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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1984-05-21 TOWN OF ITHACA SPECIAL BOARD MEETING May 21 , 1984 At a Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , held at the Town Offices at 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , at twelve noon , on the 21st day of May , 1984 , there were : ® PRESENT : Noel Desch , Supervisor George Kugler , Councilman Shirley Raffensperger , Councilwoman Marc Cramer, Councilman Henry McPeak , Councilman Robert Bartholf , Councilman ABSENT . Gloria Howell , Councilwoman ALSO PRESENT . Lawrence Fabbroni , Town Engineer Peter Lovi , Town Planner PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance . SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING OF WALTER WIGGINS PROPERTY Town Planner Peter Lovi stated that the Planning Board had adjourned their scheduled May 15th public hearing to give themselves time to get the exact language together . He went on to say that in the interest of moving things along, he was requesting that the Town Board set the date for a public hearing in June . Supervisor Desch asked if the rezoning would now be for a smaller parcel than was originally proposed? Mr . Lovi responded , the parcel to be rezoned will be the same size as the original request as land in the back was added to make up the difference . Councilwoman Raffensperger noted that with the Planning Board meeting so late in the month , the Board members would not have time to read the minutes before the June Town Board meeting . The opinion of the Town Board was to hold off and schedule the public hearing at a later Town Board meeting . CIVILSOFT SEMINAR ® RESOLUTION NO , 88 Motion by Supervisor Desch , seconded by Councilman Cramer , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby authorizes Town Engineer Lawrence Fabbroni to attend the Microcomputer Hardware and Software Seminar , June 4 , 1984 , in Baltimore , Maryland . ) ql Town Board 2 May 21 , 1984 ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , McPeak and Bartholf voting Aye . Nays - none ) . REFUND - WATER AND SEWER BENEFIT UNITS RESOLUTION NO , 89 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman McPeak , WHEREAS , Town Building Inspector Dais Cartee has inspected the dwelling at 120 Northview Road and has determined that the residence no longer contains a separate apartment , ® NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ,, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby authorizes a refund of one unit of water at $52 . 00 and one unit of sewer at $50 . 00 , total refund of $ 102 . 00 be paid to William and Amy Seldin for benefit units charged on their 1984 Taxes . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , McPeak , and Bartholf voting Aye . Nays - none ) . ASSISTANT ENGINEER Town Engineer Lawrence Fabbroni addressed the Board regarding the problem of an assistant during the time he will be acting as the Owner ' s Representative on the joint sewer project . He asked the Board how they envisioned this person handling certain job responsibilities ? The Town Engineer stated that he did not see a need for an assistant at this time . He went cn to say that it was difficult for him to handle people unless the Board comes to come decision . He asked , "How does the Board feel , I ' ve not been in on any of the discussions held so far , like I was when we sat down and looked at the needs for the project attorney . " JOB DESCRIPTION Alternative 1 Delegate more responsibility to existing staff , overcome startup complications and peaks with summer staff and temporary employees , assess the long-term needs for engineering assistance in late August . Alternative 2 Special Projects Assistant to the Town Engineer -- Part Time ( 10-20 hours per week ) . BSCE with 2 years field experience in general civil and environmental engineering , ability to write and respond to public needs , area of expertise should include , but not be limited to , hydraulics and drainage , paving , small building construction , water and sewer , computer-aided design or management . Alternative 3 ® Assistant to the Town Engineer ( 20 hours per week ) . BSCE with 2 years or MSCE with training and experience in the broad range of civil and environmental problems including transportation , drainage , water , sewer , simple structures , planning , construction management , environmental studies , computer programming , with an interest in public service and basic knowledge of regulatory and State agencies in New York State , Supervisor Desch responded that with the timing involved the Town needs someone full time , at least for the summer , with the amount of projects we have scheduled . Then this person should be � 5 � Town Board 3 May 21 , 1984 available for twenty hours a week during the winter and full time again next summer . Town Engineer Fabbroni asked how you can present continuity to someone when they expand and contract each month ? Supervisor Desch responded to Mr . Fabbroni , "Either you are going to be the Owner ' s Representative on the project or the Town Engineer , but you can ' t do both full time " . Mr . Fabbroni responded , " I don ' t get to speak to my own Board " . Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked that she was not sure what the ® area of disagreement was ? Town Engineer Fabbroni responded that what was at issue was the amount of time he would be spending as the Owner ' s Representative . He went on to say that the project has a Grants Administrator , administrative aid , attorney and Stearns & Wheler also . The Owner ' s Representative is someone who is in daily contact with the contractor . The Owner ' s Representative keeps the Boards and the SJS informed of the progress and problems . Supervisor Desch responded , why did EPA approve 30 hours a week for a person to be designated as the Owner ' s Representative . Why did you agree with me that as Owner ' s Representative you would have an assistant to handle the Town ' s projects ? The Town Engineer stated that today we hired three civil engineering juniors from Cornell . See how they turn out , wait until the end of August to make a decision . They have finished their junior year and we could have one part-time . He went on to say that he sees the fourth person falling over everybody . Supervisor Desch asked who was going to keep the three civil engineering juniors busy? The Town Engineer responded , I will . Supervisor Desch then asked , why don ' t we hire a separate person if its so straight forward ? Mr . Fabbroni responded , "That part is not so cut and dried . I have a comfortable position with the City from Barbara Eckstrcm to Robert Dingman . During the era of the beginning of the project , Phil Cox and I picked the engineering firm of Stearns & Wheler . I had to play second fiddle to Phil Cox and then Don Kinsella . My interest in this role was misrepresented to the City by you , Noel . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she saw no particular conflict . Larry wants to be the Owner ' s Representative on the sewer project . The Board must now set down and discuss , as a Board , was is needed to cover the Town ' s needs . Supervisor Desch responded , that in all due respect to Larry , there ® are going to be times when problems will arise at the same time in the Town and on the project , and he will not be able to handle both at the same time . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she though staff members already give enough of their time . What is the difficulty with twenty hours per week , of another persons time , to help the Town ? Supervisor Desch responded that he had a problem with having extra help for only twenty hours per week during the summer . On a g � � Town Board 4 May 21 , 1984 sustained basis , twenty hours would be okay . The Supervisor asked the Town Engineer if he had interviewed anyone yet ? The Town Engineer responded that he had not as he could not make a commitment to anyone until he knew what was going on . Councilman McPeak asked if the person would need a license ? Supervisor Desch responded no , the person hired would be under Larry ' s overall supervision . Supervisor Desch asked if there were any elements of the job description that the Board would like to discuss ? ® Councilman Cramer questioned Alternative 3 , and the role of Michael Ocello who presently hold the title of Assistant to the Engineer . Town Engineer Fabbroni responded that coming before the Board would be a problem . Mr . Ocello could handle the other parts of the Engineer ' s job , as he has as much background with surveying as I have . Mike could support the person you are talking about hiring . He went on to question the Board , " In the long run , do you want someone between him and me? He has to get somebody to carry out his tasks as he has no assistant . As an overall thing , is the bottom line engineering or a lot of things that eat away at the engineer ' s time " . Supervisor Desch remarked that Town Planner Peter Lovi could handle some of the work load , but the heavy load of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals are taking more and more of his time . Town Engineer Fabbroni responded that he was having a problem accepting the Supervisor ' s remarks that he would not be able to direct the extra summer help along with the rest of the job . Supervisor Desch responded , "We don ' t know how fast the contractor will get started . But we suspect , with the contractor who won the bid , that we will be at full speed very fast . We cannot let the Town down because of the sewer project " . Supervisor Desch questioned the availability of a Joseph Bonner , who is on the list of potential candidates . Town Engineer Fabbroni responded that Mr . Bonner would be available full time in the summer , however , there might be a problem with twenty hours during the heavy school year . Supervisor Desch responded that if a person like Bonner could not make a commitment of twenty hours per week , then we should take a fresh look at our job description . Councilwoman Raffensperger noted that the Board has a list of possibilities , we need a person who can work full time now and less during the academic year . ® Supervisor Desch suggested that two or three prospects be brought to a noon meeting for an interview. He went on to say that he would like to resolve the problem as quickly as possible . He then said to Town Engineer Fabbroni that he did not want him to be the person to decide . To the Town Board , the Supervisor said , " You and I , as elected officials cannot have homeowners coming to the Board saying we cannot get an get an answer from the engineer because he si too busy on the sewage treatment plant project" . WORK SESSION - ZONING ORDINANCE Town Board 5 May 21 , 1984 Town Planner Peter Lovi suggested that the Board members read through the definitions and if they are approved , then he would reprint them for replacement in the binders . Supervisor Desch stated that he preferred going through the body of the ordinance first and then consider the definitions . Mr . Lovi responded the he would prefer going through the definitions first . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she would know later , after going throught the ordinance , if she like the definitions or not . ® Town Planner Lovi noted that the new definitions should replace the definitions in Article II . Things are defined in a more general way . Town Attorney Buyoucos added the it should be made easier for people to figure out what category they are in so that they won ' t have to make a judgement . The Town Attorney went on to say that the ordinance will not be changed to a local law . Supervisor Desch noted that the present document is an ordinance . Mr . Buyoucos responded that the present ordinance is both an ordinance and a local law. Town Planner Lovi remarked that he thought the idea of a work session was to get the language in working order . Supervisor Desch responded that the Board needed to know what they have accomplished and what needs to be done . Town Attorney Buyoucos remarked that anybody who read the zoning ordinance should be able to understand its meaning . Why have selective communities referenced in it ? Councilwoman Raffensperger added , the Town of Ithaca rejected the plan because of some areas of high density . Town Planner Lovi suggested that the word " family " be replaced with the word " household " . The Town Attorney stated that he was against changing the word family to household . Mr . Lovi noted that he felt the language pertaining to Multiple Residence was to extreem . Councilwoman Raffensperger asked the Town Attorney if he Would have something to replace this language . Mr . Buyoucos responded , yes . ® Councilwoman Raffensperger questioned a planned primary highway . Supervisor Desch stated that he felt a definite definition of a Planned primary highway should be included in the definitions . Town Attorney Buyoucos asked the Board to consider saying that there are sufficient business zones that have already been established and more will not be developed unless there is a need . 09T Town Board 6 May 21 , 1984 Town Engineer Fabbroni remarked that the definitions of Business Zones are very disjointed . Town Planner Lovi stated that the Biggs activities would fall into planned development . Others would be by site plan review . Town Attorney Buyoucos remarked that a Special Permit says you can have it if you meet certain criteria . Supervisor Desch stated there was a need for the Board to face up to the need for PUD ' s . Councilwoman Raffensperger reminded everyone that the Board did not ® want spot zoning . ADJOURNMENT The meeting was duly adjourned . own Clerk