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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-11TB 10 -11 -00 TOWN OF DRYDEN so TOWN BOARD MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2000 Board Members Present: Supv Mark Varvayanis, Cl Ronald Beck, Cl Thomas Hatfield, Cl Charles Hatfield, Cl Deborah Grantham Other Elected Officials: Bambi L. Hollenbeck, Town Jack Bush, Highway Superintendent Other Town Staff: Mahlon R. Perkins, Town Attorney David Putnam (TG Miller), Town Engineer Henry Slater, Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer Supv Varvayanis opened the board meeting at 7:20 p.m. Board members and guests participated in the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. CITIZENS PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Supv Varvayanis - I was going to do a HUD update under the Supervisor's discussion, but with your approval I'd like to move that ahead on the agenda. There are citizens here that I assume would like to speak to that issue. • Peter Schug - Actually I wasn't really planning on saying anything. I just wanted to find out how we go about bringing a resolution to start a process to trying to clear up the issues that we need to clear up and move this HUD grant forward. Supv Varvayanis - I thought you wanted to present this. But, okay, let me make sure I'm looking at the last fax we had. 3:13, is that the last one you sent me? P Schug - That sounds about right. I have a copy here for sure though. Supv Varvayanis - I've got one from 3:35. P Schug gave Supv Varvayanis a copy of a resolution. Supv Varvayanis - Just so you all catch up. We're trying to move this along a little faster, and there are still some questions with HUD. It seems if we readvertise and open up the process we can get this thing hopefully wrapped up in not much more than a month. So Peter has been working with me and with Maurice Hinchey's office and with the Department of Planning and we've all been contacting the Comptroller's office and HUD and we think we've got wording that hopefully will take care of any remaining questions. I'd like to read into the record the proposed resolution: WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden submitted a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on February 1, 1999 for Cayuga Press Economic Development Project, and WHEREAS, the application was approved by HUD subject to the Town successfully resolving certain issues associated with the Cayuga Press application, and r Page 1 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 WHEREAS, to completely resolve all issues associated with the Cayuga Press application, the Town desires to solicit additional applications for projects from businesses within the Town, and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden will require technical assistance to solicit these applications a' nd make recommendations on these applications to the Dryden Town Board, now therefore, be it KL60LVED, That the Dryden Town Board hereby requests the assistance of the Tompkins County Planning Department to assist the Town in this SCCDBG solicitation and selection process, and RESOLVED, further, That the Dryden Town Board will review any proposals received and determine the project deemed most advantageous to the Town, by a majority vote of the Dryden Town Board based on jobs created and retained, benefits to low income persons and funds leveraged. The solicitation, application, selection, and approval thereof shall be in accordance with any and all applicable HUD rules and regulations in regard to the grant of SCCDBG funds, and RESOLVED, further, That the selected project will be fully and completely supported by all Town Board members and that all actions will be taken as necessary to obtain HUD approval of the selected project, and RESOLVED, further, That the Town of Dryden Board authorizes the solicitation process to begin on November 1, 2000 and close on November 30, 2000. I � II Supv Varvayanis - I'd like to point out that Cayuga Press was working with us on this, 0 and I thank th� qui m te strongly for their willingness to open this up again. i Cl C Hatfield - This was advice from HUD? I i Supv Varvayanis - From HUD, from the Comptroller's Office that this would be the cleanest and easiest and quickest way to get it done. i Cl T Hatfield - How is this different from what we already did which was a third public hearing which HUD suggested in the first place? I Supv Varvayanis - The third one back on July 12th? That was simply to resolve any disclosure. I Cl T Hatfield - I know the Board has acted twice and asked you to forward to HUD and request HUD to act on those findings. Did you in fact ask them to make the exception, personally, as Town Supervisor? Did you send that and tell them that that was the goal of the Town? Supv Varvayanis - Yes. Cl T Hatfield - And they said no? I Supv Varvayanis - Correct. Well, they haven't said no we will not do it, but they have not taken action. They let me know that there is more information that they would want to gather before iey took action, and they gave no time line of when anything would happen. Cl Grantham - But if we do it this way, this time line is acceptable to them? Page 2 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 • Supv Varvayanis - Yes. Cl T Hatfield - Why are we waiting til November 1? It's the 11th, it only takes two days or three days to get an ad placed. Supv Varvayanis - That is what Jim Hanson said he would need. I'm not sure. Did he tell you why these dates? I just talked to him.... P Schug - I got the impression that that's what HUD had thought would be the appropriate timing for them. There's no real reasoning. He didn't mention anything particularly. Cl T Hatfield - Jim Hanson's been involved as well. P Schug - From the beginning. Cl Beck - I guess my question would be to Mark or to Peter. There probably is some risk to your organization by re- opening this up it might not be approved. Is this something you are willing to assume after all the negotiations we've gone through with Mark and HUD? You're apparently part of this resolution, but to me, there is some risk involved that this won't go through even though it's been approved at this point and we're hung up on a. technical point. What's your answer to that, and both of you can respond if you'd like. P Schug - There is some risk and no, we're not happy about it. This is an application that was approved by HUD and been hung up by what I feel are technicalities. Unfortunately, this is the resolution that all of the people at HUD and the Tompkins County Planning area basically feel is the best way to get this done in a quick, expeditious way. The only problem with it is yes, there, is a possibility that somebody else could put an application in. Our application is a good one. By HUD standards it's a very good application. That doesn't mean there isn't somebody else out there that could do the same thing. I don't know that. I hope not. Cl Beck - Do you have anything to add, Mark? Supv Varvayanis - That pretty well sums it up. Cl Beck - I think we all want to move it forward and get it done, but I do think that there's a risk here, and I'm not sure it's one we have to take if we're willing to go down this time line, but it may take forever to get this working and jump through all the hoops that are necessary. There's still some risk. Jonathan Orkin - Can I couple questions for the record Hatfield asked you, and as the, phrased it, you as the Town Su HUD can speak to to represent my client. Were you requested ask a question of you, Mark? I just need to clarify something, a if I could. My first question was to the question that Mr. I'm not sure I have the proper terminology, but the way HUD pervisor are considered to be the action individual, the person the Town. And I just want to make it clear in my own mind, to by HUD to ask for an exception? Supv Varvayanis - Requested? J Orkin - Yes. • Supv Varvayanis - No. Page 3 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 J Orkin - Did HUD ever say, Mr. Varvayanis would you as the action individual for the Town of Dryden request an exception for Cayuga Press? Supv Varvayanis - No, they never made a request to me. J Orkin - Did a Mr. Merrill ever specifically ask you whether or not you request an exception on behalf of Cayuga Press? Supv Varvayanis - He did ask me if I personally was in favor of an exception or if I felt that there were legal questions on the State level. We talked about that to quite an extent. J Orkin - Did he ask you as Mark Varvayanis? Or did he ask you as the Supervisor of the Town of Dryden? Supv Varvayanis - He asked me if I felt there were questions about Article 18. J Orkin - No. I understand that. I guess what I'm trying to... Supv Varvayanis - I think I already answered no to your other question. J Orkin - I'm not trying to make a problem. I just want to know when you say I personally answered. Well, you can answer a question as a citizen of the township of Dryden, or you can answer a question as the Supervisor of the Town of Dryden and as the action individual. I guess my question to you is were you asked or is it your understanding that you asked in the capacity as the Supervisor of the Town of Dryden to request an exception for Cayuga Press? Supv Varvayanis - No. In fact I was specifically asked as the Supervisor of the Town of Is Dryden to request that the exception be dropped. J Orkin - I'm sorry, I don't understand. Supv Varvayanis - They asked me to take pressure off them and drop the request for an exception. J Orkin - And your response to that as Town of Dryden Supervisor was? Supv Varvayanis - I did not act on that request. J Orkin - And no one from HUD specifically requested that you ask for exception? Supv Varvayanis - No. J Orkin - Okay. Now in response to your statement just today. Believe me Cayuga Press has fought long and hard about this process and I won't gainsay for a second that it hasn't been a difficult decision. One makes many choices whether one proceeds to litigation, whether one proceeds to this process. We have been in consultation with HUD and with Mr. Hinchey's office and Mr. Varvayanis. No one from Cayuga Press has ever been in contact with the State Comptroller. To weigh the situation is currently positive. Cayuga Press recognizes the risk, but it seems to be the most efficacious way for Cayuga Press to proceed forward to obtain the HUD grant if they are the applicant that is selected by the town. In that sole capacity, that's why we support the resolution. Cl Beck - In that light, I think it's probably an appropriate thing to do, although I'm not happy with the way the whole thing has been handled. It seems as if the Board took definitive 0 Page 4 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 action and directed our Supervisor as a spokesman to proceed, and he didn't: do it. We have not been privy to any of these communications that you've just indicated, Mark. We weren't told anything about those latest communications and these requests, but if you are willing to assume that type of a risk situation, it's probably the best thing for the Board to go ahead and so resolve. Supv Varvayanis - Just for the record I would like to point out that I did pass along every resolution that the Board passed. I do feel that I did follow through. Cl Beck - I don't want to belabor it, but the point that we did see communication somewhere that you as a spokesperson needed to personally request this exception, and I thought that when the board acted as a board and took a vote, well then you were directed to do that. But we don't need to belabor that any further at this point. Cl T Hatfield - The only other question I have is anybody at this table aware of any other applicants at this point in time? Are we going down a slippery slope so we get to the end of this and have another set of issues to deal with at the end of November? Or are we going into this as we need to advertise and go forward? Supv Varvayanis - I'm not aware of any other applicants. But I must say I feel somewhat uncomfortable if it seems to be the opinion of the Board that if there is another applicant out there that can provide 30 jobs or 40 jobs or 50 jobs, that we wouldn't be thrilled to death to support that. (No response from other board members to Cl T Hatfield's question.) Cl T Hatfield - That's the risk that's Peter taking. They had that opportunity at the same time the process began. There is a point in time where you've got to bring a halt. If the applicant is willing to make this type of decision, I guess I'm sort of clinging to that. I'm not happy about it but let's get going. The next thing is, if we we're going to do this, why November 1? Why not October 25th or October 15th. It doesn't take long to put an ad in the paper, a public notice. Mr. Hanson's not here to answer that directly, but the only thing I would do different than what you proposed would be to see if we couldn't accelerate the process. that's... Supv Varvayanis - We were talking about that as late as 4:00 this afternoon and Cl T Hatfield - Okay, if they can't, they can't. Cl Beck - Are there copies of this resolution? Supv Varvayanis - There will be in a second. Do you want to read it before a motion's made on.. Cl Beck - Probably. Cl T Hatfield - It doesn't make any difference. It's been read into the record. Cl Beck - The next to the last resolved: "Further that the selected project will be fully and completely supported by all Town Board members and that all actions will be taken as necessary to obtain HUD approval of the selected project ". Now we had a 3 -2 vote before and so then it wasn't supported by all town board members. What does this say? That if we have a 3 -2 vote on another project that we go forward, the board has acted, and if you were one of the ones against it, you'll still go ahead with the opinion of the majority of the board? Page 5 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 Supv Varvayanis - Basically. The first time through it was 3 -2. I guess Deb has to speak for herself, but as far as I'm concerned as I said on record I believe there was a violation of State law. I believe this takes care of any problems, and any application presented in the 40 process I feel comfortable supporting. Cl Beck - You're the only member that that would affect because the rest of us aren't the designated spokesperson, or whatever that terminology is. Cl Grantham - I'm happy with this process. I think it resolves the issues that I had in the first place. J Orkin - Can I raise one more question just so that it's understood? That from our perspective, and I hope it's the Town Board's perspective. I know it's HUD's and the County's perspective, that the application for Cayuga Press has already been submitted and is on the table for the Town. It is our understanding that we don't have to go through the whole re- application process; that our application is now deemed submitted. I just want that clear. Supv Varvayanis - I'm not aware of that. We better double check that. J Orkin - That's what we've been advised. Is that right, Peter? P Schug - By the County, Jim Hanson. Supv Varvayanis - They're the ones who are going to be doing the technical side, so if they consider that an application... Cl Beck - I would think it should be redated so it's within this period that we've specified in this resolution, even though it may be the same materials, you're reapplying. is Cl T Hatfield - I'm not so sure... J Orkin - Well, whether or not we have to redate it or anything, if it was in the purview of Mr. Hanson and the County Planning Department that the document in and of itself as it is right now was sufficient, then that should be fine with the Town. Cl Beck - I don't have any problem with it as long as HUD doesn't. Cl Grantham - There are forms in there that will have to be resigned. That's separate from... Supv Varvayanis - That's not part of the solicitation. The actual application goes to HUD. I'll move the resolution myself then. Cl Beck - I was hoping you would. Cl T Hatfield - It seems appropriate. Cl Beck - I'll second it. RESOLUTION #244 - RESOLUTION TO REOPEN THE SOLICITATION PROCESS FOR THE SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: 40 Page 6 of 23 TB 10 -11-00 WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden submitted a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on February 1, 1999 for Cayuga Press Economic Development Project, and WHEREAS, the application was approved by HUD subject to the Town successfully resolving certain issues associated with the Cayuga Press application, and WHEREAS, to completely resolve all issues associated with the Cayuga Press application, the Town desires to solicit additional applications for projects from businesses within the Town, and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden will require technical assistance to solicit these applications and make recommendations on these applications to the Dryden Town Board, now therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Dryden Town Board hereby requests the assistance of the Tompkins County Planning Department to assist the Town in this SCCDBG solicitation and selection process, and RESOLVED, further, That the Dryden Town Board will review any proposals received and determine the project deemed most advantageous to the Town, by a majority vote of the Dryden Town Board based on jobs created and retained, benefits to low income persons and funds leveraged. The solicitation, application, selection, and approval thereof shall be in accordance with any and all applicable HUD rules and regulations in regard to the grant of SCCDBG funds, and RESOLVED, further, That the selected project will be frilly and completely supported by is all Town Board members and that all actions will be taken as necessary to obtain HUD approval of the selected project, and RESOLVED, further, That the Town of Dryden Board authorizes the solicitation process to begin on November 1, 2000 and close on November 30, 2000. 2nd Cl Beck Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Supv Varvayanis - I guess I'll send it on to HUD tomorrow and let them know we're on our way. Cl Grantham - And to Jim Hanson. Supv Varvayanis - Thank you for coming. Jim Graney, Etna Community Association (Board members have information previously delivered by Mr. Graney and attached to these minutes) - The Etna Community Association is requesting that the Board pass a resolution regarding reduced speed zones and signage in the Etna area. For the past three years at their annual meeting citizens have expressed concern • regarding the traffic in the area along Route 366, particularly at its intersection with Etna Lane. The traffic committee has had meetings with neighbors in the community and realized Page 7 of 23 TB 1041 -00 that there were two areas to be addressed: speed of traffic and safety issues. He has lived in Etna since 1991 and there has been quite a turn over in the households and an increase in the number of children along that stretch of Route 366. They would like drivers in the area to realize that there are children there and that there is a blind corner. The flashing light is so close to corner that by the time people see it and start to slow down they are in the intersection. They have contacted DOT (who felt they had some good points) and got feedback from them and spoken with Marry Luster's office. They would like the following: a) Reduce the speed zone from 55 mph to 35 mph from the intersection of Route 366 with Route 13 to the current 35 mph zone on Route 366. b) Install "Reduced Speed Zone Ahead" signs on Route 366 immediately after traffic turns from Route 13 onto Route 366 and approximately 2/ 10 of a mile before Kirk Road heading toward Etna. C) Replace the 35 mph zone currently in existence on Route 366 in the hamlet of Etna with a 30 mph zone. d) Install "Children at Play" yellow caution signs on Route 366 just before the Etna Cemetery for traffic heading east, and at the intersection with Kirk Road for traffic heading west. e) Install "School Bus Stop" signs facing both directions at the various locations along Route 366 where the school buses currently stop. fl Install a "Pedestrian Crossing" sign on either side of the intersection with Etna Ii Cl Grantham - I think it sounds perfectly reasonable, especially since you've already talked to DOT about these ideas. I would support it. Supv Varvayanis - Do you want to just propose a resolution of items a through f. Cl Grantham - Sure. Cl T Hatfield - To make it simple: that this Town Board hereby endorses the resolution of September 5, 2000 of the Etna Community Association Board, and encourages the County and the State to act positively on each item listed. Cl Beck - The irony is that part of it is lack of enforcement. We just don't have enough people to really put the blocks down and make people aware of it. In the last year or two in Freeville they've picked up people right and left, and the traffic is slowing down. It has an effect. Cl T Hatfield - I'll move what I just said there Cl Grantham - That's fine. I'll second it. It picks up the whole thing that way. Supv Varvayanis - You'll withdraw your motion? Cl Grantham - Sure. RESOLUTION #245 - ENDORSE RESOLUTION OF THE ETNA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Page 8 of 23 t TB 10 -11 -00 Cl T Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby endorses the resolution of September 5, 2000 of the Etna Community Association Board, and encourages the County and the State to act positively on each item listed; and the Town Clerk is directed to prepare the appropriate documents and forward them to Tompkins County and the New York State Department of Transportation. 2nd Cl Grantham Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes J Graney thanked the board. Jim Skaley presented two letters to the board (attached to these minutes), one from himself as Chair of the Varna Community Association and a copy of a letter from Chris Easton, Chief of the Varna Volunteer Fire Company addressed to Gordon J. Reimels, P.E., NYS Dept of Transportation, both concerning traffic in the hamlet of Varna. There is concern because there are no pedestrian ways in Varna although they have a fairly dense community, particularly from Freese Road to the trailer park area and Lucente apartments. There are a number of senior citizens and children who must walk the shoulders of the road. Traffic has increased steadily in recent years. There are people who pass on the right creating a hazardous situation for a pedestrian or bicyclist. Mr. Easton's letter refers to the issue of emergency vehicles responding and having difficulty crossing or entering 366 as a result of traffic failing to yield to the emergency vehicles. He has made some suggestions to DOT. There is no passing lane in the area. They would like a double stripe through the entire hamlet. He noted that the Town Board had requested a speed limit reduction from the State a few years ago and would like that addressed again. In discussing their hamlet plan it was noted that there is increased traffic, particularly truck traffic, on Turkey Hill Road because some trucks have difficulty getting under the overpass. A speed limit reduction on Turkey Hill Road or some other traffic calming measures are requested. He would like the Board to consider these requests and take the same action it previously did. Cl T Hatfield suggested a resolution incorporating the requests of the 'VCA. Cl Grantham noted their three requests are listed on the second page of Mr. Skaley's letter and suggesting a resolution supporting those three requests. Cl Beck wondered if there was any chance of getting a four way stop at either of those locations and noted that the one in Freeville works pretty well. RESOLUTION #246 - REQUEST REDUCED SPEED, STRIPING, AND FOUR -WAY STOPS IN VARNA Cl Grantham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board in an effort to reduce traffic hazards in the hamlet of Varna, hereby requests the following: 1) A no passing zone (double stripe) along NYS Route 366 from its intersection with Turkey Hill Road to its intersection with Game Farm Road; Page 9 of 23 TB 10 -11-00 2) A reduction of the speed limit to 30 mph on NYS Route 366 from its intersection with Turkey Hill Road to its intersection with Game Farm Road; 0 3) Four -way stops at the intersection of NYS Route 366 and Turkey Hill Road and NYS Route 366 and Freese Road, and it is further RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is directed to prepare the appropriate documentation and forward it with a certified copy of this resolution to the Tompkins County Highway Manager. 2nd Cl T Hatfield Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Supv Varvayanis noted that Atty Perkins has prepared a resolution with respect to the Varna Community Association's application for a Community and Commercial Revitalization grant. Resolution moved by Cl T Hatfield and seconded by Supv Varvayanis, Cl Grantham - Could it be a little more positive? Number 2, I think it's fine without commitment by the Town because of course we wouldn't adopt something like this all by itself, but can we say something like we hope this Planning Board considers this when working on the master plan, or something that's a little more positive than this. Atty Perkins - That was the intent of that language. I thought there was some discussion about sending it to the Planning Board. is Cl T Hatfield - They need this tonight because there's a deadline. Cl Grantham - I don't mean that we send it to the Planning Board before we pass it. I just want something in the language that is a little more positive reaction to the work that they've done. Not that we are going to do anything else with it before we look at this resolution. James Schug asked what the resolution was adopting and Jim Skaley explained that the County has a process in terms of the Commercial Revitalization Grant Program whereby the community affected needs to put together a community plan. The VCA has done that and this plan under the rules of the program has to have some kind of an endorsement by the Town Board that indicates that the Town is aware of the plan and that they don't have any problems with what the community is trying to do. That will allow the application to proceed. The plan involves two areas, one in the area of Mt Pleasant and Freese Road and one in the area of the Box Car/ Route 13. Mr. Skaley believes the resolution is sufficient. After further discussion, the board felt the resolution as prepared was sufficient. RESOLUTION #247 - VARNA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY as COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION PLAN Cl T Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Varna Community Association (VCA) formed a committee to draft a Community and Commercial Revitalization Plan for the hamlet of Varna, and is Page 10 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 WHEREAS, the plan prepared by such committee addresses some of the issues effecting the community, and WHEREAS, the plan may serve as a working document for the VCA in connection with an application to be submitted by the VCA for a grant of matching funds to complete certain unfinished improvements to the VCA building at 943 Dryden Road, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden as follows: 1. The Town Board acknowledges receipt of the Varna Community and Commercial Revitalization Plan prepared by the VCA. 2. The Town will, in an appropriate procedural context, review the plan and the issues identified therein, however, the receipt and review of such plan is without commitment by the Town to any future specific course of action. 2nd Supv Varvayanis Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes RESOLUTION #248 - APPROVE ABSTRACT #110 Cl T Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract # 110, vouchers #721 through #848, as audited, totaling $246784.90. 2nd Cl Grantham Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes C1 T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Supv Varvayanis stated that the County Board Representatives were riot present as they had a budget meeting to attend. COUNCIL PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Cl Grantham stated that Board members should have or will soon receive an invitation to an event being sponsored by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. Wells College is hosting a dinner on October 26 at 7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to find out what the IO is up to and provide some input. An RSVP is requested by October 13, 2000. There will be a meeting with Genung Road residents on October 19 at the Ellis Hollow Community Center. Jack Bush, Cl Grantham and Supv Varvayanis are planning to attend. Page 11 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 Cl Grantham has been appointed to the Tompkins County Water Resources Council. Board discussed the applications received by individuals who are interested in serving on the Conservation Advisory Council. The local law says that five people should be appointed to three years and four people to two years. Cl Grantham would like Joyce Gerbasi appointed to a three year term, and suggested that the top five should have three year terms and bottom four two year terms. Cl Grantham made a motion that these individuals be appointed for the term stated and the motion was seconded by Supv Varvayanis. Cl T Hatfield stated that this was a well- qualified group of applicants. RESOLUTION #249 - APPOINT MEMBERS OF CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Cl Grantham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints the following individuals to serve on the Town of Dryden Conservation Advisory Council for the term indicated: Joyce Gerbasi Tahnee Robertson Nancy Munkenbeck Bruce Osadchey Ed McClenahan Ilene Miller Dan Karig Kevin McMahon Charles Smith 2nd Supv Varvayanis Roll Call Vote term term term term term term term term term expires expires expires expires expires expires expires expires expires Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes December December December December December December December December December 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 2001 2001 Cl Grantham suggested that Dianne McFall contact these people to find out what nights they would be available for meetings and stated that Monday nights were good for her. ATTORNEY Re: Cortland Road Water District Atty Perkins - I don't know what you want me to discuss other than what I already gave you. I think I set forth my comments with respect to the proposed agreement. I'd be glad to go over any of the points that are raised there. Supv Varvayanis - I think it was self explanatory. Dave had left a note with Reba asking her to give you the material you wanted to look at. Have you heard from her by any chance? (No) I'll get back in touch with her then. Cl Grantham - One of the things you talk about is people who are already receiving water from the Village and exempting them. You said that it may be illegal (in the second paragraph). 'The Water Service Agreement limits the obligation of the Village to furnish water to an area coterminous with the Cortland Road Sewer District except for five parcels related to Page 12 of 23 .yJ• • TB 10 -11 -00 TC3 or the TC3 Foundation." You say although the legality of such agreements remains at • issue. Atty Perkins - There is a real legal question about whether or not those agreements that the Village has with out of village customers are lawful. Cl Grantham - Just because it's out of Village. Atty Perkins - Right. That's going to continue except for those properties within the district that the district would assume responsibility of. Some of those would be resolved and legitimized. It is my understanding that some of those agreements may have questionable legal basis. Cl Beck - What would the Town's position be if it was determined that it was not legal? Atty Perkins - You have to negotiate. My understanding is that those parcels which are not going to be included in the district are served, or at least some of them are served by Village water already pursuant to agreements between the Village and the college or the TC3 Foundation. If they are not in the district, the Town won't be involved in serving them. Cl Beck - So when they need to have a new service, we need to negotiate a new agreement with them. Atty Perkins - No, because they won't be in the district. Cl Grantham - It's still an agreement then between the Village of those users. Cl T Hatfield - That would be a contract dispute between themselves and the Village if there was a problem. Atty Perkins - Certainly the Town could take the position: Look, legally the Town should be providing service through a district for those out of Village customers. Supv Varvayanis - I think that would be a lot cleaner legally. Atty Perkins - That's why I point it out. Dave Putnam - There's an engineering issue that comes in in conjunction with that except for the properties that are being serviced by TC3 now can be serviced off existing Village water pressure. The TC3 area needs the TC3 tank. If you want to legitimize TC3 and form a district, you might better stand those properties alone separately in a district, and they can pay for all the costs that's associated with what they need. They have their own pumping station... Cl T Hatfield - That makes sense in light of some of the things that the college is talking about doing anyway with respect to additional housing, to have their own stand alone district. Atty Perkins - That's just an organizational question. The Village in the past I understand has not been willing to have them included in the district because they are large customers of the Village under these existing water agreements. Is that your understanding Charlie? Cl C Hatfield - Yes. I don't know as they'd want you to take over their tank and pumping station. There are issues, maintaining the tank and pumping system. Page 13 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 Atty Perkins - Currently that's maintained by the college. It's a college owned tank and college owned service. O D Putnam - If you took it as a separate district, you'd still pay those same costs. Cl T Hatfield - A single user district, basically. Cl Grantham - In item number 5, are these the properties you're talking about that already are served? Atty Perkins - No, these are additional properties. Imagine driving north out of the Village. As soon as you get past the light at the corner of Route 38, there a number of properties on both sides of the road which are served by Village water services, one -inch services, that just run up there and serve these properties, which have the same status as the big users. Cl Grantham - Would they end up paying more than they do now? Atty Perkins - The agreement says that these properties on the east side of Route 13 would continue to be billed directly by the Village, but I thought they were going to be within the district. If that's not the case, we need to know. It's unclear how that's going to happen, how they are going to handle it. They've got some existing contracts, for example I think Bell's Auto is served by Village water and the bank may be served by Village water, and the chiropractic office. I'm not sure which one's are. Cl Grantham - Can you explain items 16 and 17 for me please? You're talking about regional planning council and... Atty Perkins - That's the first time I've seen or heard this being brought up, was in this draft. The creation of a council and a plan are authorized under the General Municipal Law, those two sections which are quoted there. It has to be done by both the Town and the Village and it is something which is negotiated basically ahead of time, and you adopt a resolution creating it and giving it a charge, but the proposal suggests that the plan or the council be created just for the district rather than town -wide and I'm not sure that that's something that you can do. Perhaps you can do it by agreement, but that's not the way the statute reads. I think we have to take a look at whether or not you could create a regional planning council for less than a whole area of the Town. Even if you did create it for the whole area of the Town, it should be clear that the whole area of the Village then is included in that also. It seems to me what the Village is trying to get at here is having some input in what happens with respect to development. Cl Grantham - Right around the Village. Atty Perkins - Right. Cl Grantham - Which makes sense to me. Maybe we could just use the joint committee that we've already talked about with the Village. Supv Varvayanis - I'm not sure if they really meant they want a formal council. It's something we'd have to... 0 Atty Perkins - That's what the agreement says and they specifically make reference to these two sections of the General Municipal Law. 0 Page 14 of 23 TB 10 -11-00 0 Supv Varvayanis - In talking with them I'm not sure. Atty Perkins - You certainly could negotiate something less than that by agreement. You want to be careful here though that you don't create something that usurps or attempts to usurp existing authority of Village or Town Planning Boards or Village or Town Boards. It should be limited to an advisory role. Cl Grantham - So what is our next step with respect to this water agreement? Atty Perkins - I think that the engineering questions ought to be looked at that I raised, as well as the fiscal impact of elimination of all those highway items should be computed. We ought to have that information before going forward. If Mark thinks that there is something other than a formal regional planning council contemplated, then that's some we can talk about. Supv Varvayanis - So basically we need to get the information we requested. Atty Perkins - Start there. • '1�� 4., Changes and corrections in the minutes suggested to minutes were distributed to Board members. These are alright with Clerk, except for the August 9 remarks and she will check the tape on that. Cl Grantham believes there may be some remarks omitted. On motion of Supv Varvayanis, seconded by Cl Beck, and unanimously carried, the minutes of June 21, July 12, August 2, and September 6 were approved as amended. Clerk distributed an article from the Town Clerks Association's newsletter regarding changes the Department of Environmental Conservation intends to make regarding the issuance of sporting licenses. The State will provide a computer and the necessary phone line at no charge to implement the new process. ENGINEERING No report ZONING OFFICER ZO Slater - I've heard nothing on Peregrine Hollow and as you all probably know by now, one of the partners, Heidi Salseider, passed away, so I don't know where that's going to go from here. Finger Lakes Stone Company has responded (Board members have a copy). Mr. Dolph indicates that they have cut stone, site harvested and off - harvested stone, as part of their business since the 50's. Cl Grantham asked whether Mr. Dolph had provided any receipts or other documentation. ZO Slater did not ask him for that and Cl Grantham wondered if we should now ask for that. Cl T Hatfield noted that general business practice does not require retention of those items for such long periods of time. The problem is the noise at night and DEC will not address that in their permit renewal process (which has not yet been accomplished). Page 15 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 Cl Beck - So if he can't prove he operated there, we can't make him stop. In other words if he does have the reciepts he can continue, but we can't even ask him for them because it's outdated, is that correct. 0 Supv Varvayanis - Well, we can ask him anything we want. Atty Perkins - I think you have a policy decision here you need to make about how you want to treat people who you suspect may not be telling you the truth. Do you have a reason to not believe him is what I think it comes down to. You're asking him to prove something which may not be able to be proved. Cl Beck - And the object of the whole thing is to try to get him to stop operating at night and require him to do so if he can't prove that he's done it prior to the regulations. Correct? Cl Grantham - Well, the idea is that if he was operating this business before there was any zoning, then he is grandfathered in. We don't have any control over his operation. But if he was operating after that, if he started doing the stone cutting for other people after that, then we could place some conditions on his operation. They don't have to be really rigorous conditions, it's just the noise at night. Cl Beck - Has there been any simple request to limit the operation, that he's annoying some people, and how many people are involved, or how often does it happen? Cl Grantham - Apparently the citizens who have talked about this have requested him to not operate at night. There's two parts to it, running a saw at night, and in the summer he keeps the doors open to the building so you can hear it across the valley, and the other is the delivery of the stone. Early in the morning is when I've heard it. Cl Beck - The crashing of the tail gate and... Cl Grantham - Yes. Cl Beck - On my hill RMS runs all night. That's business. I make noise at night too. ZO Slater - The business has been there since 1890 - something. Cl Beck - My point is I'm afraid we're barking up the wrong tree. If you've asked him and there's been some complaints and we don't have a clear legal way without relying on some old, old, old records that may or may not exist, why waste any more time on it? If it gets to be a situation of nuisance or harassment or something, that's another legal question. ZO Slater - We could ask him to take some steps to lessen the annoyance. Atty Perkins - It seems to me this is more a carrot than a stick situation. I don't think you have a stick. Cl Beck - That's kind of where I'm going. Maybe we should say there's been some requests and leave it at that. ZO Slater - In my letter I tried to not point any fingers, but to get an answer. Cl Grantham - How about if you do write a letter now. Just say thank you for your response. There's been some complaints/ requests that you reduce the noise at night and in early mornings. 40 Page 16 of 23 i TB 10 -11 -00 • ZO Slater - I'd be happy to do that. I can certainly try and see if I can. encourage him to see if there are ways he can mitigate the noise that his business produces. I promise you absolutely nothing. It all depends on how he takes it. Cl C Hatfield - It's just a like a farm. He's been there and all these people have built houses around him and now they're complaining. Cl Grantham noted it echoes across Ellis Hollow. ZO Slater will compose a letter and forward it Mr. Dolph. With respect to Woodland Park Subdivision, Atty Perkins has spoken with Barbara Caldwell and sent Mr. Sutton an example of a way he could impose affirmative covenants on the lots that will have the drainage structures constructed on them. Mr. Sutton has asked to be on the agenda with the Planning Board next week. The only thing addressed by Atty Perkins at the point is the covenants. With respect to Project Impact, on Monday ZO Slater participated representing Project Impact at Dryden Family Chiropractic's open house. They are a Project Impact partner. Project Impact Partnership Agreements have started coming in again. That was the first opportunity to participate in something with a partner, and all of the funds raised that day are to be donated to Project Impact. (Not sure of the amount at this time.) WQNY did a live broadcast at the event and ZO Slater did two five minute segments with Chris Allinger talking about Project Impact and trying to cultivate some more partners. Eagle Broadcasting is a Project Impact partner and plans are in the works to use the radio station. All in all the community response has been weak, probably due to the fact that we have not had any disasters in a long time here. ZO Slater is going to try to get Chris Allinger to be the official spokesman for the Dryden Community Project Impact program. He is a resident of the Town and seemed very interested the other day. His involvement may make a difference in the response. ZO Slater wrote an article which was published in this week's Dryden Courier. There will be a training session on October 24 at the Dryden Fire Station from 1 to 5 p.m. for school and municipal officials and employees on emergency response. It is being put on by Onondaga Community College which has a curriculum of emergency response training. The Village Police Chief is heading this up. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Trees have been planted on two sides of the parking lot at the rear of the Town Hall. Jack Bush thanked Larry Carpenter for his help in that. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT J Bush - We've been working with Jose Landren from FEMA and apparently we were eligible for some money for storm damages incurred between May 3 and August 12 which we applied for. The amount is $21,793.75 and it looks like the check is in the mail. This had to do with trees that were downed, ditches and driveway culverts, damage from the water, etc. J Bush would like to meet with the Highway Committee on the driveway permit matter and discuss how the job costs were derived. J Bush - I'd like know whether you would accept an exchange of roads. I don't have all • the roads at this time, but on Game Farm Road there is a section that is a Town road, a section Page 17 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 is a County road and a section is a Town of Ithaca road. I would like to see that become a county road and exchange that portion for a portion of Lake Road that's right here close by. Cl Beck - Just for plowing? J Bush - No. I'd like to see an actual swapping of roads. Right now we already do the winter maintenance on Lake Road. It makes sense to maintain it. The key is to find enough roads to make an even swap so there isn't a big impact. Cl Beck noted that you have to look at things like stream banks, bridges and other liabilities. J Bush - We're already trying to get the grant money to fix the problem near Rumsey's. A bridge is actually a County responsibility anyway. Hanshaw Road would also make sense. All of Hanshaw Road with the exception of one mile is a Town Road. It's a heavy traffic road and it makes sense that it be a County road. There's a section of Farrell Road (from Asbury Road to Town of Lansing line) that would make sense to turn over to the County. Those are the three I've decided on and I need to decide on others to make an even swap. Scofield Road is shared with Lansing and Lansing tried to make it a County road some time back around 1990. The County at that time did not want to pursue it. I've spoken with Ward Hungerford and he seems receptive to this idea. I'm looking for your support to pursue this further, and if you don't feel it's a good idea, I'll drop it. Cl Beck - You'd have to trade like if you're going to do it. J Bush - I believe the County would like to have roads closer to where their operation is. I've been asked before about the possibility of us fixing their potholes on Lake Road, keep track of costs and charge the County. is Cl T Hatfield - If you're looking for board feed back in general, I agree. We're always looking efficiency. If you're swapping assets, I think you are raising more issues than you may realize on the surface of it. I know if you want to do asset swapping with the State of New York they end up doing appraisals so you are swapping dollars for dollars. In this instance you're going to have multiple sections of road, some County and some Town, and you may have to determine the value of those roads, so that at some point you can say you're swapping apples for apples. So that you're not acquiring something that's in a great state of disrepair and giving up something that's just been brought up to the current state code. Those are issues you're going to have to work through. You should take a look at it, I just think you need to be aware that the issues may be a little deeper than just swapping some roads. J Bush - I'm very aware of that. Cl T Hatfield - If you can get that worked out so that we can operate more efficiently and the County can operate more efficiently and maintain the service to the public, then I think that's a winner, and I don't see why you wouldn't want to pursue that. Cl Grantham - Certainly it's silly the way it is in some places, like Game Farm Road. J Bush - Game Farm Road would be a better road to send the trucks down, instead of down Turkey Hill Road where you've got more residential area. It would help that road tremendously if you could keep the trucks off that road. Supv Varvayanis - But the trucks want to avoid driving under the overpass. J Bush - We drive under it all the time with equipment. 0 Page 18 of 23 TB 10 -11 -00 Board would like Jack to pursue this matter. J Bush - We've been working on German Cross Road. I've talked to just about everyone on that road with the exception of a few, and I thought I'd let the board know that there are some people that are interested in water and sewer in that area. I also wanted to let you know some of the things I am looking at so if a bill comes through from the Engineer that it is legitimate, that I'm working with him: Freese Road - we've been talking about that a little bit trying to figure out how we can solve some line of site issues for Mrs. Johnson around the sharp curve. We've talked to Mr. Pulleyn. We have some ideas. There is a ditch very close to the pavement that's continually getting washed out. Mt Pleasant Road - I just spoke to Dave about this and it really needs to be addressed. I'd like to have him come up with some kind of game plan there on both sides of the road off of Route 366. Road surface water is running down the steep section going to the left and washing that shoulder out and carrying gravel down the hill to a residence. Hunt Hill Road - In connection with the Sutton matter, we're working on where we can direct our water to. Genung Road - Deb brought up the meeting on the 19th. We'll try to figure out something that we can do there. (Dave Putnam will also attend) George Road - Dave and Jack have looked at ideas regarding the proposed trail and Jack feels that putting a tunnel under the road would be very expensive. Cl Grantham noted that there was not enough money in the grant to do anything like that, but they could put in a pedestrian crossing, stripe and put up signs and continue to seek funding to do something that takes pedestrians off the road. Jack does not feel that he can wait year after year for something to happen and leave the road in the condition that it's in. He would like to next year raise the road to improve the line of site. Salt Storage - Jack may also be speaking with Dave about this. There is nothing in the budget this year for this, but he would like to start working on this and figure out what size we would need, the type of construction, etc. There are no state mandates on this yet. RESOLUTION #250 - REDUCE WEIGHT LIMITS ON ROADS Cl T Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, THAT THIS Town Board adopt an order temporarily excluding any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of five (5) tons from the following town roads, from November 1, 2000 to June 1, 2001. The roads have been so posted pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law §1660(a)11. The Town Clerk shall also post such notice at the Town Hall, 1. 2, Morris Road Ed Hill Road 3, Bone Plain Road 4, Bradshaw Road 5. Walker Road 6. Livermore Road 7, Simms Hill Road 8. Dutcher Road 9. George Road Page 19 of 23 TB 10 -11-00 10, Upper Creek Road 11. Lower Creek Road 12, West Dryden Road - from Scofield Road to Asbury Road 13, Etna Road - from Mohawk to Hanshaw Road 14, Ellis Hollow Creek Road 2nd Cl C Hatfield Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes RESOLUTION #251- DESIGNATE SEASONAL USE ROADS Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board accept the following list of seasonal limited use highways upon the recommendation of the Highway Superintendent. These roads will not be plowed nor maintained from November 2000 through April 2001. The roads will be posted with the appropriate signs and the Town Clerk shall post such notice at the Town Hall, 1) Hile School Road - from # 147 Ed Hill Road west to within approximately 500 feet of Route 38. 2) Signal Tower Road - from Card Road north to the power lines. 3) Star Stanton Hill Road - from approximately 800 feet west of Dryden- Harford Road west for approximately 3000 feet. 4) Caswell Road - from West Dryden Road south for approximately .6 miles. 5) Beam Hill Road - from the eastern boundary of tax map #50 -1 -18.2 south to the southern boundary of tax map #60- 1 -6.1. 2nd Cl T Hatfield Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes J Bush noted that he will probably have to advertise for part time temporary and /or full time help for winter because of workers out on disability and one employee not being able to drive. SUPERVISOR The Billboard study has been distributed to board members. Cl Grantham has done a preliminary review of it and George Frantz made some changes which are reflected. In his cover letter he refers to the follow up telephoning of businesses that were surveyed. He only got a couple of responses to the survey that he sent out. He is expecting some more and once he has given them a little more time he will call the ones who did not respond. Page 20 of 23 • TB 10 -11 -00 0 C1 T Hatfield noted that it looked like he only contacted those businesses currently using the billboards. Park Outdoor gave us a fairly extensive list of advertisers that use their services. Cl T Hatfield suggested that Mr. Frantz telephone those businesses. ZO Slater noted that one of the recommendations was not putting billboards near RC, RB -I and RD districts and he thinks if we were to follow that recommendation consideration should be given to the boundaries of the two villages that are involved and perhaps other municipalities as well, because we would impact those other municipalities. George Frantz is able to come to the first meeting in November to get comments and he will bring whatever other information he has as soon as he gets it or bring it to that meeting. The moratorium runs out in December, but this may still give us enough time to make changes to the study and do a public comment period and a public hearing. Cl Grantham suggested that once the billboard matter is completed the board should consider looking at the entire sign ordinance. The ZBA had a variance before it this month for a sign for the Yellow Barn storage area. The ordinance currently says the sign has to be no more than a foot thick if you allow advertising on each side of the proposed sign. This sign was 18" thick and after much discussion the ZBA denied the variance to allow them to use it. Otherwise it was in conformance. ZO Slater has mentioned concerns in the past for home business signs. Supv Varvayanis - It was kind of interesting nobody knew how the thickness of the sign came to be, but this person when he ordered the sign didn't bother checking the code for thickness, and they said it's your problem because you didn't check the ordinance well enough before hand. • Supv Varvayanis reminded the board that they had discussed the Gadabout situation last month. It used to be that the Town would pay them and get reimbursed by the County. This year the County paid them directly and they did finally get the money from the County, but in Gadabout's opinion it was $575.00 short, $575.00 less than what we budgeted. He asked the board if they wanted to make up the difference, or let the County and Gadabout fight about that. The County claims it's because of some formula with their sales tax and TCAT contract that they already have with Gadabout. Cl Grantham asked if the County was going to pay them directly again next year. Supv Varvayanis stated they would, but we should budget something in the amount because the plan is that they reimburse the Town because the plan is that they reimburse the Town for our expenditures, but they wanted to pay directly. Supv Varvayanis - Is this something that we are going to have to deal with year by year if there is any shortfall, or do we let the County worry about it? Cl T Hatfield - It seems we were the middle man originally. I'd be uncomfortable trying to figure out why the County and Gadabout aren't communicating. When we were advancing the money we were getting reimbursed. Cl Beck asked if we had any problem getting what we had advanced and Supv Varvayanis replied not in the past. Cl T Hatfield stated it seemed to be a policy issue between the County and Gadabout and he hesitates to do anything without some sort of guidance from both parties. I understand they would like to have $575, but why are we in the middle. Cl C Hatfield - Maybe Mike Lane can answer that for us. Page 21 of 23 TB 1041 -00 Supv Varvayanis - As I understand it, it's all loose not written down policies there, so maybe they need to get something written down. I don't really think we ought to start writing checks. (Board agrees) It is necessary to make appointments to the Tompkins County Fire and Disaster. The following names have been submitted: Richard Young, Ronald Flynn and Sydney Knuppenburg. RESOLUTION #252 - APPOINT DELEGATE AND ALTERNATES TO TOMPKINS COUNTY FIRE, DISASTER AND EMS ADVISORY BOARD Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby makes the following appointments to the Tompkins County Fire & EMS Advisory Board: Delegate Richard Young, Jr. term l/ 1/01 to 12/31/03 Alternate Ronald Flynn term 1 / l / 01 to 12/31/03 Alternate Sydney Knuppenburg, term expiring 12 / 31 / 01 2nd Cl T Hatfield Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Abstain Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Supv Varvayanis explained that the paramedics have requested training for their billing program and recommends option one: $540, plus $45 /hour if they go over 12 hours, for training on site, and asked for authority to spend up to $700 to provide training for three paramedics. RESOLUTION #252a - PROVIDE BILLING TRAINING FOR PARAMEDICS Cl T Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Supervisor to expend up to $700 to provide training on the billing program for three paramedics. 2nd Cl Grantham Roll Call Vote Cl Beck Yes Cl T Hatfield Yes Supv Varvayanis Yes Cl C Hatfield Yes Cl Grantham Yes Supv Varvayanis stated that the ambulance seems to have drivers and with the paid staff are managing coverage. Budget workshop will be held October 25, 2000 at 7:30 a.m. November 1, 2000, regular meeting with public hearings Page 22 of 23 • TB 1041 -00 November 8, 2000, regular meeting with budget hearings On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Hollenbeck Town Clerk Page 23 of 23 Resolution September 5th, 2000 • From: The Etna Community Association Board To: The Dryden Town Board, Tompkins County Superintendent of Highways and The New York State Department of Transportation We unanimously recommend the following resolution designed to improve the safety of those living in and travelling through the Hamlet of Etna. Resolution: a) Remove the 55 mile an hour speed zone between route 13 and the start of the current 35 zone on route 366 in Etna. This is only about 2 tenths of a mile heading downhill and only serves to cause traffic to accelerate moments before it has to slow down again. b) Install Reduced Speed Zone Ahead signs on Route 366 immediately after traffic turns off Route 13 on the one end, and about 2 tenths of a mile before Kirk Road heading towards Etna on the other end. Currently there is no warning of the reduced speed and by the time traffic slows down it is typically already at the intersection going faster than the 35 limit. By slowing the traffic earlier, it may actually reduce to the limit by the time it gets to the comer. c) Replace the 35 Mile an Hour Zone on Route 366 in Etna with a 30 Mile and Hour Zone from Route 13 to Kirk Road in both directions to further help get traffic closer to a desirable speed. d) Install Children At Play yellow caution signs located just before the Etna. Cemetery for traffic heading East; and at the intersection with Kirk Road for traffic heading West. There are many more children both of school age and preschool age in this area than there were even five years ago. e) Install School Bus Stop Signs facing both directions at the various locations (there are several) along this stretch where the School Bus stops. The bus currently picks up children at locations including just east of the Etna. Lane/Route 366 intersection and again closer to Kirk Road. There may be other sites; but these two are known for certain. Currently traffic coming around the corner at the intersection can not see the school bus stopped just the east side of the intersection until the traffic is there. This leaves no time for a speeding car or heavy truck to stop in rain, snow or ice conditions; and barely enough time on a dry day. We recommend that whoever orders the signs for installation double check with the Dryden School District for the latest list of stops which may have changed since last spring. fl Installation of Pedestrian Crossing signs on either side of the intersection of Route 366 and Etna Lane facing the traffic coming towards the intersection oil Route 366. Recommendation: We recommend a favorable vote and implementation of these items. If passed, the Town and County can use the attached form to request action by the State Department of Transportation. We welcome your questions and feedback. Please direct any and all such to our traffic committee chair Jim Graney at 607 - 347 -4302 or at P.O. Box 242 Etna, NY 13062 or by e -mail at hjegr� anev(rr�,c�__larityconnect.com . Sincerely, 9 The Etna Community Association iii. Regional Traffic Engineer Region Ito. Department or Transportation Gentlemen: The Tows Board of the Tow-a of o r a resolution adopted 19 and the Count;r,Suaer;aceadent Of Highways of the County of he-eby request the Department of Transportation, pursuant to Section 107.2.1 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to establish a lower maximum speed at :.which vehicles may proceed on a oe t';een and County Road Tourn Highway Upon receipt of the notice that the regulation herein reauestad has been established, the of , will provide, install and maintain signs in accordance ••rich the Ven_cla and Traffic Law and conforming to the 24anual of Uniform Traffic lJnt_o_ Devices of tae Depar =ent of Transportation. Dated: Town Clam Dated: C0uC-7 Super -intendeat Comments by County Superintendent: it 9a (2/78) Varna Community Association 043 Dryden Rd, Ithaca, N Y 14850 11 October 2000 Mr. Mark Varvayanis, Supervisor Town of Dryden 65 E: Main St Dryden, NY 13053 Dear Mr. Varvayanis: This letter is to request that the Town Board consider two issues in the Hamlet of Varna. As indicated in our proposed Hamlet plan, traffic through the community is a major concern. There are no connecting pedestrian walkways along frontages connecting houses in the hamlet. Given that the set speed limit is 40 mph and traffic largely moves in excess of the speed limit and given that the only pedestrian walkway is on the shoulder of the highway, this poses some considerable risk and impediment to pedestrians who wish to walk to visit neighbors or just take a leisurely stroll. Without safe pedestrian ways there is a barrier for neighbors to visit and to get to know newcomers in the hamlet and for children to travel safely to the community playground. Currently posted speed limits of 40 mph through the hamlet seem excessive given that the only pedestrian walkways connecting households in the densest part of the hamlet are the shoulders of the road. These shoulders are used by many senior citizens, children of various ages and adults living in the community. Access to mailboxes is across 366 for many residents, necessitating twice daily trips across the road, frequently at peak traffic times, to pick up newspapers and mail. Many dog owners must walk their pets along 366. Many residents also walk along the road and cross the road. (also at peak traffic times) to reach the bus stops across from the mobile home park, at the intersection of Freese Road, and at Turkey Hill Road With traffic, including large heavy trucks, moving frequently at speeds in excess the posted speed limit pedestrian safety is of increasing concern. Two years ago about 100 signatures were secured by petition to ask that the Town petition the State to have speed limits reduced by 5 to 10 mph throughout the hamlet. The greatest felt need was to reduce the 40 mph zone to 30 mph from just east of the commercial center by Mt. Pleasant Road to the Lucente apartments near the western boundary. While the town did act on the hamlet's request, the State has failed to take any action. We would like to revisit this issue, in particular given the reduced speed limits on 366 for the hamlet of Etna and considering reduced speed limits on Rt 79 in Slaterville, These are examples of reduced speeds in • hamlets with a lower density of population, unincorporated and on state highways. In addition, residents along Turkey Hill Road are experiencing increased volume, speeding and truck traffic which appears to. be heading to Ellis Hollow Road and into Ithaca. These residents as well as those on Freese Road who have similar concerns seek an area -wide review for speed limits and -,ask that these limits be reduced to allow for greater pedestrian and cyclist safety along these routes.: _ ..... . Another noted concern regarding traffic has been the observation, that drivers observing the speed limit are often passed -- mostly legally, but sometimes illegally on the right (i.e. by passing on the shoulder). Cars waiting for a break in traffic to make left turns are also routinely passed on the right., With the density of driveway entrances and use of the shoulder by pedestrians and cyclists, such behavior increases the risk of serious injury or fatalities. Unfortunately, recent repaving of Rt 366 through Varna did not include the use of a double line, no passing zone, through the densest part of the hamlet. Finally, I call your attention to a letter from our Fire Chief, Chris Easton to NYS -DOT wherein, Mr. Easton indicates that even emergency vehicles responding to calls have experienced trouble reaching calls because traffic has failed to yield at intersections of Turkey Hill and 366 and Freese Rd and 366. Mr. Easton is asking consideration for four -way stop signs at those locations. Such a request is well supported by traffic concerns expressed in the Varna Hamlet Plan. As Chair of the Varna Community Association, I endorse Mr. Easton letter to the DOT and further ask that the Town Board ask for the following actions to be taken by the DOT: 1) Double stripe the road from east of Turkey Hill/366 intersection all the way to Game Farm Rd to reduce hazards to pedestrians. 2) Reduce speed limits to 30 mph within the same zone and consider reductions of speed on adjacent roads such as Turkey Hill which is now experiencing increased traffic volume and speeds from traffic crossing over to Ellis Hollow Rd. 3) Support the Fire_ Chief's request for 4 -way stops at both Turkey Hill /366 and Freese Rd/366 intersections. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, James E. Skaley, ( cc: Chris Easton, Fire Chief Varna Volunteer Fire Co. 14 Turkey Hill Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 June.29, 2000 Gordon J. Reimels; P. E. Resident Engineer NYS -Dept. of Transportation 3668 Route 281 Cortland, NY 13045 Dear Mr.. Reimels, As Chief of the fire company which serves Route 366.from Gamefarm Road to its intersections with Route 13, I have identified two problem areas. Unfortunately, these problems are manifest only during peak traffic hours. Therefore, any examination of these problem areas based on traffic count will not show these as problem areas. I ask that you consider my views carefully and possibly run a trial of my suggested solutions. The section of Route366 from Gamefarm Road to Turkey Hill Rd. is heavily populated. as much as any incorporated village. Contributing factors include the hamlet of Varna, the trailer park, and several apartment houses. The section of 366 from Turkey Hill Rd. to Rte 13 is also heavily residential. but somewhat less populated. At peak traffic hours, from shift change at 7 to end of "rush hour" at 9 in the morning and repeating from about 3 to 5 in the afternoon, traffic along route 366 is very_ heavy. It is often difficult to get a break to join the traffic, or even to cross 366. This becomes a serious problem when my members are responding to an emergency. I live on Freese Rd. Most people will not pull over for my little Ford. even with its red light flashing and siren wailing. If this were the only problem, I would put it clown as just me (and buy a Nigger truck). However, we have had several cans since moving -to the new station when people simply would not yield to our fire trucks. Our protocols state that we may not proceed through a controlled intersection untill all cars have stopped and ceded the right -of -way. Therefore, if cars keep moving , we must stop. Once stopped, other cars seem to think we are not going to move and go merrily on their way, blocking us where we sit. A similar situation existed at 366 and Caldwell Rd. until the light was installed there. Now, my members who respond from Cornell say that response through that intersection is much faster and safer. The situation along 366 in Varna would be similarly improved with 3 changes to the traffic pattern: First. the speed from Gamefarm Rd. to Mt. Pleasant should be, in my opinion. 30 MPH. The population density rivals that of Freeville, which already has a 30 MPH limit. Furthermore. the large hill between Gamefarm Rd. and Forest Home Drive is quite steep with a limited line of sight. A slower speed would improve safety for those vehicles turning onto or pulling out of Forest Home. Second, a set of All Way. Stop signs shoud be installed at the 366/Mt. Pleasant/Freese Rd. intersection. . Third,. another set of "All Way ". Stop signs should be.placed at the 366/Turkey Hill/Forest Lane/Monkey Run intersection. These stop signs are not unprecedented. Certainly the traffic through Caldwell Rd. is no more than through Turkey Hill or Mt. Pleasant; though it is no doubt more constant during the day. The intersection of Ellis Hollow and Ellis Hollow Creek is certainly far less'traveled than 366 at all times of day, but has "All Way" Stop signs. For most of the day I believe the effect of the stop signs on the flow of traffic along 366 would be minimal. People are going to slide up to the intersections, look quickly both ways, and rmil through a "California" stop. However, when: cross traffic is present, especially during the heavy volume times, people will be able to cross 366 and merge into traffic with improved ease and safety. Varna's emergency vehicles will be able to gain the right -of -way faster than they otherwise would in some cases. While it may appear that the intent of these suggestions is to slow traffic, what I really wish to see is larger gaps for vehicles attempting to join or cross 366 traffic during peak hours. I believe these solutions would create those gaps. If you would like. we can set temporary Stop signs at these intersections and observe traffic flow during peak times. I will gladly devote some time to this project, provided the end result improves traffic safety and emergency response. Sincerely Yours, Chris Easton, Chief 0 Town cf ® den Town Board Meeting • October 11, 2000 Name - {Please Print} Address , d D/W�, je- I P4