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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-16TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 1 of 11 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING October 16, 2014 Present: Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Gregory Sloan, Cl Joseph Solomon, Cl Jason Leifer, Cl Linda Lavine Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Other Town Staff: Mahlon R. Perkins, Town Attorney Kevin Ezell, code Enforcement Officer Jane Nicholson, Director of Planning Jennifer Jones, Recreation Director Supv Sumner opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Board members and guests participated in the pledge of allegiance. PUBLIC HEARING BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE Supv Sumner opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. and dispensed with reading of the public notice. She noted that this is the building permit schedule that they have been working for a few years. It is more refined than the current schedule, yet only changes the net revenue 6% or 7%. We are still below a lot of municipalities and feel this is fair. They conferred with code enforcement officers about what is involved in administering the permits and the inspections necessary for each. The fees still don’t cover the cost of those services. There were no comments or questions from board members or the public. The hearing was left open at 7:09 p.m. CITIZENS PRIVILEGE Hilary Lambert, 1676 Hanshaw Rd, is the Executive Director and Steward of Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. She is delighted that Steve Winkley is here to talk to the town about the potential for better protection of our water resources from planning and a better understanding of where our water resources are. We want our waters protected into the future. She is a member of the Caroline Aquifer Protection Committee and Steve Winkley gave an amazing talk in Caroline last month. Also, this does not cost the town any money. Presentation: STEVE WINKLEY distributed handouts to the board. NY Rural Water Association is a nonprofit organization of communities around the state. They are funded through taxpayer dollars and his salary is funded through the US Dept of Agriculture and formerly the EPA. This is his 20th year assisting communities like Dryden, Caroline, Danby and others on source water protection. That is any form of drinking water. He works with communities on forming source water protection plans using a five step approach. First they will form a planning team that will consist of people he will meet with periodically. The program provides a hydro geologist with a specialty in ground water (him). The planning team could consist of representatives from the town’s various boards and someone like Hilary Lambert, who is interested in protecting water. He would meet with them and define the sources to be protected. They will identify land use and threats to water resources then come up with a plan, including recommendations on how to protect the resources. They may do a residential well TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 2 of 11 survey. They may have recommendations on possible regulatory strategies. Th e things listed in the plan do not necessarily have to be implemented. They will provide education and outreach for individual homeowners and also to determine if there are steps the town can take to protect its water resources. He expects the process will take approximately a year. He will also invite county agencies to the meetings. There being no further comments, Supv Sumner closed the public hearing on the building fee schedule at 7:32 p.m. Presentation: INTERGENERATIONAL BAND – Jody Earle, W Dryden Road, founder and coordinator of the Dryden Area Intergenerational Band and Chorus spoke to the board about that organization. The program has been sponsored by the town for 17 of their 19 years. Dryden has a long history of supporting musical groups. In early years, various musical groups from Dryden always participated in area parades, events and the Ag Fair. There was a band, chorus and orchestra. For many years they have had the intergenerational band and chorus and they started in 1996 at the Bicentennial celebration. The school also supported them for a few years. Guidelines for the group is that it is all inclusive, is a short term commitment (6 weeks) ending with at least two concerts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. They wanted it to be rural. It started almost entirely with people from Dryden and Groton area. Now they are drawing people from 21 communities. They want to stay in the Dryden area, but have minimal choices for rehearsal. The band does not do outdoor concerts unless they absolutely have to, and schools provide large equipment. Last summer they had 53 in chorus and 53 in band. Another guideline is that there are no auditions, and includes anybody of any skill. Generally they ask for two years of working with an instrument for band. It is a noncompetitive atmosphere. They take people of any age. This year the youngest was eight and the oldest was 80. There is no charge for participation and the concerts are free. Donations are accepted and usually pay about half of the budget. The group has two parts to it: Participation/rehearsals and the performance part. The group belongs to the volunteers. Donations are essential and publicity is important. The journey is important and the end result is always a miracle. They don’t expect perfection. Sh e shared comments from participants at the end of the year. Parts of the performances can be found on You Tube. Challenges facing them include the fact that J Earle will be retiring after this summer, her 20th year. This summer they are planning a gala celebration with concerts August 8 and 9. They have commissioned a local composer to write a work for the combined group in honor of their 20th year. They are asking local celebrity, Frank Teste, to come and conduct their performance. That will probably draw a large group and they will likely have some extra expenses. He has been very support of their group. They did launch their first fundraising campaign this fall. In the past they have applied for a Community Arts grant and received from $600 to $1,000. Their annual budget is generally about $3600. They need to have twice the amount they usually have for the coming summer. They have been informed that they can’t use the town as a source for non-profit. They don’t have 501(3)(c) status and J Earle is asking the town for advice. They do have a small amount of money in an account now as a contingency fund. They are grateful for the Town’s sponsorship and insurance coverage. They are looking into a grant opportunity with a Cornell woman who studies multigenerational groups and has grant funds to do a study. She will contract with the town if the town is willing, and will turn TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 3 of 11 over money to the group. The Town should be proud its history of sponsoring this special group. Presentation: SOUTHWORTH LIBRARY - Diane Pamel, librarian, introduced board members Mary Ellen Rumsey, Randy Stewart and Mike Lane. She distributed their report to the community. They are proud of the library, as it has been and as it is now. They have been in the community over 130 years and are they only public library in the town. They are open to everyone. The library began in 1883 with a bequest from Jennie McGraw Fiske, moved to the current building in 1894, and built an addition in 1897 because they needed more room. They opened the Lincoln Center addition in 2011. Today it has over 6,000 square feet, over 30,000 books, 5200 audio visual items, and 14 public access state of the art computers with wireless connectivity. There is access to more than 18,000 digital titles and 23 databases for online information. It is a place to meet, use the computers, read newspapers and magazines, get the latest movies and get help with homework. They offer special programs and events. This is often the first literary event for children before they get to school. They offer toddler and preschool weekly story times, and monthly family oriented programs the 3rd Saturday of every month including author visits and special events. They want to give kids an experience beyond just learning from books. There are book clubs and programs for kids and teens and they c onnect literacy through activities and fun through various clubs and programs. They do Legos, Paws to Read with canine companions, board games and Teen Takeovers (funded by a town grant). They have world class performers for literacy events at the library. Community collaborations have brought unique programs and information to the community. They do visits to the senior center in Dryden and have classes and resources for families and coordinate with youth commissions. There are adult discussion series which started with a look at the Lincoln speeches. They provide computer instruction and have e readers to loan out and 18,000 digital downloads. They are part of the Finger Lakes library system and that allows them to access all their resources in five counties. The library was given a 5 star status last year and this year. Over last five years 350% more items are being circulated and they have 600% more computer uses. There are 34,520 items in their collection. Over 1700 people came to 47 programs offered in 2014. 250 participated in 2014 reading programs. The town contribution provides about 8% of their operating budget or about $11 per resident. Libraries are places where the imagination begins. The board was invited to come for a tour. Mike Lane said the Tompkins County Library is also available to residents of Dryden and offers the same services. This year is the 150th year anniversary of that library and they have some wonderful exhibits. TOWN CLERK RESOLUTION #149 (2014) – APPROVE MINUTES Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of September 11 and September 18, 2014. TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 4 of 11 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes HIGHWAY DEPT/DPW No report COUNTY BRIEFING Mike Lane – This is the 150th year of the Tompkins County Public Library. There are nice exhibits, including a Lincoln exhibit, Harriet Beecher Stowe, some Civil War artifacts and other exhibits. That library is exciting as well and will continue to provide services. It’s true that libraries serve as community centers. They need support and unfortunately some of the other towns are wanting to pull back their support of the library and they are concerned about that. They will continue to provide the best library services they can. Finger Lakes Library System is moving to the Town of Dryden and are building a wonderful facility at the intersection of Route 366 and Route 13. That will bring those jobs to Dryden. They will service over 30 libraries from there. The expanded budget committee has completed its work. The resolution passed tonight will keep the county within and probably well under their tax cap. The levy will increase about 2.5%. On a $165,000 median home, it would raise the county tax about $8.76. In addition they will be reducing the solid waste fee by $4 per unit. If they stay below the cap the Governor will send everyone an $8 check. The Health Insurance Consortium saved the county a lot of money. The increase in health care costs went up about 5% compared to the private plans that are up in the 8-10% increase range. They had about $180,000 reduction on what they have to pay to the State for pensions. They have stabilized Medicaid by the increase being absorbed by state. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Building Fee Schedule RESOLUTION #150 (2014) – ADOPT BUILDING FEE SCHEDULE Cl Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby adopts the following building fee schedule, effective immediately: FEE SCHEDULE: SQUARE FOOTAGE Activity or Permit Basic Fee Plus $/SF $/Building Acre Residential New TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 5 of 11 Construction Dwelling, Single Family Home $25 0.15 x Dwelling, Duplex $25 0.30 x Dwelling, Multiple-Family $25 1.00 100.00 Multiple-Family Conversion $50 0.25 50.00 Multiple-Family Condominium/Townhouse $50 1.00 50.00 Manufactured Home (HUD) or Replacement MH $100 0.10 x Modular Home (DOS) $300 0.05 x Accessory Dwelling Unit $25 0.20 x Addition, Alteration, Renovation $25 0.20 x Commercial New Construction & Light Industrial Commercial New Construction $25 0.30 x Renovations causing a change in occupancy 300 or per sf* 0.15 x Renovations not causing a change in occupancy $200 0.15 x Additions $200 0.15 x Ag-related Business $25 0.30 x Accessory Structures Portable Shed up to 144 sqft x x x Workshop/Storage Building / Shed (Permanent)/ Garage / Recreational Cabin** $25 0.15 x Deck / Unheated Porch $50 x x Pool $50 x x Solar Array less than or equal to 1/2 acre $60 x x Solar Array > 1/2 acre $100 x 20.00 Fire and Safety Inspection $25 * Whichever amount is higher ** Recreational Cabin not a year-round dwelling unit 2nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan No Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 6 of 11 Cl Lavine Abstain Cl Sloan said he was not pleased that the lowest priced permit cost is going up from $25. Cl Lavine abstained to support Cl Sloan. Retirement Resolution The resolution passed last month was incorrect, and it is necessary to pass a new one. RESOLUTION #151 (2014) – RESCIND RESOLUTION #144 Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby rescinds Resolution #144, passed on September 18, 2014. Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes RESOLUTION #152 (2014) – ESTABLISH STANDARD WORK DAY AND REPORTING Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Town of Dryden hereby establishes the following as standard work days for elected and appointed officials and will report the following days worked to the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System based on the record of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the clerk of this body: Title Name Standard work day (hrs/day) Term Begins/Ends Participates in Employer's Time Keeping System Y/N Days/Month (based on Record of Activities Elected Officials Highway Superintendent Richard Young 8 01/01/2014- 12/31/2017 N 20 Town Clerk Bambi Avery 8 01/01/2012- 12/31/2015 N 20 Board Member Jason Leifer 8 01/01/2014- 12/31/2017 N 5.07 Board Member Joseph Solomon 6 01/01/2012- N 1.43 12/31/2015 Town Justice Jules Ravo 6 03/25/2014- N 8.08 12/31/2014 Town Justice Christopher Clauson 6 01/01/2012- 12/31/2015 N 5.31 TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 7 of 11 Appointed Officials Deputy Town Highway Superintendent Ronald Senecal 8 1/1/2014 Y 20 Kirsten Clapper 7 7/7/2014 Y 20 Secretary to the Highway Superintendent Deputy Town Clerk Erin Bieber 8 1/1/2014 Y varies Deputy Town Clerk Lee Ann Parker 8 1/1/2014 Y varies Bookkeeper to Town Supervisor Jennifer Case 8 1/1/2014 Y 20 2nd Cl Sloan Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Yellow Barn Water District Supv Sumner reported that the town has received notice from the Office of the State Comptroller to proceed. She now needs authorization to sign a notice to proceed and send it to the contractor pending engineering and attorney review. RESOLUTION #153 (2014) – YELLOW BARN WATER DISTRICT – NOTICE TO PROCEED Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute the Notice to Proceed in the matter of the Yellow Barn Water District, pending approval of th e Town Engineer and Town Attorney. 2nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes NEW BUSINESS Water sewer consolidation study proposal Supv Sumner said she has wanted to consolidation some or all of the water and sewer districts in the Town. We did receive a state grant for the study, and have received a proposal from TG Miller and Fiscal Advisors. TG Millers proposal initially was $14,500 and Fiscal TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 8 of 11 Advisors was $5,000 and that was before budgeting for legal advice. She asked them to reconsider based on some portions of the study which we could provide quite of a bit of support for from town staff. TG Miller reduced their proposal to $12,500 and Fiscal Advisors reduced theirs to $2600, leaving about $3000 available for legal expenses. If we find as a result of the study that we would like to proceed, there will be another grant to support the actual consolidation. This won’t be finished this calendar year. RESOLUTION #154 (2014) – AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO ACCEPT PROPOSALS Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to accept the following proposals with respect to the consolidation study of water and sewer districts: from TG Miller in the amount of $12,500 and Fiscal Advisors in the amount of $2,600.00. 2nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Zoning Amendment The amendment to make provision for manufactured home park signs is postponed. Atty Perkins will proceed with this and the amendments that were authorized in September and anticipates introducing it in December and adopting in January. Marriage Officer Friends have asked Supv Sumner to officiate their marriage and asked the board for approval to do so. RESOLUTION #155 (2014) - APPOINTING A MARRIAGE OFFICER Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, New York Domestic relations Law 11-c authorizes the town board to appoint a marriage officer who shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage performed in accordance with other provisions of law, and WHEREAS, Eric Patterson and Terrence Forbes have requested that Mary Ann Sumner preside over their marriage ceremony, and WHEREAS, Mary Ann Sumner is the town supervisor and by reason of such office is familiar with the requirements of the Domestic relations Law as they pertain to the solemnization of marriages and is willing to preside over the marriage of Messrs. Patterson and Forbes, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. Mary Ann Sumner is hereby appointed a marriage officer of the town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, for the single occasion of the marriage of Eric Patterson and Terrence Forbes. TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 9 of 11 2. The authority to solemnize a marriage shall apply only within the town of Dryden. 3. The marriage officer shall receive no salary or wage for her services but may accept and keep up to seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for such marriage, paid by or on behalf of the persons married. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately 2nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Budget Hearing The board agreed to schedule budget hearing for November 6, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Internal Audit The internal audit was completed by Cl Leifer and Cl Solomon. Cl Leifer reviewed the department audits briefly with the board. RESOLUTION #156 (2014) – APPROVE AUDIT REPORT Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby accepts the audit report of the Finance Committee and authorizes the committee to transmit the appropriate portions to the Court. 2nd Cl Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Bolton Point transmission main The bids for this project came in higher than the estimate. It is necessary to have a hearing for new public interest order. The Town’s share increased from $8500 to $10,000. The board decided to set the public hearing for 7:00 p.m. on November 20 and adopted the following resolution. RESOLUTION #157 (2024) - CALLING A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO TOWN LAW 202-b ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF DRYDEN, ON BEHALF OF TOWN WATER DISTRICTS, AND IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 10 of 11 (SCLWIC) TO ACQUIRE AN INTEREST IN FACILITIES TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE VILLAGE OF LANSING. Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, a map, plan and engineer’s report have been prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C. in connection with the proposed installation by the Village of Lansing of approximately 425 feet of 18-inch ductile iron pipe, 105 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe, 7 gate valves, 2 pipe hy drant assemblies and other necessary fittings and appurtenances under NYS Route 13, and WHEREAS, said proposed improvements have been designed so that SCLIWC can interconnect with the Village of Lansing water mains on a temporary emergency basis which interconnection will provide a redundant crossing for the SCLIWC transmission system, and WHEREAS, the emergency interconnection will be subject to a use agreement between the SCLIWC member municipalities and the Village of Lansing which agreement will apportion the expenses of construction of such improvement between the Village and the members of SCLIWC, and WHEREAS, the Agreement of Municipal Cooperation between the members of SCLIWC requires the approval and authorization of all the parties to such proposed use agreement, and WHEREAS, on May 29, 2014 the Town Board adopted an Order calling a public hearing for June 19, 2014 on the proposed joint increase and improvement of facilities for Water District No. 1, Snyder Hill Water District, Monkey Run Water District, Hall Road Water District, Turkey Hill Water District and Royal Road Water District in the Town (the Water Districts), and WHEREAS, said Order was duly published and posted as required by law, and WHEREAS, a public hearing was duly held at the time and place set forth in the Notice of Public Hearing, and WHEREAS, on July 17, 2014 the Town Board adopted a Public Interest Order wherein it found it in the public interest to make the joint increase and improvement of the facilities of the Water Districts at a total maximum estimated cost of $8,712.40 to the Water Districts, and WHEREAS, the Public Interest Order included an anticipated allocation of each water district’s share of the estimated cost of $8,712.40, and WHEREAS, a review of the bids received by the Village of Lansing for the project has resulted in increased costs to SCLIWC and accordingly the Water Districts’ share is now estimated not to exceed $10,420, to be allocated among the Water Districts in different amounts than contained in the July 17, 2014 Public Interest Order, and WHEREAS, the Town Board deems it necessary to hold a second public hearing on the proposed improvements due to the different SCLIWC estimated cost and the Water Districts’ costs allocated differently than in the July 17, 2014 Public Interest Order, and TB 10-16-14 D R A F T Page 11 of 11 WHEREAS, in any event, Town Law 202-b requires that the Town Board hold a public hearing on the proposed acquisition of additional facilities and appurtenances thereto and the proposed use agreement, now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that a second public hearing shall be held by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, on whether it is in the public interest for the acquisition of the additional facilities and appurten ances thereto and the proposed use agreement referred to in the preambles hereto, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, said public hearing will be held at a regular meeting of the Town Board on November 20, 2014 at 7:05 p.m. prevailing time at the town hall, 93 East Main Street, Dryden, New York, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the town clerk shall post notice of such public hearing on the town signboard and publish notice of such public hearing in the official newspaper of the town, such posting and publicat ion to occur at least 10 but not more than 20 days prior to such public hearing. 2nd Cl Solomon Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes Cl Solomon Yes Supv Sumner Yes Cl Leifer Yes Cl Lavine Yes Cl Lavine would like to update the plan for inviting NYSEG & Dominion. Supv Sumner asked the board to confirm dates for a tour at Dominion. She has not contacted NYSEG yet. She wants to invite them to inform the board, which is different than an open meeting with residents. The board agrees it does not want to combine and would be willing to have two separate meetings. There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk