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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1975-03-17 TOWN OF ITHACA SPECIAL BOARD MEETING March 17 , 1975 At a special meeting of the Town Board of the Towri of Ithaca , Tomp- `' kips County , New York , held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , on the 17th day of March , 1975 , at 5 . 00 p . m . , there Were PRESENT . Waiter J . Schwan , Super4iso Arid e1 w W . McElwee , ; dbUhc' ilmari Noei Desch , Councilman Robert N . Powers , Caunciimah ABSENT ° Victor Del Rosso ; C61incAmah . ALSO PRESENT . Lawrence ' P . Fabbrbni , Town Engineer Barbara Holcomb , Planning Board Chairwoman Robert Parkin4 � Highway Superintendent Paul Eberts , 230 Renwick Drive Mrs . Ruth -Mahr , 103 Judd Falls Road Heniy Wa. Theisen , Attorney- at-Law Syivia Wahl , 1426 Hanshaw Road. Radio , TV , and Press PROPOSED WARD SYSTEM Supervisor Schwan read two alternate propositions with respect to how the proposal on the ward system or the retention of the present at- large system of electing councilmen will be pre - sented to the voters at a special town election in April . It . appeared the proposition could be presented in two parts , as fol - lows . SHALL. THE TOWN OF ITHACA CONTINUE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ELECTING SIX . TOWN COUNCILMEN AT LARGE INSTEAD OF BY WARDS , WITH THE TERM OF EACH COUNCILMAN BEING FOR FOUR YEARS AND WITH THREE COUNCILMEN BEING ELECTED AT EACH BIENNIAL ELECTION ? OR SHALL THE TOWN OF ITHACA ADOPT THE WARD SYSTEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 85 OF THE TOWN LAW WHEREBY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF TOMPKINS COUNTY SHALL DIVIDE THE TOWN INTO SIX WARDS AND FIX THE BOUNDARIES THEREOF AND PURSUANT TO WHICH EACH WARD SHALL ELECT ONE COUNCILMAN TO REPRESENT THE WARD FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS , .AND PURSUANT TO WHICH ALL SIX COUNCILMEN WILL BE ELECTED AT EACH BIENNIAL ELECTION? itNext to each of these propositions there would be a box and the voter would be instructed to check one box only . The alternate method as prepared by the Town Attorney for the Board ' s consideration was to state the proposition as follows * SHALL THE TOM OF ITHACA ADOPT THE WARD SYSTEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 85 OF THE TOWN LAW WHEREBY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF T014PKINS COUNTY SHALL DIVIDE THE TOWN INTO SIX WARDS AND FIX THE BOUNDARIES THEREOF AND PURSUANT TO WHICH EACH WARD SHALL ELECT ONE COUNCILMAN TO REPRESENT THE WARD FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS , AND PURSUANT TO WHICH ALL SIX COUNCILMEN WILL BE ELECTED AT EACH BIENNIAL ELECTION . In this case the voter would indicate his wishes by a " yes " or a " no " . Town Board Meeting - 2 - March 17 1975 Mr . Theisen thought the first method was unnecessarily involved in that it appeared to be two propositions . Supervisor Schwan explained that t would be clearer to the voter because the alternatives are made more definite . The voter could make his choice by marking one box . Mr . Theisen questioner Whether it was legally proper to do it that way . Supervisor Schwan suggested that if there was a question about the let'ality the meeting could be ad - journed until the following evening to allow tide to look into it . Mrs . Mahr said she felt it Mould be unriecessarily confusing to the voters . Supervisor Schwan repeated that he thought the format is more explanatory , and , therefore , although it is in two parts it ' is less confusing . Mr . Theisen said the first method is not what the Committee for Election by Ward had requested iast fall . He said his understanding was that the Town Board would vote in favor of pre - senting the proposition o SHALL THE WARD SYSTEM BE ADOPTED ? Council - man McElwee noted that the Board had simply agreed to schedule a special election in April and had not agreed on any particular pro- position format . Mr . Theisen contended that the proposition not to have the ward system was placed first and the proposition to have a ward system was placed seconds Supervisor Schwan suggested that the propositions could be put side by side on a ballot . Mrs . Mahr , for the record , registered her objection to the Proposed method as confusing and not what the Committee for Election by Ward had asked for . Mr . McElwee repeated that all the Board had agreed to was to set a date for special election to vote on whether or not to have a ward system . Mr . Theisen suggested that if one proposition was placed on the ballot above the other the one on top should be the proposition to have a ward system . Mrs . Mahr said the propositions were put in very legalistic terms . Supervisor Schwan noted that it was drafted by the Town Attorney and without any contribution from the Town Board as to what he should put on paper . Mrs . Mahr contended that the Board was making it as difficult for the people as possible and she recommended asking them if they wanted the ward system of elections to be established in the Town of Ithaca . Supervisor Schwan did not agree and said the proposed method makes perfectly clear what is in- volved . The voter reads both propositions and he knows what he is voting for . He said although the language is longer it is more ex- plantory and specific . After the discussion , it was the sense of the Board to pro- ceed. and to accept the first method in principle ; that the proposi - tions would be set side by side on the ballot , rather than one above . the other , with a box next to each proposition , and with instruction to the voters to check one box only . The Board then proceeded with the. following motion schedul - ing the special election ° Motion by Councilman : Desch ; ,, seconded by Councilman McElwee , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby call a Special Town Election to be held in said Town on the 22nd day of April , 19750 and that there willibe submitted to the qualified voters of said Town at said election the following propositions . SHALL THE TOWN OF ITHACA CONTINUE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ELECTING SIX TOWN COUNCILMEN AT LARGE INSTEAD OF BY WARDS , WITH THE TERMS OF EACH COUNCILMAN BEING FOR FOUR .YEARS AND WITH THREE COUNCILMEN BEING ELECTED AT EACH BIENNIAL ELECTION? Town Board Minutes - 3 m MArdh 17 , 1975 OR SHALL THE TOWN . O, F ITHACA , PURSUANT TO SECTION 81 OF THE TOWN . LAW , ADOPT THE WARD SYSTEM WHEREBY , PURSUANT . TO SECTION 85 OF THE TOWN LAW , THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF TOMPKINS COUNT. DIVIDE THE TOWN INTO SIX WARDS AND FIX THE, BOUNDARIES THEREOF AND PURSUANT TO WHICH EACH WARD SHALL ELECT ONE COUNCILMAN TO REPRESENT THE WARD FOR A TERM OF . ' WO YEARS , AND PURSUANT TO. WHICH ALL SIX COUNCILMEN WILL BE ELECTED AT EACH BIENNIAL ELECTION ? and that said election will be held at the following polling places in the Town of Ithaca . District No . l = Tompkins County Hospital ; Nursers Recreation Robui , Trumansburg Road District No . 2 - Vehicle Maintenance Building , 150 Bostwick Road . . District No . 3 - National Cash Register Company Cafeteria , Darby Road District No . _ 4 - Riley Robb Hall , Cornell University , Judd Falls Road . District No . 5 - Cayuga Heights Fire Station , 194 Pleasant Grove Road . District No . 6 - Northeast School , Winthrop Drive District No . 7 - Cayuga Heights School , East Upland' and Hanshaw Roads . District No . 8 - Community Service Center , 1701 N '. Cayuga Street , District No . 9 - Northeast School , Winthrop Drive . and that the polls of said Special Town Election will be opened at 12 o ' clock noon and will be closed at the hour of 8 : 00 o ' clock p . m . , and that the vote upon such propositions will be taken by ballot in the manner provided by law . No person As entitled to vote at said election unless he or she is a qualified voter of said Town of Ithaca . The last date to register to vote will be April 17 , 1975 . Unanimously carried . FIRE CONTRACT WITH'. CITY OF ITHACA Supervisor Schwan requested authorization to execute check in favor of the City of Ithaca in the amount of $ 136 , 500 . to cover contracted amount for fire protection for the year 1975 . Motion by Councilman Desch ; seconded by Councilman McElwee , RESOLVED , that the Supervisor be authorized to sign and deliver to the City of Ithaca check in payment for the contracted amount of $ 136 , 500 for fire protection for the Town of Ithaca for the year 1975 as soon as the contract is finally approved by the Town Attorney and has been executed by the parties to the contract . Unanimously carried . . a 5 Town Board Minctes 4 - March . 17 , 1975 BUS SERVICE FOR RESIDENTS OF ELLIS HOLLOW ROAD APARTMENTS Supervisor Schwan read , a draft of a letter prepared by the Town Attorney to Mr . Wilbur Trammell , attorney . A d partner of Groff Associates , Ltd ,e , owners of the Ellis Hollow �ipatments . . The letter advises Groff Associates that they are in violation of . the resolutions of the Town of Ithaca and in violation, of the '.,dgieement between Groff and the Town of Ithaca in which '- droffs 'agreed they would provide trans - portation . for the occupants, to and from tho.; project and the downtown area of Ithaca ,, if public transportation carriers did not stop at the project to pick up or dischhrge pa § sengerse The . letter advises . Groff that they are in breach of the , agreement ; and that the Town of Ithaca may reV6ke the Certificate of Occupancy in view of the circumstances . Sylvia Wahl , Advisof , County Office for the Aging , , stated . that the Council for the Aging wished to express its concern about the lack of transportation for the residents of Ellis Hollow Apart - ments and to urge the Ithaca Town Board to press Groff Associates to carry out their agreement and for the Board to continue to work to- ward public transportation for the residents of the Town of Ithaca . Mrs . Wahl also said she would like to see the Town Board consider the use of revenue sharing funds for services for the elder- ly . She said aging is one of the priority areas for the use of rev- enue sharing funds and that older people are overlooked when the use of revenue sharing funds is considered . She asked whether the new Town Hall had an elevator , since when Federal dollars are used there should be facilities for the older people or the handicapped . Super- visor Schwan said there is no such prohibition in terms of revenue sharing in purchasing an existing building . Supervisor Schwan noted that there was no elevator in the building at 108 East Green Street on the side of the building occupied by the Town . Further , in the new Town Hall theimain offices. are on the ground floor and the Board room is only one 'flight up , a considerable improvement over the City building . Supervisor Schwan indicated that the Town would be working closely with the City of Ithaca to see if anything can be arranged using City buses for the transportation of the elderly . He indiccated also that the Town would be pressing Groff Associates to honor their agreements . HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT - PART TIME EMPLOYEE Highway Superintendent Parkin said the Highway Department needed an extra man part time . Motion by Supervisor Schwan ; seconded by Councilman Desch , RESOLVED , that the Highway Superintendent be authorized to hire a part time employee for the Highway Department . i Unanimously carried . ADJOURNMENT •4 The meeting was adjourned at 5 : 40 p . m . Edward L . Bergen Town Clerk