HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2026-05-21TB 5-21-2026
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
May 21, 2026
Zoom Hybrid
Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Leonardo Vargas-
Mendez, Cl Christina Dravis, *Cl Spring Buck
Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director
Mike Perehinec, Town Attorney
Allison Kjellander-Cantu, Deputy Town Clerk
Guests: Kole Krause, Veterans Committee Chair
Dave Shafer, Corning Fire District, Chairman
Mike Brenning, Corning Fire District, District Chief
* denotes Zoom attendance
Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Board members and audience recited the
pledge of allegiance.
RESOLUTION #122 (2026) – APPROVE MINUTES
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of April 9,
April 16, and April 28, 2026.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Veterans Committee Presentation
The Veterans Committee for the Town of Dryden is led by Chairman Kole Krause, with
Christina Dravis serving as the committee liaison.
Chair Krause would like the committee's primary mission to be not only to direct
veterans toward available services but to follow up with them to ensure they are receiving the
care and treatment they need. Here are a few things the committee has been working on.
Memorial Billboard: Successfully coordinated the installation of a memorial billboard
on route 13.
Hometown Hero Banners: Currently working on a project to display banners honoring
local veterans. This project has the support of the village board and utilizes existing
light pole mountings typically used for wreaths.
Resource Binder: A comprehensive resource binder has been placed at the town hall. It
contains information on medical centers and approximately $200,000 worth of grants,
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including $35,000 grants for home renovations for disabled veterans and resources
specifically for homeless veterans.
Community Recognition: Plans are underway to launch a website that will feature
spotlights on veterans within the community.
Organizational Connections: The committee works to connect veterans with Veteran
Service Officers (VSO), such as J.R. Clairborne in Ithaca, and groups like Clear Path,
run by Carl Bush.
Krause thanks the board and looks forward to what the committee can provide for the
community.
SET PUBLIC HEARING
SITE PLAN REVIEW AND
SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION
SELF- STORAGE EXPANSION
53 Pinckney Road
Ray Burger explained this project involves a special use permit for an existing self-
storage facility represented by Nick Camacho and Sebastian Martinez. The applicants propose
expanding the facility by adding 19 new units. The project was reconfigured from an original
24-unit plan to address environmental concerns raised in previous meetings. Specifically, units
were relocated further away from a 50-foot stream buffer on the western side of the property.
Three units were moved to the southern border, necessitating a 7.5-foot side-yard setback
variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Parking was also moved to the western side
of the site. The applicants proposed moving a fence line 38 feet to the south on the northern
side of the property to create open space that could support the town's future rail trail plans.
A public hearing for this application is scheduled for June 18th at 6:05 PM.
SET PUBLIC HEARING
SITE PLAN REVIEW AND
SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR GARAGE
2150 Dryden Road-Revised
R Burger explained this application, represented by Marty Mosley, is seeking a revised
site plan and special use permit for an automobile repair garage located behind a cemetery at
the end of a long driveway. Following feedback from the planning board and the Dryden Fire
Department, several changes were made to the plan, including. Adding oil-water separators to
manage potential runoff from spills, and widening the access road to 20 feet, including pullouts
every 500 feet to accommodate emergency vehicle traffic. All vehicle parking was relocated to
an existing gravel area in front of a large storage building. This change ensures that vehicles
awaiting service do not obstruct emergency access around the repair shop itself. The applicant
also submitted a proposal for a sign that has been moved back to comply with local laws.
A public hearing for this project is scheduled for June 18th at 6:15 PM.
Corning Joint Fire District Model Presentation
Representatives Dave Shafer, Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, and
District Chief Mike Brenning presented a historical and operational analysis of the Corning
Joint Fire District (CJFD), demonstrating how consolidation transformed a fragmented
volunteer fire system into a unified, accountable, and fiscally sustainable public safety
organization.
