HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1988-07-11TOWN OF ITHACA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
July 11, 1988
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca,
Totipkins Comty, New York, held at the Town Hall, 126 East Seneca
Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 11th day of July, 1988, there
were:
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
n
Noel Desch, Supervisor
Henry McPeak, Councilman
Robert Bartholf, Coxmcilroan
Patricia Leary, Councilwonan
Shirley Raffensperger, Councilwonan
Thonas Cardman, Councilman
John Ozolins, Highway Superintendent
Robert Flumerfelt, Town Engineer
John Barney, Town Attorney
Doria Higgins, 2 Hillcrest Drive
J^rtle J. Whitconib, 233 Troy Road
John G. Whitconb, 233 Troy Road
Mildred Brammer, 249 Troy Road
Charlotte Bosworth, 255 Troy Road
Bonnie Simpson, 112 Pine View Terrace
Ron Sinpson, 112 Pine View Terrace
Salvatore Grippi, 423 East Seneca Street
Rosalind Grippi, 423 East Seneca Street
Ton Darling, 111 Pine View Terrace
Leslie Smith-Darling, 111 Pine View
Terrace
Fred T. Wilcox III, 629 Highland Road
Richaid B. Fischer, 135 Pine Tree Road
Robert Cotts, 115 Northview Road
Charles Nocera, County Youth Bureau
Nancy Zahler, County Youth Bureau
Janice Esroan, 903 Triphammer Road
Beverly Livesay, Board of Representatives
Representatives of the Media:
Fred Yahn, Ithaca Journal
Jay Ledlowslay, WVBR News
Ken Hughes, Channel 7
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance.
REPORT OF TOWN OFFICIALS
Supervisor's Report
Health Insurance - Ehipire Plan
Supervisor Desch reported that he had learned late Wednesday about
specific rate adjustments in the Entire Plan resulting from the
State legislature requiring their deficits to be recovered over a
four year period rather than one year. This will result in a
Town Board Minutes 2 July 11, 1988
refund to the Town of about $4,700 and for Bolton Point of about
$3,300.
Dates Drive
Supervisor Desch announced that the ribbon cutting for the opening
of Dates Drive will take place at noon on July 20.
Ccniprehensive Planning
n The Supervisor noted that the staff is moving forward to develop
' the request for proposal. The Town Planner will have more to
report. He stated that his reccnitiendation to retain Tan Niederkom
on a retainer basis is also being considered. The Planning Board
will be having the first public hearing on the preamble to the
Ccmprdiensive Plan on August 2.
Water Problems
Supervisor Desch stated that he was pleased to announce that most
of the area on West Hill where the public water system is being
installed will be available for hook up, just in time, considering
the drought. The Town engineering staff will be looking into
further extensions beyond the new service area. Property owners
interest in public water and better fire protection should write to
the Town Board expressing their needs.
Six Mile Cre^ Watershed
Supervisor Desch noted that he had met with Mayor Gutenberger and
Si:ipervisors Kone and Cotterill to discuss the scope of a study of
needs to enhance and protect the watershed. The Planning staffs of
Town, County and City will meet to prepare the first draft of such
a study scope.
! j Kyong Project
The Supervisor stated that he had prepared a draft resolution
referring the project back to the Planning Board. However, he had
not known that two of the Board members would not be present at the
July Town Board meeting. He stated that he believed that the full
Board should have the opportunity to consider such a referral and,
therefore, he proposed that the motion sirtply be put on the table
until after the adjourned hearing on August 8.
Connie Allen
Supervisor Desch noted that this would be the last meeting for
Assistant Budget/Personnel Officer Connie Allen and that he would
like to take the opportunity to thank Connie for the outstanding
job she has done for the people of the Town of Ithaca. Through her
efforts we now have a very strong accounting, avtditing and
personnel operation. In the nine years she has achieved every
objective the Town has set up for her department in a quiet,
professional way. Cornell is fortunate in attracting Connie to
serve on their staff.
17
|M|
The Supervisor went on to say that the Personnel Committee will be
looking at the job description, at it's August meeting and in the
meantime we have an agenda itan to bring in a temporary person to
support the Highway Department so that our remaining staff can
begin the process of developing the 1989 budget.
Possible Future Conflict of Interest
Town Board Minutes 3 July 11, 1988
S\:^)ervisor Desch stated that he wished to disclose, at this time,
the possibility of the sale of approximately 50 acres of land that
he and his wife owns jointly with others on East King Road to a
group of local developers to be known as Southwood Associates.
Although such disclosure would only be necessary in the event a
particular action would ccme to the Town Board he wanted to state
publicly that he has not had any discussions with Town staff with
regard to the develcproent proposal nor will he have any involvement
with Town Board action or staff reccnmendations. Siapervisor Desch
stated that he has no interest other than the sale of the land.
Town Engineer's Report
Water and Sewer Extensions
Town Engineer Robert Flumerfelt stated that all the water and sewer
nains are cotpleted, they have been flushed and tested by Vacri
Construction for Phase I, except for the Canpbell Avenue sewer.
That work is expected to be staarted during the week of July 18th
and diiring that time there will be seme blasting required. We are
arranging for the detour to be on Brookfield Road. The
hydrophenuroatic pump booster station is expected to be operational
by the end of next week, their installing the electrical power now
and the contractor is aibout 90% ccnplete so people should soon be
able to use the water and sewers on that system.
F. Rizzo, the contractor on Taughannock Boulevard reached the
townline today with the water and sewer. There is a 400* stretch
which he skipped over because he ran into rock. They should be all
finished by the end of next wedc. We have also held another
meeting with the Taughannock Boulevard residents vhere we have
explained the procedure Thereby most people will be able to install
their water and sewer services on the surface of the ground, if
1 I they want to, inside a 6" conduit with a heat cable. This should
i I save people a lot of expense by not having to trench through the
woods and down the rocky cliffs. The Town Engineer went on to say
that the flushing and testing of these water and sewsr lines remain
to be done as well as the road shoulders. The contractor is about
85% complete.
East Shore Drive Sewer
Town Engineer Flumerfelt reported that arranganents are being made
for soil borings there which are required v^ere the sewer lines are
on Conrail property and necessary also for our planning. We are
continuing to revise the alignment of the sewer to keep away from
the railroad as far as possible and in as many places as possible.
We anticipate being able to put the sewer in the west shoulder of
the road on the north end of the job and get away fixm the railroad
in that area.
Harris B. Dates Drive
The Town Engineer noted that the Harris B. Dates Drive up ty the
hospital, that the contract work by Hill Construction has been
conpleted. The Town's Highway crews are making the cut through the
center island in the present hospital entrance road and widening
the present hospital entrance road slightly so it will be easier
for cars to make left turns. The Parks Department crew have
completed the top soiling and seeding of the area and they are now
planting trees.
Infiltration/Inflow Study
n
Town Board Minutes 4 July 11, 1988
Town Engineer Flumerfelt stated that the Infiltration/Inflow Study
of the sewers in the northeast section of the Town is continuing
and we are hoping for a good soaking rain to get sate data on wet
weather conditions.
Air Conditioner
The Town Engineer went on to say that the roan where Michael Ocello
WDrks, v^ch has the autocad equipment, gets very hot and the
little air conditioning outlet just does not do the job there. We
would like to get a window unit which will cost around $310 for a
5,500 BTQ unit.
1 I
Town Water System Maintenance Management
Town Engineer Flumerfelt noted that they would be instituting a
Town water system maintenance management program. Paitis of it have
been started but basically for our own information and in
conjunction with Bolton Point Water Conmission we need to establish
a system of operational reports and trouble reports to monitor
water main breaks and mechanical failures and keep track of the
causes and contributing factors to these failures and reccrannend
ways to prevent reoccurrence. They will monitor the electrical
consultation of each pump station and pressure reducing station and
also ccmplete as-built drawings of the water and sewer extension.
Miscellaneous
The Town Engineer went on to say that there is continued review of
several subdivisions. He noted also that the Plumbing Review
Advisory Board meets every two we^s and that he has been attending
those meetings. Discussions have centered mainly around the
procedure for inspecting water installations in the Town of Ithaca
and other municipalities that are members of the Conmission.
. j RESOLUTION NO. 183
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilwoman Leary,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the purchase of a 5,500 BTU air conditioner at a cost of
approximately $310 for the office of Michael Ocello, Assistant to
the Engineer.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
Town Planner's Report
Town Planner Susan Beeners reported that she and Assistant Town
Planner George Frantz had attended a Donographics Workshop that the
Human Services Coalition had in June. Also, they met with McGraw
House representatives \^o are looking at long range programming for
elderly housing. We discussed seme of the possibilities as far as
locations in the Town and the types of housing mixes that there
might be within a senior citizen housing development.
n
The Town Planner went on to say that as far as the Ithaca
Transportation Sxarvey goes, there was a meeting on the 30th to
discuss some of the survey data that they have. Another meeting
has been scheduled for August 3rd. The results of the Travel
Transportation Survey should be very helpful as far as the
different jurisdictions coming to seme consensus about traffic
impact and seme solutions.
Town Board Minutes 5 July 11, 1988
Cornell is currently engaging a landscape architectal type planning
firm to study the Cornell campus and adjacent areas in the Town and
other municipalities. She stated that she had attended a meeting
with the consultants, they are scheduling meetings with
neighborhood groups, the Board of Representatives and also
professional staff to get input as they proceed along in looking at
long range planning.
The Town Planner went on to say that a lot of time is spent doing
^""^1 citizen inquiries and responding to questions about different
j developments, all part of the planning process. Also, we continue
to conduct a considerable amount of development review. She noted
that attached to her report are copies of the agenda for last month
showing the progress of various items. There has been continued
work on the Request for Proposals, dealing with the comprehensive
plan and a consultant. She went on to say that they have also been
conducting land use surveys in different neighborhoods, specially
in regard to occupancy, single and two family dwellings.
Town Planner Beeners noted that the Board also had copies of the
Parks and Open Space Managers Report from Rich Schoch and as you
can see there is a good amount of both maintenance involved and
also progress as far as new construction goes. Adding a nice row
of pines to the entrances of our recreational trails, adding seme
improvonents to the Coddington Road playfield and some assistance
in getting Dates Drive ccmpleted. With help from the Highway
Department, the Grandview park site has been graded and we expect
to have meetings with the neighbors around the park site before the
August Town Board meeting to discuss a revised plan for the site
which is based, on their ccraments of \tot they would like to have
there. Generally there has been an opinion that an active play
site is not really needed at that location and that most of the
kids in the Grandview neighborhood seem to use the Youth Bureau
services. The general consensus for the park type was to have a
couple of informal fields with natural areas to include such things
as blue bird boxes, etc.
Councilwoman Leary asked about the firm that Cornell has hired.
She questioned if the Town Planner had said they were landscape
architects?
Town Planner Beeners replied, they are landscape architects,
engineers. They are based in the Boston area, a large firm. Its
rather iiipressive that they have been, every couple of we^s or
every month, holding meetings to receive input as to what we
foresee as problems and opportunities in our community in the
general East Ithaca and northeast area.
Councilwcman Leary asked vtot the demographic workshop was about?
Town Planner Beeners replied, that she expected it to be a little
more technically oriented. There was a fairly general interest
group there hearing presentations by Harry Missirian, people from
American Demographics were there. It basically described \tere do
you start \^en you need to find information on demographics. They
expect to hold another one and it will be a little bit more
specific.
Highway Superintendent's Report
Highway Superintendent John Ozolins reported that in the way of
vehicle maintenance a new front end for Truck #5 has been ordered.
The mower was down for approximately two weeks waiting for parts,
vdiich as a result we got a lot of calls during that time frame from
Town Board Minutes 6 July 11, 1988
people needing grass cut around shoulders, etc. He stated that it
is back into operation. He noted that the Assistant Zoning
Officer's car had its brakes overhauled.
The Highway Superintendent went on to say that all of the roads
vhere they could put down shoulder have been done. The only
exception to that is Coy Glen because for a certain stretch along
that road there is no place to put shoulders. Consequently, we are
putting gravel, filter fabric and pipe and more gravel so that the
^ ditch will be i^le to carry water as well as providing seme type of
n i area to get off the road. We have spent a couple of days removing
brush up on Kenwick Drive, also a spray was used on Elm Street and
Culver Road to see how well that works. Slurry sealing is
tentatively scheduled to begin next we^. Surface treating will be
done on Stone Quarry Road on July 28th, paving of Indian Creek, and
Happy Lane on August 15th, depending on the contractor leveling out
the area. Delivery of the first truck should be within the next
two weeks, then the box and snow equipment will be installed. The
exhaust system for the Highway Bams, we have one estimate of
$25,000, however, a more recent estimate on a scaled back version
of it is aj^roximate $12,000 to $13,000.
The Highway S\:5)erintendent went on to note equipment costs and
budgeting for next year. He noted that seme of it, like the truck
has already been completed, however, before any kind of planning
and developing specs he needed to get some kind of a feeling from
the Town Board. Highway Truck #10 has rusted out on the floor
boards. Parks Truck #9 it's an older truck and the floor boards are
gone from rust, replacement of the Town Engineer's car. He stated
that he would write up the specs for a vdiicle approximate the size
of an S-10 Blazer, the Town Engineer's car would become the
mechanics car and the car he was currently driving would revert to
the Town Engineer. Two portable radio with chargers so that vrtien
road construction is being done, the flagmen can talk back and
I forth plus one radio for the car.
t
Building Inspector/Zoning Officer's Report
Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Andrew Frost stated that the
number of building permits were down quite a bit from last year.
Last June seotied to have been the busiest month ever recorded.
However, there does seem to be less construction going on compared
to last year. Permits last year were being issued to Grandview
Subdivision and Ccmmonlands, Coitsnonlands being essentially
ccnpleted now. He felt that at some point everything was going to
hit at once but right now everything was quieter than usual. He
went on to say that based on the number of Certificates of
Conpliance, there seems to be a lot more houses being sold.
Complaints investigated compare pretty much with the number last
yecu:. We still have a number of cases that went through the Court
and have now been resolved. We have had cases go through the
Courbs, had people arrested and the complaints still aren't
resolved yet.
There were two meetings in June of the Zoning Board of Appeals. We
had a total of nine hearings in June.
j UPDATE OF YOUTH SERVICES COyiPREHENSIVE PLAN
Supervisor Desch introduced Sam Cohen, the new Director of the City
Youth Bureau.
'c)Z
Town Board Minutes 7 July 11, 1988
Nancy Zahler introduced Charles Nocera, vjho will be the new
Director of the County Youth Bureau during her one year leave of
absence, starting in August.
Supervisor Desch remarked, as you know we have received a
considerable about of information coning out of the master planning
process dealing with Coxmty Youth Seirvices. He noted that July
looks like a pretty critical month, another major workshop has been
scheduled for July 27, We have sane hcmework to do to fill out
seme forms to prioritize as what we in the Town of Ithaca now see
as needs for Youth Services in the future. He noted that once that
workshop is over, the Ccnmittee will take the information and go
back with it. He then asked Comty Representative Beverly Livesay
^0^ vhat did she expect would happen from that point, as she saw it?
County Representative Beverly Livesay replied, what's going to
happen after that meeting on the 27th, is that hopefully everybody
will know, at least for 1989, v^iat it is they intend to do. And
also an idea of vhat needs to be worked on in the future. She went
on to say that really the reasons for the timing is for the Town's
that are putting their budget together. The other issue that keeps
caning up and is in the information you have been given is, should
the County Board pick up sane of these services and if so, how, why
and etc. She felt the County Board was going to want to hear from
the municipalities what services they feel should be provided by
the County Board, if any. She felt the County Board was looking to
each municipality to really have a grip on what is really needed in
their own ccmmunity. Since the County does deal in human services
and mental health services in correction, etc., if you feel sane of
these things are just beyond a Town Board's ability to deal with
and you think this is a County responsibility to take that over,
then the municipalities should let the County know this. The
decision making process is pretty much the Towns, it's up to the
Town to decide vhat they want to do and how you handle this.
Supervisor Desch asked County Representative Livesay if it was her
view that in the case of the TOwn of Ithaca we should be having
separate meetings with the City of Ithaca?
Mrs. Livesay replied that this was one possibility. She went on to
say that she thought the Towns might do well to consider this among
themselves. After you have considered it yourself you might want
to know what positions the other Town are talcing.
Supervisor Desch replied, we are having a meeting, just a Town of
Ithaca meeting on Thursday.
Mrs. Livesay went on to say that the City Common Council has taken
a position that they are really not interested in sanebody buying
twenty hours of service here and there, they want to see seme kind
of an overall solution to this problem.
Sam Cohen replied that he thought the City's position was that it
would be too difficult to deal with making decisions on individual
programs. As far as making decisions that separates some of the
department, he felt that was open to discussion. You have a
recreation department you have art recreation main streaming and
then you have youth development and then GIAC.
I Nancy Zahler renarked, at the workshop on the 27th, it was hoped
; that people would send back the written survey so that we will have
sane idea as to which options municipalities are interested in
pursuing. Hopefully on the 27th we will give any and all
municipalities who expressed interest in possibly negotiating with
the City of Ithaca the chance to meet together.
Town Board Minutes 8 July 11, 1988
Mr, Cohen ronarked that Nancy Zahler and her staff had done a
reniarkable job in creating sane particular alternatives that are
layed very clearly and that actually show you the tax dollars if
you have choose a particular alternative.
SEASON PASS TO CASS PARK SWIMMING
Supervisor Desch noted that several requests have been received for
this and as he understood it, in the case of the Cass Park
Programs, the rates outside the City are double the inside rates,
not triple. He asked if that was correct and viiat period does that
cover?
Mr, Cohen replied, that to his knowledge, and he probably needed to
check it to make sure, he assumed this was for a full year. He
stated that he was under the impression it was the full Cass Park
season, not just the swiirming season.
It was decided that it was the swirtming season only.
Supervisor Desch went on to say that we have been asked to consider
this item, he asked if there were any conments from the Board, He
noted that he has received less than ten inquiries but if we should
go forward with the reimbursement he was not sure how many more
would be getting. Basically, the Town would be reimbursing,
depending on the size of the family, $11,00, $16,00, $22,00,
$33,00, $38,00 and $44,00, Financially he saw no problem since we
are below our projected cost,
RESOLITTICN NO, 184
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TCwn of Ithaca hereby
authorize that participants in the Cass Park swirtming be included
in the reirribursement program,
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye, Nays - none),
REPORT OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES
County Representative Beverly Livesay stated that she had nothing
to report but she did have a couple of things to ask about. One is
the flood control project up on Hungerford Hill and the other one
she could not remember vtot it was, however, she had seen the
recotroendation and wondered if they met approval,
Tbwn Engineer Flumerfelt replied that one was on East Shore Drive
and one on Hungerford Hill, He went on to say that he felt there
was a solution to the Hungerford Hill drainage problem that will
enable us to pull that request back from the County,
Supervisor Desch asked how the East Shore Drive request rated?
Mrs, Livesay stated that she had seen it in the packet of things
being looked at but that she had a conflict the day that the tour
was on, so she just wanted to touch base here and see if you folks
felt she should be concerned about it,
Mrs, Livesay went on to say that she would like feedback on the
recycling effort the County would be making, A little earlier in
the Phase II report there was a recommendation about picking
various areas and looked like the eastern section of the Town of
Ithaca would be one of the target area. After that report came out
Town Board Minutes 9 July 11, 1988
there was a different approach, that she noted she had mentioned,
and that was to let the municipalities bid on it in vtetever form
they wanted to. Now there has been a change back fran that because
of the difficulties of having municipalities bid on something. So
it's back to the Phase II report. At the earlier time we had
spoken about your having an interest in it and finding out about
and being in the pilot study. She wondered what the Tbwn's
interest was now in the project.
Supervisor Desch felt it would be very helpful if Barbara Eckstrcm
and staff members met with the Board in a work session to discuss
ideas.
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEAKENG TO AMEM) THE TRAFFIC ORDINfiNCE
PROVIDING FOR PROPER SIQC^SE OH DATES DRIVE
RESOLUTION NO. 185
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TOwn of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 6:45 P.M., on August 8, 1988 to
consider an amendment to the Town of Ithaca Traffic Ordinance to
provide for proper traffic signage on Dates Drive.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE TRAFFIC ORDINANCE TO BAN
THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC ON HONNESS LANE
RESOLUTION NO. 186
Motion by Sijpervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 6:50 P.M., on August 8, 1988 to
consider an amendment to the Town of Ithaca Traffic Ordinance to
ban through truck traffic on Honness Lane.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
REORGANIZATION OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
Supervisor Desch remarked that the proposal that was reviewed by
the Personnel Conmittee basically the reorganization would involve
the realignment of the Parks operation as a subpart of the Highway
Department so that the resources in both the Parks Department and
the Highway Department can be effectively utilized throughout the
four seasons of the year. Right now, obviously, the Highway
Department has different peaks than the Parks Department so you
have slippage in the use of resources there. So the Personnel
Ccmmittee unanimously supported the realignment.
