, an office for the West Danby Water District (M. Cortright
is getting cost estimates), purchasing and inspection of solar panels. Discussion ensued regarding who might be
a good candidate for inspecting the solar panels. Hansen agreed to look into this.
Highway Parking lot issues ($25,000) and a new roller for the highway department ($175,000) and several
other high priority projects were discussed. Shawley will look into the reporting requirements for obtaining the
ARPA funds.
10.Discussion of Next Meeting Agenda
11.Adjourn 8:05