HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1991-03-11 TOWN OF ITHACA
TOWN BOARD MEETING
March 11 , 1991
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 , there were :
PRESENT : Shirley Raffensperger , Supervisor
John Whitcomb , Councilman
Patricia Leary , Councilwoman
David Klein , Councilman
Frank Liguori , Councilman
Catherine Valentino , Councilwoman
Karl Niklas , Councilman
ALSO PRESENT : John Barney , Town Attorney
Dan Walker , Town Engineer
Scott McConnell , Highway Superintendent
Andrew Frost , Building Inspector/ Zoning
Officer
Linda Nobles , Assistant Budget Officer
George Frantz , Assistant Town Planner
Edward Austen , Chairman , ZBA
Representatives of the Media :
Greg Williams , WHCU
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance .
REPORT OF TOWN OFFICIALS
Supervisor ' s Report
Town Supervisor Shirley Raffensperger stated that a number of the
Board members had attended the Association of Towns meetings ,
February 17 to the 20th and she felt the meetings were quite
worthwhile this year . One thing they learned was that the 100 % cut
in State per capita aid for Towns is still under consideration . In
that line she had asked Town staff for items that might be cut from
the 1991 budget , economics that can be cut early on . She stated
that she did not think she could wait until the State budget was
passed , if the news is not as bad as forecast , budget items can be
reinstituted on a priority basis . She went on to say that there
was much interest at the meetings regarding the sources of revenues
for Towns other than property tax . Towns are increasing fees and
instituting new ones , most very similar to our development review
fees . At the Association of Towns business meeting the delegates
there voted down support for the extension to towns of the
authority to institute a property transfer tax and she stated that
she did not vote with the majority . To her it made no sense to
exclude only towns from this authorization . Counties , cities and
villages would be so authorized under the proposed legislation .
Their vote would exclude only towns . She went on to say that it
was an item that was not on the list so she had used her own
judgement and voted that towns should be able to institute the same
tax as counties , cities and villages , if they were authorized .
Town Board Minutes 2 March 11 , 1991
; The Supervisor went on to say that there was much interest in the
State in consolidation , if not of municipalities then at least of
services . A commission has been set up to study the matter . She
had completed the initial survey and the Town should receive
information from that group as the study proceeds .
Town Engineer ' s Report
Town Engineer Dan Walker noted that the West Hill Water and Sewer
Project has been put together and is now out for bid . We are
having a prebid meeting on the 18th and will open bids on the 29th
of March . South Hill is still on winter shut down . Parts of the
water tank will be delivered the end of March and we anticipate
getting under way with the construction on the first of April ,
depending on the weather . There is one change order but we should
be on an even keel . We have gotten the final corrections for the
plan on the Inlet Valley water and sewer extensions and we will
finish the minor corrections ourselves . The sewage system
discharge control to keep from overloading the City system, that
plan has been submitted to the City Engineer for review . He stated
that he would have to make a presentation to the Board of Public
Works just to have their final agreement on the project . The Route
366 water main agreement was finalized this week and now it is at
Cornell for a final signature and they anticipate starting
construction on that in April . On Taughannock Boulevard we had a
major problem with one water main with a significant repair . The
failure was probably caused by poor construction . There were
several water main leaks in the Troy Road/Coddington Road area
detected . We are initiating a program to monitor the sewers that
drain into Cayuga Street and also the Kline Road/Lake Street
system . Fie went on to say that the major development review plans
that he had been involved with was Cornell Master Plan and the GEIS
development . The final plans are in at Ithaca College for the
rotary location plan and the science building and he would be
reviewing the final site plans . His staff is continuing to support
the Comprehensive Plan with mapping services and also evaluating
the utilities portions . The Public Works plans have identified
areas in the water and sewer infrastructure that need repairs and
we have been using outside contractors for now but we are looking
at more Town forces doing the work . He stated that he felt a
significant amount of time this summer will go into evaluating ,
inventoring and inspection of existing sewer systems .
Councilman Liguori remarked that he had heard that the grant that
Bolton Point had applied for , from NYSEG , had not been made ?
Town Engineer Walker replied , they did not make the list . They
were second from the bottom . He felt a part of that was because it
was a load shifting program as opposed to a total demand reduction .
That apparently was weighted with a much lower score than either
new sources of power or reductions in use .
Councilman Liguori asked if Bolton Point was now going to do it on
their own?
The Town Engineer replied , it fits into the long range plans for
the water system . He did not think the Commission , at this point ,
had fully evaluated the direction they wanted to take and he felt
it would be on the back burn er for a while .
Councilman Niklas asked if there were specific reasons for the
relative ranking for the 25 applicants ?
Supervisor Raffensperger replied that there were specific criteria
and scores that were given and all of the scores were added up .
Town Board Minutes 3 March 11 , 1991
One of the questions raised at the meeting today was a question to
the engineering consultant that was involved in preparing or at
least evaluating the proposal and that was , why did not the
consultant realize that there were elements of the proposal that
were sufficiently deficient to put us next to last . A lot of time
and money was expended in the proposal .
Highway Superintendent ' s Report
Highway Superintendent Scott McConnell stated that February was
another quiet month for snow and ice removal and emphasis was
placed on shoulder and ditch repair and preparation for paving in
, the summer . Ditching on Maple Avenue was to try to eliminate the
water at the roads edge that builds up and freezes . Both the Town
and Cornell need to do more work in this area before the problem is
fixed . Be stated that he had attended the Association of Towns
meeting in New York and attended the Highway Superintendent ' s
sessions . In March they will concentrate on cleaning ditches and
repairing shoulders . One truck lost three out of four springs so
all four had to be replaced which was very costly .
He went on to say that the Parks Department had spent 95 hours on
snow removal and work on playstructures . They did trail
improvements on Northview Park and helped with drainage and cold
patching . In March they plan on completing the Mitchell Street
Walkway estimate , several walkway resurfacing projects , bikeway
ditching , installation of several signs and lawn repairs for Bolton
Point .
Building Inspector/ Zoning Officer ' s Report
Building Inspector/ Zoning Officer Andrew Frost stated that they had
issued seven building permits for the month of February . Twelve
certificates of occupancy were issued and one new complaint was
investigated . We still have some outstanding complaints that go
back to June of 1990 . We performed 98 field visits and issued
three sign permits .
' Councilwoman Valentino noted that at the Judd Falls Plaza there has
been several temporary signs and she wondered if they were all in
compliance ?
Mr . Frost replied that the Pizza Restaurant was a violation . It
was basically a big banner , and the owner wanted to leave it up
until the big plaza sign was installed and he was allowed to do
that until the big sign was put up .
Councilwanan Valentino replied that the green banner sign was still
up this morning .
Mr . Frost replied , then that has to come down . There were some
temporary signs for the barbershop . Temporary signs for a business
opening are permitted for 30 days . Temporary signs may cane up at
. a later date as the P &C have what are considered weekly sale signs
and the Sign Ordinance would permit a window sign of no more than
two signs of three square feet per sign and is traditionally found
in a supezmarket and the Sign Ordinance should be changed or he
would have to site them for a violation but it isn ' t a big priority
right now .
Assistant Town Planner ' s Report
Town Board Minutes 4 March 11 , 1991
Assistant. Town Planner George Frantz stated that Planning staff has
400ntinued. to focus on the Comprehensive Plan , supporting the
Conservation Advisory Council and the Codes and Ordinances
Cornnittee and all of their committees and subcommittees .
Development review continues to be limited in scope and nature and
the major review of the month was for Rogan ' s Corners . He went on
to say that he had attended the New York Land Institute Seminar in
Rochester on the subdivision review process and the SEQR update .
Supervisor Raffensperger asked about the Inlet Valley subdivision .
Mr . Frantz replied that the Planning Board had given final approval
to the Inlet Valley Cooperative on March 5th .
REPORT OF TOWN COMMITTEES
Conservation Advisory Committee
Councilman John Whitcomb stated that he had nothing substantial to
report at this time .
Ethics Conmlittee
Councilwcenan Valentino reported that when they were in New York
they took in sane of the presentations on ethics code and what was
happening in New York State . She stated that she sort of had good
news and bad news . When we were there we were looking at the
financial disclosure forms that are currently required by New York
State which at this point are about seven pages long and ask for
income information . While we were there we saw a sample form that
was very nice , two sides of a regular 8 1 / 2 x 11 sheet and all it
really asked for was all the information for a conflict of
interest , like what property you own and who your employer happens
to be . When we came back , Councilwoman Leary and she got on the
telephone to the attorney in Albany and he gave us the bad news
that at this point the State of New York does not allow you to use
it . Even though we are a municipality that is under 50 , 000 we
cannot opt: to use that form , if we want to use any form for
disclosure we have to go with the form that is used for the larger
municipalities or exclude it totally .
Councilwc man Leary remarked , we don ' t have to have the seven page
form that the State has but we do have to have inane information
even if it is shorter .
Councilman Whitcomb remarked , we could use the shorter form if we
amended it to include income ?
Councilwoman Valentino replied , yes . She stated that she had told
Mr . McChane that she felt for a community the size oof Ithaca
idea and
have that kind of income disclosure was not a very g od
she felt there probably wouldn ' t be enough votes on the Town Board
to pass it and he agreed with us . They are pushing for the shorter
form . It ' s not the amount of income , it ' s the source of income
He asked us to write a letter to than and Councilwoman Leary has
drafted a letter .
Town Attorney Barney asked if the alternative was no form at all?
Councilwoman Leary replied , the alternative is no annual
disclosure ., She went on to say that the income information would
not be public , it would only be known by the Ethics Board . We will
not have another meeting of the Committee and if anyone has more
input let the Committee know .
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Town Board Minutes 5 March 11 , 1991
Youth Bureau
Councilw utan Valentino stated the Youth Bureau Board would be
meeting again this month and they hoped to have a proposal ready
for the :formation of a youth bureau for Lansing and Ithaca and We
hope to tie that up at that meeting . She asked if this would
require a public hearing?
Town Attorney Barney replied that we would probably need to adopt a
local law but he would look this up .
Codes and Ordinance Committee
Councilman Niklas remarked that pursuant to the request for
information from the Town Board , the forms that were handed out in
January , ranking the priorities for COC . The highest priority was
that COC continue looking into the conservation district , e . g . , Six
Mile Creek . We are looking at an environmental overlay concept .
Laura Marks attended the last meeting and the conservation district
is top on the list and he was confident they were making progress .
One of the things that Laura Marks was made aware of was that we
really need to look at the inventory maps more closely . Right now
the draft legislation is narrowing in on stream corridors and
slopes . The Town needs to know where these things are before we
can really draft legislation . He went on to say that the other
thing they were working on was notification and in fact there is a
resolution being circulated . The bottom line was that they were
asked by CAC to look into procedures and posting of property when
development would be eminent on a piece of property . We are
working on legislation to post signs . What we did discuss ,
however , was notification through the mail . There was a suggestion
that the developer be required to pay for public notices as well as
sending out letters to contiguous property owners notifying them of
pending board actions or deliberations . We thought it was more
desirable and more cost effective to continue along the lines we
have regarding notification procedures where the Town sends out
notification to the property owners . In looking through the
records we find , however , that there is no policy whatsoever .
Right now they are going three properties deep . He questioned
whether or not the fee schedule breaks even with regard to the
public notices and mailings . He went on to say that they were
still looking at sunset periods and lake front regulations .
Supervisor Raffensperger stated that she felt the resolution should
say " shall include as a minimum" not "may be limited " in regard to
the notification . She went on to say that sane things that come
before the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals elicit a
great deal more interest than others . People will come to a public
hearing and the public hearing will be adjourned but not to a
certain date . She stated that her feeling has always been that
anybody who bothers to come to the first hearing ought to receive
notice of the second one that they don ' t have any other way of
receiving a notice for . We have a list of people , for instance
people in the Town of Dryden who always receive notices of any kind
of proposal at the East Hill Plaza because they feel very much that
it has consequences in the Town of Dryden .
Councilman Liguori asked , if you don ' t notify everyone , as the law
says , does the case become or the action become moot?
Town Attorney Barney replied yes , but this is not law. The law in
the Town only requires notification to County Planning when you are
involved with sonethi.ng within 500 ' of a State highway , County
highway , etc . There is nothing that says that you must notify
anybody by mail except those individuals . The Town has elected ,
Town Board Minutes 6 March 11 , 1991
over the years , to notify a lot of people and that was probably all
right when postage was five cents and there weren ' t that many
applications .
Councilman Whitcomb remarked that it bothered him that the number
of people being notified was being decreased . He felt the sign and
mailing had to go together .
