Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1996-04-25 DISPOSITION DATE Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting April 25, 1996, 8 : 00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway/Parks Facility 1 . Approval of• Minutes David 2 . Update on Forest Home Bridge Dan/Fred 3 . Update Dewitt Retention Pond Progress Dan 4 . Discussion of YCC Workers Schedule Rich 5 . Update on Right-of-way Policy Fred 6 . Update on Northeast Work Plan and Schedule Fred ghk pc : Mary Bryant, Administrative Secretary Joan Lent Noteboom, Town Clerk Jon Kanter, Director of Planning Andrew Frost, Director of Building and Zoning DISPOSITION DATE � 1 NNA l TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes April 25, 1996 Present : David Klein, Chairperson; Dan Walker; Cathy Valentino; Rich Schoch; and Fred Noteboom Guests : Jonathan Kanter The meeting began at 8 : 10 a.m. Fred Noteboom informed the Committee that there would be a resolution going before the Town Board regarding the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) . This program, which would not be approved until 1997, is slated to be voted on by the New York State Legislature after the Town' s 1997 budget is to be finalized. The minutes from the March meeting were approved with no changes . Update on Forest Home Bridge Dan Walker informed the Committee that Tompkins County has bid out the project and the bid opening is on April 30, 1996 . Dan also indicated that a cost break down and a more definite schedule will be available at the May Town Board Meeting. Dan said that at the Pre-Bid Meeting, three contractors were there . The question of ordering the steel was the only major question raised. The County said they will work with the contractor on this . Dan said that Cornell University has requested that the Bridge be left open until after the Reunion weekend. The reunion weekend is in June . That will have to be worked out with the County. David Klein asked if there was a plan for the detour signage . Dan said the County is working on that . Fred will follow up on that . David felt that the signs should be placed well in advance . Fred indicated that he will be talking the John Lampman regarding the signage and the costs estimates, since the break down is different from the original ones . David asked if the Town is committed to the costs, no matter how extreme . Fred said he thought so. Cathy Valentino felt that the Town should put something in the Newsletter regarding Cornell University' s roads, which are open to the public . She said that the Transportation Department said that the only time a car must stop at the gates is if they will be Public Works Committee Minutes Page 2 parking on campus. This article for the Newsletter should be reviewed by Bill Wendt of Cornell University' s Transportation Department . David asked if a summary of the Forest Home Work Group meeting was prepared. Fred said yes, and a copy should be in his box at Town Hall. David than said that there are some questions regarding the construction done on Judd Falls Road. Dan said he has been in contact with the contractor, and we are looking into putting in some gravel and jute matting and some type of ground cover on the section that is a steep slope. Fred indicated that if the contractor will not fix the areas, we could ask the Probation Department' s Work Relief Program for help. Update on Dewitt Retention Pond Dan said the Engineering Department is working on surveying the area. Dan indicated that when the school was built, the stream was redirected, possibly causing some of the problems. Dan indicated that we discovered a sewer lateral which is at the utility access hole that was exposed and broken. This is a private lateral which the school owns . Cathy asked where the fence was in relation to the pond. David said it goes around the top of the dike . Dan indicated that we would have to change the fencing. There was a discussion regarding putting the fence across the inflow and outflow. David then asked if the out-flow pipe would be smaller than the in- flow. Dan indicated that the in-flow pipe will be 24" and the out- flow pipe will be 18" . There was a discussion regarding the original design and that we were only going to make a few changes. Then David asked if there would be more water in the pond, as the school has requested. Dan said yes. Cathy asked where the funds were coming from to complete this project. Fred said that the Town will be receiving some funds from FEMA for this project . The project consists of reworking the fence, putting in gabions, and fixing the utility access holes. Fred informed the Committee that this is not the only place in Town that the water has been redirected for development. Cathy agreed, saying that is the case in the Eastern Heights area. Fred said (( that these diversions are starting to cause problems. Public Works Committee Minutes Page 3 Ron Simpson continues to call the Town regarding a ditch on Coddington Road that continues to flooding his property. Dan has informed him that there is nothing the Town can do, since the ditch is on private property. Cathy asked what the time frame of the Dewitt Pond project is . Dan indicated that the design work will be completed next week, and Fred said that the work needs to be done soon, since FEMA funds are involved. Fred indicated that he would like to see the work done in late May or early June. Discussion of YCC Workers Schedule Rich Schoch handed out a tentative schedule, which did not include working on the pavilion at the Coddington Road Community Center (CCC) . Rich said he met with Rick Dietrick (YCC Director) and George Frantz regarding work to be done on the South Hill Trail . The discussion evolved to working on the pavilion at CCC. Cathy said Holley, from the Community Center, talked to her about putting the pavilion up. Holley said that CCC will provide the materials and if YCC provides the labor, there will be no cost to the Town. The problem that the Committee realizes is that the Town does not own the park. Cathy will discussion this with John Barney to get his advice. Fred also voiced