HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1996-04-01 TOWN OF ITHACA FINAL
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
APRIL 1 , 1996
5 : 30 P . M .
At a special 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 :
PRESENT : Catherine Valentino , Town Supervisor ; Carolyn Grigorov ,
Councilwoman ; David Klein , Councilman ; Edward Conley , Councilman ;
John Wolff , Councilman , Mary Russell , Councilwoman ,
E XCUSED : Ellen Harrison , Councilwoman .
ALSO PRESENT : John Barney , Attorney for the Towns Joan Lent Noteboom ,
Town Clerk / Director of Administrative Services ; Daniel Walker , Director
of Engineering ; Fred Noteboom , Highway Superintendents Jonathan
Kanter , Director of Planning ; Mary Saxton , Deputy Town Clerk .
OTHERS PRESENT : George Kugler , 101 Pine View ,
EXCUSED : Andrew Frost , Director of Building and Zoning .
' Call to Order : Supervisor Valentino called the meeting to order at 5 : 31
p . m . , and led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance .
AGENDA ITEM NO . 3 - CONSIDER ASSESSMENT OF REFERENDUM - NEW TOWN HALL :
Supervisor Valentino - We are here to discuss our present position in
relation to a new Town Hall as a result of the March 12 referendum . I
have appointed a committee to review our needs and other sites for a
Town Hall , members appointed from the Town Board will be Councilman
Klein and myself . Shirley Raffensperger past Supervisor is Chair and
Frank Liguori a former Town Board member who did a lot of work looking
for sites and planning a new Town Hall will also be members . I also
appointed two people who did much of the work on the petitions
circulated for the " no votes " , Donald Brown and Barbara Theusen ; and two
people who were strong supporters for the " yes votes " , Ruth Mahr and
Bill Goldsmith . The committee has had one meeting to organize their
goals which were mainly related to criteria . A site selection metric
form was drafted with ideas of the criteria that should be considered .
When we look at sites we will give them a point designation of the value
by the criteria , such as is it near a bus route , etcetera .
Mr . Walker - Other criteria to be used included public 'transit
availability , population density in the vicinity , proximity to activity
centers , accessibility , proximity to other governments , and Town staff
interactions like the number of trips to different places .
Councilman Klein - Do you have a relative cost ?
Mr . Walker - The main issues are cost of land , cost of building ,
communications , utilities , expendability , and topography .
SPECIAL ' TOWN BOARD MINUTES 2 APRIL 1 , 1996
Supervisor Valentino - Staff is working on compiling these issues into
a format for the next meeting . There were questions raised about the
different kinds of financing : 1 ) How much money do we actually have in
the Capital Reserve Fund ? 2 ) How much money does the 1 % sales tax
actually amount to ? 3 ) How much longer will we get the 1 % sales tax
revenue ? I found out the extra 1 % sales tax is authorized for the
county to collect until November 1997 . The amount that currently is
generated for the Town is around $ 250 , 000 a year . That is one of the
things the committee has started to look at to see how much more could
actually go into the reserve fund . That amount will be another $ 160 , 000
this year . The committee asked some very good questions to begin
putting this information together . They also talked about sites looked
at before . Since that meeting we have had a tour of the Post Office
building , and we found it pretty interesting .
Councilman Klein - The Post Office appears to be plenty large and
sturdy , whether it will be available will depend on what the Post Office
needs in terms of space because they are operating out of an extremely
small area . The rest of the building is empty .
Supervisor Valentino - It costs the Post Office extra money for
utilities and space they are not using .
Councilman Klein - We could put the board room , courts , and the vaults
in the basement because it is very dry and solid .
Supervisor Valentino - Part of the basement is above ' ground with
windows .
Councilman Klein - If you put those functions down stairs , the space
left on the first floor should be enough to handle our other departments
with enough space for the Post Office . Previously , the Post Office
wanted three - quarters of the first floor which wouldn ' t have left enough
space for us .
Councilwoman Grigorov - Now the Post Office people know . what they need .
Councilman Klein - Right .
Supervisor Valentino - They have now indicated they do not need that
much space .
Councilwoman Grigorov - There is an upstairs with ' an elevator to it .
Mr . Walker - There is a freight elevator at the back of the building .
Councilwoman Grigorov - The elevator was sealed because it was
inadequate .
Mr . Walker - The elevator did not have a valid safety inspection .
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 3 APRIL 1 , 1996
Councilman Klein - The elevator has a scissor type door , not a sliding
door . Whether it is in the right location or whether it is something in
the part of the building we get , will need to be determined . There is
a fairly large room which could be used as a large conference room .
Supervisor Valentino - It would not be handicap accessible .
Councilman Klein - The Post Office is already under contract to replace
the roof . We will have to see if in fact the building does become
available , whether there is enough space . Then we will have to
determine what it might cost to renovate and how well our program will
fit . If they are talking about giving it to us for a $ 1 . 00 , it may be
well worth it .
Councilman Conley - Have they talked that way ?
Supervisor Valentino - There are two questions with the Post Office , are
they going to give us enough space , and is there somebody with the
authority to actually sell us the building .
, Councilman Conley - How long will that take ?
Councilwoman Grigorov - Wasn ' t there a meeting set up between some
Postal Officials to consider that ?
Supervisor Valentino - The necessary person was unable to come , they
were to contact us when they could meet .
Councilman Wolff - Is there interest from the County to obtain the Post
Office for their space needs ?
Councilman Klein - We have not heard of any .
Councilwoman Russell - It was suggested to me that if we are having
problems getting someone of authority to talk to at the Post Office , we
might enlist the aid of Congressman Hinchey ' s office .
Mr . Walker - I talked to the Postmaster , he would like to get something
going and work with us as much as possible . He does not make the
decision about the facility .
Councilman Klein - The Post Office real estate division is out of
Philadelphia .
Mr . Walker - Buffalo is the administrative headquarters for the Post
Office in this region , then there is a real estate architectural office
in Massachusetts , and then authoritative people in Philadelphia .
Councilman Wolff - Do we have to go through the General Service
Administration , ( GSA ) ?
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 4 APRIL 1 , 1996
Councilwoman Grigorov - It is not a government building .
Supervisor Valentino - That is the problem .
Mr . Walker - They would first offer it to GSA if they were to surplus
it . I do not know what happens if GSA turns it down .
Councilman Klein - While we are working with the building committee we
will keep the Post Office as an option .
Councilman Conley - The Post Office sounds pretty good if we could
breech the handicap accessibility issue , but the big thing is to get the
building first .
Supervisor Valentino - I strongly told the Postal Officials that we did
not have a long time frame , they must let us know something soon or we
are going move on .
Councilman Conley - They said they would provide us with documentation
of the cost of the utilities ?
Supervisor Valentino - They said they would furnish us with those .
Councilwoman Russell - Who is they ?
Supervisor Valentino - The Postmaster ,
Mr . Walker - The man we talked to is the person in charge of maintenance
for the facility here . They have to approve all the local costs so they
have an understanding of those costs .
Councilman Klein - The Postmaster indicated their utility costs are more
economical in the old building than in the new building on Warren Road ,
Supervisor Valentino - The walls on this building are well insulated and
thicker , it keeps the heat . They said they would share those costs with
us . If we find within the next few weeks that we are back to square
one , then we may need to go in another direction fairly quickly .
Mr . Walker - Hopefully , by the April 15 committee meeting , I will have
some kind of documentation from the Postmaster saying how good the
prospects really are . I will be pushing to let them know that if they
really want to sell the Town Board would need something in writing
before the next Town Board meeting . There seems to be a fair amount of
space there , not counting the basement .
Councilman Klein - The report said around 11 , 000 square feet on the
first floor inside the outside walls . If you extract the board room and
the courts it is closer to the needs of the administrative departments .
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 5 APRIL 1 , 1996
Mr . Walker - I hope to get an accurate map and blueprints of the
building before the next committee meeting .
Supervisor Valentino - The committee , in the near future , is probably
going to hold a public meeting to give their views about the Town Hall .
At some point , when we come up with a real proposal , we will think about
more public meetings . The important thing is for the Town Board to keep
moving on it at a good pace . We also need to look for other
alternatives so we are not left with one choice .
Councilman Conley - The Post Office would be ideal , except for the
parking situation .
Councilwoman Grigorov - One of the messages from the defeated referendum
was that we should come in under cost , pay for a new Town Hall with what
funds we have .
Supervisor Valentino - That was one of the messages I heard , and that
may be possible with the Post Office Building .
, George Kugler , 101 Pine View - It is very pleasing that people have had
their say . I guess the committee is going to find some direction to
take . I hope there are some other sites . It would not be to hard to
modernize an elevator shaft in the Post Office and bring the safety
level up to the present . The shaft is the biggest expense .
Mr . Walker - The elevator shaft is there and it is twice the size we
need for a modern passenger elevator .
Mr . Kugler - Do they have any air conditioning ?
Mr . Walker - Yes .
Mr . Kugler - I did mention on the call in program for the Town Hall ,
that if it were a site that had land , a ground source heat pump system
is really making money for people . You need enough earth to bury the
network of plastic tubing extracting heat from the earth five feet down ,
and enough to reject your heat in the summer back to the ground source .
In the heating mode you would get 2 to 3 times the kilowatts out of your
system you are putting in because it is cool efficient performance . If
you are running the heat pump in the winter you are getting almost 3
times the energy . The summer is going to cost money because of the air
conditioning . This system would only work if you had a site where you
could dig a quarter acre to put in the tubing system .
Councilman Klein - Is that what they did to the Youth Bureau building ?
There are trenches all over the property .
Mr . Kugler - Right , they went to ground source . They went for a long
term pay back for putting in a high capital investment . This is the
coming thing . The big thing is the pay back at 3 times the energy out
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 6 APRIL 1 , 1996
in the winter . I think it is very pleasing you are going forward . Is
the idea for you to lease to the Post Office ?
Councilman Klein - We have not been able to negotiate anything with the
Postal Officials . It is possible that they may want space for free . In
other words , they would do lease hold improvements . They may give us
the building in exchange for letting them have space , but they would do
whatever improvements were needed within that space .
Mr . Kugler - The Post Office has parking and location . It is an
imposing building . The lobby is a great space waster right now . You
may have 15 to 20 people waiting in line , but that lobby has a
tremendous cubic footage . That all can be refigured and made into a
modern Post Office .
Councilman Klein - I think there are some historic aspects that would
probably have to remain . You could reorganize that in such way that the
front door works for both the Post Office and Town Hall .
Mr . Kanter - The town has some public functions like payment of tax
bills and other services , maybe one part of the lobby could be for the
town function and another part for the Post Office .