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Before 2020, the Town of Corning contracted with four autonomous volunteer fire
departments (North Corning, Gibson, East Corning, and South Corning) to provide fire
protection across a 36-square-mile area with approximately 6,500 residents. A 2017 study
concluded that the system had become inequitable, and increasingly unstable. Taxation varied
widely because each department negotiated its own contract with the town. Membership was
shrinking and aging, with 60 percent of volunteers over age 40 and rosters inflated to 117
names despite many members being inactive. The combined fleet was far larger than necessary
for the service area, including eight engines, four tankers, and two boats. Cultural friction
between departments ranged from indifference to outright hostility, and there was no unified
command structure or consistent leadership.
The Corning Joint Fire District was established on January 1, 2020, as a Joint Fire
District with independent taxing authority. Its governance model separates administration from
operations. A five-member Board of Fire Commissioners oversees administrative and financial
matters, with Dave Shafer currently serving as Chairman. Operational authority rests with the
District Chief and Deputy Chiefs who supervise the entire district rather than individual
stations. Leadership positions are no longer determined by popularity-based volunteer
elections; instead, candidates must meet minimum training and experience requirements, and
the board pre-vets applicants before they may stand for election by the membership.
As an independent taxing entity, CJFD manages its finances separately from town and
village governments and must comply with state requirements for tax levies, transparency, and
financial reporting. The district’s first tax levy in 2020 was $520,000, $30,000 less than the
previous cost of contracting with four separate departments. Since its formation, the district
has remained within New York State’s 2 percent tax cap every year except one, when a clerical
error by the town caused a temporary 9 percent spike by mistakenly levying the district’s total
revenue instead of the tax levy. This was corrected the following year. Approximately one-third
of the district’s budget consists of allowances such as fuel and insurance that are exempt from
the tax cap calculation. State law also sets a maximum allowable tax levy based on the total
assessed value of taxable property; for CJFD, this maximum is estimated at roughly $650,000.
The Gibson Fire Department initially opted out of the merger in 2019 and attempted to
operate independently on a budget of only $13,000 per year. By 2023, Gibson had ceased
running calls and experienced total operational failure. The district absorbed the department
that year, and Gibson was formally merged into CJFD on January 1, 2024.
Since consolidation, the district has sold thirteen obsolete apparatus units, generating
$167,000 in reserve funds. CJFD follows an “Only Spend Money Once” philosophy and relies
on long-term capital planning to avoid overlapping debt. With new fire engines costing more
than $1.26 million and delivery times approaching 775 days, the district schedules major
purchases three to five years in advance to maintain financial stability and avoid sudden tax
increases.
Training standards have increased significantly, with volunteers now completing
between 50 and 100 hours of training annually. District-wide standards and coordinated drills
have improved operational consistency. Consolidation has also strengthened automatic aid
relationships with career departments, improving staffing reliability during emergencies.
CJFD administers a LOSAP program, a state-authorized retirement-style incentive for
volunteers. The program requires members to earn 50 points annually, participate in at least
10 percent of calls, and qualifies them for a $1,000 annual municipal contribution. Prior
service credit is included to retain experienced members and institutional knowledge.
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The district undergoes an annual independent audit and must file an annual financial
report with the New York State Comptroller. These requirements apply because the district’s
tax levy exceeds $500,000.
CJFD also invests in community engagement and workforce development. It supports a
three-day Firefighter Experience Camp for high school students that offers college credit, and it
partners with community colleges to create an associate-degree pathway for fire service
careers. The district has moved away from traditional fundraising activities such as chicken
barbecues and instead focuses on mission-driven service. Leasing unused station space to
AMR/GMR generates $5,500 per month, helping offset tax increases.
As annual call volume now exceeds 1,500 calls, the district is planning for long-term
sustainability, including staffing incentives. These incentives are structured as nominal pay—
approximately 20 percent of the cost of a career firefighter—and use a 1099 stipend model that
preserves volunteer status. Proactive planning is essential to prevent system failure and
maintain service quality.
