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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1974-05-13TOWN OP ITHACA REGULAR BOARD M33ETING May 13, 1974 - 5:00 p.m. r 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 j j Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 13th day of May, 1974, at 5?00 p.m., — there were PRESENT: ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: n Walter J. Schwan, Supervisor Andrew W. McElwee, Councilman Robert N. Powers, Councilman Noel Desch, Councilman Victor Del Rosso, Councilman James V. Buyoucos, Town Attorney Barbara Kolcomb, Planning Board Chairwoman Kenneth Kroohs, Planning Engineer Reynolds Metz, Zoning Officer David C. Cowan Beverly Livesay, County Representative Herbert Mahr, 103 Judd Falls Road Lyman Baker, 257 Pennsylvania Avenue Vincent P. Franciamone, 108 Ridgecrest Road John Piazza, NCR Edward Olmstead, NCR r i APPOINTMENT Radio, TV, and Press Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that Edward W. King be appointed to the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately for the five-year term expiring December 31, 1978. Unanimously carried. REFUNDS ON ROAD OPENING PERtllTS Supervisor Schwan reported that according to Highway Superintendent Marion Morey the street openings for John I. Sincebaugh on Honness Lane (Eastwood Commons Development), for Lagrand E. Chase Co., Inc. at 158 Ridgecrest Road, and for Arthur Prince on Christopher Lane East, have all been repaired in accordance with Town highway specifi cations. RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves refunds of $100.00 each to John I. Sincebaugh (Honness Lane-Eastwood Commons Development), Lagrand E. Chase Co., Inc. (158 Ridgecrest Road), and Arthur A. Prince (Christopher Lane East) for street opening per mit deposits made by them, based on recommendation of the Highway Superintendent that all work and repairs have been done satisfactori ly and in accordance with Town Highway Department specifications. Unanimously carried. - 2 - May 13, 1974 OFFICE COPYING .MACHINES Supervisor Schwan noted that the Town has been renting the use of the City of Ithaca copying equipment at $30,00 a month and that the ar- ran^ent is less than satisfactory; that the purchase of a machine for the Town has been considered. At the present time three differ ent machines are being considereds (1) Smith Corona Marchant (2) A. B, Dick, (3) Xerox. The Supervisor presented prepared material on each of these machines — price, capability, materials costs, etc. The sense of the Board was to rent the Xerox machine, at least tem porarily, and if it should turn out to be unsatisfactory, considera tion could again be given to purchasing a machine. Councilman Powers recommended the Xerox because of the excellence of the service facili ties and the quality of the finished product. He suggested also that the Town look into the possibility of renting the Xerox 914 (an older model) which might rent for less than the Xerox 3100. SUMMER HOURS Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that summer office hours of the Town Office, beginning June 1, 1974 and ending September 2, 1974, shall be SsSO a.m. to 4s00 p.m. Unanimously carried. APPOINTMENT Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby appoints Lawrence Fabbroni as Planning Engineer for the Town of Ithaca, effec tive immediately. Unanimously carried. Supervisor Schwan reported that Mr. Fabbroni will be in Ithaca on May 20 and 21 to work with Mr. Kenneth Kroohs. Mr, Fabbroni will actually begin work as Town of Ithaca Planning Engineer on June 19, 1974. "NO PARKING" ZONE - INTERSECTION OP CODDINGTON ROAD AND ITHACA COLLEGE ROAD Barbara Holcomb, Planning Board Chairwoman, reported that the Town of Ithaca Planning Board recommends that that Town Board amend the Town of Ithaca Traffic Ordinance to disallow parking within 110 feet of the Coddington Road-Ithaca College Road intersection on the west side of Coddington Road north of the Ithaca College Road. Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca will hold a pub lic hearing on June 10, 1974 at 6:00 p.m. to consider an amendment to the Town of Ithaca Traffic Ordinance with respect to "no parking" areas to clarify the matter of parking on the shoulders and/or pave ment of roads and to consider the adoption of an addition to the Town of Ithaca Traffic Ordinance that no parking be allowed within 110 feet of the Coddington Road-Ithaca College Road intersection on the west side of Coddington Road north of the Ithaca College Road. Unanimously carried. r - 3 - May 13, 1974 CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR TOWN HALL Supervisor Schwan reported that the Town Board is considering new quarters for the Town Hall. The present space is insufficient for the expanding operations of the Town aiid inconvenient for the public. One possibility is to build a Town Hall within the Town of Ithaca. Mr. Schwan recommended establishing a capital reserve fund for the construction or purchase of a building and the purchase of land for a Town Hall in the amount of $150,000. Supervisor Schwan noted that the Town has never really had a "home" which belonged to the Town. He said there is also the possibility of renting space. In such case, however, the Town (a tax exempt corporation) would be paying taxes as part of its rent, if it does not rent from another tax exempt corpora tion. Supervisor Schwan noted the difficulty of finding a "central" location for the ToVm Hall, considering the geography of the Town of Ithaca,. He noted the possibility of acquiring from the Navy (building and from the City (land) the Naval facility on Cayuga Street (Tin Can). Mr. Herbert Mahr, ld3 Judd Falls Road, suggested other priorities— masstransit, parks, swimming pools, peripheral parking lots — and that these should be considered before making a definite commitment of a capital reserve fund for a To%yn Hall. Councilman' POv/ers agreed with Mr. Mahr, at least to the extent that alternative priorities should be seriously considered; that the Town Hall should be one of the priorities, but not necessarily at the top of the list. Mr. Powers said he thought a set of priorities should be established before a public hearing on the matter is held. Councilman McElwee suggested a public informational and "in-put" meeting should be held prior to a formal public hearing. The Board agreed to have a public informational and "in-put" meeting at 6s30 p.m. on June 10, 1974 to discuss priorities for the expenditure of surplus monies. NCR - PRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPING PLANS Mr. John Piazza, NCR representative, and Mr. Edward M, Olmstead, NCR Plant Engineer, presented landscaping plans in connection with the extension of their existing facilities. They explained that columnar maples and dwarf junipers, trees acclimatized to the surroundings and soil and weather conditions, would be planted and that the landscaping was prepared in conjunction with their architect and with White Nur series. Mrs. Holcomb indicated that one of the conditions of the Planning Board in connection with the landscaping will be that the trees will not block the sight distance. The Board agreed that the plans presented should be presented at the Planning Board's meeting on April 21, 1974. It did not appear that the Board had any objection to the basic concept. Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVEDj that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca approves the landscapxng plans, as submitted by NCR, subject to review by the Plan ning Board of the Town of Ithaca, and with the understanding that when the plan is accepted and approved by the Ithaca Town Board such accep tance and approval will be based upon the landscaping plan as finally presented suid further that said landscaping will be maintained, as pre sented, by repairs and replacements as may become necessary. Unanimously carried. Councilman Powers questioned whether NCR should come under the usual holding of money in escrow to guarantee that they will follow through. Attorney Buyoucos indicated that the general purpose of holding money in escrow is to provide security. He said in the case of NCR there does not appear to be any cause for concern on that score. J - 4 - May 13, 1974 TRANSFER OF FUmyS Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that $108.00 be ibr^sferred from the Contingency Account A-1990.4 to Traffic Control Account A-3310o4 for speed signs; and ^ that $1,000.00 be transferred from 1973 year-end Surplus Account ^ A-2810 to the Bolton Point Account A-8030. I Unanimously carried. REPORTS OF TOWN 6FFICIALS Mrs. Holcomb reported that the Planning Board continues to be con cerned about sight distances at the; intersections of Town roads. This is spelled out clearly in the proposed new Zoning Ordinance, but the Planning Board is concerned about the interim period. Motion by Supervisor Schwan; Seconded by Councilman McElwee, RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca conduct a public hearing to be held at the Town Offices on the 10th day of June, 1974, at 6sl0 p.m. to consider the advisability of adopting an ordihsuice regulating the distance front any streets and/or highways within the Town within which any plant, planting, tree, shrubbery, structure, earthwork, or other object may be planted or erected and regulating the height of any such plant, planting, tree, shrubbery, structure, earthwork, or other object, beyond which it may not be maintained. Unanimously adopted. "1 Mrs. Holcomb reported that at the last Planning Board meeting in April there was a large representation of people living in the North east concerned about the traffic and road problems on Burleigh Drive and Sandra Place, and the Winthrop area. She said the discussion in dicated it was probably not a problem which the Town of Ithaca should try to solve by itself, but should work with the Village of Cayuga Heights and the Town of Lansing. She said there had been an initial meeting of the three municipalities to study the problem and arrive at some general agreement that it was a joint endeavor. There will be another meeting on April 21 at which time representatives of the various municipalities are to report on an assignment fulfilled on particular problems. The sense of the Bocurd was that joint efforts in this regard are worthwhile and should be supported. * 4e * Mrs. Holcomb reported that the Department of Transportation would like to have from the Town of Ithaca a letter indicating that the Town of Ithaca understands that access to land proposed for a Town park (located near the southern end of the Flood Control Channel, east of the Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks, and west of the Town of Ithaca-City of Ithaca border) is a design problem; and that the Town of Ithaca will not object to the proposed Route 13.corridor as it affects the proposed paurk lamd if it receives assurance from the DOT that they will at the time of final design provide vehicular access to the proposed park land of a design acceptable to the Town. Based on this report the Town Board took the following action: Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McElwee, WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has expressed con cern over access to proposed Town of Ithaca paurk land from the pro posed Route 13 corridor south of the City of Ithaca, which park land is located near the southern end of the Flood Control Channel, east of the Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks and west of the Town of Ithaca- City of Ithaca line, and n r n - 5 - May 13, 1974 WHEREAS, it appears there exists at least two vehicular access routes across the Lehigh Valley Railroad bed to the park land from Route 13A, and W^REAS, the Ithaca Town Board believes that vehicular access to the said proposed park land is necessary for its establishment and maintenance, and WHER^S, the Ithaca Town Board understands that for the pur pose of corridor designation and approval the access to the said pro posed park land is a design problem rather than a corridor problem, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEDs That the Town of Ithaca will not object to the proposed Route 13 corridor as it affects the said proposed park land, if it receives assurance, in writing, frCm proper officials of the New York State Department of Transportation that they will at the time of final de sign provide vehicular access to the said proposed park land of a design acceptable to the TCwn of Ithaca, and the Town Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca is authorized to write a letter to this effect to the proper officials of the Department of Transporation of the State of New Yorkp Unanimously carried. * * * Ken Kroohs, Planning Engineer, advised the Board that when Mr. Lawrence Pabbroni, the new Planning Engineer, begins to work for the Town, one of the priority items should be consideration of the drainage problem on the entire west side of East Hill, from Snyder Hill Road toward the watershed to Eastern Heights. He said the Town has had numerous letters of complaint. 4r * Reynolds Metz, Zoning Officer, read a letter dated April 15, 1974 to the Town Board from Lyman Eugene Baker of 257 Pennsylvania Avenue. In his letter BIr. Baker said hiS; house was'built in 1960 in an area then zoned residential. His property was bounded by Capozzi property. The Capozzi property was subsequently purchased by Harold and Alvah Perry; that since Perry purchasedthe property he has run and maintained a wrecker service from his home. He has also built a double garage which is used to paint cars, do mechanical repairs of all types as well as welding. Mr. Baker said it is a 24-hour business and the wreckers go to and fro all hours of the day and night. Mr. Perry is nov7 installing a gas storage tank (almost on Mr. Baker's lot line). The tank exudes gas fumes at all hours. Mr. Baker asked the Board to enforce the residential nature of the area and give relief from the eye-sore junk collections and the health hazards they are living with. It appeared that action could be taken against Mr. Perry, based on the zoning ordinance under "objectionable odors, noise, dust, etc. It was suggested that rir. Metz talk to Mr. Perry first and if nothing is achieved take the matter up with Buyoucos & Barney. It appears that Mr. Perry has a main operation on Cherry Street. Supervisor Schwan suggested that if Mr. Perry would leave the wrecker at Cherry Street, take wrecker calls at home, and then take his car to Cheri:y Street to pick up the wrecker, a good part of the trouble would be eliminated. * * * Highway Superintendent Marion Morey reported that the problem of load limits on Highway Department trucks is under consderation at the County level. * * * - 6 - May 13, 1974 SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION Supervisor Schwan reported that the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunici- pal Water Commission has been formed? that Kenneth H« Myers, repre senting the Village of Cayuga Heights, is Chairman? that James C. Showacre, representing the Town of Lansing, is Vice-chairman; that M Walter J. Schwan, representing the 'Hoim of Ithaca, is Treasurer? that ' Charles G. McCord, representing the Town of Dryden, is Secretary? and i that the other members of the Commission are Shailer S. Philbrick (Village of Cayuga Heights), Edward J. LaVigne (Lansing), Noel Desch (Ithaca), and Harold V. Case (Dryden). REPORTS OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES Beverly Livesay, County Representative reported; (1) That Ron*. Space had reported to the Board of Representa tives that TC3 is withih .2^ of being completed? that the project is still within the budget and contingencies? and that the project is proceeding satisfactorily, except for some minor problems with archi tects , (2) That the Board of Representatives had authorized adver tising for bids for radios for emergency health vehicles. (3) That the^proposal to establish ah office for the aging was tabled. (4) That the Board of Representatives had established the budget and personnel for the Family Medicine Program, one facility ^ to be located at the hospital and another facility in a locality as I yet undetermined. } (5) That the Board of Representatives had approved the appointment of a Committee from Cortland County and Tompkins County, who might jointly arrive at a design for the Route 13 corridor satis factory to both counties. Tompkins County committee members would be from the Towns of Ithaca, Lansing, and Dryden? the City of Ithaca? the Village of Cayuga Heights? and the Town of Groton. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Herb Mahr, 103 Judd Falls Road, again inquired about a por tion of Judd Falls Road being taken over by the Town of Ithaca as a Town road. Supervisor Schwan said this, in part, revolves around the County turning over to Cornell University the portion of the road within the University, in which case the intersection of Judd Falls Road and Rt. 366 coming from Cornell University would disappear, Mr. Mahr inquired about the status of the sewering of the Forest Home area and the other four areas (Glenside, Slaterville Road, Elm Street Extension, Coddington Road). Supervisor Schwan said the Town is waiting for approval from the Department of Audit and Control. After such approval, the next step is surveying? it could then be bidrthis year, and construction could start next spring. I * * * Vincent P. Franciamone asked about the status of his request at the April meeting for a rezoning of his property at 108 Ridgecrest Road from R-30 to R-15. This matter was tabled at.that time. Mr. Franciamone was asked what the purpose of the re-zoning was. He said there was no purpose, merely that he had more land than necessary in the area. He said he wanted it on the record that he is again asking for such rezoning. Attorney Buyoucos said Mr. Franciamone had made no adequate presentation? that he had presented no facts as to what the law is or should be in support of his request. Mr. Franciamone said he would assume, he is in an R-15 zone and act on his own. Mr. Buyoucos said he would be doing so at his own risk. - 7 - May 13, 1974 APPROVAL OF WARRANTS Motion by Supervisor Schwan? seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that the Warrants dated May 13, 1974, be approved, in the following amounts; General Fund . • $ 77,681.12 Highway Fund 6,799.01 Water and Sewer Fund . . . . . . 5,188.99 Unanimously carried ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7sGO p.m. Edward L. Bergen Town Clerk r" r