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Home My WebLink About2021-09-08 Special Meeting September 8, 2021 1 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING September 8, 2021 A Special Meeting of the Lansing Town Board was held at the Town Hall Board Room, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY, and streamed live on YouTube, on the above date at 6:34 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Edward LaVigne, Supervisor, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll call by Jessica Hall, Deputy Town Clerk, showed the following to be PRESENT: Andra Benson, Councilperson Doug Dake, Councilperson (remotely) Bronwyn Losey, Councilperson (remotely) Joseph Wetmore, Councilperson Edward LaVigne, Supervisor ABSENT: No one absent ALSO PRESENT: Michael Moseley, Deputy Highway Superintendent, C.J. Randall, Director of Planning (remotely), Guy Krogh, Town Counsel, Debbie Munson, Town Clerk, Larry and Mary Helen Cathles, Sara Moseley, Marty Moseley, and a few other attendees. RESOLUTION APPOINTING HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT, DEPUTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT AND WORKING SUPERVISOR AT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PER TOMPKINS COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND UNDER TOWN LAW, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING FILING OF FORM MSD 428 RESOLUTION 21-124 RESOLUTION APPOINTING HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT, DEPUTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT AND WORKING SUPERVISOR AT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PER TOMPKINS COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND UNDER TOWN LAW, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING FILING OF FORM MSD 428 The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: WHEREAS, the Highway Superintendent retired effective September 4, 2021, and the Town needs to appoint a Highway Superintendent to fill the vacancy thus created in the Highway Department until the next election; and WHEREAS, the Deputy Highway Superintendent is to be appointed as Highway Superintendent, such that the Town needs to appoint a Deputy Highway Superintendent as well; and WHEREAS, the position of Working Supervisor at the Town of Lansing Highway Department is vacant; and WHEREAS, the position of Working Supervisor places additional responsibilities on the person who is appointed to serve in that role and the Town Board wishes to recognize that responsibility and provide adequate compensation for the additional job duties associated therewith; and WHEREAS, upon consideration and deliberation upon the same, the Town Board of the Town of Lansing has hereby RESOLVED, as follows: 1. Michael Moseley be and hereby is appointed as Highway Superintendent, effective September 6, 2021 at the same rate of pay as the existing Highway Superintendent, subject to all Town perquisites and benefits as are available to such position; September 8, 2021 2 2. Mark Tyrrell be and hereby is appointed as Deputy Highway Superintendent effective September 6, 2021, with pay scale hereby amended to be $3.00 per hour above said employee’s regular base rate of pay, subject also to all Town perquisites and benefits as are available to such position; 3. Highway Superintendent is authorized to appoint a qualified Working Supervisor, with pay scale hereby amended to be $1.00 per hour above said employee’s regular base rate of pay, subject also to all Town perquisites and benefits as are available to such position; 4. The Town Personnel Officer be and hereby is authorized to make such changes to the Towns’ employment and civil service rosters and file required Civil Service forms to effect such changes and these Resolutions, including by the filing of form MSD 428; 5. Immediately upon the retirement of the Highway Superintendent and the resulting vacancy of the Town Deputy Highway Superintendent positions, Deborah K. Munson, as Town Clerk, shall provide the required notices of vacancies of the above positions and further advise of the appointments to fill such vacancies as required by Town Law; The question of the adoption of such proposed Resolution was duly motioned by Councilperson Doug Dake, duly seconded by Councilperson Andra Benson, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Andra Benson – Aye Councilperson Doug Dake – Aye Councilperson Bronwyn Losey – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Aye Supervisor Edward LaVigne – Aye Accordingly, the foregoing Resolution was approved, carried, and duly adopted on September 8, 2021. Town Clerk Debbie Munson swore in Michael Moseley as Highway Superintendent. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TOWN COUNSEL TO PREPARE AND SEND LETTER TO SENATOR PAMELA HELMING AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANNA KELLES CONSISTENT WITH TOWN OF LANSING 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RESOLUTION # 13- 133 GENERALLY SUPPORTING INTERVENTION BY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TO ASSIST IN THE ACQUISITION OF, ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONSERVATION AREA AT BELL STATION There was a concern that this resolution may be imposing on landowner rights. The Town Board agreed upon a few changes and additions to this resolution which are included below. RESOLUTION 21-125 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TOWN COUNSEL TO PREPARE AND SEND LETTER TO SENATOR PAMELA HELMING AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER ANNA KELLES CONSISTENT WITH TOWN OF LANSING 2018 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND RESOLUTION # 13- 133 GENERALLY SUPPORTING INTERVENTION BY NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION TO ASSIST IN THE ACQUISITION OF, ESTABLISH AND MANAGE A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONSERVATION AREA AT BELL STATION The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: WHEREAS, the “Bell Station” property owned by New York State Electric & Gas in Lansing represents the single largest undeveloped parcel of land remaining on Cayuga September 8, 2021 3 Lake, including 3,400 feet of undeveloped shoreline and almost 500 acres of fields and forest, and the land has been recognized as a priority project within New York State’s Open Space Plan; and WHEREAS, on November 21, 2013, the Town of Lansing passed Resolution # 13-133 in Support of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to Acquire, Establish and Manage a Publicly Accessible Conservation Area at Bell Station; and WHEREAS, in November of 2017, and as is set forth in the updated 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the Town of Lansing approved creating a Conservation Advisory Council to perform certain functions for the Town and to act in an advisory capacity under General Municipal Law § 239-x; and WHEREAS, the 2018 Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map “denote[s] that the Town of Lansing and its residents are and remain in favor of New York State (or another agency) acquiring [Bell Station] land for forest, parkland, or recreational purposes”; and WHEREAS, on December 18, 2019, via Resolution # 19-163, the Town of Lansing adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge, and the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council was therein appointed as the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force for the New York State Climate Smart Communities program, and began work on the Town of Lansing Natural Resources Inventory in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County; and WHEREAS, the Town or Lansing Director of Planning transmitted correspondence to AVANGRID Real Estate Director of Real Estate on April 6, 2021 with the “understanding that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is committed to acquiring the lands as shaded in the attached [Finger Lakes Land Trust Proposed Acquisition – Jan 2021] map and the Town will likely develop a Unit Management Plan / cooperation agreement with NYSDEC and the Finger Lakes Land Trust”, which Land Trust is expected to act as the primary acquisition liaison for this transaction; and WHEREAS, the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council (“CAC”) presented the Town of Lansing Natural Resources Inventory and Scenic Resources Inventory, respectively, and both were adopted by the Town Board via Resolution # 21-08 on July 21, 2021, to assist the Town, its various agencies and boards and the public in identifying and considering important natural resources located within the Town; and WHEREAS, the Bell Station Property is listed as the number one “distinctive view” in the Town of Lansing’s 2021 Scenic Resources Inventory; and WHEREAS, upon due deliberation thereupon, the Town Board of the Town of Lansing has hereby: RESOLVED, that the Town of Lansing supports Tompkins County Legislature Resolution #2021-194: Opposing the Proposed Public Auction of Certain Property on the Eastern Shore of Cayuga Lake by the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG), adopted September 7, 2021; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town of Lansing Conservation Advisory Council and Town Counsel Prepare and Send Letter to Senator Pamela Helming and Assemblymember Anna Kelles Consistent with Town of Lansing 2018 Comprehensive Plan and Resolution # 13-133 Generally Supporting Intervention By New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation To Acquire, Establish And Manage a Publicly Accessible Conservation Area At Bell Station in coordination with the Finger Lakes Land Trust; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Lansing requests that NYSEG take action to cancel the proposed auction of the Bell Station Property and instead September 8, 2021 4 immediately enter into negotiations with the Finger Lakes Land Trust to bring about a sale for conservation that would provide NYSEG with fair market value compensation for the property; and be it further RESOLVED, that a copy of the Resolution be sent to Governor Kathy Hochul, the Honorable Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Honorable Michelle I. Phillips, Secretary to the New York State Public Service Commission, New York State Senate Leader Andrea Steward- Cousins, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and additional recipients as indicated in the letter. The question of the adoption of such proposed Resolution was duly motioned by Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, duly seconded by Councilperson Andra Benson, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Andra Benson – Aye Councilperson Doug Dake – Aye Councilperson Bronwyn Losey – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Aye Supervisor Edward LaVigne – Aye Accordingly, the foregoing Resolution was approved, carried, and duly adopted on September 8, 2021. There was discussion that the Town should consider looking into hiring legal counsel that has experience working with the Public Service Commission. Director of Planning C.J. Randall will work with Town Counsel Guy Krogh on gathering data on a recommended firm. ADJOURN MEETING Meeting adjourned at the call of the Supervisor at 7:12 p.m. Minutes taken and executed by the Deputy Town Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Jessica L. Hall Deputy Town Clerk