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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1971-04-12TOWN OP ITHACA REGULAR MEETING APRIL 12, 1971 At the Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, " Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town Offices at I08 East Green street, Ithaca, New-York..^on the 12th day of lApril, 1971, - at;5:00 p.m. , thei^S were ;•? - ' . '• •' p PRESENT: ^^alter J. Schwan, Supervisor Noe^ Desch, Councilman Andrew W. McElwee. Councilman Robert N« Powers, Councilman ALSO PRESENT: James V. Buyoucos, Town Attorney -.v. David Cowan, Zoning Officer Marion Morey, Highway Superintendent Peter K. Francese, Planning Consultant Mrs. Barbara Holeomb, Chairman, Planning Board / William Norton Vincent Pranciamone Members of Radio, TV, and press ABSENT: Councilman Victor DelRosso Supervisor Schwan called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. APPROVAL OP MINUTES Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 8, 1971 be approve^ s^.s presented. p* * . • Unanimously carried. DISTRIBUTION OP TOWN BOARD MINUTES There was brief discussion about the distribution of the minutes of the Town Board meetings. The question was raised whether the distribution should be extended to persons representing various groups. It was the feeling of the Board that such distribution could too easily get out of hand with no way of drawing the line between who should and who should not receive mailed copies. It was decided that the minutes would be distributed, as in the past, only to Town Board members, members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and members of the Planning Board. All other interested parties could have a copy of the minutes by picking them up in person at the Town Office. COMMUNICATIONS Supervisor Schwan read a letter from Ned Boice, Chief, Cayuga Heights Pire Department, dated March 12, I97I. Mr. Boice expressed the concern of the Pire Council over the posted limits on the brldgeo ^ in Forest Home which prohibit their 10 and 12-ton apparatus from using the bridges. They have to use other routes which increase response time to a fire to an unacceptable level. To handle the -situation they have made temporary arrangements with the Ithaca Pire Department and the Varna Pire Department to cover certain areas. Mr. Boice said the Pire Council cannot continue to impose on others, and requested that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca give some attention to the matter of the Forest Home bridges and to consider contracts with departments which are able to respond in a more reasonable time for the area which the Cayuga Heights Fire Department cannot directly respond to because of the posted bridges. Supervisor Schwan noted that since we have already signed contracts with the City of Ithaca Pire Department and with the Village of Cayuga Heights, it did not appear that for the current year at least the Town of Ithaca could make a change. However, serious thought will be given to this matter when considering renewal of fire con tracts next year. Meantime, Supervisor Schwan appointed a committee n 2 -April 12, 1971 I I i I of three --Councilman Desch, Councilman McElwee, and Councilman Powers (with Councilman Desch as Chairman) to look into this whole Town^Lard/^^*^^^ recommendations at a future meeting of the CONSOLIDATION STUDY n thflowf of a possible study of consolidation ofL,' !- wltrthf Village of Cayuga Heights funds that such a study might be funded with Federal^ Village ^ cLim» whether the Town of Ithaca, the^tliaca might be willing to the Ldera? pending possible reimbursement from no such fund! indicated that it appeard that Countv o made available to municipalities below theSupervisor Schwan put the question: Is there any in paying its sharfof afelt that anywhere between $ao,000 and fitO.OOO? The Board^ew of the fLt to expend monies for such a study indi^ctlons? " already commited in so many other ' SPLITTING ELECTION DISTRICT NO, 6 Msotvpn^ seconded by Councilman Desch,MSOLVm, that Election District No. 6 in the Town of Ithaca be and with the division line being the Warren Road,and with the new district being designated as Election District No. Unanimously carried, prepare and forward to the Tompkins County Board ing district District No. 9 and the remain- APPQINTMRWT H^nrwn^ seconded by Councilman McElwee,N^ vlfk' enhw? ^ C. Christiansen, 1212 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca,rif t'O confirmation by the Common Council of the City V® sPPointed as a representative of the Town of Ithaca onIthaca Youth Bureau Advisory Board in lieu of Councilman Desch. Unanimously carried. NORTHEAST DRAINAGE PROBLEMS The run-off problem in the Northeast was discussed briefly, Super- would take this matter up in moredetail with Mr• James Dunlap of Lozier Engineers and have pome-thing to report at the next regular meeting of the Town Doard. APPOINIMENT Supervisor Schwan read a recommendation^ from the Planning Board with respect to hiring an assistant for the Town Zoning Officer, David Cowan. There are funds available in the.budget for this and the Town Board felt that Mr. Cowan could use the assistance. Motion by Councilman McElwee; seconded by Supervisor Schwan, RESOLVED, that the Town' Board of the Town of Ithaca establish the part-time position of.Assistant to th6 Zoning Officer as an interim solution to help meet the growing demands for service from our part- time Zoning Officer in light of the increasing need for zoning viola tion control and building supervision and in anticipation of a period . of expanded activity when the new Zoning Ordinance is enacted; that this assistant shall carry Out investigations and on-the-site inspec tions and such other routine duties as thie Zoning Officer may assign to him, all under the direction and supervision of the Zoning Officer; that the assistant to the Zoning Officer shall not have the responsi bility for decision making, but rather for information gathering and 20 - 3 - April 12, 1971 reporting; that this position shall be for approximately 10 hours per week at ..an hourly rate of $'2;iL50 to $3 ,00 with an additional pay ment of 10 cents per mile for transportation reimbursefl|ent when using a private car on the job. Unanimously carried. The screening of applications was left to Mr. Cowan, the Zoriing Officer, ;^ho will make e*. recommendation to the Town Board at the next/ meeting. v APPOINTMENT n Upon recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals the following appointment;- was made: Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that Mr. Jack Hewett be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mr. Anselm Soyring, said appointment to be effective immediately. Unanimously carried. SCHOOL WALKWAYS Councilman Powers broached the subject of walkways for children in the Northeast to the Junior High School there. It appears that suf ficient and satisfactory arrangement will be made in this area. How ever this raised the same question for children who must walk along East Shore Drive for the other Junior High School now under construc tion. Walking along this State highway would seem to be a dangerous situation. Therefore, Supervisor Schwan advised Peter Francese, Planning Consultant, to get together with Mr, Egner and Mr. Banner to look into this situation and see what provisions, if any, have been made in this respect, Mr, Francese said he would look into this matter and report back to the Board. BURLEIGH DRIVE AND SANDRA PLACE n Mr. William Norton, speaking on behalf- of himself and other residents in the Burleigh Drive and Sandra Place Area, complained of the situa tion there. He said (1) there is a dust problem, (2) Burleigh Drive is being used as a "drag strip" and minibike race strip, (3) there is no control of Burleigh Drive, no stop signs, no regulations, and (4) no lights (street lights). Supervisor Schwan said insofar as the road is concerned it will be resurfaced. Mr. Morey concurred in this. Insofar as controlling speed is concerned. Supervisor Schwan felt that this is another indication of the need for a Town constabie. Mr. Buyoucos said this would be a "policemsui" since Ithaca is a Town • of the first class,., it was suggested that Mr. Norton write a letter to the Town Board setting forth the dani^ers of the area so that such a letter could be made a part of an application for extension of area speed limits. Supervisor Schwan said he would contact Assemblywoman* Constance E. Cook with regard to our inability to -est-ablish speed f^\ limits on interior Town roads, which he said ought to be the pre rogative of the Town Board. Mr. Norton asked that the area in question be barricaded. Since the Town does not have the right to do this, it m was suggested that the Town put up signs on Burleigh Drive and Sandra Place indicating that these are not Town roads. Mr. Morey, Highway Superintendent, said he would see that this is done. JOINT MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD AND TOWN BOARD There will be a joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Town Board on April 26, 1971 in regard to the new Zoning Ordinance, at 7:30 p.m. 21 - ^ - April 12, 1971 OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE VILLAGE AND TOWN CONTROL OVER PLANNING AND ZONING Board a communication from the Association (an association of 63 m viilafe Lrt legislation which would eliminate n we conta^ planning and zoning, which urged that ^ ' Leeislatora ^ residents write to our State — Th +K ? i opposing T^gorously these legislative proposals,Senate Bill 9028 which was introduced last year, con- nronnafia h P^'oposals, was rejected in toto. However, these same content Lara na? Peen re-introduced Tn sljTseparate bills, whosethrough on a ni2n effort to get these measures jfAoftv ieaa V? basis. (The Bills in question are Senate Bill anrt Qar, + ^^327, Senate Bill #532h. Assembly Bill #5930: cated that MO d V't ^®s®®P^y #^^25.) Supervisor Schwan indi-l^tho,.?+ + do not know what is in these bills and requested the Town of TthL"^^ f letter to the Legislators indicating that the^d thf Roand o strongly opposed to this legislation. He felt, S^thonft^ attempt to provide mor4n mentaf Tha n level at the expense of towns would be detri- ,u ^® should proceed to indicate the Town'sstrong opposition to this legislation. MOSQUITO CONTROT, Rnnndai®?'" ®®P''snjread a letter from Mr. R. P. Pendleton of the oonfio? respect to the renewal of the mosquito price of Sooo^n h Ithaca; the terms, treatments, andfaif MO aha ?d 2,. ® '^® ®®®® ®® those of last year. The Board "-I +a M.. n 22 2 continue with this program, with the further request! _„a d'...? 2 i®^®2 P® Include in his program the Eastern Heights1 rleigh Drive area, and other areas as they are developed. McElwee; seconded by Councilman Powers,KhbOLVED, th^ the Town of Ithaca renew with Mr. Pendleton, Sunrise 5erv3.ce, the mosquito control program for the Town of Ithaca lor "cnis year under the same terms, treatments, and price of $900.00, as last year, with the added proviso that Mr. Pendleton include in his service the Eastern Heights and Burleigh Drive areas. Unanimously carried. PERFORMANCE BY SUBDIVIDERS There was discussion of some method to insure performance by sub- dividers . Motion by Supervisor Schwan^ seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that we amend our Town road specifications to requi r« that in all future subdivisions, the sub-divider at the point when he submits the deed of a road to the Town of Ithaca for acceptanoi-i will establish at a beuik an escrow account of $1,500 per thousand feet of road which will guarantee the compiet-ion of -the road and related work.,r ^ Unanimously carried. I J After some further discussion, it was felt that the matter might be approached in a different manner than as indicated in the foregoing motion. Therefore, Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that the foregoing motion with respect to an escrow account being established by sub-dividers be rescinded. Unanimously carried. As an alternative, 'it was suggested that Mr. Peter Prancese, Planning Consultant, be assigned the task of securing a copy of a model ordi nance, used by other towns, which would set up requirements for 22 - "5 - April 12, 1971 sub-dividers which would .guarantee to the Town faithful performance to completion of work, including; required roads, proper finishing of roads according to town- specifications, water and sewer services on lots fronting .on such roadways, establishment of an Escrow account at a bank, tim^ limits for completing work, etc. Mr, Francese said he would fol3^w up on this and have such a model ordinance for con sideration by- the Board at its next regular meeting. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS 'Motion by Councilman McElwee; seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that the warrants dated April 12, 1971, in the following founts, be paid: General Fund $ 96,999.16 Highway Fund 34,054.31 ^ Unanimously carried. ADJOURMENT The meeting was adjourned to a tentative meeting on April 19, 1971, at 5:00 p.m. o , n Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk n n