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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWC Minutes 1994-10-27 04�,0 Highway and setts ilpattagat DM! rt ' . . TOWN OF ITHACA Ithaca, 14851 �-^ wa<=i 4$ 126 EAST SENECA STREET, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850 laxt (617) 213-9239 f —iv Yu TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY 273-1656 PARKS 273-8035 ENGINEERING 273-1747 PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783 Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting October 27 , 1994, 8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Barn 1. Approval of Minutes David September 29, 1994 • 2 . Discussion of New York State Road • Construction in 1995 Fred • 3. Discussion of Maple Avenue Construction Dan and Fred 4 . Discussion on Direction of Public Works Department Organization Dan and Fred 5. Update on Forest Home Drive Bridge Fred 6 . Update on Judd Falls Road Construction Fred . 7. Discussion of Budget Saving Incentives Fred 8. Update on Water Projects on Troy and Coddington Roads Dan 9. Update on Sewer projects on West Haven Road Dan 10. Update Highway Property Acquisition Fred ghk pc: Mar Bryant, Administrative Secretary ,t Nb et i�oo,me meat._ et ikd Jon Kanter Town Planner George Frantz, Assistant Town Planner Andrew Frost, Code Enforcement Officer ( TOWN OF ITHACA Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes October 27, 1994 Present: David Klein, Chairperson; Dan Walker; John Whitcomb; Rich Schoch, and Fred Noteboom • The meeting began at 8: 10 a.m. John Whitcomb moved that the minutes from the September meeting be approved, and David Klein seconded it. The minutes were approved. New York State Road Construction in 1995 Fred Noteboom informed the Committee that the construction on Route 13 and at the Octopus that will be started in the Spring of 1995 will have an impact on the Highway Department with regard to time. It will hold up traffic, including the Highway equipment because Route 13 and the Route 13A are our main routes to connect the Highway Barns with the rest of the Town. The discussion evolved to what impact the Octopus project will have on the Town's sewer and water. David asked if the City of Ithaca had decided to "back" ' the Octopus project and would they be working on their sewer and water to upgrade it. John indicated that they were still discussing it. Dan Walker indicated that the Town of Ithaca will work with the City regarding the water and sewer. Dan also indicated that the Octopus project will take approximately three years to complete. Maple Avenue Construction Fred informed the Committee that he met with Cornell University in regards to a project Cornell is planning on Maple Avenue. Cornell would like to add several facilities and a larger parking area. Fred indicated that the Town would want to take advantage of this opportunity to resolve a number of safety issues on Maple Avenue during this construction process. Cornell' s projects are slated to be completed in July 1995 . David asked if the changes Cornell wants to make have to be presented to the Planning Board and if the Planning Board was involved in our design for Maple Avenue. Fred indicated that one of our concerns is that the East Hill Recreation Way uses this section of Maple Avenue as a connection. The sight distances are poor and the road is much to narrow to adequately accommodate vehicle traffic as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The Town should be able to work in conjunction with the City of Ithaca and Cornell University to resolve these problems. Fred also indicated that he has been in contact with the Planning Department. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 He talked about combining our project with the Cornell project and bidding them both at the same time. David asked if this project was budgeted for in 1995 , and Fred indicated that it was. David then asked what the approximate cost would be, and Fred indicated • - around $100,000. David asked if the City of Ithaca was interested in participating in the project since Maple Avenue continues in the City. Fred said that he has talked with the City and they indicated they were interested in working together on the project. David then asked if the road would have to be closed during construction, and Dan indicated that it would. There was a discussion as to how much, if any, Cornell University would pay to. reconstruct Maple Avenue. Dan felt that if Cornell changed any sight distances when constructing the new facilities and parking area, that they might be interested in contributing funds for the reconstruction of Maple Avenue. David asked if the design of the road would be done "in-house" , and Dan indicated that it would not be contracted out but possible Cornell or the City could help design the road. David asked where the drainage would go, and Fred indicated that it probably will be connected to the City storm system. Dan indicated that the drainage will have to meet the DEC specifications. Direction of Public Works Department Organization Fred felt that the Town was moving towards a Public Works Department since all the Departments are working together during parks and trail, water and sewer, and road construction projects. David asked if we have an models to follow. Dan felt that we already have a model since we work together on projects. He felt that the distribution of funds need to be looked at. David asked how it would affect the budget process. John indicated that there are only two different categories within the Town budget that are impacted. Fred indicated that he felt that the City of Ithaca was not a good model to look at because there are too many "fragments" . John indicated that we should look into how other Towns work their Public Works Department. It was agreed that no new management was needed, but Fred indicated that possible new laborer/ME0 positions are needed. It was discussed that sometimes it would behoove the Town to contract out large projects, such as Judd Falls Road, so that the Town has time to work on other smaller projects. Fred also indicated that during this winter, he and Rich would be working on a "Highway and Parks Department" goals and objectives. Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 Forest Home Drive Bridge Fred informed the Committee that there was a report in one of the local newspapers regarding Tompkins County not having any money - - budgeted for bridges in 1995. Fred talked to Jim Kazda and was informed that Forest Home Bridge was not cut from the Tompkins County Budget. John asked what the Town' s responsibility is regarding the bridge , and Dan indicated that the driving surface, walkways, and approaches were the Town' s responsibility. Fred said that the Town budgeted $50,000 for construction on the Forest Home Drive Bridge. Fred also informed the Committee that the Town was "Flagged" for unsafe walkways on the upstream bridge. Fred told the Committee that the bridge walkway has been fixed using galvanized screws. John asked if the Highway crews fixed the plates on the downstream bridge, and Fred said that it was done . David said it still rattles as cars go by, though. Fred said that the County was cited for Ok' ing overweight vehicles on the downstream bridge. David asked who is the Town's contact person with the County regarding the Bridge. It was decided that Fred should be. Judd Falls Road Fred informed the Committee that the Town will be having a meeting with the Forest Home Associate group to discuss the rebuilding of Judd Falls Road as soon as we have a design in place. Dan said that the water and sewer design has been drawn up. His time frame for designing the whole project is as follows: November they will continue field work, and in December they will have the design ready for review. John asked what the cost of this project will be, and Fred indicated approximately $100,000. Dan also said that some drainage work has already been completed on Judd Falls Road. David asked about the path that runs along the west side of Judd Falls Road. John will be meeting with the Forest Home Associate and will discuss it with them. There was also mention about moving the stone wall and the utility pole . Budget Savings Incentives Fred introduced an idea where the Town could reward employees for their money saving ideas. David said we would have to look at the laws regarding this type of procedure. Fred also indicated that it Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 should be brought to the Personnel Committee ' s attention. David thought it was a good idea, and John said he would talk to Pat Punger, Personnel Manager, about it. Troy Road and Coddington Road Water Dan said that the contractor will be starting work this week. John asked where he would be starting, and Dan indicated Troy Road. John also asked what the time frame for this project is. Dan indicated it should take two weeks for the contractor to dig on Troy Road and one week to dig on Coddington Road. John then asked which side of Troy Road they would be working on, and Dan indicated the west side . John asked if the Town needed to get permits from the County to dig on the sides of the roads. Dan indicated that he is drawing up an agreement for John to sign. Dan said that the work may be done by Thanksgiving, with a little "clean up" work to be done in the spring. John asked if there would be any blasting, and Dan said hopefully not. West Haven Road Sewer Dan informed the Committee that the contractor will start work around November 4, 1994, and be done by Christmas. He indicated that some of the houses will be connected to the system as the contractor goes along. Dan also said that the Town will connect the houses in exchange for easements. Miscellaneous David asked if the drainage problem in the Whitetail Drive area has been resolved. Dan said we think the problems have been corrected. The acquisition of the property and storage shed is in the hands of the attorneys and that the price of $47,000 was accepted. Fred handed out a draft copy of a Mission Statement for the Highway and Parks Department. David said it was adequate. The Town will be constructing a handicapped accessibility ramp in the front of Town Hall. This is slated to begin the week of October 31 , 1994. John received complaints about the paving on Lexington Drive. Fred explained the following: Lexington Drive used to be two separate cul-de-sacs. They were connected but the asphalt parts of the cul- de-sacs remain. It does look bad. David suggested that the Town Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes Page 5 take out the gravel/asphalt, extend the driveways and put grass in. It was agreed upon that this idea is the best solution. Fred said the work could not be done until next spring or summer. John asked if they would need to put in culvert pipes in the driveways, and Fred did not think so. John also received a call regarding putting up a street light at 404 Winthrop Drive. John will talk to the man about putting in a lighting district or having New York State Electric and Gas put on a light with the resident paying for it. John received a letter for a resident regarding the Town' s policy on mailbox replacement. Fred suggested that the wording of the policy be reviewed. The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 40 a.m. ghk i . .: Hudson Street .\ 6'"l 211/4 Entrance / Town of Ithaca \ III Cramant Race Entrance / .•- / i� .. ` t _ �� SV4rt'ilfe Road //f , Lt/ �1 ` �, tTICIa icni� tfM� ` Six-Mile Creek �c:as;cucrit iatiMileof NI • Criler ---"111*etc- !Ski.. \---1-4---.":41% 1---------- Coddington Road . • .v`O A`��et 61�• \ Eotranm •. A Access �` O�Y��II .. 1 Sixty-Foot Dam • .. V' / , (gate w/c? lock) Juniper Drive . • Entrance a re• - . .� "•'�• Bunn Road , a. • • a Homicide ' • �y � a Homicide O '� DISTANCES m Hudson St.to Juniper Dr. 1.2 ml. • • •~ 4 1pf � Hudson St.to Northvlew Barricade 1.6 ml. a Hudson St.to 60-Ft.Dam Access 2.3 ml. ,� a m' Hudson St.to Burns Rd. 2.9 ml. II Hudson St.to Coddlngton Rd. 1.6 mi. •��`•� • Coddington Rd to Juniper Dr. 0.6 mi. Coddington Rd.to Northvlew Barricade 0.9 mi. --•— RECREATION WAY ROUTE SOUTH HILL Coddlngton Rd.to 60-Ft.Dam Access 1.7 ml. • au R SOUTH10N AY Coddington Rd.to Bums Rd. 2.2 mi. .; �L TI T, , T 4 ' . 4. 101 Mm. pot • Praia L ap.¢�ai. � l me �i.[ Ont.".Rt� ..:••3-1