CJFD follows a standard process for setting and collecting its tax levy. The district
maintains a tax rate of $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed value and has consistently remained
within the 2 percent tax cap. Each October, the district holds a public budget hearing. After
the Board of Commissioners adopts the budget, the final levy is submitted to the town, which
includes it in its own budget, collects the taxes, and returns the exact amount to the fire
district. Since the district’s formation, fire taxes appear as a separate line item on residents’ tax
bills; previously, village residents often saw these costs embedded within general taxes.
Practitioners seeking to replicate CJFD’s success should focus on three pillars:
1. Independent Legal Counsel. Use a specialist like Terry Hanigan to navigate complex
state statutes.
2. Absolute Transparency. Digital dashboards and open reporting maintain public trust.
3. Mission-First Cultural Alignment. Prioritize community over departmental identity.
“Retention is rooted in respect, make the pot of coffee for your volunteers” Mike Brennan.
Public Q & A’s
Q:Is anyone within the organization paid?
A:YES, specifically citing roles as a bookkeeper.
Q: Did the town attorney handle the initial formation and did a specialized Albany attorney
take over after the commissioners were appointed?
A:The Albany firm handled all the initial work. The town and village were in favor and
the town and village attorneys handled creating resolutions and filings with the state.
An attendee, who also is an attorney, reiterated the importance of having an attorney
specializing in this matter. “There is a lot of eyes and prep work on their end before it
even gets into the town board’s hands.”
Q:Cl Buck asked if the consolidation streamlined paperwork and reporting, and if it provided
more resources for fire prevention education.
A:Yes, it definitely did with the administration processes, and it is not being
done at four different locations. The monies are being used more effectively. One budget
is made for all four houses rather than one for each.
Q:CL Lamb asked if the district engages in a formal strategic planning process.
A:We use the budget as a strategic planning process that is largely financially driven.
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Q:The board also asked why the district chose to elect commissioners rather than continue
with appointments after the first year.
A:Once the town and village passed a resolution for the joint districts, the town passed
a resolution and appointed commissioners from each district to be represented. Then
after the first year, each had to run for election. Terms were based on the number of
votes. The person with 17 votes was selected to hold a five year term and the person
with 13 votes received a one year term. Currently there are three members from one of
the fire houses and two from the community.
Q:A member of the Varna Fire Department asked if switching to a single zone for the entire
district would result in any change in response times.
A:Yes, we can get to the area within 10 minutes.
Q:An attendee asked for clarification on how the three stations respond to calls specifically. Are
all three houses dispatched to every call or just one or two?
A:All are paged to the call, but it comes down to who is closer to the address on the call.
Q:How did the first year’s budget work?
A:The budget was worked on from April to September. The town board adopted the
budget for January 2020, and a public hearing was set.
Q:Did the residents of the village and town see a change in their taxes?
A:Because the town had already filed its tax levy before the fire district was fully
formed, residents did see some tax changes. The impact varied depending on which
former fire district they were in, and the level of fire protection provided across the three
districts.
Q:Does the district provide the chief officers with dedicated vehicles?
A:NO, this way there is no pointing the finger.
Q:An attendee asked if the “single district” model would still be effective if the geographic area
were 2.5 times larger and the call volume tripled?
A: In that kind of situation, the key would be to find property of adequate size in the
right location to support the model. A single-district structure could be a good option in
principle, but while it works well here, I am not sure it would be equally effective in a
much larger area.
Q:Would it make sense to attempt to manage them as a single district?
A:Yes. A single district provides clearer oversight of finances. When budgets are
separate, each department manages its own funds. A unified budget makes it easier to
track spending, reassign trucks as needed, and plan for replacing aging engines and
equipment.
Tom Pirko, representing the three fire districts within the town, thanks everyone for
making this meeting happen. He would like the board to know that the three districts have an
extraordinarily strong working relationship and are well- run and have exceptionally good
leadership.
ACTION ITEMS
Resolution #123 (2026) Approve Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
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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 are funded
with Town BAN Funds,
Whereas, there are five separate quotes for the materials:
Date Quote # Project name Amount
5/14/26 2002277937 Freeville MIP Splice
Cases
8,566.70
5/14/26 2002277986 Freeville Non-MIP Splice
Cases
13,994.75
5/14/26 2002278051 Greater Dryden MIP
Splice Cases
23,233.25
5/14/26 2002278092 Greater Dryden Non-MIP
Splice Cases
40,214.30
5/14/26 2002278161 Caroline MIP Splice Cases 36,326.40
Total 122,335.40
Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of a variety of materials from
Graybar for a total of $122,335.40 as listed in quotes above.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Resolution #124 (2026) Authorize the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to Sign an
agreement with sub-contractor Cynthia Brock to acquire easements for construction in
the Dryden Fiber operating area
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Whereas, Dryden Fiber has identified 429 parcels where easements are needed to
legally allow for underground construction in the project area, and
Whereas, Dryden Fiber has identified a candidate to carry out the work required to
acquire easements, and the candidate has experience with surveys, outreach, follow-up, and
public relations,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive
Director to sign an agreement with Cynthia Brock for the purpose of acquiring easements, not
to exceed $32,500 in 2026 without additional authorization.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
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Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Resolution #125 (2026) Authorize the Dryden Fiber Executive Director to Sign an
agreement with ECC Technologies to add additional broadband management and
engineering support to Dryden Fiber
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Whereas, Dryden Fiber has progressed and the scope and operational complexity
associated with network redesigns, utility coordination, pole permitting, make-ready
sequencing, easement acquisition, contractor management, field verification, schedule recovery
efforts, grant compliance, and construction oversight have increased substantially, and
Whereas, the volume of concurrent activities now underway requires additional
dedicated management resources beyond the current structure, and
Whereas, ECC Technologies’ experience with broadband infrastructure deployment,
utility coordination, outside plant engineering, and municipal broadband projects would
provide additional operational support to help accelerate issue resolution, improve construction
sequencing, strengthen schedule recovery efforts, support field verification and documentation,
enhance communication between stakeholders and contractors, and improve overall project
controls and reporting.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board authorizes the Dryden Fiber Executive
Director to sign an agreement with ECC Technologies for work throughout the remainder of
2026, not to exceed $208,000 without additional authorization, pending approval of town
attorney Nathan VanWhy.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
RESOLUTION #126 (2026) – APPROVE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS FOR DRYDEN
FIBER
Supv Leifer 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 are funded
with Town BAN Funds,
Whereas, there is one quote for the materials:
Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of a variety of materials from
Graybar for a total of $41,763.15 as listed in quotes above.
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2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
OTHER ITEMS
The Wawak development is a new apartment building project located next to the former
"plantations" property. The town accepted ownership of a water line lateral under Route 13 for
the new apartment development. While paid for by the developer, town ownership is required
by New York State DOT policy. The development needs to connect to the Bolton Point water
system via a pipe that will run under Route 13. Due to New York State Department of
Transportation (DOT) policy, the town must own the water pipe infrastructure under the
highway rather than the private developer. While the town holds ownership, the Wawak
developers are paying for the materials and installation. The Highway Department will handle
the boring for the line. The board clarified that this connection is a lateral line extending from
the main line that already serves the old NYSEG headquarters. This allows the work to begin
sooner, rather than waiting for future meeting cycles.
Resolution #127 (2026) AUTHORIZE JASON LEIFER TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT
FOR THE TRANSFER AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Be it resolved that the Board approves authorizing Jason Leifer to sign the Agreement for the
Transfer and Acceptance of Water Infrastructure associated with the property at 1279 State
Route 366, Ithaca, NY 14850.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Rail Trail Tree Donation
The town received a donation of trees for the rail trail from NYSEG, which will be stored
and watered at the town highway barn before being planted near the new trail bridge.
Other Announcements
Cl Lamb announced there will be a music event benefit that his son’s band will be
playing at the Dryden Center for Community. It should be a fun time and a lot of young talent.
Cl Dravis reminded board members that there will be a Memorial Day parade Monday
at 10:30 am and a ceremony at the village green at 11 am.
The mobile unit will be on Friday May 29th at Neptune Hose.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Allison Kjellander- Cantu
Deputy Town Clerk