HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2026-07-09TB 7-9-26
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
July 9, 2026
Zoom Hybrid
Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Leonardo Vargas-
Mendez, Cl Christina Dravis, Cl Spring Buck
Other Officials: Loren Sparling, Town Clerk (appointed)
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 6:01 p.m.
FINANCIALS/HUMAN RESOURCES
Resolution #142 (2026) – Approve Abstract #7
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #7, as audited, general
vouchers #662 through #761 ($3,270,728.44) and TA vouchers #28 through #31 ($10,074.78),
totaling $3,280,803.22.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
Resolution to Approve Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber for a Total of $11,960
This resolution allocates $11,960 for the procurement of specialized hardware,
including clamps and connectors.
Resolution #143 (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 is funded with
Town BAN Funds,
Whereas, there is one quote for the materials:
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Date Quote # Project name Amount
6/15/26 2002498853 Dryden Materials
Restock July 2026
11,960.00
Total 11,960.00
Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of a variety of materials from
Graybar for a total of $11,960.00 as listed in quotes above.
2nd Cl Buck
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Resolution to Approve Purchase of Materials for Dryden Fiber for a Total of $35,291
This resolution allocates $35,291, specifically for the Caroline portion of the grant, to
cover the cost of cables, bolts, connectors, and other supplies for splicing, installation, and
construction.
Resolution #144 (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 is funded with
Town BAN Funds,
Whereas, there are three separate quotes for the materials:
Therefore, be it resolved that the Board approves the purchase of a variety of materials from
Graybar for a total of $35,291.00 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 to Sell Three Trucks with Auctions International
This resolution authorizes older trucks to be auctioned through Auctions International.
Proceeds from these sales will be directed into the DA (equipment) fund. The Highway
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Department typically sets reserves on these items to ensure maximum recovery of value, which
is then applied toward previously ordered replacement vehicles.
Resolution #145 (2026) – Authorize Sale of Three Trucks with Auctions International
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Resolved, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the sale of the following three trucks
with Auctions International, as well as miscellaneous used equipment in the yard, with money
from the sale to be applied to DA-2665:
Ax Dump with
Tandem Dump Equipment
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Resolution from the Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee to the Town Board
and the Planning Board on the Need to Establish a Task Force to Advance Additional
Public Sewer and Water Service Critical to Future Dryden Housing
The largest substantive discussion of the meeting concerned a resolution by the
Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee (AWHC) for the Town to establish a specialized
task force examining public water and sewer capacity as a lever for affordable housing
development. This resolution was drafted by Charles Geisler and adopted by the AWHC on
Tuesday. Martha Robertson presented on behalf of the AWHC, supported by a letter of
endorsement received that afternoon from Cyril Parr, Director of Environmental Health for the
Tompkins County Department of Whole Health.
Technical capacity data highlights immediate development opportunities within the
villages. The Village of Dryden currently maintains water capacity for roughly 400 additional
housing units, though sewer capacity is constrained to only about 50 more units. The Village of
Freeville currently lacks public water service but possesses wastewater capacity for
approximately 250 additional units. Other areas of the Town served by the Ithaca Area
Wastewater Treatment Facility also have some available capacity.
Existing analysis (e.g., TG Miller reports from 2010, updated in 2022 with 2020 data)
was described as a good general overview but not detailed enough to identify specific, buildable
sites. The task force is intended to close that gap. Its purpose would be to assess where
existing public water/sewer capacity and feasible extensions could support additional
affordable housing, building on TG Miller’s infrastructure reports.
The Board will pursue a County pro-housing grant of up to $5,000 (the same program
that yielded roughly $10,000 last year) to offset costs associated with engineering time and
consultant support.
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Cl Buck asked whether the review would also assess the remaining service life of
existing infrastructure (e.g., in the Yellow Barn Rd area). M Robertson clarified that the primary
charge is to identify feasibility for new housing capacity, though current infrastructure
conditions could be considered secondarily.
Cl Lamb thought this to be a great project but imagined this to be taken up by the
AWHC itself rather than a new task force, as water/sewer infrastructure is essential to
housing; it is hard to separate the two. M Robertson responded that the AWHC does not
necessarily have the technical expertise to really dig into these questions.
Candidate focus areas raised in the discussion included the Hanshaw Rd corridor near
Rte 13 (where a CDBG grant is already extending sewer service toward a manufactured home
park and where Cornell owns adjacent land with potential housing interest) and areas near the
NYSEG corner (which overlap environmentally sensitive natural areas and would require
careful siting).
Multiple Board members thought this sounded more like a feasibility and opportunity
analysis rather than a comprehensive long-term infrastructure needs assessment. Supv Leifer
added that to provide Freeville with water, extensions must originate either from Bolton Point
or Dryden Village. The path for such an extension would be under the Rail Trail because the
Town already has easements there; however, fiber lines would have to be avoided.
Cl Buck voiced that she would like to see this merged with an assessment of the Town’s
current infrastructure conditions. She would hate for the Town to be in the situation where it
is expanding its infrastructure yet struggling to maintain what it currently has. She cited
Yellow Barn as a weak link in terms of longevity, fearing the Town will have to annually set
aside funds in anticipation of future problems there.
Cl Vargas-Mendez stated that the intent of the resolution before the Board is to affirm
one of the priorities of the comprehensive plan, which is to provide affordable housing to the
many Town residents for which this is currently unavailable. Only about 2% of all acreage in
the Town (outside of the villages) currently has access to public water and sewer, underscoring
the scale of the infrastructure gap relative to the comprehensive plan’s housing goals. If the
Town is going to develop housing, the Town needs to figure out how it will support it.
Cl Buck did not view being on a well as a negative, cautioning against water/sewer
extensions that would encourage sprawl. Public infrastructure becomes important for areas of
the Town where there will be high density because that is where it is really needed. M
Robertson agreed the intent is strategic, not willy-nilly extension.
M Robertson noted that the task force would be mandated to provide a formal report to
the Town Board by January. This would provide a foundation for getting additional grants for
water/sewer infrastructure, if the State is serious about being pro-housing.
Board members debated task force size and required seats. To prioritize efficiency over
cumbersome debate, the Board capped membership at seven individuals. The mandate of a
Planning Board member as a required seat in an earlier draft was removed at M Robertson’s
request, since the Planning Board already carries a heavy meeting load. The Board instead
agreed to reference membership from other Town advisory boards generally.
Cl Buck suggested including a fire department representative, given the relevance of
hydrant access to large-scale development. Consensus was to invite input as needed rather
than require a formal seat.
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M Robertson confirmed that the names of prospective appointees would be brought to
the Board for formal appointments.
Supv Leifer surmised that Rick Young would want Yellow Barn to be included because
of the amount of legitimate repairs needed for neighborhood water delivery.
In the end, there was consensus that membership in the Task Force would be pulled
from the Town Board, AWHC, and other Town advisory boards, as well as representatives from
the Villages of Dryden and Freeville. County participation (presumably County planner David
West) would also be invited. The Town engineer (TG Miller) would be made available to inform
the group as a technical advisor, without necessarily holding a seat; invoice payments (for
attendance and generated data services) will initially be made through the Planning
Department line, pending receipt of the County grant. M Robertson felt that the Villages’
engineers should also be able to weigh in, with their invoices also being paid with funds from
the County grant.
Board members spent several minutes informally proposing names for the task force,
before settling on the name “Water and Sewer Task Force.”
Resolution #146 (2026) – Establishing the Sewer and Water Task Force
Cl Dravis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Whereas, the Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee approved the “Resolution to
Dryden Town Board and Planning Board on the Need to Establish a Task Force to Advance
Additional Public Sewer and Water Service Critical to Future Dryden Housing” on July 7, 2026,
Resolved, that the Town Board hereby establishes the Sewer and Water Task Force,
and
Be it further resolved, that the Sewer and Water Task Force will consist of seven (7)
members, to include representatives from the Town Board, the Affordable and Workforce
Housing Committee, other Town advisory boards, the Village of Dryden, the Village of Freeville,
and Tompkins County, and
Be it further resolved, that the Town Board supports applying for and receiving
County grant funding and using Town staff time for the match.
2nd Supv Leifer
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Discussion on Petition for Traffic Signs on Slaterville Road
The Board received a resident petition requesting Town assistance in obtaining school
bus stop signage and posted speed limit signs along Slaterville Rd (Rte 79), where the posted
speed is reportedly 45 mph for the residential stretch with no speed limit signage currently
visible. Concerns cited included high speeds from commuters and vehicles frequently passing
stopped school buses.