RESOLUTION N0 , 52
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger , seconded by Councilman
Whitcomb ,
WHEREAS , the CAC has recommended that the COC consider a means
whereby neighboring landowners may be individually notified of
impending development projects on adjacent lands , and
WHEREAS , there is no official written policy concerning said
notification , and
WHEREAS , the COC has communicated to the Town Board its feeling
that the `.Down of Ithaca should provide said individual notification
along the same lines as it has , albeit unofficially , in the past ,
and
WHEREAS , the Town Board of Ithaca finds it desirable to have an
official written policy concerning individual notification
procedures ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of Ithaca request
that the Town Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals
consider adopting an official written policy concerning the
individual_ notification of landowners . It is suggested that said
notification shall include as a minimLin to those owners of
properties who property lines are immediately adjacent to and
immediately across any private or public thoroughfare from a
prospective development-site .
( Raffensperger , Whitccnb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
Canprehen�ive Planning Committee
Councilman. Klein stated that they are still getting a lot of
information from the staff and they are falling behind . There is
still lots and lots of work to be done on the Comprehensive Plan .
REPORT FROM FIRE CHIEF EDVARD OLMSTEAD
Fire Chief' Olmstead stated that his appearance comes on the heals
of Gloria Howell last month and he had suggested to the Town
Supervisor that he cane periodically to report to the Board or
answer any questions . He stated that he did not have a report to
hand to the Board but that monthly they receive the Fire
Ccnmssioners report which has some summaries of what goes on and
also the Newsletter . The Fire Chief went on to say that the
construction of the new stations and the renovations according to
the contract would be completed on May 12th and they thought it
said 1990 , however , they are still going on . There are a number of
issues in dispute with the contractors . The roofs on the new
stations are being partially replaced because an incorrect material
was used on the roofs . We have a significant number of mechanical
engineering issues which go back to primarily design and have met
with the City Attorney ' s office and William Gray , so it is a very
Town Board Minutes 7 March 11 , 1991
difficult process of trying to untangle the details of the
construction contract which do not meet the specifications . He
urged the Board members to repeal the Wick ' s Act . We found the
whole idea of having four prime contractors very difficult and that
was a lot of our problems , as there were days when they simply got
mad at each other and walked off the job and no work was done . We
have , as a result of using up the contingency accounts , a number of
things that did not get done such as furnishings and signs for the
fire stations . There are a number of details like that still open .
He felt -the Oversite Committee would need to meet again sometime
soon .
The Fire Chief went on to say that last year was a very successful
year in terms of recruiting volunteers , over 40 people were brought
in . A part of that is the bunker recruiting program and they hoped
to be close to a number of 30 to 35 people . He went on to say that
two weeks after he was appointed in 1985 , the insurance services
office announced that they were going to cane through and do their
ten year inspection on the City and the Town . This is the
organization that sets the fire insurance rates . The result of
their survey which was done in August of 1985 was that the fire
departmeni: had regressed which means your fire insurance is going
to go up . We were successful in getting them to hold off on that
because of the discussions of the new fire stations and new
equipment „ In November their representative came and now they are
trying to decide what to do about the areas where water has been
extended but without the infrastructure . We have improved ,
however . Commercial places will notice a reduction in their
insurance but not h�owners whose rates are already relatively
low . He noted that the apparatus replacement schedule is slightly
behind by about a year .
The Chief stated that the 11911 " Ccomittee was meeting on a regular
basis and the County is committed to an enhanced 911 system and we
are investigating all of the options . The Telephone Canpany is
very quick: to tell you there is only one way to do this but we are
looking at. all options , the most cost effective way . The County is
moving at this point to pass the required legislation to collect a
surcharge on phone bills and he believed it was a 35 cents per
month service charge that would be added to each individual
telephone bill . On places with a lot of telephone lines you can
only charcre for the first 75 lines that go into the property so
Cornell ' s impact would be $ 21 . 00 a month . This charge goes
directly to off set the cost of the " 911 " system . The Local
awrgency planning Ccmmittee which is charged with developing a
County wide disaster plan for the release of hazardous materials
into the atmosphere , only things that gas off , is still struggling
hard to meet all the things the Federal government has set up with
no funding available . He stated that if the Board had any
questions he would be glad to answer them .
Councilman Leary remarked ► Cornell is considered one property?
The Fire chief replied , it is not considered one property it is
considered one ccanpany . So their phone system is based on the
number of lines they have inbound to the campus . The County and
the School District are the same . We understand that Cornell is
probably going to establish their own " 911 " system and would go
into Public Safety . There is a short term mechanical solution
which he believed would be taking place , before there is an actual
full blown system tying to get a " 911 " diversion , so if someone
dials 911 it won ' t go to Buffalo it will land in the central office
, here and that will be difficult with three telephone companies . If
we said go with it today , it would take about three years .
Town Board Minutes 8 March 11 , 1991
a'
t
Councilman Niklas stated that he saw lots of fire equipment going
on calls up to South Hill and he wondered what separates a call ,
say for Ithaca College , as to what equipment is drawn in response .
Chief Olmstead replied , any structural alarm regardless of its
location in the City or Town gets the same response and we don ' t
differentiate between your house , an academic building or a
residential building on any of the campuses . The standard response
for a structural alarm is two engines , a heavy rescue , a heavy
ladder and two command vehicles . That also guarantees that you get
seven people responding .
Councilman Niklas asked if there were any statistics yet as to how
many calls from Ithaca College are exclusively answered , because of
their nature , by the South Hill fire station and those that are
responded to fran two different stations ?
Chief Olmstead replied , the concept of the whole system is that
there is a central task force which is at central station and four
satellite: . If the call is south from downtown , the primary
response comes out of the South Hill station with the balance of
the support coning out of the central station which is another
engine , heavy rescue and a truck and command people .
Councilman Niklas replied that he was asking for a brake down of
how many calls from South Hill , Ithaca College , can be and were
responsed to simply from the equipment stationed at South Hill .
Chief Olmstead replied , the only calls that would be of that nature
would be a. vehicle fire or something of that nature .
BUDGET TRANSFERS
RESOLUTION N0 . 53
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman
Whitcomb ,
1990 YEAREND BUDGET TRANSFERS
FROM : T0 :
GENERAL FUND - TOWNWIDE
A1440 . 100 :Engineer A14209400
Pers . Servo $ 6 , 147912 Town Attorney $ 11 , 928 . 26
A1440 . 200 *.Engineer
$ 3 , 199 . 60
Equip .
A1440 . 400 Engineer
Contractual $ 132 . 26
A1440 . 404 T�hgineer
Veh . Maint . $ 430 . 40
A1140 . 450 ]3rigineer
G $ 195 . 37
Gasoline
A1110 . 100 Justice
Pers . Serve $ 1 , 725 . 38
A1110 . 200 Justice
Equip . $ 98 . 13
$ 11 , 928 . 26
A141 . 0 . 200 Town Clerk A1410 . 400 Town Clerk
Equip . $ 11000 Contractual $ 11600
A1620 . 200 Building A1620 . 100 Building
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Town Board Minutes 9 March 11 , 1991
Equip . $ 35 . 00 Pers . Serve $ 35 . 00
A16170 . 409 Shard . Serve A9040 . 800
Legal Ads $ 2 , 442 . 80 Worker ' s Comp . $ 5 , 290900
A9060 . 800
Group Health Ins . $ 21847 . 20
$ 5 , 290 . 00
A9030 . 800 A9055 . 800
Social Security $ 141 . 65 Disability Ins . $ 141965
A5182 . 400 A1989 . 400
Street Lighting $ 2 , 000900 Misc . - TCAD $ 2 , 000 . 00
A5132 . 200 A5132 . 413
Hwy Grg . Equip . $ 173 . 11 Hwy Grg Water Rec$ 173 . 11
A71409200 A7l40e40l
Plygrnds /Rec Equip . $ 119 . 30 CRCC $ 119930
GENERAL OUTSIDE VILLAGE
B71409403 B1420 . 400
South Hill Trail $ 14 , 800 . 30 Attorney $ 14 , 800 . 30
B16709405 B1670 . 201
Shrd . Serve Off Suppl $ 81 . 32 Shrd . Serv . Equip $ 81 . 32
B8010 . 200 B8010 . 100
Zoning - Eequip . $ 35904 Zoning - Pers . Ser$ 35 . 04
B8020 . 200 Zoning B8020 . 100 Planning
Equip . $ 31076939 Pers . Serve $ 513932
B8020 . 405 Planning
Misc . $ 2 , 563 . 07
$ 3 , 076 . 39
B9040 . 800 B9030 . 800
Worker ' s Cbmp . $ 422 . 52 Social Security $ 217 . 74
B9055 . 800
Disability Ins . $ 204 . 78
$ 422 . 52
HIGHWAY
DB5140 . 400 DB5130 . 100 Machinery
Brush/weeds . Contr . $ 1 , 178 . 06 Pers . Serve $ 11069 . 03
DB5130 . 461 Machinery
Tools , Parts $ 109 . 03
$ 1 , 178 . 06
WATER
F8340 . 470 Trans & Distr . F8350 . 472 Conan . Wtr . Supple
Line Repair $ 1 , 523 . 83 BP Water $ 64 , 355 . 85
F8340 . 481 Trans & Distr .
Tank Pnt/Mnt $ 62 , 832 . 02
$ 64 , 355 . 85
SEWER
G8120 . 100 San . Sewrs . G8120 . 499 San . Swrs .
$ 273 . 80 Misc . $ 273 . 80
Pers . Svcs .
CAPITAL PRa7EC°rS
H599 H1620 . 200 Town Hall
Fund Balance $ 249 . 95 Rehab . Proj . $ 259 . 95
F H5110 . 200 Gen . Rpr .
H599 und
j . $ 3 , 752 . 50
Fund Balance $ 3 , 752 . 50 Drainage Pro
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Town Board Minutes 10 March 11 , 1991
INCREASE
H5730 Proceeds from H9950 . 900 Xfer to Debt Svc .
Wtr . Borrow . $ 3 , 005 . 70 Wtr . $ 3 , 005 . 70
H5730 Proceeds from H9951 . 900 Xfer to Debt Svc .
Sew . Borrcw . $ 2 , 736 . 95 Sew . $ 2 , 736 . 95
( Raffensparger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
PRESENTATION OF QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT REPORT
Certificates of Deposit
DATE RATE OF MATURITY INTEREST
ACQUIRED AMOUNT INTEREST DATE EARNED
9 / 3 / 90 * $ 11 , 284 . 74 7 . 70 % 3 / 3 / 91 ------
9 / 14 / 90 $ 402 , 335 . 89 7945 % 11 / 13 / 90 $ 41927 . 24
11 / 3 / 90 * $ 407 , 263 . 13 7 . 45 % 5 / 14 / 91 ------
10 / 1 / 90 $ 302 , 797 . 81 7 . 60 % 11 / 30 / 90 $ 3 , 782 . 90
11 / 30 / 90* $ 3061580 . 71 7 . 45 % 5 / 31 / 91 ------
8 / 16 / 90 $ 800 , 000 . 00 7 . 45 % 11 / 08 / 90 $ 13 , 716 . 16
11 / 8 / 90* $ 813 , 716 . 16 7945 % 5 / 5 / 91 ------
8 / 16 / 90 $ 1 , 200 , 000 . 00 7 . 50 % 3 / 11 / 91 ------
8 / 16 / 90 $ 1 , 265 , 000 . 00 7 . 60 % 8 / 16 / 91 ------
9 . 7 / 90 $ 2 , 000900 7 . 25 % 3 / 8 / 91 ------
Savings
END OF MONTH RATE OF INTEREST
MONTH BALANCE INTEREST EARNED
October $ 1 , 990 , 622 . 63 5 . 75 % $8 , 234 . 44
November $ 1 , 740 , 240 . 41 5975 % $ 81731 . 18
December $ 1 , 722 , 569 . 26 5 . 75% $ 8 , 360996
Interest Checking
END OF MONTH RATE OF INTEREST
MONTH BALANCE INTEREST EARNED
October $ 49 , 436 . 55 4 . 50% $ 316999
November $ 12 , 687 . 84 4950 % $ 219 . 19
December $ 148 , 442955 4 . 50 % $ 489 . 00
*Denotes reinvestment
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE ]RELATING TO PROCEDURES FOR SITE PLANS
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of public hearing to
consider a. local law amending the Zoning Ordinance relatiI to
procedures for site plans having been presented by the Town C �;erk ,
the Supervisor opened the public hearing .
As no one in the public wished to comment , the Supervisor closed
the public hearing .
f
Town Attorney Barney noted that the Town ' s Zoning Ordinance , at
present , calls for a specific process to be followed when we are
rezoning or creating a business district or special land use
Town Board Minutes 11 March 11 , 1991
district or a multiple residence district . What it does not call
for quite as clearly as what happens after a district has been
established and there is an opportunity or wish to change the site
plan that was used for that district . This is an effort to try and
clarify that and under those circumstances you basically go back
through the process and it requires the applicant to come back
before the Planning Board and get it approved .
Andrew Frost , Zoning Officer asked if we have a business use , such
as a barber shop for example , that has gotten approval on a parcel
where there are no other businesses located but it is a business
zone and the barber shop gets approval , then somebody comes along
and wants to open up a shoe store . Would that require them to go
back to the Zoning Board or Planning Board for site plan?
