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Home My WebLink AboutTB 2025-05-08TB 5-8-25 Page 1 of 4 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING May 8, 2025 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 Other Town Staff: Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Ray Burger, Planning Director *Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to the Supervisor David Makar, Executive Director, Dryden Fiber *Indicates attendance via Zoom Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:04 p.m. Financials & Human Resources RESOLUTION #82 (2025) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #5 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract 5, as audited, general vouchers #402 through #502 ($706,970.31) and TA vouchers #73 through #76 ($8,348.18), totaling $715,318.49. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Public Hearings & Presentations None Highway/DPW Department No report. Supv Leifer said the Highway Department would be helping the Finger Lakes Land Trust make some improvements to the parking area at the Roy H Park Preserve. Discussion/Action Items Annexation – Lead Agency Status – The Town has received a resolution passed by the Dryden Village Board declaring lead agency status in the matter of the annexation of tax parcel #38.-1-30.11. RESOLUTION #83 (2025) – CONSENT TO LEAD AGENCY STATUS IN THE MATTER OF THE ANNEXATION OF TAX PARCEL #38.-1-30.11 TB 5-8-25 Page 2 of 4 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, a public hearing was held by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Dryden on April 10, 2025, regarding the Petition for Annexation of town tax parcel #38.-1-30.11 to the village, and Whereas, the Village of Dryden Board of Trustees has subsequently declared its intent to be designated as lead agency for the action, now, be it RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden hereby consents to the Village of Dryden acting as lead agency for purposes of SEQR review for annexation of tax parcel #38.-1-30.11. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Dryden Fiber Purchase – David Makar explained that Dryden Fiber generally purchases its supplies from GrayBar but has an opportunity to purchase plumes from TriplePlay Telecom at a lower price. TriplePlay has purchased more than they needed for a project and the product is new and unused. The price is $40 less per unit than what Dryden Fiber has been paying. Resolution #84 (2025) Approve Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, to continue to build the Dryden Fiber network, more materials need to be purchased from a new supplier, Triple Play Telecom. Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of materials from Triple Play Telecom for $17,050.00 as listed on Sales Proposal 164429 dated May 7, 2025. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services has reached out to Dryden Fiber for a quote/proposal to provide internet service at a bulk rate to the 53 dwelling units they are building at 5-9 Freese Road. Dave Makar discussed his May 5 memo with board members. INHS would pay Dryden Fiber directly each month for the 53 units, beginning when the first building opens. Spectrum has given INHS a proposal and INHS would like one from Dryden Fiber next week. Each unit will have an ONT unit and an option for a plume device. These are included free with a subscription. Eventually these will need to be replaced, and Dryden Fiber needs to TB 5-8-25 Page 3 of 4 plan for that for future budgeting. There should also be a mechanism in place to recover the value of the devices should a customer move and take the equipment with them. The board discussed the amount to be charged to a customer who wanted to upgrade to a higher tier and decided to go with Option 1 for upgrades as described in the memo. COUNTY BRIEFING Mike Lane reported that cannabis tax received for the period December 2024 through February 2025: Town of Dryden - $9,636.48; City of Ithaca - $17,760.57; Tompkins County - $9,132.39. There are still a lot of illegal sales going on per the licensed sellers. The County Administrator has heard from the Association of Counties that it is worried about where they will end up at the county level if the Feds do deep cuts in Medicaid. All counties in New York are required to pay for Medicaid service. No other state requires counties to do that. The Association of Counties is also recommending being careful about spending, trying to maintain a healthy fund balance, and be careful in budgeting and spending. Columbia University is going to lay off 200 people and Cornell currently has a hiring restriction. M Lane noted that the economy in Tompkins County is tied to university employment. County Highway Manager Jeff Smith will be retiring, and they will be looking for a replacement for that position. They are also looking for a new Director of Finance. Fernando De Aragon, Executive Director of ITCTC, is retiring and there is a committee that will interview for that position. The County continues looking at the possibly of a homeless shelter. The Center of Government building project is moving along, and they will probably be able to remove the buildings at the corner of Tioga and Buffalo streets and put it there. Cl Lamb asked for the deadline to get something new added for consideration to the 2026 county budget and was told to do it soon and/or by the end of June. M Lane reported that the court has ruled that it is constitutional for the state to move elections to even years. The petitioner can appeal to the Court of Appeals. Mark Bell provided the monthly call report for Neptune Hose for April. There were 39 total calls, average people was 6.6 with an average 3:19 out the door and 9:13 on scene. Recruit NY had a steady flow of people on a rainy day. They are hoping there may be some recruits from the event. The board noted that Park Outdoor had promoted the event on their digital billboard on Hanshaw Road. Dog Enumeration Agreement – Tracy Barton will be helping Amaretta Beardslee with the dog enumeration and a contract for her has been prepared with the same terms. RESOLUTION #85 (2025) – AUTHORIZE DOG ENUMERATION CONTRACT Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 5-8-25 Page 4 of 4 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to execute a contract with Tracy Barton for dog enumeration in the town at a cost of $2.30 per dog counted and mileage at $.70 per mile, commencing April 25, 2025, with a target completio n date of October 1, 2025. 2nd Cl Buck Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Supv Leifer said the board has received a resolution passed by another municipal with respect to federal funding. He would like to tailor it toward more potential impacts on towns and will bring it for consideration next month. Cl Vargas-Mendez said the community housing planner is asking for a resolution authorizing a $50,000 disbursement for the Freese Road INHS project. That can be taken care of next week. On motion made, seconded, and carried, the board moved to executive session at 7:09 p.m. to discuss litigation against the town and the attorney’s advice. No action was taken, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk