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Home My WebLink AboutTB 2026-03-12TB 3-12-26 Page 1 of 6 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING March 12, 2026 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 * denotes attendance via Zoom Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:03 p.m. Financials & Human Resources RESOLUTION #77 (2026) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #3 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #3, as audited, general vouchers #166 through #282 ($3,726,782.94), CDBG Voucher #12 (63,920.05) and TA vouchers #12 through #13 ($9,357.56), totaling $3,800,060.55. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Presentation by Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization Roxy Johnston, Chairperson for the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization (CWIO), said she and Isaac Walker, Watershed Manager, are visiting municipalities in the watershed. CWIO works on a watershed level, and their focus is to help municipalities access funding for their water resource projects. These types of projects can bring unique challenges. Watershed boundaries usually do not coincide with municipal boundaries. The solution to a problem may lie upstream in a neighboring municipality, and they are familiar with the funding for these types of projects. The watershed manager is familiar with these types of projects, the contacts, and the grant process. He can provide the required coordination to bring in partners and logistics and has relationships with other municipalities, Soil & Water Conservation District staff, county planners, highway staff, etc. This can result in more effective solutions. While these projects may be more complicated, they can come with unexpected benefits such as more long-lasting and cost-effective solutions and additional funding opportunities or cost-savings. They are also able to work on projects across watershed boundaries. TB 3-12-26 Page 2 of 6 Isaac Walker spoke about projects they are currently working on, including some that cross watershed boundaries. • A county-wide ditch survey in Seneca County where they are partnering with Seneca Lake Watershed that also covers some of the Cayuga Lake Watershed. They will provide an inventory of ditches and culverts in the county and then apply for implementation funding for problem culverts and ditches. • They have received a grant from the Department of State to do planning and design work for multiple towns in both the Seneca and Cayuga Lake Watersheds. • They are working with Cayuga County Soil & Water on a shoreline stabilization project in the Village of Cayuga. • A grant for live edge plow blades for each town in Seneca County. R Johnston explained in 2022 CWIO developed a fair funding formula to initially raise the sum of $90,000. Since that time there have been increases in NYS minimum wage requirements such that they are no longer able to meet needs at the $90,000 level. Without changing the fair funding formula, dues have been computed to meet the goal of $13 0,000. This will allow CWIO to provide a competitive wage to retain someone with local knowledge of our water resources and experience submitting grants and obtaining funds. It will also provide limited funds for special projects, GIS modeling or mapping and a small pool of matching funds for soil and water projects for a private landowner that needs help . The increase will be phased in over three years. Dryden’s 2026 dues will be $3,948.00, $4,441.00 in 2027 and $4,9 35.00 in 2028. Members get a voting seat in the meetings and identify and prioritize activities, speakers, training opportunities and provide comments on proposed legislation. Dave Sprout is the town’s representative, and R Johnston encouraged appointment of an alternate. They offer training for municipal board members. Most importantly, dues support the salary for a watershed manager who can help municipalities access funding for identified projects. The next meeting of the organization is March 25 at 3 p.m. via Zoom. There was discussion about HABS in Cayuga Lake, the action plan developed by DEC, whether it was altered by the TMDL and who oversees implementation. DEC’s perspective is the entities that developed the TMDL are responsible for implementation. The watershed manager is working on an implementation plan and guide for municipalities. It will also suggest what the state can do to help achieve goals in the TMDL. The TMDL itself is not an enforceable document. It was suggested the watershed district could be an overlay in the town’s zoning. Discussion/Action Items Forgive Late Fees – The board discussed the snafu TC3 encountered with payment of their January Cortland Road Sewer payment. The check was not correctly made payable to the town and by the time it made its way back to TC3 and through the mail, the payment was late. RESOLUTION #78 (2026) – FORGIVE LATE FEES FOR TC3 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby forgives the late fees charged TC3 on the January sewer bill accounts totaling $1,490.35. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes TB 3-12-26 Page 3 of 6 Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Danella Task Authorization – Task authorizations are needed for the Caroline portion of the MIP project. Resolution #79 (2026) - Approve Danella Task Authorization for Dryden Fiber Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Danella Power Services Inc had the lowest bid for billable work for multiple Dryden Fiber pole permits: CAR002_CAOMIP CAR007_CAOMIP Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to sign the task authorizations related to these permits. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Dryden Fiber Freeville Construction Change Order – Danella can do additional movement of telecommunications lines that was not included in their original bid, and a change order has been submitted to allow for that. Resolution #80 (2026) - Dryden Fiber Freeville Construction Change Order Authorization Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town of Dryden awarded the contract to Syracuse Utilities for Dryden Fiber construction for the Freeville Expansion on September 18, 2025, Resolution #159 Whereas, to ensure the completion of the contract Syracuse Utilities can do additional movement of telecommunications lines that was not included in their original bid, Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive Director, David Makar, to sign Change Order #1 for the Freeville Expansion with Syracuse Utilities with an overall increase of $21,250. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber – Dryden Fiber has a quote for anchors for the project. TB 3-12-26 Page 4 of 6 Resolution #81 (2026) - Approve Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber Cl Buck offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, materials are needed for the construction materials for the Dryden Fiber network. Whereas, specific quotes are funded by the ConnectALL grant and the remaining is funded with Town BAN Funds, Whereas, there are five separate quotes for the materials: Date Quote # Project name Amount 2/23/26 2001655209 Freeville MIP Anchors 8,475.00 2/23/26 2001655234 Freeville Non-MIP Anchors 22,148.00 2/23/26 2001655255 Greater Dryden MIP Anchors 46,104.00 2/23/26 2001655270 Greater Dryden Non-MIP Anchors 52,884.00 2/23/26 2001655302 Caroline MIP Anchors 57,178.00 Total 186,789.00 Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of a variety of materials from Graybar for a total of $186,789.00 as listed in quotes above. 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Easement Authorization – Dryden Fiber Executive Director has asked for authorization to execute an easement for project access as 431 Caswell Road Resolution #82 (2026) - Authorize the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to Sign an easement for underground construction at 431 Caswell Road Cl Lamb offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Dryden Fiber is working to build into the Sundown Road neighborhood, and Whereas, Dryden Fiber’s preferred connection is from a utility pole on the property of 431 Caswell Road, and Whereas, Dryden Fiber would construct the network connection through an underground buried pathway between a utility pole on the property at 431 Caswell Road and the property owner has agreed to the easement, Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to sign an easement with Debra Charris, formerly known as Debra Howell, the owner of 431 Caswell Road, to allow for underground access from the right-of-way to the utility pole on the property. 2nd Cl Buck TB 3-12-26 Page 5 of 6 Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Appoint Account Manager – Three applicants were considered for the account manager position with Dryden Fiber and Conor Hans has been recommended. Resolution #83 (2026) - Appoint Account Manager for Dryden Fiber Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Dryden Fiber needed to fill the position of Account Manager. RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Conor Hans to the position of Account Manager with a start date of March 2, 2026 with the payrate from the approved 2026 pay schedule. 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Appoint Members to the Veterans Committee – There have been four applicants for the Veterans Committee. RESOLUTION #84 (2026) – APPOINTMENTS TO VETERANS COMMITTEE Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints the following individuals to the Veterans Committee: Kole Krause, Danielle Maguire, Allyn Davis, and Art Taylor. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes A group has asked the town to take a pledge and subsequent action steps to support monarch butterfly migration. The board will consider acting next week after communicating with the Conservation Board. Representatives of the fire departments have sent a letter stating that they will not be able to attend the fire district education session on Saturday. The board moved into executive session at 6:35 to receive legal counsel. TB 3-12-26 Page 6 of 6 The board moved back to regular session at 7:16 p.m. Supv Leifer reported they received advice from the town attorney regarding fire district issues. The board drafted a response to the letter received from the three fire departments. That will go out tomorrow, and no other action was taken. County Update Dan Wakeman reported that the county legislature unanimously appointed Leon Holden to serve as the Chief Equity and Diversity Officer and reaffirmed the decision to move forward with the original plans for the center of government building. Cl Vargas-Mendez expressed displeasure with the job description for the Chief Equity and Diversity Officer having been changed to a human rights program manager position. He said they have downgraded the position, and it is no longer a position held by an attorney. It is quite important, given the political environment, that the Office of Human Rights should be a more powerful office than it is now and a program manager can not provide that. He understands the legal work that had happened in that office has now been shipped off to the legal office in Syracuse. D Wakeman will investigate it further. The legislature authorized an easement for transformer access near airport parking for a fast-charging station. The Department of Assessment office is moving to Dutch Mill Road along with the Office for the Aging. There is more space at that location and parking is plentiful. There was a presentation of the emergency shelter design that is scheduled for completion in 2028-29. There was a meeting regarding the situation with Asteri and displaced individuals. There will be a fair amount of interfacing with the county and county services. With respect to flock cameras, D Wakeman said the sheriff tightened their system up several weeks ago. They are looking at whether they can use the rest of the grant funds for another purpose. Supv Leifer suggested they look at the contract regarding sharing of data. He said the practice of the company is to gather data from those cameras and private cameras and aggregate it for sale to interested businesses. Often customers who purchase the cameras do not read the contract they sign and are unaware of the sharing of data in ways they do not intend. There was no further business, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk