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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-09TB 4-9-20 Page 1 of 5 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING Held via Zoom April 9, 2020 Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl James Skaley, Cl Kathrin Servoss, Cl Loren Sparling, Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Jennifer Case, Bookkeeper Marty Conger, Recreation Director Sherri Crispell, Payroll Clerk Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Abstract Approval Board members have reviewed the abstract. RESOLUTION #54 (2020) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #4 Cl Servoss offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #4, as audited, general vouchers #209 through #293 ($627,002.24) and TA vouchers #10 through #13 ($4,537.40), totaling $631,539.64. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes J Case said working remotely has highlighted that department heads need to be sure that vouchers are prepared accurately. Budget Modifications and Encumbrance For the 2019 fiscal year, there is an encumbrance to move the remainder of the rail trail grant match funds into the 2020 fiscal year (there is roughly $65,000 left of the $182,000 taken from the recreation reserve). Budget mods are to move funds from the rail trail contractual line to the rail trail grant payroll line (DPW/HWY payroll expenses for the trail), funds from the B fund personal services line to the health insurance line to co ver retiree health insurance, and to move DB funds from the state aid chips line to road improvements/non - equipment. This was unbudgeted revenue PaveNY funds. TB 4-9-20 Page 2 of 5 RESOLUTION #55 (2020) – APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS & ENCUMBRANCE Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves an encumbrance of 2019 funds in the amount of $67,229.79 from A7110.414 and the following budget modifications for the 2019 year: From To A7110.414 Rail Trail Grant-Contr A7110.1 Rail Trail Grant-Payroll 7,122.73 B1430.1 Personal Services B9060.8 Health Insurance 12,560.35 To To DB3501 State Aid CHIPS DB5112.21 Road Improv. Non-equip 67,229.79 2nd Cl Servoss Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Town Clerk Tax collection – B Avery reported that collection by the town ended March 31. The town was paid its warrant in full at the end of January. The settlement amount has been confirmed by the county and funds will be disbursed and unpaids returned to the coun ty early next week. Bank Authorizations - RESOLUTION #56 (2020) – AUTHORIZE SIGNERS ON BANK ACCOUNTS Cl Servoss offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints and authorizes the following individuals as signers on the Supervisor’s Fund, Trust & Agency and CD accounts at The First National Bank of Dryden: Jason Leifer, Bambi L. Avery, Lee Ann Parker and Emily Banwell. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Cl Servoss thanked J Case for her efforts in adding the voucher for payment to Silverline Construction for work on the S George Road bridge. Planning Department R Burger reported that he and Joy Foster are working from home. The code officers are alternating time in the office and continuing to do inspections as needed. The Planning Board is continuing its effort to move the comp plan update along. In -person meetings have been TB 4-9-20 Page 3 of 5 cancelled for now, so they will concentrate on a community survey. Grant agreements that were authorized last month have been signed and forwarded on. Erdman Anthony will proceed with the initial design for the rail trail pedestrian bridge over Route 13. There have been property maintenance code issues on Bone Plain Road and Ringwood Road but they are on hold pending the court reopening. The Morris Road issue is also pending court reopening. Items for Agenda Next Week: Resolutions for projects at the Ithaca Area Waste Water Facility. Varna water/sewer application Highway/DPW R Young reported that he will have a select group of people working. There are a few older guys and some with health issues he needs to take into consideration. They have placed some pipes and gotten quite a bit done this week, but will be using a smaller crew until this situation is over. He is keeping in touch with the county highway manager and state highway association president and will keep the board advised. Supv Leifer asked that no large purchases be made because we won’t feel the impact of this situation until next year’s budget. R Young said he has already ordered a few things, but doesn’t anticipate any other large purchases. Freese Road Bridge The board discussed the recent letter from NYS DOT about the state’s one lane bridge policy. There have been some comments received from the public regarding that letter. Cl Lamb said the key take-aways of DOT’s letter are that there isn’t much wiggle room on a few things. DOT will require a three-color signal light and that the weight be unlimited, or at least a minimum of 45 tons. He said it is best for the community and the town to come together on a proposal to give to the consultant for a redesign. It needs to be unified so that we don’t end up with two bridges because we have the attention of SHPO and Federal Highway and they want the town to maintain twinning. The other option is to remove the old bridge and do something good with it. He suggested the board give serious consideration to a single-lane bridge with traffic signaling. That would be a move toward what the community is asking for —a single lane bridge. Elements of the historic