Mr . Kugler - The Senior Center may take over the Court Street Site the
Town had proposed for the new Town Hall which was voted down . I may be
on the building committee for that new proposal .
AGENDA ITEM NO . 4 - CONSIDER MODIFICATION OF RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE
MASTER METER AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL
WATER COMMISSION :
Mr . Walker - The construction of the master meters will be advertised
for bid on April 4 and 5 . We can bring it to the Commission in the next
month and bring it back to the Town Board for the May meeting . We have
not approved the contract .
Attorney Barney - At your last Town Board meeting you held a Public
Hearing on this issue . Then it was thought the cost was going to be
bonded . The resolution I prepared for that meeting had a lot of
language which including quotations related to bonding . It has now been
determined that the cost will be paid for out of the revenue from the
water fund . The first resolution presented tonight repeals the
resolution you adopted at the last meeting which had all the bonding
issues included , and the second one is the resolution authorizing
proceeding with the project , paying for it out of current revenues and
authorizing Catherine Valentino as the TowngSupervisor to sign the
contract related to it .
RESOLUTION NO . 49 : Motion made by Councilwoman Grigorov , seconded by
Councilman Conley by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that the
resolution entitled " RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 7 APRIL 1 , 1996
TRANSMISSION METER PITS AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SERIAL
BONDS FOR THE COST OF SUCH PROJECT " adopted by the Town Board on March
11 , 1996 be and the same, hereby is repealed .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman
Klein , aye ; Councilman Conley , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye ;
Councilwoman Russell , aye . Carried unanimously .
RESOLUTION NO . 50 : Motion made by Councilman Conley , seconded by
Councilman Wolff by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca as follows :
Section 1 . The Town of Ithaca authorizes the construction and
installation of the master meter and control valve improvements
including the construction of a vault or related building in five
locations in the Town of Ithaca on Spruce Lane , Sheldon Road , the Apple
Orchard , Pine Tree Road , and Pearsall Place , all as more particularly
set forth in said report of the Town Engineer .
Section 2 . The Town of Ithaca , acting on behalf of the Townwide
Water Benefitted Area of the Town , hereby authorizing the expenditure of
up to $ 104 , 033 . 00 for such . installation and construction .
Section 3 . That the cost of said project , $ 104 , 033 . 00 , shall be
payable from assessments levied upon and collected from the several lots
and parcels of land deemed benefitted from said improvement and located
in the Town of Ithaca Water System Benefitted Area , so much upon and
from each as shall be in just proportion to the amount of the benefit
which the improvement shall confer upon the same .
Section 4 . It is hereby determined that the estimated expense of
the aforesaid improvement does not exceed 1 / 10th of 1 % of the full
valuation of the taxable real property of the area of said Town outside
of villages and , therefore , in accordance with the provisions of
subdivision 13 of Section 209 - Q of the Town Law , the permission of the
State Comptroller is not required of such improvement .
Section 5 . The Town Supervisor is authorized to enter into a
master meter agreement with the other members of the Southern Cayuga
Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission pursuant to which the installation
of the master meters both In and out of the Town of Ithaca are being
installed , and pursuant to which the Town of Ithaca will pay its pro -
rata share of the cost of same as a participant of the Southern Cayuga
Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission .
Section 6 . This resolution is adopted pursuant to Section 209 - q ( c )
and Section 202 - b of the Town Law and shall take effect immediately .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 8 APRIL 1 , 1996
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman
Klein , aye ; Councilman Conley , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye ;
Councilwoman Russell , aye . Carried unanimously .
AGENDA ITEM NO . 5 - CONSIDER MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH TOMPKINS COUNTY
- DOWNSTREAM FOREST HOME BRIDGE :
Supervisor Valentino - This is something we talked about in Public
Works , and were scheduled to approve on April 1 .
Mrs . Noteboom _ The Town Board enacted a resolution in March 1995 ,
authorizing the Supervisor to enter into an agreement , a copy of that
resolution to the agreement is attached .
Mr . Noteboom - One nice thing about the contract is it clearly states
that the County is the bridge owner . The County often tries to put some
of these things back on us , but it is clearly stated in writing in the
first paragraph .
Attorney Barney - The County has the right to terminate because as
, bridge owner they could do all the work .
Mr . Walker - If they terminate the agreement , they are saying they are
not the bridge owner .
Attorney Barney - Terminating the agreement does not reverse their role
as owner . We have already passed this resolution so it is not necessary
to do so again .
Councilman Klein - We already left it in the hands of the Attorney ,
engineering , and the Supervisor to review it and recommend it .
Mr . Walker - The County ' s responsibility in the agreement is clearly
acknowledged more than what their engineer wanted it to be at one point .
The Town ' s responsibilities are all within what we are doing already on
the bridge . The sidewalk is the Town ' s responsibility as are the
decorative trusses because they are the items the Town Board wanted to
see kept intact . They are above and beyond the structural integrity of
the face bridge itself . The County is saying those were extras and they
are our responsibility .
Mr . Noteboom - We will have to paint those trusses and maintain them .
Councilman Klein - Will it have to be worked out whether the Town would
paint the trusses , when at some other time the County might paint the
super structure ?
Mr . Walker - There is not any paint on the super structure , only on the
sub structure , it is weathering steel and the bridge railings are
galvanized .
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 9 APRIL 1 , 1996
Councilman Klein - We are responsible for the wearing surface of the
monolithic concrete bridge deck .
Mr . Walker - Yes .
Mr . Noteboom - We are responsible for the deck right now .
Mr . Walker - We patch it , we pave it .
Attorney Barney - By law , we have the responsibility for the wearing
surface . The only item that was a concern to me was the historic
trusses and supporting members , the County has responsibility for
structural aspects . The Town wanted the trusses so it is not
unreasonable for us to take care of them along with the supporting
members to the sidewalk .
Councilman Klein - The sidewalks are also our responsibility ?
Mr . Walker - It is decorative . We now have the responsibility. of the
wooden walkway . If the bridge had been designed with a monolithic slab
including the walkway , then it would have been part of the structural
responsibility by the County , but since it is outside the main deck it
is something above and beyond what they would normally put on .
Councilwoman Russell - Is this a County road or Town road ?
Mr . Walker - Town road .
Councilwoman Russell - So , why is the County involved in this bridge ?
Attorney Barney - Years ago , there was an opportunity for Counties to
take over the maintenance of all bridges on Town roads in excess of 20
feet . The County did that for a number of bridges . Their doing so is
a little suspect because of the paperwork conditions when it was drafted
back in the mid - 1950 ' s . It is not entirely clear those conditions were
met as a pre - condition when the County took those bridges over .
Mr . Walker - Originally it was a State road and a State bridge , then the
State turned it over to the Town .
Attorney Barney - We consider it the County ' s bridge and responsibility .
Mr . Walker - In the 1950 ' s it was felt the Counties were more able to
maintain the structural integrity of bridges because they had the
engineering capabilities many of the Town ' s did not have .
Supervisor Valentino - I need to sign this agreement ?
Attorney Barney - We might see if we can negotiate further on Paragraph
4 .
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 10 APRIL 1 , 1996
Councilman Klein - That does not leave much of an agreement .
Attorney Barney - Particularly , Paragraph 1 , which says it stays in
effect until it is terminated by mutual consent . I think we should
delete Paragraph 4 , sign it , and mail it back to them .
Councilman Klein - What is the latest update on the time table for the
bridge construction and repairs ?
Mr . Walker - I gave you schedules at the Public Works Committee meeting ,
and we are still on that schedule . I have not spoken directly to Mr .
Lampman since then , but have left messages .
Supervisor Valentino - I have spoken with Tim Joseph , our County
Representative who did not get the agreement in July . I told him he
would be getting it in the mail . I asked him if he would work with our
other two representatives to try and keep track of the bridge time
schedule because we were worried about the schedule being awfully tight .
I told him we would appreciate our County Representative ' s helping us
monitor this . They agreed to do so .
Mr . Walker - According to the schedule the County is supposed to be
advertising the bids for the bridge on Thursday .
Supervisor Valentino - If they get the schedule to Dooley Keefer and Tim
Joseph , they will stay on top of this . I think with our
representative ' s help , and all of us touching base every so often , it
will keep the staff at County moving along .
Mr . Walker - I will make sure I get copies of the bid documents . There
will be a pre - bid meeting on April 12 , which I will attend . We will
keep everyone informed about this contract , including the concerns of
the local area .
Mr . Noteboom - Point of information , we have 5 bridges in town . Two in
Forest Home , one on Renwick Road , one on East King Road by the upper
Buttermilk Park , and one on Town Line Road .
AGENDA ITEM NO . 6 - PROCEDURES FOR TOWN BOARD MEETING APRIL 8 DUE TO
ABSENCES OF SOME TOWN OFFICIALS :
Supervisor Valentino - Mary Saxton , Deputy Town Clerk , is here with us
tonight to gain experience on what it is like at a Town Board - meeting .
I will be gone on April 8 , so Carolyn Grigorov , Deputy Town Supervisor
will be chairing the meeting . Joan Noteboom will possibly be gone , so
Mary Saxton may be filling in for her . Attorney Barney will not be here
but will be sending Dave Dubow to fill in . There will be a different
set of people attending that meeting . The agenda will be a straight
forward agenda without any major issues .
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 11 APRIL 1 , 1996
AGENDA ITEM NO . 7 - EXECUTIVE SESSION :
Motion made by Councilman Conley , seconded by Councilwoman Russell to
move into Executive Session to discuss specific employees and possible
land / building acquisitions . Carried unanimously . The Board began
Executive Session at 6 : 12 p . m . .
Motion made by Councilman Conley , seconded by Councilman Wolff to resume
regular session . Carried unanimously . The Board resumed regular
session at 7 : 27 p . m . .
RESOLUTION NO . 51 : Motion made by Councilwoman Grigorov , seconded by
Councilman Klein that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby
upgrade the classification of the position , and annual salary of the
Director of Planning under the Town of Ithaca Classification System from
an ( R ) to an ( S ) , as per the attached resolution .
Supervisor Valentino , aye , Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman
Klein , aye ; Councilman Conley , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye ;
Councilwoman Russell , aye . Carried unanimously .
RESOLUTION NO . 52 : Motion made by Councilman Conley , seconded by
Councilwoman Russell that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does
hereby upgrade the classification of the position , and annual salary of
the Human Resource Specialist under the Town of Ithaca Classification
System from an ( I ) to an ( L ) , as per the attached resolution .
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman
Klein , aye ; Councilman Conley , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye ;
Councilwoman Russell , aye . Carried unanimously .
RESOLUTION NO . 53 : Motion made by Supervisor Valentino , seconded by
Councilman Wolff that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby
authorize and direct the Town Supervisor to expend up to $ 500 . 00 from
General Fund A1430 . 400 to pay for mediation services with personnel .
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman
Klein , aye ; Councilman Conley , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye ;
Councilwoman Russell , aye . Carried unanimously .
ADDITIONAL ITEM NO . 1 - CONSIDER CORRESPONDENCE TO BE SENT BY SUPERVISOR
RELATED TO SADDLEWOOD FARMS :
Supervisor Valentino - The Board received the letter from Mr . Armstrong
about Low Income Housing credits for developers who build affordable
housing subdivisions .
Councilwoman Grigorov - I support the need for affordable housing and
would support the development of affordable housing , but I think we
should include the idea in the letter that we have affordable houses .
I would take out " need for " and replace it with " development of " in the
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MINUTES 12 APRIL 1 , 1996
letter . You included in the last paragraph of the letter that the
rezoning may not be passed .
Supervisor Valentino - I decided not to hold them up on the application
for credits . The Town Board is not in agreement on where we are with
rezoning the area proposed for this subdivision .
Councilman Conley - Could we ask them for a market study of the area ?
Supervisor Valentino - Jonathan Kanter , Director of Planning has sent
them a letter outlining the information that we need , and the
information needed for SEAR .
Councilman Wolff - Does the Board feel that Paragraph 3 is adequate in
respect to the continuance here as stated ? You say " you endorse the
application for housing credits " , then you say " with the understanding
that the Town Board will have to evaluate the specific merits and
environmental impacts of the Saddlewood Farms project at the currently
proposed site on Mecklenburg Road . " Do you feel it is clearly stated
that we are saying we are not endorsing this plan yet , but that we are
, at least endorsing the notion of them getting Low - Income Credits .
Supervisor Valentino - I am just saying that we would endorse their
application for Low - Income Housing Credits . We are not endorsing their
project . We are interested in exploring it further .
Attorney Barney - You may want to add at the end of Paragraph 2 , " before
determining whether to rezone the property . "
Supervisor Valentino - Yes , that will be added .
AGENDA ITEM NO . 8 - ADJOURNMENT :
As there was no further business to come before the Town Board , a motion
was made by Councilman Klein and seconded by Councilman Conley to
adjourn . Carried unanimously .
Supervisor Valentino adjourned the meeting at 7 : 35 p . m .
Respectfully submitted ,
Joan Lent Noteboom
Town Clerk
* * * Next Regular Meeting - April 8 , 1996
* * * * Minutes transcribed by Deborah A : Kelley
qty OF 1p
F a TOWN OF ITHACA
126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
� Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Special Town Board Meeting 4/1 /96
Agenda Item No , 4
RESOLUTION REPEALING THE RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING CONSTRUCTION OF WATER TRANSMISSION METER PITS
AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SERIAL BONDS FOR THE
COST OF SUCH PROJECT
Resolution No , 49
WHEREAS , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca at its meeting on March 11 , 1996 ,
adopted a resolution entitled " RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION
OF WATER TRANSMISSION METER PITS AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE
AND SALE OF SERIAL BONDS FOR THE COST OF SUCH PROJECT" ; and
WHEREAS , it has now been determined that it is not desirable nor necessary to
finance the cost of such construction by the issuance of bonds and therefore the
resolution should be repealed ;
NOW, THEREFORE , be it
RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that the resolution entitled
"RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER TRANSMISSION
METER PITS AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SERIAL BONDS
FOR THE COST OF SUCH PROJECT' adopted by the Town Board on March 11 , 1996
be and the same hereby is repealed .
MOVED : Councilwoman Grigorov
SECONDED : Councilman Conley
DATED : April 1 , 1996
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ;
Councilman Conley, aye ; Councilwoman Russell , aye ; Councilman Wolff, aye . Motion
carried unanimously.
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
�1y OF 1 r
TOWN OF ITHACA
21 o¢`E 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Special Town Board Meeting 4/ 1 /96
Agenda Item No . 4
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER TRANSMISSION
METER PITS AND ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTHERN
CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION MEMBERS
REGARDING SAME
Resolution No . 50
WHEREAS , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca has determined that it is in the
public interest of the Town for there to be installed master water meters at several
locations throughout the Town to measure the consumption of water received from the
transmission lines operated by the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water
Commission ; and
WHEREAS , the Town Engineer has prepared a report , specifications and bid
documents for the installation of such meters ; and
WHEREAS , the installation of such meters have been determined to be a type 2
action pursuant to the regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation promulgated pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act and
the laws and regulations of the Town of Ithaca , as being construction of a primary or
accessory/appurtenant , non - residential structure or facility having less than 4 , 000
square feet of gross floor area and not involving a change in zoning or a use variance
and consistent with local land use controls ; and
WHEREAS , the maximum proposed to be expended by the Town of Ithaca for the
aforesaid improvement is $ 104 , 033 . 00 ; and
WHEREAS , said maximum estimated cost is not greater than 1 / 10th of 1 % of the full
valuation of taxable real property in the area of the Town of Ithaca outside of any
villages ; and
WHEREAS , it is proposed that the cost of the aforesaid improvement shall be borne
by the real property in said Town of Ithaca Water System Benefitted Area by assessing ,
levying upon , and collecting from the several lots and parcels of land within said
Benefitted Area , outside of any village , which the Town Board shall determine and
specify to be especially benefitted by the improvement , in amounts sufficient to pay the
costs of such improvement ; and
A
Res . No . 50/ 1996
Page 2 .
WHEREAS , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca has held a public hearing upon
the plan , report , and map including an estimate of cost in the quest of providing such
water improvements on the 11th day of March , 1996 at 6 : 30 p . m . ; and
WHEREAS , notice of said public hearing was duly posted and published as required
by law; and
WHEREAS , said public hearing was duly held at the place and at the time aforesaid
and all persons interested in the subject thereof were heard concerning the same ; and
WHEREAS , it is now desired to authorize the institution of the project and the
execution of agreements related to same ,
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca
as follows :
Section 1 . The Town of Ithaca authorizes the construction and installation of the
master meter and control valve improvements including the construction of a vault or
related building in five locations in the Town of Ithaca on Spruce Lane , Sheldon Road ,
the Apple Orchard , Pine Tree Road , and Pearsall Place , all as more particularly set
forth in said report of the Town Engineer .
Section 2 . The Town of Ithaca , acting on behalf of the Townwide Water
Benefitted Area of the Town , hereby authorizes the expenditure of up to $ 104 , 033 . 00
for such installation and construction .
Section 3 . That the cost of said project , $ 104 , 033 . 00 , shall be payable from
assessments levied upon and collected from the several lots and parcels of land
deemed benefitted from said improvement and located in the Town of Ithaca Water
System Benefitted Area , so much upon and from each as shall be in just proportion to
the amount of the benefit which the improvement shall confer upon the same .
Section 4 . It is hereby determined that the estimated expense of the aforesaid
improvement does not exceed 1 / 1 0th of 1 % of the full valuation of the taxable real
property of the area of said Town outside of villages and , therefore , in accordance with
the provisions of subdivision 13 of Section 209- Q of the Town Law, the permission of
the State Comptroller is not required for such improvement .
Res . No . 50/ 1996
Page 3 .
Section 5 . The Town Supervisor is authorized to enter into a master meter
agreement with the other members of the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water
Commission pursuant to which the installation of the master meters both in and out of
the Town of Ithaca are being installed , and pursuant to which the Town of Ithaca will
pay its pro- rata share of the cost of same as a participant of the Southern Cayuga Lake
Intermunicipal Water Commission .
Section 6 . This resolution is adopted pursuant to Section 209=q (c) and Section
202- b of the Town Law and shall take effect immediately .
MOVED : Councilman Conley
SECONDED : Councilman Wolff
DATED : April 1 , 1996
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ;
Councilman Conley, aye ; Councilwoman Russell , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye . Motion
carried unanimously.
Q, 1"L '7 '-tL""
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
OF IT�
9 TOWN OF ITHACA
,r, 4�. 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
� Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Special Town Board Meeting 4/ 1 /96
Agenda Item No , 6
Reclassification = Director of Planning
Resolution No . 51
BE IT RESOLVED , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby upgrade the
classification of the position of the Director of Planning under the Town of Ithaca
Classification System from an (R) to an (S) ; and be it further
RESOLVED , as a result of the said upgrade of classification the annual salary of
Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning shall be increased $2 , 156 . 00 to $47 , 812 . 00; and
be it further
RESOLVED , the said increase in annual salary shall be prorated for the remainder
of 1996 and paid to Mr. Kanter beginning with the next payroll on April 5 , 1995 ; and be
it further
RESOLVED , the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct that a budget
amendment in the amount of $ 1576 . 00 be made from General Fund Part Town ,
131990 . 400 Contingency to General Fund Part Town , B8020 . 100 Planning Personal
Services to appropriate the necessary funds for the said increase in salary for 1996 .
MOVED : Councilwoman Grigorov
SECONDED : Councilman Klein
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ;
Councilman Conley, aye ; Councilwoman Russell , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye . Motion
carried unanimously.
DATED : April 1 , 1996
CL t c�
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
OF 1p
9 TOWN OF ITHACA
21 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
jp '( 0
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
Special Town Board Meeting 4/ 1 /96
Agenda Item No , 6
Reclassification - Human Resource Specialist
Resolution No. 52
BE IT RESOLVED , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby upgrade the
classification of the position of the Human Resource Specialist under the Town of
Ithaca Classification System from an (1 ) to an ( L) ; and be it further
RESOLVED , as a result of the said upgrade of classification the annual salary of
Sherwin DiSanto , Human Resource Specialist shall be increased $ 1 , 652 . 00 to
$22 , 731 . 50 ; and be it further
RESOLVED , the said increase in annual salary shall be prorated for the remainder
of 1996 and paid to Mr. DiSanto beginning with the next payroll on April 5 , 1995 ; and
be it further
RESOLVED , the Town Board does hereby authorize and direct that a budget
amendment in the amount of $ 1 , 207 . 00 be made from General Fund , Al 990 , 400
Contingency to General Fund , Al 430A 00 Personnel Personal Services to appropriate
the necessary funds for the said increase in salary for 1996 .
MOVED : Councilman Conley
SECONDED : Councilwoman Russell
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye; Councilman Klein , aye ;
Councilman Conley, aye ; Councilwoman Russell , aye ; Councilman Wolff, aye . Motion
carried unanimously.
DATED : April 1 , 1996
(L' 1"+ q & -
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
�1y OF 1 P�
a TOWN OF ITHACA
,�,� �04�• 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
� Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
Special Town Board Meeting 4/1 /96
Agenda Item No . 6
Personnel Mediation Funding
Resolution No. 53
BE IT RESOLVED , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby authorize
and direct the Town Supervisor to expend up to $500 . 00 from General Fund A1430 . 400
to pay for mediation services with personnel .
MOVED : Supervisor Valentino
SECONDED : Councilman Wolff
DATED: April 1 , 1996
Supervisor Valentino , aye ; Councilwoman Grigorov , aye ; Councilman Klein , aye ;
Councilman Conley, aye ; Councilwoman Russell , aye ; Councilman Wolff , aye . Motion
carried unanimously.
Joan Lent Noteboom , Town Clerk
qty OF 1p
TOWN OF ITHACA
21 O4� 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
� Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
April 1 , 1996
5 : 30 p. m .
AGENDA
1 . Call to Order.
2 . Pledge of Allegiance .
3 . Consider assessment of referendum results and future goals related to the
acquisition of a new Town Hall ,
4 . Consider modification of resolution related to the Master Meter Agreement with the
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission .
5 . Consider maintenance agreement with Tompkins County for the downstream Forest
Home Bridge .
6 . Discuss procedures for Town Board meeting April 8 , due to absences of some
town officials .
7. Consider EXECUTIVE SESSION .
8. Consider ADJOURNMENT.
ADDITIONAL
1 . Consider correspondence to be sent by Supervisor Valentino related to Saddlewood
Farms .
41yOFIp
TOWN OF ITHACA
126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA, N . Y . 14850
� Y
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273- 1704
RETURNS OF CANVASS
SPECIAL ELECTION - MARCH 12 , 1996
Proposition - New Town Hall , 119 Court Street
Veteran Volunteer Ellis Hollow Apartments B . O . C . E . S
Fireman ' s Association 1028 Ellis Hollow Road 555 Warren Road
638 Elmira Road
( District Nos . 1 , 2 , 3 & 10) ( District Nos . 4 , 5 & 11 ) ( District Nos . 6 , 7, 8, &9)
YES NO YES NO YES NO
Voting Voting Voting
Machine 46 284 Machine 81 230 Machine 55 265
Absentee Absentee Absentee
Ballots 4 5 Ballots 3 9 Ballots 5 12
Void 1
TOTAL 50 289 TOTAL 84 240 TOTAL 60 277
YES NO
Veteran Volunteer Fireman ' s Association 50 289
Ellis Hollow Apartments 84 240
B . O . C . E . S 60 277
TOTAL: 194 806
DRAFT
April 2, 1996
Mr. Jim Armstrong
New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
800 South Wilbur Avenue
Syracuse, New York 13201
Dear Mr. Armstrong:
As Supervisor for the Town of Ithaca in Tompkins County, I would like to take this
opportunity to express my support for the need for affordable housing within the
town. I understand that the proposed Landmark America multifamily development,
Saddlewood Farms, along Mecklenburg Road in Ithaca, New York, is currently in the
process of obtaining Low-Income Housing Credits from the State DHCR. The
affordable rental units that would be part of Saddlewood Farms would be a desirable
addition to the town' s housing stock, especially in light of the way those affordable
units would be mixed with market rate units in the same project.
While there are concerns regarding the location of a residential project as large as
Saddlewood Farms in an area shown as "Agricultural" in the Town' s Comprehensive
Plan and also located within Tompkins County Agricultural District No. 2, the Town
of Ithaca Town Board has indicated interest in exploring the possibility of this
development further, and has asked Landmark America to provide additional
information on numerous aspects of the proposal in order to determine the merits of
rezoning the site to permit Saddlewood Farms .
Because this type of housing is greatly needed in Tompkins County, I would endorse
Landmark America' s application for Low-Income Housing Credits, with the
understanding that the Town Board will have to evaluate the specific merits and
environmental impacts of the Saddlewood Farms project at the currently proposed
site on Mecklenburg Road.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE , at a regular meeting of the Town of Ithaca Town Board on
the 8th day of April , 1996 the following was adopted .
ORDER OF TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA
SPECIFYING THE AND PLACE OF
PUBLIC HEARING ON ESTABLISHMENT
OF CHASE LANE LIGHTING DISTRICT
At a meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca held at the Town Hall , 126 East
Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 8th day of April, 1996, at 5 : 30 p. m.
PRESENT : Carolyn Grigorov , Deputy Town Supervisor, David Klein , Councilperson,
Ed Conley , Councilperson , Ellen Harrison , Councilperson , Mary Russell , Councilperson, and
John Wolff, Councilperson .
In the matter of the formation of a lighting district for Chase Lane pursuant to
Article 12-a of the Town Law of the State of New York.
WHEREAS , on January 8 , 1996 , the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca duly adopted`
a resolution directing the Town Engineer to prepare a map, plan and report for providing the
facilities, improvements , or services in a portion of the Town of Ithaca wherein 'a lighting
district was proposed to be established ; and
WHEREAS , on April 8 , 1996, the Town Engineer duly filed said map , plan and report
in the Office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca; and
WHEREAS , the boundaries of the proposed lighting district are as set forth on Schedule
A annexed hereto; and
WHEREAS , the improvements proposed consist of the installation of approximately 12
street luminaries along Chase Lane and LaGrand Court; and
WHEREAS , the maximum amount proposed to be expended for the improvement is $0
for the construction of said lighting system ; and
WHEREAS , it is estimated that the initial annual cost estimate for the operation of said
lighting system will be $2687. 86 per year; and
WHEREAS , the map , plan and report describing such improvement are on file in the
Office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca for public inspection; and
NOW THEREFORE it is
ORDERED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca shall meet at the Town Hall,
126 East Seneca Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 13th day of May , 1996 at 6: 30 p . m . for the
purpose of conducting a public hearing on the proposal to establish said lighting district with the
improvements specified above , at which time and place all persons interested in the subject
C6adme. ORI, WPSI JM, 0410419612:30pm
thereof may be heard concerning the same; and it is further
ORDERED, that the Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca is hereby authorized and directed
to publish a certified copy of this order in the Ithaca Journal published in the City of Ithaca,
Ithaca, New York, and to post a copy of same on the signboard of the Town of Ithaca, said
publication and posting to occur not less than ten nor more than twenty days before the day
designated above for the public hearing .
TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF ITHACA
a r ,
r
.•' Gin / " G
The undersigned , JOAN LENT NOTEBOOM, Town Clerk of the Town of Ithaca,
Tompkins County , New York, does hereby certify that the foregoing Order and Schedule A are
a true and correct copy of an Order duly adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca at
a meeting duly called and held on April 8 , 19960
CL"
J Lent Noteboom
2
14
SCHEDULE A
DESCRIPTION OF CHASE LANE LIGHTING DISTRICT
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins
County , New York, being more particularly described as follows:
COMMENCING at the intersection of the westerly line of Coddington Road and the
southwesterly line of King Road East; running thence northwesterly along the center line of King
Road East a distance of approximately 100 feet to the northwest corner of Town of Ithaca tax
parcel No . 45- 1 -52 ; thence southwesterly along the northwesterly line of said tax parcel a
distance of 150 feet to the west corner of said tax parcel ; thence northwesterly 100 feet to the
west corner of tax parcel 454 -25 ; thence north 73 degrees 24 minutes 14 seconds west a
distance of 137 . 41 feet to the southwest corner of tax parcel 454 -23 ; thence southerly along the
west lines of tax parcels 454 -26 through 30 , 454 -35 through 37 , a total distance of
approximately 1 ,212 . 41 feet to the southwest corner of tax parcel 454 -37; thence easterly along
the southerly lines of tax parcels Nos . 45- 1 -37 , 38 and 39 a total distance of approximately
216 . 57 feet to the southeast corner of tax parcel 45- 1 -39 ; thence southerly along the west lines
of Town of Ithaca tax parcels Nos . 45- 1 -48 , 49 , 50 and 51 a total distance of 431 . 86 feet to the
southwest corner of tax parcel 45- 1 -51 ; thence north 80 degrees 31 minutes 32 seconds east
along the south line of said tax parcel 51 a distance of 167 . 46 feet to a point, thence northerly
on an extended west line of Chase Lane a distance of approximately 52 . 48 feet to a point in the
east line of said tax parcel 51 ; thence north 80 degrees 31 minutes 32 seconds east along the
southerly line of Chase Lane a distance of approximately 70 feet to the southeast corner of Chase
Lane; thence northerly along the easterly line of Chase Lane a distance of approximately 44 . 33
feet to the southwest corner of tax parcel 454 -73 ; thence easterly along the southerly lines of
tax parcels 45- 1 -73 , 72 , 71 , and 70 a total distance of 621 . 44 feet to the southeast corner of tax
parcel 454 -70; thence northerly along the east lines of tax parcels 45- 1 -70 , 69 , 682 67 , 66 , 65 ,
and 64 , a total distance of approximately 898 . 34 feet to the northeast corner of tax parcel 45- 1 -
64 ; thence westerly along the northerly lines of tax parcels 454 -64 and 45- 1 -63 , a distance of
approximately 154 feet to the northwest corner of tax parcel No . 454 -63 ; thence northwesterly
along the northeasterly lines of tax parcels 45- 1 -62 , 61 , 60 , and 59 a total distance of
approximately 300 feet to the northeast corner of tax parcel 454 -59 ; thence northerly along the
east line of tax parcel 45- 1 -58 a distance of approximately 57 feet to a northeast corner of said
tax parcel 454 -58 ; thence northwesterly along a southwesterly line of tax parcel 45- 1 -54 a total
distance of 100 feet to the southeast corner of tax parcel 454 -53 ; thence northeasterly along the
easterly line of tax parcel 53 a distance of approximately 163 feet to the southwesterly line of
King Road East ; thence northwesterly along the southwesterly line of said road a distance of
approximately 170 feet, crossing over Chase Lane to the point or place of beginning .
Joan Lent Noteboom
Town Clerk
April 12 , 1996
PUBLISH : May 1 , 1996
OF 1,%
TOWN OF ITHACA
21 126 EAST SENECA STREET , ITHACA , N . Y . 14850
��Jkp j
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1747
PUBLIC NOTICE
SPECIAL MEETING TOWN BOARD
TOWN OF ITHACA
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will conduct a
Special Town Board meeting at the Town Hall , 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New
York on April 1 , 1996 at 5 : 30 p . m . in order to consider matters related to the acquisition
of a new Town Hall , and
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE , individuals attending with visual impairments ,
hearing impairments or other special needs , will be provided with assistance as
necessary, upon request . Persons desiring assistance must make a request not less
than 48 hours prior to the time of the special meeting .
Joan Lent Noteboom
Town Clerk
March 19 , 1996
PUBLISH : Thursday , March 21 , 1996