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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-21TB 4-21-16 Page 1 of 14 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING April 21, 2016 Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Greg Sloan, Cl Linda Lavine, Cl Deborah Cipolla-Dennis Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Other Town Staff: Susan Brock, Town Attorney Ray Burger, Director of Planning Jennifer Jones, Recreation Director Rick Young, Highway Superintendent Supv Leifer called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Cl Sloan has resigned effective April 30, 2016, and will be moving to North Carolina. Supv Leifer thanked him for his service to the town the last few years. CITIZENS PRIVILEGE Joe Wilson thanked Cl Sloan for his service saying he has been a quick study and very articulate in sharing his opinions. J Wilson urged the board to seriously consider and ultimately agree to a moratorium on the development of the proposed West Dryden Road pipeline until some issues are resolved. One of those is the elimination of ambiguities in the definition of public utilities in the zoning law with regard to uses, site plan review and special use permit review. We need to gain the services of a competent environmental engineer/consultant to guide the board through the SEQR process. There are several agencies that could be the first place NYSEG goes with a permit request to begin the process. We’ve all heard they have been drafting an EIS for probably more than a year that likely supports their position. Issues of importance in the SEQR are the requirements of the town board with regard to energy use and with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. Segmentation of the p roject excluding the regulation stations and compressor stations is an issue to be investigated. You will have a coordinated review and the lead agency responsibilities are extensive and we need to be the lead agency. The EIS needs to be reviewed in depth and it will likely be an enormous document. Peter Myers, Coordinator of Tompkins County Workers Center, spoke in support of a resolution before the board to increase the county wide minimum wage to a living wage. This is a big campaign. About 18 people in the audience were also in support of that. In the Dryden School District about 46% of students get free or reduced lunch. This proposed increase is good for workers, is a good economic stimulus and is good for the community. Stanley McPherson said he came out from Ithaca to support this resolution on the living wage. Some people have not heard about it, but it is gaining in popularity. He wants the board to feel good about the decision to support this and know this is to help people to receive a living wage for their work. People are the backbone of the country and are not being represented and paid well. People are coming together as one to fi ght for a living wage. He was TB 4-21-16 Page 2 of 14 fired when he asked for a living wage, and is now telling people he is fighting for a living wage. His job now is to help people. Milton Webb said he is a member of the Workers Center and they look at people and feel they need to make a living wage. People are having a hard time making a living. It is hard on families and they are fighting to keep everything in perspective. He wants everyone in Tompkins County to make a living wage. There are jobs, but you need to be able to make enough in 40 hours to live. They are fighting for everyone to make a living wage and support themselves and their families. Judy Pierpont, 111 Pleasant Hollow, said she supports the resolution before the board supporting alternatives to natural gas expansion. The Freeville Lansing reinforcement project would encourage new uses of natural gas and increase its use in Lansing and Ithaca. This resolution encourages the PSC to look at alternatives to gas before supporting this type of infrastructure. This is directly contradictory to where we, in the county and the country, should be going. If we don’t keep global temperatures down, we have no way of stabilizing the climate. Fossil fuels must be kept in the ground. If we don’t make this happen, we’ll be in more trouble than we already are. What are we doing allowing a new pipeline in our town that is supportive and a leader in reducing fossil fuel use? On Tuesday the County Legislature approved the Energy Road Map which promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. That won’t happen if we are burning more and transporting more gas. Methane escapes from drilling, from pipelines and transport is 100 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than burned carbon dioxide. The PSC and NYSERDA are appropriate agencies to direct this resolution to. They are beginning to understand that more gas pipelines are not necessary. Using electric generated by solar, heat pumps to produce heat, and hot water on your roofs are things you can do right now. The sacrifices of people already working on this will be completely undermined by this project. Not only should we urge the PSC and NYSERDA, but we sh ould be questioning whether allowing this pipeline to go through is the right thing. Supv Leifer said Bob Pass of NYSEG called today to let us know they will begin the soil borings on West Dryden Road. They will be doing 27 of them beginning next Monday. They have not put in any applications to the town yet. They are apparently working on the SEQR. He will follow up with Mr Pass tomorrow. TOWN CLERK RESOLUTION #79 (2016) – APPROVE MINUTES Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of March 10 and March 17, 2016. 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes B Avery reported that she has been working on the things that need to be done for the upcoming special election. She attended a class on permissive referendums at the Annual Town Clerks Conference given by an attorney whose firm helps municipalities with these types of referendum elections. So far we have done everything right. She has chosen eight election inspectors, four for each polling place, and four alternate election inspectors in case someone TB 4-21-16 Page 3 of 14 can’t work that day, or if we have a large volume of voters and need extra help. The board needs to appoint them and was provided with a proposed resolution. These individuals have worked for the county Board of Elections and have taken their oath of office there and had training. This will be a different scenario for them working with paper ballots and there will be a training for them next Tuesday to discuss the process. Cl Lavine asked about the cost of the election inspectors and was told they would be paid $10 per hour and it may total $720 or more. Cl Sloan asked if there was an attempt to balance party affiliation. B Avery responded that two each of Democrats and Republica ns had been appointed to each polling place. RESOLUTION #80 (2016) – APPOINT ELECTION INSPECTORS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints the following individual s to serve as election inspectors at the rate of $10 per hour for the May 3, 2016, Town of Dryden Special Election: Claudette Johnson, Jeanne Frandsen, Patricia Sims, Wayne VanPelt, Faith Smith, Sharon Cooper, Leslie Richards, David Keifer, Joan VanPelt, Jean Cotterill, Virginia Moses, and Karen Spencer. 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Abstain Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes B Avery said she is trying to estimate the number of ballots that will be nee ded. It has been stated previously that 800 voters was a likely number, but the media has taken hold of the press release, the Supervisor will have radio time on the subject and we have done a lot of outreach about this. She has ordered 2000 ballots, sequentially numbered in bound books and perforated, from Cornell Printing at a cost of $210. Voter turnout at the November election in Dryden was over 2700. After discussion, the board felt it would be prudent to have 3000 ballots. B Avery stated the same rules apply with respect to electioneering within 100 feet of the polling places. Cl Lavine requested a summary of expenses and time spent on the election after it is over because it is worth knowing so that in the future people can think about wheth er or not it is worth it. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Highway Superintendent Rick Young asked the board for a resolution to move leftover money from last year into the respective reserves. RESOLUTION #81 (2016) – TRANSFER FUNDS TO HIGHWAY & DPW CAPITAL RESERVES Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the 2015 ending balance for equipment account A1490.2 was $7,373.00; and TB 4-21-16 Page 4 of 14 WHEREAS, the 2015 ending balance for equipment account DA5130.2 was $10,947.91; and WHEREAS, Board discussions supported moving the remaining 2015 money from the Highway (DA5130.2) and DPW (A1490.2) equipment lines to their respective Equipment Capital Reserve Funds; and WHEREAS, the remaining money was closed into fund balance during the end of year process, be it RESOLVED, that $7,373.00 from fund balance (A599) be transferred to DPW Equipment Capital Reserve (A878), and be it RESOLVED, that $10,947.91 from fund balance (DA599) be transferred to Highway Equipment Capital Reserve (DA879). 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young asked for authorization to trade the Department’s current sweeper toward a used tractor with a new sweeper. They will receive $15,050 trade-in toward a 2009 Case International Farmall 70 Cab with 730 hours on it and a new 84” Poly Broom, for a total price of $20,250.00. The funds are in the budget. RESOLUTION #82 (2016) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF TRACTOR WITH SWEEPER Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the trade of its current 2004 New Holland tractor and sweeper toward a 2009 Case International Farmall 70 Cab and 84” Poly Broom, resulting in a payment not to exceed $20,250. 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young asked the board for approval to send Truck #4 (2008) to auction and purchase a new pickup off state bid for an amount not to exceed $45,000. The funds are in the budget. RESOLUTION #83 (2016) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF NEW PICK UP AND DISPOSAL OF TRUCK #4 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the sale at auction of Truck #4, a 2008 Ford F-250 pickup with plow and the purchase off state bid of a new pickup truck at a cost not to exceed $45,000. 2nd Cl Sloan TB 4-21-16 Page 5 of 14 Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young reported that the old barn near the parking lot at the town hall has been demolished and he asked for a resolution to dispose of the debris. There was discussion about whether the old beams had any value and how to dispose of them. R Young said there are people that want them and will use them. The remainder of the wood is pretty much junk and will be taken to the dump. The tin will be scrapped. RESOLUTION #84 (2016) – AUTHORIZE DISPOSAL OF BARN BEAMS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Highway Superintendent is authorized to dispose of the old beams from the Tuttle barn by making them available to persons who perform barn restorati on or otherwise recycle them. If no persons claim the beams, the Highway Superintendent is free to dispose of them. Persons willing to pay for the beams will be given preference over others. 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes PRESENTATION DOG CONTROL OFFICER Rich Leonard, Dog Control Officer, said he also runs the Dryden Shelter. He explained as a Dog Control Officer, he has to obey all NYS Ag & Markets laws. They take care of the shelter every day. It is clean. The dogs are worked with every day and are socialized. They are temperament tested to be sure they are not aggressive toward people or other dogs. All dogs are not happy dogs. There is no such thing as a no-kill shelter. Aggressive dogs are a liability to the town and cannot be adopted out. He has dogs he has kept for years. There is a dog there now with cancer. R Leonard pays for his medical needs out of his own pocket. In seven and a half years, he has only had 20 dogs put down. He has the lowest average of anyone in the state. There is a need for another Dog Control Officer and he would like to have one appointed. This does not need to be a paid position, but he needs someone for times that he is not available. If something happens, and they don’t respond in a reasonable time, it doesn’t look good for the town. He is recommending someone who has worked with him for the past two years. Once she is sworn in, Ag & Markets will give her a basic t raining session. Supv Leifer will check with our attorneys about the appointment and get back to him. RECREATION DEPARTMENT Jennifer Jones reported going into spring programming with youth lacrosse and youth track for grades K through 6, with 36 and 38 participants respectively. Youth karate is little over enrolled at 19 participants. Spring break is next week and they will have field trips to Corning Museum of Glass and Sky Zone. Senior Fit did not run this spring because they only TB 4-21-16 Page 6 of 14 had three people interested. As soon as have enough people they will run the class. The first round of Red Cross training was held and they have another class on May 14. Summer and fall programming is coming together with an art camp, soccer camp with the varsity soccer coaches, and youth basketball camp run with a varsity coach. Summer pickle ball will be held at TC3 (courts for free) Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. A new trip this summer will be to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Farmers Museum. J Jones had been hoping for a drama program, but it didn’t work out. Cl Lavine suggested she talk with the Ithaca Youth Bureau about using their instructors. PLANNING DEPARTMENT The Planning Department update was distributed. The May 19 agenda will include:  Special Use Permit for a repair shop  Verizon Tower presentation  Medical supply company presentation. They are looking to locate on Route 13 and will offer medical waste disposal by microwave process. The Planning Board is meeting in Varna on Wednesday at the Varna Community Association at 7:00 p.m. There will be a sketch plan review for the Tiny Timbers project at the corner of Freese Rd and Dryden Rd. These are small homes (800 sq ft). The department has approved a handful of subdivisions in the last month. 902 and 1401 Dryden Road projects are moving ahead and will be breaking ground this season. ADVISORY BOARD UPDATES Planning Board – Cl Cipolla-Dennis emailed an update to board members. Cl Leifer said the board will have a memorandum about the definition of public utility and the possibility of a moratorium on pipelines for next month. Conservation Board – Bob Beck reported they have full agendas and lots of discussion. The next rail trail meeting will be May 18 (3rd Wednesdays) at 7:00 pm at the DPW building. Rec & Youth Commission – Kathy Servoss reported they have received 8 requests for grants totaling about $6,600. They have $6,000 to award. Most of the commission met and discussed the applications, but they had no quorum so couldn’t take action. That will be done next week and the recommendations will be available in May for board action. They are in the early stages of updating the Recreation Master Plan. They are in desperate need of new members. Ag Committee – Supv Leifer reported they have been talking about the Ag Plan. George Frantz has looked at the town zoning and is making some recommendations, but overall he felt the zoning was pretty Ag friendly. No major changes are recommended. The final report should be available in the next month or so. He did note that because of the County Ag Districts there is always confusion with that versus the zoning districts. The positive in our zoning is that it is