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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1997-12-04 DISPOSITION DATE Fj1i1 A Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting December 4, 1997,8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility 1. Approval of Minutes September 25, 1997 October 23,1997 2. Discussion on Safety Committees 3. Discussion on Emergency Response Plan 4. Discussion on Speed Limit on Route 79 (Mecklenburg Road) 5. Discussion on the Buttermilk Falls Road Project 6. Discussion on Agreement between Tompkins County and Town of Ithaca Regarding Forest Home Bridge 7. Discussion on Caldwell Road 8. Discussion on Storm Water Management ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Administrative Secretary Joan Lent Noteboom,Town Clerk Andrew Frost, Director of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning DISPOSITION DATE P TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting, December 4, 1997 Present: David Klein; Chair,Fred Noteboom, Rich Schoch, Dan Walker Guests: Jonathan Kanter and Gene Redman The meeting began at 8:04 a.m. There was a discussion regarding Cornell University students project on designing parks within the Town of Ithaca, namely Tutelo Park and Saponi Meadows Park. They will be presenting final designs again soon. David Klein expressed an interest in seeing the design, so we will look into presenting them to the Town Board. Jonathan informed the Committee there will be a meeting regarding the transportation in the Northeast. Both sets of minutes were approved. Discussion on Safety Committees Fred Noteboom opened the discussion by handing out a draft plan to develop safety committees for the Town of Ithaca's employees. Setting up safety committees was recommended by Lovell Safety Management, due largely to the amount of workers compensation claims in the recent years. Fred indicated that we will set up two separate committees—one for Town Hall and one for Highway/Parks. There was a discussion on the "make up" of the members. Fred will look into the "safety consultant" person,because he is not sure who that should be. Dan Walker suggested that there only be one committee with two sub committees--one for Town Hall and one for Highway/Parks. David felt that was a good idea. Discussion on Emergency Response Plan Fred indicated that the Town was cited from PESH (Public Employees Safety and Health) for not having an emergency response plan that was specifically from the Town of Ithaca's employees. The written plan that was approved by the Town Board includes the City of Ithaca's and the Fire Department's duties. Public Works Committee Minutes, December 4,1997 Page 2 Fred handed out an Emergency Response Plan for the Town, which was taken from the approved Plan and put in a format supplied by PESH. ' This, along with the Confined Space Entry Plan, needs to be presented to the Town Board. The Confined Space Entry Plan was not available for the Committee to review, so it will be put in the January Public Works Committee agenda. We will have the Board review both plans at the same time. Fred indicated that he will be to developing a Safety Manual, much like the Personnel Manual.. Discussion on Route 79 Speed Limit David indicated that Confer Reality asked that the speed limit be changed due to their proposed development of apartment buildings on Route 79. Dan indicated that there is a site distance problem in that area (between Rachel Carson Way and the City of Ithaca line). David indicated that Confer Reality did a traffic study and a speed check. The speed check actually indicated that most people slow down (where the first phase of construction is planed) before reaching the sharp curve near the City line. David said that the area should be classified as a suburban area and that this could warrant a reduction in the speed limit. The Public Works Committee recommended that the Town Board approve the request for a speed limit reduction on Route 79 (Mecklenburg Road) from Rachel Carson Way to the City of Ithaca line. This will be added to the January Town Board meeting. There was also a discussion regarding a Town-wide speed limit. A study needs to be completed. This was discussed that this should be looked at when the Transportation Plan is being prepared. Update on Buttermilk Falls Road Water and Sewer Project Dan informed the Committee that the Water and Sewer line have been put in and tested. He also indicated that the lawn restoration will be done by the contractor in the spring. Dan said that an old bridge abutment was found while the construction was going on. The bridge is at the end of the driveway between Buttermilk Falls Bed and Breakfast and the Quonset Hut. Dan felt that it was probably built when Spencer Road was "Elmira Road"; back in the early 1900's. David asked if it was recorded, and Dan said yes. 0 Public Works Committee Minutes,December 4,1997 Page 3 Agreement between Tompkins County and the Town of Ithaca Regarding Forest Home Bridge Fred said this was added to the agenda, more as a reminder to Cathy. Fred will give John Barney a copy of this and it will be put on the January meeting. Fred indicated that Tompkins County, as part of the reconstruction agreement, still has to pave the intersection of Pleasant Grove Road and Forest Home Drive. David felt that a letter should be written (to remind them) to John Lampman and the Town of Ithaca's representatives to the Tompkins County Board of Representatives. Fred informed the Committee that Tompkins County is planning to rebuild the bridge on Renwick Road. The preliminary cost of the Town's portion is around $27,000. Because this was not budgeted for in 1998,it may have to come from the fund balance. Fred also indicated that the King Road East bridge abutments are suppose to be fixed in 1998. Discussion on Caldwell Road Fred said that he talked to Bill Wendt, Cornell University Transportation. Bill is going to talk to various groups regarding possible funding for this project. Bill asked for more C information on how it will impact the Plantations and he would like cost estimates. Fred stressed that this information is needed by January 8, 1998, so Bill can discuss it with his groups. David asked if the 1998 work plan includes working on Caldwell Road. Fred said yes, although he had concerns about funding. If Cornell University is able to assist in the funding, we will not have problems hiring an independent contractor. David expressed his concern about getting other projects done in 1998. Fred and Dan will meet to go over the plan, etc. Jonathan Kanter felt that the New York State Department of Transportation should be able to review the plan, since a traffic signal is involved. Fred said that he will be talk to Lois Chapman regarding pedestrian and cyclist traffic on the hill section of this road. This led to a discussion on Cornell University's grant (from DOT) for bike and pedestrian trails, etc. Public Works Committee Minutes,December 4,1997 Page 4 Update on Storm Water Management Fred and Gene Redman talked about an underground pipe which was found on Simsbury Drive. This must be very old (we did not know it was there) and needs to be replaced. Dan produced a map of the Warren Road/Uptown Road area. Dan said that the next step in the process is to meet with Fred and Gene and develop a work plan. He, again, indicated that the culvert pipes that are there have a hard time handling the water capacity. The area he feels needs to be worked on first would be the Simsbury/Christopher Circle area. Fred informed the Committee that he went to a seminar on Highway Superintendent's Right and Responsibilities. He learned that if a drainage way is man-made and has been there 10 years, we have the right to work on it. He will look into this further. David asked about working on the Sienna/Blackstone area. Gene indicated that it was fixed this fall. David would like to stage another informational meeting the end of January to inform the residents what is going to happen next. Dan said that the BOCES project is finished. He indicated that a retention pond has been built at the Arrowwood development, and this should help some of the problems. Fred feels that we should discuss our finding and work plan with the Village of Cayuga Heights. There was a discussion regarding the drainage from Dewitt Pond to Brandywine Drive (this needs to have underground pipes put in). Easements are needed, but it was felt that it would not be hard to get them. Fred also indicated that some vegetation will need to be moved. Miscellaneous Fred indicated that the Highway/Parks Department will be reviewing the leaf collection and reporting back at the January meeting. Dan said that he received a letter from Tompkins County Planning regarding a grant that is available for "Protecting Public Works". He indicated that deadline is December 15, 1997. He gave the information to Fred. Dan updated the Committee on the fuel leak at Cornell University. He indicated that it affected the Forest Home area, but that they had flushed the systems and were going to Public Works Committee Minutes,December 4,1997 Page 5 take samples of the water today. At present, Cornell University is tied into Bolton Points water. Dan indicated that the contamination was very low. Meeting was adjourned at 9:40 a.m. ghk