Town Attorney Barney replied , let me answer the question this way .
As he would view it , normally it would not if the site plan as
originally approved was a site . . . . . . let ' s say Rogan s came in and
said here is a building he wants to put up for retail sales then
any retail_ sales would be permitted in there but if it changed from
retail sales of shoes to retail sale of something else it would not
be required . Now, if he came in with a specific site plan that was
specific for the particular use , as with Rogan ' s who came in with a
specific plan for a pizza parlor and that is what is approved and
then he wants to change it and sell dresses , he felt it would then
have to come back to have the site plan approved . It depends on
what the actual approval was .
Councilman Niklas remarked that he felt the objective was , that if
there is a substantial alteration of the site plan as it was
originally' approved , with "A" to "F " and "A" to "C " provide a
safety valve for things that are relatively trivial .
Building Inspector Frost asked if there would be any grandfathering
that needs to be addressed with this ?
Town Attorney Barney replied that he did not see the need for
grandfathering . If you have an existing site plan it would apply
to anybody coming in .
Assistant Town Planner Frantz remarked , the discussion of Rogan ' s
Corners brought a question to his mind . Does the second "C " refer
to the setbacks as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance ? In talking
about Rogen ' s , would staff have the clearance , based on this , to
allow modification to put something into a setback area?
Town Attorney Barney replied , no .
Mr . Frantz asked if that should be clarified?
Town Attorney Barney replied that he did not think it needed
clarification because the staff does not have the right , under any
circumstance , to put the building into a 15 ' sideyard . An
applicant would never have the right to put that there absent a
variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals whether it ' s 2 " or 21
.
You could have circumstances , where the Planning Board for sane
reason , said in this particular situation we want a buffer in
excess of what is normally required . Then the staff would have
authority -to allow movement but not movement into that buffer even
though it exceeded the Zoning Ordinance because that was an
expressed condition of the Planning Board .
Councilman Klein remarked , you don ' t have to cane back if you shift
the building two feet , he felt that was really a small figure . You
could shift the building five feet without any consequences . On a
big site a contractor could make a two foot error .
Town Board Minutes 12 March 11 , 1991
Town Attorney Barney replied , it depends on where you are . On a
lot 150 ' x 100 ' in an R-15 zone , two feet can be something fairly
significant . You always have an escape , if you want to move the
building or miss- site the building they can always come back and
the Planning Board can remove that miss-siting . The question is
what is the appropriate level to say you don ' t have to cane back at
all . That was what we came up with , a foot or two .
Councilman Klein replied , you can enlarge a building , you can
enlarge it by 1 , 000 ' .
Town Attorney Barney replied , as long as you don ' t exceed 10 % of
the building . There we caught you because if your building is a
10 , 000 square foot building , the 1 , 000 foot is going to be the
limitation .
Councilman Klein replied , with a less than 10 , 000 square foot
building that ' s a 100 x 100 and you add a little bump that ' s 5 ' x
40 ' you have to cane back because you have moved one side of that
building five feet .
Town Attorney Barney remarked that this is an "or " . If you are
enlarging a building taking your example of 10 , 000. square foot
building and you are going to put a 200 square foot addition on it ,
you can do that if you meet all of the requirements "A" through "F "
or you can meet the requirements "A" through "C " . There are
alternative sets of requirements .
Councilman Niklas remarked , Harrison Rue is on the CAC and one of
the things that we tried to get back from Harrison was what was the
sensitivity margin in normal construction . What would be
appropriate margins of error . We did talk about this and it was
felt that even though that margin of error would be acceptable on a
fairly large lot size that it really is not permissible or standard
on relatively small lots . Two feet can make a difference if you
are infringing on buffer .
Councilman. Klein replied , as long as the shift that you say under
He :sated that he would agree if you were going to move the
building 5 ' and it was going to encroach , you have a 15 ' side yard ,
you can ' t automatically make it 10 ' . You might make sane changes
to that building in which 2 ' is such a minor amount and he would
opt for a slightly more flexible number , five feet or something
like that as long as you are within all the other requirements .
Councilman Liguori remarked if you have 100 ' between you and the
back yard and you are only required to have 50 ' , if you move it 2 '
why go through the whole process ?
Building Inspector Frost remarked , that he thought it should be
recognized that this won ' t apply to most simple residental lots
with a simple house on it because they won ' t be before a site plan .
Perhaps from a subdivision site plan approval and he really did not
know to what extent the Planning Board was looking to see how a
house might set on a vacant lot but they won ' t get site plan
approval , they need to strictly maintain their setbacks .
Councilman Niklas remarked that he thought the point Andy Frost was
making was important in that in a sense it doesn ' t matter if you
are within this area that is surrounded by the buffer and set back
except for the fact that essentially the developer has essentially
identified where that building is to be put . They essentially
defined where in that open space they are going to build and we are
basically :saying okay , we will give you sane latitude but it has to
have some limits to it . Because the complexion of the site of
large construction site can dramatically change . In some cases , if
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Town Board Minutes 13 March 11 , 1991
all of the buildings are allowed to walk four or five feet you are
not just talking about one you are talking about many . And at
least in his experience , they had a circumstance in College Circle
where , on the surface , a fairly trivial adjustment as to one
building shifting positions with another building produced a very
dramatically different effect .
Councilman Klein asked , was it two feet ?
Councilman Niklas replied , well , put it this way . It was shifting
the site plan significantly . He stated that he did not recall if
it was two feet . But his point was that when the Town Planning
Board and even public comment before when you look at a site plan
before it is approved you get a sense of what to expect and that is
essentially what is being approved . All we are saying is that if
you deviate significantly from that you need to come back to the
Planning Board .
Councilman Liguori remarked , you cane back and go through all the
hearings and notification and then through an impact statement .
Assistant Planner Frantz replied that only the short environmental
impact statement has been required and an example is Chase Farms
and the Chamber of Commerce . We are not approving a whole project
only a small design change within the project .
Councilman Liguori remarked , sometimes these are used by those who
want to reopen the whole thing as a means of reopening the whole
project in terms of its environmental impact and rehashing what ' s
been said before . Unless there is a good reason to have to go
through that again he thought it ought to be avoided .
Attorney Barney asked Councilman Liguori where would he draw the
line?
Councilman. Liguori replied , something reasonable .
Attorney Barney asked , what is reasonable ?
Councilman Liguori replied that Councilman Klein was an architect
and he said five feet was reasonable so he would go with him .
Councilman Niklas replied , we have Harrison Rue and he accepted
this .
Councilman Klein asked , what if you shrink the building . You ccm
and get an. approval of 100 ' x 100 ' and you decide you can ' t afford
to build the 100 ' x 100 ' , and make it 80 ' x 80 ' .
Building Inspector Frost replied that he would take issue over that a point
as being a deviation . He stated that he wanted to bring u shows a
and that was a developer in his site plan app process
nice site plan that shows the location of the building and
distances to the property line . Say it ' s winter time and the
Building Inspector goes out to do a foundation inspection and there
is a foot of snow on the ground and piles of dirt all over the
place it is really very difficult to determine where the property
lines are
in relation to the building . He felt he had the power in
residential buildings to require survey maps for as built
foundation:3 . He then asked the Town Attorney if this would apply
to any buildings ?
The Town Attorney replied that he thought so . He went on to say
that he thought the discussion was getting away from what the
amendment was about . We are attempting to basically say that if
ing
you are modifying a site plan you have to come to the Plann
®® I�Y�Il Li�1mL 1Nf��il01iit00®IHNLLifilli��6tl11
Town Board Minutes 14 March 11 , 1991
Board to get it modified but under certain , very limited ,
circumstances we are not going to tell you to come back for that
process .
Councilman Klein stated that he agreed with the concept but he
would argue that two was unreasonable but give it a try .
LOCAL LAW NO . 4 - 1991
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
LOCAL LAW N0 . 4 - 1991
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING ORDINANCE RELATING
TO PROCEDURES FOR SITE PLANS
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted , amended
and revised effective February 26 , 1968 , and subsequently amended ,
be further amended as follows :
10 Article IX , Section 46-a , subdivision 11 is amended by
changing the first sentence to read as follows :
" 1 . After a Residence District R5 , Multiple Residence ,
Business , Light Industrial or Industrial District , or any
other, Special Land Use District , has been established by the
Town Board and whenever a specified development or changes in
the general plan are proposed , or whenever a site plan is
required by any other provision of this ordinance , a site plan
for the proposed use must be submitted and approved by the
planning Board before a building permit may be issued . . . "
2 . Article IX , Section 46-a , subdivision 2 , is amended by
deleting the second sentence thereof .
3 . Article IX , Section 46-a , subdivision 3 , is amended to read as
follows :
" 3 . Upon submission of a final site plan , the Planning Board
shall approve or disapprove the final site plan . The owner
shall be bound by the final site plan as approved by the
Planning Board . "
4 . Article IX , Section 46-a is further amended by adding a new
subdivision 4 reading as follows :
114 . '.If at any time subsequent to the approval of the final
site plan , the owner shall wish to change the site plan as
approved , an application with the revised site plan prepared
in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance shall be
submitted to the Planning Board for the Planning Board ' s
approval . In reviewing such application for a modified site
plan -the Planning Board shall have all of the powers it has
with respect to reviewing an original application for site
plan approval . Notwithstanding the foregoing , if the
modification involves
( a) construction or alteration of less than 1 , 000 square
:Feet of enclosed space whether on one or more stories ;
and
(b) construction or relocation of less than 3 parking
spaces , and
( c ) construction , repairs , alterations , or renovations
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Town Board Minutes 15 March 11 , 1991
affecting the exterior of a building or the site ,
(exterior work is anticipated to cost less than
$ 10 , 000 . 00 ) , and
(d) enlargement of an existing building that involves an
increase of square footage of less than 10 % of the
existing square footage of the existing building ; and
(e ) does not alter proposed traffic flows and access ;
and
( f) does not directly violate any express conditions
imposed by the Planning Board in granting prior site plan
approval ,
or if the modification involves
( a) a movement or shift of a location of one or more
buildings not more than two feet in any direction from
the location shown on the final site plan ; and
(b) such shift does not alter proposed traffic flows or
access , and
( c ) such shift does not directly violate any express
conditions ( including , without limitation , buffer zones ,
setbacks , etc . ) imposed by the Planning Board in granting
prior site plan approval ,
then such modification may be made without requiring approval
of the modified site plan by the Planning Board . This waiver
of the requirement of Planning Board approval is not intended
to permit construction in violation of any other provision of
the Zoning Ordinance including setback , side yard , and similar
regulations , or the requirement to obtain a building p i
permit n
those: circumstances when otherwise required by the terms of
this ordinance .
2 . This law shall take effect upon its publication as required by
law .
Supervisor Raffensperger called for a roll call vote .
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman Liguori Voting Aye
Councilman Niklas Voting Aye
Councilwoman Valentino Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcomb Voting Aye
Supervisor Raffensperger Voting Aye
Local Law ]Vo . 4 - 1991 was thereupon declared duly adopted .
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE TOWN OF ITHACA
ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING THAT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MAY NOT
ACT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT AN AFFIRMATIVE RECOMMENDATION
OF THE PLINWING BOARD
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of public hearing to
consider a local law amending the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance
providing that the Board of Zoning Appeals may not act in certain
circumstances without an affirmative recommendation of the Planning
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Town Board Minutes 16 March 11 , 1991
Board having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor
opened the public hearing .
0
As no one present wished to speak , the Supervisor closed the public
hearing .
Supervisor Raffensperger noted that the Town Board members had
received -a comment from the Zoning Board of Appeals on the proposed
local law . The Planning Board noted that the Zoning Board of
Appeals is not at all happy .
Councilman Niklas noted that COC had actually come before the Town
Board on this issue asking for guidance . He felt that the advice
from the Town Board was to go forth and show us something . The
argument for changing the legislation were the feelings of both Ron
Brand and a number of other members of the Town Board as well as
the recommendation from CAC , at the time . Special site plan
approvals ,, as we are talking about today , really have very
important consequences in the overall complexion of the Town .
Really it " s not just simply a question of the legislative branch of
Town government looking at something but also whether or not the
Town Planning Board has made its opinion known . And , it was really
felt that given the present circumstances where this goes before
the Town Planning Board , the Town Planning Board makes a
recommendation , the recommendation is taken with the advice and
consent by the ZBA . Since we go through the expenditure of time
and effort we may just as well have a veto power imposed by the
Town Planning Board because if something is not up to snuff in
terms of the planning objectives of the Town there is no point in
really wasting the time of the ZBA . The legislation before you
which was drafted along those lines was essentially seen in that
light by the Town Planning Board . The ZBA ' s position is , however ,
articulated in a letter dated February 28th , authored by Bob Hines
who is a member of COC , also . He stated that he was not sure if
there were two objections here but one could read the second
paragraph as if there were two . It start out " these local laws add
to categories of construction through which site plan approval is
required " and he did not know if that was an implicit criticism but
the bulk of the criticism is articulated later which is that it
basically requires that approval to proceed the final action of the
Board of Appeals and then should the applicants proposal be
rejected , that is if the site plan is not approved by the Planning
Board , that if the applicant should then should go to court to
challenge that , the applicant would not know before hand whether or
not that ESZA ' S approval would be positive or negative . In effect
they could win in court and then end up going to ZBA and ZBA would
deny it . He went on to say that that was a lot of " if ' s " and he
would still like to argue that the Town Board approve the piece of
legislation because he felt what they were talking about can
dramatically influence the Town ' s planning efforts and that the
Town Planning Board be allowed to have veto power and that only
positive declarations or approvals of site plan activities such as
these be put on the the agenda of the ZBA .
Councilman Liguori asked , why not give the whole function to the
Planning Board?
Councilman Niklas replied that that certainly was an alternative .
He stated that his feeling at the time was that that should be done
as well but it also occurred to him and he felt COC also , that what
we are essentially saying is that something of this importance ,
something that can change the complexion of the Town , ought to be
looked at by two committees . There are two lines of judgement here
that should be drawn . one is , is this activity compatible with the
overall planning scheme of the Town and he felt that should go
before staff and Planning Board . The other question is what are
Wo�neaw��yUe��i�u��n�eY��uu
Town Board Minutes 17 March 11 , 1991
the legal ramifications should this activity not be pursued . He
thought that is within the the pervue of ZBA .
Councilman Liguori asked , why not give it to the Planning Board and
then give ZBA the veto power? It ' s redundant if only one has the
authority .
Councilman Niklas replied that he thought that in this case they
both had the authority . Remember that just because you veto
something at one level it goes on to another level . He stated that
his feelings were that this was a sound approach . He stated that
he did not find Bob Hines ' letter compelling .
Building Inspector Frost stated that he would respond for the ZBA
since no member was here . He went on to say that the letter was a
product of two separate meetings that the ZBA had . The first
meeting was a discussion of only one of the proposed local laws .
The proposed letter was drafted after that one meeting to really
deal with only one proposed local law change . Then at the second
meeting there were two more of these laws for them to consider so
they tried to consolidate their review of the second and third law
to also deal with the first law that that letter was primarily to
address .
Councilman Klein remarked , these are sort of blending with the 7 : 45
P . M . , public hearing but the one we are discussing now , what are
the actions that we are asking here for Planning Board veto?
Town Attorney Barney replied , all of the special approval that
require a reference to the Planning Board would now give the
Planning Board , when the matter is referred to them , veto power .
Councilman. Klein asked if this would also go with the other
proposed local law at 7 : 45 ?
Town Attorney Barney replied yes , this one just happened to be
drafted first . The second one just sort of restates and provides
the process for the site plan review and also provides for the
changes .
Councilman Klein remarked , if the Zoning Ordinance says you can
build a church in an R-30 zone with special approval of the ZBA , is
that talking about letting it happen without a variance , subject to
certain conditions .
Town Attorney Barney replied , at the moment , if this should pass ,
you are subject to two sets of criteria . There is a set of
criteria that are spelled out before the Planning Board can
recommend an approval and then there is Section 77 , subdivision 7 ,
sections a through f which are the criteria that the Board of
Zoning Appeals must use in deciding to grant approval .
Councilman Niklas remarked , the real issue is should the Town
Planning Board have the opportunity to decide if this church or
whatever is proposed , is appropriate for this site and under what
circumstances would it be constructed and with what setbacks or
other requirements . He asked , really does it make any sense to
have judgement passed on that by the ZBA until the Planning Board
goes through its recommendations ?
Councilman Klein remarked that he believed that the special
approval process belonged to the Planning Board and he did not like
the idea of the duplication . Basically he supported the notion
that the Planning Board would have veto power over the Board of
Zoning Appeals but he thought it did introduce a sort of
unnecessary level and what he was trying to get at was to
Town Board Minutes 18 March 11 , 1991
streamline the process . So now it goes to the BZA , the BZA refers
it to the Planning Board , the Planning Board makes a recommendation
then it l as to go back to the ZBA .
Building Inspector Frost replied , that may be the way the law reads
but we have tried to streamline that within the building and we
send it to the Planning Board and then to the ZBA .
Councilman Klein remarked that his strong preference was to give
the Planning Board the power , which it can have , of site plan
approval to the Planning Board .
Councilman Niklas remarked that his only argument was that under
some circumstances and at scene time in the future , we may all be
grateful that two town boards have had the opportunity to look at
something and pass judgement rather than just one .
Councilman Liguori asked , right now which board has the authority
to approve .
Councilman Niklas replied in most cases , ZBA .
Councilman Liguori replied , on this particular issue ?
Councilman Niklas replied , yes .
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked that Councilman Niklas knows that
she had some concern with this sort of dual system in that she
would have preferred that the Planning Board have the sole right to
issue special permits in the Town .
Councilman Niklas replied as a final comment , we really thought
this was a happy ccarprcmise between what we had and what was being
proposed by CAC and it met both objectives .
Edward Austen , ZBA Chairman stated that he was sorry he did not get
to the meeting soon enough to ccmuent on the proposed local law .
We feel that , as we wrote in the letter , it ' s kind of cutting short
the person applying for something . This means they have to go
Article 78 if they want any recourse even before it comes back to
the ZBA and then it could be turned down by us . The ZBA always
takes into account what the Planning Board has put down in their
minutes . We very seriously look at any reconmtendations the
Planning Board has and take them very serious .
Councilman Whitcomb asked , if we vote this down would it then go
back to the COC for revision? We could recommend that the COC make
appropriate changes in it and make the Planning Board the sole
approver of special approval ?
Councilwanan Leary asked if it wouldn ' t be better to pass this now
as an improvement in that direction and if that is what we want
them to do , have them pursue it?
Councilman Niklas replied , that ' s the real issue .
Councilman Klein replied , if we vote it down then obviously the
marching orders are to revise it . If we approve it . . . . . . . .
Councilman Niklas replied , if you vote it down it doesn ' t
necessarily mean that we are instructed we are just simply told
that this is no longer . . . . . .
Councilman Whitcomb remarked that when the CAC drafted a letter
recommending this , we recommended that the Planning Board have this
authority . But he did think that Councilman Niklas ' argument that
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Town Board Minutes 19 March 11 , 1991
two sets of eyes are better than one has some merit and that is why
he is supporting this , otherwise he would recommend giving it
entirely to the Planning Board .
Councilman Liguori asked , isn ' t that part of our problem now that
we have so many eyes looking at all these different things that are
going on that we are confusing the issues and resorting to this
kind of a thing , which is a veto power and is saying , in effect ,
this is a superior board . If they are the superior board they
ought to have the function , give it all to them . Simplify things
instead of making things more and more complicated .
Councilman Niklas replied he thought the best analogy he could give
the Board, toward this was , if you are very ill , organically ill ,
you will want to go to the best diagnostician you can find , you
would not have the diagnostician perform surgery on you . You go
through -the levels of expertise that achieve the best end .
Diagnose the disease and then , if necessary , have surgery . The
same logic applies here .
LOCAL LAW # 5 - 1991
Motion by Councilman Whitcomb ; seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
A LOCAL D W AMENDING THE TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING
THAT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MAY NOT ACT IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT AN AFFIRMATIVE RECONMENDATION OF THE PLANNING
BOARD
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted , amended
and revised effective February 26 , 1968 , and subsequently amended ,
be further amended as follows .
1 . Article XIV , Section 77 , is amended by renumbering
subparagraph 9 to be subparagraph 10 and inserting a new
subparagraph 9 reading as follows :
"Where the terms of this Ordinance require a matter to be
referred to the Planning Board for a recommendation before
action is taken by the Board of Appeals , the Board of Appeals
shall not hear the matter unless and until the Planning Board
has reviewed the matter and recommended the action
affirmatively . The Planning Board shall act within 60 days of
receipt of the application . Failure to act within such time
period shall be deemed an affirmative recommendation unless
the time to act is extended with the applicant ' s consent . In
the event the Planning Board recommends affirmatively , but
with conditions , the approval of the Board of Appeals shall
include the Planning Board ' s conditions , plus any additional
conditions the Board of Appeals deems necessary . "
2 . This local law shall take effect upon its publication as
required by law .
Supervisor Raffensperger called for a roll call vote .
Councilman Klein Voting Nay
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman Liguori Voting Nay
Councilman Niklas Voting Aye
Councilwoman Valentino Voting Aye
councilman Whitcomb Voting Aye
S Voting Nay
upervisor Raffensperger
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Town Board Minutes 20 March 11 , 1991
Local Law No . 5 - 1991 was thereupon declared duly adopted .
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED FIRE CONTRACT WITH THE
VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of public hearing to
consider a proposed fire contract with the Village of Cayuga
Heights having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor
opened the public hearing .
As no member of the public wished to comment , the Supervisor closed
the public hearing .
Town Attorney Barney remarked that the proposed contract was fairly
close to what has been in effect , by default , since 1977 . The
contract was never formally renewed but the formula for payment
then is the formula that has been used since then for Town payment .
The Village initially wanted to remove the formula from the
contract . We have done some research and from a legal standpoint
have some reservations about a formula but there are several
opinions from the Comptroller but we have been operating
successfully for several years with the Village on a formula basis
and also with the City on a sense of formula on the contract with
them .
Councilman Niklas requested that the formula be clarified also ,
territory , areas and properties , which the Town Attorney agreed he
would pas : this on to the attorney for the Village .
The Town Attorney went on to say that they had asked the Village to
define , a little more clearly , the territory to be covered under
the contract , however , he did not have the chance to check the City
contract to see if the Village contract covered what was not
covered by the City contract .
RESOLUTION NO . 54
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilman Whitcomb ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the fire contract with the Village of Cayuga Heights subject to
modifications as approved by the Town Attorney and the Town
Supervisor .
The Supervisor called for a roll call vote .
Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman Liguori Voting Aye
Councilman Niklas Voting Aye
Councilwoman Valentino Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcomb Voting Aye
Supervisor Raffensperger Voting Aye
The Resolution was duly adopted .
PUBLIC H &UUNG TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE ;REQUIRING SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION IN
VARIOUS RE;iIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of public hearing to
consider a local law amending the Zoning Ordinance requiring site
plan approval for certain construction in various residential
Town Board Minutes 21 March 11 , 1991
districts having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor
opened the public hearing .
As no one present wished to speak , the Supervisor closed the public
hearing .
Councilmen Niklas stated the Town Attorney had already , in a sense ,
articulated how this differs in essence from the one we just
approved . We are voting on a list of uses but only upon receipt of
special approval by the Board of Appeals in accordance . . . . . . . . . .
We have not really altered the list that needs site plan approval
in the past , just clarified it . COC actually thought " a " to "h"
was conservative . There were other things that were being
considered , like a cemetery .
LOCAL LAW # 6 - 1991
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Supervisor Raffensperger ,
LOCAL LAW # 6 - 1991
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING THE TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIRING
SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION IN VARIOUS RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICTS OF THE TOWN
The Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Ithaca as readopted , amended
and revised effective February 26 , 1968 , and subsequently amended ,
be further amended as follows :
1 . Article II-A , Section 3C , subdivision 6 , is hereby amended by
deleting the last sentence thereof and inserting instead the
following :
"The application for such approval shall be referred to the
Planning Board and no final action by the Board of Appeals
shall. be taken until the Planning Board has reviewed at least
a preliminary site plan and approved same . If the Zoning
Board of Appeals approves same , and if only a preliminary site
plan was approved by the Planning Board , the matter shall be
returned to the Planning Board for final site plan approval .
The site plan approval process shall be as set forth in
Article IX . No building permit shall be issued unless the
proposed structure is in accordance with the final site
approved by the Planning Board . "
2 . Article III , Section 41r is hereby amended by deleting
subdivisions 3 , 4 , 51 61 7 , 11 , and 12 and inserting a new
subdivision 3 reading as follows :
"The following uses but only upon receipt of a special
approval for same by the Board of Appeals in accordance with
the procedures described below :
( a) Church or other places of worship , convent and
.parish house .
( b) Public library , public museum , public , parochial or
private school , nursery school , daycare center ,
:fraternity or sorority houses , and any institution of
higher learning including dormitory accommodations .
( c ) Publicly owned park or playground including
accessory buildings and improvements .
(d) Fire station or other public building necessary to
i-.he protection of or the servicing of a neighborhood .
Town Board Minutes 22 March 11 , 1991
(e ) Golf course except a driving range , or miniature
golf course .
( f) Hospital , provided that no building so used shall be
within 100 feet of any street or within 150 feet of the
lot line of any adjoining owner .
(g) Nursing or convalescent home , or medical clinic .
