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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1973-06-11TOWN OP ITHACA REGULAR BOARD MEETING June 11, 1973 At a Regular Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at 108 East Green Street, IthacaNew York, on the 11th day of June, 1973, at SsOO poiao, there were PRESENT ABSENT; ALSO PRESENT Walter J, SchWeui, Supervisor NOel Desch, Councilman Victor Del Rdsso, Councilman Robert N. powers. Councilman Andrew W. McElwee, Councilman James Vo BuyoUcos, Town Attorney Barbara Holcomb, Chairman, Planning Board Peter Ko FrahOese, Planning Consultant Kenneth Kroohs, Town-Engineer-Plahner Marion Morey, Highway Superintendent Beverly Livesay, 147 Snyder Hill Road Arthur L. Berkey, 128 Christopher Circle Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Tripodi, 567 Elm Street Mr^. Mary Robinson, 101 West Haven Road Jack Ward, 569 Elm Street Robert Gneo, 110 West Haven Road Robert L. Bruce, County Representative Radio, TV, and Press The meeting was called to order at 5s20 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman Del Rosso, RESOLVED, that the minutes of May 7, 1973 be approved, as pre sented . Unanimously carried. REFUND OF TAX ASSESSMENT The Supervisor reported that due to a clerical error Jerry D. Stockdale, 11 Renwick Heights, Ithaca, New York, Parcel 17-3-20, was charged for two units of sewer benefit rather than one. He, therefore, recommended that the Board authorize a refund in the amount of $50.00 to Mr. Stockdale. Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that a refund in the amount of $50.00 be made to Jerry D. Stockdale, 11 Renwick Heights, Ithaca, New York, Parcel 17-3-20, to reimburse him for one \mit of sewer benefit billed in error. Unanimously caurried APP0INTI4ENT TO ADVISORY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW Councilmcui Del Rosso was appointed to represent theiTown of Ithaca on the Advisory Board of Assessment Review which Board will meet at the Tompkins County Assessment Division at 128 East Buffalo Street on June 12, 1973 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. fitff - 2 - June 11/ 1973 ACCEPTANCE OF BID ON GRADALL Proof of posting and publication of advertisement for bids on used hydraulic excavator (Gradall) having been presented/ the Supervisor reported that one bid had been received/ from CCO Construction Equipment/ Inc./ of 120 Leo Avenue/ Syracuse/ New York/ in the amount of $11/500.00 less Allowance for used Gradall in the amount of $2/600.00/ for ai net bid Of $8/900.00. The Board considered this a reasonable bid/ noting that the equipment will still have trade-in value at the end of ten years. j Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Powers/ RESOLVED/ that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca accepts the bid of CCO Construction Equipment/ Inc./ in the amount of $11/500.00, less allowance of $2/600.00 for used Gradall/ making a net bid of $8/900.00 for used hydraulic excavator, the said bid being accepted upon the recommendation of the Town Highway Superintendent. Unanimously carried. REQUEST FOR LOWER SPEED tIMiT ON ELM STREET EXTENSION Supervisor Schwan read a letter dated May 25, 1973 and signed by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Tripodi, 567 Elm Street Extension? Mr. and Mrs. Edward Piatkowski, 280 Coy Glen Road, Mr. and Mrs. James Robertson, 101 West Haven Road, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Miller, Jr., 125 Valley View Road, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Ward, 569 Elm Street Extension/and Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gneo, 110 West Haven Road, requesting a 40 miles per hour speed limit on Elm Street Extension between Haller Boulevard and Valley View Road. The Board looked upon this request favorably. During the discussion Mrs. Robertson asked the Board if they would revise the requested speed limit to 35 miles per hour. She said she had done extensive research in the area and felt that 35 miles per hour is more than adequate in the area. Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Del Rosso, RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca request the Department of Trans portation, pursuant to Section 1622.1 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to establish a lower maximum speed at which vehicles may pro ceed on Elm Street Extension between Haller Boulevard and Valley View Road, specifically 35 miles per hour. Unanimously carried. COMPTON TAX MATTER Attorney Roger B. Sovocool presented tax figures, including interest and penalties, broken down as between Roy and Svea J. Compton, Parcel 50-1-5.2 and George L. Compton (deceased). Parcel 50-1-6.2. The figures cover unpaid water and sewer benefit charges. Town and County taxes unpaid, school tax, penalties and interest. He report ed that of the total amount due from Roy and Svea Compton in the ^ amount of $28,852.03,they are offering to pay $15,690.22. This ) would leave a balance still to be paid in the amount of $13,161.81. Of this $13/161.81/ $5/938.25 is interest and penalties. Mr. Sovo cool indicated that this would leave $7,223.56 for the Town to pay. Of the total amount of $18,813.19 due from George Compton, they are offering to pay $8,517.87, leaving a balance still to pay of $10/295.32. Of the remaining $10,295.32, $4,337.87 is interest and penalties, leaving, according to Mr. Sovocool $5,957.45 for the Town to pay. Supervisor Schwan pointed out, however, since it is not clear that the County will forgive the interest and penalties, that what they are asking is that the Town pick up $13,161.81 for Roy Compton and $10,295.32 for George Compton. Councilman Del Rosso noted that if the Town were to absorb the difference between the amoimt originally due and what^the Comptons are offering to pay, it would be, in effect, a reduction of the - 3 - June 11, 1973 taxes for those particular yearso The penalties and interest, therefore, would not be as great as indicated in the foregoing figures (should the County view it in that light). Mr. Sovocool indicated that they would be willing to work with the Town toward forgiveness by the County of penalties and interest. He thought some reasonable arguments might be presented in this regard. The matter was tabled pending further discussions between the attorneys for the parties suid further investigation about resolving the matter of interest and penalties with the Covihty. Robert L. Bruce, County Representative, was not, however, optimistic about forgiveness of Penalties and interest by the County. The Town will seek an official opinion from the County in this mattet. REPORT OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE County Representative Robert t. Bruce repbrted that the Board of Representatives had gone on record 10 to 6 in favor of the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation proceed with the cbnstruction of the Bell Station. He said, however, that they had appended to the resolution various petitions, polls, surveys, etc. indicating the diversity of opinion in the County and the further fact that there appears to be considerable opposition to the project. Reports of Town Officials Barbara Holcomb reported that work is continuing on the new Zoning Ordinance and that another meeting on this project is scheduled for June 20, 1973. After this meeting it is hoped that a joint meeting may be held between the Planning Board and the Town Board to agree on concepts before the Ordinance is turned over to the Town Attorney to put it in the final legal language. This should be accomplished some time this summer. Kenneth Kroohs, Town-Engineer-Planner, reviewed the Eastern Heights Drainage Plan (Town of Ithaca Map File No. 397). He recommended that Note #3 on the plan be deleted. He indicated that the check dams will be constructed and paid for by the Town. The Board agreed that the Town will obtain manhole and pipe materials and bill East ern Heights for them. Mr. Kroohs reported that the New York State Electric & Gas Corpora tion would like to know if the Town intends to proceed with two intersection lights in the Beacon Hills development. It appears that the utility is unwilling to install hand-holes now since they would be absorbing some $200 to $300 of expense without present re turn. The Town must pay for the hand-hole, not the developer. Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman Deschj RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca authorize the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation to install intersection lights at King Road East at Ridgecrest Road and Beacon Hills Drive and at King Road East at Beacon Hills Drive west of Ridgecrest Road, \ Unanimously carried. These lights will be 7,000 lumens each. Mr. Kroohs indicated that he would be needing drafting materials which would cost about $40 to $50. These materials would be used in updating the election district map and the zoning map, among other things. The Board approved the purchase of these materials. Reynolds Metz, Assistant Zoning Officer, reported that the Zoning Board of Appeals will be meeting on June 18 to consider Beacon Hills request to remove sub-soil for fill to build the embankment for the retention pond. Mr. Metz reported that the hearing of June 18 to consider Walter Wiggans request to build four apcortments in a baim on Dauiby Road had been adjourned. The Planning Board had advised Mr. Wiggans n - 4 - June 11, 1973 that it would be necessary to submit plans for the construction of the apartments in order to be rezoned to multiple residence district, It appears that Mr« Wiggans does not intend to submit such plans and would prefer to obtain a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Under the circumstances, the Planning Board reported to the Zoning Board of Appeals that it had no jurisdiction in the matter and was referring the matter t6 the Zoning Board of Appeals with no recom mendation. The Town Board felt that a variance could not be granted for a multiple use, particularly since there is no evidence of hard ship. The matter will be taken Up Monday, June 18, 1973 at the adjourned meeting of the Zdning Board of Appeals. Barbara Holcomb, Chairman> Planning Board, reported that a letter dated June 8, 1973 had been received from the Department of Trans portation, enclosing draft of and environmental impact statement regarding the improvement df apptOximately 15 miles of Routes 13 and 96 from Newfield Hill to Ithaca to Trumansburg and its environmental impact on the community. 