his concern about the small amount of room there. Cathy felt that this project could be a "model" for future park site pavilions. Rich indicated that it is possible to get more workers from YCC. He also feels that the work on South Hill Trail and the ADA upgrades are a priority for the workers. It was decided that the work on the Historical Markers would be done by Town staff, and the Vincenzo Iacovelli Park work would be deferred. Rich indicated that there may be a problem with transportation for the YCC workers, and Cathy felt they would not be able to use ladders. Rich said he is looking into them using scaffolding. Cathy suggested that she may be able to get some unions to do some volunteer work. Rich indicated that Rick Dietrick will work on the details and problems . Brush David asked how the brush pick-up was going. Fred said that we finished on Wednesday. David asked if this was early, and Fred indicated that it was not . Cathy asked if we could do a cost estimate for the pick-up. Fred said yes. Public Works Committee Minutes Page 4 Fred talked to the Committee about writing a letter to the editor regarding the brush and leaf pick-ups. The Committee thought it was a good idea. Rich said that it takes at least 10 percent of the Highway/Parks Department labor force to work with the brush and leaf project . This included the two pick-ups, taking care of the compost piles, and chipping brush which is brought to the facility throughout the year. Fred indicated that there is more pressure on us now that the land fill is closed, and there are very few places to take this material. He also indicated that we will be renting a drum chipper for the pile of brush at the Highway/Parks Facility. Cathy asked about the policy of letting landscapers bring brush here. At present, they can bring in brush. David said that if we use the resources from it, it may be warranted. Cathy felt that landscapers should not be able to bring in brush. There was a discussion regarding licensing commercial businesses when they bring in brush. It was decided this was not a feasible idea. Rich indicated that we receive a lot of calls from residents that do not have trucks to bring brush to us, then they hire a landscaper, who brings it to us. Cathy felt that if residents hire a landscaper, the landscaper should be responsible for its disposal and not be allowed to bring it to the Highway/Parks Department facility. It was decided that we will no longer except commercial business brush. We can evaluate it later. Fred indicted that Tompkins County has expressed their concern with the brush being put on the shoulder of the road. Cathy felt we should discuss this with the Town' s representative to the Board of Representatives before it becomes a bigger issue, since it is only two times a year this happens . Cathy indicated that possibly we should limit when brush can be put at curb side. Update on Right-of-Way Policy Fred handed out a revised right-of-way policy. The only change made was adding a number 6, which indicated that we will only reimburse residents for material for up to $30 . David said to put this on the Board agenda as a consent item. Update on Northeast Work Plan and Schedule Fred indicated that the Highway/Parks Department will be repaving � _- Simsbury Drive, Winthrop Drive, and Brandywine Drive . We will be Public Works Committee Minutes Page 5 grinding out the current roadways and putting it back down as a base (recycling it) ; the base will be about 3 W . Then about two weeks later, we will put a top coat of asphalt on each street, which will be about 2" . We will be doing Brandywine and Simsbury on a Friday and Winthrop on Saturday, when school will not be in session. Cathy asked if all the Highway crews will be working overtime on Saturday. Fred said no, the Town only has to provide traffic control for the project. David asked about the shoulder of the roads . Fred indicated that since we will be grinding up the current roadway, he does not think there will be a lip. David asked if this project will get rid of the dips in the roads . Fred said it would. Fred indicated that we will be replacing the culvert pipe on Sandra Place and piping Brandywine Drive. Jonathan asked if we would be putting in the Ithaca Journal our intentions . Fred said we will. Cathy also asked that, when we send letters to the residents, we send one to the principal of the school . Discussion of Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility Dan indicated that he wanted to update the Committee on the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) . The sewer plant would like to increase the rate of capacity of the plant. To do this, there will have to be a bond or something. The Town' s share would be approximately $280, 000 . There is 1 . 5 million in the reserve fund. Cathy reminded Dan that we need to get the figures from the City of Ithaca of the Town' s share of the interest (on the reserve fund) . We need to get a financial statement. This will be put on the Town Board Agenda. Discussion of Arrowwood Drive Dan informed the Committee the Cornell University is proposing a sub-division for medical offices on Arrowwood Drive. Although this is in the Village of Lansing, the Village has asked the Town if they can tie into the Town of Ithaca' s water lines. Dan feels that the water line going to the Schools would not be adequate, and he feels that if they tie in, it should be from the Muriel Street line. We need to make some type of agreement up for this. Public Works Committee Minutes Page 6 David asked if the Planning Board had seen this proposal since it is so close to the Town Lines (possible on the Town Line) . Jonathan said no, but he will look into it . Discussion of Bolton Road Dan reminded the Committee that in the original inter-municipal agreement, it was decided that the Commission would build a road to the Village of Lansing' s specifications and then the Village would take it over. The Village has asked that the road be re-designed. Dan said that the Town of Ithaca can do the surveying and Bolton Point will pay us. The meeting was adjourned at 9 :45 a.m. ghk