HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 12 2025 Town of Enfield Public Hearing Regular Town Board Meeting Minutes_Final1
Town of Enfield Public Hearing & Regular Town Board Meetfng Minutes
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
6:30 PM
In-Person and Via the Zoom Meetfng Platiorm
Present: Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond; Town Councilperson, Melissa Millspaugh, Cassandra Hinkle, Robert Lynch;
Town Clerk Mary Cornell.
Virtual Attendance: Councilperson Jude Lemke
Public Hearing: Supervisor Redmond opened the Public Hearing for the proposed Dog Control and Licensing Law at 6:30
PM
Rosanna Carpenter: She is concerned with how things are written in the proposed law. Putting tags on dogs, she does not
as they are lost quickly. Is this a pre-req to an animal control law. Her husband Roger does not see the need for any change
to the current dog law, which is written much simpler. He wants to know If there is a dog that is known to be aggressive
dog, who is making this determinatfon.
Supervisor Redmond, there are more definitfons included in the proposed law, we currently have an animal control officer,
which has been designated as the Tompkins County SPCA who would assist with this enforcement of the local law.
Councilperson Lynch explained the reasoning behind the proposed dog law. Jude Lemke, we need our own dog law,
discussion contfnued.
Tammy Alling – She has questfons about why the Town is looking at more regulatfons in an already poverty-stricken Town.
Councilperson Lynch shared the definitfon of a kennel license. Additfonal extensive conversatfon took place. Clerk Cornell
offered comments and has offered for residents to make an appointment to come into the office to discuss the current
dog law and the proposed dog law. Clerk Cornell will post a correct copy of the proposed dog law for residents to view.
Clerk Cornell will post and distribute as requested the correct version of the proposed local law.
Supervisor Redmond moved to adjourn the Public Hearing untfl the April 9th Town Board Meetfng and Councilperson Hinkle
seconded.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Call to Order: Supervisor Redmond called the regular meetfng to order at 7:40 PM
Privilege of the Floor: Councilperson Lynch led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilperson Lynch read a
statement on why he recites the Pledge of Allegiance at Town Board Meetfngs. He is regretiul that some of the Town Board
do not stand for the Pledge, yet declining to do so is their Constftutfonal right. He stands to show his respect for the flag,
the Constftutfon, the Rule of Law, American democratfc instftutfons, and freedom.
Additfons and Changes to the Agenda: Additfon of proposed changes to the local law as presented, amendments to the
proposed Flood Damage Preventfon Law, as suggested by Councilperson Lynch.
Correspondence: N/A
NFIP: A Local Law for Flood Damage Preventfon as authorized by the New York State Constftutfon, Artfcle IX, Sectfon 2,
and Environmental Conservatfon Law.
Artfcle 36
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Set Public Hearing for Local Law – postponed untfl the March Town Board Meetfng.
Discussion: Dan Walker discussed the four proposed optfonal provisions to the Draft Flood Damage Preventfon Law
proposed for inclusion; optfons addressing Compensatory Storage, Repetftfve Damage, Cumulatfve Substantfal
Improvement standards, and Critfcal Facilitfes. Walker shared that four points pertained to the Town of Enfield.
Supervisor Redmond shared the documents presented by Councilperson Lynch’s amendment on her screen. The two
additfonal changes that Councilperson Lynch had suggested, Dan Walker does not think we should do. Councilperson
Lynch had proposed that a final sectfon be inserted into the law to enable future amendments that would permit
expansion of the flood preventfon area to other portfons of the Town. Councilperson Lynch shared he thought he was
clear in what he had written. Brad Wenskoski (NYSDEC) thought the language was clear, but it may be confusing to
some and you may want to run it by your town attorney. Councilperson Lynch questfoned why it should not be allowed
now, and why it could be in the future. Supervisor Redmond shared that mapping may need to take place again to
amend the maps. A letter for map revision, a project that would have a significant issue in one area of the flood plan
could be a concern and may be addressed as a specific issue at a later date. Councilperson Lynch had expressed concerns
last year, there are areas that are not included in the FEMA flood maps that had flooded in ~2013-2014, and we may be
giving residents a false sense of security. We do have serious flash flooding in this town and we may not be doing our
due diligence. Councilperson Lynch is worried about the Town or himself personally being sued. Brad W. the Town can
adopt other maps, not only FEMA’s. Most communitfes do however, just adopt FEMA’s maps and enforce them.
