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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2024-05-09TB 5-9-24 Page 1 of 8 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING May 9, 2024 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Leonardo Vargas- Mendez, Cl Christina Dravis, Cl Spring Buck Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to the Supervisor Ray Burger, Planning Director Chris O’Connor, Town Fire Coordinator Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:03 p.m. Financials & Human Resources RESOLUTION #93 (2024) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #5 Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #5, as audited, general vouchers #402 through #514 ($711,592.80), CDBG voucher #2 ($370,056.30) and TA vouchers #19 through #25 ($7,194.04) totaling $1,088,844.14. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Supv Leifer announced there would be no presentation about funding for a backup generator at Finger Lakes Dermatology as the time to apply for the grant has passed. Highway/DPW Department R Young is looking to purchase two trucks. The first is a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 to replace truck #107 that was sold at auction at a cost not to exceed $61,000 for the chassis. RESOLUTION #94 (2024) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF PICKUP TRUCK Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado chassis, at a cost not to exceed $61,000.00 using funds from DA5130.2. 2nd Cl Buck Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes TB 5-9-24 Page 2 of 8 Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes He would also like to purchase a 2025 Western Star cab and chassis, including a salt box, plow, and wing, as specified per the Onondaga County Contract, at a cost of $327,122.00. RESOLUTION #95 (2024) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF WESTERN STAR TRUCK Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the purchase of a 2025 Wester Star cab and chassis, including a salt box, plow and wing as specified per the Onondaga County contract, at a cost not to exceed $327,122.00 using funds from DA5130.2. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young said they have been doing a lot of work on the trail from Pinckney Road to Route 13. Pinckney Road to Hall Woods Road has been hydroseeded. It looks really good. Hall Woods to Route 13 has been cut back quite a bit. He met with the gentleman on the corner who had been upset about some things and worked with him, providing no parking signs by his residence. Two drainpipes were put on either side of the road. Town Fire Coordinator Chris O’Connor has emailed some reports to board members including data submitted regarding SAFER grant reimbursements to firefighters. He is still working on procurement policies with the departments. There will be more information next week on the ISO (Insurance Services Office) information for the departments next week. There are two departments that will be re- evaluated this summer. Those ratings are used by insurance companies for homeowners’ insurance purposes. On Wednesday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m., Mike Wilbur of the Emergency Vehicle Response Company will present the report he prepared for the Varna Fire Department at their firehouse. He will share his recommendations of how and when they should replace their fleet of apparatus. This is clearly a big step forward in terms of ensuring that the Town’s fire apparatus is appropriately designed and purchased. It is important to note that whatever is done with Varna’s fleet will have an impact on what the other town departments request from the town in the future for apparatus purchases. There will be a presentation by a couple of people from the NYS Department of Labor titled Firefighter Requirements: Myth vs. Fact at the Varna Fire station on May 22 at 6:30 p.m. One presenter is one of the chief enforcement staff with PESH for the entire state and the other is an industrial hygienist. All departments have been invited. There has been discussion in recent months about the availability of NYS Fire Training courses being offered in Tompkins County at board meetings and in the departments. C TB 5-9-24 Page 3 of 8 O’Connor has spoken with the county fire coordinator and Doug Gordner, who coordinates all New York Sate OFPC courses for Tompkins and other counties. Both have been working hard to get more NYS fire instructors and assistants on board. They have also worked with the fire chiefs to identify the most critically needed. They have listened and responded. There have been 27 New York State fire courses scheduled so far in 2024 and about that many more are expected in the second half of the year. Some of the courses are six-hour courses mandated by the state typically taught in individual fire houses. Other courses are more substantive, typically meeting multiple times to provide instruction on more advanced topics. There was an Emergency Vehicle Operators course taught in May with members of Dryden, Etna, and Varna in attendance. There was an Aerial Operations Course that finished last evening that was taught at the Dryden firehouse and TC3. About a third of the students came from the town of Dryden departments. In June there will be a pump operators course at the DoER building on Brown Road. To date there are three members from Dryden and one from Varna signed up. There will be an On Scene Rehab course taught soon at the McLean department. There will also be a Principles of Instruction course held at Dryden. This is for anyone interested in being a qualified instructor. New York State courses available in Tompkins County have increased dramatically over the past two years. Last year the county exceeded their allotted hours for the first time in six years. 2024 looks to be a large increase over last year, so long as enough students sign up and actually attend the classes that the departments have requested. Cl Dravis noted that last month Varna hosted courses on fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire police. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS Town Hall Closure – Because the July 4 holiday is a Thursday and summer hours for town hall staff (closing at noon on Fridays) go into effect on July 5, it has been suggested that the town hall be closed on July 5. RESOLUTION #96 (2024) - Town Hall Closure for July 5, 2024 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, when reviewing the holiday schedule for 2024, it was noted that the Town Hall is scheduled to be closed Thursday, July 4 for the holiday and then open Friday, July 5, Whereas, due to the holiday on Thursday, it is expected that there will be very little Town business transacted on Friday, July 5. RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves closing Town Hall on July 5, 2024; and treating this date as a 2024 holiday, thus compensating staff the number of holiday hours that are typical for each town hall employee. 2nd Cl Dravis Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes TB 5-9-24 Page 4 of 8 Supv Leifer Yes Establish Standard Workday – This is necessary for elected and appointed officials at the beginning of their terms. Resolution #97 (2024) Establish Standard Work Day and Reporting Supv Leifer 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 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) Current term begins/ends Participates in employer's time keeping system Y/N Record of Activities Results Town Council Person Christina Dravis 6 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2027 N 4.00 Town Supervisor Jason Leifer 6 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2025 N 16.67 Town Justice Christopher Clauson 6 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2027 N 5.50 2nd Cl Buck Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Settlement Proposal – Supv Leifer explained the proposed resolution approves settlement of a lawsuit brought by tenants of a building that were forced to leave because the town’s code enforcement (acting under contract as code enforcement officers for the Village of Dryden) had deemed the property unsafe for occupancy. RESOLUTION #98 (2024) - Authorizing Settlement in the Matter of Clements v. Town of Dryden Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, a lawsuit concerning a Village of Dryden code enforcement matter was filed, and included the Town of Dryden and its code enforcement officers as defendants; and WHEREAS, the plaintiffs have offered to settle this suit for $3,000; and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden’s defense counsel and insurance company have recommended agreeing to such a nominal settlement; TB 5-9-24 Page 5 of 8 WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden finds such settlement to be in the best interests of the Town; NOW THEREFORE BE IT: RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden hereby approves a settlement in the matter of Clements v. Town of Dryden, for not more than $3,000, and on such other terms and conditions as authorized by the Town Supervisor; and it is further RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is authorized to sign such settlement agreement after legal review and approval as to form, and take such further actions as necessary to resolve the same. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes National Police Week - RESOLUTION #99 (2024) - Designating the week of May 10 through May 16, 2024, as “National Police Week” Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States including dedicated members of the Village of Dryden Police Department, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police Troop C Zone 3, and Tompkins Cortland Community College Campus Police; and WHEREAS, since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently 24,067 law enforcement officers in the United States who have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty; and WHEREAS, in 1962, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy signed Public Law 87-726 which authorizes the President to proclaim May 15 of every year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” in honor of fallen officers and their families and U.S. flags should be flown at half-staff; and WHEREAS, Public Law 87-726 also authorizes the President to designate the week in which Peace Officers Memorial Day falls as “National Police Week”; and WHEREAS, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dedicated on October 15, 1991, is the national monument to honor those law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty; and WHEREAS, 282 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 118 officers killed in 2023 and 164 officers killed in previous years; now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Dryden recognizes May 10 through May 16, 2024, as National Police Week in the Town of Dryden, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation. 2nd Supv Leifer TB 5-9-24 Page 6 of 8 Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Emergency Services Week – RESOLUTION #100 (2024) - Designating the week of May 19 through May 25, 2024, as “National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week” Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services are a vital public service provided throughout the country; and WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services crews are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Medical Services system within the Town of Dryden consists of Certified First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Paramedics; and WHEREAS, there are more than 60 dedicated Emergency Medical Services providers, either employed by Dryden Ambulance Inc. or volunteering with one of the fire departments located within the Town; and WHEREAS, Emergency Medical Services personnel, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and WHEREAS, the residents of the Town of Dryden benefit daily from the knowledge and skills of these highly trained individuals; and WHEREAS, approximately 2,500 calls were handled by Town of Dryden Emergency Medical Services crews in 2023; and WHEREAS, the Emergency Medical Services system provides valuable service to the community and is the vital link between the patient and other healthcare providers; now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Dryden recognizes the value and accomplishments of Emergency Medical Services personnel by designating the week of May 19 through May 25, 2024 as National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in the Town of Dryden, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our town and citizens safe. 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes TB 5-9-24 Page 7 of 8 Use and Occupancy Permit – R Burger explained that this permit is necessary to move through the construction phase of the pedestrian bridge over NYS Route 13. RESOLUTION #101 (2024) - Authorize Use and Occupancy Permit for Dryden Rail Trail Route 13 Pedestrian Bridge Project Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Transportation has asked the Town of Dryden to sign Use & Occupancy Permit No. 34361, Town of Dryden, ROW 75 (the "Permit"), and WHEREAS, The Permit will authorize the Town to place a pedestrian bridge across State Route 13 at its intersection with the Dryden Rail Trail, and WHEREAS, The Town Board of the Town of Dryden has determined that the pedestrian bridge will be beneficial to the Town and that it is in the interest of the Town to sign the Permit. Therefore, it is hereby RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the Permit and any associated documents on behalf of the Town of Dryden. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Town email for all advisory boards and commission members – Supv Leifer said all board and commission members should have town email because it helps with retention and FOIL requests. The cost is $4.00 per email address per month. Each member will have to sign the computer security policy. PlanFirst is working to put together a short training that each group would watch once a year for cybersecurity training. This would be email only with no access to the town server or Microsoft license. They will only have the Outlook email option. A process is being developed for assigning and maintaining email addresses. Once everything is set up, members will be notified of the date the town email will be active and will be expected to only use that address for town business and not use their personal email address. It was noted this demonstrates transparency and accountability and protects not only the town, but the individual. INHS Plus One ADU Funding – R Burger explained that Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services is doing an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) program with the City of Ithaca and would like to go after funding and expand the program into the town of Dryden. It is for the creation or rehabbing of accessory dwelling units at $125,000 per ADU which would pay for a substantial part of the cost. R Burger said he doesn’t know how many ADUs this might mean for the town of Dryden. The funding is for next year. Supv Leifer will sign a letter to the Housing Trust Fund Corporation indicating the town’s willingness to participate in the program. Notice to municipal infrastructure program (MIP) for broadband – Supv Leifer said when Cuomo was Governor there was legislation that mandates $15/month internet (for 20 TB 5-9-24 Page 8 of 8 up/20 down). The town had previously committed to offering something like that. The law does not actually apply to our system because we won’t have enough customers to be mandated, but the town will opt in to the program. Supv Leifer said he will send an email that the town will commit to the program. INHS Freese Road Project – INHS has an application to develop 53 units of affordable housing at the intersection of Freese Road and Route 366. The county’s oversight committee will allow them to use $50,000 in funding from The Community Housing Development Fund. The town has pledged up to $50,000 per year to that fund and would have to agree to that decision. Cl Vargas-Mendez said we should support that. The oversight committee will be looking at the projects and making decisions for funding next week. Cl Lamb said they have had a couple of briefings with the Planning Board and it is a great project. After discussion, the Board agrees it would be a good use of the funds. The board will have to make a resolution when it is time to disburse the funds. Supv Leifer said he has been notified that Lehigh Crossing Apartments in Freeville would like to renew their PILOT. He will know more about the request in the next few weeks. There are no public hearings scheduled for next week. The board will set hearings for June for a contractor yard on Quarry Road and for a drive-through at 2207 Dryden Road. Next week there will be a site plan amendment for a flea market at 465 North Road. The Planning Board has reviewed that and made recommendations. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Dryden Town Clerk