(h) The application for approval of any of the foregoing
uses shall be referred to the Planning Board and no final
action by the Board of Appeals shall be taken until the
Planning Board has reviewed at least a preliminary site
plan and approved same . If the Zoning Board of Appeals
approves same , and if only a preliminary site plan was
approved by the Planning Board , the matter shall be
returned to the Planning Board for final site plan
approval . The site plan approval process shall be as set
forth in Article IX . No building permit shall be issued
unless the proposed structure is in accordance with the
final site plan approved by the Planning Board . "
3 . Article III , Section 4 , subdivisions 8 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ,
17 , 18 , and 19 , are renumbered subdivisions 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ,
11 , 12 , and 13 respectively .
4 . Article IV , Section 11 , subdivisions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 are
hereby deleted and the following new subdivision 3 inserted as
follows :
"The following uses but only upon receipt of a special
approval for same by the Board of Appeals in accordance with
the procedures described below :
( a) Church or other places of worship , convent and
parish house .
(b) Public library , public museum , public , parochial and
private schools , daycare center , nursery school , and any
institution of higher learning including dormitory
acccmnodations .
( c ) Publicly owned park or playground including
accessory buildings and improvements .
(d) Fire station or other public building necessary to
the protection of or the servicing of a neighborhood .
( e ) Golf course , except a driving range , or miniature
golf course .
( f) The application for approval for any of the
foregoing uses shall be referred to the Planning Board
and no final action by the Board of Appeals shall be
taken until the Planning Board has reviewed at least a
preliminary site plan and approved same . If the Zoning
Board of Appeals approves same , and if only a preliminary
OD plan was approved by the Planning Board , the matter
Shall be returned to the Planning Board for final site
I lan approval . The site plan approval process shall be
as set forth in Article IX . No building permit shall be
issued unless the proposed structure is in accordance
with the final site plan approved by the Planning Board . "
59 Article IV , Section 11 , subdivisions 8 , 9 . 10 , 11 , and 12 are
numbered 41. 5 , 61 7 and 8 respectivelys
nr t�W'®�swuiurgmRfl�rm�®nemi�iuuidmui�iiu
Town Board Minutes 23 March 11 , 1991
6 . Article V , Section 18 , is hereby amended by deleting
subdivisions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , and 11 and inserting instead the
following :
"The following uses but only upon receipt of a special
approval for same by the Board of Appeals in accordance with
the procedures described below :
( a) Church or other place of worship , convent and parish
house .
(b) Public library , public museum , public , parochial and
private schools , daycare center , nursery school , and
any institution of higher learning including
dormitory accomiodations .
(c ) Publicly owned park or playground including
accessory buildings and improvements .
(d) Fire station or other public building necessary to
the protection of or the servicing of a
neighborhood .
( e ) Golf course , except a driving range or miniature
golf course .
( f) Hospital , provided that no building so used shall be
within 100 feet from any street or within 150 feet
of the lot line of any adjoining owner .
( g) Nursing or convalescent hone , or medical clinics .
(h) The application for approval of any of the foregoing
uses shall be referred to the Planning Board and no
final action by the Board of Appeals shall be taken
until the Planning Board has reviewed at least a
preliminary site plan and approved same . If the
Zoning Board of Appeals approves same , and if only a
preliminary site plan was approved by the Planning
Board , the matter shall be returned to the Planning
Board for final site plan approval . The site plan
approval process shall be as set forth in Article
IX . No building permit shall be issued unless the
proposed structure is in accordance with the final
site plan approved by the Planning Board .
7 . Article V , Section 181r is further amended by renumbering
subdivisions 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , and 18 to be
subdivisions 4 , 5 , 6 , 71 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , and 12 respectively .
8 . This local law shall take effect upon its publication as
required by law .
Supervisor Raffensperger called for a roll call vote .
,.Councilman Klein Voting Aye
Councilwoman Leary Voting Aye
Councilman Liguori Voting Aye
Councilman Niklas Voting Aye
Councilwoman Valentino Voting Aye
Councilman Whitcomb Voting Aye
Voting Aye
Supervisor Raffensperger
Town Board Minutes 24 March 11 , 1991
Local Law No . 6 - 1991 was thereupon declared duly adopted .
APPOINT a4T OF MEMBER TO ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Supervisor Raffensperger noted that Edward Austen , Chairman of the
Zoning Board of Appeals was here if the Board had any questions .
She noted that the recommendation was from the Zoning Board of
Appeals to the Town Board , the name of E . Peter Scala to serve on
the Zoning Board of Appeals for the term to expire December 31 ,
1991 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Henry Aron .
Supervisor Raffensperger stated that she would make a motion to
accept Mr . Scala so that discussion could proceed , Councilman
Niklas stated that he would second the motion . Councilman Niklas
remarked that he did not have time to read the minutes but he
assumed the interview of candidates was done openly .
Chairman Austen replied that the interview were done during open
session . He stated that they had five candidates and interviewed
four as one could not make either meeting and Mr . Scala was chosen .
Councilman Niklas asked what was the most compelling criteria for
selecting Mr . Scala .
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked that if the Board was going to
have specific discussion of the qualifications of the candidates
for this position then the Board should go into Executive Session .
Councilman Whitcomb asked what was the criteria for the selection
of candidates ?
Mr . Austeol replied that he did not know that if the Board had any
particular criteria , we interviewed each candidate , listened to how
they felt about the Zoning Board of Appeals , what their purpose for
being on the Board was and their qualifications for that job . All
of them were qualified to be on the Board , they all had good
qualifications . Mr . Scala was just a better candidate for the
position . He had no conflictions that would be a problem on the
Board , wh:ich was one criteria . Almost all the candidates we had
were from the West side , although they did not take that as a
particular issue .
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION( NO . 55
Motion by Councilman Klein ; seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby move
into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter , the
qualifications of the proposed new member of the Zoning Board of
Appeals .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
OPEN SESSILDN
RESOLUTION NO . 56
Motion by Councilman Niklas , seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby move
back into open Session .
..
Town Board Minutes 25 March 11 , 1991
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
RESOLUTION NO . 57
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the appointment of E . Peter Scala , 128 Cayuga Park Road to serve on
the Zonilzg Board of Appeals with a term to expire December 31 ,
1991 , to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Henry Aron .
(Raffensperger , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and Niklas voting
Aye . Nays - Whitcomb) .
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CHANGES IN ZONING AND
BUILDING INSPECTION FEES
Town Attorney Barney remarked that he and the Building Inspector
had met on this and that he was in the process of drafting some
legislation that is a little broader because it is also including
periodical inspections on multiple dwellings and certain other
facilities . Part of it is a zoning ordinance amendment and that
would require the Planning Board reviewing it and making a
recommendation . He did not know if the Board wanted to set the
date for a public hearing before the Planning Board had looked at
its
Supervisor Raffensperger replied that it should go to the Planning
Board for their recommendation . She suggested that the Board
consider Netting the date for the public hearing in April .
NEWSLETTER
Councilwoman Leary remarked , under the New York State budget , third
paragraph , where it says " in the short term , the Town of Ithaca has
instituted immediate budget cuts , " she asked if this was exactly
true ?
Supervisor Raffensperger replied , you received a copy of a memo
that she had sent to the staff and every effort is being made to
make those budget cuts , such things as postage , etc . The
Department heads are providing items that can be taken from the
budget .
Councilman Leary replied , wouldn ' t that be as identified items ,
they aren ' t necessarily cut yet .
Supervisor Raffensperger replied , some have all ready been cut .
The reason she had sent the memo is because we do not know when the
State of New York is going to pass the budget . If we wait until
June then it ' s going to be very difficult to accommodate what may
be the cuts in our resources this year , in the last part of the
year . The sooner we start doing it , the easier it will be .
RESOLUTION NO . 58
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the Newsletter , to be adjusted as space permits .
Town Board Minutes 26 March 11 , 1991
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
CONTRACT FOR STREET SWEEPER
RESOLUTION NO . 59
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
WHEREAS , the Town roads need to be swept after the winter months
- and before surface improvements can be completed , and
WHEREAS , the Town does not own a street sweeper and , therefore ,
needs to hire the services of J & S Enterprises , Inc . , to sweep
various Town roads at the discretion of the Highway Superintendent ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby accepts the contract with J & S Enterprises , Inc . ,
for street sweeping at the hourly rate of $ 46 . 00 not to exceed
$ 3 , 500 .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
CONTINUE PAYMENT TO PLANNING CONSULTANT
RESOLUTION N0 . 60
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
WEIEREAS , the contract for planning services with Stuart Brown
Associates extends until April 15 , 1991 , and
WHEREAS , j.he Town Board authorization for payment of the planning
services outlined in the contract terminates as of March 12 , 1991 ,
and
WHEREAS , :it was the intention of the Town Board that payment be
authorized for the duration of the contract ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca authorizes the continued payment to Stuart Brown Associates
of the amount authorized in the contract , April 151P 1991 , that is ,
an average of sixty hours per month or a total for the contract
period of 720 hours .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ' S RECOMMENDATION FOR MEMBERSHIP ON
THE CAC
Councilman Whitcomb noted that the CAC had interviewed five
candidates for four seats on the Board . These were chosen because
they are full time residents of the Town and had expressed an
interest in working on the CAC , the fifth candidate was not a full
time resident of the Town as he was a student . His background was
good but we felt that people who were residents of the Town were
preferred .
RESOLUTION NO . 61
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwcman Valentino ,
�IiYY�1�Y111Y1��l�liwl A�SIINMIlIpY t9fIR�1®I1��
Town Board Minutes 27 March 11 , 1991
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) has
four vacancies as of March 1 , 1991 , and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca Town Board has asked the CAC to
recommend individuals to fill those vacancies ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby approves the CAC recommendations , by election , the
following four individuals : Celia Bowers , Candace Cornell , Eva
Hoffmann and Ruth Mahr . Each person will serve a term to begin
March 1 , 1991 and to expire December 31 , 1992 .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
PURCHASE OF NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Town Highway Superintendent McConnell remarked that the telephone
system at the Highway Garage is quite antiquated , there are two
lines coming in , residential phones , there are two separate
telephoner with no way to put anyone on hold .
Councilwcxnan Valentino remarked you have two lines now , will this
system be four lines ?
Highway Superintendent McConnell replied , the price is for four
he thought that right now they would try three lines .
Ines but g
1 g
RESOLUTION N0 . 62
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Supervisor Raffensperger ,
WHEREAS , the phone system presently at the Highway Garage consists
of two separate lines and residential type service which does not
allow for any time or energy saving features like paging , holding ,
call transferring , etc . , and
WHEREAS , there is a need to have an adequate phone system to make
efficient use of time for all concerned employees , and
WHEREAS , price quotes have been received from All-Mode
Cmmmications , Inc . , and
WHEREAS , said quote appears to be reasonable , and the proposed
system appears to meet the immediate needs of the department ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the proposal for installation of
a new phone system from A114ode Communications , Inc . , be accepted
and installation be allowed at a price not to exceed $ 2 , 300 , and
IT IS FUrWPEER RESOLVED , that the Highway Superintendent is
authorized to have a third central office line installed from New
York Telephone Company .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
REPLACEMENT OF TRUCK # 6
RESOLUTION N0 . 63
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilman Whitcomb ,
Town Board Minutes 28 March 11 , 1991
WHEREAS , Truck # 6 is a 1984 Dodge with over 100 , 000 miles and is in
fair condition , and
WHEREAS , monies have been budgeted and replacement has been
scheduled for Truck # 6 this year before the condition becomes poor
and maintenance costs increase ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the specifications for a
replacement be accepted and advertised for open bidding , and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that failure to meet any minimum
specifications is grounds for rejection of the bid .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
AGREEMENT TO EXPEND TOWN HIGHWAY FUNDS
RESOLUTION N0 , 64
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger , seconded by Councilwoman
Valentino ,
RESOLVED ,, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby enter
into an Agreement to Expend Town Highway Funds with the Town of
Ithaca Highway Superintendent .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
CONTINUED FULL TIME SECRETARY SERVICES FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Supervisor Raffensperger noted that Carolyn Dickens had worked part
time for the Highway Department for some time and has been working
six months full time .
RESOLUTION N0 . 65
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilman Whitcomb ,
WHEREAS , Carolyn Dickens has been full time for the full probation
period of six months effective April 22 , 1991 , and
WHEREAS , the need to continue the position of Highway
Administrative Assistant as a full time position exists and has
been demonstrated without question for the entire probation period ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize that the position of Highway Administrative
Assistant be made permanent full time with a standard work week of
37 . 5 hours , beginning April 22 , 1991 .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT ' S COMPLETION OF SIX MONTH PROBATIONARY
PERIOD
RESOLUTION NO , 66
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger , seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
Town Board Minutes 29 March 11 , 1991
WHEREAS , Scott McConnell was appointed Town of Ithaca Highway
Superintendent as of August 29 , 1990 , and
WHEREAS , Scott McConnell has completed his 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 salary of the Town Highway
Superintendent be increased from $ 25 , 000 to $ 26 , 000/year , effective
March 1 , 1991 . This increase will not effect eligibility for an
increase Pon January 1 , 1992 .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
PERSONS TD BE HEARD
No one present wished to speak at this time .
REFERRAL TO THE PLANNING BOARD THE REQUEST FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY
FOR THE REZONING OF LAND ZONED R-30 TO SPECIAL LAND USE DISTRICT
Town Engineer Dan Walker remarked that this was the long awaited
evaluation generic environmental impact statement for the orchards
and East Hill areas that are owned by Cornell University .
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked , so the action tonight is that we
have received an application from Cornell for rezoning .
Councilman Klein asked what Precinct 7 means ?
Supervisor Raffensperger replied , the Cornell Master Plan has been
divided into various precincts and primarily the geographical area
for the GEIS is Precinct 7 which is the orchards area . The Town ,
however , wished to draw the boundaries of the area somewhat
differently and Cornell has agreed to that .
Councilman Klein asked if it would make any sense to give this
information to Stuart Brown Associates or to CPC ?
Supervisor Raffensperger responded , this is going to take about a
year and she informally would say that she doubted that the end
result of this whole process will necessarily be the rezoning to a
special land use district . It may be that the Comprehensive
Planning Committee will have completed the master plan by then and
have recannended areas such as these be put in an institutional
zone , an education zone . This is really a device to get going on
the GEIS .
RESOLUTION N0 , 67
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger , seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby refers
to the Planning Board for review and recommendations the request
from Cornell University for the rezoning , and
FURTHER Bl23 IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board recommends that the
Town of Ithaca Planning Board be declared lead agency for
environmental review and development of the GEIS .
Town Board Minutes 30 March 11 , 1991
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISING AND BIDDING FOR THE INLET VALLEY WATER
AND SEWER PROJECT
Supervisor Raffensperger noted that this item had been deleted .
SET DATE; FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE GRANDFATHERING CERTAIN PROJECTS — EXCAVATION AND FILL
RESOLUTION NO , 68
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger , seconded by Councilman Liguori ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a, public hearing at 7 : 00 P .M . , on April 8 , 1991 to consider
amending the Zoning Ordinance grandfathering certain projects -
excavation and fill .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
JANUARY TOWN BOARD MINUTES
RESOLUTION N0 , 69
Motion by Counci]man Niklas , seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the January 1991 Town Board minutes as presented by the Town Clerk .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
CLARIFYING REVISION TO PERSONNEL MANUAL REGARDING VACATION POLICY
AND ACCUMULATION OF SICK TINE
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked , this has to do with an
interpretation of the Town policy regarding vacations . If you
recall , the Personnel Manual has a schedule under which people are
awarded , after a certain number of years with the Town , additional
amounts of vacation . There was a certain amount of difficulty in
interpreting that , this year employees were notified at the
beginning of 1991 of the entire amount of vacation time to be
available to them during the year with no kind of recognition that
the anniversary date might be quite late in the year . In other
words , it might say you are going to get three weeks of vacation
this year but the five year period of employment which made them
eligible for the third week did not come until December . So we got
into a lot of concern and confusion about interpreting that . The
Personnel Committee met and basically decided that it was more
equitable and eventually would be easier to use the employment
anniversary date . When Councilwoman Valentino and Linda Nobles , as
a subcommittee got together to work on this , they discovered that
as usual :nothing was as easy as it seems and that they really need
to have a three part recommendation which is to leave the 1991
vacation ,mounts as is , prorate the vacation allowance in 1992 to
the employees anniversary date and then to begin to use the
anniversary date in 1992 .
Town Board Minutes 31 March 11 , 1991
Councilmen Niklas remarked that he would like to approve this with
the understanding that staff has had the opportunity to look this
over and that they essentially approve these modifications .
Councilwoman Valentino replied , that ' s the other part that is
missing from here that we talked about . We are going to put it
together and see how it looks and make sure nobody gets
disadvantaged . Then we do want to have the staff look at it and
give us input because we ' re sure there is going to be scene . . . . . . .
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked , terrible consequences ?
Councilwoman Valentino continued , some things that just
aren ' t . . . . . you see when we first talked about anniversary date we
thought that they , on their computer system , could do it on a
monthly basis like we do at Cornell but what we found out was that
the computer system is not really able to handle that and that is
why they have always given everybody their accural for the year at
the beginning of the year . It ' s just the simplest way for them to
deal with. it . So that ' s why we have run into this problem but it
is also part of the recommendation that it be circulated and we
look at it again to make sure that no one gets disadvantaged .
Supervisor Raffensperger replied that the purpose was to bring this
to the Town Board is to say if we can work out this policy , is it
acceptable to you and if we can work it out with the Town staff in
an equitable way? There did not seem much point to proceeding with
any more of these attempts to work it out until it was brought to
the Town Board . If there is a consensus then Councilwoman
Valentino and Linda will proceed to see what they can work out .
Highway Superintendent McConnell asked if they are going to award
vacation at the time when they start permanent or is it the first
day of employment ?
Councilwoman Valentino replied that they have not resolved this .
She went on to say that they had started to discuss this but that
they have not reached a decision . She told the Highway
Superintendent that if he had some suggestions she would really
like to hear them .
Supervisor Raffensperger went on to say that the second one has to
do with Mize question of mostly long term employees who accumulate
up to 120 days of sick leave . That 120 days is in a way "banked "
in order that they might use if for longer term illness until their
social security disability would kick in in six months . The only
problem is that once you get that 120 days the way the Town was
doing it was that you never got any more and if you ever got sick
it came off of your 120 days . She remarked that it did not seem
equitable and the Personnel Committee agreed that a fair method
would be to "bank " the 120 days allow up to 12 additional days to
be used during the year and then if the employee does not use those
12 days they lose them but they don ' t cut into their 120 days which
is their maximum pool .
Building Inspector Andrew Frost questioned if this might encourage
people to call in sick ?
Councilwoman Leary remarked that Andrew Frost had brought up a
point and she thought it was good to answer it . He said that with
this policy it might encourage employees to call in sick . She
stated that she felt that was an advantage of having this policy ,
if anything we want to encourage employees who are sick to say hone
and not spread their germs among the rest of the staff .
Town Board Minutes 32 March 11 , 1991
The Supervisor remarked that there seemed to be no objection from
the Town. Board of the basic content of either one of these
interpretations of the policy in the Personnel Manual .
SUMMER CORNELL JOB NETWORK PROGRAM FOR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Town Engineer Dan Walker stated that he had put into the budget two
positions and that he had a fairly large work load for the summer
with the Troy Road water tank , West Hill water and sewer , Inlet
Valley water and sewer , and the sewer inspection program . He went
on to say that full time inspection was very important and we
probably have a $ 6 , 000 to $ 8 , 000 bill to prove that because the
water main repair we just did was because we did not have full time
inspection when that was built two year ago . He stated that he
insisted on full time inspection or he will not build anything .
Town Attorney Barney asked if an engineering aide would have picked
up the problem .
Town Engineer Walker replied yes , they would have been there
watching and the aides that we put out there would have known . He
remarked that the aide he would put out there is one who has worked
for us for a couple of years and has experience .
Acting Town Planner George Frantz noted that the Town Engineer had
included a planning aide in the request and Mr . Frantz noted that
he had gotten his approval of an aide in December .
RESOLUTION NO . 70
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
WHEREAS , there is a need for additional skilled employees during
the summer months in the Engineering Department , and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca has an opportunity to participate in
the Cornell Summer Job Network ( formerly Cornell Tradition) ,
whereby Cornell students can work for the Town in jobs relevant to
their course of study , and the Town would be reimbursed for 50 % of
their salaries ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that approval is hereby given for the
Town to employ 3 students through the Cornell Summer Job Network in
the following areas :
Engineering Aide - Engineering Department - salary : $ 6 . 00 /hr .
2 positions - to be charged to account A1440 . 100 - Engineering
Personal Services , (Funds were included in the 1991 budget for this
purpose . ) $ 7 . 00/hr . - 1 position - to be charged to accounts
H8120 . 2 and H8340 . 2 - Capital Projects - Water & Sewer .
Period of employment : May 20 , 1991 to August 23 , 19910
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
TOWN PARTICIPATION IN TOMPKINS COUNTY SERVICE WORK ALTERNATIVE
PROGRAM
Highway Superintendent McConnell stated that the Tompkins County
Probation Department is tying to take the people who have been
fined and found guilty of illegal dumping and putting them into a
work program. in cooperation with local municipalities for cleaning
up the dump areas and roadsides . They don ' t have any vehicles to
put the garbage in and take it to the dump so they need some
Town Board Minutes 33 March 11 , 1991
support from people who have trucks , like the highway departments .
The inteoit is to go out on a Saturday and Sunday or a Monday and
Tuesday with these people , supervised by the sheriff or the
probation department and clean up the roadsides , clean up the dump
sites , put it in bags or into a truck . They are trying to provide
us with free access and tipping fees at the landfill .
Unfortunately the County is saying someone has to pay for it . He
asked the Town Board if they wanted to cover the tipping fees ?
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked that it seemed to her that even
if this program was not quite as wonderful as it was when they
first proposed it , for example the fees were to be taken care of by
the Country , etc . , basically the Town does some cleaning up along
the roadside , we have to , it seemed to her that that Town was going
to expend. the time for driver and dump truck anyhow and if we pick
it up we have to take it to the landfill and pay the fee . It
seemed to her the Town was getting something . She noted that the
Town did also have information that the County insurance (Workman ' s
Comp) will cover the workers .
Town Attorney Barney remarked , can we make sure we either have
Workman ' s Comp or employers liability?
RESOLUTION N0 , 71
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilman Klein ,
WHEREAS , Tompkins County Probation Department is beginning a
service work alternative program wherein people convicted of
non-violent crimes provide roadside cleanup . The program provides
supervision over the workers and coordinates with local
municipalities to find out where the work needs to be done , and
WHEREAS , the Probation Department needs the assistance of the local
municipalities in the form of a truck and driver to carry the
debris to the landfill and possibly cover the cost of dumping at
the landfill , and
WHEREAS , the Town would get roadside cleaning for a nominal cost
and the service work alternative program could be maintained
without any equipment purchasing and maintenance ,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize the highway department to assist in the
service work alternative program to the extent of providing
approximately 60 hours of driver and dump truck time , and , if
necessary , landfill tipping fees , and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that the authorization be contingent upon
satisfactory coverage for any injuries that might occur to any of
these people working on the cleanup .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
SPCA LEITE%R REGARDING DISTRESSED WILDLIFE SERVICES
Supervisor Raffensperger remarked that the SPCA seems to be having
a little bit of difficulty in negotiating a contractual arrangement
with the rCompkins County Board of Representatives for distressed
wildlife services . If they don ' t we are each going to have to pay
for our own per distressed wildlife . The Supervisor stated that
she would like to propose that the Town Board pass a resolution
urging the Tompkins County Board of Representatives to provide
Town Board Minutes 34 March 11 , 1991
funding for distressed wildlife services on a County wide basis on
a contractual basis with the Tompkins County SPCA .
Councilman Niklas suggested that the Board of Directors of the SPCA
also be notified of the Town ' s concerns with the resolution they
passed to stop providing distressed wildlife services not covered
by the contract .
RESOLUTION NO , 72
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilwanan
Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby urges
the Tompkins County Board of Representatives to provide funding for
distressed wildlife services on a County wide basis on a
contractual basis with the Tompkins County SPCA .
( Raffenspearger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
TOWN OF I ..MCA WARRANTS
RESOLUTIOIJ NO . 73
Motion by Councilman Whitcomb ; seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves
the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated March 11 , 1991 , in the following
amounts :
General Fund - Town Wide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 129 , 795 . 66
General Fund - Outside Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 33 , 212 . 26
Water- & Sewer Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 351 , 995 . 77
Highvray Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 44 , 125 . 38
Fire Protection Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 490 , 626 . 00
Capital Projects Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 19 , 438 . 16
Lighting District Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 404 . 52
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
BOLTON POINT WARRAN'T'S
RESOLUTION NO . 74
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilman Niklas ,
RESOLVED , that the Bolton Point Warrants dated March 11 , 1991 , in
the Operating Account are hereby approved in the amount of
$ 167 , 870 . 87 after review and upon the recommendation of the
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission , they are in
order for payment .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL - 1990 ANNUAL REPORT
The Town of Ithaca ' s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC ) began
meeting on March 1 , 1990 and had fourteen additional meetings
during the year . The initial duties assigned to the CAC by the
Town Board were to advise the Town government on environmental
Town Board Minutes 35 March 11 , 1991
matters and to assist the Town planning staff in completing a
Comprehensive Plan .
In order to advise the Town more effectively , the CAC established
an Environmental Review Committee (ERC ) * a Parks , Natural Areas ,
and Stream Corridors Committee (Natural Areas Committee ) ; and an
Agriculture Committee . The ERC is responsible for reviewing and
commenting on development applications and Environmental Assessment
Forms . The ERC met seven times during 1990 .
The Natural Areas Committee was responsible for a report on the Six
Mile Creek Valley and is now engaged in producing an open space
inventory . The Natural Areas Committee met eight times during
1990 .
The Agriculture Committee began by surveying all of the farmers in
the Town . The survey was designed to develop a picture of
agriculture in the Town today and to ascertain farmer ' s attitudes
about agricultural land protection possibilities . The survey also
acted as a base for the Agriculture Committee ' s efforts in
producing its portion of the Town ' s Comprehensive Plan . The
Agriculture Committee met three times during 1990 .
In addition to the Agriculture Committee ' s efforts toward the
completion of a Comprehensive Plan , the CAC began the process of
defining , identifying , and inventorying the Town ' s open spaces .
This effort has gained momentum and has become one of the CAC ' s top
priorities ; and is highlighted by the recent creation of an Open
Space Indexing Committee . Because of the magnitude of the work to
be done , the CAC added a second "working " meeting each month .
The following items are brief descriptions of the CAC ' s 1990
activities :
SIX MILE CREEK VALLEY REPORT
Natural Areas Committee researched and reported on the
environmental significance of the Six Mile Creek Valley . The
report was generated in response to the Valley ' s ecological
importance , increasing development pressure in the area , and the
City of Ithaca ' s concern with regard to protecting its water supply
on Six Mile Creek . In May 1989 the Town and City of Ithaca had
already begun discussions that focused on protective measures that
the Town could adopt to complement the City of Ithaca ' s
landholdings in the Six Mile Creek Watershed . This dialogue
between the Town and City is the first of a series that will
involve the other municipalities with jurisdiction in the
watershed . The report recommends ways in which the Town government
could protect this resource . The Town Planning Board and the Codes
and Ordinances Committee are currently reviewing the document .
RESOLUTIONS
The CAC passed twelve resolutions in 1990 . The subjects addressed
include Town SEQR procedures , project application procedures ,
parking lots , and recommendations on proposed projects in the Town .
OPEN SPACE AND NATURAL AREAS
The CAC began the difficult process of defining , inventorying , and
prioritizing open space and natural areas in the Town . A draft of
the introductory section of the Open Space Index was completed ,
which includes a rationale for protection . The CAC expects to make
significant progress in this area within the next few months .
OPEN SPACE PROTECTION MECHANISMS
Town Board Minutes 36 March 11 , 1991
The CAC directed planning staff to prepare an open space protection
mechanisms report . THis was completed and will be used by the CAC
in preparing open space and natural areas indexes and plans .
DEVELOPME24T MORATORIUM
The CAC considered recommending a development moratorium effective
until the expected comprehensive plan is completed . After research
and lencrthy discussion and the completion of a draft local
ordinance , the CAC decided not to recommend a moratorium at this
time .
TOWN FAIN SURVEY
With the assistance of two Cornell University planning students ,
the Agriculture Committee completed a survey of all the farmers in
the Town . In addition to gathering data on agricultural operations
in the Town , the survey attempted to gauge farmer ' s attitudes
toward existing government regulations and possible farmland
protection measures the Town could implement .
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AGRICULTURE SECTION
The Agriculture Committee completed a draft of the agriculture
portion of the Town ' s Comprehensive Plan . The subcommittee also
assisted in the formulation of goals and objectives for this
portion of the plan , which is expected to be completed by
mid-summer of 1991 .
RESOLUTION] N0 . 75
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilman Liguori ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby accept
the Conservation Advisory Council ' s 1990 Annual Report , as
presented .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) ,
SOUTH HILL TRAIL
Town Attorney John Barney reported that the South Hill Trail
litigation has been completed and their are no further appeals so
we are free to proceed on the trail .
EX=IVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO . 76
Motion by Supervisor Raffensperger ; seconded by Councilwoman
Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby moves
into Executive Session to discuss the matter of possible litigation
on Sapsucker Woods Road .
( Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none) .
OPEN SESSION
RESOLUTION NO . 77
Town Board Minutes 37 March 11 , 1991
Motion by Councilman Niklas ; seconded by Councilwoman Valentino ,
RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby moves
back into Open Session .
(Raffensperger , Whitcomb , Leary , Klein , Liguori , Valentino and
Niklas voting Aye . Nays - none ) .
AUTOURNN 2U
The meeting was duly adjourned .
S2L ��
Town Clerk
AFFIDAVIT OFPUSLICATION
THE ITHACA JOURNAL
State of New York , Tompkins County , ss . :
Gail Sullins being. duly sworn , deposes and
says , that she/ he resides in Ithaca , county and state aforesaid and that
1 ' sJOWN OF ITHACA
Clerk
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING'
she/he is PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, thdt •ihe .
Town' Board -1.of";the .:Town".of.r
of The Ithaca Journal a public newspaper printed and published in Ithaca=wili.'meet:innd :conduct ?
a;public,_hearirig do March`l l s i
Ithaca aforesaid , and that a notice , of which the annexed is a true 1991; ar' �:oo P.M; a1 the;;
Towri'_:Holie :126`East - Seheca :
copy , was published in said paper street; ;Slthoca; ';New:_York; to;
corisider,:a:.Iocdl- law..`dmenif r,
in the goring. Ordindnce re=
laong,.::o procedures ,for .site<k
PPions-�6n :will,:ot this ..°ttme ;,
hearoll;persons' in. fovor- of or!. I
opposed to said local Idw ; : ,
Jean .H. Swart wood '-
Town. Clerk
March 11- -1991-
Ind that the first publication of said notice was on the
ay of hL�� �cc 1915\ `
Subscribed and sw rn to before me , this / day
0 19 n
Notary Public .
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State of New Yo►?�'.
O. GC . � . 10
Qualified in Tc1—, , , ins Count ,q�
Commission expires May 31, 1 9 L
AFFIDAVIT OFPUPLICATION
'HE ITHACA JOURNAL
State of New York , Tompkins County , ss . :
Gail Sullins being duly sworn , deposes and
says , that she/ he resides in Ithaca , county and state aforesaid and that
she/he is Clerk
TOWN OF- ITHACA • - --'"r?-c`I
of The Ithaca Journal a public newspaper printed and published in NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE; that thbl'T
Ithaca aforesaid , and that a notice , of which the annexed is a true Town , Board ee the Tconclu : .,, '
- Ithaca will % meet_ and coridudy<
copy , was published in said P a P er a public hearing on Mgich;lll
191 at 7: 15 P. M. ,. at the Tovi ,
n-,
Hall , 126 East Seneca Street,_'?:
Ithaca.- New York, to consider:
a local - law amending " the.'
Zoning _ :Ordinance providing -
that the Board of Zoning Ap-
peals may not act in certainl
circumstances ; without an of-!
firmative recommendation of{
the Planning Board, and ,will-0
at this time hear alb persons iris -
nd that the first publication of said notice was on the favor of or opposed to said to
cal law.- : . -: .: . :
ay of � r c ti 19 �_ Jean H. : Swantwoad,
Town Clerk,. .
March l. , 1991
C ,
Subscribed and sworn to before me , this / day
ot, _ 19
Notary Public .
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State Of New Y: ;i,
No. 4554410
Qualified in Tomp!<ins
'\V4mmi5's10rt expires May 31t 1 � �/
AFFIDAVIT OFPUPLICATION
THE ITHACA JOURNAL
State of New York , Tompkins County , ss . ,
Gail Sullins ,,_,b„
being duly sworn , deposes and .,3 .:TOWN 'OFITHACA "
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
says , that she/he resides in Ithaca , county and state aforesaid and that PLEASE TAKE"NOTICE,"that the
. Town;;Boord Hof.;the :Town of:-.
Clerk jlthciEa 'will trieei ,drid conduct '_ Ai
she/he Is a P�bu�;f;ear�ing on"Morcha.l.;. ,:.
1991 :at 730.+P:M 4to c'onsider's '.
of The Ithaca Journal a public newspaper printed and published in a proposed 'firetontract w,th
the Village- of Coyuga:Heights
Ithaca aforesaid , and that a notice , of which the annexed is a true
ond- wilt.dt time hearall';--;:
persons m favor of or opposed g
copy , was published in said paper to 5° 'd p`°Po=ol j
Jean�H Swartwood `"
Town i
C,^ , March�l ;' 1991 _
T\`''` '.. .t
Ind that the first publication of said notice was on the
ay of r ��a c _ 19
Subscr " d and �s'w/�rn to before me , this / day
of (�0� 19
Notary Public .
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State of New YoFh
No. 404410
Qualified in Tcmpkins County
Commission expires May 31, le/
i
I
AFFIDAVIT OFPUSLICATION
1FILM ITHACA JOURNAL
State of New York , Tompkins County , ss . .
Gail Sullins being duly sworn , deposes and
says , that she/he resides in Ithaca , county and state aforesaid and that
Clerk : '.TOWN OF-ITHACA
she/he is " NOTICE of PUBLIC.HEARINd
'PLEASE:TAKENOTld, that th-
of The Ithaca Journal a public newspaper rinted and published in _jown:: Board...` the •, Town_`,of;h.
P P P ' Ithaca will meei and conduct'
Ithaca aforesaid , and that a notice , of which the annexed is a true apublichearingori rch,iI ' t0
1991;. at 7 45 P1 to,`conilde�
a'- local law. .amencJing
copy , was published in said paper Zoningg Ordinance . requnirg6
site :plan`. oppr`ova1 for:certoin .
�
\ `construction in • various resi
� -`
C dential districts and will at. thii 'ccf
time. heor"all persons 'in favor.' •
of. or. ;opposed ' to 'said locbl.: V law. , • ,:._.:.: .
A
Jean H Swartwood
March 1 , 1991 ' Town Clerk
t ythat the first publication of said notice was on the
of . � 0v� 19 �
Subsc ' bed and ggsworn to before me , this day
OT_ (.G� 19 �
'lam /
Notary Public .
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 465 /1410
Qualified in Tompkins County o
Ummission expires May 311, 19 :•.L '
� c �
STATISTICAL REPORT A !AL
ACTIVITIES , OF THE TOWN JUSTICE
99 o
[Ply
No - Amount
TOTAL COMPLETED CASES - - - - - - - - 16 0 9 $ 41 , 7. 8 2
TOTAL FINES , FEES & FORFIETURES -- - - -- - 41782
& Sur. Charges
VEHICLE & TRAFFIC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1174 34 , 128
. r Speeding - - - - - - - - - - - - ° - -- - - 04145 10 , 825
Other Moving . Violations - - -- 340 21880
Non -Moving Violations 1418 11 , 2. 15
D . W : I . & Dr . W/ 10%BAC - - - - - - ° 31
Indited - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ( 3 )
Misdemeanor Convictions ( 3 ) 11575
Reduced ' to . D . W . A •: I . = - - ( 23 ) 7 , 625
Dismissed - - - - - - - - - - - - ( 2 )
Tax " Law Violations'- - - - _ _ _ 1 100 _
Transpotation . Law Violations 2 200
CRIMINAL 151 5 , 464
Felony ' Arraignments - - - ° - ° 36
Indi ted ( 3 )
Reduced to Town Court ° ( 23 )
Dismissed . _ - - - - -- - - - - ( 4 )
Penal Law Misdemeanors - - -- ° 23 1 , 6 0 0
Penal Law Violations ° - ° - -=
34 2 , 434
New York Code Rules & Regs . - 60 11430
Navigation - -- °- - - - - - 1 125
CIVIL A LOCAL LAW
Civil - -- - - - - . - - - - - - 5 50
Small Claims _ _ : _ _ _ _ _ _ AO __ _ 4 g . 3 to A bitration
Dog Control Law Violations - 4 2 615
Zoning Law Violations - - ° - - 0
Civil Marriages - 41
Dnagerous Dog Compliants - - - 1 50
MISCELLANEOUSpublic Health Law 1 500
Cases Dismissed " 95
Bail Forfietures -= - - - - - - , 350
Arraignment - Other Courts - 43
Committed in lieu of Fine - - 4
( Release when paid )
Jail as Sentence - - - - - - -- ° - 2
( Or part of sentence )
Probation - -- - - -• - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
( May include fine/jail )
Scofflaw cases f i 1 ed with DMV 138
Failure of. defendant to ans.
Uniform traffic: ticket,; . r
�V . Y . S r� : SUR CHARGES 7
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
TOWN JUSTICE
1
f
AGENDA ITEM 1 -E
FINAL
(� D F )Y(
MEMORANDUM v
TO : Town Board members
FROM : Floyd Forman , Town Planner
DATE : December 23 , 1991
RE : 1991 Planning Department Annual Report
Planning Board
Planning Department staff continued to provide its regular
technical support to the Planning Board throughout the year .
Staff provided support at 20 Planning Board meetings in 1991 .
Subdivision Review
In 1991 the Planning Board reviewed and granted Preliminary or
Final Subdivision Approval for 11 land subdivisions totaling 28
lots . This is a decrease from 1990 , when 18 subdivision
proposals totaling 74 lots were approved .
The Planning Board also reviewed a preliminary plat for the
Cayuga Lake Estates subdivision off Orchard Hill Road . The
proposed development consists of 40 lots on approximately 57
acres . Upon recommendation of staff the Planning Board made a
positive determination of environmental significance for the
project and directed the applicant to prepare a draft
environmental impact statement .
Continuing a trend which began in 1990 , most of the Subdivision
Approvals granted by the Board were for two - lot subdivisions . Of
the 11 applications before the Board , 7 were two - lot
subdivisions . One of these was a two - lot subdivision in which
land was transferred to an adjacent parcel for consolidation , and
thus did not result in the creation of a new building lot .
The four larger subdivisions ranged in size from 3 lots to 5
lots .
Site Plan Approvals
Ten proposals requiring site plan approval under the Zoning
Ordinance were reviewed by the Planning Board in 1991 . Their
disposition is as follows :
Rogan ' s Corner , 825 Danby Road . Received site plan approval
on March 5 to allow construction of a 2 , 050 + / - sq . ft .
restaurant building ( new ) with additional parking ;
Stellar Stereo , 702 Elmira Road . Received site plan
approval on April 16 to allow construction of a 2 , 000 + 1 - sqs
ft . retail store with parking and landscaping ;
I
S
Hasbrouck Apartments , Cornell University , Pleasant Grove
Road . Received site plan approval June 4 to allow the
addition of 92 units through construction of a third floor
onto a number of the existing two - story buildings ;
LaTourelle , 1152 Danby Road . Received site plan approval on
May 7 to allow expansion of the lobby and changing rooms of
the existing tennis bubble , and construction of two outdoor
tennis courts ;
Roscoe Woodworking , 614 Elmira Road . Received approval on
May 21 to modify original site plan to allow conversion of a
portion of an existing warehouse from storage to light
industrial use ;
East Hill Plaza , Judd Falls Road at Ellis Hollow Road .
received approval on June 18 to modify original site plan to
allow reconstruction of the facade of the existing building ;
Tompkins County Professional Building , 1301 Trumansburg
Road . Received approval on July 2 to modify original site
plan to allow enclosure of a 650 + / - sq . ft . interior
courtyard to create a patient waiting room ;
Noah ' s Boat Club / Cayuga Treats , 1000 East Shore Drive .
Received approval on July 16 to modify original site plan to
allow an office trailer and a mobile food stand at the
existing marina complex ;
Courtside:_ Racquet and Fitness Center , Judd Falls Road .
Received approval on September 3 to modify original site
plan . This modification allowed construction of an outdoor
eating area , changes to parking and traffic circulation and
additional landscaping ;
Cannon Pools , Elmira Road . Received approval on September
17 to modify original site plan to allow conversion of the
existing 5 , 000 sq * ft . building from two retail sales spaces
to three retail spaces ;
No further Planning Board review of the proposed McDonald ' s
restaurant at East Hill Plaza occurred in 1991 . The Planning
Board made a positive declaration of environmental significance
for the proposed project on July 24 , 1990 . Further review of
project is suspended pending receipt of the draft environmental
impact statement from McDonald ' s Corporation .
2
Special Approvals
The Planning Board reviewed and made recommendations to the
Zoning Board of Appeals with regard to requests for Special
Approval for 3 proposed developments in 1991 . All three requests
involved Cornell University projects , as follows :
Oxley Temporary Parking Lot , Dryden Road opposite Central
Heating Plant . Resolution to the Zoning Board of Appeals
recommending approval for the project was passed by the
Planning Board on March 19 ;
Maintenance and Service Operations Fuel Facility , C . U .
Orchards . Resolution recommending approval for the
modification of the original site plan was passed by the
Planning Board on July 2 ;
Tennis Center , Pine Tree Road south of Judd Falls Road .
Positive recommendation made to ZBA with regard to Special
Approval , and Site Plan Approval granted on December 17 ;
Cornell University G / EIS
During 1991 planning staff continued to work with engineering
staff in overseeing Cornell University ' s Precinct 7 planning
project and development of a Generic Environmental Impact
Statement ( G / EIS ) . The Planning Board as Lead Agency made its
positive determination of environmental significance on May 21
and approved the scope for the draft impact statement on June 18 .
In anticipation of receiving the draft G / EIS from Cornell
University in February , staff has prepared a Request for
Qualifications to solicit outside consultants to assist with
review of the draft G / EIS .
Development Review Administration
Planning staff continued to administer the development review fee
and escrow system including provisions for better accounting of
staff time spent on reviewing development proposals . The Town is
expected to recover approximately $ 4 , 250 from development review -
related costs in 1991 for planning staff time .
Comprehensive Flan
Planning Department staff , working with Stuart I . Brown
Associates of Rochester , continued to provide staff support to
the Comprehensive Planning Committee ( CPC ) as it prepares a new
Comprehensive Plan for the Town . Work accomplished during 1991
includes :
I
3
1 . Completion of an extensive inventory and analysis of the
geographic , economic , demographic , and natural features that
make up the Town of Ithaca . The draft inventory chapter and
maps were presented to the public at an informational
meeting on October 14 , 1991 .
2 . Completion of a set of draft goals and objectives
statements for the Comprehensive Plan ;
As the year comes to a close , staff is preparing policies for
review by the Comprehensive Planning Committee . These policies
will implement the goals and objectives . It is hoped that a
draft comprehensive plan will be available for consideration by
the Planning Board in the Spring of 1992 .
Planning staff: was present for 25 Comprehensive Planning
Committee meetings in 1991 , as well as at 19 meetings of its Land
Use , Transportation , or Goals and Objectives subcommittees .
Conservation Advisory Council
Planning Department staff in the past year has provided support
to the Town of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council ( CAC ) in a
number of areas , including development of the CAC Open Space
Inventory and preparation of those sections of the Comprehensive
Plan relating to agriculture .
Planning staff in 1991 also worked to more effectively integrate
the CAC Environmental Review Committee into the development
review process .
In addition to numerous working meetings with the Open Space and
Agriculture committees , staff attended 15 Conservation Advisory
Council meetings in 1991 .
Codes and Ordinances Committee
Planning staff along with zoning and legal staff provided
technical support to the Committee throughout 1991 as it
addressed a number of Town land use regulation issues . Among the
issues were : environmental protection overlay districts ( EPODs ) ,
minimum open space requirements in business districts , proposed
landscaping regulations , expansion of the uses requiring special
permits , changes to fill regulations , a requirement that the
Planning Board :make a positive recommendation before the ZBA may
proceed with a decision concerning the issuance of a special
permit , and requiring the posting of signs on property to be
developed . Staff attended 12 Codes and Ordinances Committee
meetings in 1991 .
4
Zoning Board of Appeals
In 1991 Planning staff continued to prepare environmental
assessments for cases before the Zoning Board of Appeals .
Planning staff prepared 13 environmental assessments for the
Zoning Board of Appeals in 1991 .
Miscellaneous
Planning staff represented the Town of Ithaca at a number of
meetings involving State , County , and City bodies , as well as
Cornell University , and involving a variety of regional planning
and governmental issues of mutual concern . Staff has met with
County , City , and Cornell University officials on a number of
occasions to :specifically discuss transportation issues affecting
all parties to the discussions .
Staff Development
Asst , Town Planner George Frantz attended New York Land Institute
seminars on the subdivision process and SEQR in Rochester on
February 21 and 22 .
Asst . Town Planner George Frantz with John Whitcomb and Candace
Cornell of the CAC attended a seminar on wetland regulations
presented by the - New York Land Institute in Syracuse on April 27 .
Asst . Town Planner George Frantz and Candace Cornell of the CAC
on September 26 attended a day - long workshop on field
identification of wetlands presented by SUNY College of
Environmental Science and Forestry .
Town Planner Floyd Forman and Asst . Town Planner George Frantz
attended one day of the annual Zoning Institute of the New York
Planning Federation on November 19 .
Town Planner Floyd Forman attended a one day seminar sponsored by
the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council on wetland
functions and preservation techniques on Saturday , November 23 .
5
FINAL
TOWN OF ITIMACA
TOWN COURT
126 E. SENECA STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK
14850
WARREN A. BLYE MERTON J. WALLENBECK
Town Justice Town Justice
December 31 , 1991
This portion of the Ithaca Town Court is now computerized for most of the
routine records . and reports . The system has been recently updated to meet the
newestt=regUiretents of the Department of Audit and Control , and the Office of
Court Administration . One new requirement involves a 30 "poundage " to be taken from
cash bail received ,, - of which 2 % is eventually returned to the Town .
The "Dockets " are computer filed , and subsequently generated and hard cover
bound , complete with a simplified index and filing system for easy retrieval .
Statistical listing of fines , fees etc :
1990 1991
Vehicle and Traffic fines 55 , 592 . 00 69 , 718 . 00
Criminal Fines 17 , 029900 13 , 518 . 00
New York State Surcharge 18 , 876 . 00 28 . 022900
Civil Fees 165 . 00 175 . 00
Forfieted Bail 1 , 712 . 00 4 , 600900
Amount forwarded to Audit and control $93 , 374 . 00 $ 116 , 033 . 00
Respectfully Submitted
Merton J Wallenbeck 1� �
TOWN OF ITHACA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will
meet and conduct a public hearing on December 31 , 1991 at 11 : 15
a . m . to consider the Sewer Service Agreement between the Town of
Ithaca and the City of Ithaca , and will at this time hear all
persons in favor of or opposed to the agreement .
Betty F . Poole
Deputy Town Clerk
PUBLISH : December 20 , 1991
TOWN�OF ITHACA �4t
, { NOTICE OF 1PL1 BLIC )
" HEARING = f .
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that •
•the Town Board of_the Town
'- ' of Ithaca will meet and con'=:1
C% duct a public hearing on De- !
i;cember . 3It 1991 at 11:: 15 '
a .m : toy consider the Sewer !
"Service Agreement between
the Town of Ithaca and the '
City of Ithaca, and will at this
time hear all person in favor '
of or . opoosed :' to the
.:. agreement
- Betty F. , Poole `
Depuy Town Clerk .
. December 20, 1991
FINAL
TOWN OF ITHACA
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION
Betty F .. Poole
I , being duly sworn , say that I am
the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York ;
that the following notice has been duly posted on the sign board
of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca and that the notice has
been duly published in the local newspaper : ( Ithaca Journal )
See Attached
Location of sign board used for posting : Town Hall Bulletin Board
Date of Posting , December 10 , 1991
Date of Publication : December 20 , 1991
Deputv Town C erk , Town of Ithaca
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF TOHPKINS ) SS :
TOWN OF ITHACA )
Sworn to and subscribed before me this ,\ �z day of - �
19 � .
LEAH B. CARPENTER
Notary Public, State of New York Notary Public
Qualified in Tompkins Co. No. 4797177
My Commission Expires April 30, 19�-�'t
,ew ,, -
F1NAL
TOWN OF ITHACA
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING AND PUBLICATION
i
Betty F . Poole , Deputy Clerk
I , being duly sworn , say that I am
the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York ;
' that the following notice has been duly posted on the sign board
of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca and that the notice has
been duly published in the local newspaper : ( Ithaca Journal )
See Attached
Location of sign board used for posting : Town Hall Bulletin Board
Date of Posting : December 10 , 1991
Date of Publication : December 20 , 1991
Deputy Town d(jerk , Town of Ithaca
STATE OF NEW YO11K )
COUNTY OF TOMPKINS ) SS :
TOWN OF ITHACA )
Swor to and subscribed before me this day of
19 � .
V
LEAH B. CARPENTER
Notary Public, State of New York Notary Public
Qualified in Tompkins Co. No. 4797177
My Commission Expires April 30, 19_ (��
I /
TOWN OF ITHACA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will
meet and conduct a public hearing on December 31 , 1991 at 11 : 00
a . m . to consider the Water Service Agreement between the Town of
Ithaca and the City of Ithaca , and will at this time hear all
persons in favor of or opposed to the agreement .
Betty F . Poole
Deputy Town Clerk
PUBLISH : December 20 , 1991
TOWN OF ITHACA
` i.NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING
i LEASE TAKE NOTICE thief
the Town Board of the Town'
=c cr.of Ithacd will meet and can-
!
a ublic hearin on De-
cember .31 , 1991 a ,11 :001
a.m. to "consider the Water, .
Service Agreement between ,
the. Town of Ithaca and the
":City of Ithaca and will at this
time hear all persons in favor
. .of or 'opposed to the
agreement.
Betty F. Poole
DepPuty Town Clerk
' ,December 20, 1991