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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2006-02-28DOUB Vi DM E 11 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. .3 MM TOWN OF ITHACA PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Tuesday, February 28,2000, 9:00 amt. Public Works Facility Approval of Minutes a. January 24, 2006 Minutes Discussion on Fence at BOLES. Discussion on Rights -of -Way Policy. Discussion on Ad opt-a-Park/S tree t. Discussion on Worth Street Water Service. Discussion on Speed Limit on Game Farm Road. Discussion on Bid Specifications for a New Sewer Vacuum, Wheel Loader, and Crawler Dozer. Discussion of Construction of a Chimney Swift Tower near Pew Trail Park. lc;N uAIE A TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee February 28, 2006, 9:00 a.m. I Public Works Facility Present: Peter Stein, Dan Wiilker, Fred Notebooin, Rich Schoch, Gene Redman, Wayne SincebaUgh, and Mike Smith. Guest: Sue Ritter The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. I "I"he jallUal'y 24, 2006, Mir)UteS were approved. l',ence at BOCES We have a walkway that goes along BOCES property and there is a. fence along this aNalkway that needs to be repaired or replaced. BOCES has contacted the Town stating that they wouldlike to have us fix the fence, most likely becaUse the Town has made repairs to the fence in the past as a courtesy to BOCE",S. "T'he l"ublic Works Department staff checked to see whose ferice it is. The J'own does not own this fence and we explained that to the staff at 1300'".S. J'his was brought to the Cot'rimittee's attention in case this beconies an iSSLIC later. lei-)-hts-of-Wav Policv We have had problerns in the past about plantings being put in theTovorns Right -of -Way (ROW) and with people asking the Town to repair darnag,e�s to thern. "I1"his policy will address the iSSUeS. The policy discusses the differences between a deeded ROW and a ROW by use, and who is responsible for repairs, etc. This policy also discusses the uses of easenierits within the'l'own. Fred Noteboorn will have Susan Brockj"' c)wn Attorney, look at, this and then we will bring it to the Town Board at their April meeting for review and acceptance. 'I'he Committee disc,ussed the ROW on Hanshaw Road. That road has a deeded ROW. IM VUblic Wm -toy; Conunittee Mitiutes, Febmtry 28, 2006 Page 2 Oe In the past, we presented theTown hoard Nvith the idea of (.:reatinl.; a Adopt -a - Street prograrn, which would rnean that volunteers would keep roadsides clean of litter, recycling materials, and debris on their adopted street, This was not aCtCd LIP011 Blue to possible liability issues. We are entertaining the idea gal, ain and including a possible program of aclopt-a- park/adopt-a-trail. 'I"'his WOUld, again, be where volunteers would keep the parks and/or trail of their ch()ice clean oflitter and debris. We will put this on the agenda for dw Public Works C.'orninittee tea discuss this gigain in April and invite Marnie Kirchg,essner to participate in the discussion. We will talk to Susan about the liability issues and we will took into the cost of disposing of the trash, Speed Limit Reouest, for Game learnt Road The Town of Dryden has received a request to lower the speed lirnit on Garne F'arm Road. '"I"'heTown of Dryden, 'Fawn of Ithaca, and'Fornpkins County all o\A,n portions of the road, TheTown of Drycleri has asked the Town of Ithaca to SUPPOrt their petition to the Stat(.x (to lower the speed limit), and we will petition the State to lower tile Speed limit on our portiori of the road. This will before tile Town Board at their March niecting. Thcy C.ornmittee was presented with thcb bid specifications for a new rawler Dozer, 4-Wheel Drive Loader, and theTrailer Mounted Sewer Vactiurn. Thes('-! specifications will go to the 'Fawn Board for their approval toy bid the machine out. None of tliese` are on the State Bid, so \ve are required to produce bid specifications and receive bids for them. C'hirn,DLy i Fower swift C�� Sue Ritter explained that a Chirrine ' y Swift is, a [iird that is losing its a hbitat. People have begun to see thorn try to nest in house chirnnevs. Sue explained that the late Richard F"isher had asked the TONVII tO head Up a project, whereby as Chininey Swift tower WOUld be built on, the property next to the William and I larinah Pew Trail. There is a carpenter, Alex Flyland, who is intexrested in building the tower- getting volunteers front Cornell's studo-,Tit Public Works Committee Minutes, February 28, 2006 Page 3 environmental organization. Home Depot has said that they would help offset the cost of the materials. The Town would be requested to put in the concrete pad for the tower. A basic tower would be 12 feet high and around 14 inches in diameter. Peter Stein asked if we should talk to the Lab of Ornithology regarding the need for such towers. Sue said that she has talked to them and their policy is to not take a position but encourages people to do something for birds. This will go to the Town Board at their March meeting. Worth Street Water Line Replacement Wayne explained that the City of Ithaca wants to put in a new water line on Worth Street. This line used to service the Town of Ithaca and Cornell University. It has been cut off for a long time now because there were problems with flushing the line. The City wants to put in a hydrant on that line and that hydrant would be in the Town of Ithaca but on the City of Ithaca's property. This hydrant would not be the Town's responsibility. The Committee discussed if this needed to be presented to the Town Board. They felt that since this is a City project, City property, City water, and maintained by the City that there was no need to go to the Town Board with this. It is OK for them to do their project. Miscellaneous Fred Noteboom and Peter visited the Town of Clay's Public Works Department to see how other Town's function regarding Roads, Parks, Water, and Sewer. They have a Recreation Commissioner and a Public Works Manager. It appears that the Town of Clay has a separate Recreation and Parks Department. They have a very extensive athletic program — soccer, fields, etc. They employee 41 people in the Public Works Department and have 18 summer workers. They contract out their brush pick up. They have 44 pieces of equipment --we have 25. There was a discussion regarding this Town's need for a separate Recreation and Parks Department. We would not have enough work to have a full department, as we only have one regulation sized ball field. There was a discussion regarding the functioning of the Public Works Committee. It seems to be lacking in direction. Peter said that most of the topics discussed at Public Works Committee do not need Board approval. He also said \4 Public Works Committee Minutes, February 28, 2006 Page 4 that it was a waste of his time because he does not have enough of a background in public works to participate. Peter suggested having most of the items discussed here just put on the consent agenda --read through and approve, then the Board would be informed. Things can be pulled at that time. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. MW