RESOLUTION NO. 187
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilworoan Leary,
RESOLVED, that the Tcwn Board of the TCwn of Ithaca hereby
authorize the realignment of the Parks Department operation \inder
the si:pervision of the Town Highway Stperintendent.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf, and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
f ,(j V
' o
Town Board Minutes 10 July 11, 1988
APPOINIMENT TO THE NORTHEAST SEWER
Si:5)ervisor Desch stated that by way of background, we are the
recipients of a letter frcm the Mayor of the Village of Lansing
suggesting the formation of an intermunicipal sewer conmittee, with
the idea of identifying alternatives to overcome the problon with
the Village of Cayuga Heights sewage treatment plant vMch,
depending on who you talk to, is at or near capacity. The idea
would be is that there would be two representatives from the Town
of Ithaca, two from Cayuga Heights, two from the Village of
Lansing, two from the Town of Lansing and two from the Town of
Dryden, There may be some participation by the City of Ithaca. We
have been, from the Town of Ithaca side, trying to convince the
other participants that it would be wortln^le to streamline the
effort there, we already have a water commission comprised of the
same municipal participants and it would seem that we ought to be
able avoid to creating another bureaucracy and basically cover the
same type of service. The Supervisor went on to say that he felt
it was worthvdiile for the Town of Ithaca to participate. We
obviously have part of our Town serviced by the Cayuga Heights
currently. He stated that he talked with George Kugler about the
possibility of his serving. Mr. Kugler along with myself are the
two representatives on the water commission and he has expressed a
desire to do that. Mr. Kugler is now retired and feels that he has
the time to participate.
PESOLUTK^ NO. 188
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby appoint
George Kugler and Supervisor Desch as the Town of Ithaca
representatives on the Northeast Sewer Committee.
(Desch, McPeak, Baartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
' i
SOUTH HILL TRAIL
Assistant Planner George Krantz noted that at the Icist Town Board
meeting there were seme requests by the Board for seme clarifica
tions to the budget for the South Hill Trail. He went on to say
that on May 8th the Town Board approved authorization for the TOwn
to apply for a grant from the State for $58,000 to construct a
bicycle/pedestrian way from Buttermilk Falls, along the old
railroad track, through the City and continuing eastward toward the
30' Dam on Six Mile Cre^ Gorge, called the lower railroad grade,
then it would cut \:ip to the upper railroad grade at or about
Juniper Drive. Continuing eastward to the Coddington Road
Community Center. There would also be a spur westward frcrni Juniper
Drive to the intersection of Coddington Road and Hudson Street.
The original request was for $116,000, however, as we worked with
the Finger Lakes State Parks Commission who owns the railroad bed
from Stone Quarry Road to Buttermilk State Park, they did express
some reluctance in going forward with that segment of the trail.
The reason for the reluctance is that in 1983, the City, the TOwn
and the Finger Lakes State Park Commission signed an agreement to
develop a recreation trail to extend from Allen H. Treman to
^ Buttermilk Falls State Park. The State's priority is to see that
trail built first before extending it from Buttermilk Falls to
Aurora Street. We found it wasn't really feasible to extend it
from Bums Road to the Coddington Road Community Center because
there wasn't an available right-of-way. Homes line Coddington Road
on the North side and there wasn't any way of putting a trail in
without going through the yards of residential properties. So the
budget dropped from $116,000 to $97,526. Also, in preparing the
S9c
Town Board Minutes 11 July 11, 1988
budget we had some additional costs, the largest of v^ch is the
acquisition cost for the railroad right-of-^y beginning at
Coddington Road and Hudson Street to Bums Road. It's currently
owned by NYSEG and they have indicated that they would not grant
the Town an easonent for that, so we budgeted $18,000 for
acquisition of the railroad right-of-^y. Other cost increases
were landscape plantings and additional v^icular barriers
especially in the area trail from Hudson Street to the vicinity of
the 30* Dam.
I Mr. Krantz went on to say that after discussion with the City Board
of Public Works and also the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Board, they did have seme concerns and we did address
them in the application. Then sate of the estimates had to be
revised, such as the grading and paving upwards based on updated
cost data for those items. That's how we came up with the total
cost of $97,000 of which the Town share $48,763.
Supervisor Desch replied, the $48,763 is dcwn frcm the earlier
estimate of $58,00. Assuming we get a grant this could be spread
over two years and would include in kind services such as parks and
highway labor.
Mr. Krantz replied, yes this could be a two year project and it's
not necessarily a cash contribution on the part of the Town, it can
be in kind labor.
Supervisor Desch remarked, in all likelihood we would be the ones
who would build it in conjunction with the City.
Councilman McPeak asked where the figure of $18,000 for the
purchase of the right-of- way came frcm, is that a negotiated
figure or an assessment?
I Mr. Frantz replied that's partially based on assessment, it's about
17 acres and we pegged it at $1,000 an acre.
Supervisor Desch remarked that if the minutes show that the budget
has been revised so that the Town's share is a figure not to exceed
$48,763 we can then plan for the 1989 and 1990 budget everyone will
understand and we will not need to adopted another resolution.
DOVE DRIVE DRAINAGE REPORT
Town Engineer Robert Flumerfelt stated that the ccmmittee members
of the Board which were Councilwonan Raffensperger and Councilman
Cardman and he had met with Cornell officials and the developer of
the subdivision, Vam Brothers. We tentatively arrived at a
proposal where all three parties would participate in the cost of
getting it done. Subsequent to that Susan Hamlin of Cornell
University wrote a letter to us describing a proposal for a
solution to the problem. Basically it boils down to Cornell
providing the land for this drainage way and disassembling the
fence that is there now for equipment access, reerecting that
fence, erecting another fence along the rear property line of the
Dove Drive residents v^ch would essentially fence in the drainage
way on both sides. This is a distance of about 500 to 550 feet
m down to Snyder Hill Road. The Town and Vam Brothers construction
would divide the cost of constmcting the drainage way \^ch is
estimated to be around $5,000. It would be a rip-rap open channel.
The Town would oversee the design of it and make sure it was
constructed correctly Comell would grant an easement between those
two fence lines for access by the Town to maintain this channel.
V / Zj K f
Town Board MinutBS 12 July 11, 1988
S\:ipervisor Desch asked v^o would be the lead person in describing
the easement?
The Town Engineer responded that he did not know this?
Supervisor Desch asked the Town Attorney if he had any advise.
Town Attorney John Barney asked if there was a s\arvey or anything
in place?
Si:ipervisor Desch replied no, there will need to be one. Sotiebody
will need to cone up with one.
Town Attorney Barney replied, it would probably make sense to have
a surveyor, as part of this cost, go out. It shouldn't be too
difficult, isn't this part adjacent to the Vams subdivision?
Supervisor Desch replied, yes. It would be from the rear of the
property lines.
Town Attorney Barney asked if the Vam Brothers had agreed to
payment of the remainder of the costs?
Town Engineer Flumerfelt replied, they haven't yet, they are out of
Town.
Supervisor Desch ronarked, the resolution should be subject to the
other parties approval.
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 189
ffotion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, a ccnmittee (Shirley Raffensperger and Thomas Cardman)
from the Town Board was formed to work with the Town Engineer,
Robert Flumerfelt, toward a solution to the problem of storm
drainage from the Hungerford Heights Subdivision, Vam Brothers
Construction Ccst^>any., developers, flowing across Cornell Universi
ty lands to Snyder Hill Road and thereby erosion and danger to
pastured horses, and
WHEREAS, general agreement between the Town, the developer, and
Cornell University was reached at a meeting June 27, 1988, attended
by the above carmittee members, the Vam Brothers, Cornell
University officials, and Robert Flumerfelt, whereby all three
parties would participate in the cost of solving the drainage
problem, and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that the cost of developing a rip-rapped
ditch on Comell lands abutting the rear of Dove Drive properties
extending to Snyder Hill Road will cost approximately $5,000, and
WHEREAS, a proposal by Susan Hamlin of Comell University of July
6, 1988 was received pertinent to the above matter outlining a
division of responsibilities among the three parties.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca,
1) accept the proposal as presented by Ms. Hamlin in principal,
2) designate the Town Engineer to approve the design of the
drainage ditch and inspect its construction,
3) authorize the expenditure of $2,500 toward constmction of the
ditch, the balance of costs to be bome by the subdivision
developers, Vam Brothers Constmction Ccsnpany, v^o will
constmct the ditch.
Z /
J
Town Board Minutes 13 July 11, 1988
4) authorize the Town Attorney to act as necessary in effecting
an easement to the Town of Ithaca for permanent maintenance of
the ditch.
AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the Resolution is subject to the
approval of the other parties.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf, and Leairy voting Aye. Nays - none).
AMEND AGREEMENT FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF HIGHWAY MONEYS
Beverly Livesay asked vhat the Town intended to do to Snyder Hill
Road.
Town Highway Superintendent Ozolins replied, what it is called is
slurry seal. It is a surface on the road after it's cured that
looks just like the road. It will add maybe and eighth to a
quarter of an inch on the top of the road. Unlike the surface
treatment vhere you put the oil then you put the gravel on top,
this comes out through a screed that's put dcwn on the road. The
disadvantage is that traffic will have to stay off the road for two
hours.
Mrs. Livesay stated that she had intended to send the Town a letter
regarding the height of the road and vtot she considered a
dangerous situation because the driveways drop off and are slippery
in the winter. It's a hazzard v^en you go to the mailbox and there
are an awful lot of people walking and she was afraid somebody
would have their feet go out from under them, sideways and be
injured. It's on the road right-of-way.
Supervisor Desch replied, we need another area to walk.
Mrs. Livesay agreed that another area to walk was needed. You have
just made it difficult for the down hill driveways trying to get up
on the road.
RESOLUTIC^ NO. 190
Motion by Supearvisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the amendment to the Agreement for the Expenditure of Highway
Moneys.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
PERSONS TO BE HEARD
Mrs. Myrtle Whitcomb, 233 Troy Road read the following letter
addressed to the Town of Ithaca Town Board, from the Greater Ithaca
Neighborhoods Association, dated July 11, 1988;
"On June 8, 1988, the Greater Ithaca Neighborhoods Association
presented a letter and petition to the Planning Board requesting a
moratorium on major developments and rezoning in the Town of Ithaca
imtil an up to date ccsiprehensive planning document has been
jointly created and adopted by the Planning Board, its staff and
the public. We have not received a formal response to our request.
We continue to object to the current piecemeal, patchwork approach
to planning and development. Project after project is approved
with little consideration of the cumulative effects. On the July
11th Town Board agenda, items 19 and 20 are cases in point. Major
F/.-
Town Beard Minutes 14 July 11, 1988
revisions of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations are
being considered. These decisions should NOT be part of a
fragmented, piecemeal approach to planning. They should be part of
a ccnprehensive approach with considerable public input.
We have reviewed Planning Board minutes of the last several years
relating to discussion of ccnprehensive planning and note several
recurring themes. For exaiiple, it was noted that "much of the
staff time is spent with developers" reviewing site plan proposals,
^ allowing little time for planning. The Planning Board and staff,
due to time constraints, have been unable to adequately address the
planning problem.
A mechanic trying to repair a moving car is at a definite
disadvantage. The car changes direction, changes location and can
be dangerous vdien approached head on. A planner, trying to examine
a Town that is growing, shifting its center of gravity or changings
its character will experience similar problems. All these dynamic
shifts represent unnecessary distractions and waste valuable time.
Therefore, we again call for the Town of Ithaca to immediately
implement a moratorium on subdivision approval and rezoning for a
reasonable, specific length of time, up to 18 months if necessary,
during vMch time the Planning Board and staff can concentrate all
their energies and resources on planning. The moratorium should
not affect single family construction on individually owned lots.
Nor should it be viewed as an emotional device to curtain
development. Rather, it is an attempt to stabilize the growth of
the Town v^le the ccnprehensive plan is being considered.
Such a ccnprehensive plan should address at least the following:
1. Philosophy of growth; extensive, npdest, or minimal?
2. Consequences of increased traffic.
^ 3. Effect on school systems.
^ 4. Environmental impact, preservation of open space and natural
i habitat.
5. Separation of new growth fron stable, established
neighborhoods.
6. Examination of vdio bears the costs of increased donand for
services?
We expect full public participation in every phase of this planning
process frcm the selection of any consultant planner to the public
approval of the final document. In this spirit, the Greater Ithaca
Neighborhoods Association requests 30 minutes of the Town Board's
time at the next meeting to more fully discuss our concerns. We
feel that the interests of developers, our elected and appointed
officials and the general public are intertwined as are the
responsibilities of each to the other. The elements of our
proposal address our concerns and aspirations for a better Town.
Please consider them carefully."
Rosaline Grifpi, 423 East Seneca Street stated that she was going
to speak on the Kyong project but since consideration is being
postponed until August 8th, she wanted to know whether there will
also be public discussion at that meeting?
Supervisor Desch replied, yes.
Supervisor Desch remarked, that he was wondering about the request
frcm the Greater Ithaca Neighborhoods Association and v^at was the
best way to address it. He felt it mi^t be useful to schedule a
joint Planning Board and Town Board meeting to hear it in that
fashion. He was not s\are v^en this could be acccnplished with
people on vacation but that he felt the August 8th meeting was not
a good time with so many public hearings scheduled.
9tZ
Town Board Minutes 15 July 11, 1988
Karl Niklas, 1005 Danby Road agreed that the August 8th meeting
would be long and a sensitive meeting because of other issues and
it wouldn't be a good idea to distract from the issues already are
planning for the agenda. He went on to say that because the August
8th meeting is so sensitive and issues revolving around the August
8th meeting are things that the neighborhoods are concerned about,
he would suggest that a special meeting with the Planning Board and
Town Board be held before August 8th. He felt this would be
helpful because we are all neighbors, we're your neighbors, you're
our neighbors and he felt it should be a friendly discussion and an
open discussion and that is mutually constructed but he felt that
it will revolve around issues that will be publicly decided on on
August 8th.
The Board was unable to decide, at this time, upon a date viien all
would be available.
Chris Salemo from the Art's Council of Tcjtpkins County stated that
she was ccming to the Town of Ithaca as part of a series of
meetings that we attend through the County, going to all of the
Town Board meetings in the County to update you very briefly in the
activities of the Art's Council. The Art's Council is a service
organization primarily designed to provide support and education
for artists in terms of how to survive and thrive in a highly
ccnpetitive environment, however, it is also in the business of
marketing cultural activities within this County vMch is blessed
with an incredibly rich cultural endowment. She went on to say
probably the richest in the entire State outside of Manhattan and
Ulster County near Westchester. We have, however, in all that
richness a lot of challenges in how to take advantage of this in
the most profitable way both literally and figuratively. Those are
sane of the issues the Art's Council addresses all the time. We
have also the haj^y task of being the distributor of money. We
^ have State money which they are responsible for dispursing. The
decentralization program is a program by v^ich the State puts its
tax dollars back into conraunity events, comntunity projects and that
they are hitting rural rather than urban areas. We have been
funding projects in Enfield, Groton, and a considerable number in
the Town of Ithaca, Dryden and Ulysses. Other Towns have sinply
not applied for these funds, so one of the purposes of our going
fron one Town Board meeting to another is to help people to
recognize that indeed we have money and we give it away for those
who are applying with vdiat we consider a meritorial project.
She went on to say that the other part of the Art's Counci\
consists of raising money locally which is again regranted to local
County art's groups. There are two different ways that the Art's
Council actually puts money into the cultural activities of the
conmunity. The downside of that coin is that although the Art's
Council does a great deal to support other organizations, there are
very few organizations that support the Art's Council. We would
like you to look at the list of organizations in the Town of Ithaca
that are supported through the Art's Council. We ask that you
consider including the Art's Council in your budget making process
for the caning year. We would be very grateful for any donation
but she stated that she would name the figure of $500. She stated
that basically they are an organization vtoch suffers, as many
service organizations do, from chronic under funding. But one of
the things we would like the Town to recognize is that we exist to
serve you. We have been serving you in many ways, and hopefully in
return you might perhaps be able to include us in your funding.
Without an Art's Council these monies would be lost, even though
they are your tax dollars they would go to other counties if there
is no Art's Council to administer them. So this is a very
sensitive point ^en we talk to our New York State Representatives
because they are terribly concerned about our getting our fair
< >; 7
n ) U 'x J
Town Board Minutes 16 July 11, 1988
share. If you as elected representatives have any of those same
concerns, the Art's Council could use your support in order to
provide ongoing services. Last year was the first year we appealed
to Town Board's and we received donations fran two of those Boards,
we hope this year we will receive support frcm several more.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW GOVERNING
NOISE IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider the adoption of a local law governing noise in the Town of
Ithaca having been presented by the Town Clerk, the Supervisor
opened the public hearing.
Supervisor Desch reported that the local law, at this point, is not
ready and, therefore, the public hearing should be adjourned until
the August meeting.
RESOLUTIC^ NO. 191
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Cotmcilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TOwn of Ithaca hereby
adjoumes the pi±)lic hearing to consider the adoption of a local
law governing noise in the Town of Ithaca to August 8, 1988 at 8:00
P.M.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PLANNING BOARD
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING A PROPOSAL FOR THE REZONING OF EDDYDALE
FARM, EIMIRA ROAD, FROM R-30 TO MODIFIED BUSINESS "B"
1 Town Planner Susan Beeners noted that the Town Board had received
the resolution from the Planning Board concerning their
reconnendation for the rezoning of about 3.5 acres of the Eddydale
Farm M^ket to Business "B" for limited convenience itens and for
their loading dock and office space.
Supervisor Desch noted that the Planning Board at it's meeting on
June 21st, adopted a resolution recommending denial of the rezoning
request. The Supervisor noted that the resolution passed by a
count of seven for and one abstaining.
Town Planner Beeners remarked that the applicant is considering
v^ether to take his request to the Zoning Board of i^peals. She
went on to say that she was not really sure that a lead agency has
been established for this project, as of yet.
RESOLUTION NO. 192
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 7:00 P.M., on September 12, 1988 to
consider the rezoning of Eddydale Farm, Elmira Road, frcm R-30 to
Modified Business "B".
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
REPORT OF TAXI COMMITTEE
09>Z
Town Board Minutes 17 July 11, 1988
Supervisor Desch asked vAio was reporting, Councilwcroan Leary or
Town Attorney Barney?
Councilwcman Leary asked the Town Attorney how the ordinance was
coning?
Town Attorney Barney replied, it's being worked on. Richard
Ruswick is working on it, and vdien Councilwcman Leary called today
he had not started to write it yet.
I
j Councilwonan Leary remarked, basically v^at we did was set \jp four
zones. West Hill, South Hill and two on East Hill, calling than
east and northeast. Basing it on the City's model, we did rates
for within each zone and then rates v^en you cross zones and rates
v^en you cross over into the City and then go another hill. We
are calling them A, B, C, and D so as to avoid confusion with the
City vMch uses numbers. Within each zone it would be, well West
Hill and South Hill would be $4.50 for a trip within the zone since
the two East Hill zones are smaller we set that at $4.00. Within
the City, within zone rates, are $2.50 but of course they are
smaller. We put it higher to corpensate for the additional dis
tance a cab would have to travel on the average. Crossing zones,
if they are contiguous zones they would be $5.00, so if you cross
fran one zone on East Hill to another zone on East Hill it's $5.00.
If you cross from West Hill to South Hill, that's $5.00. When you
go from hill to hill, like East Hill to South Hill or East Hill to
West Hill that's $6.00. The City has a grid structure, from here
to here that this amount and this is how we set up ours. She went
on to say that the other details will basically follow the City's.
We figured we would do it on an ordinance basis first, rather than
setting up licenses. As far as v^y we picked $4.00, as a starting
point, that's how much it cost if you go from a point in the City
as soon as you cross over into the Town. So if you are coming from
downtown up to Cayuga Heights or fron Cornell to Cayuga Heights it
I starts at $4.00, so we took it at $4.00 and went up from there.
I
Supervisor Desch asked, vdiat about franchises, how do we deal with
that?
Town Attorney Barney replied, v^at we thought we would do, the law
seems to permit just adopting a regulation or an ordinance vAiich
pirohibits charging anybody, running a taxi service, from charging
rents higher than is prescribed. The feeling was initially, rather
than getting into the problems of licensing and checking on
insurance and going through all the kinds of things that would
involve upon that person in the Town, we would just try this and if
it didn't seem to provide sufficient control or we had a problem,
or problems developed that we would go into regular franchise.
This way anybody can operate a taxi in the Town of Ithaca that
wants to as long as they meet this requirement.
Councilwcman Leary added, and the rates would be posted in the
cabs.
Supervisor Desch asked if the ccnmittee expected to be rea(^ on
August 8th?
Town Attorney Barney replied that they expected to be ready by
August 8th.
Councilman McPeak asked if this charge was in addition to the
charge a rider would pay in the City, for example, if someone was
going from the Greyhound Bus Station to the Northeast, are they
going to pay $4.00 for riding in the City?
Town Board Minutes 18 July 11, 1988
Councilvonan Leary replied, no. No this wouldn't be on top of that
this is just for things originating in the Town. If he is starting
in the City and ending in the Town we can't regulate that at all.
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 193
ftotion by Coimcilwcsnan Leary; seconded hy Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
1 conduct a public hearing on August 8, 1988 at 8:15 P.M., to
I consider a local law regulating tax cab rates in the Town of
Ithaca.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE ZONING
ORDINANCE AND LOCAL LAW #3 OF 1984, REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF
PERMITTED USES ON THE LA TOURELLE PREMISES
Supervisor Desch noted that the Town Board had the action of the
Planning Board.
Town Planner Susan Beeners stated that after several hearing on La
Tourelle there were requests for a revised site plan vdiich showed
an additional tennis coiart, the permanent installation of the
inflated air structure over two tennis court, a modification of
what the future expansion of La Tourelle mi^t be. And a request
that there be the ability to have banquets and public dining use of
a banquet roan there at La Tourelle. She went on to say that the
Planning Board has made the recomiendation to the Town Board that
the Special Land Use District Local Law for this be amended to
reflect the uses that would be permitted, that she just described,
^ siabject to final approval of those uses. The Planning Board
i acknowledged that there was sotie uncertainty at the time that the
I facility was built as to v^ether or not it was going to succeed so
there were some contingencies put in as to his ability to convert
it to apartments if it did not succeed at a resort, bed and
breakfast inn. The Planning Board has acknowledged that it has
been successful and there is a market for it but there should be
strict ccanrpliance to the conditions of any site plan approval and
to the conditions of any local law pertaining to that district.
RESOLUTIOSf NO. 194
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 7:30 P.M., on September 12, 1988 to
consider amending the Zoning Ordinance and Local Law #3 of 1984,
regarding the e3q>ansion of permitted uses on the La Tourelle
prenises.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf, and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
DISCUSS PROCEDURE FOR FILLING VACANCY OJ TCWN BOARD
The following letter, addressed to the Town Clerk and dated June
' 24, 1988 frcm Raymond Bordoni is entered into the Minutes:
i
"This letter will serve to notify you and the Town Board members
that I am resigning fron the Town Board of Ithaca, New York, as of
Thursday evening, June 28, 1988."
Town Board Minutes 19 July 11, 1988
Supervisor Desch noted that there were several approaches that the
Town Board could take. One would be to notify the two political
parties of the vacancy and suggest to them that they si±mit a name
or names as they would so desire. There has also been interest
expressed independent of that apprmch, we have a letter from
Dooley Kiefer and one from Gloria Howell expressing interest in
serving in that capacity. There is also the question that might
cone into ones mind having to do with a person v^o might be
enrolled as an independent, should such a person be given the
opportunity to send a letter or esqjress interest and he stated that
; he would presume the Board would be ccmfor-fcable in doing that. The
Supervisor went on to say that he thought the first step would be
to send a letter to the first political parties and if the Board
was comfortable, with the process then to encourage anyone vdio
might not be enrolled in either the Republican or Democratic Party,
if they had an interest to send a letter ejqjressing such interest.
He felt such a request should be received by the August meeting so
that the process could be begun at that time.
Karl Niklas asked if the appointment would be just for the
remainder of this year or will it be for the remainder of the term?
Supervisor Desch replied no, in any event it will be on the ballot
this fall to ccatplete the remaining three years of Ray's term.
This appointment by this Board would be through the end of
December.
Dooley Kiefer stated that she did not understand the reccaMiendation
that was just made. It was suggested that only independent,
non-registered Democrats or Republicans should apply?
Supervisor Desch replied no, anyone vdio was an elector. They have
to be registered scmehow to vote.
1 ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMEMS
Supervisor Desch noted that there were two sets of amendments to
the Zoning Ordinance. Once has to do with the necessity to update
the ordinance with regard to the legal provision of day care
facilities in the Town of Ithaca vhich is extremely irrportant in
providing that ability in the Town, recognizing vdiat the people
have told us tonight in their memorandum. Although August is a
busy meeting he felt it was critical to move forward at least on
this one set of amendments. The Supervisor went on to say that the
second set will require a considerable amount of discussion.
Town Attorney Barney replied that his only concern was that the
other set of amendments deals with a number issues that have
surfaced over the last couple of years in terms of interpretation
of the ordinance vdiich have been threatened areas of litigation and
it's an effort to clarify a number of them. It came about, as you
know, through a lot of work with the Codes and Ordinance Ccmmittee.
They have spent a lot of time trying to put these items together,
discussing them, debating the merits. He stated that he had hoped
we might be able to at least do something with it in August. There
will be a fair amount of discussion by this Board and then it will
enable us to go back and redraft or revise as appropriate and maybe
(Mwi be in a position to finally adopt the provisions or seme of them in
September.
RESOLOTICaj NO. 195
ftotion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
Town Board Minutes 20 July 11, 1988
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a public hearing at 8:30 P.M., on August 8, 1988, to
consider a local law amending the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance
to permit day care facilities in Residential, Business and
Industrial Zones in the Town of Ithaca.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 196
I
I Motion by Supearvisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will meet and
conduct a piablic hearing at 8:45 P.M., on August 8, 1988, to
consider a local law amending the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance
to clarify various definitions and provisions.
(Desch, McPeak, Bairtholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
BUDGET AMENraMTS
RESOLUTION NO. 197
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the following budget amendments:
1) Transfer $2,500 from B1990.400 Contingency - General Fund
Outside Village to B8020.403 Planning Conference & Schools -
General Fund Outside Village for expenses of planning
conference.
^ 2) Transfer $422 from B7140.402 Parks Contractual - General Fund
Outside Village to B7140.202 Parks Equipment - General Fund
Outside Village to purchase playground equipment.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
WATER ACCOUNT REFUNDS
RESOLUTION NO. 198
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, an accurate meter reading was not received for the
Deconber 1, 1987, March 1, 1988 and June 1, 1988 billing cycle for
the property located at 203 Pine Tree Road,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $25.36 for water, $2.16 water
surchaarge, $45.47 sewer, $1.50 sewer surcharge, total refund of
$74.49 be made to Dr. Ying-Jen Chen, 8 Gerald Street, Norwich, New
York, 13815. Account Number S-927.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 199
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, Irving Lazar, 145 Forest Home Drive paid his June water
bill twice, once in June and again on the final bill.
Town Board Minutes 21 July 11, 1988
NOW THEREFXIRE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $28.65 for water, $2.86 water
surcharge, $13.70 sewer, and $2.01 sewer surcharge, total refund of
$47.22 be made to Irving Lazar, 145 Forest Hcatie Drive, Ithaca, New
York, 14850. Account Number E-377.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf, and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 200
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Coimcilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, Ivar Jonson, 205 Westview Lane paid his June water bill
twice, once in June and again on the final bill,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $20.52 for water, $2.05 water
surcharge and $1.44 sewer surcharge, total refund of $24.01 be made
to Ivar Jonson, 934 East Shore Drive, Ithaca, New York, 14850.
Accoimt Number T-3784.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTIOSr NO. 201
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, the customer at 112 Crest Lane has been misreading his
water meter,
NOW TflEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca herehy authorize a refund of $97.01 for water, $9.70 water
surcharge, $64.71 sewer and $6.80 sewer siircharge, total refund of
$178.22 be made to Paul Gallagher, 112 Crest Lane, Ithaca, New
York, 14850. Account Number E-397.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 202
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Coimcilman Bartholf,
WHEREAS, a meter reading error was made by the custcmer at 235
Renwick Drive,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby authorize a refund of $12.78 for water, $1.27 water
surcharge, $14.42 sewer and $.90 sewer surcharge, total refund of
$29.37 be made to Thonas E. Spence, 235 Renwick Drive, Ithaca New
York, 14850. Account Number T-152.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
Karl Niklas asked if his understand was correct, that a public
hearing has been set August 8th on the amendments due height of
structures and the variances related to the height of structures
and lot sizes?
Supervisor Desch replied, let me clarify that. The hearing is for
the effect of those pix)posed changes on the Zoning Ordinance. It
states, on the agenda, amendments to the Subdivision Regulations
but there are two pa2±s to it.
Ttown Board Minutes 22 July 11, 1988
Tofwn Attorney Barney remarked, item #19 really had two parts to it,
one was the day care vMch is a separate local law and then there
is a second local law vMch amends a large number of provisions of
the Zoning Ordinance relating to height, how you define hei^t, how
you define the depth of a lot, those kind of things. There are
seme parallel provisions in the Subdivision Regulations vdiich are
not adopted this Board but are adopted by the Planning Board and
the approved by this Board. So the public hearing on those will be
held at the Planning Board, in fact have been held by the Planning
Board but they deferred action on them pending \diat this Board does
' I with the Zoning Ordinance. The hearing that you are going to have
will be on the height and the depth of lots and those clari^ing
Zoning Ordinance amendments and then depending on v^at occurs with
them the Subdivision Regulations will either be amended or not but
that will have to go back to the Planning Board for formalization.
Sijpervisor Desch remarked, item #20 really has not been scheduled.
It would ccme after, depending on vtot happens.
Karl Niklas asked, in either case do those things beccme law after
a vote by the Town Board?
Sij^jervisor Desch replied, yes.
Mr. Niklas remarked, so ultimately the decision to enact, however
those amendments read, is decided here.
Supervisor Desch replied yes, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
are decided here.
Town Attorney Barney replied, the law says the Subdivision
Regulations are to be adopted by the Planning Board subject to the
approval of the Town Board. So the actual adoption occiirs at the
Planning Board level as opposed to the Zoning Ordinance vdiich is
n sort of the reverse, in that there are reccnmendations made by the
i i Planning Board to the Town Board.
Mr. Niklas ronarked, but both of those amendments involve the
redefinition of building heights, the question would be vdiether or
not, vtet would be the consequence or is it possible for the Town
Boaid to approve one redefining building heights and for the Town
Planning Board not to? In other words, \tot would happen if it's
height was accepted in one place and not in the other?
Town Attorney Barney replied, it is possible but the only way he
could think of that happening is if the Town Board adopted a Zoning
Ordinance definition of heights that was different than vtot is
presently in our Subdivision Regulations and the Planning Board
opted for seme reason not to change it's definition to conform.
The instigation of these changes to the Sxabdivision Regulations has
to start at the Planning Board level as opposed to the Zoning
Ordinance, vdiere changes occurs here. The reason we aie deferring
it is procedurally to try and make it come out the same way and
this Board being the policy setting Board has to act, or we felt
should act, on the Zoning Ordinance amendments on the definition of
heights and once they have ccaftpleted their action we will go back
to the Planning Board and say here is vhat the Town Board did, will
you now amend your Subdivision Regulations.
Mr. Niklas wondered if he should make a presentation on the hei^t
of buildings and the v^ole point was whether or not it should be
done now, or in front of the Planning Board or later on before the
Planning Board and the Tdwn Board.
I i
I i
Town Board Minutes 23 July 11, 1988
Town Attorney Barney replied, you should make your presentation at
the next Town Board meeting v^en the public hearing is bedLng held
on this issue.
PUBLIC HEARING TO CmSIDER A LOCAL LAW REOJIRING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
TO BE INSTALLED IN BUILDINGS IN TEE TOWN OF ITEiACA
Proof of posting and publication of a notice of a public hearing to
consider a local law requiring sprinkler systsns to be installed in
buildings in the Town of Ithaca having been presented by the Town
Clerk, the Supervisor opened the px±>lic hearing. The public
hearing is a continuation of the public discussion held at the
public hearing on June 13.
Supervisor Desch noted that the Board all had copies of the draft
environmental assessment. He also noted that the revised draft
local law had been distributed to the Town Board members well in
advance of the ten day requirement. He went on to say that the
staff recarmends a negative determination of environmental
significance, in Part II Explanation that you have in front of you.
Supervisor Desch asked if there was anyone present wishing to
conment in favor of or against the adoption by the Town of Ithaca
of the sprinkler local law and would be pleased to answer any
questions anyone might have. No one wished to speak. Hen then
asked if there were any questions of the environmental assessment.
It basically indicates that this is an unlisted action in terms of
air quality, service and ground water quality, etc., no adverse
impacts are expected, the same with aesthetics, agricultural,
archeological, etc., all the way down through. It is not expected
that there will be an impact on services or resources that are
available in terms of negative impact. There will be a positive
benefit in terms of reduced fire service costs, long term, reducing
^ the fire risk and saving lives.
j i Supervisor Desch asked again if any members of the public cared to
cantient on this local law? As no one present wished to carment,
the Supervisor closed the pi±>lic hearing. He asked if Board
members had any questions on the environmental assessment.
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 203
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby declares
a negative determination of environmental significance on the
proposed sprinkler local law.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
Supervisor Desch then asked if there were any questions on the
proposed local law, the revised draft that came out of the hearing
last month v^ere we took the single and two family retrofit
requirement out?
Councilwcman Leary asked, how would it look, how does a sprinkler
system look in a hone? Can you see the heads?
Supervisor Desch replied, you can see the head but normally not the
pipes.
Coxmcilwcman Leary replied okay, just the head.
Councilman M^eak ranarked, it has to be exposed or it won't work.
Town Boaid Minutes 24 July 11, 1988
Councilwcman Leary asked if anyone had checked with any landlords
about vdiat they feel about this?
Supervisor Desch replied that he had discussed it with landlords
and the Home Builders Association as well. They are ccmfortable
with it. They have had copies of the local law to look at and they
agree that now that you are permitted to use copper pipe, through
the State Code, that the systems are cost effective and reliable.
We've talked internally here with Bolton Point about the logistical
problem of vtot happens if you have a system with a lot of dead
water in it for a long period of time, so the plan would be to
require the looping so that annually the property owner could flush
that part of the system so that you constantly have clean water in
there.
Councilwcman Leary remarked, in the kind of narrative you said that
the costs per apartment would be about $600, that's apartment unit?
Si^jeirvisor Desch replied, right.
Councilwcman Leary asked if the landlords gave any indication of
how they would recoup that, will they just sort of absorb it or
would it require a rent increase?
Supervisor Desch asked, are you taking about retrofitting now
versus new?
Councilwcman Leary replied, yes.
Supervisor Desch replied, it depends on how they would choose to go
about the financing of the inp3X)vement. In other words, if they
would couple it with other improvements he would expect that they
would incorporate it in vtotever they felt they had to recover from
debt retirement from that standpoint. But the economy of scale in
doing it in an apartment house is excellent, you can spread the
cost pretty well and of course that is v^ere most of the fires are,
as we have seen with the recent fiires in the City, etc.
Councilwcman Leary asked if retrofitting cost more than
incorporating it into the new building, she stated that she would
think it would?
Supervisor Desch replied in most cases it would, depending on the
type of structure. In other words, if you have a stud and sheet
rock building you have to decide vdiether you are going to irun the
risers on the surface. If you have a hot water heating system, it
might not be any problem instead of a supply and return pipe you
might have a third sprinkler pipe running together. It depends on
the nature of the system. It's more difficult to retrofit.
Councilwcman Leary ronarked that she was thinking for an existing
apartment ccnplex, there pretty well within the service area that
we have now, the service capacity, service ability that we have.
You are thinking of future development and a greater strain on the
fire protection services but as far as vdiat is existing now
couldn't we serve those multiple housing imits without having than
retrofit?
Supeir^^isor Desch replied that he did not think so because there you
have the greater risk in terms of the type of structure. Take the
Winston Court i^partments, they are a brick veneer, wood frame type
structure. Quite a few years ago, as a matter of fact just after
they were built, he did not know if anyone remanbered, but there
was a fairly bad fire there. So those are really i^ere the fire
risk lives. You have Winston Court, Candlewick, Candlewick is
masonry but on the other hand they are higher buildings on the lake
Town Board Minutes 25 July 11, 1988
side so that your existing situation is probably less desirable
than vdiat you would, \tot Andy Frost (the Building Inspector) would
require today. He asked the Building Inspector if he wished to
make any ccmments on this? He went on to say that he would say
regardless of vdiere in the fire service area, the risk is either
there or will increase as additional multiple family housing units
are added. The Supervisor went on to say, you also have the mobile
hone situation v^ch is another area that is critical,
Councilwoman Leary asked, did we include that to?
Supervisor Desch replied that he was talking about new ones now,
retrofitting no. But if you had additional mobile homes, suppose
you had another mobile home park scroev^ere. Even though from a
code standpoint they are better, usually your exiting requirements
are not as good as you have in a single family home.
Andrew Frost, Building Inspector stated that the only thing he
anticipated initially is that there are not too many available
sprinkler installer contractors in the area. He stated that he was
told that there was only one operating out of the Liverpool area,
so he initially could see perhaps the cost and a lot of bugs
getting worked out over a course of time before people have better
expertise in the installation. There are seme plumbers perhaps v^o
have learned about sprinklers or seme new contractors vto will be
caning into the area by spring construction. He went on to say
that he thought, the Supervisor made a ccmment that plastic pipe
was now approved.
Si:?)ervisor Desch replied, plastic pipe is approved but that's
really your department but that he was not yet personally convinced
that by the time you use the heavy schedule pipe that you are
really going to be ahead. But he was will willing to try to be
convinced.
. , The Building Inspector replied that that was his sentiment, and in
the NFPA volurans of '84 they don't list plastic, however, the 1986
addition allows for two types of plastic pipe,
Councilwonan Leary stated that she still wished the multiple WDuld
be left out of the retrofitting.
Supervisor Desch replied that he thought it was a pretty critical
fire risk area as we have seen in the City and its's going to be
the same in the Town.
George Frantz, Assistant Planner stated that he was downtown about
6:20 A. M., the day of the Ccramon Ground fire and he felt one
advantage of retrofitting multiple dwellings although we are not
talking about the types of buildings that Cannon Ground was.
However, the Cormon Ground fire really stretched the fire fighting
capacity of the County. You had the City of Ithaca aerial ladder
in the front, you had five City of Ithaca pumpers around there.
You had the Village of Lansing or Town of Lansing aerial ladder
behind trying to fi^t that fire. Later that morning there was a
Village of Cayuga Heists or Village of Dryden fire truck standing
by in the Ithaca City Fire Department so in effect he coiald see
vAiere maybe a sprinkler systen could Jcnock the fire down before it
gets out of control and again maybe reduce the requirement of two
aerial ladders to one aerial ladder.
Supervisor Desch replied, you have several recent cases. You have
the fatality on Aurora Street vMch would have been assuredly
prevented if there was a sprinkler system in that building. You
have the church in Watkins Glen v^ch was totally destroyed. If
you had a sprinkler system there, sprinkler systems in churches are
Tcfwn Board Minutes 26 July 11, 1988
not the easiest or least expensive things to put in but churches
are not cheap to build either. Then you have the one down on the
West End of the City and then another house again on Aurora Street
which was apparently involved in sane fireworks. Again, a
sprinkler systan would have limited the damage to an area less than
the size of this roan, even recognizing there would be a little bit
of water damage. Many people don't realize that vhen you have a
sprinkler go off, the volume of water is extensive but it's only
one head so it puts the fire out before it gets a chance to spread.
Mrs. Whitcanb stated that she would like to ask sanething just for
clarification. You talked about single family versus multiple
dwellings, vdiat about townhouses v^ere they are essentially single
family units but there may be four or five in a building, will they
cane under this retrofit?
Supervisor Desch replied, it depends on the vintage. You have a
fire wall separation there, a two hour wall requirement at this
point. Probably in that case we are talking about future new units
that would be added.
Coimcilwonan Leary asked if any day care people have been asked
about this?
Marge Dillon, Director of the day care conference raised her hand.
She went on to say that she had a couple of ccninents, one is that
it says families that take care of more than seven childi^. There
are several kinds including the day care, one cut off point is
eight not seven so you may just want to change that to keep things
clear in the publics mind. A family day care can serve up to eight
and then between eight and fourteen is vtot is called a group
family day care, that takes place in a hane also but with two
people. So you may want to, just for clarity change the number
frcm seven to eight. She went on to say that her question about
the group family day care v^ch is the one you have to retrofit is
that if she understands her reading of it they have to ten years
to fix their hanes that way. What about if they are on a well, she
stated that she did not understand plumbing very well, how does
that work?
Supervisor Desch replied that that wculd work the same way. The
difference woxild be that you would have a pressure tank that would
have a volume sufficient to operate probably more than one head,
probably two or three heads in the event you had a fire that was in
a comer away from where the head was.
Ms. Dillon remarked, but that would add to the cost and a lot of
day care facilities are in older, larger hanes because those are
the ones that can contain the people.
Supervisor Desch replied, that he thought that in long term we
would try to discourage day care in that kind of a situation. We
would try to encourage it to be in a water supply area as much as
we could. But then again, the Town is extending water to critical
areas v^ere ground water is a problem anyway.
Ms. Dillon asked if there was any thought to helping group family
day care hanes with the initial cost of putting that in? Because
the square foot of a hane, they would have to do the v^ole hane
sinply because they had child care in it. Is there any sense that
there could be a loan program within the Tcwn to help them get
going? Day care is more than a business. Its a service too and
needs to develop.
Supervisor Desch replied that it would be very helpful if Ms.
Dillon would write the Boaid a letter in that regard. It is
98J
Town Board Minutes 27 July 11, 1988
sonething we could take up, however, he was not quite sure how the
Board would do it.
Town Attorney Barney noted that he was not clear and asked if Ms.
Dillon was talking about new hones or existing homes?
Ms. Dillon replied, existing homes. The time in vMch it takes
than to get going. They may want to do it sooner and she was
questioning that they might want to help with the cost. That is
the concern.
Councilwonan Leary asked Ms. Dillon if she foresaw any real problem
with that?
Ms. Dillon replied yes, that she saw a problem but she found it
hard to argue against because she saw the safety measures in it.
Anything that costs or requires more regulations is a disincentive
for people to become regulated so viiat we may do is keep people
landerground supplying care as they are now and, therefore, you have
even less controls, you don't even know if they have two exits or a
fire extinguisher. The harder you make it for them to come
forward, the more difficult it is to recognize them. However, she
stated that she was not prepared to say that it isn't a good thing
to have eventually because she felt fourteen children deserve a
degree of safety.
Supervisor Desch remarked that as you know, statistics are very
indicative when it comes to fatality rates of young children.
Ms. Dillon replied that she thought that if maybe there was the
existence of a loan program to offset the cost that may help it.
But it probably will serve as a disincentive initially.
Supervisor Desch remarked, on the question of seven versus eight he
thought that back to the subject of comprehensive planning and
levels of development he thought it was critical to get something
on the record with the number of projects that are coming forward,
Cornell for exairple, Cornell Quarters, it was very impoortant in a
conraunity to keep that fire risk suppressed and to require projects
like Cornell Quarters to be sprinklered, so he would hope that the
Board could get this on the books and make any changes at a later
date.
LOCAL LAW NO. 7 - 1988
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
LOCAL LAW NO. 7 " 1988
A LOCAL LAW REQUIRING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TO BE INSTALLED IN
BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA
Section 1. Applicability. This local law shall apply to all parts
of the Town of Ithaca outside the Village of Cayuga Heights.
Section 2. Definition, "improved sprinkler system" shall mean a
sprinkler syston approved by the New York Board of Fire
Underwriters the National Fire Protection Association, or other
nationally recognized approval organization as determined by the
Town Building Inspector, vdiich approval shall have been obtained
prior to installation of this system. Such syston, to be approved,
shall ireet all standards of installation and operation as
pirescribed by such approval bodies and the manufacturer of the
system. Any such installation and the operation thereof shall be
Town Board Minutes 28 July 11, 1988
also subject to the approval of the Town of Ithaca Building
Inspector.
Section 3. New buildings required to have sprinkler systens. All
classifications of buildings listed below, viiich buildings are
constructed after the effective date of this ordinance, shall be
required to have approved sprinkler systems installed and
operational:
( 1) Multiple dwellings (except no system will be required in
enclosed closets 50 square feet or less in area and in
bathrooms).
( 2
( 3
( 4
( 5
( 6
( 7
( 8
( 9
(10
(11
(12
(13
(14
(15
(16
(17
(18
(19
(20
(21
(22
(23
(24
(25
(26
(27
Office buildings.
Administrative buildings.
Bank buildings.
Professional buildings.
Retail and professional service buildings (mercantile).
Industrial buildings.
Storage buildings.
Amusement park buildings.
Armories.
Ari: galleries.
Assembly halls.
Auditoriums.
Bathhouses.
Bowling alleys.
Clubrooms.
Coliseums and stadiums.
Courtrocms and buildings.
Dance halls.
Exhibition halls or buildings.
Gymnasiums.
Indoor tennis courts or other sport courts.
Lecture halls.
Libraries.
Lodge halls or rocms.
Hotels.
Motels.
06T
Town Board Minutes 29 July 11, 1988
n
I I
(28) Lodging and boarding houses (inclxading bed and breakfast
establishments).
(29) Motion-pic±ure theaters.
(30) Museums.
(31) Nightclubs.
(32) Recreation centers.
(33) Restaurants.
(34) Skating rinks.
(35) Theaters.
(36) Churches, synagogues and similar places of worship.
(37) Schools, colleges and similar places of education
including dormitories.
(38) Outpatient clinics.
(39) Day-care centers.
(40) Any building in vdiich child care is provided for any
number of children for hire.
(41) Clinics.
(42) Hospitals.
(43) Infirmaries.
(44) Sanatoriums.
(45) Boathouses.
(46) Nursing hones.
(47) Nightclubs.
(48) Gror^) hones.
(49) Halfway houses.
(50) One and two family dwellings (except that no syston will
be required in closets fifty (50) square feet or less in
area or in bathrooms or in any unheated areas).
(51) Any other buildings the use of v^ch includes regular
overnight sleeping by human occupants.
Section 4. Existing buildings required to install sprinkler
systems. Existing buildings as set forth below v^ch do not
contain approved sprinkler systems on the effective date of this
local law shall be required to obtain and install approved
sprinkler systems within ten years frcm the effective date of this
ordinance.
( 1) Hotels.
( 2) Motels.
Town Board Minutes 30 July 11, 1988
( 3) Lodging and boarding houses (including bed and breakfast
facilities).
(■ 4) Qiild-caring institutions other than one or two-family
hones v^ere care is provided for seven or more children.
( 5) Hospitals.
( 6) Infirmaries.
( 7) Sanatoriuras.
( 8) Nursing hones.
( 9) Nightclubs.
(10) Public restaurants.
(11) Any building in vdiich child care is provided for seven or
more children for hire.
(12) Group hones.
(13) Halfway houses.
(14) Dormitories.
(15) Multiple dwellings (except systems will not be required
in enclosed closets 50 square feet or less in area and in
bathrooms).
Section 5. Building Permit.
(a) No building permit shall be issued for the construction
of any new building, structure or portion required to have an
approved sprinkler system pursuant to this ordinance unless an
approved sprinkler syston is included in the plans for such
construction submitted for the building permit.
(b) No building permit shall be issued for the alteration,
enlargement or modification of any building existing on the
effective date of this ordinance that is required to have an
approved sprinkler system installed within ten years of the date of
this ordinance unless an approved sprinkler system is included in
the plans for such alteration, enlargement or modification.
Section 6. Certificate of Occupancy. No certificate of occupancy
shall be issued for occi:5)ancy or use of any building, structure, or
portion thereof, required to have an approved sprinkler syston
unless such system is installed, inspected, tested and approved to
the satisfaction of the Town of Ithaca Building Inspector.
Section 7. Exception. Notwithstanding the terms of this ordinance
sprinklers shall not be required to be installed in spaces vAiere
the discharge of water would be hazardous. In such places, other
fire-extinguishing equipment approved by the New York Board of Fire
Underwriters, National Fire Protection Association or other nation
ally recognized approval organization and by the Town of Ithaca
Building Inspector shall be provided.
Section 8. Penalties.
Town Board Minutes 31 July 11, 1988
(a) Failxire to ccnply with any provision of this local law
shall be deonned a violation and the violator shall be liable for a
fine up to $100.00, or iirprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both,
and each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate
violation. The Building Inspector is hereby authorized to issue an
appearance ticket for any violation of this law pursuant to the
Town of Ithaca Local Law No. 1 of 1979 and any successor statutes.
(b) An action or proceeding in the name of the Town of Ithaca
may be ccaiinenced in any court of carpetent jurisdiction to ccnpel
c<3tpliance with or restrain by injimction the violation of any
provision of this local law, or to vacate the occupancy or building
in the case of imminent danger to life or property. Such remedy
shall be in addition to penalties otherwise prescribed by law.
Section 9. Variances.
(a) Where practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship may
result from enforcenent of the strict letter of any provision of
this local law applications for variances consistent with the
spirit of this local law may be made to and action upon by the
Zoning Board of i^peals of the Town of Ithaca. The Board is
empowered to grant a variance when the Board has found
( i) The application of the strict letter of this local
law would create a practical difficulty or
unnecessary hardship for the applicant.
(ii) The ccmmission of an approved sprinkler system fron
all or part of a building will not significantly
jeopairdize human life.
(b) In granting any variances the Zoning Board of ^^peals may
inpose such conditions as such Board may reasonably determine
necessary to mitigate the consequences of the CGramission of an
approved sprinkler system from all or any part of a building,
including the requirement that alternative forms of fire
extinguishing equipment be provided or a requirenent of additional
alarms or other devices to ameliorate the effects of having no
sprinkler systems.
Section 10. Partial invalidity. If any section of this local law
shall be held unconstitutional, invalid, or ineffective, in whole
or in part, such determination shall not be deemed to affect,
inpair or invalidate the remainder thereof.
Section 11. Administration. The requirements set forth in this
local law shall be in addition and shall supplement the
requirements set forth in Local Law No. 14 for the year 1987. The
plans, specifications, rating body approvals and other naterials
required by the Building Inspector in conjunction with an
application for a building permit pursuant to said laws and
pursuant to the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance.
Section 12. Effective date. This local law shall take effect
immediately.
Svpervisor Desch called for a roll call vote.
Councilman Bartholf Voting Aye
Town Board Minutes 32 July 11, 1988
Councilwcsnan Leaory Voting Aye
Coimcilman NfcPeak Voting Aye
Supeirvisor Desch Voting Aye
Local Law No. 7 - 1988 was thereupon declared duly adopted.
TEMPORARy HIGHWAY LABORER
RESOLUTIOSr NO. 204
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WHEREAS, there is an iitinediate need in the Highway Department for a
laborer, and
WHEREAS, due to the retirement of a highway employee there are
sufficient funds to pay the additional laborer,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby appoint Fred Notebocm as a tenporary, full-time
highway laborer at $5.50 per hour. Such temporary appointment to
be effective June 27,1988, for a period of six months. At the end
of the sic-month period the appointment may or may not beccane
permanent depending on the needs of the Highway Depairfcment as
determined by the Hi^way Superintendent, and
BE IT FURTEffiR RESOLVED, that Mr. Notebocm is inraediately eligible
for all fringe benefits normally accorded a permanent, full-time
ertployee.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
HIGHWAY DEPARIMEISiT PROMOTION AND SALARY SCALE
Sx:pervisor Desch stated that the Hi^way Superintendent made a
reccsimendation to the Personnel Cormittee having to do with prcmo-
tional requiroments for Highway enployees. The Personnel Ccmmittee
reviewed it in detail and submits it for your approval.
Councilman McPeak noted a problem before with lost licenses. He
asked if this was covered in this proposal?
Supervisor Desch replied, it's covered in the job description.
Highway Superintendent John Ozolins remarked, this is just
basically how does a get frcm laborer to a MEO.
RESOLUTION ND. 205
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilwcman Leary,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the Town of Ithaca Highway Department Pranotion Requirements and
salary scale as presented by the Highway Superintendent. (Copy
attached to the minutes).
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none)
AUTHORIZE JUSTICE WAT.T.FJQBECK TO AITEND ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE
RESOLUTION NO. 206
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilwcman Leary,
Tcwn Board Minutes 33 July 11, 1988
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize Justice ^ferton Wallenbeck to attend the Office of Court
Administration Advanced Training Course at St. Lawrence University,
Canton, New York, July 24, 25, and 26, 1988
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
TEMPORARY HIOIWAY DEPAR!IMENT CLERICAL POSITIOJ
Si:5)ervisor Desch stated that this person would work in the Highway
Department probably for a period of six months until such time as
we fill the vacancy and are back to full strength in the financial
department. He went on to say that the Personnel Committee has
reccaimended a salary range of from $6.00 to $8.00 per hour. We are
looking for someone with computing skills, the Highway Department
computer has arrived.
Coimcilwomian Leary stated that again, she felt the starting range
should be a little bit higher than $6.00, $6.50. After all you
have a hi^way laborer at $5.50 and this person has computer skills
and everything and she felt $1.00 more than a beginning laborer is
not asking too much.
Councilman McPeak remarked, particularly because this person has to
have some expertise comdng to the job.
Councilwcmian Leary agreed with Councilman McPeak.
Supervisor Desch replied that the Personnel Ccmmittee had discussed
had discussed this at sostie length.
The Highway Superintendent stated that he felt the range was a
decent range of $6.00 to $8.00.
Councilman McPeak remarked just because the low range is $6.00
doesn't mean we have to pay just $6.00.
Supervisor Desch suggested that the Board try it and then if they
don't get any applicants, we could readvertise at $6.50.
Councilvonan Leary replied, that would be a ccmprondse. As a
matter of principal she felt it should be a little bit higher than
that on the bottcm range because as she had pointed out, a
secretary is very hard to find in this area, especially with
ccmputer skills.
RESOLUTION NO. 207
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
WHEREAS, due to the resignation of the Assistant Budget Offi
cer/Personnel Meager there is a need for Patricia Punger to work
full-time in the accounting department in the Town Hall, and
WHEREAS, this would leave a vacancy in the Highway Department for a
part-time administrative assistant,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby approve the hiring of a temporary part-time
administrative assistant for the Highway Department for a period of
six months to allow time to access the staffing needs in the
Accounting Department. Salary range to be $6.00 - $8.00/hour, and
Town Board Minutes 34 July 11, 1988
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that if no applications are received the
position will be readvertised at a salary range of $6.50 to
$8.00/ho\ir.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
SALARY INCREASE FOR SUPERVISOR'S BOOKKEEPER
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 208
Jtotion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
WEIEREAS, the personnel cormittee agreed to review the salary of the
Supervisor's Bookkeeper in July and consider a salary increase, and
WHEREAS, the comnittee did review the salary for this position at
their meeting on July 6, 1988, and does reccnmend a salary increase
of $500 (v^ich falls within the approved salairy range of $21,000 -
$25,000 for this position),
NCW TflEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Ithaca hereby approve the salary increase frcm $22,100 to
$22,600/year for Sally Alario, effective July 1, 1988.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
FINANCIAL REPORT
RESOLUTION NO. 209
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Baitholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve
the June Financial Report as presented.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
TOWN OF ITHACA WARRANTS
Town Engineer Robert Flumerfelt stated that he had three additional
pay requests from contractors. Vacri Construction Company on Phase
I of the water and sewer project, a requisition for $110,346.78.
Rizzo Construction a requisition for $289,788.48 and a final
payment for James L. Lewis Heating and Plumbing Contractor on the
Town Highway Department heating contract, their 5% retainage in the
amount of $925.00.
RESOLUTION NO. 210
Jtotion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Tcwn Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the payment of $925.00 to James L. Lewis Heating and
Plimibing Contractor, their 5% retainage fee, a final payment.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf, and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 211
Motion by Councilman Bartholf; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
Town Board Minutes 35 July 11, 1988
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby
authorize the payment of $289,788.48 to Rizzo Construction Company
for 85% conpletion of the water and sewer extensions on Taughannock
Boulevard.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTIOJ NO. 212
Motion by Councilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TOwn of Ithaca hereby
authorize the payment of $110,346.78 to Vacri Construction Ccnpany
for 90% catpletion of the water and sewer extension on Phase I.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLDTIOJ NO. 213
Motion by Coimcilman McPeak; seconded by Councilman Bartholf,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves
the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated July 11, 1988, in the following
amounts:
General Fund - Town Wide $ 47,523.68
General Fund - Outside Village $ 26,877.94
Highway Fund $ 44,961.11
Water & Sewer Fund $420,759.04
Fire Protection Fund $283,969.65
Capital Projects Fund $346,051.51
Lighting District Fund $ 449.83
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
BOLTON POINT WARRANTS
RESOLUTIC^ NO. 214
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Bolton Point Warrants dated July 11, 1988, in
the Operating Account are hereby approved in the amoimt of
$69,278.09 after review and upon the recommendation of the Southern
Cayuga Lake Intennunicipal Water Conmission, they are in order for
payment.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION RURAL RESOURCES SURVEY RESPONSE (CDBG)
Si:pervisor Desch stated that this was really for the Board's
information and if the Board is ccmfortable with it he will just
send it in. He stated that it did not require Board action. There
were no questions from Board members.
ENCROACHMENT
Town Attorney John Barney reported that a problem has ccme rp
rather suddenly, an encroachment at 228 Forest Home Drive. He went
on to say he received a call today from an attorney vho wants to
Town Board Minutes 36 July 11, 1988
close on a piece of property v^ich has a house and garage that
encroaches on Town property. The house may encroach as much as
four feet and the garage about a foot to a foot and a half on the
highway right-of-way line on Forest Hcme Drive.
Supervisor Desch noted, that this was at the bend in the road.
Town Attorney Barney replied yes. Once in the past, a lease was
entered into with the people authorizing them to lease the space
from the Town for the encroachment for only so long a period of
time as the builds stand. Once the builds cane down the lease
terminates. We had quite an involved set of hearing and then the
resolution and he felt he would probably want to go through
scroething a little more formal but on the other hand the people
probably want to close and unless they get sane kind of a feeling
as to vdiether this Board would consider either a lease agreement or
an encroachment agreement \f^ere by these building could continue to
exist as they are presently located.
Supervisor Desch noted that the one we did before was almost across
the street. He then asked the Town Attorney if he had any negative
feelings?
Town Attorney Barney replied no, aside from the fact that he had
not been up there and looked and a four foot encroachment is a
little more than we had the last time. He thought the other
encroachment was only two feet. The house has been there long
before the road became a Town of Ithaca road. He went on to say
that the problem was that the person has an unmarketable title with
the house sticking out in the road like that.
RESOLUTION NO. 215
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the TOwn Board of the Town of Ithaca authorize the
Supervisor, the Town Attorney and the Town Engineer to come up with
appropriate documentation to authorize a continuation of the
encroachment of the building at 228 Forest Hone Drive, so long as
they stand in their present form.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTION NO. 216
Motion by Sxapervisor Desch; seconded by Councilwcman Leary,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the TOwn of Ithaca hereby move
into Executive Session to discuss possible pending litigation.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
RESOLUTION NO. 217
Motion by Supervisor Desch; seconded by Councilman McPeak,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby move
back into Open Session.
(Desch, McPeak, Bartholf and Leary voting Aye. Nays - none).
Tcfwn Board Minutes 37 July 11, 1988
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was duly adjourned.
p
Town Clerk
ArnoAviT or nrtucArios
The Ithaca Journal
^tzdt of
.yAs^-.S being dulv SN\*om, deposes
and s£>'s, thai he resides in Ithaca, Count>' and state aforesaid and
Axt be jj
of Thz Ithaca, Journal a public DevsTpaper printed and published
in Ithaca aforesaid, and that a notice, of which the annexed is a true
Dop>', ^*as published in said paper
and that the first publication of said notice was on the .cQ.^T.
day of IQ-.S-S*.
and s>^'orD to before me, this
19.^11
Notary Public.
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 4654410
Qualified in Tompkins County^^
Commission expires May 31,19t¥%/
, Pl^ T^ IsiOte^
I n we Town -.icrf•
I fthdcd .will'nieet and co'nduct'';
I o!,P*'blic hearing on July-^1 If.f 1968, at 7:00 P.M.,'; at'the*'.
)" Jown Hall, n 126 East Seneca
. - Street. Ithaca/ New York;- .to
i. odoption of 6 16**'.. cal law goyemrng riolse in the
, .Town of Ithdcb and will dt this
time near all persons' in favor i
. of or opppsea tor'the ddbplion
- .of sold Ipicdl low. . '
June t ^■31
"ri"-
ATFtDAVlT or nrrucATios
The Ithaca Journal
^izdz xxf ^nxk, TDnxnjjfem® dnimfy, 9tj:
— bemg duly r«'om, deposes
and sa)^. thai be resides in Ithaca. Count>' and state aforesaid and
that he is ...jCL.I.OCtL
of The Ithaca Journai. a public De>*'spapei printed and pmblisbed
in Ithaca-aforesaid, and that a notice, of which the annexed is a true
published in said p&p>er
ud that the first pubhcation of said notice was on the
day of 19...S£
Su^cnbed and sw'om to before me, this . - day
JEAN FORD
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 4654410
Qualified in Tompiins County --
"-omrarssion expires May 31,
N'otary Public.
S:>C sa
Vi^iS.TOWN OFilTHACA ijjM
NOTICE OF-iPUBUC HEARIN^
PIEASE TAKE ttotlCT: thdt fhe^
Jthoca ,wlli jneeti>n4 cbn^uct-tbiibllgCK&HHrSil Julyi 1
IWB, at 7:30 rP.AA.;' afah^;
Town, HoU. ;126" fost iSbijbc^^
Street, .Ithdca',' NeW 'YoVk/.' ie>a
consider the odbptiohpf qTo^*
col low requiring sprinkler sys-f-
terns to be instolled 'in bund-V.
ings in.the Town.of Ithqcd idnd -
/illwill dt.this time hear oil per ,
sons In foyor of or opposed to'^.
the adoption of said locql.fqy/!
JopijH' SWyraftpd
1 .;Towi^ Qe.rk ••
-jlT -.fi-. ■■■-.«