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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1997-04-24 DISPOSITION DATE . 16/41, Q}/s M Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting April 24, 1997, 8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility 1. Approval of Minutes David 2. Discussion on Highway RFP Fred 3. Discussion on Limitation of Roadside Brush Pick Up Fred/Rich 4. Discussion on Tub Grinder Rental with Cayuga Heights Fred/Rich 5. Discussion on Leasing Land for Small Park at Sewer Pump Station—Forest Home Fred/Rich 6. Discussion on Buttermilk Falls Water and Sewer Extension Dan 7. Discussion on Priority List for Water and Sewer Capital Plan Dan ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Administrative Secretary Joan Lent Noteboom, Town Clerk Andrew Frost, Director of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning Enc.: - y Dsposm0N DAZE ti1. TOWN OF ITHACA q Public Works Committee Minutes April 24, 1997 Present: David Klein, Chairperson; Cathy Valentino; Ed Conley; Fred Noteboom; Rich Schoch; and Dan Walker The April 3, 1997, minutes will be approved at the next meeting. Highway RFP A discussion took place regarding the time line for submitting the Request for Proposal (RFP)to the Board. It will go to the Town Board for their approval at the July meeting. Our goal is to have the feasibility study completed this year so work can begin next year. The cost of the study should cost around$5,000 to $10,000. There is money set aside for this study in the 1997 Budget. A revised copy of the RFP is forthcoming. This will be a discussion item at the May meeting. David did make some comments that need to be incorporated into the revised RFP. Some of them include: • ADA needs to be listed on Page 2 • Add to the study information on the electrical system,phones, lighting,etc. • A Form of Agreement(from Town Attorney)needs to be included. • Need to define who the contractor's contact(Town)will be. • A time frame(schedule)should be asked for in the RFP. • What parties will be involved in the interview process?(PWC Members and selected staff) • The RFP should be set up differently to facilitate clearer instruction. Limitation of Roadside Brush Pick Up Rich Schoch informed the Committee that the brush pickup service is being abused. More and more residents are clearing lots and putting the brush out for pick up by the Town's crews. Rich showed the Committee pictures of some of the brush piles. Cathy Valentino feels that the Town's crews should not be picking up this type of brush pile (some were not near houses, etc.) David Klein asked who were clearing lots. Rich said there was evidence on Stone Quarry Road, King Road, Commonland, and on west hill. In the past, Lucente Homes has cleared lots too. - Public Works Committee Minutes Page 2 Cathy Valentino suggested a disclaimer be added to the newsletter and newspaper ads to t _ - let residents know that the Town will no longer pick up brush from cleared lots. Also, the crews will use their judgment and pick up only brush that is truly yard waste. Brush can be brought to the Highway facility year around. Dan said that"residential"needs to be defined. We will modify the ads and return to the PWC for approval. Rich indicated that there are a lot of leaves that were not in bags this spring. A discussion of the high cost of paper bags ensued. Agway is currently the only place in Town that sells them and they charge about$1 a bag. We will encourage Agway to reduce their price at the times of our pick ups, and encourage other vendors to carry these bags. There is no interest in the Town selling the bags, though. Rental of a Tub Grinder with Cayuga Heights Fred Noteboom explained that the Town of Ithaca Highway Department would like to rent a tub grinder to chip all the brush in back of the building. Rich had pictures to show the amount of brush there. The Village of Cayuga Heights is out of places to store their brush and would like to start bringing it to the Town. They are willing to help pay for the tub grinder rental. Fred initiated a discussion of how much to charge the Village of Cayuga Heights. He feels that we should only ask for 10 percent of the cost this year, since the Village has not brought very much here yet. Cathy said we need to keep in mind the cost of not just the rental,but the employees and equipment used. David Klein reminded the Committee that the Village of Cayuga Heights does pay taxes to the Town and that this should be considered when figuring out the rate to charge the Village. The Village pays Town-wide tax, although Highway and Parks funds are funded from Part-town Fred will work on this. Leasing Land for Small Park at Sewer Pump Station--Forest Home Rich explained that he is working on a planting plan at the sewer pump station in Forest Home. He met with Hal Martin, Cornell Plantations, to discuss this plan. Hal suggested the Town lease the land and make a small park on it. Fred indicated that Cornell Plantations presently maintains that area. Cathy did not think Forest Home Association would be interested in a park there. The Committee did not feel this would be a good venture. Rich indicated that he would go ahead and restore the area. M Public Works Committee Minutes Page 3 Buttermilk Falls Water and Sewer Extension l , Dan Walker said that, although this is not on the Capital Improvement Plan,the Town will go ahead with this project. Dan has talked to Jessie Miller,New York State Parks; the Parks may be able to provide $5,000 toward the project. A lengthy discussion of the assessment of the water and sewer benefits for each property that will be served took place. The Committee felt that the State Park's assessment should be based on the peak usage. Dan will bring this before the Assessment Committee. The time line is as follows: 1. Set the public hearing at the May Town Board meeting. 2. Have the public hearing at the June Town Board meeting and authorize bidding for work. 3. Authorize the construction contraction for the project at the July Town Board meeting. Priority List for Water and Sewer Capital Plan Dan handed out a list of the Capital Projects Plan. Ed Conley said that this list is good, but we need to make another list that includes requests for residents, which are not always high priorities. He would like to see money set aside in each budget for these projects. Cathy said this plan was put on hold,but the Town Board will start working on this list again. Ed Conley suggested having a work session meeting to work on the list. He also feels this should be done before budget time. David pointed out that the Buttermilk Falls project was not on the Plan but that the extenuating circumstances warrant the project being placed on the Priority List this year. Cathy said that the Plan does need to be flexible. Miscellaneous Fred informed the Committee that the law requires an audit(on FEMA moneys) be completed. This was done; the auditors praised the good quality and thoroughness of the record keeping completed by Gail Kroll. Fred told the Committee that Tompkins County, along with Highway Superintendents, is working on an agreement whereby Towns,Villages, and the County share equipment. Fred is also looking into the Town of Caroline's pilot program on Low Volume Local Road. ghlc