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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0707-2026 Minutes Draft 1 | P a g e Town of Danby Town Board Public Hearing and Regular Meeting Minutes Held Tuesday, July 7th, 2026, at the Danby Town Hall Board Members Present: Joel Gagnon, Town Supervisor Leslie Connors Mariah Dillon Zachary Larkins Mark Pruce Town Staff and Officials: Blake Savoy, Town Clerk George Frantz, Interim Town Planner Keith Shipman, Town Highway Superintendent Laura Shawley, Town Bookkeeper Ted Jones, Town Bookkeeper Other Attendees: Between 50-60 residents in person and 32 on Zoom Meeting Called to Order at 6:06pm Special Events Local Law Public Hearing As was publicized in the Ithaca Journal, a public hearing was held for the Special Events Local Law. The following numbers are visual approximations of the meeting. About 25 spoke in person at the meeting, about 4 on Zoom, and about 20 by having submitted written comment to be read aloud. Some of the points of concern emphasized by these comments are summarized below. • Negative impacts of the proposed local law on community gatherings • Negative impacts of the proposed local law on local businesses and economy • Decibel caps specified in the law are too low • Traffic, parking, and related concerns • Enforcement of the proposed law, interpretation of criteria, and the role of the BZA • Conflict with other local, state, or federal laws • The use of charging a fee as criteria for a special event The Public Hearing ended at 8:23pm and the Board took a recess before continuing with the regular meeting at 8:30pm. Resolution 195 of 2026 to Extend the Meeting by 1 Hour (9:30pm) Vote Moved by Dillon Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 195 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Additions/Deletions to the Agenda A motion was made by Pruce to skip Privilege of the Floor and seconded by Larkins but was not voted on due to additions and deletions not typically being voted on. Laura Shawley noted that there would need to be a special meeting to audit and approve the credit card bill. 2 | P a g e -TCNS Recommendations (deleted from business, to be addressed at the next regular meeting) -Scheduling a special meeting to audit and approve the credit card bill (added) Privilege of the Floor Ted Crane stated that anyone can join an agricultural district once a year, regardless of the status of the farm, and be entitled to the same protections and rights. He stated that he saw no reason to make significant changes to the Town’s existing Right to Farm rules because i t applies to properties outside of agricultural districts. Katharine Hunter stated that she was glad the Board did not skip Privilege of the Floor. Correspondence • Email from County Legislator Irene Weiser (submitted under reports as well) "July Newsletter" • Email from Abigail Connor, Environmental Planner at Tompkins County, with attached letter "GML 239 Letter for Town of Danby Special Events Law" • Email from Jennifer Tiffany with reply from Supervisor Joel Gagnon "Typo in Special Events Law" • Email from Nancy Medsker with reply from Board Member Mark Pruce "My letter concerning Event Law " • Email from Steve Selin with attached letter "Comments on proposed Special Event Law" • Email from Brad Rauch with attached letter • Email from Susan Perri "Special Events Law " • Email from Susan Perri "Fwd: Request for Review of Sound Agricultural Practices at South Hill Cider" Announcements No announcements were made. Minutes The Board discussed but did not approve the 6/2/26 and 6/16/26 meeting minutes. Reports and Presentations • Town Clerk's Monthly Report • Code Officer’s Monthly Report • County Legislator Irene Weiser’s Report • Supervisor’s Account Analyses Resolution 196 of 2026 to Transfer $2,000.00 from Contingent Account to Zoning Contractual Account Discussion Supervisor Gagnon stated that the transfer was to cover the annual maintenance expense of the software used by the Code Officer and Planner. He noted that this expense had not been originally accounted for in the 2026 budget. Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Dillon 3 | P a g e Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 196 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Warrant Abstract 14 of 2026 Board Member Pruce stated he would abstain from voting on the matter as he had not had time to review the abstract and vouchers. Resolution 197 of 2026 to Approve General Fund Vouchers #234-252 for $20,456.18 Vote Moved by Connors Seconded by Larkins Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Abstain Gagnon Yes Resolution 197 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Resolution 198 of 2026 to Approve Highway Fund Vouchers #107-116 for $15,668.54 Vote Moved by Connors Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Abstain Gagnon Yes Resolution 198 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Resolution 199 of 2026 to Approve Water Fund Vouchers #19-21 for $497.00 Vote Moved by Connors Seconded by Larkins Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Abstain Gagnon Yes Resolution 199 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Business Agreement to Spend Town Funds and Purchase of New Plow Wing for Town Highway Department Highway Superintendent Shipman explained that the purchase would be for a new jag wing plow. He stated that this is a very specialized item and essentially proprietary in nature given the specifications and equipment that the Town has access to. Due to these factors, he was only able to get one quote instead of the typical three. 4 | P a g e It was stated that there was funding in the Snow Removal Contractual line for this purchase. Resolution 200: APPROVAL BY THE TOWN BOARD TO ALLOW THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO PURCHASE A PLOW WING WHEREAS, the Highway Department is in need of a plow wing for a pickup truck to aid in the winter maintenance of the developments in the town, and WHEREAS, the use of a plow wing will allow for a wider first path, keeping the truck further from the edge, which reduces the risk of accidents while plowing. Now therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board gives permission to the Highway Superintendent to purchase a plow wing that is built for smaller trucks. The sum of the purchase shall not exceed $9,000 and the funds for this purchase shall come from the DA5142.400 Snow Removal Contractual line. Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 200 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Board Member Pruce noted that the reason there was only one quote should be documented. Resolution 201 of 2026 to Sign the Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds Dated July 7, 2026 Vote Moved by Gagnon Seconded by Dillon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 201 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Highway Superintendent Shipman stated that he would email the Board his current plans, but noted that they are subject to change in the future due to the ever-evolving necessities of the Highway Department. NYS Department of Transportation Request to Use Town Hall Meeting Room The NYS DOT requested to hold a “Open House” about replacing the bridge at the intersection of East/West Miller Road and 96B on July 23rd from 5-7pm. Resolution 202 of 2026 to Approve the NYS Department of Transportation to use Town Hall Vote Moved by Pruce Seconded by Larkins Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes 5 | P a g e Resolution 202 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Special Events Law Discussion The Board briefly discussed some of the points brought up during the public hearing and correspondences. Board Member Pruce stated that he would like to continue narrowing and revising the law, but not have to redo the entire law. Board Member Dillion expressed concerns about the enforcement of the law. The Board discussed creating a list of prevalent ideas and suggestions from the feedback and bringing it back at the next meeting. No formal action was taken. Initial Discussion of Updating Danby’s Definition of Agriculture The Board determined to push the discussion to next meeting. There was discussion about potentially bringing it to the special meeting to pay the credit card, but the consensus was not to . Interim Planner Frantz briefly described various definitions of agriculture. Supervisor Gagnon noted that Frantz’s experience would also be beneficial if the Town were to reconsider sections of the zoning laws, such as those for subdivision and land use. No formal action was taken. Laura Shawley’s End Date of Regular Employment and Terms for Compensation as a Consultant It was stated that Laura Shawley’s regular employment will end on July 17 th. She will still be needed for training her replacement(s). The Board and Shawley discussed the status ongoing transition, which Shawley stated was going well. Board Member Pruce suggested authorizing the fiscal terms of the contract now and then reviewing the contract in its entirety separately. The Board discusse d where the funding for this would come from. No determination was made, but options include the contingency balance and the untouched budget line for Julia Hughes’ time working in the Clerk’s office that was deducted from the Supervisor’s line. Resolution 203 of 2026 to Authorize Supervisor Gagnon to Sign a Contract with Laura Shawley for Ongoing Consultant Bookkeeping for $40/hr not to Exceed $4,000.00. Vote Moved by Pruce Seconded by Gagnon Vote: Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 203 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 TCNS Recommendations The Board and Clerk Savoy discussed moving the discussions related to TCNS’ recommendations to next meeting. No formal action was taken. Special Meeting to Pay the Credit Card Bill Resolution 204 of 2026 to Schedule a Special Meeting to Review the Credit Card Bill for Tuesday, July 14th at 11am Discussion The Board discussed the credit card auditing checklist. Vote Moved by Pruce Seconded by Gagnon Vote: 6 | P a g e Connors Yes Dillon Yes Larkins Yes Pruce Yes Gagnon Yes Resolution 204 of 2026 passed on July 7th, 2026 Due to the meeting already running late, next meeting’s agenda was not discussed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:22pm.