Councilperson Lemke if we did that, how would it affect other banks (what would the bank look at)? Brad W. NFIP
regulatfons would only apply to FEMA’s identffied Flood Hazard Areas. They wouldn’t be getting letters from their
lenders. They would look at those maps separately from any other maps that the town adopts. Anyone in the Town could
purchase Flood Insurance. Supervisor Redmond shared that we can ask the Army Corps of Engineers to create an
additfonal flood plain map. Councilperson Lynch asked Brad W. what the liabilitfes to the Town could be if you adopt or
do not adopt the Flood Maps. Discussion contfnued.
Councilperson Lynch moved and Supervisor Redmond seconded, that this Board agrees it will have a draft flood damage
preventfon law submitted to Town Legal counsel with the expectatfon that preliminary approval of said law will be given
at the Regular March Town Board meetfng to submit the draft law to the DEC for review.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson
Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
RESOLUTION #2025-34 TO APPLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, certain areas of the Town of Enfield are subject to periodic flooding (Community) and flood-related erosion,
causing serious damages to propertfes within these areas; and
WHEREAS, relief is available in the form of federally subsidized flood insurance as authorized by the Natfonal Flood
Insurance Act of 1968; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Town Board to require the recognitfon (board, legislature, council, etc.) and evaluatfon of
flood or flood-related erosion hazards in all official actfons relatfng to land use in areas having these hazards; and
WHEREAS, this body has the legal authority to adopt land use and control measures to reduce future flood losses
pursuant to the New York State Constftutfon, Artfcle IX, Sectfon 2, and Environmental Conservatfon Law, Artfcle 36;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby:
1. Assures the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it will enact as necessary, and maintain in force for those
areas having flood or flood-related erosion hazards, adequate land use and control measures with effectfve enforcement
provisions, including: a. Require permits for all proposed constructfon or other development in the community so that it
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may determine whether such constructfon or other development is proposed within the floodplain. b. Review proposed
development to assure that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies from which
approval is required by Federal or State law. c. Review and maintain all permit applicatfons to determine whether
proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. d. Review and maintain all permit applicatfons to ensure
that any development actfvitfes are consistent with criteria set forth in Sectfon 60.3 of the Natfonal Flood Insurance
Program Regulatfons.
2. Vests the Office of Town Supervisor with the responsibility, authority, and means to: a. Assist the Administrator, at
his/her request, in the delineatfon of the limits of the area having special flood or flood-related erosion hazards. b.
Provide such informatfon as the Administrator may request concerning present uses and occupancy of the floodplain or
flood-related erosion areas. c. Cooperate with federal, state and local agencies and private firms which undertake to
study, survey, map and identffy floodplain or flood-related erosion areas, and cooperate with neighboring communitfes
with respect to management of adjoining floodplain and/or flood related erosion areas in order to prevent aggravatfon
or existfng hazards. d. Submit on the anniversary date of the community’s initfal eligibility an annual report to the
Administrator on the progress made during the past year within the community in the development and implementatfon
of floodplain management measures. e. Upon occurrence, notffy the Administrator, in writfng, whenever the boundaries
of the community have been modified by annexatfon or the community has otherwise assumed or no longer has
authority to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulatfons for a partfcular area. In order that all Flood Hazard
Boundary Rate Maps accurately represent the community’s boundaries, include within such notfficatfon a copy of a map
of the community suitable for reproductfon, clearly delineatfng the new corporate limits or new area for which the
community has assumed or relinquished floodplain management regulatory authority. f. Ensure that the community’s
Flood Insurance Rate Maps are maintained and kept current by providing the Federal Emergency Management Agency
with any new or updated flood risk data or any modified data reflectfng natural or man-made changes to the floodplain.
3. Appoints the Office of Town Supervisor to maintain for public inspectfon and to furnish request, for the determinatfon
of applicable flood insurance risk premium rates within all areas having special flood hazards identffied on a Flood Hazard
Boundary Map or Flood Insurance Rate Map, any certfficates of flood-proofing, and informatfon on the elevatfon (in
relatfon to mean sea level) of the level of the lowest floor (including basement) of all new or substantfally improved
structures, and include whether or not such structures contain a basement, and if the structure has been flood proofed
the elevatfon (in relatfon to mean sea level) to which the structure was floodproofed;
4. Agrees to take such other official actfon as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the objectfves of the program.
Date Passed: February 12, 2025
Certfficatfon: Mary Cornell
Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Hinkle seconded.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson
Millspaugh, Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
Consent Agenda:
Audit Claims: General Fund vouchers #13 to 42, Dated February 12, 2025 in the amount of $652,176.58 and Highway Fund
Vouchers #5 to 29 in the amount of $59, 045.39.
Minutes January 8, 2025 & January 15, 2025.
Supervisor Redmond moved and Councilperson Millspaugh seconded.
Vote: Councilperson Hinkle, Aye; Councilperson Lemke, Aye; Councilperson Lynch, Aye; Councilperson Millspaugh,
Aye; Supervisor Redmond, Aye; Carried.
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Subdivision Regulatfons: A brief discussion took place led by Supervisor Redmond. She also shared questfons from
Councilperson Lemke, which had already shared with Dan. Discussion contfnued and this Topic will be contfnued at the
March 12, 2025 Town Board Meetfng.
Solar Bids
Supervisor Redmond opened the following bids which will be further reviewed at the March 12, 2025 Regular Town Board
Meetfng.
Environmental Solar Bid $66,000
Fingerlakes Renewables - $70,248.00
Alternatfve Power Solutfons - $70,635.00
Paradise Energy Solutfons - $71,040.00
Solar Liberty - $67,399.33
Monthly Report
County Legislature – Anne Koreman Supervisor Redmond read Anne’s the comments Anne submitted as Anne is currently
out of Town.
Town Supervisors Report – Stephanie Redmond. She has worked with Cassandra on the Tool Library. She contacted our
insurance carrier. Cassie from Sprague has advised that we monitor return of tool and make sure they work before it goes
out to a new borrower. There would be no increase in our insurance premium. She drafted a tool list and she will pass it
around to board members. She attended the NFIP meetfng. They have settled on a sculpture – Tony and Gwen and may
work with local artfsts and local schools to gather other community comments.
Planning Board Report – Dan Walker – N/A
Highway Superintendent Report – N/A
Code Enforcement Report – Alan Teeter – N/A
TCCOG – Robert Lynch – The full report is on file with the Town Clerk’s Office. He shared at last night ’s Board of Educatfon
meetfng it was mentfoned that the Tompkins County Director of Assessment is proposing a four-year pause in most
property reassessments. He also reported that a committee of the Tompkins County Legislature has recommended the
County Legislature request state home rule legislatfon that would add additfonal members, including potentfally a
representatfve of the ICSD to the IDA and perhaps one to represent rural towns.
IMA – Supervisor Redmond. We had some questfons and went back to Guy and we do not have to have an RFP for this, so
no bids are needed. Supervisor Redmond is hopeful to have an IMA in tfme for the next Town Board meetfng. Councilperson
Lynch asked if it is possible that the project will start this year? She is hopeful that a plan will be in place soon.
Announcements: N/A
Privilege of the Floor: Robert Lynch we are adjourning late at 9:46 PM, he had found Town Board minutes from 1987-1988
and at one of their meetfngs they had adjourned at 1:40 AM.
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Adjournment: Councilperson Millspaugh motfoned, adjourned at 9:47 PM.
Respectiully submitted,
Mary Cornell
Mary Cornell
Town Clerk