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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-02-14 4S ` TOWN BOARD MEETING February 14 , 1978 Minutes of the Dryden Town Board Meeting held on February 14th Supv Cotterill called the meeting to order at 7 : 40 PM Members and guests participated in the pledge of allegiance Roll call was by the Town Clerk Present : Supv Cotterill , Clw Graham , Clm Metzger , Atty Amdur , Clm Webb , Clm Tarr and Z . O . Stewart Approval of the minutes : Motion was made by Clm Tarr and 2nd by Clm Metzger that the minutes of the January 31st Public Hearing be approved as submitted and the January 11th board meeting be approved after the correction was made under correspondence . • It should read Town of Dryden ' s request ( for the state ) to budget some funds . COUNTY BRIEFING County Rep Watros reported that there was discussion on the Route 13 relocation and will be brought up at the county committee meeting . Clm Metzger wanted to know what happened at the meeting concerning the railroad between Dryden and Locke . County Rep Watros stated that there were 2 meetings . The state proposes to terminate the railroad at Harford so that any freight that is shipped further north will have to be trucked to its destination . The userg along the line above Harford however are opposed to that plan primarily Dryden Agway and Baker Miller in Groton . These users would like to see the complete line remain in operation thru to Moravia or at least Locke . They feel the short line is an alternative that could be a valuable one , but it would involve surcharges to the users . It is acceptable to everyone in this area that would lose the service , but totally unacceptable to Arco the primary user on the line when they can get non- surcharge service thru DOT and Conrail . Everything from the suburban plant south will probably have service in the foreseeable future , but is questionable for how long . At this point the service does not look good for the Dryden area , unless the short line concept is successful . Supv Cotterill wanted to know about the abandonment of LVRR from Freeville to Cortland . County Rep Watros stated that the landowners were preparing a proposal as an association and plan to appear before the Plannning and Public Works Committee on March 6th . The committee will make a recommendation to the county board as to what they propose . The board will take action at that time , which will probably be a month or so . Supv Cotterill wanted to know if the Town of Dryden or Groton will have any input other then to wait and see what the county does . County Rep Watros stated that the Town Board could forward a resolution to the county if they have any interest in the matter . There is correspondence from the landowners in favor of the land reverting back to them and from EOC for their concern that it be retained as a public r - o -w for some purpose . Clm Webb reported that there was much concern about the railroad trestle in McLean which is causing Fall Creek to be at least 2 feet higher than normal . County Rep Watros stated that it is a serious problem and has been discussed . At this point the only one who has any say is the railroad and they have no money . Atty Amdur reported that she had received material from the state DOT asking the Town Board to pass a resolution to allow certain railroad and highway crossings , which the state wants to put up as warnings and than the municipality has to maintain . What would be the purpose if the town is not going to have any railroads in the Town of Dryden . County Rep Watros stated that there is no way of knowing how long the rail service will remain in the Town of Dryden . CITIZEN PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR • Mr Eugene Euvard from Varna would like to petition the Town Board for relief of the water bill he had received since he has sold his trailer park . The bill was for $ 398 . 16 for less that 1 months water . He has never paid more than the minimum amount for each quarter in the past year . According to the resolution each owner previous or present would be paying the minimum bill based on usage which ever was greater . If he paid this $ 398 . 16 bill for 1 month , Mr Sarkus who has now bought the property will also be paying $ 398 . 16 for the remaining 2 months of the same quarter . He could understand the boards position on a private home where you would be talking about a bill of $ 16 . 59 , but this is a commercial situation . Supv Cotterill stated that this problem was discussed at a Bolton Point Water Commission meeting on Mon . The water commission passed a resolution stating that any water meter reading between quarters would be a minimum charge of the normal quarterly rate . The Town Board can only ask Bolton Point to reconsider the resolution . They are going to have a meeting on the 27th of Feb and the matter will be discussed further . The question is will they make an adjustment on the bill . The Town Board cannot do anything . There was some discussion and Supv Cotterill felt that maybe a meeting could be held with U 249: the water district to let people know what is involved in the billing . Mr Case stated that he would be willing to meet with them . C1w Graham felt that the Town Board should let Bolton Point know that they should make it clear to the users as to what the procedures are so that anything like this would be avoided in the future . There was a suggestion that commercial property be hand billed instead of on the computer . Steven Carpenter from South Knoll Drive complained about cars being parked on the road during the winter , year after year which is very dangerous . He was wondering if there was any ruling , because it does hamper the highway supt to plow the hill . Mr Carpenter gave the Town Board some pictures of the cars parked on the hill . Atty Amdur stated that the town can regulate parking outside of emergencies however , the punishment for parking would be limited to a fine for a violation of a traffic rule . The only time that the town can remove vehicles , which is a very drastic remedy is that there is an emergency and is up to Hwy Supt Humphrey to make that determination . Supv Cotterill stated that the Town Board has requested that the highway supt do everything possible to improve accident free situations on the town highway . When the town highway truck does have an accident the insurance just goes right out of sight . The town. is allowing situations which are encouraging damage to cars , because cars are sitting all over the road in the wind , snow and ice . Also there is a hazard to the private citizen going up and down the 'hill , if they happen to skid and hit a car that is parked on the road . RESOLUTION # 50 PARKED OR ABANDONED VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS Cim Metzger offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden , pursuant to Article 41 , Section 1660 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law , hereby adopts the following Traffic Rule and Regulation : Any vehicles parked or abandoned on highways during snowstorms , floods , fires , or o ther public emergencies , or left unattended where such vehicles constitute an obstruction to traffic , may be removed by order of the Town Superintendent of Highways , and the payment of a towing charge not to exceed $ 25 . 00 and a storage charge not to exceed $ 3 . 00 per day shall be payable by the owner or operator of the vehicle . The , Town Superintendent of Highways shall without delay report the removal and disposition o f any Vehicles so removed to the Town Clerk and it shall be the duty of the Town Clerk t o ascertain to the extent possible the name of the owner of the vehicle or the person having the same in charge or the operator , and to notify him of the removal and disposition of such vehicle , and of the amount which will be required to redeem the same . This Rule and . Regulatior_ shall apply in an emergency situation , hereinabove described , which emergency shall be deemed to continue until a public announcement U is made by the Town Superintendent of Highways that the emergency has terminated . 2nd Clm Tarr Roll call vote - all voting YES Harold Case reported that the tax assessor ' s are not getting all of the property on the tax map that is involving water and sewer . This is the assessment department responsibility . Also the assessment dept should not have anything to say about the special districts , it should be left solely up to the town board . If all of the units are not on the tax roll , then the deficit in a fiscal year , if there should be one there are free loaders . Mr Case stated that he has counted them in previous years , but not this year . . County Rep Watros said that he would check on the matter with the assessment department . D ISCUSSION ON BUSY BUS Supv Cotterill stated that there were several petitions and letters supporting the Busy Bus . Also re commendations from the Town of Dryden Recreation Commission u oug Cotterill wanted to know if the Busy Bus serviced Groton area . Doreen Newcomb stated that they did not service Groton hut were near the town line . Groton does have a program o f their own similar to the Busy Bus . Mr Ferguson wanted to know where the funding would be coming from in the future for this program and who reviews program , also will the amount be increased if they do ask for All, more funding . Mrs Barry stated that they were looking at different resources . They have had a meeting :� with the Head Start program to see if some arrangement could be worked out with them . At present they do have funding from the United Way , State Division for Youth , also they might get some funding from the Dryden branch of the Tomp Co Trust Co . , it is not o fficial yet . There has been good evaluation from the Dryden Recreation Comm , which hopes t o be an on going project . Mrs Ferguson wanted to know if this does pass won ' t the money be expected year after year , without asking the taxpayers whether or not they want it . Also the children that use this are the parents taxpayers . The people who live in trailer parks are not taxpayers . Mr Euvard who owned a trailer park in Varna stated that the people were because they are paying through the rent that they pay . Supv Cotterill wanted to know if this was going to be a one time request or were they going to depend on the town for money every year . 0 0, 250 Mrs Lauber reported that they hadn ' t made any statement , that they were under the impression that the Town Board would come up with that suggestion and they would work from there . There other funding possibilities opening up to them at this time . Mrs Barry stated that they are not asking to be part of the town budget but for part of the revenue sharing money and do not want to close off the options of asking for money in the future . Supv Cotterill stated that the reason this is being -:brought up was because last year it was to be a one time fund last year , it obviously came back in the youth budget this year and here is another request from the revenue money . Also do you feel that this will be self supporting without the use of taxpayers money . Mrs Lauber stated that they would like to be self supporting , but because this is a new program that is why they are asking for help . D r Jacobson stated that there is a very definite need for this kind of program and this type of mobil program will work very nicely in our community . On the other hand it should be balanced with some clear understanding where the total budget will come from . All youth programs should be looked at equally . Mrs Ferguson wanted to know if the people were volunteer workers or were paid . Maureen Bergen stated that the only salaried person is the co - ordinator which is paid by CETA funds . Don Rose verified that the United Way did fund the program . Taxpayers do not have a choice , so felt that the money should come from the United Way rather than taxing the tax- payers in the Town of Dryden . He felt that we are taxed heavy enough • as it is . The taxpayers should have a little choice in the matter and not have to support the program . Clw Graham stated that if the Town Board does grant the request for 1978 , that the Town Board go along with the recreation commission request for revaluation and reports t o be given to them and then shared with the Town Board on a regular basis . Clm Webb objected to the request from revenue sharing and felt this is part of the youth program , therefore the money should be in the youth program and be for the town overall . It should be an operating program if the town board is going to support it . The villages would pay the same and would come out of the town budget and part of the operating funds . Taking it out out of the revenue sharing is taking it out of a section of the town instead o f the whole town . Supv Cotterill reported that there are improvements on the highway building which should also be considered in the future out of the revenue sharing . If the improvements are to be made it will be in the neighborhood of $ 100 , 000 , if this is done in the immediate future . The Town Board has been approached by community organizations for funds . The Town Board has contributed in the past and will have to make some decisions if they still want to continue or not . He felt that the Busy Bus program should be in the youth budget . The youth commission should be given a budget of so many dollars and let them decide their priorities and how to use the money . RESOLUTION # 51 GRANT BUSY BUS REQUEST OF $ 2000 FROM FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING MONEY Clm Tarr offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that this Town Board grant the request of $ 2 , 000 from the Federal Revenue Sharing money as a one time request only for the Busy Bus program . 2nd Clw Graham Roll call vote - Clm Tarr YES Clm Metzger YES Clw Graham YES Clm Webb NO Supv Cotterill NO Clw Graham stated that she felt that the Busy Bus should comply with the request from the Youth Recreation Commission on filing a monthly report . County Rep Watros stated that in the future the town could appropriate money to the youth commission and let them dispense the funds . Clm Webb stated that the town 4110 board could budget the money to the youth , but that still would not effect the ✓ evenue sharing funds . COUNCILMAN PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Clm Webb wished to go on record as to the county buying the property from the LVRR r- o-w between Freeville and Cortland . It should revert back to the landowners and not be a tax burden on the taxpayer . t) RESOLUTION # 52 LVRR ABANDONMENT FROM FREEVILLE TO CORTLAND , Clm Webb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that the Dryden Town Board wished to go on record concerning the matter that the county should not purchase the property involving the abandonment of LVRR right- of-way between Freeville and Cortland and go to the expense of maintaining the property , that it should revert back to the property owners . 2nd Clm Tarr Roll call vote - Supv Cotterill YES Clm Webb YES Clm Tarr YES Clm Metzger YES Clw Graham YES Clw Graham stated that in the fall there was some discussion about a generator in Varna that should be covered . Supv Cotterill stated that is to be done by the sewer district but the town does oversee the project , and that a meeting could be set up with the district to see if they wanted to spend the money . Mr Case stated that he had brought in some prices last year and that it will run in the neighborhood of $ 1700 . Clw Graham also stated that there still was no one named to the Tomp Co Transportation Comm . ATTORNEY With regard to the request for the rail-highway grade crossing program stated that she would write to Mr Powers from the DOT in Syracuse and find out why they want the town t o enter into this agreement of railroad crossings if they are going to discontinue them in the Town of Dryden . TOWN CLERK D og licenses for the month of January - 814 Taxes collected in the month of January - $ 614 , 178 . 08 ZONING OFFICER No building permits were issued . ZBOA held 2 hearings , both variances were granted . 1- build a house and barn on 150 acres with only 94 foot road frontage . 2- addition to a house on Quarry Rd , 37 feet from the center road line . $ 50 . 00 for the 2 hearings and $ 25 . 00 for Robinson hearing which has not taken place yet . Z . O . Stewart contacted Mr Dymek who has agreed to help with the building inspection for the Shipwreck Kelly building . As of yet Z . O . Stewart has not heard from Frank Robinson . Clm Webb wanted to know if Judge Newhart had been informed . Supv Cotterill suggested that Z . O . Stewart write to Mr Robinson that he will have a deadline for an approval from the health dept or it will be back in the judges hands . The deadline was set for the end of March , that either the mess be cleared up or come back to the town board with the health deptapproval . HIGHWAY Reported that 3 trucks were down in Ithaca helping with the flooding problem . CORRESPONDENCE Request from the Tomp Co Library for copies of regulations , ordinances , taxation , officers etc . ti Information from the Planning Board in regard to the wording of swimming pools and small buildings . Atty Amdur is considering the recommendation and will have it ready\ . for next months meeting . RESOLUTION 453 ADDITIONAL INSURANCE ON VOLUNTEER COACHES FOR DRYDEN RECREATION COMMISSION Clm Metzger offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that this Town Board authorize the purchase of additional insurance from the Aetna Company thru the Bailey Ins Agency to cover all volunteer coaches within the ✓ ecreation program . The cost of the coverage is $ 40 . 00 per year . 2nd Clm Webb Roll call vote - all voting YES Supv Cotterill read copy of letter to be sent to Tomp Co Sheriff Deputy : Rumsey for exceptional work that was done in connection with closing the Adult Book Store pursuant to the order from Judge Lee . Equalization rate for the Town of Dryden 40 . 80 RESOLUTION # 54 ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR 10 WHEEL DUMP TRUCK Clm Metzger offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that this Town Board authorize the Highway Superintendent to advertise for bids for one new 10 wheel dump truck . 2nd Clm Tarr Carried RESOLUTION II 55 AUDIT HIGHWAY BILLS Clm Webb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , THAT the highway bills be paid as audited . 2nd Clm Metzger Roll call vote - all voting YES RESOLUTION # 56 AUDIT GENERAL FUND BILLS Clw Graham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that the general fund bills be paid as audited . 2nd Clm Tarr Roll call vote - all voting YES JUSTICE REPORTS - Judge Sweetland - $ 1264 . 00 Judge Newhart - $ 1260 . 00 FINANCIAL REPORTS REVENUES EXPENSES General Fund A $ 94379 . 74 $ 11896 . 02 General Fund B 7170 . 81 1249 . 87 Fire Protection District 76107 . 95 9980 . 39 Federal Revenue Sharing 15229 . 00 - 0 - 410 ARFA Fund 1630 . 00 - 0 - Highway Fund 99393 . 79 36270 . 36 Adjourned : 10 : 00 PM Susanne Lloyd Town Clerk • .4 ... a -- . j STATEMENT OF IWTENT • To : Dryden Town Board . From : Dryden KIDDS , INC . , Re : $ 2000 Revenue Sharing Funds • On October 7 , 1977 , Dryden KIDDS , INC . submitted a proposal to the Dryden J� Town Board for a $ 2000 grant from Revenue Sharing Funds . At that time , Dryden KIDDS had very few specific promises for funding for the fiscal year , January 1 , • 1978 . through December 31 , • 1978 to operate the Busy Bus Program . And we were . looking at all possible resources in the community . • Our fund raising efforts for the year 1977 had been only moderately successful . Initially when our funding was very low , we ran a. modest program with a part time co-ordinator , using as many recyclable resources in the community as possible . Despite the small size of the program , we feel it was very high in quality and did reach a substantial number of children . The co- ordinator estimated that 90 children were served by the Program over the past winter . In the second part of the year , however we began to get support from various organizations . Church Community Action gave us a grant . Our United Way proposals from the various Community Chests in the Dryden area have been approved . We began to receive the reimbursement from the State Division for Youth . We received a grant from the County CETA program which enabled us to hire a full time co-ordinator for the major part of this present year , 1978 and we have the funds to continue the program full time until the end of the year . This local and county support has given us real financial security for this year as well as allowing us to run a larger program which reaches a greater number of families with young children . Our situation , then , is quite different than it was in October when we • first applied for the Revenue Sharing grant . We . no longer need program operating expenses for this year although careful planning and fund raising will be needed for next year , 1979 . Our major problem now is the van which has been our base of operations for the past year . It is in very poor condition . It has approximately 150 , 000 miles on it and it needs substantial repair . Our most • recent expenditures were for two retreaded snow tires and a gas tank which cost $ 185 . With continuing expenses like this , the van will cost us more than we can afford . We would like to begin a fund to replace the bus with another vehicle when this one is no longer viable . We are , therefore requesting $ 2000 for this fund . We would use this money to purchase either a good use vehicle nou or to be the substantial part of buying a Vehicle when the one we are presently operating gives out completely . We ask your careful consideration of this proposal and your positive support of this program which provides a recognized service to the Dryden community . • • • RESOLUTION # 64 AMEND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW CClm Metzger offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that this Town Board amend the existing rule concerning the Freedom of - i \ Information Law pursuant to (Public Officers Law S89 ( 1 ) ( b ) ( iii ) and appoint - ch■P the Town Supervisor as . Fiscal Officer . ,jt , 2nd Clm Webb ' Carried RESOLUTION # 65 AUDIT HIGHWAY BILLS Clm Metzger offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that the highway bills be paid as audited . 2nd Clm Webb Roll call vote - all voting YES RESOLUTION # 66 AUDIT GENERAL FUND BILLS Clw Graham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption . RESOLVED , that the general fund bills be paid as audited . 2nd Clm Tarr Roll call vote - all voting YES JUSTICE REPORTS - Judge Sweetland - $ 1683 . 00 Judge Newhart - $ 1909 . 00 FINANCIAL REPORTS REVENUES EXPENSES . General Fund A $ 11561 . 84 $ 27078 . 27 General Fund B 243 . 91 784 . 63 Fire Protection District 27 . 48 68100 . 00 Federal Revenue Sharing - 0 - 4 . 85 ARFA Fund - 0 - - 0 - Highway Fund 264461 . 83 27319 . 42 NEW BUSINESS Public Hearing - April 11th to amend Zoning Ordinance in regard to definition of the word structure . Adjourned : 11 : 00 PM Susanne Lloyd Town Clerk . I