HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1989-06-12 TOM OF ITHACA
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
June 12 , 1989
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca ,
Tompkins 'County , New York , held at the Town Hall , 126 East Seneca
Street , Ithaca , New York , on the 12th day of June , 1989 , there
were :
PRESENT . Noel Desch , Supervisor
Henry McPeak , Councilman
Shirley Raffensperger , Councilwoman
Robert Bartholf , Councilman
Patricia Leary , Councilwoman
David Klein , Councilman
John Whitcomb , Councilman
ALSO PRESENT : John Ozolins , Highway Superintendent
Sally Olsen , Town Engineer
John Barney , Town Attorney
Ed Cobb , 1005 Danby Road
Mary Gilliland , 172 Pearsall Place
Peter Fortunato , 172 Pearsall Place
Beverly Livesay , Board of Reps
Peter Hillman , 370 Stone Quarry Road
Myrtle Whitcomb , 233 Troy Road
Richard Elliott , Stearns & Wheler
Kinga Gergely , 106 Juniper Drive
Ephraim Tomlinson III , 224 Bostwick Road
Norman Hollenbeck , 726 Five Mile Drive
John A . Salmi , 132 Enfield Falls Road
James Farrelly , 658 Elmira Road
Mary M . Bergman , 212 Enfield Falls Road
Emmett N . Bergman , 212 Enfield Falls Road
Theo H . Jenks , 655 Five Mile Drive
William C . Jenks , 655 Five Mile Drive
Mark Tomlinson , 175 Culver Road
Ralph Bacon , 704 Five Mile Drive
Lois Bacon , 704 Five Mile Drive
Jane Hardy , 215 Enfield Falls Road
Fred T . Wilcox III , 109 Juniper Drive
Louis J . Mobbs , 619 Five Mile Drive
Marilyn Turk , 619 Five Mile Drive
Rene Poelvoorde , Finger Lakes Parks
Dan Hoffmann , Common Council
Charles Drake , 305 Woodgate
G . Ambruster , 350 Five Mile Drive
Richard Tompkins , 176 Seven Mile Drive
Linda Tompkins , 176 Seven Mile Drive
Carol Ridall , 172 Seven Mile Drive
James Ridall , 172 Seven Mile Drive
Thomas Bell , 82 Curry Road , Trumansburg
Martha Bell , 82 Curry Road , Trumansburg
Richard Anderson , 246 Iradell Road
Terry Manheim, 614 Elmira Road
Gary Lindenbaum , 209 Giles Street
Earland Mancini , 608 Elmira Road
Sybil Phillip , 721 Elmira Road
L . Cook 702 Elmira Road
Rich Hill , 726A Five Mile Drive
Glenn Snyder , 126 Seven Mile Drive
Town Board Minutes 2 June 12 , 1989
Phil White , Jr . 348 Applegate Road
Jim Walker , 235 Enfield Falls Road
Robert P . Axtman , 17 Deerfield Lane
George Wells , 214 Enfield Falls Road
Edward Bosworth , 255 Troy Road
Leonard Geller , 8 Bridge Street
Ashley Miller , 343 Iradell Road , Trumansburg
Margaret Fabrizio , 213 King Street
Lisa Blackwell , 110 Day Hall
Richard B . Fischer , 135 Pine Tree Road
Bruce Brittain , 135 Warren Road
Douglas Brittain , 135 Warren Road
Robert Cotts , 115 Northview Road
Barbara Cotts , 115 . Northview Road
Paul Booth , 107 Judd Falls Road
Misty March , 212 Linden Avenue
Lisa Roop , 116 Osman Place
Representatives of the Media .
Jay Cox , Ithaca Journal
.Ben Jobes , WICB Radio
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance .
REPORT OF TOWN OFFICIALS
Supervisor ' s Report
Speed Limits
Supervisor- Desch stated that there is good news and bad news on our
request to the State for lower speed limits . First , the bad news
is the denial of our request on Burns Road and Dates Drive which
means that they stay at 55MPH . However , we can rethink the
advisory curve and grade signs and perhaps add curve signs at Dates
Drive . We did succeed with West King Road from Danby Road to the
top of the hill beyond the park and on West Haven Road which were
reduced to 40 MPH . These are very important .
Court Operations
Supervisor- Desch noted that the move is underway with some sessions
already having occurred in the old Court House and it is working
our very well . The last session in Town Hall will be June 28 so
engineering can start the move at that time .
Asbestos Removal
Supervisor Desch reported that this is moving forward slowly with
the accurmnrlation of information on contractors bid specifications .
We hope to know more in July .
Flood Plain_ Management Regulations
Supervisor Desch noted that the Town had been informed by DEC that
they have found a number of deficiencies in our local law with
respect to the Federal regulations . Our attorneys are reviewing
the matter . We have 90 days to correct the deficiencies and 30
days to send back a schedule for correction . We should set a
hearing for our August meeting to adopt these largely
administrative corrections .
RESOLUTION N0 , 131
Motion by Supervisor Desch , seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger ,
Town Board Minutes 3 June 12 , 1989
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 6 : 30 P . M . , on August 7 , 1989 to
consider amendments to the local law on Flood Plain Management .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitccmb
voting Aye: . Nays - none ) ,
Designation of Lands in Six Mile Creek as Park Lands
Supervisors Desch went on to say that the City has agreed to go back
to the drawing board to rethink their proposal to designate about
200 acres of land in the Town as substitute park lands for the
Festival Lands . This was proposed to the State without Town or the
affected property owners knowledge . He stated that he had
suggested to the Mayor that the year old plan to form a joint
legislative committee with respect to the need for land use policy
for the entire Six Mile Creek watershed be followed through with ,
as the City indicated they would do a year ago .
Town Engineer ' s Report
Town Engineer Sally Olsen reported that on the 1989 water and sewer
improvements she had been working on a preliminary list of parcels
to be served and have sent letters to the property owners inviting
them to be here tonight . She stated that she was still researching
new highway specifications and was expecting copies of other Towns
specifications . She went on to say that she had inspected Westview
Drive , Sunnyview Drive and John Street for acceptance along with
inspecting the drainage at # 2 Fairway Drive to make sure the
drainage is towards the road . The Town Engineer stated that they
have coordinated with the County engineering to place a 24 " by 70 '
long steel. casing pipe under the new Dubois Road intersection to
carry the 12 " water line that will be installed by Indian Creek
Retirement developers . Phase III , 1987 water and sewer
improvements are vertually completed . Clean up has been scheduled
on Phases I and II . The raw data is about to be sent to the
consultant , for their analyses , on the Inflow/ Infiltration Study .
Highway Superintendent ' s Report
Highway Superintendent John Ozolins reported that all the hot mix
paving was completed during the month and we have now taken care of
fixing driveways also , patching on Burns Road . Up caning
activities , depending on the weather , he was looking at surface
treating the last week of the month , shoulders we plan to start
this week and patching on and off the remainder of the summer . We
have just about completed mowing throughout the Town once but that
will be an ongoing summer project . We plan on tree trimming in
September .
The Highway Superintendent went on to say that with all the rain
the grass has really been growing but the rain hinders mowing and
planting . .
Building Inspector/ Zoning Officer ' s Re rt
Building Inspector/ Zoning Officer Andrew Frost reported that
building permits were issued for eight single family attached ,
three single family detached , one two-family residence , two permits
for additions and one for educational , plus nine miscellaneous
permits which included three mobile hares for a total of 24
building permits issued . We are running about the same as we did
last year . Twenty eight Certificates of Compliance were issued .
We investigated eight new complaints for the month . 105 field
visits for the month of May .
Town Board. Minutes 4 June 12 , 1989
Councilman. Klein asked what was the timetable for the Chamber of
Commerce in terms of site work ?
Building Inspector/ Zoning Officer Frost replied that he had given
them until. August 1st on a temporary certificate pending completion
of the site work .
Town Planner ' s Report
Town Planner Susan Beeners reported that the pace of development
applications coming in has slowed down noticeably from the last two
years , at this time . She also felt that the pace of review of
these proposals has also slowed down . She noted the South Hill
Recreational informational meeting held at Town Hall and the Fall
Creek meeting held at City Hall . She stated that they had several
student interns now and they have been quite helpful in doing
natural resource mapping in our efforts with comprehensive planning
and assisting engineering with the water and sewer improvements .
The Town Planner noted that the Board members had received tonight
a project proposal by Douglas Foster who is a CRP grad student . He
was hired last month for some aspects of comprehensive planning
work . He is looking at several major stream corridors in the Town .
Looking at the specific needs of those corridors and also will make
some recommendations for different types of regulations that might
supplement what we have currently .
Ms . Beeners went on to say that the Comprehensive Planning
Consultant , Stuart Brown , his latest prediction is that a draft
report will be available around the 28th of June . She stated that
she had asked him to submit a full report of the expenses incurred ,
work performed to this time , that can be reviewed .
Councilwoman Raffensperger asked if there was some reason
Buttermilk Creek was not on the list of possible creeks needing
protection ?
Town Planner Beeners replied that she supposed it could be . She
went on to say that the list has expanded a little bit from what
she thought it would originally include . She stated that she
wanted Doug Foster to look not only at specific creeks but to
perhaps initially , on a town-wide basis , take a look at the
applicability of conservation easements . Also are transfer of
development rights appropriate ? So we will not really be
concentrating on anything specific but just have some
recommendations . Virtually all of these creeks have a mixture of
land which is tax exempt owned by parks and Cornell , where there is
some kind of a land management , and also private areas .
Counci]man Klein remarked that he assumed the June 28th date for
the Stuart Brown report was somewhat out of sync with the original
time frame . Have we asked him to provide an alternative schedule
or a method of making up sane lost tine ?
Town Planner Beeners replied that she did need to write to Mr .
Brown , so she could pin him down .
COUNTY BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVE ' S REPORT
Representative Beverly Livesay reported that she felt the Town ' s
contract for Youth Services would be effected by what the County
does , if the County does what is being proposed . She noted that
the Town ' s contract was for both recreation and the youth services ,
what the County is working on in the study committee is probably a
recommendation that it be limited to youth services just at this
time , at the County level . It is hoped that it would pick up all
Town Board. Minutes 5 June 12 , 1989
or at least most of the youth services . You should keep your
options open with the City .
Supervisor Desch asked if there was anything new on the transfer
station?
Mrs . Livesay replied , that is going ahead with the environmental
impact statement . The site has been designated and will go through
the same process that the landfill went through . She felt it would
be a good plan unless something turns up in the environmental
impact statement . Then it will go through the licensing process so
you don ' t really know until you have been through all of the
processes .
YOUTH SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF ITHACA
Supervisor Desch remarked that the contract reflects the terms of
the agreement that we mapped out last fall following the master
planning and the final budget negotiations .
Councilwonan Raffensperger remarked that the Board had discussed ,
over a period of time , not only the fees but equitability and
availability of services . She wondered if that was something that
should be in the contract .
Supervisor Desch replied that the intention was , the way it was
worded covers that and so far the sign ups have been on that kind
of basis . There seems to be no problem with it .
Town Attorney Barney remarked that he had not heard back from the
City Attorney so there might be some minor modifications to the
agreement .
RESOLUTION NO , 132
Motion by Councilman MCPeak ,, seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the execution of the Youth Services agreement by the
Supervisor with such minor modifications , if any , that might be
required in the negotiations with the City .
(Desch , Mc:Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none) .
CODDINGI'ON ROAD COMMUNITY CENTER SUMMER PROGRAM
Supervisor Desch noted that the program this years is almost
identical to the programs held the past several years . Because of
timing the application has already been sent so it is a matter of
ratifying the scope of the program .
RESOLUTION NO . 133
Motion by Supervisor Desch , seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby ratify
the agreement with the Coddington Road Community Center for the
summer recreation program in the amount of $ 1 , 395 . 00 .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye „ Nays - none ) .
Town Board Minutes 6 June 12 , 1989
REFERRAL OF RUMSEY REZONING APPLICATION TO PLANNING BOARD
Town Planner Susan Beeners reported that there were a couple of
pieces of property owned by Margaret Rumsey as represented by Allen
Hayes , they have submitted a request for the rezoning of the
quonset but that is adjacent to Buttermilk Falls State Park and a
property which contains Mrs . Rumsey ' s bed and breakfast inn from
Residence District R-30 to an unspecified business category . There
has been some trouble getting really sufficient information to
proceed along or for her to recommend that the application was
really complete as far as an application for rezoning . We need to
know not only what do they want it rezoned to but more importantly
the site plan is deficient as far as showing the proposed access ,
parking and other features are . She stated that she was
recommending that the Town Board refer this somewhat incomplete
application to the Planning Board for their review and for them to
request what additional information they would like to see so that
they can make a recommendation back to the Town Board .
Town Attorney Barney remarked that this has been the subject of
litigation and they are under order as the result of the Town
seeking an injunction to bring it into conformance and he felt this
was their :response to it .
Councilman Klein asked , what was illegal ?
Town Attorney Barney replied , there were several items but the
major one was the outside storage . There was a variance obtained
to operate a cable operation out of the but but it was conditioned
expressly on the prohibition of outside storage . There has been
outside storage and as a result the Town got an injunction
restraining them from having the outside storage . The judge
directed them that if they wanted to do it to file an application
for rezoning .
RESOLUTION NO . 134
Motion by Councilman Klein ; seconded by Councilman McPeak ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby refer
the application of Margaret Rumsey for rezoning of Tax Parcel No .
38-1 -2 and 38-1-3 to the Town of Ithaca Planning Board for their
consideration .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye „ Nays - none ) .
SALARY INCREASE FOR ASSISTANT BUDGET OFFICER
RESOLUTION N0 . 135
Motion by Councilman Bartholf , seconded by Councilwoman Leary ,
WHEREAS , Linda Nobles was appointed Assistant Budget
Officer/Personnel Manager on November 7 , 1988 , and
WHEREAS , Mrs . Nobles has completed her six month probationary
period in an exemplary manner , and
WHEREAS , the Town at the time of employment agreed to consider a
salary increase at the time of completion of the probationary
period ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize that the salary of the Assistant Budget
Town Board Minutes 7 June 12 , 1989
Officer/Personnel Manager be increased from $ 25 , 000 /year to
$ 26 , 000 /year effective immediately . The increase will not effect
eligibility for an increase on January 1 , 1990 .
(Desch , Mc:Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
AMENDMENT TO THE HIGHWAY PAVING PROGRAM - PHEASANT LANE
Supervisor Desch remarked that he assumed the Board members had
seen the correspondence on this including the petition . He went on
to say that basically what the people in the Pheasant Lane/Dove
Drive area are saying is that since we paved Dove Drive that the
short stretch of Pheasant Lane should be surfaced with the same
quality . He felt this was true in a large measure , however , the
10-Year Paving Plan does not indicate it that way so if we are
going to change it it means an amendment to the Highway Agreement
and the allocation of funds for that which means that some funds
will not be available for some other paving in the Town or in the
alternative the budget would have to be amended . He noted that the
Highway Superintendent had same reservations .
Highway Superintendent Ozolins stated that just for materials alone
he estimated about $ 6 , 600 . That in itself is not so bad , however ,
right now he was planning on coming back to the Board , taking a
look at what money he had remaining and then additional roads that
are not on the paving plan but that need work . Cold mix paving he
was considering for Game Farm Road at $ 27 , 400 and plus additional
surface treatment above what has already been approved and that is
approximately $ 25 , 200 . There are also some other roads that he
wanted to .look at as far as deterioration because of last winter .
There are other roads that he would have to repave sections of to
keep them from totally falling apart . He stated that his concern
with doing Pheasant Lane right now was because last year it was
surface treated , there is nothing wrong with the road . If we make
an exception on this road then we will have to make exceptions on
other roads . If we do that then we are looking at a big increase
in money . If we approve this then any time anyone wants to crone
in . . . . . you can ' t plan for a budget .
Councilwcanan Raffensperger remarked , this is really a continuous
road .
Highway Superintendent Ozolins replied , the traffic that goes on
there is all local traffic .
Councilwoman Raffensperger replied , the fact that it has two names
is sort of strange . It is after all basically one road and it is
really kind of strange to have one portion of what is basically one
road done on fashion and the other section done in another .
Highway Superintendent Ozolins replied , Dove Drive loops around ,
Pheasant Lane crosses it .
Supervisor Desch remarked , to a certain extent the Highway
Superintendent is right about the outside risk from a standpoint of
setting a precedent but on the other hand in an area where this is
in a sense the only group of streets you don ' t have other streets
going off of it where you would be setting a precedent . He stated
that his view was that the risk of setting a precedent is low in
relation to the benefit that we gain and we really ought to do it .
At the same time you have to recognize that we either substitute
that street. for another street or increase the budget to allow for
that street: to be paved . He asked the Highway Superintendent to
indicate so that the Board will know what other streets are being
Town Board Minutes 8 June 12 , 1989
considered , therefore , if they want to look at those streets in
addition to Pheasant Lane they can do so .
Highway Superintendent Ozolins replied that he was considering Game
Farm Road , a section of Forest Home Drive from the Dryden Town line
up to about Caldwell Hill , Simsbury , Calkins Road , several portions
of Sand Bank Road and Caldwell Hill .
Councilwoman Raffensperger questioned Game Farm Road , she asked if
half of it was going to be done or all of it ?
Supervisor Desch replied , the Town responsibility is the whole
piece from Ellis Hollow to just short of the bridge .
Councilwomen Raffensperger suggested that the Town negotiate with
the Town of Dryden to do something with the part as it is the worst
part of the road .
Highway Superintendent Ozolins remarked that right now he was not
sure what the Town of Dryden was looking at . He will report back
to the Board at the July meeting .
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR DEPUTY TOM CLERK
Supervisor Desch remarked that there was only a minor change in the
job description .
RESOLUTION N0 . 136
Motion by Councilman McPeak ; seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the job description for the Deputy Town Clerk .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
PERSONS TO BE HEARD
Peter Hillman , 370 Stone Quarry Road stated that he would like to
address the noise ordinance . He stated that first of all if one
wants an ordinance there has to be a need for an ordinance . We
took a straw vote at our last South Hill Ccm=ity Association
Meeting and the problem with noise abuse , at least in our section
of Town , is a very real one , its been an on going one and it
continues -to be a real problem . For example , this past spring
before graduation there were two very large parties given by Ithaca
College students . Both of them were along Danby Road and each of
them had art excess of fifty cars parked on either side of the road .
To these large parties they bring rock bands and the noise is quite
loud . Mr . Hillman stated that he lived one-half mile away and he
could shut all of the windows in his house and he could still hear
the noise filter through . The problem is real and we seem to have
no real recourse against it . He stated that he called the Sheriff
on one occasion when there was a student party in the house next to
his , which is rented to student , they said they couldn ' t do
anything because they were not breaking the law . Also there are
parties in Buttermilk Falls State Park and they can be loud and
that he could hear then at his house . Another real problem that
the City has had and it is a real potential problem and that is the
construction noise . He stated that he was not taking about
construction noise in the day time , he was talking about noise at
night time .
Town Board Minutes 9 June 12 , 1989
Mr . Hillman went on to say that with the thought in mind that a
noise ordinance is a very real need , then he took a look at the
noise ordinance that was presented last September . He stated that
he personally found a lot of flaws in that and that he had also
consulted with Albert George who is a professor at Cornell who
teaches an. acoustics and noise course . He is a very knowledgeable
man in regard to measurement of noise . One has to spell out what
DB levels are necessary before that is exceeded and it becomes an
infringement . In consulting with Mr . George , Mr . George said that
the cost and the expertise in enforcing such a thing is really not
that great . Mr . Hillman showed the Board a sound level meter that
is sold by Radio Shack which costs $ 29 . 95 . It is quite capable of
measuring rock music at someones property line accurately . If it
is contested that the meter is not accurately measuring the sound
level , Mr „ George has volunteered to have someone recheck it
following the violation , to check the accuracy of the meter . So
that is really not a problem . Obviously , for $ 30 . 00 a piece you
could have one in each Sheriff ' s car and the Building Inspector ,
Andrew Frost , could have one , also . This is good for one type of
noise and that is continuous noise as produced by rock bands .
There is another type of noise that is called impulse noise .
Impulse noise is noise from gun fire , fire crackers , hammering .
These can be quite irritating too . The problem is that this
particular meter does not respond quickly to follow these transient
noises . Impulse noises need a more elaborate sound level meter and
in those cases you could bring in a consultant who has this kind of
particular meter . He stated that he could see those particular
problems occurring during construction . That is the background on
measurement and enforcement .
Mr . Hillmmin noted a variety of errors from typo ' s to quite
substantial. errors . (Copy of his suggestions are attached to the
minutes ) .
Supervisor Desch suggested that perhaps it would be appropriate to
discuss this item at the July meeting .
Councilwcman Raffensperger remarked that perhaps the Town Attorney
might review this proposal and make comments to the Board by the
meeting because she was sure that if the Board were going to
proceed we should do it before Fall .
Town Attorney Barney replied that he would need some guidance as he
had worked from the City Ordinance as a base but in the preliminary
discussions it was decided that the Town wanted certain items
deleted that were included in the City Ordinance . For example , the
Town did not want construction noise made a part of the ordinance ,
so he deleted this .
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE FORMATION OF THE WINNERS CIRCLE
LIGHTING DISTRICT
Proof of pasting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider the formation of the Winners Circle Lighting District
having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor opened the
public hearing .
Town Attorney Barney remarked that he received a call from the
Attorney for the applicant stated that Mr . Paolangeli was out of
town today , therefore , his absence here tonight does not indicate a
lack of not. wanting the lighting district established .
As no one wished to speak on behalf of or against the lighting
district , the Supervisor closed the public hearing .
Town Board Minutes 10 June 12 , 1989
RESOLUTION NO . 137
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
McPeak ,
RESOLUTION AND ORDER ESTABLISHING
WINNERS CIRCLE SUBDIVISION
LIGHTING DISTRICT AFTER PUBLIC HEARING
WHEREAS , a petition dated April 24 , 1989 , has been duly presented
to the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , according to law,
requesting that a lighting district , as hereinafter described , be
established in the Town of Ithaca , and
WHEREAS , said Town Board duly adopted on the 8th day of May , 1989 ,
an order reciting in general terms the filing of said petition , the
boundaries of the proposed district , the improvements proposed , the
maximum amount proposed to be expended for the improvements , and
specifying that the Town Board shall meet at the Town Hall , 126
East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , on the 12th day of June ,
1989 , at 6 : 45 P . M . , to consider said petition and hear all persons
interested in the subject thereof concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , certified copies of said order were duly published and
posted according to law , and said Town Board did , at the time and
place specified in said order , duly meet and consider the matter of
the establishment of said lighting district , and heard all persons
interested in the subject thereof who appeared at such time and
place , concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , the evidence offered at such time and place requires that
the Town Board make the determinations hereinafter made ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , in the County of
Tompkins , New York , that it be and hereby is determined as follows .
1 . The aforesaid petition is signed and acknowledged as provided
by law and is otherwise sufficient .
2 . That all of the property and property owners , within the
proposed lighting district , are benefitted thereby .
3 . That all of the property and property owners benefitted are
included within the proposed lighting district .
4 . It is in the public interest to establish the proposed
lighting district as hereinafter described ; and be it further
RESOLVED , that the Town Board does hereby approve the establishment
of a lighting district as hereinafter described to be known as the
Winners Circle Subdivision Lighting District , and be it further
RESOLVED , that the boundaries of said Winners Circle Subdivision
Lighting District are as set forth on Schedule A attached to this
resolution , and be it further
RESOLVED , that the following improvements in said district be
constructed. upon the required arrangements being made with New York
State Electric & Gas Corporation : three ( 3 ) lights and associated
poles , brackets , wiring and cable , and be it further
Town Board Minutes 11 June 12 , 1989
RESOLVED , that the proposed improvements , including costs of
rights-of-way , construction costs , legal fees , operating expenses ,
maintenance , and other expenses , shall be financed as follows :
each of the lot owners in said Winners Circle Subdivision shall be
assessed a. proportionate share of the annual cost of operating and
maintaining said lighting system, the Town Board determining that
each lot owner is benefited substantially equally and therefore
until otherwise determined by the Town Board , the cost of the
installation , operation and maintenance of said lighting district
to be borne by each lot owner paying one-sixth or 16 . 666 % of said
cost annually , and be it further
RESOLVED , that the Town Clerk be and she hereby is authorized and
directed to file a certified copy of this resolution , in duplicate ,
in the Office of the State Department of Audit and Control in
Albany , New York , within ten days after the adoption of this
resolution , and be it further
RESOLVED , that pursuant to the terms of the aforesaid resolution
and in accordance with Town Law Section 194 it is hereby
ORDERED , that a lighting district be established in the said Town
of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , as described in the foregoing
resolution ,, to be designated as Winners Circle Subdivision Lighting
District , to have the description and boundaries set forth on
Schedule A annexed to this resolution and order , and it is further
ORDERED , that the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca is hereby
authorized and directed to cause a certified copy of this order to
be duly recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Tompkins County in
which the Town of Ithaca is located , within ten days after the
adoption of this order , and it is further
ORDERED , that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to
file a certified copy of this order in the Office of the State
Department of Audit and Control , Albany , New York , within ten days
after the adoption of this order .
SCHEDULE A
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Ithaca ,
County of 'I Wkins , State of New York , and being the subdivision
known as the "Winners Circle Subdivision " as shown on the
subdivision map entitled " FRANCIS J . PAOLANGELI - DEVELOPER -
WINNERS CIFCLE SUBDIVISION , FINAL PLAT , SLATERVILLE ROAD , NYS ROUTE
79 , TOWN OF, ITHACA , TOMPKINS CO . , N . Y . , " dated February 71 1989 , by
T . G . Miller Associates , P . C . , Engineers & Surveyors , a copy of
which map was filed March 24 , 1989 in the Tompkins County Clerk ' s
Office in Drawer M of Maps , 100 and 101 , and being more
particularly bounded and described as follows :
BEGINNING at a point in the centerline of the Slaterville Road (New
York State Route 79 ) in said Town , which point is at the most
easterly corner of Lot 1 as shown on said subdivision map ; thence
South 64 degrees 42 minutes West ( all bearings magnetic 1988 ) ,
passing through iron pipes at 33 . 4 feet , 228 . 9 feet , 431 . 9 feet ,
and 497 . 1 feet , a total distance of 512 . 4 feet to an iron pipe ;
thence North 35 degrees 33 minutes West , passing through an iron
pipe at 191 . 0 feet , a total distance of 199 . 7 feet to an iron pipe ,
thence North 35 degrees 02 minutes West , passing through iron pipes
at 238 . 0 feet and at 290 . 0 feet , a total distance of 510 . 0 feet to
an iron pipe set in the apparent center of a creek , thence easterly
along the centerline of a creek , a chord bearing North 73 degrees
31 minutes East , a chord distance of 361 . 1 feet , a distance of 363
Town Board Minutes 12 June 12 , 1989
feet more or less , to a point marked by an iron pipe ; thence South
33 degrees 10 minutes East a distance of 166 . 0 feet to an iron
pipe ; thence South 56 degrees 56 minutes West a distance of 41 . 7
feet to an iron pipe ; thence South 34 degrees 24 minutes East ,
passing through an iron pipe at 24 . 5 feet , a total distance of 48 . 5
feet to an iron pipe ; thence North 89 degrees 37 minutes East a
distance of 5 feet to an iron pipe , thence South 30 degrees 07
minutes East a distance of 119 . 7 feet to an iron pipe , thence North
72 degrees; 45 minutes East a distance of 8 . 6 feet to an iron pipe ;
thence South 34 degrees 03 minutes East a distance of 100 . 0 feet to
an iron pipe , thence North 72 degrees 44 minutes East a distance of
127 . 0 feet to an iron pipe , thence North 54 degrees 29 minutes
East , passing through an iron pipe at 61 . 5 feet , a total distance
of 94 . 5 feet to the centerline of Slaterville Road ; thence South 34
degrees 01 minutes East along the centerline of Slaterville Road a
distance of 205 . 8 feet to the point or place of beginning .
Supervisor Desch called for a roll call vote .
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman .Whitccanb Voting Aye
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
The Resolution was duly adopted .
PUBLIC FACILITIES - INDIAN CREEK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Town Planner Beeners stated that she was unable to find the letter
from Scott Lucas but that she could explain its contents . She
showed the Board two maps which showed the proposed six acre
natural area , a trail right-of-way , a park site as well as a
proposed public road system with the remainder of the roads being
privately owned . Also , a utility map plan which includes 1000 ' of
12 " water main which is proposed to be constructed by the
developer . She stated that the letter that she received from Mr .
Lucas , that. she had misplaced , did indicate his intent to construct
1000 ' plus or minus of 12 " main and a hydropneumatic system. It
would be a link between the proposed improvements that the Board
will consider later in the meeting . Mr . Lucas also indicated his
intent to contribute $ 300 per dwelling unit towards the cost of
sewer main improvements . He also indicated that the business about
which road; and utilities would be public versus private . There is
still scme discussion as to exactly what the road names will be but
the Planning Board will have to look at that later when he canes
back for final subdivision and site plan approval .
Ms . Beenerss went on to say , you may remember in the local law
approving the zoning for the property that one of the conditions in
it was the execution of the agreement in which there would be terms
related to both provision of water and sewer services by the
developer to his site under a couple of proposals that were being
considered at that time .
Supervisor Desch remarked , so we have in writing their commitment
to proceed with the 12 " water main along Trumansburg Road along
with the sewer details . He went on to note that on the map of the
streets , you may remember at our last meeting there was a
discussion about the road that forms the loop at the end whether
Town Board Minutes 13 June 12 , 1989
that would be private or public . He asked the Town Planner to
conraent on this .
Town Planner Beeners replied , the loop there is what this Board had
recommended be public road so that the only real private road would
be a couple of little cul-de-sacs off that loop as well as what
goes into the eighty unit retirement complex itself . The local law
for the project does though provide for modification of that
arrangement if the Planning Board decides to require it in the
final plat and site plan .
Supervisor Desch remarked , the concern at the last meeting was the
length of the cul-de-sac . He remarked that he assumed the park
space was not an issue , at this point ?
Town Planner Beeners replied , what is proposed to be reserved
exceeds the 10 % typical dedication . The Indian Creek natural area
is a small wooded stream in which it might be appropriate to have
some kind of a trail over it at scare point . There is no intention
of the Town developing a trail or a crossing of that until we see
what might be happening to the South .
Supervisor Desch asked what part would be dedicated to the Town?
Town Planner Beeners replied , the entire ten acres would be
dedicated , exclusive of the pond .
Councilwoman Raffensperger , speaking to the Town Planner , remarked
there is one entrance and one only but there is a reservation for a
secondary access?
Town Planner Beeners replied , yes . That one entrance is designed
to be a divided road and secondly we requested that he provide a
roadway reservation to the North which could extend when that land
to the North was subdivided so that there could be another access
on the Trim:iansburg Road .
Councilwoman Raffensperger asked , what is the length of the roadway
after you leave the divided part of it?
Town Planner Beeners replied , there is about 1400 of cul-de-sac
from Trumansburg Road to the point at which it divides into a loop ,
rather than your typical 1000 feet . The Engineering Department has
reviewed that aspect of the road .
Councilwoman Raffensperger asked how long the road was after you
leave the divided area , the loop?
Town Planner Beeners replied that she did not know .
Supervisor Desch remarked , perhaps we can measure that and come
back with an answer later in the meeting .
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROPOSED WATER
IMPROVEMENT AREA TO BE KNOWN AS THE TOWN OF ITHACA WATER SYSTEM
BENEFITED AREA - 1989
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider the establishment of a proposed Water Improvement Area to
be known as the Town of Ithaca Water System Benefited Area - 1989
having beer, presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor opened the
public hearing .
Richard Elliott , Stearns & Wheler Engineers and Scientists showed
those present , on a map , the route of the proposed water and sewer
Town Board Minutes 14 June 12 , 1989
improvements . He went on to say that it was proposed to extend
water and sewer in the Inlet Valley area , the area each side of
Route 13 (Elmira Road) from the City line out to approximately
Turback ' s Restaurant and to include Seven Mile Drive and Bostwick
Road up to Seven Mile Drive , Route 13A or Five Mile Drive to the
City line . The water main will be extended from the existing City
tank adjacent to Elm Street . It will extend generally across
undeveloped property to Coy Glen and Glenside Road , down Coy Glen
Road to Route 13A (Five Mile Drive ) . It will extend along Five
Mile Drive to a point approximately equal in distance from Bostwick
Road and -the intersection with Route 13 . There it crosses Inlet
Creek and the railroad tracks to Route 13 and then enters the City
and ties into a line to be extended by the City from their existing
water mains along Elmira Road . The water main between the Elm
Street tank and the City distribution system is proposed to be a
12 " water main . The main extended out Bostwick Road , Seven Mile
Drive and Route 13 are proposed to be 8 " water mains . The sewer to
serve this; same area will be be 8 " sewer mains along Seven Mile
Drive , Bostwick Road and Five Mile Drive and will include pumping
stations and the pumped up Route 13A and will be introduced to a
gravity sewwer main on 13A or Floral Avenue .
Mr . Elliott went on to say that the second element of the water and
sewer improvements includes the construction of same short sections
of water and sewer in the West Hill area along the Trumansburg Road
and is proposed to ccnplete a system in the Indian Creek area . The
water will be constructed in the Woolf Road area and is an
extention of existing water mains and will be done in conjunction
with some improvements to be done by a developer in the area and
will complete a distribution system . Approximately 1200 feet of 8 "
water main and 1800 feet of sanitary sewer . In the South Hill area
in the vicinity of Troy Road and East King Road there is an
existing pressure zone serving an intermediate pressure zone
between the zone created by the Ridgecrest tank and the Coddington
Road tank . That intermediate pressure zone is served by only a
5 , 000 gallon tank and it serves a very narrow band of pressures in
the area . The pressure zone is intended to be modified to an
extent in that it will be broader and serve a wider area and will
also provide storage of 150 , 000 gallons instead of merely 5 , 000
gallons and provide more stable water pressure to those served and
provide a more reliable service and provide extended fire
protection:; .
Mr . Elliott went on to say that in the Taughannock Boulevard area
along the western lake shore area it is proposed to make two
improvements to water and sewer which have been extended to that
vicinity . Those improvements include the construction of flow
metering manholes on the sewer , provision for flushing and a water
metering facility . In brief , those are the improvements envisioned
in the 1989 program .
Supervisor Desch remarked that the Town had quite a bit of
information that has been accumulated over the past five years , a
County Health Department report which indicates both sever quantity
problems and/ or quality problems . We also have a number of letters
and a petition from property owners in the area requesting that the
Town consider the extension of public water , in particular . Since
the announcement of the public hearing there are a number of
letters that we have received requesting that the project be
approved . He stated that he also had had a number of telephone
calls . He then asked the public for comments .
EnTett Bergman , 212 Enfield Falls Road remarked , you mentioned that
water and sewer would cane down to approximately Turback ' s
Restaurant , will that also serve Highway 327 going up to Robert H .
Treman State Park?
F
Town Board Minutes 15 June 12 , 1989
Mr . Elliott replied yes , the water is extended up to approximately
the entrance of the park .
Mr . Bergman asked , water and sewer both?
Supervisor Desch replied , right . Actually the water is limited to
the 525 ' contour because of the elevation of the Elm Street tank in
the City . The sewer is not limited , however , and we have had a
request to go three , four or five houses beyond the water and that
would not be a major problem .
Anita Wilkins , 234 Enfield Falls Road stated that she lived in that
neighborhood and was interested in sewer . She asked if everyone
above that line would have to approve of sewage in order to get it?
Supervisor Desch replied no , in your case there are four or five
houses beyond what the map shows and it would not be a problem to
include those but if there is a large gap in between then it
becomes a major cost factor . They would have the opportunity to
object if they wish .
Gary Linde:nbaum the Business Administrator of the Ithaca Schools
and as a large potential user of both water and sewer on Bostwick
Road we are interested in participating . Currently our buses are
not kept clean because of not enough water in our wells during peak
periods . 'We can ' t clean our buses and it is important to us as a
public image to keep our buses as clean as possible . Also , all of
our drinking water is now purchased , the water currently is not
drinkable . We are a potential large user of water on Bostwick Road
would want you to put it in as quickly as possible .
James Ridall , 172 Seven Mile Drive remarked , we are talking water
and sewer , right?
Supervisor Desch replied , right .
Norman Hollenbeck , 726 Five Mile Drive stated that he would really
be pleased to have water in his home . The past ten years he has
had to go to a second well and it would go dry and then to a
cistern . It is safe but very high in iron and sulphur and during
July and August it was necessary for him to import water and it
costs him , for maintenance service $ 50 . 00 per month and $ 500 for
cleaning the existing well .
Lester Coop , 702 Elmira Road stated that he was definitely looking
forward to both water and sewer . He stated that he was currently
using a dug well and there is a drilled well on the property . He
just purchased the property a year ago . The drilled well has sand
in it . He stated that the water was good but he was looking
forward to both public water and sewer .
Peter Hillman , 370 Stone Quarry Road stated that he was very
sympathetic: and supportive of people who need water . He certainly
was a person on Stone Quarry Road who had real problems . But the
problem , as he sees it , is who is going to pay for this ? If this
plan goes through it means a $ 15 . 00 per unit water increase . He
stated that he personally , on Stone Quarry Road , had 4 . 5 water
units to help provide your service it ' s going to cost him $67 . 00 a
year additional to what he was already paying . Mr . Hillman stated
that he did want to put the cost thing is perspective , and then he
wanted to make a suggestion as to who could help us pay for this
The water unit costs remained unchanged from 1979 , in 1984 there
was a modest increase and then in 1988 it made a dramatic jump . It
went from $ 52 . 00 a water unit then up to $ 54 . 00 , the current rate
is $ 64 . 00 , the proposed value is $ 79 . 00 per water unit . He stated
that it was getting fairly expensive , it seemed to him . If we were
Town Board Minutes 16 June 12 , 1989
only paying for an increase in water that would not be such a bad
deal because if our Town and County Taxes hadn ' t been increasing .
He remarked , did you know that in the past ten years the overall
increase in your Town and County Taxes have gone through about a
410 % increase in ten years . In 1985 , his January tax bill for the
Town of Ithaca , he has two and one-half acres with a house of 1 , 400
square feet and an apartment over a garage that is a small
apartment of 700 square feet , the taxes in 1985 were about $ 570 .
This past January he paid $ 1 , 253 , that ' s not including School
Taxes , that was just for his water tax and his Town tax . He stated
that he liked water and needed water just as much as any of the
people in here and he strongly supported that . But he suggests
that some people are profiting from all this . There are a lot of
properties that are vacant now but when you put these water sources
available to , them all of a sudden they drool at the mouth and sell
their stuff very readily and they run to the bank with all the
money and he has to pay for it out of his own pocket . Mr . Hillman
stated that he was starting to get pretty tired of this because he
was not showing much for all his taxes because he wasn ' t getting
any additional services for the tremendous increase he has been
paying . Him. stated that it would seem to him that developers at the
very least: could be required to have sort of a hook up fee or
something to help off set this cost to you and I . We need this
service but we don ' t need to give our money to the developers who
are certainly profiting from all of this . He asked that the Town
Board members become innovative in terms of trying to look for
other monetary sources to help pay for this overwhelming tax burden
that we presently have .
Karl Niklas , 1005 Danby Road stated that he was President of the
Greater Ithaca Neighborhood Association . He went on to say that
you have just heard Dr . Hillman present some statistics in regard
to the overall increase in the water taps and a very quick
calculation that he did shows that this increase is raised to the
third is the trend shown since 1988 . He went on to say that it was
rather interesting ; if you project that increase from 1990 to 2000
you have a. very frightening picture of what our water taxes and
Town and County taxes will look like . He stated that he was very
sympathetic* too to the need for water and sewage but he agreed with
Dr . Hillman ' s suggestion that the individuals who will benefit most
from this are not the private homeowners yet if you look at your
own taxes you will be paying the brunt of the cost for these
facilities . In 1988 , GINA proposed before the Town Board that we
have to look into the costs that developments will place on the
Town infrastructure . Rather interestingly you get an idea of what
the infrasi-.ructural cost may be , for example some of the figures
that were told to us he had just jotten down . Troy and East King
Road currently has a water reservoir tank of 5 , 000 gallons of water
and its being proposed that a new tank be put up for 150 , 000
gallons . A, very simple division tells you that that is a factor of
30 , we are increasing the capacity not by double , not by three
times , not by ten times but by 30 times . Now the question is : Is
that to supply the needs that exist now?
Supervisor Desch replied , the answer is yes .
Mr . Niklas replied it is , how so?
Supervisor Desch replied , because the tank as it is being designed
in this proposal should have been built when the original water
improvement was put in .
Mr . Niklas replied , so you need 150 , 000 gallons just to support
what is there . Then he stated that he would say that the opposite
could be that you are showing poor planning .
Town Board Minutes 17 June 12 , 1989
Supervisor Desch replied , that is right . Twenty years ago when the
Town Board decided to extend water and sewer , primarily water to
that area , if you have lived in the community long enough , you will
remember that they encountered a severe rock problem so they had a
number of things they could do . They could decide not to do the
project , decide to cut back on the scale of storage that would be
available , which is what they did decided to do so that they could
go forward and get the maximum number of people the water that was
needed . So basically , the Town Board over the years has said , in
the Master Planning Process when the time comes that the need for
additional storage becomes an urgent matter then we will crank that
into a future plan .
Mr . Niklas replied , then what you are saying that what you are
planning on doing will only maintain the status quo .
Supervisor Desch replied , no .
Mr . Niklas replied , you just said it was to fill the present need .
So that ' s the status quo .
Supervisor Desch replied , it fulfills not only the present need but
the future as well .
Mr . Niklas remarked , it anticipates future needs .
Supervisor Desch replied , of course .
Mr . Niklas replied , that ' s exactly what he had said and it was a
factor of .30 .
Supervisor Desch replied , you know you don ' t build capacity into a
system that by the time you get it built is going to insufficient .
You build into it , not only to catch up but large enough for future
development in that area so that you don ' t have to duplicate it
again .
Mr . Niklas remarked , so it is for future needs ?
Supervisor Desch replied , it is for both .
Mr . Niklas replied , future needs is that for Chase Farms ?
Supervisor Desch replied , it won ' t help Chase Farms one bit because
its an intermediate pressure zones it will make it more cost
effective t.o get the water to Chase Farms because the pumps won ' t
have to work as hard to do that , so you have a more reliable system
overall .
Elliott Lauderdale , a resident of Stone Quarry Road stated that he
just looked quickly in the library today about different of w new
States and Counties approach the problem of impact
development. on a COMMity . For example , in South Hill where
Deerrun , Mr . Monkemeyer , there are a very large number of houses
being built. in that area so it sort of makes sense that given all
the new units being built in the area there will be greater demand
on the infrastructure , not only the water in this case but also
roads , schools , fire protection , police protection . In a variety
of other States they try to arrive at an equitable developmental
impact assessment for developers who are subdividing large areas of
land . He stated that it took him only about 15 minutes and came up
with a list of references . There are an extremely wide range of
options a government could institute an impact assessment on a new
subdivider or on a builder , especially a builder who was going to
be putting in a large number of lots that would be both equitable
as a balance between that added impact on that infrastructure
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Town Board Minutes 18 June 12 , 1989
caused by the new development and the present tax payers . The
reason for this is because if all of the new , say this new water
tank is paid by a developer then in essence that developer is
subsidizing the rest of us taxpayers and its impossible for a new
haneowner to came into the community . Those houses are much more
expensive then the rest of the houses .
Supervisor Desch asked Mr . Lauderdale how many of those counties
were in New York State ?
Mr . Lauderdale replied , the one example is in Ramapo in New York .
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked that she would like to make a
comment . Last week when Martin Luster had his Town of Ithaca
meeting she once again raised with him the impact fee question
because she stated that she had long been interested in the Town of
Ithaca being able to do that . It is , as she understands it , from
our Town Attorney and from Mr . Luster not legal at this time and
Mr . Luster is attempting to cane up with legislation to be
presented in the Fall which would authorize a system which we could
all employ in order to use these impact fees but presently we are
not permitted to do that in New York State .
Supervisor Desch added , as you saw from the presentation earlier ,
on a voluntary basis we have been extremely successful in getting
voluntary impact fees in the case of the Indian Creek project .
Water service on half of that area on Trumansburg Road would not be
possible if that project weren ' t going in so development can pay
its way . The question is when you look at a subdivision do you
have a plan that will enable you to build into it sufficient for
the future , which is somewhat related to the issue Mr . Niklas was
raising .
Ephraim Tomlinson , 224 Bostwick Road stated that he was in favor or
the water and sewer extensions . We have water problems at our
house now . But to speak to what these gentlemen have been saying ,
he felt they were ignoring the benefit of development which will
increase the tax base . Taxes are going up , as the chart showed ,
and one way to bring that down is to increase the taxe base so that
the "X" dollars that the Town has to spend can be spread among more
people .
Supervisor Desch replied , if you look at the comparative costs for
putting wager and sewer in the areas around us , for example in the
Town of Lansing , water alone is costing those property owners $600
a year for debt retirement , compared to the $ 79 that we are looking
at here . Pie went on to say that he would like to comment on that
$ 79 figure , the basis for that , whenever you put together a package
of this kind of improvement you have to make the worst case
financial forecast . You have to be able to show the Comptroller of
State of New York in your application for approval that you have
the financial where with all first of all to pay down and pay off
the debt . So in the projections that you put together you make the
worst case assumptions and that is what this is , in all probability
the amount of the increase will be lower . The reason for that is
that once a project is designed and bid you don ' t have to carry the
heavy 30 to 40 percent contingency in the project , you know what
you are running into in the soils , you know exactly where the
pipeline is going you know the number of connections , etc . , that
are going to be made . The other aspect of it is , if there were an
increase and you have to look at it today at its face value to the
best of your knowledge , if that increase were to be implemented it
would show lip on the tax bill in 1991 . So you really can ' t project
the numbers as Mr . Hillman has done because you don ' t assess the
benefit until the benefit is derived . The system would be
hopefully canpleted in 1990 so the following tax year is when the
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Town Board Minutes 19 June 12 , 1989
i
first assessment would take place . There is another aspect about
the funding for this type of project and that is that the
assessment to the property , it doesn ' t matter who the owner of the
property is , whether it ' s tax exempt or not , in other words , water
and sewer assessments are assessible irrespective of the taxable
stratus . Cornell for example , with the Cornell Quarters Project ,
they will be adding a couple hundred units and they have to pay the
same ratio of debt retirement that you and I as a single family
property owner would be paying to retire that debt . So that is the
reason why the bases is as broad as it is . The same is true of
Ithaca College , school district , Tompkins County , etc .
Mr . Tomlinson asked , what would be the cost?
Supervisor Desch replied , for a single family house on a 100 ' x
150 ' lot it would be one unit of water and one unit of sewer . The
water benefit assessment , in other words the charge to retire the
debt that. would be incurred , as well as the remaining debt for
those improvements throughout the rest of the Town is $ 79 . 00 a
year . So your tax bill would show if you have a house on a lot
that is that size , would show one unit - $ 79 . 00 a year .
Mr . Tomlinson asked , for both?
Supervisor. Desch replied , for water . For sewer for that same
house , one unit , would be $ 62 . 00 a year . There is no change
planned in this proposal in the way of an increase in the sewer
benefit . If you had sewer and you lived in the Northeast part of
the Town right now your bill shows $ 62 . 00 a year , that won ' t
change . If you are in the Northeast and you have water to your
house right now the water assessment is $ 64 . 00 a year . The worst
case for that property in the Northeast is that that tax bill for
the water assessment would show $ 79 . 00 in 1991 , not the $ 64 . 00 .
Mr . Tomlinson remarked , that ' s for debt retirement , what about
water usage ?
Supervisor Desch replied , for water usage an average family , say
about three people , it ' s about $ 140 . 00 a year for water and about
$ 70 . 00 for sewer .
Ralph Bacon , 704 Five Mile Drive stated that he was lucky enough to
have an artisian well . Roughly five years ago he came to Town Hall
because it was having trouble with his system and we ended up
putting a new septic tank in and at that time they told us it was
probably 20 to 25 years down the road before it would ever ccme out
there . Two years ago he ended up with trouble with their drain
field and at that time they were saying 15 to 20 years down the
road . So we ended up basically the last four years putting in
$ 8 , 000 for improvements with a new septic system and now all of a
sudden you are talking about bringing it out . He stated that he
did under:3tand that people have to have water and sewer and that
was understandable but he just wanted to state for the record that
they did improve theirs and they did not have a problem . He
stated , you are talking about unit prices and he was not sure where
most of the people lived but at least where he did and most of the
people on Five Mile Drive have fairly big frontage and they were
all going to get stuck with two or three unit charges for one piece
of property . He stated that people should think about that , it
isn ' t just: $ 79 . 00 .
Supervisor Desch replied , if you have a larger parcel with more
than 250 ' of frontage , after you consider that 250 ' of frontage it
drops off into an acreage calculation so it does drop off
Town Board Minutes 20 June 12 , 1989
considerably . But he told Mr . Bacon that he was right , if you have
a large parcel you could end up with three or four units .
Mr . Bacon asked about the pumping station to be put on Bostwick
Road and Five Mile Drive and what is it going to look like ?
Mr . Elliott replied , the pumping station will be below grade and
basically what you will see is a large manhole cover with a modest
sized electrical panel . These pumping stations are normally
landscaped and go pretty much unnoticed .
Myrtle Whitcomb , 233 Troy Road stated that the members of the South
Hill Commnmity Association more than a year ago worked through the
falicy of lets increase the tax base because that spreads the cost
over a lot of people thereby reducing our taxes . She stated that
she would like to support the premises that have been raised
already and since it is illegal to assess impact fees she would
like to suggest very strongly , and we in the South Hill Association
are very interested in the cost of a tank and whether or not that
has really been brought about by the increased development within
the South Hill area . She stated that she would like to suggest
that the Board vigorously approach developers for their voluntary
contributions .
Supervisor Desch remarked that he would like to have the Town
Planner spend a couple of minutes on the question of the impact of
the water and sewer on the Inlet Valley area because of the stated
concern about the potential for development . He went on to say
that he felt it was important for the Board and the public to have
a good idea as to the extent of the service area .
Town Planner Beeners showed on a map , the areas to be included in
the proposed water and sewer extensions . She noted the areas of
wetlands and flood plain which were outside of the areas that could
be served . There are lands in the Tompkins County Agricultural
District which is a system under which farmers can have tax
deferments for value which is over what their agricultural products
values are . They would face substantial penalties if they
developed it , took it out of agricultural use , and developed it .
The Planning staff see both the ag district provisions as well as
the review process that is commonly used by the Planning Board in
reviewing any kind of development as being mitigating measures as
far as any inducement of growth on those agricultural lands as well
as on scene of the more sensitive areas in the flood plain and wet
land areas . Perhaps if you realize some of the projects that have
been approved over the last couple of years , within this corridor ,
there has been very little residential development except for the
Jacobs Mobile Home Park . The types of commercial and light
industrial uses , such as Finger Lakes Tractor which hasn ' t been
built yet , Briar Patch Veterinary School , Anderson Moving those
projects have all contained some designed controls related to
architecture , site plan which are an attempt to reduce some of the
impact of having new development in what has been primarily an
agricultural corridor .
The Town Planner went on to say that the Board had received the
SEQR review, and based on the typical average projection of about
1 . 7% growi:h per year they look at what the future population might
be . The system as designed by Stearns & Wheler is essentially
based on that same type of thing . There would be a normal growth
rate within that corridor and we will see a fairly decent
distribution of growth in the different parts of the Town . Having
water and sewer here may help to balance out what is perceived by
some residents as major growth explosions on one hill or another .
Town Board Minutes 21 June 12 , 1989
Sybil Phillips , 721 Elmira Road stated that she was one of the
lucky homeowners who has good water and has just repaired their
septic system . She asked , this charge of $ 79 . 00 and $ 62 . 00 is an
annual charge for how many years ?
Supervisor Desch replied , probably for twenty years , if not longer ,
it depends on other borrowings that would take place in the future .
Mrs . Phillips replied , once this goes by her house then she would
be sharing in the whole Town ' s increase .
Supervisor Desch remarked , the Town does not have a requirement
that you connect to the water , however , the assessment does go with
the property so the assessment is still there . The sewer is a
different issue , there are a number of different policies that we
follow but generally speaking if you have just invested in a new
septic system the Town would look favorably , probably , on a ten
year waiver unless the system failed in the meantime and the County
Health Department could require you to hook up .
Karl Niklas asked , what are the objectives to pursuing this before
the Comprehensive Plan is in ? If certain items of this are being
over built or projected for growth and extension of the current
lines then it would seem to him some input from the Comprehensive
Plan would be useful when it comes to deciding the configuration of
this projected extension .
Supervisor Desch replied , probably the Comprehensive Plan will not
have any :impact on it at all . In other words , the basic sizing of
sewer and water mains will be needed almost irrespective of the
land use you are going to have in this narrow area . This service
area is not all of West Hill or a hugh service so if the
Comprehensive Plan shows that a different land use should take
place the capacity that you have to build in as a minimum capacity
will be there to handle that use as well as the land use that is
already there .
Mr . Niklas replied , minimum not maximum .
Supervisor Desch replied , both , in this case . In other words from
a cost standpoint it doesn ' t make any sense to put in anything less
than an 8 "' sewer line . It ' s conceivable in the Inlet Valley area
that you may end up wanting to increase the pump sometime twenty
years down the road .
Mr . Nikla:c asked , what about South Hill ?
Supervisor Desch replied South Hill , it won ' t make any difference .
You have an intrastructure there that not only handles the present
situation there but well into the future . The problem there is you
have an intermediate district that was formed that was deficient
when it was formed so the question you have to answer is do you
make that district or improvement today consistent with the level
of reliability and quality that you have for the rest of that area
or not , and the answer is yes .
Mr . Niklas continued saying he had one final comment , Peter
Hillman , Myrtle Whitcomb and himself have suggested that the Town
continue to pursue some kind of voluntary contribution from
developer.; and he felt it would be very instructive to all , before
the public hearing was closed , to hear comments and thoughts about
what plan the Town might have to try to pursue that .
Supervisor Desch replied , the current policy if you look at the new
areas to be served is to encourage developers to maximize off site
infrastructure and that is what we are able to achieve with Indian
Town Board Minutes 22 June 12 , 1989
Creek . In . other words , part of - the improvement that we are looking
at on West Hill would not be possible if that development were not
planned and at a stage of approval where it is in a situation where
the developer is willing to sign on by letter to build this system
off site . Now , that ' s a voluntary improvement , in other words for
his use he would not have to put in a 12 " water line along
Tnumansbw_g Road , he could put in a 6 " . But that really isn ' t ,
long term , help that area to loop the system and provide more
reliability . So that is the current direction that the Town is
going and he was sure that this would apply to South Hill . The
simple fact is that so much of the need for that tank on South Hill
existed irrespective of this growth . We are back to Elliott
Lauderdale ' s question of sharing of cost . He asked , how much can
you put on the back of the developer who in court will say well you
already Leldicated the need was there even before he got there and
the need for that level of storage . You simply wouldn ' t go in and
take a 5 , 000 gallon storage tank and put a 10 , 000 gallon storage
tank in , it wouldn ' t make any sense . So you go in and put the
level of storage that matches the grid that you are dealing with
and that is what being proposed . If the Auble proposal comes
forward we. will have to look at how you beef up that infrastructure
within that property . He may need to put a 12 " main in that grid .
Salvatore Grippi stated that he owned the property at 1296 and 1298
Tnumansburg Road and he wondered why that area was being passed
over in terms of sewer improvement .
Supervisor Desch replied that the Town had Mr . Grippi ' s letter
requesting that his property be served . The problem is
accessibility , there is no way to get to that side of Trumansburg
Road . The cost of putting in a sleeves to the property under the
road makes it prohibitive . You are talking about a $ 30 , 000 to
$ 40 , 000 sleeve for one service .
Mr . Grippi. replied , there are other properties around me though .
Supervisor Desch replied yes , so it is a question of do you wait
until development takes place to pay for those sleeve . In other
words , if the Kyong parcel is developed then Mr . Grippi would have
access to service . The same is true of the other properties up
hill from him .
Mr . Grippi replied that the difference was that he had owned the
property for twenty years . Developers come along and they get
action immediately .
Charlotte Bosworth , 255 Troy Road asked if she would get water at
her residence as well or is this just for the new development ?
Supervisor Desch replied , neither . You are not getting water under
this improvement .
Mrs . Bosworth asked when she could expect to get water service ?
Supervisor Desch replied , development of the area will help because
a large part of the cost of the main that would serve her property
would be put in by the developers . The Supervisor added that the
Board would certainly entertain a petition from the people who live
in the areea and have a desire to have water service . Supervisor
Desch asked Mrs . Bosworth if she had a problem right now?
Mrs . Bosworth replied , yes . Insufficient water . Most everybody in
the area have insufficient water .
Dan Hoffmann , Common Council member remarked , you show a crossing
of the Cayuga Inlet just below the City line . He noted that this
Town Board Minutes 23 June 12 , 1989
was a rather pleasant stretch of the creek and wondered what the
impact on the creek would be ?
Supervisor Desch replied , probably none long term because it will
go below -the creek and be encased in concrete and the area will be
restored .
As no one else present wished to speak , the Supervisor closed the
public heziring .
Councilwcrian Raffensperger remarked , that she had a question on the
South Hill tank . She remarked , on the Environmental Impact
Statement ,, part 2A3 recommendation , that she needed an
interpretation of that statement .
Town Planner Susan Beeners replied , while there is certainly going
to be benefit to limiting the pressure pumps there would be a lot
of main that would have to be run to reach the tank and not much
opportunity to have additional units plugged right into it .
Supervisor Desch remarked , another way of saying that is that since
the pressure zone is being improved or expanded up hill slightly ,
that the actual benefit to those property owners who are in that
band would improve but it is a very small zone .
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked , now there was an alternative
site mentioned , why it that not possible ?
Supervisor Desch replied , it is . The tank has to located somewhere
along the 120 ' contour and the idea is to match the location of
that tank on that line at a point where it will be acceptable
visually and result in the least amount of water line construction
at the same time . That is why the Town Planner tried to build in
here the accomplishment of both of those objectives .
Councilwoman Raffensperger replied in other words , when we approve
tonight a South Hill tank , the location is not set?
Supervisor Desch replied , that is right .
Councilwoman Leary asked , if the capacity of the tank is to meet
current need and some future need , can you say about how much of it
will be current and how much of it will be future ?
Supervisor Desch replied , you could defend it either way . You
could stage that you could justify all of it based on the current
load because there are other tanks in other parts of the Town that
have the same cushion of capacity or you could say that there is
enough capacity in what you are going to build that will serve the
entire small service area in the fully developed state . In other
words the Town won ' t have to come back 15 - 20 years from now and
put another tank of the same size serving that distribution network
right in that area . You can answer it both ways .
Councilwoman Leary replied that the reason she was asking was that
if at some point we can assess an impact fee from future developers
it would be good to establish that so much of the increased
capacity is for future anticipated growth . They wouldn ' t want to
pay for scmething that ' s just to take care of present needs .
Supervisor Desch replied , that ' s the problem in this particular
case . If you go back and look at the record on Deerrun there were
a lot of discussions about imposing an impact fee but there just
simply wasn ' t a clear cut way of doing it because of the extent of
development that exists along Coddington Road , etc . So forming the
area that you would have to charge for that impact fee becomes a
Town Board Minutes 24 June 12 , 1989
very , very tricky job . You really have to do it in an area before
any development takes place . How do you make a decision whether
it ' s 10 % , 20 % or 30 % ?
Councilwcanan Raffensperger stated that she had a question on the
SEQR for Inlet Valley , in the recommendation on the last page . She
wondered if this didn ' t mean consistent with planning objectives
and present zoning? Increased density of development should be
encouraged within some area of the Elmira Road corridor because she
noted that there was various zonings there that she was not aware
that the '.Gown has any particular plans at the moment to change .
Town Planner Beeners stated that she had no objectives to it being
changed . It should be acknowledged that when there were rezoning
done in the Five Mile Drive area in 1986 it was acknowledged that
there was a loss of about 70 acres of industrial land and a general
consensus at the time that it should be built into the
comprehen:Dive planning process a look at where , if there were a
need to recoup that industrially zoned land .
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked that it was her recollection
that it would not be done until the presently zone industrial lands
were filled to capacity . This is a very broad statement and may
give the impression that we plan to rezone lands on Elmira Road
that are presently zoned Residential and she did not feel this was
the intention .
Councilman Whitcomb remarked that it was unfortunate that most of
these people involved with the Inlet Valley project have gone home
because he wondered if they realized just what the social cost of
having this water and sewer extended to their area meant . Because
as he looked at the Stearns & Wheler report , he saw that the
current population in that particular area is approximately 640
people , the future population in the year 2020 , 30 years from now,
the projected population has risen from 640 to 3 , 780 . And the
saturation density of the area is nearly twice that , nearly 6 , 000
people , nearly ten times the amount of people that are living there
today . When people suggest that the increase in the population and
the increase in the tax base actually lower the amount of tax that
each individual has to pay , this has been proven time and time
again to be false . All you have to do is look at the most densely
populated area of the county and then look at their tax rate and
you will :gee the greater the population , the high the taxes .
Supervisor Desch replied , if you took your same analyses and
applied it: to Stone Quarry Road it wouldn ' t hold any water . Stone
Quarry Road has not changed , for all practical purposes , since 1979
when the water was put in and yet there is a lot of similarity
between Inlet Valley and the lack of water and Stone Quarry Road .
The fact of the matter is , when you have a critical situation in
this kind of a linear service area if you were to wait until it
became fully developed you would not be able to afford the
improvement or if you were to wait to do it on a district basis
with the area itself being required to support the total cost , you
simply could never afford to have public water or sewer in those
areas , So you have to establish a balance . You can question the
validity of the population numbers . Are these population numbers
going to be achieved in the year 2020 . Obviously we don ' t know .
It ' s not likely but you have to have a system with the capacity .
There is no guarantee . It probably won ' t happen because you have a
lot of agricultural land and that land is in production .
Councilman. Whitcomb remarked , in the Stone Quarry Road you have
some block of undeveloped land held by people who haven ' t chosen to
develop it yet .
Town Board Minutes 25 June 12 , 1989
Supervisor Desch asked , then do you deny the people who ten years
ago where in critical need of water , the water for a ten year
period , or fifteen year period until development goes in ?
Councilman Whitcanb replied , that he was in sympathy with their
need for water but he was worried about the development impact , the
population impact .
RESOLUTION NO , 138
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman McPeak ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby declares
a negative determination of environmental significance on the West
Hill water- and sewer improvements .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
RESOLUTION N0 , 139
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby declares
a negative! determination of environmental significance on the South
Hill water and sewer improvements .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye: . Nays - none ) ,
RESOLUTION NO . 140
Motion by Councilman MCPeak ; seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby declares
a negative: determination of environmental significance on the Inlet
Valley water and sewer improvements .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
Councilman. Whitcomb remarked that it seemed that a great deal of
the project is being financed by estimated sewer fund balances , he
asked if this was correct?
Supervisor Desch replied in the case of the sewer , yes .
Councilman Whitcomb replied , and water ?
Supervisor Desch replied , water much less so .
Councilman. Whitcomb continued , if these projects did not take place
would it be reasonable to assume that the benefit assessment would
decrease for people who are currently using the water and sewer in
the Town?
Supervisor Desch replied in the case of sewer , yes . The question
relates to the balance in the sewer fund which is $ 950 , 000
estimated at the end of this year which is too large . If this
project were not approved the benefit assessment could be decreased
rather than left at the $ 62 . 00 per unit . You have to balance the
possibility of returning that saving , or that balance , which has
Town Board Minutes 26 June 12 , 1989
been paid in the past by benefactors of the sewer system or
improving systems in other areas of the Town . So that is the
judgement that you have to make .
Councilman Whitcomb continued , the current residents who have sewer
and water have not only paid water and sewer benefits for their own
construction now they are being asked to do the same thing for
someone else in the Town , is that correct ?
Supervisor Desch replied other needy areas of the Town , that is
correct .
Councilman Whitcomb asked if this practice had always been that
way?
Supervisor Desch replied , right . Since 1972 when the districts
were consolidated . Prior to 1972 there was a requirement to form a
district in the area where you were extending the lines , on a
separate district basis . He went on to say that the reason he said
no in the case of the water was because the margin of water fund
would not safely permit a change .
Councilman Whitcarb remarked , some of the debt service is projected
to be paid for by new construction . For example , in 1990 you are
adding 200 units at $ 62000 ?
Supervisor- Desch replied , let ' s start with 1990 , the 490 new units
constructed in 1989 . Those are new units that have been in the
process of construction but it also includes the new services that
we are just completing , i . e . , the East Shore Drive sewer , Cornell
Quarters and the tally of building permits that have been issued
during that period of time .
Councilman Whitccmb asked , where do we get into pure conjecture -
1991 ?
Supervisor Desch replied , 1991 where you add 200 units of
additional. growth , that ' s conjecture . In 1991 you also add 400
units which are the existing units served by this project . Then in
1992 you project an additional 200 units that ' s about the rate that
the connections and additions have been taking place . That ' s a
pretty conservative number that you are adding each year .
RESOLUTION NO . 141
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING IMPROVEMENT
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TOWN OF ITHACA WATER SYSTEM IMPROVE MT
1989 IN AND FOR THE TOWN OF ITHACA SYSTEM BENEFITED AREA - 1989
IN THE aNN OF ITHACA , TOMPKINS COUNTY , NEW YORK , PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE 12 -C OF THE TOWN LAW.
At a Regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca ,
Tompkins County , New York held at the Town Hall , in Ithaca , New
York , in said City of Ithaca on June 12 , 1989 , at 5 : 30 P . M . ,
Prevailing Time .
PRESENT : Councilman Bartholf
Councilman Klein
Councilwoman Leary
Town Board Minutes 27 June 12 , 1989
Councilman McPeak
Councilwoman Raffensperger
Councilman Whitcomb
Supervisor Desch
The following resolution was offered by Councilman McPeak who moved
its adoption , seconded by Councilman Bartholf to wit .
WHEREAS , a plan , report and map has been duly prepared in such
manner and in such detail as has been determined by the Town Board
of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , relating to the
creation of the Town of Ithaca Water System Benefited Area - 1989
and the providing of a Town of Ithaca Water System Improvement -
1989 , thereof , consisting of (a ) construction and installation of
improvements to the Town water distribution system to provide
public water service for the Inlet Valley area including the
construction and installation of 2500 feet of 12-inch water main
from the Elm Street water tank south to Coy Glen Road , 800 feet of
12-inch water main on Coy Glen Road to Route 13A , 2700 feet of
12-inch water main on Route 13A from Coy Glen Road to Buttermilk
Falls Road , 2500 feet of 12-inch water main from Route 13A along
Buttermilk: Falls Road to Elmira Road , the 12-inch water main
extends 2700 feet on Elmira Road where it is connected to an
existing City of Ithaca 12-inch water main . Improvements to the
water distribution system for Inlet Valley also includes 2400 feet
of 8-inch water main along Bostwick Road between Route 13A and
Seven Mile Drive , 5400 feet of 8-inch water main along Seven Mile
Drive betlaeen Bostwick Road and Route 13 , 1400 feet of 10-inch
water main on Route 13A frcn Buttermilk Falls Road to a private
drive sensing Parcel No . 33-3-2 . 2 , 1800 feet of 10-inch water main
along the private drive on easement from Route 13A and Route 13 ,
3000 feet of 10-inch water main along Route 13 from the private
drive serving Parcel No . 33-3-2 . 2 to Seven Mile Drive , 2000 feet of
8-inch wager main on Route 13 between Seven Mile Drive and Enfield
Falls Road , the 8-inch water main extends 2500 feet southwest on
Enfield Falls Road from the intersection of Route 13 and 1200 feet
southeast on Route 13 from the intersection of Enfield Falls Road
and Route 13 . Construction includes water services to developed
properties within public right of ways for the areas described
above , (b) construction and installation of improvements to the
Town water distribution system for the West Hill area includes the
construction and installation of 1200 feet of 12-inch water main
from Hayts Road along Trumansburg Road to Dubois Road to connect to
a 12-inch water main installed by a private developer , (c )
construction and installation of improvements to the Town water
distribution system for the South Hill area includes construction
and installation of a 0 . 15 million gallon tank near the
intersection of Troy Road and East King Road , including 2000 feet
of 8-inch water main from the tank to the Troy Road Pumping Station
and 1600 feet of 8-inch water main from the pumping station to the
intersection of Troy Road and East King Road , and (d)
construction and installation of metering pit on existing Town
watermains on Taughannock Boulevard at the Town/City of Ithaca
line .
WHEREAS , said plan , report and map have been prepared by Howard B .
LaFever , a competent engineer duly licensed by the State of New
York and have been filed in the office of the Town Clerk where they
are available for public inspection , and
WHEREAS , said Town Board duly adopted an order on May 8 , 1989
calling a public hearing upon said plan , report and map and the
question of creating a proposed water improvement area to be known
as the Town of Ithaca Water System Benefited Area - 1989 and the
construction of the water improvements for said Improvement Area as
Town Board Minutes 28 June 12 , 1989
described above , such public hearing to b held on June 12 , 1989 , at
7 : 00 o ' clock , P .M . , Prevailing Time , at 126 East Seneca Street , in
Ithaca , New York , in said City of Ithaca at which time and place
all persons interested in the subject thereof could be heard
concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , notice of said public hearing was duly posted and
published as required by law, and
WHEREAS , said public hearing was duly held at the time and place
aforesaid and all persons interested in the subject thereof were
heard concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , it is now desired to authorize the creation of the Town of
Ithaca Water System Benefited Area - 1989 and the construction of
the aforesaid water improvements therefor , NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT
RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County ,
New York , as follows :
Section 1 . Upon the evidence given at the aforesaid public
hearing , it is hereby found and determined that it is in the public
interest to make the aforesaid water improvement and to establish
the aforesaid Town of Ithaca Water System Benefited Area - 19890
It is hereby further determined that all of the real property
included within the boundaries of said Improvement Area are
benefited by said water improvement . The construction of said
water improvement consisting of ( a) construction and installation
of improv( meats to the Town water distribution system to provide
public water service for the Inlet Valley area including the
construction and installation of 2500 feet of 12-inch water main
from the Elm Street water tank south to Coy Glen Road , 800 feet of
12-inch eater main on Coy Glen Road to Route 13A , 2700 feet of
12-inch water main on Route 13A from Coy Glen Road to Buttermilk
Falls Road , 2500 feet of 12-inch water main from Route 13A along
Buttermilk. Falls Road to Elmira Road , the 12-inch water main
extends 1700 feet on Elmira Road where it is connected to an
existing City of Ithaca 12-inch water main . Improvements to the
water distribution system for Inlet Valley also includes 2400 feet
of 8-inch water main along Bostwick Road between Route 13A and
Seven MilE! Drive , 5400 feet of 8-inch water main along Seven Mile
Drive between Bostwick Road and Route 13 , 1400 feet of 10-inch
water main on Route 13A from Buttermilk Falls Road to a private
drive serving Parcel No . 33-3-2 . 2 , 1800 feet of 10-inch water main
along the private drive on easement from Route 13A and Route 13 ,
3000 feet of 10-1nch water main along Route 13 from the private
drive serving Parcel No . 33- 3-2 . 2 to Seven Mile Drive , 2000 feet of
8-inch water main on Route 13 between Seven Mile Drive and Enfield
Falls Road , the 8-inch water main extends 2500 feet southwest on
Enfield Falls Road from the intersection of Route 13 and 1200 feet
southeast on Route 13 from the intersection of Enfield Falls Road
and Route 13 . Construction includes water services to developed
properties within public right of ways for the areas described
above , (b) construction and installation of improvements to the
Town water distribution system for the West Hill area includes the
construction and installation of 1200 feet of 12-inch water main
from Hayts Road along Trumansburg Road to Dubois Road to connect to
a 12-inch water main installed by a private developer , ( c )
construction and installation of improvements to the Town water
distribution system for the South Hill area includes construction
and installation. of a 0 . 15 million gallon tank near the
intersection of Troy Road and East King Road , including 2000 feet
of 8-inch water main from the tank to the Troy Road Pumping Station
and 1600 feet of 8-inch water main from the pumping station to the
intersection of Troy Road and East King Road , and (d ) construction
Town Board Minutes 29 June 12 , 1989
and installation of metering pit on existing Town water mains on
Taughannock Boulevard at the Town/City of Ithaca line .
Section 2' . The cost of said water improvement shall be borne
entirely by the property in the Town of Ithaca Water System
Benefited Area - 1989 consisting of the entire Town of Ithaca
excluding the Village of Cayuga Heights and such costs shall be
assessed , levied and collected from the several lots and parcels of
land within said benefited area in just proportion to the amount of
benefit which said water improvement shall confer upon such lots or
parcels .
Section 1, It is hereby determined that the estimated expense of
the aforesaid water improvement exceed one tenth of one per cent of
the full valuation of the taxable real property in the area of said
Town outside the Villages , and , therefore , in accordance with the
provision, of subdivision 13 of Section 209- q of the Town Law , the
permission of the State Comptroller is required for said water
improvement . Accordingly , the Town Clerk shall within ten ( 10 )
days of the effective date of this resolution , file certified
copies of this resolution , in duplicate , in the office of the State
Department: of Audit and Control in Albany , New York , together with
an application by this Town Board , in duplicate , for permission to
establish such water improvements as provided for by Section 209 (q)
of the Town Law , and that such application shall be executed by and
on behalf of said Town Board by the Supervisor of said Town .
Section 4 . This resolution is adopted subject to permissive
referendum .
The question of the adoption of the foregoing order was duly put to
a vote on roll call , which resulted as follows .
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcomb Voting Nay
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
This resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted .
Councilwoman Leary remarked , since this would involve such a large
surplus , following what Councilman Whitcomb was saying , is there a
way to establish separate districts so that people aren ' t being hit
twice to pay for this ?
Supervisor Desch replied , they are not being hit twice . Whoever
gets benefit will be hit once for whatever debt is incurred for
which ever improvement .
Councilwoman Leary replied , but the surplus is being taken from the
people who were previously served , right ?
Supervisor Desch replied , the surplus is taken from the entire Town
benefited area primarily from those who have had sewer mains
accessible to their property . Developed property and undeveloped
property . Tax exempt and taxable property . So basically you are
taking the service area -that existed and using the same service
area but taking on additional debt to improve the quality of life
Town Board Minutes 30 June 12 , 1989
for part of the Town . The real questions is , have we looked at the
needs at the right priorities , in other wards are there areas other
than Inlet Valley that need sewer on a much more critical basis
than Inlet Valley and that is what the studys have shown no , Inlet
Valley is the critical area .
CouncibTan Whitcomb remarked that he did not question the need for
the existing residents in that area to have sewer and water and he
was in s;mipathy with people who need water . He has needed it
himself in the past , however , he did not think the Town ' s method of
financing was fair to the existing residents of the entire Town and
he would prefer that some way be found to finance it through
developer impact fees or some other method rather than adding it to
the backs of the people who are already paying more than adequate
taxes .
Supervisor Desch replied , that is certainly understandable but the
problem is that whatever rate of development takes place whether
it ' s 1 % a year or 2 % a year , you are never going to get to the
point where you have enough base to make it affordable to extend
sewer to this area by itself because the need for sewer in this
area is critical and it is going to become more critical . So the
cost is going to continue to go up so actually instead of saving
money on behalf of the benefitted area of the Town , which is the
entire Tbwn , it is going to be costing all of us that much more ,
the prices are not going to go down and the area served is not
going have less of a problem in the future .
Councilwomen Raffensperger remarked , we used to have a different
system . She went on to say that she has lived here long enough to
have lived. through it , and the system was then if you wanted water
and sewer in your area you paid for it all . If you wanted it on
Pine Tree Road or Inlet Valley they figured out how much it would
cost per household and you paid it . At the time water was extended
to South Hill because they needed it , the cost escalated so
severely because of the rock that was encountered there that the
entire Town including the area in which she lived , which had paid
off it ' s water debt and had almost paid off it ' s sewer debt said
okay , we are a whole Town and we all benefit from water and sewer
and decent. conditions in the whole Town so we said okay we will
Join everybody else , we will forget that we paid for ours and we go
into one big water and sewer district in which we act as a whole
Town and pay for the needs of whatever area there is in the Town
that needs it . It used to be that we did it little piece by little
piece and you either could afford it as an individual homeowner or
neighborhood or you couldn ' t until we went to the system of saying
this was for the whole Town and the whole Town benefits .
RESOLUTION N0 . 142
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING IMPROVEMENT
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TOWN OF ITHACA SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVMM
1989 IN AND FOR THE TOWN OF ITHACA SEWER SYSTEM BENEFITED AREA -
1989 IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA , TOMPKINS COUNTY , NEW YORK , PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE 12 - C OF THE TOWN LAW .
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca ,
Tompkins County , New York , held at the Town Hall , 126 East Seneca
Street , Ithaca , New York , in said City of Ithaca on June 12 , 1989 ,
at 5 : 30 o ' clock , P . M . , Prevailing Time .
Town Board Minutes 31 June 12 , 1989
PRESl1'I' : Councilman Bartholf
Councilman Klein
Councilwoman Leary
Councilman McPeak
Councilwoman Raffensperger
Councilman Whitcomb
Supervisor Desch
The following resolution was offered by Councilwoman Raffensperger
who moved its adoption , seconded by Councilman Bartholf to wit :
WHEREAS , a plan , report and map have been duly prepared in such
manner and in such detail as has been determined by the Town Board
of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , relating to the
creation of the Town of Ithaca Sewer System Benefited Area - 1989
and the providing for a Town of Ithaca Sewer System Improvement -
1989 therefor , consisting of ( a ) construction and installation of
improvements to the Town sanitary sewer collection facilities to
provide public sewer service for the Inlet Valley area includes
construction and installation of 2600 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer
from the intersection of Enfield Falls Road and Route 13 up Enfield
Falls Road , 2220 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer along Route 13 from
Enfield Falls Road to Seven Mile Drive , 5550 feet of 8-inch
sanitary sewer along Seven Mile Drive from Bostwick Road to Route
131F 2500 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer along Bostwick Road from
Seven Mile Drive to Route 13A , 2000 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer
from Coy Glen Road to Bostwick Road along Route 13A , 1800 feet of
8-inch sanitary sewer from a low point in Route 13 , 400 feet north
of Seven Mile Drive , to a high point approximately 1800 feet north
on Route 13 , 4500 feet of 10-inch sanitary sewer from the high
point 1800 feet north of Seven Mile Drive down Route 13 to the
private drive serving Parcel Number 33-3- 2 . 2 , along the private
drive and down Route 13A to Bostwick Road . Improvements to the
sanitary sewer collection facilities for the Inlet Valley area
include construction and installation of a sewage pumping station
on Route 13 approximately 400 feet north of Seven Mile Drive with
1800 feet of 4-inch force main extending north on Route 13 from the
pumping station , and a second pumping station located at the corner
of Bostwick Road and Route 13A with 2000 feet of 6-inch force main
extending from the pumping station to the corner of Coy Glen Road
where it ties into the City of Ithaca ' s sewer system . Sanitary
sewer collection facilities include connections for lateral sewer
services to developed properties within public right of ways in
areas described above , ( b) construction and installation of
improvements to the Town sanitary sewer collection facilities for
the West Hill area including the construction and installation of
1800 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer along Trumansburg Road from
Woolf Lan(: to the Ithaca town line , and ( c ) construction and
installation of a metering pit on Town sanitary sewer mains on
Taughannock Boulevard at the Town/City of Ithaca line and install
an automatic flushing unit in the last manhole (No . 36 ) on the
existing Town of Ithaca sanitary sewer .
WHEREAS , said plan , report and map have been prepared by Howard B .
LaFever , a competent engineer duly licensed by the State of New
York and have been filed in the office of the Town Clerk where they
are available for public inspection , and
WHEREAS , said Town Board duly adopted an order on May 8 , 1989
calling a public hearing upon said plan , report and map and the
question of creating a proposed sewer improvement area to be known
as the Town of Ithaca Sewer System Benefited Area - 1989 and the
construction of the sewer improvements for said Improvement Area as
described above , such public hearing to be held on June 12 , 1989 ,
at 7 : 30 P . M . , Prevailing Time , at 126 East Seneca Street , in
Town Board Minutes 32 June 12 , 1989
Ithaca , New York , in said City of Ithaca , at which time and place
all persons interested in the subject thereof could be heard
concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , notice of said public hearing was duly posted and
published as required by law, and
WHEREAS , said public , hearing was duly held at the time and place
aforesaid and all persons interested in the subject thereof were
heard concerning the same , and
WHEREAS , it is now desired to authorize the creation of the Town of
Ithaca Sewer System Benefited Area - 1989 and the construction of
the aforesaid sewer improvements therefor , NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT
RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County ,
New York , as follows :
Section 1 . Upon the evidence given at the aforesaid public
hearing , it is hereby found and determined that it is in the public
interest to make the aforesaid sewer improvement and to establish
the aforesaid Town of Ithaca Sewer System Benefited Area - 1989 .
It is hereby further determined that all of the real property
included within the boundaries of said Improvement Area are
benefited by said sewer improvement . The construction of said
sewer improvement consisting of ( a) construction and installation
of improvements to the Town sanitary sewer collection facilities to
provide public sewer service for the Inlet Valley area includes
construction and installation of 2600 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer
from the intersection of Enfield Falls Road and Route 13 up Enfield
Falls Road , 2220 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer along Route 13 from
Enfield Falls Road to Seven Mile Drive , 550 feet of 8-inch sanitary
sewer along Seven Mile Drive from Bostwick Road to Route 13 , 2500
feet of 8--inch sanitary sewer along Bostwick Road from Seven Mile
Drive to :Route 13A , 2000 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer from Coy
Glen Road to Bostwick Road along Route 13A , 1800 feet of 8-inch
sanitary sewer from a low point in Route 13 , 400 feet north of
Seven Mile Drive , to a high point approximately 1800 feet north on
Route 13 , 4500 feet of 10-inch sanitary sewer from the high point
1800 feet north of Seven Mile Drive down Route 13 to the private
drive serving Parcel Number 33-3-2 . 2 , along the private drive and
down Route 13A to Bostwick Road . Improvements to the sanitary
sewer collection facilities for the Inlet Valley area include
construction and installation of a sewage pumping station on Route
13 approximately 400 feet north of Seven Mile Drive with 1800 feet
of 4-inch force main extending north on Route 13 from the pumping
station , and a second pumping station located at the corner of
Bostwick Road and Route 13A with 2000 feet of 6-inch force main
extending from the pumping station to the corner of Coy Glen Road
where it ties into the City of Ithaca ' s sewer system . Sanitary
sewer collection facilities include connections for lateral sewer
services to developed properties within public right of ways in the
areas described in , (b) construction and installation of
improvements to the Town sanitary sewer collection facilities for
the West Hill area including the construction and installation of
1800 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer along Trumansburg Road from
Woolf Lane to the Ithaca town line , and ( c ) construction and
installation of a metering pit on Town sanitary sewer mains on
Taughannoc:k Boulevard at the Town/City of Ithaca line and install
an automatic flushing unit in the last manhole (No . 36 ) on the
existing Town of Ithaca sanitary sewer .
Section 2 .. The cost of said sewer improvement shall be borne
entirely by the property in the Town of Ithaca Sewer System
Benefited Area - 1989 consisting of the entire Town of Ithaca
excluding the Village of Cayuga Heights and such costs shall be
Town Board Minutes 33 June 12 , 1989
assessed , levied and collected from the several lots or parcels of
land within such benefited area in just proportion to the amount of
benefit w]zich said sewer improvement shall confer upon such lots or
parcels .
Section 3 . It is hereby determined that the estimated expense of
the aforesaid sewer improvement exceeds one tenth of one per cent
of the full valuation of the taxable real property in the area of
said Town outside the Villages and , therefore , in accordance with
the provisions of subdivision 13 of Section 209-q of the Town Law,
the permission of the State Comptroller is required for said sewer
improvement . Accordingly , the Town Clerk shall , within ten ( 10 )
days of the effective date of this resolution , file certified
copies of this resolution , in duplicate , in the office of the State
Department. of Audit and Control in Albany , New York together with
an application by this Town Board , in duplicate , for permission to
establish such sewer improvement as provided for by Section 209 (q)
of the Town Law, and that such application shall be executed by and
on behalf of said Town Board by the Supervisor of said Town .
Section 4 . This resolution is adopted subject to permissive
referendum .
The question of the adoption of the foregoing order was duly put to
a vote on roll call , which resulted as follows :
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwaman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman McPeak Voting Aye
Councilwoman Raffensperger Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcomb Voting Nay
Supervisor Desch Voting Aye
This resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted .
BIDS ON FUEL PURCHASES FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
RESOLUTION NO . 143
Motion by Councilman Whitcomb ; seconded by Councilman McPeak ,
WHEREAS , Star Oil was the lowest bidder of the three bids received
and met all the conditions of the bid , and
WHEREAS , the bid price is approximately $ . 25 per gallon less than
current prices for diesel and $ . 06 a gallon less for unleaded gas ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby accepts the Star Oil bid for diesel at $ . 59 per
gallon and $ . 76 for unleaded gas per gallon for the bid period of
June 15 , 1989 to June 14 , 1990 .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
FALL CREEK RECREATIONAL RIVER PROPOSAL
A lady in attendance stated that she did not live in the Town of
Ithaca but that she and her husband owned 500 ' in Fall Creek and
that they supported the Fall Creek Recreational River designation .
She went on to say that as far as she was concerned , she was here
Town Board Minutes 34 June 12 , 1989
to discuss rape and rape prevention . We are told that it is too
late to prevent the rape of Ithaca Falls by hydropower development .
We are told that this development would be environmentally sound .
Supervisor Desch asked the lady if she owned property in the Town
or the City?
The lady replied that she owned property in the City of Ithaca .
She went on to say that last fall the City of Ithaca gave them it ' s
too late :Line and the Fall Creek Conservation Committee proved them
wrong by discovering the Recreational Rivers option . Now again we
hear it ' s too late , because 401 ' s have already been issued and
again the Fall Creek Conservation Committee is saying that there is
great hope to prevent this development , if we choose to , with broad
based support and she believed them . The proposal they have
drafted effects Cornell and property owners in Ithaca and Dryden
and she understood that private property owners resistance because
who wants interference in their own interests but as a property
owner herself she says it is time to acknowledge that there are
some things greater than we are and our short terms interests and
she felt it was time for local leadership to stand up against rape .
Ithaca just celebrated it ' s hundredth anniversary and Fall Creek
and Ithaca Falls have been in existence for millions of years and
she could not think of a more appropriate river for recreational
designation . If it came to it she would collect signatures of how
many people each day are fishing and swimming and hiking . She
stated that she frankly did not trust her fellow property owners to
prevent the rape of Fall Creek as property values rise . She did
not trust Cornell to prevent the rape of Fall Creek and after last
Falls election she did not trust elected officials to prevent the
rape of Fall Creek . She stated that she only trusted the Fall
Creek Conservation Committee to prevent the rape of Fall Creek .
Louis Pendleton , 316 Forest Hone Drive stated he was an owner of
property in Fall Creek . He went to Vietnam and fought for his
Country and that he did not want any interference in his backyard .
Karl Nikla.s , 1006 Danby Road stated that he had attended a meeting
with Shirley Egan who made comments on the consequences of this
designation and he felt a couple of points have to be made . One is
that the material discharge up stream , whatever it is , even beyond
the corridors of this designation would be under control , all
activities up stream would be under control by the restrictions
placed on the corridor of the river that would be specified as the
recreational or scenic region . Another point to raise is that the
boundaries of the corridor are solidified only after it is decided
that a designation would be given and as a consequence he would
like to know what assurance you have before the designation as to
where the limitations of that corridor are . The third point , which
he felt was rather amusing is that according to EPA standards
potable water is considered a contaminate and potable water could
not be discharged into the stream . The forth point is that if you
like the idea that Beebe Lake is dredged to maintain it as a lake
it may be impossible to dredge it and continue the lake topography .
It might go to swampy or pasture like area . What the consequences
of all of this he was not quite sure but he would like these items
to be considered when the Town votes on these issues .
Ashley Miller stated that she was a member of the Tompkins County
FMC Board ,, Ms . Miller stated that she would like to read the
following resolution that the EMC has passed regarding the
designation of Fall Creek .
"WHEREAS , Fall Creek and its corridor with its invaluable hiking ,
fishing , :boating and swimming opportunities furnishes a vital
Town Board Minutes 35 June 12 , 1989
recreational and scenic resource for the residents of Tompkins
County , and
WHEREAS , Tompkins County is experiencing rapid and sustained
developmeazt result in an irreversible loss of natural areas and
open spaces , and
WHEREAS , the scenic beauty of the cascades , gorges and glens of
Fall Creek are priceless and cherished resources for Tompkins
County , and
WHEREAS , for water quality and the plant and animal habitat of this
threatened area should be protected as a heritage of the enjoyment
of the future generations , and
WHEREAS , portions of this segment of Fall Creek are on the EMC ' s
list of enique natural areas ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the eight mile segment of Fall
Creek from its mouth at Cayuga Lake through Monkey Run to Route 13
be designated a Recreational River under the Wild Scenic and
Recreational Rivers System Act of New York State . "
Ms Miller went on to say that this was an issue that goes beyond
town , gmn and local municipal politics as well as private
developmental rights . She stated that she urged the Town of Ithaca
to act in. a positive and cooperative manner in endorsing those
sections of Fall Creek that lay between it boarders for a
recreational designation .
Rob Axtman, stated that he was here representing the Sierra Club , he
was chair of the local group . Mr . Axtman went on to say that
obviously the last few years growth has been very rapid in the Town
of Ithaca and all indications are that that growth is going to
continue . He felt it was very important when you have rapid growth
to take a step back and look at the character of the community and
try and preserve some of the character during the growth . He
assumed all enjoyed living in Ithaca as much as he did , or in this
area , and many things contribute to that and one is the beautiful
surroundings . He stated that he drove around a lot in his car in
his work and it was always a pleasure and a great place just to be .
Visitors come and always say what a beautiful area and a important
part of what makes this area beautiful are creeks , waterfalls and
the gorges . To preserve this character , we think that this
proposal is a very good one . As a Recreational River , it does not
eliminate development but attempts to insure that when development
is taking place that the condition of the river and its effect on
the river is taken into account . He felt this was just wise and
prudent planning for a resource as valuable as our creeks are in
this area . There are other ways that we could protect waterways in
the Town and he thought the Town was looking into ways of
protecting the water ways and he applauded that effort but what is
found in larger scale environmental problems is that echo systems
and natural systems , such as the creek , rarely corresponds to
political boundaries and property lines and when good intentions
are taken in one area they are not necessarily passed on to others .
This proposal looks at a large section of the creek in totality and
protects it in totality . Larger than any of the municipalities
that are involved and he felt that this was an important aspect as
it gives the opportunity to protect what he thought was a very
important resource . Not just part of it but a significant portion
of it in -totality as it flows . He and the people of the Sierra
Club , whom he represented , strongly support this and urge the Board
to support it also .
Town Board Minutes 36 June 12 , 1989
Elsie Luccarelli , 316 Forest Home Drive stated that she would like
to speak for a neighborhood called Forest Home , through which this
creek runs . Ms . Luccarelli went on to say that she grew in this
Town on North Albany Street and that she grew up here on the north
side in a block that is no longer there as the school system bought
it to enlarge the" system but they never did . My house is gone and
her past is gone . Now she lives on Forest Home Drive and she hears
about this Wild River Recreational area and it sounds wonderful but
does it mean that she cannot go sit in her backyard anymore ? Does
it mean that other people will be walking through her backyard?
She stated that she would like to be assured that she could go and
privately sit on the creek bed which is the property line . Some of
her neighbors feel that way . We understand that the trailer parks
up the road are exempt from this . Let ' s have Forest Hone be exempt
from this ,, let ' s have these twelve houses , a neighborhood that has
been there forever , for years , family have lived there for years ,
there are three generations in the house that she is in , why can ' t
that be Exempt , why can ' t we keep up our own property and grow
flowers and feed the birds and feed the ducks without some help
from Albany?
Tim Mount , 303 East Upland Road stated that he would like to speak
for protecting Fall Creek , and in particular what he thought was a
misguided development of Ithaca Falls for a hydro project . He
stated that he wanted to discuss what he thought was an important
misconception which many people have and that is the value of this
site as a hydro plant . When we pay our bills we pay about $ . 10 a
kilowatt hour to NYSEG and he felt all people realized that
electricity is very expensive . The cost of power generated from
Milliken Station , however , is about $ . 02 a kilowatt hour and the
difference goes towards covering a lot of other costs , the
distribution system , the billing system and paying for our share of
Nine Mile Two . So that basically the value of power generated on
the NYSEG system is really quite low compared to the prices we pay .
The second thing is , there is a misconception because a few years
ago the legislature passed a law saying all independent power
producers should receive $ . 06 a kilowatt hour for whatever they
generated . This was a very well motivated but somewhat misguided
policy . It did not recognize that power is really needed down
state and not needed upstate and there was no differential as to
where power was produced . He went on to say that he thought that
finally and most importantly that a power plant on a stream like
Fall Creek. really is vulnerable to the weather . Basically it works
well but during the times of year when the power is not needed . In
the middle of winter when NYSEG has its peak the creek doesn ' t
flow . In the middle of the summer , like last summer when it was
really hot. and power was needed , the creek doesn ' t flow . It ' s in
the spring and in the fall when the creek really roars and it is
just at that time when the power is really worth very little . The
value of this power , if the hydroplant were developed , is really
the value of the fuel it replaces .
Bruce Brit:tain stated that he lived in Forest Hone . Mr . Brittain
went on to say that he imagined that everyone here does support
some sort of preservation of Fall Creek . He felt the purpose of
the DEC proposal was fine and it may work in the areas for which it
was intended , however , at least in the area , the vicinity of Forest
Ham , the creek need maintenance . It ' s not a wild river any more ,
it ' s domesticated . It ' s in peoples backyards . He stated that as
he understood the DEC regulations , it would interfere with their
ability to provide the irregular maintenance that they have been
doing and. should continue to give the creek . If we want
legislation to protect the creek then let ' s draft sane . Let ' s
draft legislation which will address our concerns , the concerns of
the Town :)f Ithaca not some up State river designation proposal
that we have . We have a competent Planning staff , we have a
Town Board Minutes 37 June 12 , 1989
Comprehensive Plan Subcommittee , we have the ability to cane up
with our - own protection for - the creek that will address our own
concerns without stomping on too many toes , let ' s do that instead
of buying into scoething that does not fit our needs .
Alfrado Rossi stated that he was a citizen of the City of Ithaca .
Mr . Rossi stated that he had a letter from David Weinstein who is a
citizen of the Town of Dryden , he lives on 51 Freeze Road . He
stated that Mr . Weinstein could not make it to the meeting so he
was reading the letter in his absence :
"Dear Fellow Citizens :
I am writing to you in support of the request to the State of New
York designate Fall Creek as a State Recreational River under the
State Wild Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act . In this time of the
rapid growth of the Tompkins County area it is one of the principal
duties of: our governmental representatives to insure that the
growth proceeds in the best manner possible . We are about to
diminish -the quality of life we all in joy instead of to improve
it . There would be no point to encouraging it . The major
contributors to the quality of life we all enjoy . In this area ,
and particularly in the Town of Dryden , is easy access to areas and
open spaces . As citizens of the Finger Lakes region we are proud
of the fact we coexist with the natural world instead of creating a
world that has shut out the beauty and tranquility that nature has
to offer . However , as you well know the rapid growth of our area
is threatening this easy access . It is time to take a hard look at
those areas of fastest growth by identifying the areas of open
space and to move to preserve those open space areas so that they
will remain a resource available to the whole community . Fall
Creek is such a resource and without protection it is liable to be
converted into a stream flowing through a developed area unable to
provide citizens with a peaceful escape now offered . Designation
of the creek will take a big step towards protecting it as a
community resource . As a landowner with property abutting a
sizable stretch of Fall Creek , I realize that this designation
would restrict sane of the freedam that we previously have enjoyed .
However , as members of our community it is more important to
contribute our part to the maintenance of the quality of life to
the entire community rather than to selfishly guard our rights .
As a professional forest ecologist and as a member of the Tompkins
County Environmental Management Council , I have seen a large number
of threats being imposed on our natural resources in the area and I
am all too aware of how fragile the Fall Creek environment is and
how easily development could cause rapid degregration of this
environment . Many projects have been initiated in the Fall Creek
watershed over the past several years that could have profitably
been located elsewhere without endangering the ability of the
ccmmmity to enjoy the water force . Even more such projects are in
the planning for the near future . The State government has
provided us with a tool to use in just such a case to protect a
valuable resource . The only sacrifice that is being asked of most
landowner; would be to prevent construction that would be visible
fron the creek bed and to allow land that is presently forest to
remain forest . Since most home construction could be adjusted in
keeping with these simple principals it seems a small price to pay
to keep the natural character of the area in tact . Would anyone
really wart to build a house right on the creek bank if there were
a multi story apartment complex staring at them from the opposite
bank? Now is the time to move and provide protection . The
Tompkins County Environmental Management Council is presently
studying the Fall Creek area for continued improvement in its list
of unique natural areas of the County . A designation that parts of
the water force has already carried . One of the saddest things I
Town Board Minutes 38 June 12 , 1989
have encountered in my life is to hear people talk about natural
areas they previously frequented but they have not become "messed
up " so that no one wants to go there anymore . I hope I never have
to hear anyone tell a child about how they used to go over to Fall
Creek and, see wild flowers and wild life and hearing the water
quietly rush past . As the child looks up and asks , why didn ' t you
save this place for me ? Many people think that because Cornell
owns a large piece of the area proposed for designation that it is
already protected . However , Cornell has it ' s own agenda . Even the
best of intentions of institutions and landowners somehow seem to
let natural resources slip through their fingers . We can point to
countless examples in this community and other , the community must
actively identify those resources that are valuable to everyone and
must actively move to provide protection . None of us want the
government. to tell us what to do but a community resource such as
Fall Creek can only be protected if we sacrifice a little now to
become heroes for future generation . "
Mr . Rossi went on to say that he had a message of his own that he
would like to make . He stated that he was moved by what
Councilwcnian Raffensperger had to say about thinking about the
whole Town and have the whole Town benefit as part of a sewage
designation . He thought this follows the same lines basically .
The creek is 30 miles long from its head water to Cayuga Lake . We
are only asking for protection of 8 miles of it but it does cross
many municipalities , and goes through many private property owners
lands , also . Rivers conservation is a matter of State concern .
Since a river or stream in one region is effected by acts on
streams , rivers and wetlands in other regions . The systems
effecting rivers over lap many localities . While many local
governments individually have enacted or intend to enact ordinances
aimed at conservation effective rivers management requires
uniformity, in laws to guard against inconstancies and conflicts .
One locality along lacks jurisdiction to protect itself from misuse
or neglect of an adjacent municipality . The Fall Creek water
system iSt an intrical part of an unique scenic wild life
recreational open space and natural resources of the entire area
through which it flows and it is not only a concern to just one of
the three municipalities which are lucky enough to be graced by it .
It should be recognized as the irreplaceable resource it is by all
three municipalities , City of Ithaca , Town of Ithaca and Town of
Dryden and. protected .
Paul Booth. stated that he also lived in Forest Home . He went on to
say that the Improvement Association of Forest Home passed a
resolution last week . He asked to Board to consider , when making
their decision , that Fall Creek is already protected on a State
wide level_ under Article 15 of the State Conservation Law which
current provides a permit system for dredging , bank improvement ,
that sort of thing . He stated that he personally felt that given
between this and the existing Federal Clean Water Act that Fall
Creek is :sufficiently protected without adding an additional layer
of regulatory process . He asked the Board to not endorse the
proposal for that reason .
Margaret Fabrizio stated that the first thing she wanted to say was
that this is a community project and if we loose Ithaca Falls you
also lose Ithaca Falls and if we lose the part of the Fall Creek
gorge that. could potentially see university expansion it ' s your
loss also . If Monkey Run becomes developed as far to the creek as
possible , residents in the Town of Dryden , the Town of Ithaca , the
City of Ithaca , Freeville , Spencer , McLean , Newfield , Etna , all of
those places , we all lose because this river is part of this
community and we all benefit from it . We think we should all be
willing to help protect it . Everyone adores , loves , treasurers
Fall Creel+: including all the Forest Horne people . They have the
Town Board Minutes 39 June 12 , 1989
good fortune to have Fall Creek as their back yard . Individual
properties along Forest Home may be secure from development as long
as they are in the hands of current owners but others of us who
don ' t own property on Fall Creek would like to see that large
sections .remain accessible to the public as a recreational resource
and that they remain undeveloped . She went on to say that she
would like to address a couple of things and remind you of a few
things about the regulations . These regulations can be
administered locally if the municipality requests it . It ' s not
having Albany looking over you shoulder and applying to Albany for
a variance or a permit and certainly not to plant flowers in your
back yard or to sit on the bank of the river . This doesn ' t allow
people to trespass onto your property and use your property as a
public park . She stated that she would also like to mention that
Marty Luster and the DEC have discussed the final boundary
situation and that they seem to think it would be workable to set a
final boundary at the time of designation . So in other words , we
would do a public hearing , those comments would be incorporated
into the final boundary and then that would go to the legislature .
There would not be an interim period and people would know before
it was voted on what was being voted on .
Ms . Fabrizio went on to say that she knew people in Forest Home
were very concerned about the traffic problem in Forest Hone and
about new road and bridge building in the Forest Hone section of
Fall Creel: . She stated that she would like to say that the DEC has
addressed this issue and said that these regulations are not so
strict that they would stop road building , bridge building or road
or bridge expansion in the Forest Hone area on Fall Creek . Also
the issue of stream maintenance has come up a number of times and
she thought that this was addressed at the last public meeting .
She stated that she had walked Mr . Pendleton ' s property and she
knew exactly what he is talking about . He has a stone wall and he
is concerned about erosion of his property by Fall Creek . He wants
to be able to maintain that wall and expand that wall and he has
been told by Mr . Hussic that that would not be a problem and if you
do maintenance once every year that is considered a continuing use
you do don ' t have to do very mach to prove you are maintaining it ,
obviously . She went on to say that Beebe Lake is not included in
the designation area , the north wood land area around Beebe Lake is
I
ncluded in the proposed boundary and the gorge below Triphammer
Falls where there are many rare plants and where there is a
potential siting of a new alumni center by the university is
included in our proposed boundary . She stated that she knew there
are groups in this area who are disappointed that Beebe Lake is not
included and they may be very well writing to DEC to suggest the
inclusion of Beebe Lake . The boundaries that we have drawn would
be determined by public hearing and then set by the Commissioner .
All of the land with the exception of the creek bank and where
people own property to the middle of the stream all of the rest of
the land belong to Cornell University and it is currently
designated natural areas land . Fall Creek crosses municipal lines
and our thinking needs to cross municipal lines as well and she
hoped that the Board would think about the entire Fall Creek
community and then you will endorse the designation .
Supervisor Desch asked , in that vein can you shed any light on the
question that has been bouncing back and forth about whether or not
the legislature would even consider a designation for that portion
of the proposal only in the City?
Ms . Fabrizio replied , we asked that originally and it simply is not
what the legislation is intended for . . It ' s really about a broader
look at river conservation and frankly , although hydropower was the
spark that: ignited this we are equally concerned about the Monkey
Run section and the developer pressures we are seeing there .
Town Board Minutes 40 June 12 , 1989
Remember this does not stop development , this provides a buffer
zone for the creek . It restricts how close you can build to the
creek , how high the building can be , it requires screening for
buildings . It ' s not a stop everything kind of legislation , it
identifies the valuable resource and tries to provide a buffer so
that we don ' t loose it .
Supervisor Desch asked Attorney Ruswick if he could shed any light
on the question ?
Attorney Ruswick replied , there is nothing in the law itself that
limits aS to certain lengths of rivers . Although it was his
understanding that the DEC looks for recreational rivers to protect
a large portion of a river not just a short portion . He went on to
say that someone raised the question about discharges into the
upper river into the corridor . He stated that his understanding is
that this designation does not effect discharges directly . That
would still continue to be controlled by the Clean Water Act .
Discharges are controlled by how the river is designated . The only
way this affects it is that once it is designated as a recreational
river there direction is to look at that designation to see whether
it should be updated to a cleaner river and in that way it might be
affected . Up stream from the corridor what could be affected is
the flow in that even up river from the corridor could not decrease
the flow craning into the corridor .
Lisa Blackwell from Cornell University remarked that the
Supervisor ' s question of could there only be a special section , a
City section , and Ms . Fabrizio ' s response that it was not the
intent of the legislation . She stated that she believed that is
correct but as she understood it there was no limit on the amount
whether it. is long or short as far as the designation goes . It may
not be the intent of the legislation .
Ms . Fabrizio replied , we originally submitted a draft proposal to
the . DEC which was only for the Ithaca Falls area and we were told
that it was simply too short a stretch and that that is not in
keeping with the legislation and that we had practically no chance
at all getting a designation for that amount of water way .
Ms . Blackwell remarked , no chance of legislation being passed is
different than having that amount ?
Ms . Fabrizio replied , it wasn ' t recanmended .
Ms . Blackwell continued , saying that she would like to thank the
Board for having this public hearing and would like to let the
Board know some of Cornell ' s concerns are with the storm drain
systems , the water filtration plant , the ability to maintain the
water gauging station , the current hydropower plant , the chilled
water plant , water for irrigation , drinking water , and development
of transportation solutions for the area . One thing you want to
keep in mind when you say buffer zones , usually buffer zones mean
that you can ' t do anything in that area . This issue sounds like an
apple pie and America kind of thing , and it ' s great , no one is
saying lets wreck the river . But the problem with it is is that
there are things you don ' t realize . There are people who have had
these designations in other areas of the state that in their
interim boundaries , that these people are now proposing that for
example , during the interim time period one Town has been waiting
two years „ That ' s a moratorium on building for two years . It ' s
things like this that you want to look out for .
Supervisor Desch asked the Board what their pleasure was , noting
that he felt there was yet a lot of ground to be covered . He
Town Board Minutes 41 June 12 , 1989
suggested that perhaps the Board would like to take the material
into account and then take it up at the next meeting .
Councilwornan Raffensperger remarked that she would like to consider
it at another meeting but that in the meantime though , we have all
received a lot of letters with a lot of questions that the Board
still has ,. She would like some place to address her questions and
asked the Town Attorney if the questions could be submitted to his
office for interpretation?
Councilman McPeak stated that he had a question on recreational
rivers . lie asked , Catherine Creek which flows into Seneca Lake is
a recreational river , it says so along the shore , this is a public
recreational area , etc . , and they have made access point along the
creek . The property owners can ' t put up a fence and say you can ' t
have access . He asked if this would be the case in Fall Creek?
Would there be access places where people could get into the creek
without going across private property?
Attorney Ruswick replied , it is sort of depends on what DEC
envisions this river for , he thought . The regulations call for a
management: plan which is supposed to set the guidelines but DBC
doesn ' t do that as a matter of course . Could they have access ?
The law would allow them to have access but they would have to pay
for it because it would be taking the property and it would be
eminent dcu ain . Under the law they could do that if so desired .
Councilman McPeak remarked that he knew they had done that in other
areas .
Supervisor Desch remarked , perhaps we could set a deadline for
questions to go to the attorney for June 28th?
Margaret Fabrizio remarked that the City of Ithaca , several month
ago , set up a conference call with DEC and it was a really good way
to get a lot of people together to ask a lot of questions .
Supervisor Desch remarked that he thought the level of questions
were beyond that point . We have all the regulations and all the
statements and from that input we are focusing in on a specific
area that ' s being talked about here and that is Fall Creek so
taking the local land use control we need to focus the questions to
our attorney .
DESIGN OF THE SOUTH HILL BIKEWAY
Assistant Planner George Frantz stated that basically the proposed
resolution was in response to many of the concerns raised by the
public and individual Board members about the design of the trail ,
specifically the width and type of paving proposed for the trail .
What we are proposing is to have six foot wide cinder path from
Hudson Street along the lower railroad grade to a point where the
trail will, climb the hill to the upper railroad grade . Then up the
hill to the Juniper Drive entrance we are proposing it be paved
with oil and stone and eight feet as originally proposed . Our
rationale for that is we simply do not believe with the steepness
of the trail will not allow us to have a cinder or gravel surface .
It just won ' t hold , after every rain storm there is going to have
to be maintenance on the trail with danger from accidents . From
Juniper Drive westward to Coddington Road we are still recannending
the eight feet of oil and stone , simply because we see this as one
of the heavier used portions of the trail especially for pedestrian
commuters who may use it to go from their homes to get downtown or
to the bus stop . We know school children use the path now for
safety reasons . Paving it would make more usable in all types of
Town Board Minutes 42 June 12 , 1989
weather . Fran the Juniper Drive entrance westward would be six
feet of cinder trail . The Cresent Place entrance should be paved
at a six foot width as it has an 8 foot grade .
The Assistant Planner continued saying they were proposing a fence
behind same of the homes on Pennsylvania Avenue in order to keep
people on the trail . Also , some concern has been expressed about
the use of Renzetti Place for parking for the trail . That has it ' s
roots several years ago when the City announced the opening of wild
flower preserve and the use of this trail , they also announced
parking was available on Renzetti Place . Renzetti Place is
actually a private drive it is not a public street . The owners
have expressed some fairly deep concerns about people parking on
Renzetti Place so we are proposing to identify that as a private
drive , no entry .
Mrs . Robert Cotts asked the Assistant Planner to review the rules
for the use of the trail and how they would be enforced .
Assistant Planner Frantz replied , the trail is going to be governed
by the Town ' s Bikeway Law, the rules essentially are that it is
available for pedestrian use , bicycle use , cross county skiing
during normal day light hours which are one half before sunrise to
one half hour after sunset . No motorized vehicles are allowed
except for maintenance and emergency vehicles . No lottering .
Mrs . Cott_; asked if she had to have her dog on a leash?
Councilwoman Raffensperger replied , under control .
Town Planner Beeners replied that she believed all pets had to be
on a leash .
Mrs . Cotts, asked how this was going to be enforced ?
Assistant Planner Frantz replied , it is enforceable by the Tanpkins
County Sheriff ' s Department and of course the Town Parks
Department. .
Town Planner Beeners added , and of course the Town Zoning Officer
can also he called .
Mrs . Cott:) remarked , she wondered if she should chain herself to
the NYSEG fence as we have had more motorized trail bikes this
spring than ever and the fence certainly helps .
Assistant Planner Frantz remarked , one design change which he
failed to mention was a 12 ' wide gate with a 28 " pass through for
the handicapped by the NYSEG fence . There will be no gate at
Hudson Street and there will be none at Coddington Road but
vehicles will not be able to enter . If when the trail is built and
there are major problems these will have to be addressed .
Councilwoman Leary asked if it would be necessary to clear 12 ' ?
Assistant Planner Frantz replied that they were still looking to
clear 10 ' to 12 ' because of visibility so that you don ' t have
collisions between bicycles and pedestrians . Personal safety and
also when it rains vegetation tends to crowd in . Even though the
clearing of the brush and shrubs is going to vary from 10 ' to 12 '
the trail is going to meander , there is not more than 500 ' of
straight path at any one point .
Councilman Whitcomb asked , which portions of the trail absolutely
have to be paved to prevent destruction through erosion ?
Town Board Minutes 43 June 12 , 1989
Assistant Planner Frantz replied again , the Crescent Place entrance
from the lower road bed up to the upper road bed at Juniper Drive
and the Burns Road entrance . Those are the ones where the steep
grades are .
Councilman Whitcomb noted that the City had passed a resolution
requesting the Town to meet jointly with them to discuss their
concerns on this . He asked what action , if any , had been taken
there ?
Supervisor Desch replied that the staff needs to know where the
Board stands to do that , both the parts in the City and the Town .
If the Town Board where to act on the whole thing in terms of
design so that when the staff meets with the City they could come
back with small changes . It is not possible for the staff to go
any further with the City until they know where the Board stands .
If you had a consensus on the design it would be tentative as far
as the piece in the City , the staff might be coming back with
questions like the entrance .
Councilwoman Raffensperger remarked , how about discussing the
possibility of the trail having the pavement in those areas as
outlined by the Assistant Planner and that the rest of it be 6 ' and
cinders with the understanding that with our experience with youth
and safety that that may have to be altered in the future sometime .
We can say it is going to be 6 ' and cinders and two years from now
another .[bwn Board or even the same one can say safety
considerations lead us to such and such needs to be done . There is
no need trying to fool you that it can ' t be changed some time in
the future , it can be . It would have to be evaluated .
Councilwoman Leary remarked that Councilwoman Raffensperger said as
outlined by the Assistant Planner , are you saying you think the
section between Coddinton and Juniper be . . . . . .
Councilwoman Raffensperger replied , as she looked at the draft
resolutiork it looks to her that if you left section one and added
to it the Crescent Place section and the Burns Road section and
deleted nLuber two and renumber the two three ' s and went with the
rest of it. the Board would have seething to talk about .
Councilwceran Leary remarked then it would mean that the trail would
be 6 ' instead of a section being 8 ' .
Councilwaman Raffensperger replied , except for the connection ,
whenever it ' s paved it ' s going to have to be 8 ' .
RESOLUTION N0 . 144
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilwanan
Leary ,
WHEREAS , i:he Town of Ithaca , in its Conprehensive Park and Open
Space Plan , has designated a recreation path corridor using
abandoned railroad beds throughout the Town , and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca has successfully completed the
construction of and is now successfully operating such trails on
East Hill and the Northeast in the Town of Ithaca , and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca , along with the City of Ithaca and the
New York State Office of Parks , Recreation , and Historic
Preservation , have executed an agreement to provide for a major
segment of a trail from Stone Quarry Road to the Inlet Valley with
connections to Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H . Treman
State Marina Park , and
Town Board Minutes 44 June 12 , 1989
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca has applied for , with City of Ithaca
approval , and has been awarded a grant from the New York State
Office of Parks , Recreation and Historic Preservation to construct
a portion of the Trail from Hudson Street in the City of Ithaca and
Burns Road in the Town of Ithaca , and
WHEREAS , public discussions on the concept and design were held at
regular Town Board meetings on May 9 , 1988 , July 11 , 1988 , February
13 , 1989 , and special informational meetings were held on July 11 ,
1984 , March 1 , 1989 and May 23 , 1989 , and
WHEREAS , the environmental review of the portion of the project in
the Town has been completed and a determination of negative
environmental significance has been made , and
WHEREAS , the property owners adjoining the Trail , and the
neighborhood as a whole , support the construction of the Trail in
an environmentally sensitive way ,
NOW AFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the design of the Trail is
hereby approved , with the following conditions .
1 . The section of the Trail running between the lower and upper
former railroad beds , generally from a point identified as Station
43+90 on the final site plan , located approximately 150 feet
northwest of the northwest corner of the Sincebaugh property (Town
of Ithaca Tax Parcel No . 53 - 1-13 ) , to the intersection of the Trail
with the upper railroad bed north of Juniper Drive , shall be eight
feet in width and with an oil and stone surface , for purposes of
ease of use , construction , and maintenance .
2 . The section of the Trail at the Burns Road entrance , from
Burns Road to a point approximately 180 feet west of Burns Road ,
shall be six feet in width and with an oil and stone surface .
3 . Crescent Place entrance from Crescent Place +/ - 120 feet to
its intersection with the main pathway at approximately Station
10+15 shall be eight feet in width and with an oil and stone
service .
4 . All remaining sections of the Trail shall be cinder-surfaced
and no more than six feet in width .
5 . Vegetation removal shall be kept to the minimum necessary for
safe use , construction, and maintenance of the Trail .
60 On-site discussions with adjoining property owners shall be
held in response to individual property needs with respect to
plantings and fencing .
7 . Existing Town regulations shall apply , including the Town
Bikeway Use Law , and shall include the prohibition of motorized
vehicles , except for park maintenance and law enforcement vehicles
for which access shall be maintained .
8 . The '.Trail shall be closed each year from the first Monday
after November 15 through the first Tuesday after December 7 , such
time period being Deer Shotgun Hunting Season .
9 . A plan for enforcement of these regulations shall be presented
by Town :staff , for approval by the Town Board , prior to the
official opening of any portion of the Trail .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
Town Board Minutes 45 June 12 , 1989
SET DATE FOR MEETING ON FIRE SERVICE CONTRIBUTION FROM TAX EM4pr
PROPERTIES
Supervisor Desch asked if July would be a good month to meet with
the Cornell University and Ithaca College ? The Board agreed on
Monday , July 17th at 7 : 30 P . M .
MAY FINANCIAL REPORT
RESOLUTIO]V NO . 145
Motion by Councilwunan Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
McPeak ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the May Financial Report as presented .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none) .
BUDGET AM20MENTS
RESOLUTION NO . 146
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
McPeak ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize:; appropriation of Fund Balance (DB599 ) and an increase in
CHIPS expenditures (DB5112 . 454 ) of $ 4 , 439 . 98 to account for the
roll over of 1988 CHIPS money , and
BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the transfer of $ 2 , 500 from Contingency (B1990 . 4 ) to
Zoning Contractual (B8010 . 4 ) for the increased cost of $ 20 /meeting
(or a total of $ 95/meeting) to prepare Zoning Board of Appeals
meeting minutes , and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca
hereby authorize the transfer of $ 3 , 813 from Contingency (B1990 . 4 )
to Copies Lease (B1670 . 210 ) to cover the cost of the copier lease
payments riot provided for in the original budget .
(Desch , Mc Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ABANDONMENT OF PORTIONS OF
BURNS ROAD
RESOLUTION N0 . 147
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 7 : 00 P . M . , on August 7 , 1989 , to
consider the abandonment of portions of the old Burns Road .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO THE ZONING
ORDINANCE CONCERNING OCCUPANCY BY UNRELATED PERSONS
Town Board Minutes 46 June 12 , 1989
RESOLUTION NO . 148
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct at public hearing at 8 : 00 P . M . , on July 10 , 1989 , to
consider :revisions to the Zoning Ordinance concerning occupancy by
unrelated persons .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) ,
RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING/ENGINEERING INTERNS
Supervisor- Desch noted two resolutions covering two different
persons .
RESOLUTION N0 . 149
Motion by Supervisor Desch , seconded by Councilman McPeak ,
WHEREAS , the Town was unable to recruit a qualified student through
the Cornell Job Network to fill the Landscape Architecture/Park
Management: Aide position for the summer , and
WHEREAS , there remains a need for this type of support to provide
schematic plans for several Town parks , to provide field assistance
to the Parks /Open Space Manager , to assist the Planning Department
with graphics coordination for the Comprehensive Planning Study ,
and
WHEREAS . Misty March holds a BS in Landscaping Architecture from
Cornell and has experience and skills to provide the needed
support ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby appoint temporarily for approximately 7 weeks , 40
hours/week: (not to exceed 280 hours ) at a rate of $6 . 00 /hour . The
funding to support this position will cone from the Parks
Department line item for Seasonal Workers (A7140 . 1 ) and from the
Comprehensive Planning Study account (B8020 . 405 ) , 50 % from each
source .
(Desch , Mc:Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
RESOLUTION N0 . 150
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
McPeak ,
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca Engineering Department has the need for
additional, staffing for Sumner 1989 to update the Town AUTOCAD
system to the latest technology , to assist in the organization and
filing of plans , to assist in surveying for the 1989 Water and
Sewer Improvements , to assist in surveying for a number of small
design projects , to assist in the inspection and monitoring of
water and sewer lines installed by developers , to assist property
owners with connections to existing water and sewer mains , and
WHEREAS , no available , qualified students were found through the
Cornell Tz-adition Program , thus , no matching funds are available ,
and
Town Board Minutes 47 June 12 , 1989
WHEREAS , sufficient funds have been budgeted for two summer
positions for approximately nine ( 9 ) weeks at $ 6 . 00 /hour , 40
hours /week , and
WHEREAS , a number of available , qualified students have recently
become known to us and have been interviewed for the two positions
needed. ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby ratify and hereby does ratify the appointment of
Andrew Irwin to the position of Engineering Aide at $ 6 . 00 /hour , 40
hours /weeac for approximately nine ( 9 ) weeks , effective June 7 ,
1989 , through August 11 , 1989 , and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board approves and hereby
does approve the appointment of Andrew Bryant to the position of
Engineering Aide at $ 6 . 00 /hour , 40 hours/week , for approximately
nine ( 9 ) weeks , effective June 13 , 1989 , through August 18 , 1989 .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye: . Nays - none ) ,
APPOINTM T OF COURT CLERK
RESOLUTION NO , 151
Motion by Councilman Bartholf ; seconded by Councilwoman
Raffensperger ,
WHEREAS , Judge Wallenbeck has a continuing need for data entry
support to update and maintain the Court computer records , and
WHEREAS , the person who previously provided this service is no
longer available , and
WHEREAS , there is an increased amount of complexity of work and the
skills of an experienced person are required , and
WHEREAS , Mary Ellen Schramm has had considerable relevant
experience in her position in the District Attorney ' s Office ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby appoints Mary Ellen Schramm on a permanent basis to
provide ccuputer support and data entry for Judge Wallenbeck at a
rate of $ 7 . 00 /hour beginning June 12 , 1989 , for a maximum of 15
hours/week. .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none) .
COPIER FOR, JUSTICE COURT
RESOLUTION NO . 152
Motion by Councilman Bartholf ; seconded by Councilman Klein ,
WHEREAS , the Town Justice Court will be moving to the Old Court
House on or about June 28 , 1989 , and
WHEREAS , there is a need for access to a copies to support the
Court functions and there is none available in the new location ,
Town Board Minutes 1 48 June 12 , 1989
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize the purchase of a Konica 1290 copies from
Eastern Copy Products at a cost not to exceed $ 1 , 000 , and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board appropriates a Fund
Balance A599 ) and increases (A1110 . 2 ) Justices - Equipment for
$ 1 , 000 to . cover the cost of such a copies .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
TOWN OF I�MCA WARRANTS
RESOLUTION NO . 153
Motion b, Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves
the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated June 12 , 1989 , in the following
amounts .
General Fund - Town Wide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 60 , 252 . 73
General Fund - Outside Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 441904 . 49
Water & Sewer Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 80 , 015 . 31
HighlAray Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 138 , 123 . 29
Fire Protection Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 41F269 . 02
Lighting Districts Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 423991
Capital Projects Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 154 , 014 . 01
(Desch , Mc:Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye: . Nays - none ) .
BOLTON POINT WARRANTS
RESOLUTION' N0 . 154
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Bolton Point Warrants dated June 12 , 1989 , in
the Operating Budget are hereby approved in the amount of
$ 119 , 006 . 03 after review and upon the recommendation of the
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission , they are in
order for payment .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE TRAFFIC
ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT PARKING ON PORTIONS OF BURNS ROAD
RESOLUTION N0 . 155
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
Bartholf ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 7 : 30 P . M . , on August 7 , 1989 to
consider amending the Traffic Ordinance to prohibit parking on both
sides of Burns Road from NYS Route 79 to the bridge over Six Mile
Creek and from the bridge over Six Mile Creek 500 ' West .
I
Town Board Minutes 49 June 12 , 1989
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION - DEERRUN
Supervisor Desch noted a request frcn the residents of the Deerrun
area for a reduction in the speed limit .
RESOLUTION N0 , 156
Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Klein ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby requests
New York State Department of Transportation to set an area speed
limit in the Deerrun development at 30 MPH .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF ASSISTANT BUILDING INSPECTOR/ ZONING OFFICER
RESOLUTION N0 . 157
Motion by Supervisor Desch , seconded by Councilman McPeak ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the agreement on the employment status of the Assistant Building
Inspector/ Zoning Officer .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
APPOINTNMT OF TEMPORARY CLERICAL/SECRETARY SUPPORT
RESOLUTION N0 . 158
Motion by Councilwoman Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
McPeak ,
WHEREAS , the Assistant to the Zoning Officer/Building Inspector
will be working only part time through September 1st , and
WHEREAS , i:here will be no clerical assistant hired through the
Sumner Youth Worker program this year , and
WHEREAS , this is a peak workload time for clerical/ secretarial
support to the Zoning , Planning and Engineering departments ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize the hiring of a temporary
clerical/ secretarial person for the summer to supplement the
services provided by existing staff . Funding for this position
will be 50 % each from ( B8010 . 100 ) Zoning - Personal Services and
(B8020 . 100 ) Planning - Personal Services at a rate of $ 9 . 00 /hour
( including hourly wage , employer FICA , Worker ' s Compensation
coverage , Unemployment Insurance coverage and bonding) .
(Desch , McPeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
WATER REFUNDS
Town Board Minutes 50 June 12 , 1989
RESOLUTION N0 . 159
Motion by Councilman Klein ; seconded by Councilman Bartholf ,
( 1 )
WHEREAS , a water meter reading error was made at the property at
919 East Shore Drive ,
NOW THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $ 135 . 98 for water , $ 13 . 60 water
surcharge and $ 14 . 96 penalty , total refund of $ 164 . 54 be made to
Nathaniel Knappen , 919 East Shore Drive , Ithaca . Account Number
T- 1291 .
( 2 )
WHEREAS , a water meter reading error was made at the property at
605 Winston Court - Laundry ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $ 96 . 79 for water , $ 9 . 68 water
surcharge , $ 60 . 87 sewer and $6 . 77 sewer surcharge , total refund of
$ 174911 be made to Rocco Lucente , 103 Salem Drive , Ithaca . Account
Number U 3167 .
( 3 )
WHEREAS , many estimated bills were mailed to the property owner at
306 Salem Drive before an actual meter reading was received for the
property ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $ 69 . 84 for water , $ 6 . 99 water
surcharge , $40 . 03 sewer and $ 5 . 32 sewer surcharge , total refund of
$ 122018 be! made to James Merkle , 419 Van Dorns Road South , Ithaca .
Account Number U-3073 .
(Desch , Mcpeak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting Aye . Nays - none) .
PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR INDIAN CREEK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Town Planner Beeners stated that the proposed public road would be
3 , 850 feet . The distance to the road reservation that goes to the
North would be about 1 , 400 feet so there is about 2 , 450 between
that future road way reservation to the North going around the
loop .
Councilman Raffensperger asked how it was that the Planning Board
which she thought never allowed single accesses to developments and
didn ' t like cul-de-sacs beyond the requirements of the ordinance ,
why have they done both in this instance ?
Town Planner Beeners replied , having two twelve foot lanes and a
fifteen foot median strip between them , that type of design of a
separated road met the initial approval of the Engineer , Robert
Flumerfelt and the fire department but by the time the new
Engineer , Sally Olsen arrived we were still . . . . . . . . . .
Supervisor Desch remarked that there was a desire to avoid crossing
Indian Creek , therefore , you end up with a relatively long narrow
parcel with a future potential of having an exit to the North .
Councilman Klein asked , who would take care of the median?
_ �ivmwntvvv�rtva�e
Town Board Minutes 51 June 12 , 1989
Town Planner Beeners replied , they have proposed a seed mix that
does not grow very tall . The Town would be taking this over but it
would only require occasional mowing .
Supervisor Desch asked if it would be curbed on both sides ?
Town Engbrieer Olsen replied the median would be curbed , the outside
would be ,shouldered .
Town Attorney Barney remarked , the Town will own it .
Councilwanan Raffensperger remarked that she thought there was no
doubt in the reluctance on the part of the Board and that they are
not terribly pleased with the interior plan that has come before
the Board because of the long cul-de-sac which she stated made her
very uncanfortable when we hassle other developers not to do that .
RESOLUTION NO . 160
Motion by Councilman McPeak , seconded by Supervisor Desch ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the proposed water and sewer lines , roads yet to be named and the
ten acre open space for the Indian Creek Retirement Community .
(Desch , Mc:Peak , Raffensperger , Bartholf , Leary , Klein and Whitcomb
voting AYe . Nays - none ) .
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was duly adjourned .
Town Clerk