referred to as an Ag zone not a district. The board will have a public hearing at some point on the plan. NEW BUSINESS TB 4-21-16 Page 7 of 14 Minimum Wage resolution - Cl Cipolla-Dennis said she very much supports this resolution. We need to do something about the minimum wage. A large number of children qualify for free and reduced lunch and that has continued to go up. When the minimum wage is low, it puts a lot of burden on governments and requires additional services to people so they can meet their basic needs. Those services should be handled through the market and labor force. Instead they are passed along to government to handle through services. Having an increase to the minimum wage is good for all of us and will help to relieve school, town, county and city taxes. Cl Lamb thanked the people who brought this to our attention. This is a multi- government effort to be undertaken, educating people out in the towns and getting something passed in Tompkins County. In order to do that, we have to get something passed in New York State. It’s a home rule law. We need to get the state to look at our county and accept that we want to do this. It’s about educating people. The minimum wage was never enough. By today’s standards is significantly less than it was when it was enacted back in the sixties. What he likes about what they are doing is that they are trying to redefine the concept of minimum wage versus living wage. We want to be about a living wage. He likes the effort to help people see the difference and the need to redefine it, and getting away from the concept of having people live at the minimum, which is still in poverty. Supv Leifer thanked Peter Myers for coming to talk with him and bringing it to the board. A lot of the work in his practice is court appointed work for people who are basically the working poor. They are working 30 to 40 hours a week and aren’t able to get by on what they make and still need services from the county. The current minimum wage enables a lot of big companies to get away with not paying what they should, and then we are forced to make up the difference on the public side. At budget time we will be discussing making sure folks hired at the town are possibly at this living wage. There is a difference between the purely seasonal and part time versus permanent full time folks. This is a consideration to be taken into account this budget season. It will have an impact on our budget so we need to be mindful of that. RESOLUTION #85 (2016) - In Support of the Living Wage as the Minimum Wage across Tompkins County Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, it is one of our most cherished values that there is dignity in work; and WHEREAS, raising incomes is critical to providing economic mobility and opportunity for working families; and WHEREAS, the growth in income inequality in recent years has created serious divisions within our society and community; and WHEREAS, Tompkins County is becoming increasingly two counties with a portion of the population thriving while many more face low wages, growing inequality, erosion of middle- class jobs, staggering housing costs, and the institutionalization of a low -wage service economy; and WHEREAS, failure to pay workers a living wage is a major problem within the Town of Dryden resulting in 46% of students in the Town of Dryden public school system are poor enough to qualify for free or reduced lunch; and TB 4-21-16 Page 8 of 14 WHEREAS, a full-time minimum wage worker in New York State earns $18,720 at the current minimum wage of $9,00/hour, an income significantly below the current living wage in Tompkins County of $29,827; and WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage across Tompkins County would increase spending on locally produced goods and services by workers benefiting from such increased wages, which, in turn would produce greater demand and help stimulate the local economy; and WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage would reduce the cost of providing social services in the Town of Dryden and Tompkins County; and WHEREAS, our community has a proud tradition of advocating for worker rights and promoting economic justice; and WHEREAS, we as a community and we as a country can no longer accept wages that leave some without hope of rising up and unable to support themselves nor their families; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Town of Dryden requests that the Tompkins County Legislature pass a local minimum-wage law establishing the Tompkins County Living Wage (currently $ 14.34/hour) as the minimum wage; phasing the new minimum wage in over a four year period; and indexing it to changes in the Tompkins County Living Wage thereafter; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Town of Dryden supports Tompkins County further passing a home-rule request to New York State seeking the authority to implement such a local minimum wage; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Town of Dryden calls on the New York State Legislature to pass promptly said home-rule request; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Tompkins County Legislature; the Tompkins County Council of Governments; New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton; New York State Senators James Seward, Thomas O'Mara, and Michael Nozzolio; and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Rail Trail Committee Resolution - Cl Lamb said it is great that this idea that has been kicking around for probably 15 years is finally at a point where the town wants to recognize the effort and establish a task force. This is very mission specific. They are looking at a very targeted area basically connecting the Village of Dryden to Freeville and Etna and Varna and create a way to get around that doesn’t involve cars. It will be promoted as a commuter path. They don’t want people thinking they want a trail in everyone’s back yard. This task force is not meant to last in perpetuity. There is a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of people wanting to participate. They feel it is a good project that is supported in the community that we h ave the assets for. There is interest from Tompkins County. The head of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Fernando deAregon, will be assisting on this project and he is familiar with finding federal or state funding. There is also interest from the s tate parks directors. The resolution establishing the task force draws on each current town commission/board to TB 4-21-16 Page 9 of 14 have representation, together with five more people to be presented to the town board for appointment. They are working on names. There will nev er be a closed or exclusive meeting. They want a wide selection of the community attending these meetings. Cl Sloan said this is a win-win proposition and time to pick up the pace, make use the energy we have, and get pieces of the trail in place. RESOLUTION #86 - (2016) AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RAIL TRAIL TASK FORCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING MIXED-USE PEDESTRIAN TRAILS IN THE TOWN Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Town recognizes the importance of preserving the Town’s natural resources and rural character, and providing residents with more opportunities to observe and enjoy the natural beauty the Town offers, WHEREAS, the Dryden Town Board recognizes the importance of developing mixed use recreational trails, as resources vital to improving the Town’s economic base, tourism, property values, public health and fitness, and quality of life for Town residents, WHEREAS, the Town encourages the use of non-motorized modes of transportation and recognizes the significant environmental and economic benefits of reducing automobile use, WHEREAS, the Lehigh Valley Railroad abandoned the East Ithaca to Freeville and Cortland rail beds and the Harford to Dryden, Freeville and Groton rail beds by 1977, WHEREAS, the Town’s 4.2-mile Jim Schug Trail, is currently established and popular, and runs south on the abandoned rail bed from the Village of Dryden, passing by Dryden Lake, to the Harford town line, WHEREAS, Cornell Design Connect produced a plan in 2015 which presented a blueprint for the creation of a 6.25-mile Varna to Freeville rail trail along the abandoned railroad corridor, WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan cites the development of a bike an d pedestrian path, connecting Dryden, Freeville, Etna and Varna, as a transportation improvement, WHEREAS, the Dryden Town Board desires a Rail Trail Task Force to be established to advise municipal leaders and residents on issues relating to the successful development of a 10.8-mile trail system connecting from the Jim Schug Trail in the Village of Dryden through the Village of Freeville and the hamlets of Etna and Varna to the East Ithaca Recreation Way at the Ithaca Town line, WHEREAS, the Town Board encourages the Rail Trail Task Force to communicate wi th potential trail users including, runners, hikers, walkers, bicyclists, cross-country skiers, horseback riders, and nature enthusiasts; with landowners, trail neighbors and the business and agriculture communities; as well as with the media, sources of funding and other interested parties, to promote the development, use, and maintenance of a trail system within TB 4-21-16 Page 10 of 14 the Town, now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Rail Trail Task Force shall be established and include 9 voting members and strive for diverse at tendance and participation at meetings. Members shall include one representative from each of the Town’s Agriculture Advisory Committee, Planning Board, Conservation Board, and Recreation and Youth Commission. The five other voting members shall be appointed by the Dryden Town Board. 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis said the board would like to know all the people who are interested in serving on the committee and then will make a decision. Montgomery Park Revitalization - The board saw a presentation on this last week. The village has asked the town to partner with them in this effort. Supv Leifer said the DRYC will talk about the possibility of using funds from the Recreation Reserve for the playground build portion and the project. Yellow Barn Water Company - When the town closed on the Yellow Barn District they had assets remaining in their bank account of $40,040.07 plus a tax refund due of $2800. T his will be transferred to the town by an agreement that the board needs to authorize the Supervisor to sign. The money is needed for the purchase of the automatic water meters and there is a bond payment due in September. RESOLUTION #87 (2016) - AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH YELLOW BARN WATER COMPANY, INC. Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, on August 25, 2015, all of the assets of the Yellow Barn Water Company, Inc. (“the Company”) were transferred to the Town of Dryden, with the exception of the Company’s cash on hand; and WHEREAS, the Town and the Company wish to enter into a written agreement pertaining to the transfer of said funds from the Company to the Town; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board approves the Agreement with the Company in the form attached hereto; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute the Agreement on behalf of the Town. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Lamb Yes TB 4-21-16 Page 11 of 14 Supv Leifer Yes Resolution Supporting Alternatives to Natural Gas Expansion - Cl Cipolla-Dennis explained that when utility companies want to raise rates for an expansion project, repairs or whatever reason, they have to go to the Public Service Commission and present a rate case. There has been a rate case (#15-G-0284) put before the PSC that includes $17 million for the Freeville-Lansing natural gas pipeline as well as $350,000 for a pipeline in th e Town of Caroline. This resolution asks the PSC to require the utility companies to look at alternatives to fossil fuel expansion instead of evaluating the project on the expansion and requested needs of utility companies. Climate change should force them to consider these alternatives. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage all agencies to look at alternatives to reduce use of fossil fuels. RESOLUTION #88 (2016) - SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVES TO NATURAL GAS EXPANSION Cl Cipolla-Dennis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas NYSEG’s rate case (15-G-0284) currently being considered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) proposes the $17 million Freeville-Lansing natural gas pipeline project across the Village of Freeville and Towns of Dryden and Lansing, and the $350,000 Boiceville natural gas pipeline project in the Town of Caroline - projects designed to address existing peak demand for space and water heating as well as up to 20 years of load growth, and NYSEG customers, including Town of Dryden residents, will be required to pay for these projects; and Whereas in 2012 (case 12-G-0297) the PSC encouraged natural gas expansion because it would create jobs and provide cheaper, cleaner heating fuel than propane or fuel oil, and utilities receive financial incentives for adding new gas customers, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides incentives for conversion to natural gas appliances; and Whereas in the historic COP21 Climate Accord in Paris earlier this year, the nations of the world agreed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to prevent global warming from reaching the catastrophic 2 degrees Celsius threshold, and New York State and Tompkins County have both set GHG reduction goals and the Town of Dryden is a Climate Smart Community that recognizes that climate change is a real and urgent public issue that must be addressed by reduction in GHG emissions, energy efficiency improvements, lifestyle changes, and use of renewable energy; and Whereas natural gas (methane) is 100 times more potent a GHG than CO2 over the next critical 20 years, and decreasing our use of natural gas now is the only thing that can slow the rate of global warming and buy precious time while moving aggressively toward a renewable energy economy1. NOW therefore be it Resolved that the Dryden Town Board urges the PSC and NYSERDA to recognize that expanding markets for natural gas is contrary to municipal and state goals for reducing GHG emissions, will forestall the transition to renewables that we must make, will result in stranded assets when we do transition, and will increase costs to society from climate change impacts - and for all these reasons expanding natural gas markets is not in the public in terest, and further be it 1 2014, Howarth, R. A bridge to nowhere: methane emissions and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas. In Energy Science and Engineering http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth/summaries CH4.php accessed April 10, 2016 TB 4-21-16 Page 12 of 14 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resolved that the Dryden Town Board urges that the PSC, prior to authorizing natural gas expansion projects, directs the utilities to identify non-fossil fuel alternatives such as energy efficiency, electric heat pumps and demand response that can meet reliability needs while saving ratepayers money and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and be it further Resolved that the Dryden Town Board asks the PSC and NYSERDA to curtail incentives that result in natural gas expansion, and instead that they develop incentives to reduce the number of natural gas customers and support installation of non-fossil fuel appliances for water and space heating. Additionally, be it resolved that the Dryden Town Clerk will send a certified copy of this resolution to NYS Governor Cuomo; PSC Chairwoman Audrey Zibelman; Honorable Kathleen Burgess, Secretary to the Commission to be filed as part of the public record for case 15 -G- 0284; Mr. John B. Rhodes, President and CEO at New York State Energy Research a nd Development Authority; NYS Senator James L. Seward; NYS Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton; Tompkins County Legislature; Town of Caroline Town Board, Town of Lansing Town Board, Village of Freeville Trustees, Tompkins County Planning Department and the Tompki ns County Area Development agency. 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Cl Lavine Cl Cipolla-Dennis Cl Lamb Supv Leifer J Wilson noted the PSC pays attention to these resolutions. The resolution from this Town Board was cited by the PSC in its decision to make Cayuga Power Plant stand on its own with the investors footing the bill. These are not futile gestures. PSC staff and administrative law judges now know several folks from Tompkins County who are focused on energy and emissions issues and enable them to get their information forward. Irene Weiser of the Caroline Town Board was granted an hour’s worth of time before the PSC a couple of weeks ago. That is almost unheard of, but because of the substance of what we say and the issues we address, we are getting that attention. In his opinion, the town board under SEQR can and should require NYSEG in this particular instance to identify alternatives to the gas pipeline and cost them out. Having read it several times, that is in fact something the board can and should do. Red Mill Road Bridge - Supv Leifer shared with board members what he had sent to Jeff Smith at County Highway. This will be coming to the board in May. There may be one or two changes to the agreement. The IAWWTF resolution will also be in May. Zoning Law amendment - R Burger explained that after the amendment to the zoning law was passed last month, he prepared the following amendment accommodate areas served by public water/sewer in the density for multi-family. It proposes to increase the density to six dwelling units per acre with a maximum of 30 dwelling units per lot when there is public sewer and water present. It also provides for changes if public water and sewer are brought to a lot in the future. The amendment is: Proposed amendment to the Town of Dryden Zoning Law LOCAL LAW NO. OF THE YEAR 2016 TB 4-21-16 Page 13 of 14 A LOCAL LAW TO AMEND THE TOWN OF DRYDEN ZONING LAW TO ADD DENSITY REGULATIONS FOR THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL AND RURAL AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS Be it enacted by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden as follows: SECTION 1. Section 606 of the Zoning Law is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 606: Density in the Rural Residential and Rural Agricultural districts: Single-, Two-, and Multi-Family dwellings are permitted subject to a maximum allowable density of 2 Dwelling Units per acre with a maximum of 10 Dwelling Units per lot if the lot does not have both public water and public sewer facilities. If the lot has both public water and public sewer facilities, then the maximum density is 6 Dwelling Units per acre and 30 Dwelling Units per lot. Subject to the foregoing limits the maximum number of Dwellings that can be built on a lot is equal to the maximum number of conforming lots that could be created if the lot were subdivided in accordance with the Town’s Subdivision Law, as calculated by the Town Planning Director. This determination by the Town Planning Director of the maximum number of Dwellings shall be recorded in the Tompkins County Clerk’s Office and cross-referenced to the deed of the lot in question and the maximum number of Dwellings for said lot shall not increase even if said lot is thereafter subdivided. Upon the property owner’s request, the Town Planning Director shall record a revised determination of the maximum number of conforming lots and Dwellings if, after the original determination is recorded, both public water and public sewer facilities become available to a lot, or zoning amendments are made that affect the maximum number of conforming lots. The following review is required: These provisions shall not apply to farm worker housing on lots on which a Farm Operation is conducted. SECTION 2. This local law shall take effect upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State. SECTION 3. The provisions of this local law are severable. If any court of competent jurisdiction decides that any section, clause, sentence, part or provision of this local law is illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect, impair, or invalidate any of the remaining sections clauses, sentences, parts, or provisions of the Local Law. SECTION 4. This local law shall supersede or repeal any prior inconsistent Local Law. Number of Dwellings on a lot Review required 1 Single- or Two-Family Dwelling No SPR or SUP required 2-4 Single or Two-Family Dwellings SPR (Site Plan Review) All others SUP TB 4-21-16 Page 14 of 14 The board scheduled the public hearing for May 19 at 7:15 p.m. On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the board adjourned to executive session at 8:40 p.m. for the discussing collective bargaining negotiations. No action was taken and the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk