Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Packet 2024-11-04 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 5:30 p.m. 215 N. Tioga St. For your convenience, this meeting will be also broadcast via ZOOM (929) 436-2866 Meeting ID 98910958241 AGENDA 1) Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance 2) Persons to be Heard and Board Comments 3) Public hearings and consider adoption of: a. Proposed increase to Town of Ithaca Water Rates b. Proposed increase to Sewer Rents c. 2024 Assessment Rolls for the Town of Ithaca's Special Benefit Districts and Special Benefit Areas 4) Consider Approval of the Town of Ithaca Non-Collective Bargaining Employees' Wage Scales and Wages for 2025 5) Public hearing regarding the Preliminary 2025 Budget a. Consider any changes b. Consider adoption 6) Consider approval of the Public Works Facility's Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing & Structural Improvements Project (Permissive Referendum) 7) Consider award of Inlet Valley Sewer Improvement Project—Design and Preparation of Electrical Detailed Construction Drawings and Specifications 8) Consider approval of an agreement with the City of Ithaca for Building Permitting, Inspection, and Related Services - Cornell University Meinig Fieldhouse Project 9) Consider authorizing the implementation and funding certain eligible costs associated with the East Shore Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Corridor Project 10)Consider approval to re-levy unpaid Water/Sewer accounts 11)Consider Consent Agenda Items a. Approval of Town Board Minutes b. Approval of the Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Approval. of Bolton Point Abstract d. Approval of noncompetitive permanent appointments — Senior Code Enforcement Officer and Senior Planner 12)Report from Town Committee s/Intermunic ip al. Organizations 13) Rcvlcw of Correspondence MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 - Ins rea sin y, Water Rates Char able to Consumers of Water in the Town of Ithaca Effective November 15, 2024 Whereas, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca wishes to revise water rate schedules for all Town of Ithaca Water Improvement Areas; and Whereas, a public hearing, duly advertised and posted, was held on the 4 1h day of November 2024, and the public was permitted an opportunity to be heard on the proposed increase; and Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA") and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, it has been determined by the Town Board that adoption of the proposed resolution is a Type 11 action because it constitutes 11routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment," and thus this action is not subject to review under SERA; Now, therefore, be it Resolved', that the Town Board hereby establishes a water rate of$9.91 was $9.33) per 1,000 gallons ofwater consumed with the following water rate schedule: WATER RATE SCHEDULE Effective November 15, 2024 The rate charged for water consumption shall, be $9.91 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. The foregoing rate will be the rate charged for all regular quarterly bills sent on or after January 1, 2025. Actual or base consumption may occur prior to January 1, 2025. Notwithstanding the foregoing rates, the following minimum base charges shall be applicable to the meter size indicated below for regular quarterly bills issued on or after January 1, 2025. The table below also shows the amount of water consumption that is permitted before the minimum base charge would be exceeded: METER SIZE BASE CONSUMPTION MINIMUM CHARGE (INCHES) (Gallons) 3/4 5 NO $ 49.55 1 15,000 $ 148-65 1-1/2 22,500 $ 222.98 2 45,000 $ 445-95 3 70,000 693.70 4 100,000 $ 991-00 6 175 MOO 1�734.25 Multiple Housing and mobile home parks of over 2 dwelling units,, using a master meter, will be computed as follows: The quarterly master meter reading will be divided by the number of dwelling units and the water charge will be figured on this number as if the unit was individually metered. The water charge will then be multiplied by the number of units on the master meter and this will be the billing rendered. If the calculation of the water consumed per dwelling unit is less than the allowable consumption for a three-quarter inch meter, then the billing will be calculated by multiplying the number of units on the master meter times the minimum charge for a three- quarter inch meter. The water application fee for each new application for water service shall be the charges for new water connections charged by the Southern Cayuga Lake Inten-municipal Water Commission including application fees meter charges, service tap fees inspection fees accessory materials, installation cos,ts, and any other fee or cost charged by the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission for connecting new water services. An annual charge for each fire protection main serving a fire suppression system will be billed along with the first quarterly water bill of the calendar year. The annual charge for this service shall be $20.00 per diameter inch of the pipe supplying the fire suppression system or such other amount as is charged by the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission for such systems. The pipe supplying the fire suppression system is the pipe needed to supply the fire I W 9 suppression system, installed downstream of the system control valve. Moved- Seconded.- Vote: ayes— 2 Item 3b MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 Increasini! Sewer Rents in all of the Town of Ithaca Sewer Improvement Areas Effective November 15, 2024 Whereas, the Town Board wishes to revise the sewer rent schedules for all of the Town of Ithaca Sewer Improvement Areas; and Whereas, a public hearing, duly advertised and posted, was held on the 4t" day of November 2024, and the public was permitted an opportunity to be heard on the proposed increase; and Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA") and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, it has been determined by the Town Board that adoption of the proposed resolution is a Type 11 action because it constitutes 11routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment," and thus this action is not subject to review under SEQRA; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Town Board establishes and imposes the following.- (1) Effective November 15, 2024, there is hereby imposed a sewer rent payable by all users connected to the Town-wide sewer system at a rate of$7.08 (was $6.56) per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. In addition, and notwithstanding the foregoing rate structure there shall be a minimum base charge for regular quarterly bills sent on or after November 15, 2024, in the amount of $35.43, which minimum charge is based on 5,000 gallons of usage, regardless of whether that amount is used. Multiple housing and mobile home parks of over two dwelling units, using a master water meter, will be computed as follows. The quarterly master water meter reading will be divided by the number of dwelling units and the sewer rent charge will be figured on this number as if the unit was individually metered. The sewer rent will then be multiplied by the number of units on the master water meter, and this will be the billing rendered and the amount payable. If the calculation of the water consumed per dwelling unit is less than the amount that would be permitted before exceeding the minimum sewer rent set forth above, then the billing will be calculated by multiplying the number of units served by the master water meter times the minimum sewer rent set forth above. In the event a property is connected to a public sewer, but is not connected to a water meter,, the sewer rent shall be based upon estimated water consumption as reasonably dctcrmined by the Director of Public Works based upon recognized methods of estimating typical consumption for the type of facility involved (e.g., gallons per day per bedroom). Moved: Seconded: Vote: ayes— MEETINC'l OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 - Adoption of the 2024 Assessment Rolls for Special Benefit Districts and Special Benefit Areas for Tax Year 2025 Whereas, the Town Board held a properly advertised public hearing at the Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca,New York,on the 7"'day of September 2024,to consider the 2024 Assessment Rolls for Special Benefit Durtricts and Special Benefit Areas for the Town of Ithaca for Tax Year 2025; now, therefore, be it Resolved,,the Town Board approves and adopts the 2024 Assessment Rolls for the Special Benefit Districts and Special Benefit Areas of the Town of Ithaca for Tax Year 2025 as follows: A Fire Protection District: Assessed Value - $1,759,512,199 Water Improvement Benefit Area: Units Available & Connected— 7,941.40 Ad Valorem Water Improvement Benefit Area: Assessed Value - $768,862,365 Sewer Improvement Benefit Area: Units Available & Connected —7,575.43 Ad Valorem Sewer Improvement Benefit Area: Assessed Value - $781,171,399 Moved: Seconded: Vote: ayes- Item 4 Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board November 4., 2024 TB Resolution 2024-xxx: Approval of Non-Collective Bargaining Employees' Wage Scales and 'vas for 2025 Whereas,, the collective bargaining agreement with the Public Works unit represented by Teamsters Local 317 is in the process of being negotiated for effective January 1, 2025; and Whereas, the Personnel Committee reviewed and discussed Consumer Price Index (CPI-W s well as other factors and recommends for the Non-Collective Bargaining 2025 Wage Scales a 3.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) on the Job Rate for all classifications when establishing the 2025 Office Wage Scale and Class V1 of the Field Wage Scale; and Whereas, the Budget Committee, through the 2025 budget preparations, and the Personnel and Organization Committee have reviewed and recommend the proposed wages for the Town of Ithaca non-collective bargaining employees for the year 2025, utilizing the 2025 wage scales with the 3.5% COLA recornmendations4 now,, therefore, be it Resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby approve the proposed 2025 Office Wage Scale and Class V1 of the Field Wage Scale with a 3.5% COLA adjustmcnt and the 2025 wages for the Town of Ithaca non-collective bargaining employees, as detailed on the attached sheets; and be it further Resolved, the collective bargaining unit employees" wages for 2025 will remain at the 2024 wage rates until a collectivc bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 317 has been ratified by the bargaining unit employees and the Town Board. Moved: Seconded: Vote: Item 5 MEETINC'l OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 - Adoption of the 2025 Town of Ithaca Bud Whereas a public hearing was held on November 4. 2024, regarding the 2025 Preliminary Town Budget (Budget), and Whereas the Town Board reviewed and discussed the Budget and made the following changes: I. 2. 3. Now, therefore be it Resolved that the Town Board adopts the Preliminary 2025 Town of Ithaca Budget as submitted as submitted with the above changes, as the Final 2025 Town of Ithaca Budget. Moved: Seconded: Vote- Item 6 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024— Approval of the Public Works Facilitl Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbinii (MEP) and Structural Improvements Project (Subject to Permissive Referendum Whereas,, on January 22, 2024, the Town Board adopted TB Resolution 2024-015, which authorized the award of a professional services contract for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) and Structural Detailed Construction Drawing(s) Preparation for the Public Works Facility to C & S Engineers, Inc. (C&S to have detailed construction drawings, specifications, and construction contract documents for the replacement and/or improvement of various MEP components and repair of a damaged concrete garage floor slab at the Town of Ithaca Public Works Facility (the "Project"); and Whereas, subjcet to the results of the bid opening on the Project, the estimated construction cost for the Project shall be S 1 193,100-00; and 01 1� 1� Whereas,, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA" and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617 it has been determined by the Town Board that approval, design, construction and implemcntation of said Project is a Type 11 Action because the Action constitutes "replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site," and thus the Project is not subject to review under SEQRA; and, Whereas, Town Law §220(2 requires that the alteration or remodeling of any necessary building for town purposes, and the equipping and fumishing of such buildings for such purposes, be subject to a permissive referendum under Town Law §90 and §91, when such expenditure is paid for by taxes levied for the fiscal year in which such expenditure is to be made; and Whereas, the Project's $1,193,100.00 maximum estimated cost shall be paid for by taxes levied for the fiscal year in which such expenditure is to be made and/or fund balance, now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and approves the Public Works Facility Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) and Structural Improvements Project., with a cost not to exceed $1,193,100.00 and subject to a permissive referendum pursuant to the provisions of Town Law §22 (2 and be it further Resolved, that pursuant to Town Law §90 and §91, within ten (10) days from the date of this resolution, the Town Clerk in the same manner as provided for notice of a special election, shall post and publish a noticc which shall set forth the date of adoption of this resolution, shall contain such resolution or an abstract of such resolution concisely setting forth the purpose and effect thereof, shall specify that this resolution was adopted subject to a permissive referendum; and shall publish such notice in the Ithaca Journal, a newspaper published in Tompkins County having general circulation in the Town, and in addition thereto that the Town Clerk shall post or I Item 6 cause to be posted on the sign-board of the Town, a copy of such notice within ten (10) days after the date of adoption of this resolution. Moved: Seconded: Vote: 2 Item 7 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 -XXX: Authorization to Award Contract for Professional Services for the 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvements P Whereas, on October 25, 2024, the Town of Ithaca Director of Engineering (Director) received proposals for the Design and Preparation of Electrical Detailed Construction Drawings and Specifications for the 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvements Project (Improvement), and Whereas Barton & Loguidice, D.P.0 has adequately outlined related work experience., project objectives., and timelines that meet and/or exceed the Town's expectations, and Whereas,the Director and staff have reviewed the proposal and qualifications of the firm,and have recommended that the Town Board select the firm's fixed fee proposal of$33,571 for Detailed Construction Drawings and Specification Preparation (Task A) and a fee not to exceed $8,525 for Construction Support (Task B), which is a responsive and qualified proposal, and Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental uality Review Act ("SEQRA") and its 6 implementing regulations at 6 NYC RR Part 617, approval, construction and implementation of the Improvement and establishment of the Town of Ithaca 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvement Area., together with the related actions and approvals required by other boards and agencies (the "Project"), is an Unlisted action for which the Town of Ithaca Town Board, acting in an uncoordinated environmental review with respect to the Project,, made a negative determination of environmental significance on October 7, 2024, and Whereas, at its meeting on October 7, 2024, the Town Board adopted a Public Interest Order (TB Resolution 2024-101) establishing the Improvement and the Town of Ithaca 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvement Area and authorizing a maximum amount of$1,278,685.00 to be expended on this Improvement subject to permissive referendum 'in the manner provided 'in Town Law Article 7 and Town Law Section 209-q, and now, therefore be it Resolved that the Town Board authorizes the award of the contract for the Design and Preparation of Electrical Detailed Construction Drawings and Specifications for the 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvements Project to Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C, 443 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool, NY 13088 subject to final approval by the Director and the Attorney for the Town, and contingent upon either: 1. No permissive referendum being requested as permitted by law on the Town Board's October 7, 2024, Public Interest Order authorizing and approving the Town of Ithaca 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvement, or 2. If such a referendum is requested,, such referendum is held and said resolution is approved at same, and be it further Resolved, that the Town Supervisor is authorized to execute such contract upon such approval of the final contract documents and the approval of the Town of Ithaca 2024 Inlet Valley Sewer Improvement by the voters, if a permissive referendum is held, and be it further Resolved,, that the Director is authorized to approve contract amendments, without further authorization from the Town Board, upon receipt of appropriate Justification and provided the maximum amount of such amendments does not exceed S3,400 in aggregate, and be it further Resolved, that the total contract amount, including contingency, shall not exceed Forty Five Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Six Dollars ($45,496), and be it further Resolved, the Town Finance Officer is authorized to make any necessary budget entries and adjustments to establish the Project. Moved: Seconded: Vote: ayes - Item 8 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 lb TB Resolution 2024 - Authorization for Supervisor to Sign an Agreement with the City of Ithaca for Building Permitting, Inspection and Related Services for the Cornell lcini Fieldhouse Prpj*ect Whereas, the Cornell Meinig Fieldhouse Project is a large project primarily in the City of Ithaca, and Whereas,, the City of Ithaca is willing to provide code enforcement services for the project that straddles the Town and City boundary; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Town Board authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign an Agreement with the City of Ithaca for Building Pennitting, Inspection and Related Services for the Cornell Meinig Fieldhouse Project. Moved: Seconded: Vote- ayes— Item 9 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024-XX : Authorizing the implementation, and funding in the first instance 4b 100% of the federal-aid and State "Marchiselli" Program-aid eligible costs,of the East Shore Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Corridor transportation federal-aid project, and appropriating funds therefore Whereas, a Project for the TAP 2023 EAST SHORE DRIVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY CORRIDOR,, CAYUGA ST TO JAMES L GIBBS DR TOWN OF ITHACA, P.I.N. 395091 (the Pr ject") is eligible for funding under Title 23 U.S. Code., as amended, that calls for the apportionment of the costs such program to be borne at the ratio of 80% Federal funds and 20% non-federal funds; and Whereas, the Town of Ithaca desires to advance the Project by making a c ommitment of 10 0% o f the non-federal share of the costs of Preliminary Engineering/Design, Construction, and Construction Inspection; and Whereas, pursuant to New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and its implementing regulations at 6 NY RR Part 617, it has been determined by the Town Board that this is a Type 11 action because it constitutes reconstruction of in kind facilities on the same site, and thus,, not subject to review under SERA. Now, therefore, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, duly convened, does hereby Resolve, that the Town of Ithaca Board hereby approves the above-subject project- and it is hereby further Resolved, that the Town of Ithaca Board hereby authorizes the Town Supervisor to pay in the first instance 100% of the federal and non-federal share of the cost of Engineering and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof; and it is further Resolved,, that the sum of$165,000.00 has been appropriated pursuant to the Ithaca town budget process and made available to cover the cost of participation in the Preliminary Engineering/Design phases of the Project; and it is further Resolved, that the additional sum of$1,2 6 8,0 00.00 is hereby appropriated pursuant to the Ithaca town budget process and made available to cover the cost of participation in the Construction/Construction Inspection phases of the Project; and it is further Resolved, that in the event the full federal and non-federal share costs of the project exceeds the amount appropriated above, the Town of Ithaca Board shall convene as soon as possible to appropriate said excess amount immediately upon the notification by the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca thereof, and it is further Item 9 Resolved,, that the Town Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca be and is hereby authorized to execute all necessary Agreements, certifications or reimbursement requests for Federal Aid and/or Marchiselli Aid on behalf of the Town of Ithaca with the New York State Department of Transportation in connection with the advancement or approval of the PrQject and providing for the administration of the Project and the municipality's first instance funding of prQl*ect costs and permanent funding of the local share of federal-aid and state-aid eligibleProject costs and all Project costs within appropriations therefore that are not so eligible, and it is ftirther Resolved, that a certified copy of this resolution be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Transportation by attaching it to any necessary Agreement in connection with the Project, and it is further Resolved, this Resolution shall take effect immediately. Moved: Seconded: Vote: Item 11 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD November 4, 2024 TB Resolution 2024 - t Consent Agenda Items Resolved that the Town Board adopts the following Consent Agenda items: a. Approval of Town Board Minutes b. Approval of the Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Approval of Bolton Point Abstract d. Approval of noncompetitive permanent appointments — Senior Code Enforcement Officer and Senior Planner Moved: Seconded: Vote: TB Resolution 2024 - a: Approval of Town Board Minutes Resolved that the Town Board approves the draft minutes of the meetings of October 7 and 21, 2024 as submitted, with non-substantive changes made. TB Resolution 2024— b: Approval of Town of Ithaca Abstract#21 for FY 2024 Resolved that the Town Board approves and authorizes payment of the following audited vouchers for the amounts listed: VOUCHER NOS. 1004 - 1047 General Fund Town Wide 248,538.92 General Fund Part-Town 16,173.24 Highway Fund Town Wide DA %42 .40 Highway Fund Part Town DB 9,923.83 Water Fund 287,934.04 Sewer Fund 86,510.52 Fire Protection Fund 41'02.77 Debt Service 5,730.50 TOTAL 706,119.2 TB Resolution 2024 - c: Approval of Bolton Point Abstract TB Resolution 2024— d: Approval of Non-Competitive Permanent Appointment of Sr. Code Enforcement Officer and Senior Planner Whereas, the Town Board approved the provisional appointment of Chris Balestra. as a Senior Planner for the Planning Department, effective November 6, 2023; and Item 11 Whereas, the Town Board approved the provisional appointment of Dana Magnuson as a Senior Code Enforcement Officer for the Code Enforcement Department,effective January 28, 2024; and Whereas, NYS Civil Service has developed the NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (STY HELPS) Program, which allows for competitive positions to be filled via non-competitive appointment, which means examinations are not required, but candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the titles for which they apply; and Whereas, the titles of Senior Planner and Sr. Code Enforcement Officer have been approved under the NY HELPS program,which means those incumbents will no longer b e required to take a civil service examination for their provisional positions as the position is being characterized as "Non-Competitive"; now therefore be it Resolved that the Town Board hereby appoints to non-competitive permanent civil service status effective October 1, 2024, Chris Balestra to the Senior Planner position and Dana Magnuson to the Senior Code Enforcement Officer position, with no changes in their wages and benefits. Moved: Seconded: Vote: