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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-16TB 5-16-19 Page 1 of 9 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING MAY 16, 2019 Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Linda Lavine, Cl Alice Green Absent: Cl Kathrin Servoss Elected Officials: Rick Young, Highway Superintendent Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Director of Planning Khandi Sokoni, Town Attorney Chrystle Terwilliger, Deputy Town Clerk Ryan McHugh, Secretary to the Supervisor Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:08 p.m. Board members and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance. No Public Hearings. TOWN CLERK RESOLUTION #93 (2019) - APPROVE MINUTES Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of April 11, 2019 as written, and April 18, 2019 with the small correction of the name of the band that played at the trail opening corrected from Bad Daddy to Mad Daddy. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes No Budget Modifications CITIZENS PRIVILEGE Hilary Lambert (for Laurie Snyder), Read letter from Laurie Snyder, 36 Freese Road and Kim Klein, 14 Freese Road – See attached. Hilary Lambert, 1676 Hanshaw Road – See attached. Katie Quinn-Jacobs, 52 Sodum Road, is here tonight to support the Planning Board’s resolution that was submitted for consideration by the Board. S he is concerned about the Varna Plan being overridden under pressure by Trinitas. Connected to that, it seems that the Planning Board should be able to manage the environmental update that is being considered for the comprehensive plan for the entire township. I support that, as does my husband. It is a very profound decision to support this next generation. Joseph Osmeloski, 2180 Dryden Road, he is here tonight to talk about the cooperation of the 10% plan for the solar savings the town has entered into with SolarFarms NY. We are told we get a guaranteed 10% savings. We need to have someone come in and explain to us how this TB 5-16-19 Page 2 of 9 savings will happen. Many, many people have called this company and asked how we are going to save 10% and their answer basically is that we must go in there with blind faith. We understand we will get 2 bills now, a NYSEG bill and a SolarFarms NY bill, you buy credits. When we asked, “how do we apply those credits”? It was mind boggling. NYSEG Solutions deal was a disaster. I would request the Town Board get someone from SolarFarms NY to come in and explain it. A lot of people aren’t going to sign up until we know exactly how we are going to save 10%. Credits, buying credits – dollars or KW hours? Please get someone in here to explain. Cl Lamb- Not a disaster. Go to SolarFarms NY and there is a visual step-by-step process. This is a negotiated process, they are following a protocol that several communities are using. No need for them to come here. Encourage you to look at the website, it is a good deal for Dryden. You can get out of the program at any time. It’s a limited time offer that was extended until June. If you don’t see savings, get off the plan. Cl Lavine - Several very smart people are saying it’s confusing. It’s not simple. We all got screwed by NYSEG Solutions, other people in her area are questioning it. I can’t explain to them any better than you just did to Joe. We’ve gone this far, why not go the rest of the mile and make it easy for people to understand. Being defensive doesn’t cut it. J Osmeloski – Is there someone that could come in? Cl Lamb – We can make that inquiry after the mailing has been sent out. J Osmeloski – We’ll see how the test case comes out and go from there. Marie McRae, Cornell Cooperative Extension energy navigator – I often work with people who are trying to sign up for community solar. The State of NY has set up the regulations such that you cannot get a combined bill. It is confusing, it’s very difficult to justify the two bills you get. Doesn’t feel the Town Board should even try to explain it as it is State regulations. 10% is based on a 30-day average that NYSEG charges and is taken off that total. People can go through CCE for assistance understanding. Marie McRae, 710 Irish Settlement Road, I would like to second what Hilary said about the Varna bridge. Even though I don’t live there, I am quite attached to it. I would be upset to see a two-lane bridge. On Monday an international group that studies biodiversity in the world released a vast international assessment of the state of nature. On average, about 40% of the corn in the Midwest would have been in the ground by now and only 12% is in the ground. We no longer have the metrics that we have depended on our entire lives. Thanks to the Board members for being aware of that and acting on that. Each one of us is responsible to mitigate the harm as much as possible. Rewriting the Comprehensive Plan to include energy efficiencies, and to consider the way fossil fuels play into the chaos that is happening in our lives. Thankful you are willing and support and change those things that rule our lives in Dryden. Proud that I live in a Town like Dryden – that you think about the climate and act on what you believe. Elisa Evett, 298 Bald Hill Road – See attached Bill Griffin – 69 Yellow Barn Road, would like to commend the Dryden Rail Trail Task Force on the incredible job they’ve done and continue to do. We need to recognize a lot of those things that have gotten us where we are now, are dragging us down and taking the planet to a tipping point. We won’t be able to recover what we have. I want to commend the board for looking at things like solar, and to continue to look at the comprehensive plan. We all have to take the steps to improve the planet in our own little way. Dave Bradley, 45 Mill Street, I want to talk about this nice plan for a municipally owned fiber network. He showed a book on fiber that he just got out of the library. In this day and age, access to the internet often means television, radio, phone and so much more. Access in our town is mainly cable or really slow DSL – both old-fashioned and extraordinarily overpriced. A TB 5-16-19 Page 3 of 9 few years ago, Charter Communications bought Time Warner which was already in the hole financially. For my $65 per month for my internet access bill, about $5 is spent on electricity and maintenance of cable the other $60 is largely spent on profit and paying down $90 billion in debt. They have no incentive to change, they are milking this, and the profit rate is something like 95 percent. The alternative would be for Dryden to install fiber optics throughout as much of the town as possible, own that, and in turn get payments from those that use it. In turn they could rent out space on the fiber to competitors. Fiber optic is the way to go. Nice income to the town. Cl Lamb – Just to remind everyone, the survey is on our website. We are gathering information to determine if it will be feasible to do this. We will not be doing this to make a profit, it will be to save our residents money. Kathy Russell, 434 Snyder Hill Road, I drive over the Freese Road bridge a lot. I really enjoy stopping and looking at the scenery. Really do not want to see a two-lane bridge. I am dismayed about the bridge and Trinitas. I travel down 366 a lot and love Varna. I don’t want to see those Trinitas buildings hulking over the hamlet. We’ve been building student housing all over this county. I don’t see why we need to have more. If there was more affordable housing along the bus line, not on the hill, that might be good. HIGHWAY/DPW R. Young – list will be on the web shortly of the roads we are going to be stoning, paving, and chipping. Cl Green – while we are waiting for copies of the specs on the gator, I got a notice from the energy manager at Cooperative Extension that there is a deadline coming up about LED street light conversion. R. Young advised he had spoken with them today to verify how the maintenance is completed as the Town does not have a bucket truck. NY Power Authority does the mainten ance and the switch over, so it sounds like a good deal. Cl Green - the Town Board stated several months ago that we would like to go forward with this, this is an opportunity for our Town to switch our 94 street lights to LED lights as an energy conservation measure that we can take. One of our options would be to con tinue to work with NYSEG and another option would be to contract with the NYS Power Authority. There is a deadline for applying to the NYS Power Authority, if we decide to go that direction. Supv Leifer stated we are waiting for the agreement to be sen t to us. We have the options, just not the contract yet. Highway/DPW Superintendent R. Young asked the board for a resolution not to exceed $21,413.31 for the purchase of a John Deere XUV835M gator with a cover that is on the New York Landscaping Grounds contract. This can be used for the dam inspection and to check trail (sewer caps) in inclement weather without the employees having to be exposed to the weather more than necessary. RESOLUTION #94 (2019) – AUTHORIZE $21,413.31 FOR GATOR Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Highway Superintendent to spend up to $21,413.31 for a John Deere XUV835M gator. TB 5-16-19 Page 4 of 9 2nd Cl Green Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes RECREATION DEPARTMENT The monthly report is posted online. Concerts for this summer have all been lined up for all locations. PLANNING DEPARTMENT The monthly report is on the web. We have a CDBG grant to get a housing conditions survey done. The results are in and will be presented at the Planning Board meeting next Thursday night. Comprehensive Plan update – last month the Town Board gave the lead on that to the Planning Board. They have since generated a draft RFP to go out for a consultant to help with that effort. Even though the resolution did not require it to come back and have the board’s approval, they wanted to come back and get the comments and support of the Board for that draft. Cl Lamb – looks good Supv Leifer - no comment to add Cl Green -appreciates all the work that went into defining the scope of work. It’s well done, and I am looking forward to seeing who applies. Uncertain if time table the Board has given to the Planning Board is realistic. Would like to see the deadline stay and see if we can make it. Second piece is that we are hearing a six-figure price tag on the cost of doing a comprehensive plan. Hoping the work that the Climate Smart Community Task Force will be doing might lead to a grant that will help us pay part of the cost of the Comprehensive Plan. RESOLUTION #95 (2019) – AUTHORIZING RFP TO BE RELEASED Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Planning Board to send out the RFP to find a consultant to help with the updating of the Town Comprehensive Plan. 2nd Cl Green Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes COUNTY BRIEFING Martha Robertson inquired if she had spoken about the census at our last meeting, we advised that Mike Lane had discussed it last week. County Airport Project – We were successful in obtaining a $10,000,000 grant from the F AA. We met with NYSEG and other top officials asking for their support for the geo-thermal system at airport. TB 5-16-19 Page 5 of 9 The Cayuga Power Plant is planning to close and will be repurposed as a data center. Proposed that 30-40 new jobs would be created. A new building would be put on that site. They will need a lot of solar power to support the facility. Meeting today regarding Game Farm Road at the intersection of East Hill Recreation to figure out how to help people to cross Game Farm Road. The Highway Department wanted to keep trail under the bridge to keep people off the road. A big problem would be making it ADA accessible, you would have to use a lot of DEC land on the east side. We came up with a set of action steps. Short-term – both Dryden and Ithaca would need to pass a resolution asking for a speed reduction and then the State will need to make that decision. Working on design for an at-grade crossing. Bob Beck is working with engineers and planning to get a proposal to Cornell. Longer term - look for money for a proposed spur that could go under the bridge that wouldn’t have to be ADA accessible. County’s plan is to remove the dip in road just north of the bridge. RESOLUTION #96 (2019) – AUTHORIZING REQUEST FOR SPEED REDUCTION ON GAME FARM ROAD Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board sends a request to the County Highway and State Department of Transportation to do a traffic study for the speed limit reduction on Game Farm Road to 45 m.p.h. 2nd CL Green Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes CL Green Yes CL Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes M. Robertson inquired about the status of the speed reduction on George Road. She was advised we were denied. A. Green said she understands there is precedents for county legislators or others advocating for us to relook at, as the traffic on the rail trail is continuing to grow. M. Robertson stated the trail head merits an additional look. Suggested we appeal the denial. A. Green stated we can specify a lower requested speed, but the State will do the traffic study and tell us what is acceptable based on the specifications. ADVISORY BOARD UPDATES Planning Board – Cl Lamb- Planning Board is doing work on the comprehensive plan, which we’ve already discussed. The April meeting addressed the Mill Creek subdivision and the next steps for that, possible new medical complex opening on Dryden Road, wind law being crafted regarding height requirements that would require a special use permit. The Town appreciates the extra meeting time the Planning Board is spending to work on the comprehensive plan. Conservation Board – Cl Lamb - Had a very lively discussion regarding deer management that included a speaker from Cornell and DEC. Discussed Town property that might be a good site for deer management practices. M. Robertson suggested we speak to the Mayor of Cayuga Heights, Linda Woodard, with regards to their years of dealing with deer management in their Village. Ag Committee – Supv Leifer - forwarded meeting minutes to Board. The committee discussed Mill Creek subdivision, comprehensive plan and having the ag protection plan referenced in TB 5-16-19 Page 6 of 9 comprehensive plan rewrite. CCE – Their farm website is still under construction, so we are holding off on connecting Dryden farmers to the website until it is up and running correctly . They passed a resolution that they would not be participating in Dairy Day this year, however, they will put it on the planning agenda to participate in 2020. Recreation & Youth Commission – Cl Green – the commission is scheduling their annual retreat and the focus will be on recreation youth services related questions that the commission members would like to see included in comprehensive plan. They will also revisit the 2011 recreation master plan to talk about what areas they would like to see moved forward from that plan. Rail Trail Task Force – Cl Green – We had a stupendous opening ceremony for the section of the trail between Freeville and Dryden. There were approximately 250 people who walked, biked, rode horses, and ran to the ceremony. The music was terrific and the speeches wonderful. We appreciate B. Beck, J. Leifer, and D. Lamb, and so many wonderful volunteers. The George Junior Republic staff were great to work with, allowing us to use their pavilion for the event. An audience member mentioned that in 1 ½ miles they saw 56 species of birds on the trail. Safety & Preparedness Committee – Cl Green – last month’s resolution failed to include $500 of start up funds and failed to identify where this money would come from. RESOLUTION #97 (2019) – AMEND RESOLUTION #83 (2019) TO INCLUDE FUNDS Cl Green offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board amends Resolution #83 (2019) to include $500.00 allocation of startup funds for the Safety & Preparedness Committee, Funds from A1990.4 Contingency Account $500.00 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Any purchase vouchers will be given to the Supervisor’s office. With regards to setting up the CERT program as not-for-profit, Cl Green advised them that they need to undertake the process to be a 501c3. Cl Green had already sent them an email with the description of the 501c3. The committee is in the process of organizing a meeting in June to update the community. Supv Leifer advised we have received a permit application from Dominion, so they are moving forward with the upgrade process. OLD BUSINESS Supv Leifer did forward the amended Teamsters’ contract to the Board. Cl Green stated she had reviewed it and it looked like the suggested changes were included. They want Board to vote on it again before they move forward, due to the big change to the sick time. If the Board is happy with it, we need to vote to approve it and send it to teamsters. RESOLUTION #98 (2019) – APPROVAL OF MAY 13, 2019 TEAMSTERS’ CONTRACT TB 5-16-19 Page 7 of 9 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board approves the Teamsters’ Contract dated May 13, 2019, to be submitted to the union for their vote. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes South Hill Trail – Supv Leifer – Will be a meeting May 31st regarding the continuing progress. Still discussing whether it should be an individual agreement with each of the towns and NYSEG or with the county. We have a very small slice of it, Danby has the largest portion of this trail. Ithaca is ready to go on it right now. Caroline may have less than we do, based on the new map. The utility line was actually in Danby, and there are not many land owners. NYSEG owns the entire stretch. There was vocal opposition to it, questions about who owned it, a lot of legal research has been done and this has been resolved – it is owned by NYSEG. M Robertson – The county was able to get NYSEG to the table, it is up to towns on what way to go. Each town itself would do it with NYSEG or county does it all with NYSEG and then with each town. Would be better if all towns agreed on which way to proceed. The opposition in Caroline is at the eastern end, Middaugh Road, they can get a lot done without that land. Supv Leifer – If anything is resolved on the 31st, he will send it on to K. Sokoni for her review. Freese Road Bridge – Supv. Leifer - Nothing new this week. LED Lights – Supv Leifer – We have not received an agreement yet. We have two options, either a conversion or to purchase the streetlights. Conversion will just change the bulbs, NYSEG retains the poles, and we will save money just from the conversion. The other option is to buy the poles outright and do the conversion. No decision made yet. Cl Green – Listened to the presentation by the New York Power Authority representative to the Village of Freeville, and after that the Village of Freeville decided to go along with the Village of Dryden in choosing the NY Power Authority proposal. Based on the case that was made this seemed to make sense. We could invite them to come in and talk with us. Supv Leifer contacted Ted Palmer, NYSEG, about their conversion program and left him a message to discuss. Cl Green received a note from the energy manager from CCE that they are thinking there might be a dead line for the NY Power Authority proposal. This was put on the June business agenda. Future agenda items – LED Lights is to be put on the June agenda. P. Brunner requested that B. Fuller be allowed to address the Board regarding Varna Volunteer Fire. Supv Leifer advised him it would need to wait until after executive session, as there was no previous notice. Executive Session – 7:43 pm the Board entered executive session to discuss a combination of litigation and employment history of a specific employee. Board returned to regular session at 8:17 pm. RESOLUTION #99 (2019) – APPROVAL OF LITIGATION COUNTER-OFFER Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 5-16-19 Page 8 of 9 RESOLVED, that the Dryden Town Board make a counter-offer in the litigation matter in the amount of $2,000.00, and hereby authorizes the attorney to make that counter-offer on our behalf, as full settlement. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes Cl Green Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Varna Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. – BillieJo Fuller, 3rd Assistant EMS Chief, one of their members reported the department to PESH, due to issues with damaged turnout gear. PESH (they are the OSHA of government agencies) instructed member that they could not respond to any structure fires due to damage to the gear. PESH will be doing a complete inspection of Varna Volunteer Fire. Issues at VVFC: • No interior firefighters • Tanker is 26 years old, which is against federal safety age limits • Having issues with new, inexperienced, chief • Replacement turnout gear was not ordered • Lack of membership • She is the only EMS coverage • Issues with a certain member who influences the chief • Five members have walked away from the department due to the board member • No election held, how is she chief? • No fit testing or physicals done • Community is left unprotected • Communication issues between board member, chief and other members Supv Leifer had a meeting with a select few members of Varna previously and gave them until June to have members have their fit tests so they are eligible to respond to all calls. If they cannot respond to calls, they should not be getting paid by the Town. Supv Leifer emailed VVFC (Tiffany or Roy) to meet with Supv. Leifer regarding the issues. R. Young suggested the Town get ahead of this situation and contact Chief Hall and dispatch and put Dryden on automatic mutual aid for all structure fires and motor vehicle accidents until further notice. K. Sokoni will follow up with Supv Leifer regarding the letter to send Varna VFC. She spoke with B. Robison to find out if the departments will not give us their call logs, how do we get it independently. Supv Leifer emailed Brian Robison, Director of Tompkins County Dispatch Center, and requested Dryden be put on automatic dispatch for structure fires and motor vehicle accidents. B. Fuller did advise that Etna Volunteer Fire has offered t heir assistance when needed. Cl Green thanked B. Fuller for hanging in there through all her frustration and not leaving Varna completely without EMS. TB 5-16-19 Page 9 of 9 There being no further business, Cl Green moved that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Supv Leifer and unanimously approved. Meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Chrystle Terwilliger Deputy Town Clerk