bridge could be incorporated and it could be wide enough for emergency vehicles to cross. The board would need to pass a resolution revising the needs statement. He hopes the folks in Varna would support this as a compromise . He suggests moving with a different alternative – a single-span, one-lane truss style bridge on the existing alignment. The façade would be restored so it looks as much as it can like the current bridge but more structurally sound. Comments: • There could be a pedestrian walkway cantilevered off one side, separated from traffic. • The opposite side could have a bike lane. • The bridge could be built wide enough for two lanes, but the two lanes don’t have to be used now. Jersey barriers could be used to block it off. • This decision will impact people for 75 years down the road. • All users need to be considered, not just Varna residents. • Forest Lane bridge carries twice the amount of traffic on one lane. • There hasn’t really been a justification for two lanes. TB 4-9-20 Page 4 of 5 • The state authority has said it needs to be a two -lane bridge. • It would be easier to move some barriers than build a new one later. • You can’t add a lane to an existing bridge. • All town taxpayers and the state have money invested in this. • The bridge is part of the Varna comprehensive plan and the idea is that this is a gateway to the community and that community is concerned with it. • The road is only rated for 5 tons. • Two lanes always increases traffic. • Who knows how traffic may be rerouted at some point? • There isn’t a growing appetite for using that route. • We are pretty much at status quo in terms of people who use that route. • We do have to consider the equities of who is affected by the change, and this changes the community character enough that it affects a certain group of people a lot more than the broader population of this town. • Safety is a priority and making sure emergency vehicles can cross is important. • We need to conform to the state regs and not lose the funding. • We have to maintain the history and character this bridge has added to the community. • The bridge is also history of the county; it is one of two existing structures like it in the area. • Criteria have been laid out and there should be something for the public to see and approve. • We have discussed this for two years already and there’s chance the county could end up closing the bridge. • It would be good to have cost estimates on this prior to a vote, B & L could turn this around relatively quickly. • Can we progress with a plan that is contradictory to NYS bridge policy? • Not without losing the money. Supv Leifer asked that resolutions representing positions be prepared for next week’s meeting. Cl Lamb noted that a unanimous vote would help DOT lobby for our position. We don’t want to be left with twinning. D Weinstein said an application for modifications would not be necessary should the town decide to go with Bruce Brittain’s proposal. They will accept a one-lane bridge if it has traffic lights. The Varna community does not see the need for traffic signals, but if that is the only way to get a one-lane bridge, people will move in that direction. Broadband Grant Hunt has been uploading everything and we are waiting on more responses from businesses. The application deadline has been pushed back, but we are moving forward. The program was recapitalized with 100 million dollars in the last stimulus round. And if there aren’t large grants, bond interest is expected to be very low. Supv Leifer said he had learned that prior to this crisis 25% of the kids in Dryden School district did not have access to internet. (Spectrum is providing two months of free internet service to residences that are not already subscribed but have hookup available.) COVID-19 Responses The Safety & Preparedness committee has put two ads in The Shopper, made signs and recently some posters. The Shopper doesn’t get delivered in the western part of the town and the board discussed ways to get information to that area such as community newsletters. Supv Leifer will see that signs are put up in the area. TB 4-9-20 Page 5 of 5 Nina Saeli, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, will give a presentation at next week’s board meeting. Supv Leifer asked that staff refrain from any unnecessary purchases. He is investigating what aid might be available to small municipalities. Only essential employees will be at town hall. It was noted that if employees are not practicing social distancing when not at town hall, they are putting others at risk. Highway equipment and vehicles are being sanitized. It was recommended that people wear masks. The highway department has been unable to get masks and Cl Servoss offered to make some for them. There was discussion about the safety of employees and what cleaning is being done in the town hall building. Fire and ambulance personnel have been meeting with the county about procedures and are still responding to calls. Dryden School District seems to be doing alright with delivery of meals and lesson plans. Cl Lamb and Supv Leifer have spoken with the grant writer about being prepared for whatever grant opportunities may be available under the stimulus program. Supv Leifer has been sharing with board members all information received about the state budget, as well sharing information from AOT, NYCOM, and the Comptroller’s office. There was discussion about giving board members VPN access to the town shared files. No decision was made. There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk