HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 2004-08-24WSRG [ION DAIE
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HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
106 SEVEN MILE DRIVE, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850
publimorks @town. ithaca, ny. us
PHONE (607) 273-1656 Roads, Park s,Tralls, Sewer, and Water FAX (607) 272-6076
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PUBLIC WORKS COMMIT"FEE
'Tuesday, AugUst 24, 2004, 8:00 a.m.
1"tiblic Works Facility
Approval of Minutes
a. July 27, 2004
2. Discussion on Mission Staternent
3. Discussion on Inspection Station Changes
4. DiscLission on Winter Maintenance 1--khedule
5. l iscussican on Mountin SLibdivision
6. Discussion on Storm Water Management-,
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DISPOSITION DATE
TOWN OF M-1ACA
Public Works Committee
August 31, 2004, Minutes
Public Works Facility, 8:00 a.m.
Present: Peter Stein, Cathy Valentino, Sandy Gittleman, Dan Walker, Fred Noteboom,
Rich Schoch, and Mike Smith
The meeting began at 8:07 a.m.
The July 27,2004, meeting minutes were approved.
The Committee reviewed the recent flooding that occurred at Collegeview Trailer Park
(on Seven Mile Drive). We will be changing the pipe that goes across the road and
trying to move it so the water comes straight to it instead of at an angle. We will also be
changing a pipe on Calkins Road that may or may not have affected the area.
We will look at the area above Collegeview for other possible problems.
William and Hannah Pew Trail
The Committee discussed that Mr. Frandsen has decided to give the Town an easement
so that we can complete an erosion control project on Slaterville Road. This in turn will
allow the Town to get an easement from the Ewings for the William and Hannah Pew
Trail.
Mission Statement
The Committee asked that the Highway Department's mission statement be undated to
include storm water management.
The Committee felt that the member's titles should be identified on the Public Works
Committee mission statement.
Gail Kroll will work with Sandy Gittleman on putting together a mission statement and
this will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Public Works Committee Minutes, August 31,2004 Page 2
Inspection Station Status
When this was first in front of the Town Board, we asked for enough money to get the
equipment needed to comply with the Department of Motor Vehicles new regulations
on inspecting vehicles. After that we found out there are a few extra items needed.
One is a bar code scanner and the other is a cart to move the equipment around.
We received the information on purchasing the equipment on August 23, and need to
have the service in place by mid -September.
This new inspection system is being implemented due to the Federal Clean Air Act.
Winter Maintenance Schedule
Fred Noteboom handed out a list of the Highway Department's winter maintenance
schedule for the members to review. This was for informational purposes.
The Committee felt that the administrative tasks should be listed on the schedule.
Peter Stein felt that we should check this list against the mission statement to make sure
we have included everything on the mission statement.
The Committee felt that we should put something in the paper about the Town's winter
snow removal operations. This should include our mailbox policy, what roads are
plowed by the Town, parking issues, and the Town's procedures for when we start, and
the conditions under which we salt the roads or plow the roads.
There may not be enough room in the fall newsletter for an article, but we will try to get
one in the Cornell University's newspaper, Ithaca College's newspaper, and the Ithaca
Journal. We will contact Roger (from the Ithaca journal) to see if he would like to take a
ride in the snowplow and then write an article for the Ithaca journal.
The Committee reviewed the parking policy for the Town. Basically there has to be a
local law prohibiting parking, otherwise vehicles can park on the shoulder of the road,
but not in the travel lane. The Committee also discussed that fixed objects (such as mail
boxes that are not on a swinging bar) should not be in the right-of-way.
Mountin Proposal
Mike Smith informed the Committee that there is a proposal (going to the Planning
Board) for development in the West Haven, Elm Street Ext. area. This is a 33 acre
proposal, with four (4) building lots, three (3) access roads and 10 (ten) acres to be
dedicated to parks and/or open space. The proposed park site is not part of the Parks
Public Works Committee Minutes, August 31,2004 Page 3
and Open Space Plan —the area designated for a future park in the Parks and Open
Space Plan is on the other side of West Haven Road.
This proposal shows the area for the park in an isolated area and would be landlocked.
Cathy Valentino had concerns about this becoming a park. We currently have a park
that is isolated and there are always problems there —vandalism, people drinking, etc.
Even if the area is dedicated open space, the Town becomes liable for people using it.
There are currently some trails on the property that the residents are using. This area
does not coordinate well with the possible trail system that would be on the other side
of West Haven and would connect to the proposed West Hill Park.
Currently there is a purchase offer by the residents (of West Haven) to purchase the
property and dedicate it to the Town. This would be a land locked area so we would
have to get easements to access it.
Feedback from the Committee includes that the park would not be accessible to all
Town residents, and it is isolated.
Storm Water Management
Dan Walker showed the Committee members the letters he would be sending to the
residents on Tudor Road and Hanshaw Road.
As mentioned above, as soon as the easements are signed (by Mr. Frandsen) we will
move ahead to bid out ,the project on Slaterville Road (Ewings). We are hoping to have
this ready to be approved at the October Town Board meeting.
Dan is working on a plan for South Hill. Dan also said that the DEC is now enforcing
the storm water management plans.
The Committee discussed issues of residents changing their footer (foundation) drains
and if they have to come to the Town before they change them. Basically, there has to
be changes within a one (1) acre parcel for the DEC to get involved with storm water
management. If they are moving more than 50 cu. yd., then they need a fill permit.
The building permit process needs to include inspections of the lot drainage to make
sure it connects to the pubic drainage system. This includes projects that are in an old
subdivision, as well as new subdivisions. This could help alleviate some drainage
problems residents have.
The Committee asks that the enforcement of the Building Codes be more adhered to
with regards to drainage issues. We will also have to review the Building Codes
regarding when someone decides to do construction on an existing building lot.
Public Works Committee Minutes, August 31,2004 Page 4
Miscellaneous
South Hill Water Line: The bids for construction of the water line are due to the Town
today, August 31, 2004, at 1:00 p.m. This will be sent to the Town Board at their
September meeting for approval.
Woolf Lane Park: We will be setting up a informational meeting to discuss some of the
comments, etc. received as a result of our initial letter to the neighborhood.
Winston Court: We will not be doing any underground drainage on Winston Court this
year due to time constraints. The money that was allocated for this work may be used
for the work on Slaterville Road. We will work on Winston Court next year.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.