Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 2008-05-19 Final -aT Special Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board Monday, May 19 , 2008 at 7 : 00 p . m . Yn , 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 Those Present Supervisor Engman , Deputy Supervisor Leary, Councilman Stein , Councilman Goodman , Councilman Levine Excused Councilman Cowie Staff Present Karen Billings , Town Clerk Others Present Krisy Gashler, Ithaca Journal Call to Order Supervisor Engman called the meeting to order at 7 : 01 p . m . ; with no flag present , the pledge of allegiance was cancelled . Agenda Item No . 3 = Interview Candidates Supervisor Engman suggested three different alternatives for conducting the interview process and asked for a motion on any one of the choices : a . Executive Session b . Political Caucus c . Interview candidates in public Without a motion and with the majority of the members expressing no desire to close the meetings , it was determined that the candidates would be interviewed in public . Being that the first interview candidate was scheduled to arrived at 7 : 10 p . m . and be interviewed through 7 : 45 p . m , and it was not yet 7 : 10 p . m . , the board members took a five minute recess . Approved June 9, 2008 Page 1 of 7 TOWN OF ITHACA TOWN BOARD SIGN - IN SHEET DATE : Monday , May 19 , 2008 (PL EASE PRINT TO ENSURE ACCURACY IN OFFICIAL MINUTES) PLEASE PRINT NAME PLEASE PRINTADDRESS/ AFFILIATION e- mail address Ir Final Interview # 1 At 7 : 15 p . m . the board members started interviewing Tee-Ann Hunter (Resume attachment # 1) Tee-Ann discussed her local government background ; her understanding of the process at Town Hall and the need to connect the good staff with the Town Board because of her previous experience as the Ithaca Town Clerk ; she said that she is glad that the Comprehensive Plan is under review and update ; she identified parks and open space , as well as staff relations , as areas of special interest . Since she retired from her position with the town last August ( 2007 ) , Tee-Ann has worked with the Town of Caroline ' s Town Clerk to get their records in good shape and with tax collection . She noted that she has also been working in a friend ' s audiology practice , and quipped that her experience made her want to join Rebecca Elgie ' s group [advocating for universal health care] . Following up on her reference to the Town of Caroline , Councilwoman Leary wanted to know what Tee-Ann thought about Caroline ' s purchase of all of its energy through wind power from a private consortium and whether she thought this might be appropriate for the Town of Ithaca . Tee-Ann said that she would need to investigate it further. Leary explained that when the issue had come before the Town Board , there had been some objection to giving town revenues to a for profit entity. Councilman Stein interjected that his objection was to spending additional monies beyond what was needed to purchase the town ' s energy, and that the wind consortium was more expensive . Leary added that Will Burbank' s objection had been to giving town funds to a for-profit entity, and asked Tee-Ann how she feels about using public money to create a market for alternative energy, working with the for profit sector. Tee-Ann said that she does not have an adverse reaction to working with for- profits , and that the sustainable movement will require development of a for profit sector. Councilman Stein then asked Tee-Ann what her vision for the Town is . Tee-Ann endorsed the Comprehensive Plan as providing that visioning process . She cited the need for housing but said she was not a supporter of speculative building ; she said that the town was well positioned to provide housing for people in the greater Ithaca community. She noted that transportation issues resulting from ( additional ) housing will require aggressive work with TCAT . She said that transportation to Cornell is good , but other locations in the county need better access . She emphasized the importance of land -use planning , particularly for ensuring public transportation to locations throughout the county. Tee-Ann cited development issues on West Hill along with the pressures resulting and she said that cohesion is lacking . She advocates working with the city of Approved June 9, 2008 Page 2 of 7 Final Ithaca . She said the town should have a more active role in recreation resource planning and said she supports small-scale commercial development outside the city, such as on West Hill near the hospital , while supporting the city as the commercial center of the county. Councilwoman Leary asked . Tee-Ann what exactly she meant by "support specifically if this meant she would defer to the city regarding development. Tee- Ann replied that leapfrog development is occurring and that we should not leapfrog the town for other municipalities. Citing empty stores and other evidence of economic decline , Councilwoman Leary asked Tee-Ann to justify her comment that the city is the commercial center of the county. Tee-Ann responded that her point was well taken , but that there are a lot of jobs in the city along with lots of traffic coming in . Supervisor Engman asked Tee-Ann about her thoughts regarding nodal development, the type development proposed for East Hill . Tee-Ann responded positively about commercial development on East Hill , and that on West Hill it would be nice to have development near the hospital . She said that she was not aware of a site in place on South Hill , but that there was probably a need for it. Supervisor Engman asked Tee-Ann about the difference between being an appointed official vs . an elected official . Tee-Ann responded that she previously served as an elected clerk and an appointed clerk and liked being an elected official better because it allowed her to voice her opinion . Councilman Stein queried Tee-Ann on voicing her opinion stating that his memory recalls her having a strong opinion . Tee-Ann responded that she honored the office . She said that she felt duty bound to follow the rules mandated by the state . Councilman Goodman asked Tee-Ann if there are other issues of interest to her. Tee-Ann responded that what town government is about is planning . She said that she is not interested in roads or plowing , but that she is interested in recreation and operations . Councilman Goodman asked if she is interested in Personnel and Tee-Ann responded in the affirmative . Councilman Stein asked Tee-Ann what she believes is the role of the Town Board , and asked, her what policy issues she is interested in . Tee-Ann responded that she is interested in intermunicipal cooperation , saying the (town ) board partners with other municipalities for transportation , fire , water, public access to resources ; it audits the bills ; it appoints people . Approved June 9, 2008 Page 3 of 7 Final Councilman Stein queried her on the appointment of people and Tee-Ann responded that the Town Board appoints the Town Clerk , along with other positions in town government . Supervisor Engman asked Tee-Ann what kind of democrat she is given a scale of conservative vs . progressive . Tee-Ann responded that she is a progressive . Councilwoman Leary asked Tee-Ann about intermunicipal cooperation and her thoughts on the town ' s making financial contributions to T-CAT , the county library, etc . Tee-Ann said that shared services are critical , such as fire protection , transportation , planning , and water resources management , and that the library, for instance , presented a possible contract opportunity. Councilman Stein asked Tee-Ann if she had any questions to ask . Tee-Ann responded that she hears from outlying libraries and that she wants to capture the lost revenue from people throwing bottles away at the transfer station and give it to the library. She said that she had recommended this to various people in the past and that no one followed through . Supervisor Engman announced that the time was up for this interview. Interview #2 At 8 : 55 p . m . Richard DePaolo was introduced . Supervisor Engman asked Rich why he is interested in joining the Town Board now vs , future or past . Rich responded that he has always been interested . He went on to say, " my profession is in the music business which involves travel . When my daughter was born I wanted to be around and [ 1 ] developed more local ventures , plus the town is at a critical juncture in terms of planning . I feel there is an opportunity; that this board is taking seriously the delicate balance between environment and development. " Councilman Stein asked Rich to describe what his feelings might be at the end of his term of office . Rich responded that he does not have an agenda ; his major concern is water, and SPDES ( NYS Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ) permitting . He said he believes the Town Board should take seriously the need to balance environmental needs against development pressures . The colleges will create continually growing demand for additional housing and the Town Board should be "a counter- balance to that demand , " while not being "anti-development . " He said he has Approved June 9, 2008 Page 4 of 7 Final seen a lot of places as a touring musician , and that the Ithaca area was a very special place . He cited land use and water quality as his forte . Councilwoman Leary asked Rich where affordable housing fits in among his priorities , [housing that is affordable to median income residents of the town , based on 1 /3rd of income to support housing] . She said that the County has determined a need . Rich said he is concerned about development and whether or not it fits in with the other residences . He said that a stigma comes with creating developments that are labeled something , but become insular. Councilwoman Leary noted that the trend is to mixing upper, middle , and lower income housing in one development. Rich responded that SEQR law provides for what is needed stating that it can be applied and whether or not the town can provide affordable housing with sensitivity to the environment . Supervisor Engman asked Rich about his opinion of nodal development . Rich responded that on Rte . 96B , close to Ithaca College , development is needed ; on West Hill , it' s sad to see the pastoral views disappear, but you have to balance that with the need for housing . Councilman Stein asked Rich how he proposes to balance the needs and wants of the residents ( snow plowing , park maintenance , walking trails , etc . ) with keeping taxes low. How do you do all that plus pay our staff competitive wages , etc . ? Noting that he himself is a taxpayer, DePaolo stated , " I don 't believe in a revenue windfall based on increased assessments . " Rather, he said , the town should set a levy goal and work backward to a tax rate . Councilwoman Leary noted that predetermining a percentage rate without considering spending needs can result in drastic cuts , as seen currently at the county level . Rich responded that the town should estimate what it needs and what it costs ; using that as a starting point, and was not advocating caps in advance . Supervisor Engman asked Rich to describe , based on a continuum from Conservative to Progressive , Sam Nunn to Dennis Kuchinich , with Sam a 1 and Dennis a 10 . Rich responded that he falls between 8- 10 . He said that closer to the center the more restraint an individual uses and those at either end speak their mind . Approved June 9, 2008 Page 5 of 7 Final Councilman Levine told Rich that he has a good track record of activism and asked whether he thought being in a different role as a public official would mean he would have to change? Rich responded that the two are not mutually exclusive . He said there ' s room at the town level for sweeping