7he DOT ie requesting environmental impact in-put from the various towns and agencies affected. There is a 30-day deadline to submit sudh in-put. Since the material has so recently been received, the Board was in no position to take action on this at this meeting. The Town Board was invited to attend a meeting of the Planning Board scheduled for June 19, 1973 to discuss this matter with a view toward submitting a statement from the Town of Ithaca.. TRIPHAMMER ROAD INTERSECTION WITH ROUTE 13 Mrs. Beverly Livesay stated she would like to see the Town Board go on record strongly opposing the proposed plans regarding the Trip hammer Road intersection with Route 13 insofar as it may shut off the apartments in the cirea from the shopping center and insofar as there does not seem to be adequate provision for pedestrian corss- ings. She felt that every Town Board nearby ought to pass such a resolution. Coimty Representative Robert L. Bruce commented that the State had given the community a bad, cheap design, costing less money "but we are getting what we are paying for." He said it did not appear that the project would be modified. The best hope, he said, was to get a pedestrian underpass across Triphammer Road. Although the Town Board has some serious misgivings about some aspects of this project it has taken no official position up to this time. APPOINTMENT OF ELECTION INSPECTORS The Town Clerk submitted a list of Republican and Democrat Election Inspectors and alternates for the Board's consideration. Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilmcui Powers, RESOLVED, that the list of Republican and Democrat election inspectors and alternates as approved by the respective chairmen of the Republican and Democrat parties, and attached to and made a part of these minutes, for the period July 1, 1973 through. June 30, 1974, are hereby approved by the Town Board. Unanimously carried. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Motion by Councilman Desch? seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that the Warrants dated J\me 11, 1973, in the following amounts, are hereby approved? General Fund $ 10,083.27 Highway Fund ..... 15,257.36 Water and Sewer Fund . . 3,779.08 Unanimously carried. S3 - 5 - June 11, 1973 REVENUE SHARING Supervisor Schwan reported that the Town is required to report to the Department of the Treasury, Office of Revenue Sharing, how it intends to spend the Revenue Sharing monies allocated to it. After brief discussion, the following action was taken; Motion by Councilmcui Desch; seconded by Supervisor Schwan, RESOLVED, that the Revenue Sharing ftinds teceived by the Town of Ithaca shall be used for the acquisition of recreational areas emd structures, for capital projects such as a Town water supply and distribution system, for Town offices and highway barn, and other municipal facilities. Unanimously carried, BELL STATION Supervisor Schwan reported that the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation had asked the Ithaca Town Board to take a position with regard to the construction of the Bell Station (nuclear power plant) on Cayuga Lake, Town Attorney Buyoucos questioned whether the Town Board should take a position on this matter. He asked what study the Board, collective ly, had made. The point was made that the County and other municipali ties had taken a position. Councilman Desch wondered how a resolu tion by the Town Board would serve to represent the feeling Of the Townspeople in general. Mrs, Holcomb commented she did not believe the Board or anyone else knew for certain how the people felt, Mrs, Livesay felt that the Board would have to vote against it to repre sent the constituency, Mrs, Holcomb noted that the Plcuining Board of the Town of Ithaca had decided that it did not have sufficient expertise to make a judgment and, therefore, had made no recommenda tions o The sense of the Board was that it should not take a position with respect to the Bell Station for the reason that the Board lacks suf ficient expertise in this very technical field of nuclear power and has insufficient evidence as to the desires of the people in the Town of Ithaca and the County of Tompkins in general, REQUEST OF TOWN OF LANSING TO RUN WATER THROUGH TOWN OF ITHACA PIPES Supervisor Schwan read a letter dated June 6, 1973, from Robert I, Williamson, Town of Lansing Attorney, requesting consent of the Ithaca Town Board for the Town of Lansing to run water through Town of Ithaca pipes from a connection at the north end of the Town of Ithaca present system on Warren Road, Mr, Williamson said that the Town of Lansing is prepared to pay its proportionate share in the operation and main tenance of the pumping station at Christopher Circle, including among other things additional cost of power. Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilmaui Del Rosso, RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Town Superivsor and Ithaca Town Attorney be authorized to draw up an agreement between the Town of Ithaca and the Town of Lansing to make it possible for the Town of Lansing to connect with the present Town of Ithaca water supply facilities as an interim arrangement until the Bolton Point system is in operation, said agreement to include methods of operation and maintenance of the pumping station at Christopher Circle amd the proportionate share that the Town of Lansing would pay to the Town of Ithaca, Unanimously carried. - 6 - June 11, 1973 ROUTE 366 AND JODD FALLS ROAD MrSo Livesay asked if there was anything the Board could do to have some traffic control at the corner of Route 366 and Judd Palls Road. She said theire are many accidents on that corner that are ^ never reported. She said there is a gravel pile where Judd Falls Road comes in from the east side down under the overpass that causes trouble. The Supervisor said he would write a letter to the State about it. Councilman Desch suggested that a copy of the letter should go to Lance Haus, Director oif Transportation, Day Hall, Cornell Univer sity. APPOINTMENT Motion by Councilman Desch? Seconded by Supervisor Schwan, RESOLVED, that Joseph dosentini, Jr., 641 Highland Road, Ithaca, New York, be appoixlted to the Ithaca Youth Bureau, effective immediately. Unanimously carried. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk ELECTION INSPECTORS - DEMOCRAT(Term ending June 30, 197^)1Tompkins County HospitalNurses Recreation RoomMargaret SmithElaine Lazar553 Elm Street108 Woolf Lane272-2761272-29972Vehicle Maintenance Bldg.150 Bostwick RoadLeora TripodiMary Mullenhoff567 Elm Street118 West Haven Rd.273-5816273-55732National Cash Register Co.CafeteriaGertrude GrayHelen Meek155 Ridgecrest Rd.4 Eagles Head Rd.Ellis Hollow273-6776539-72244Riley Robb HallJudd Falls RoadDoris UrisHelen Sundell1022 Hanshaw Rd.310 Forest Home Dr.257-2532257-09415Cayuga HeightsFire StationIrene Homa176 Pleasant Grove Rd.257-03646Northeast SchoolEmma Zeilic1316 Hanshaw Rd.257-0749Shirley Gates104 Texas Lane257-17427Cayuga Heights SchoolNealy Neigh207 N. Triphammer Rd.257-1565Margaret Burns105 Kay Street257-08078USNR CenterCommunity Service1701 N. Cayuqa St.Frederica KavenElinor Eberts520 Wyckoff Rd.230 Renwick Drive273-6463273-93439Northeast SchoolDiana Dworsky8 Winthrop Place257-0995Vivian Singer432 Winthrop Drive275-0971A TOWN OF ITHACA ELECTION INSPECTORS - DEMOCRAT - ALTERNATES ' r Mrs. Charles Hurlbut 1019 Trumansburg Rd. 272-5340 Ruth Pearson 832 Coddington Road 272-8018 Liese Bronfenbrenner 116 Mclntyre Place 257-2570 David A. Singer 432 Winthrop Drive 257-0971 Lorraine McCue 101 Regency Lane 273-1043 Jean M. Anderson 603 Elm Street 273-5543 Deborah Bulger 508 W. Buffalo St. 272-8856 Ruth Streib 112 N. Sunset Drive 273-2591 Sunny Godding 105 Eddy Street 277-3598 ELECTION INSPECTORS - REPUBLICAN -(Term ending June 30, 197^ )i' 1Tompkins County HospitalNurses Recreation RoomClara R. BartholfEdith Ellis9671216Taughannock Blvd.1 Trumansburg Rd.273-6824272-34852Vehicle Maintenance Bldg.150 Bostwick Rd.Doris Van AllenGertrude Emerson130505West Haven Rd.Elm St. Ext.273-6021272-34913National Cash Register Co.CafeteriaMargaret AlbrechtFlorence Hanson143110Northview Rd.Northview Rd.272-2342272-16444Riley Robb HallJudd Falls RoadHazel BakerMary Jones651150Five Mile DriveHonness Lane272-5884273-25385Cayuga HeightsFire StationVelma MarkwardtCharlotte Blye203356Blackstone AvenueWarren Rd.257-1076257-14726Northeast SchoolMilbrey Hansel103S> Hanshaw Rd.257-2899Frances Bruckner1018! Hanshaw Rd.257-05737Cayuga Heights SchoolMildred Chaney310N> Geneva Street273-6832Veda Thayer424Klinewoods Rd.273-05648Community Service Ctr.1701 N. Cayuga St.(USNR Ctr.)Marjorie HoughDnri.n raarmolo237/ooRenwick DriveCO,272-67412'739Northeast SchoolAgnes Stanton1 Renwick Place272-3073Francelia Earle13181 Hanshaw Rd.257-18781 TOWN OF ITHACA ELECTION INSPECTORS - REPUBLICAN - ALTERNATES Patricia May 1036 Hanshaw Road 257-2893 Louise Adams 125 Remington Road 272-1324 Mrs. Richard Curran 135 N. Sunset Drive 273-2745 Teresa Ross 205 Winthrop Drive 257-2264 Gladys Wellington 1220 Trumansburg Road 273-2666 Mabel T. Watson 1406 Hanshaw Road 257-0883 Patricia Schwan 16 Muriel Street 257-0800 Hilda Guterman 605 Elmira Road 273-5807 Mrs. Paul La France 515 Lynn St. Clara Daine 100 Wa Upland 272 2001