The Board agreed the Town would coordinate with NYS DOT (via the County Highway
Department) to install the requested signage, noting the State typically bears responsibility and
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cost, though the Town’s Highway Department could install signs faster using its own inventory
if authorized.
Resolution #147 (2026) – Requesting the Installation of Safety Signage on Slaterville
Road (Route 79) to Protect School-Age Children
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Whereas, multiple families with school-age children reside along the 1920-1960
Slaterville Road (Route 79) corridor in the Town of Dryden, and
Whereas, this section of Slaterville Road is a passing zone when traveling west and a
no passing zone when traveling east, and
Whereas, there have been multiple documented incidents of vehicles passing a stopped
school bus while children are boarding or exiting, including from one parent who has been
nearly hit on numerous occasions by cars not wanting to stop, and
Whereas, passing vehicles commonly exceed the posted 45 mph speed limit and
disregard the no-passing striping in this area, and
Whereas, residents have reported being nearly struck while pulling into or out of their
driveways, or being illegally passed while making left turns, in this stretch of roadway, and
Whereas, residents have reported repeated contact with the New York State Police and
the New York State Department of Transportation regarding excessive speed and the absence of
adequate warning signage in this area, without resolution, and
Whereas, residents have submitted a signed petition to the Town Board requesting the
installation of “Bus Stop Ahead” and/or “Caution: Children at Play” signage to warn motorists
and protect children waiting for and using the school bus stop in this area, and
Whereas, the health, safety, and welfare of the children and residents of the Town of
Dryden is a matter of significant public concern, warranting prompt review and action,
Now therefore be it resolved, that the Town Board hereby requests that the NYS
Department of Transportation evaluate the 1920-1960 Slaterville Road (Route 79) corridor for
the installation of appropriate safety signage, including, but not limited, to “Bus Stop Ahead”
and/or “Caution: Children at Play” signs.
2nd Cl Dravis
Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Buck Yes
Cl Dravis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Other Discussion
An extended privilege of the floor was devoted to the condition of the Dryden Lake Dam,
which is owned and operated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
under a Memorandum of Agreement with the Town.
Michael Lane reported low water levels at Dryden Lake Park, heavy woody debris near
the dam outlet, and notable algae growth. He separately flagged that a memorial flower bed on
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the north side of the dam, dedicated to a former Town employee (Kevin) who was killed in a
motorcycle accident, has become overgrown and should be added to the Town’s maintenance
schedule. The Town had previously kept it up, but it is currently being neglected.
Scott Hopkins (310 Lake Rd) noted approximately 12 new houses have been built
along Lake Rd (east from its intersection with W Lake Rd) in the past 20 years, yet the posted
speed remains 55 mph. He cited five accidents in the past 15 years, three of which were
directly in front of his house, and requested the Town forward a speed reduction request (45
mph) to the County and State. Many of the new homeowners have children, and a lot of people,
including himself, ride bicycles and run along that stretch. The Board noted a supporting
petition, like those used on W Dryden Rd and on Gulf Hill Rd, would strengthen the case for a
speed reduction, and asked S Hopkins to circulate one. The Board noted that while the State
makes the final determination, community-generated data on accidents and near-misses
carries significant weight in the DOT’s assessment.
The leaking issues on the dam are not new. S Hopkins informed Mary Ann Sumner over
15 years ago that it was leaking but understands that it was not a priority back then. He
described the leak mechanism as gaps between aging wood plank sections of the dam,
worsening year over year. Pending a full DEC repair, which has been estimated at roughly $3-
3.5 million against a limited statewide $7 million dam repair fund, one interim fix that he
recommended was to cover the boards with heavy plastic sheeting with some gravel atop.
Furthermore, he suggested that the current bypass valve procedure is likely 20 years out of
date (when the dam was not leaking) and should be reviewed as part of an immediate fix; if that
valve was closed, the water would remain at a higher level.
Cl Lamb chalked the situation up to bureaucratic inertia, noting that the DEC has not
responded to inquiries regarding the leak since April. S Hopkins asked what more residents
could do. The Board suggested mobilizing community voices through organized advocacy to
pressure the State for immediate repairs. Cl Buck noted the incoming Sewer and Water Task
Force could potentially serve as a vehicle for coordinating dam-related advocacy.
Rohn Brown (444 Lake Rd) read the following prepared statement:
Good evening, Supervisor, members of the Town Board, and neighbors.
My name is Rohn Brown, and I live on Dryden Lake. I grew up in Dryden and graduated
from both high school and college here.
I’m here tonight because I don’t want this conversation to be only about the failing dam.
It’s about Dryden’s most important natural resource – Dryden Lake.
Dryden Lake is home to bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, Canada geese, mute
swans, beaver, mink, ducks and has always been an outstanding warm water fishery.
It’s where many of our children caught their first fish. It’s where residents and visitors
sail, kayak, and canoe in the summer; iceboat and icefish in the winter; and where they enjoy
the beauty and tranquility that makes Dryden such a special place to live.
Our lake is 106 acres at the dam’s maximum level. The dam’s storage data – published
by the DEC – lists our lake as 345 acre-feet as the normal/maximum freshwater storage; 12 feet
maximum depth; and an overall average depth of 3.25 feet. That makes the overall volume of our
lake to be ~112 million gallons.
I don’t claim to be a state expert for water level management, but […] 6 days ago (July
3rd), I measured our lake to be 16.1” below the crest of the dam. That’s about half of the DEC’s
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published *average* depth. On Tuesday (July 7th) it was down 21.2” below the crest. 24 hours
later (yesterday) it was down by 22.6”, or 1.88 feet. That means the lake’s volume is down
~57.8%, or 65 million gallons, as of yesterday.
As Mr Hopkins stated, the continued reduction in lake level and volume creates the
conditions for concentrating the nutrients and reducing dissolved oxygen for algae and milfoil
growth. But the dissolving oxygen also severely impacts the lake’s fish population and, therefore,
the entire local ecosystem.
I understand that replacing or repairing a dam is a complicated undertaking, especially
considering that the Town doesn’t have ownership of it. It involves careful engineering,
environmental review, permitting, funding, and coordination with state government agencies. I
also recognize that the Board has been working on this issue for many years. I’d like to thank the
Board members that they have kept this issue alive, and for advocating on its citizens’ behalf. I’m
sure this hasn’t been an easy issue. And we appreciate, in advance, your continuing efforts to do
so. I am here to *actively* support that cause.
To be clear, my purpose is NOT to criticize anyone. This is NOT about assigning blame.
This is about preserving something that cannot be replaced, but CAN be rehabilitated.
So, I’d like to repeat the simple question raised by Mr Hopkins:
How can we, the residents and voters of Dryden, become active partners with the Town
Board in helping move this project forward? Because, working together, we can ensure that the
lake remains an essential part of Dryden’s future, as it was meant to be. And I think it would be
practically impossible to find a Dryden voter who would be against saving the integrity of our
lake [….]
But here’s the bottom line on this issue. We shouldn’t just be asking New York State to
save the dam. We should be pressing them to save our lake.
Thank you for your time, and for your continued service to our community.
R Brown again asked how residents could become active partners with the Town Board,
including possible outreach to State and federal representatives for funds (citing a past
$700,000 federal earmark for the Rail Trail overpass as a precedent) and organizing a resident
advocacy group. Cl Vargas-Mendez thought an organized community effort to be a good idea. In
order to have a voice, the Town can help, but ultimately your voice is power.
Cl Lamb indicated that he just texted a Senate staffer during the meeting and will get R
Brown an answer before next week’s meeting. He reiterated that the Town does not own the
dam or lake and cannot unilaterally alter valve operations without DEC authorization. R Brown
can provide those interested with video of the valve and the water loudly running (not trickling)
through it. The lake is leaking through those planks, and stream inflow is not enough to offset
this; there are eddies of water.
PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR JULY 16, 2026
Continuation of Public Hearing – 2150 Dryden Road Site Plan Review and Special Use
Permit Application
Supv Leifer voiced that there is probably not going to be a continuation of this public
hearing next week, as the applicants are not ready.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
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Respectfully submitted,
Loren Sparling
Town Clerk (appointed)