policy initiatives — collective activism . He said that he does not want to be predisposed to certain convictions ; that he wants to keep an open mind to good ideas from other board members and the public . Supervisor Engman responded that there is frustration in that we do not get to do exactly what we want [to do] . Rich said there is always pressure on a board member. Meeting in a public forum is only part of the equation . There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes . Councilman Stein wanted to let Rich know that the Town Board spends time doing projects that are not always what one might expect , time on trivial and routine matters , that it' s all the business of the town . Rich said that he understands, saying that local work on local issues comprises most of his own work , such as Phosphorus at the IWWTP . Supervisor Engman said that it' s now 8 : 27 p . m . and asked Rich if there is anything else he wants to say. Rich said " I think you know what you ' re getting in me . " 8 : 30 p . m . — Interview ended . Agenda Item No . 4 — Other Business Supervisor Engman announced that tomorrow' s interview will begin at 5 : 00 p . m . , but one of our applicants cannot come until 5 : 55 p . m . Councilman Goodman asked if Laura could come earlier. Supervisor Engman responded that he ' ll post a note to say we ' ll be here at 5 : 45 p . m . Supervisor Engman asked about scheduling the fourth candidate , wondering if we should offer him some other times . He said the other candidate is fairly flexible the rest of the week . Councilman Stein asked if the fourth candidate is available during the day. Approved June 9, 2008 Page 6 of 7 Final Supervisor Engman said he ' s an educator at Cornell and he does not know his schedule . Supervisor Engman offered the option of Wednesday, May 21St , between 5 and 7 ; suggesting 5 : 15 p . m . A 5 : 15 p . m . meeting schedule for May 21St was agreed upon . Supervisor Engman said that he would follow up with the candidate . Agenda Item No . 5 — Consider Adjournment Upon a motion by Councilman Stein , seconded by Councilman Goodman , Supervisor Engman adjourned the meeting at 8 : 45 p . m . Respectfully Submitted , Karen M . Billings Town Clerk Approved June 9, 2008 Page 7 of 7 Attachment # 1 5 / 19 / 2008 Tee-Ann Hunter 107 Hillcrest Drive , Ithaca , NY 14850 — (607) 279=7249 Experience: RECORDS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT and DEPUTY TOWN CLERK, October 2007 through January 2008 Town of Caroline, Slaterville Springs, NY Hired to assist in creation and implementation of a records management program and to prepare 2008/2009 Local Government Records Improvement Fund grant application . Assisted Town Clerk in collection of town and county property taxes. TOWN CLERK, February 2001 through August 2007 Town of Ithaca, Ithaca, NY Appointed for three terms to oversee operations of Town Clerk's office including hiring and supervision of Deputy Clerks and student interns. Office provided first point of contact for persons conducting business with and/or seeking information from the Town . Attended all Town Board meetings, maintained meeting agendas , and prepared minutes . Departmental duties included license sales and reporting , publication of legal notices, filing of local legislation . As records management officer for the Town , developed records management policies and oversaw records management practices . Initiated and oversaw codification of Town's local laws and ordinances. Awarded and administered six New York State records management grants. Position carried with it many legally mandated duties and responsibilities and required knowledge of and adherence to state and local law. GRANT REVIEWER, January through April of 2004, 2005, and 2006 New York State Archives, Albany, NY Contracted with the State of New York to review records management grant applications and recommend levels of funding . TOWN CLERK, January 1996 to January 2001 Town of Ledyard, Aurora, NY Elected to three terms to attend all Town Board meetings and prepare minutes, maintain town records , issue licenses, prepare monthly abstract of bills, prepare state and county required reports , publish legal notices , and interface with community. Position required knowledge of and adherence to state and local law. DEPUTY VILLAGE CLERK, July 1998 to January 2001 Village of Union Springs, Union Springs, NY Hired to assist Village Clerk/Treasurer with tax collection, water and sewer billing , records management, preparation of vouchers, and paying of bills. Position required knowledge of and adherence to state and local law. COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, March 1999 to February 2000 Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board, Syracuse, NY Subcontracted with Central New York Planning Board to coordinate the community outreach effort for the first phase of a watershed management plan for Cayuga Lake funded by New York State Department of State. TEACHING ASSISTANT, Summer 1994 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Assisted professor of political theory by grading papers and meeting with students as needed . RECORDING SECRETARY, 1985 to 1988 West Windsor Township, West Windsor, NY Attended meetings and prepared minutes for town Zoning Board of Appeals and Environmental Commission . PROGRAM GUIDE COORDINATOR, 1980 to 1981 HBO, A Division of Time, Inc. , New York, NY Launched and oversaw assembly and distribution of monthly package of materials promoting HBO programming to television program guide publishers. Education. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY — 1992 to 1995 Masters work in Public Affairs (40 Credits) RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Newark, NJ 1982 to 1984 Masters work in Public Administration (27 credits) WELLS COLLEGE, Aurora, NY, graduated 1983. Bachelor of Arts in English References: Upon request.