HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-13Tfl 02 -13 -02
TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD KEETING
February 13, 2002
Board Members Present: Supv Mark Varvayanis, Cl Stephen Stelick, Jr.,
Cl Christopher Michaels
Absent: Cl Charles Hatfield, Cl Deborah Grantham
Other Elected Officials: Bambi L. Hollenbeck, Town Clerk
Jack Bush, Highway Superintendent
Other Town Staff: Mahlon R. Perkins, Town Attorney
Henry Slater, Zoning Officer
David Putnam (TG Millers), Town Engineer
Supv Varvayanis opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Board members and guests
participated in the pledge of allegiance, followed by a moment of silence.
Supv Varvayanis noted that Cl Grantham is unable to attend because of recent surgery
and Cl Hatfield is in Florida. Michael Lane, County Representative, is attending the school
presentation tonight, and Martha. Robertson, County Representative, gave her report last week.
CITIZENS PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
Tom Seeley, 332 Hurd Road, said that he received a letter today from the Town Highway
Department and would like to comment:.
T Seeley - The letter indicates that the Highway Department will begin preliminary work
which is done normally before paving because the road is falling apart. The work will consist of
tree cutting and trimming, etc. The Highway Superintendent will mark trees with white paint
that we wish to cut completely to the ground and will cut unsafe trees and to help more light
shine on the road, etc. I'm commenting because first of all, 1 own 82 acres up along Hurd .Road
and that translates into a half mile of Hurd Road. The woods that I own now I manage for
firewood, for timber, and for maple syrup production and as I see it, the Town does not own
those trees that it wishes to cut. You own the road, but you don't own the trees. Secondly, I'd
like to point out that I don't think that shadow on that road is the problem. The road is falling
apart where the road is sunny and clear and it's falling apart where the road is shady. I've
built roads here in Ithaca, I've built roads up in Maine, and I know what the problem with that
road is. You've got just a skin, about half an inch, of adhesive material on top of a bed of clay.
And when that road gets wet, that road becomes like a sponge. It moves up and down. I run
along that road. I know when it: gets soft up there, the whole thing just flexes. You can feel
just as a person walking on it, and when cars go over it, it breaks up that skin that's on top
there, and then the road disintegrates. That road is coming apart where it is shady or where it
is bright, and I don't think letting sunlight in there is going to do the trick in getting that road
to stay together. My main point is I'm unhappy with the prospect of losing some trees and I
don't feel it's correct because I don't think the Town owns those trees.
Jack Bush - It was evident from the letter 1 wrote to all the residents up there that my
purpose was to let all those people know that we'd like to cut some trees and if there was any
issue that I was more than willing to come up there and discuss it with them.
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TB 02 -13-02
T Seeley - I'd be happy to discuss that with you, but the way it is worded it says "we will
be marking trees with white paint'
Cl Michaels asked what the time frame was and J Bush said they were hoping to do it
next Wednesday, Cl Stetick asked how many trees were involved.
J Bush - ]'m not really sure. We're aware that it was a sensitive area and we want to be
very conservative when we cut the trees.
T Seeley - Would you agree, Jack, that the problem goes beyond, and may even have
nothing to do with shading of the road?
J Bush - I would say it's a contributing factor, and I will also agree that there are other
factors.
Peggy Walbridge, Hunt Hill Road - Hunt Hill Toad roughly parallels Hurd Road. They
are both lightly used roads. They are also steep. Widening and heavier surfaces are not going
to make those roads any st -tfer. I would like the Town to make a determination. Are you saying
that you own 60 feet of right -of -way? I think that Mr. Seeley is indicating that he doesn't
believe you do, and I also, Jack knows as well, do not want them cutting on my land. I think it
is somewhat misleading for the Highway Superintendent to be going out encouraging the
misbelief of landowners and citizens that the municipality has the right to take your land.
Supv Varvayanis -'Phis letter doesn't: say anywhere that we own 60
said he'd like to mark trees that he thinks are unsafe. Could you describe
you mean by an unsafe tree?
J Bush - A tree that possibly has been hit by a vehicle or a snowplc
has a lot of dead growth in it. It may stall have some green in it, but 1 thin]
sense thing. There again, I've notified all the people up there. We're not to
anything.
feet of road. He
a little more what
1w wing. A tree that
s it's a common
ying to hide
Supv Varvayanis - Since we don't really know what you plan on doing yet, would it
make sense to have him mark the trees that he thinks are unsafe, and you agree not to cut any
until we hear?
T Seeley - That would be fine, but the letter doesn't say just to cut unsafe trees, it ,says
to cut unsafe trees and to let more light shine on the road. My concern is, if it's a dead old
tree, I don't give a damn, but if it's a nice, live timber tree or sugar maple, that's a different
matter.
Mary Squires - I'm also a resident and received the same letter. I just wanted to note
that I'm also concerned about having my trees cut. I don't give permission for my trees to be
cut, but if he wants to come talk to me.
Supv Varvayanis - Do you mind if he marks them?
M Squires - I don't want permanent white marks on my trees.
J Bush - That seems to be the best way. That way there's no confusion whether it be
from the property owner, myself or the employees that have to go cut them. We're trying to
make it work for everybody. We can make a small mark.
T Seeley - Can you use flagging?
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TB 02 -1302
J Bush - I suppose we could, 1 don't kxww if there's a hundred trees there nr tin trees
and I think it q%-oWd. be silly to wrap every tree if we've got a hundred trees.
I Stelick - Jack, you're going to make the time to meet. with Mr. Seeley, and anybody
else?
J Bush - Certainly, if that's what he wants. That's what the letter states,
Robin Seeley - We appreciate the letter in advance. But I think it's worthwhile painting
out there are a few dead trees along the edge of the road, and the reams they are dead is
because when the Tovm widened the road, it just pushed the fill up against the tree, And now,
number of years later, the trees are dead, I also wanted to point out that the 'Town has kind
of a bad reputation with respect to marking trees and saying that they aren't going to cut them.
Everybody its the neighborhood has the horror st;ary of Ellis Hollow reOc Road in the b k of
their mind when people fmmd the highway crews out there in the morning marking their trees,
came out and said "surely you aren't going to take that big maple ? ", and the, highway people
said 11 no, we're not going to take that ", and they went off to work and came back and found
their trees gone_
J Bush = To my knowledge, there were no trees marked back then, and that was not
under my management,
R Seeley - I wasn't saying it was. I was just saying it makes us nervous.
J Bush - That's not what: I heard you gust say. It sound% to me like you said the trees
TaTre marked and (hen they wcnt and cut trees that weren't marked.
R Seeley - I don't know if they were marked with psini. or whether they were marked
some other way, and I don't know that Co be fact either, I'm just saying the story has circulated
enough to make the landowner* nervous. But if we can walk up and down the road, painting
to which trees should be cut, that should be a good starting point for discussion.
Supv
Varvayanis -
light now we have Jack
who I believe just said he wouldn't cut tree*
until after he
had marked
the trees he wanted and
talked to you. That's what you said isn't it?
J Bush - On their property. I must have sent out 2 0 letters and I'm sure that some of
those people may not have any Ojection to us cutting trees,
T Seeley - Do we have an agreement t'oiiight, that if Jack and I meet and i say I don't
want a tree cut, that the tree not he cut?
J Bush - I Won't agree to thj.t, tonight,
T Seeley - You don't own those trees, Mr. Bush_
J Bush - Well, that could be a determination done by the Court.
Alty Perkins , f Mink any discussion about what trees are going to be cut depends first
of all on getting them marked sn we can idea tify where they are,
Supv Varvay anis - I agree with that, will you wait until _ _
0 J Bush - Certainly on the land MT& Mrs Seeley own, I wilt_
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T]3 02 -13 -02
Supv Varvayan % - 0lkay, Or any other property owner who complains. Sounds
reasonable to you?
Atty Perkins - Sure,
J Bush - Sounds very agreeable to me.
T Seeley - Sounds good to me,
Mark Symeon, 123 Upper Creek Road, presented a petition signed by residents of Upper
Creek Road, requesting a reduction of the speed limit on the road from 55 mph to 35 mph.
They feel it is dangerous and there have been a. Jot of accidenl;w pers killed on the road_ One
person was hit trying to hack out of their driveway. There is a blind corner and people travel
very fast on the road. They would like the Tourn's suppiart.
Supv Varvayanis explained that the Smte controls the speed ltnlits, but the Board could
accept the petition and pass a resolution if the board is inclined to pass it on the County and
State. He suggested that in the meantime the Highway Superintendent could put: up a hidden
driveway sign if he determines it is necessary_ J .c1k Bush asked Mr. Symeon to contact him.
Mr. ymean sari that there are signs for hidden driveway, slippery When wet, school bus stop,
etc, but he feels a speed limit of 35 mp1Z is appropriate. The road has been become a
commuter shortcut since the construction on route 13. There is a creek that runs along side
the road. Cl Michaels informed Mr. Symeon that the residents of ]Ellis Hollow are trying to suet
up a meeting with NYS ]DOT to get a uniform 40 mph speed Iimi# and suggested that Mr.
Symeon contact Deter Messmer of Tompkins County Highway and ;
M+ rtha Robertson, 'County
Soard Representative,
Peggy Walbridge wondered whether it is necessary to post "end of spaud 3.imit" signs.
Ality Perkins said that it would be difficult to enforce speed limits without beivag able to identify
where the zones end. Jack bush said that he believes they have to be posted, but would cheep
mto it_
RESOLUTION #91 - SPEED Id11'i1T REQUEST FOR UPPER CREEK ROAD
C1 Michaels offered the following resolution. and asked for its adoption:
WIAE1REAS. the Town of ]Dryden is concerned for the saFety of its residents and tlaose
people travelling through the Town, and
Wh E RFAS, the Town Board has received a petition from residents of Upper Creek Road
requesting a reduction in the speed limit on 1;t road, heard their reasons for the request, now
therefore, be il.
RESOLVED that thi.% Town ]Board hereby supports a lower speed limit on the entire
length of Upper Creek road, an d it i further
RESOLVED, that the 'Town Clerk is directed to prepare the appropriate docwrnents and
fo -Fward them to the Tompkins County Highway Manager and/or the New York State
Department of 'Transportation._
2nd Cl Stelick
Roll Call Vote
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varva auis Yes
Cl icbaela Yes
Page 4 of 12
T'S 02 -13 -02
Dana Abbey of Dryden Ambulance has previously provided board members with various
reports, including a list of all members of Dryden Ambulance and Neptune Hose Company and
a list of the activity and point summary for each member for the past year. He explained how
the points are assigned. The monthly report log shows the date of call, the nun number,
patient: care report number, address of call, nature of call, whether it an ALS or BLS call, no
transport or refused treatment on scene. NTS means cancellation while en route to scene.
Times are included in the report. There is a list: of the money collected during the month of
January and turned over to the Town ($18,006.67). The Board of Directors of Dryden
Ambulance, Inc. has hired Teri Allen as a full lime paramedic manager and the board was
provided with a copy of her resume.
Teri Allen stated that organizationally there are a lot of things ghat need to come into
compliance, such as policies for employees, analyze the day to day operations, and try to set up
benefit packages. She reported that the billing process is a mess. There have been billing
errors since 1998. She will attempt to make a determination as to whether those bills are
collectable. It is her goal to be able to rectify at least the last few years. She will be generating
monthly reports, aging reports. She stated it is a big undertaking as she is not very fluent in
billing nor experienced with the software they have. She distributed copies of reports to the
Board regarding the billing for January and will continue to provide monthly reports to the
board. She is attempting to determine whether the current software really fits their needs (it is
an aging program that e«ll need to be replaced) and she is examining other programs, and
checking into outside billing. She is committed to making things work, as is Dryden
Ambulance, and thinks that with a good communication process they will be able to do exactly
as the Town wants and be very accountable.
Supv Varvayanis asked about the patient names on the reports and she stated she
® could not remove them, but would try to do so.
Supv Varvayanis asked Dana Abbey about the hours and hours paid columns in the
point summary report. Volunteers are not paid, but an arbitrary value is assigned in the
program.
D Abbey
provided a list of
all officers of the
corporation (Dryden
Ambulance, Enc.) He
noted there had
been a request to
have the budget
posted on. the Town
w-ebsite.
D Abbey - We are all fully aware that it is public information. No officer of Dryden
Ambulance has any problem with anybody seeing this budget. Before it is posted on the Town
website we would like to offer to hold a budget hearing at our fire station and invite the Town,
the public, and any concerned taxpayer to come in to our organization and sit down and see
what: we do, how Ave do it, and how the budget was arrived. It bothers myself personally when I
read in the paper that a taxpayer accuses the Town of choosing to go with an ambulance
service with a history of poor management. Where that's ever derived at 1 have no idea because
that individual never requested any information from Dryden Ambulance. How that
determination was made and published I have no idea, but it is very frustrating for us who are
trying to do a jab.
He noted that the budget itself was not discussed at the meeting held at the fire station
in January. They will advertise and host another meeting. Bill Ackroyd said that he thought it
was important that they hold another meeting and invite anyone who would like to see the
business processes, how they manage their books and operations, the accounts payable,
accounts receivable, operating guidelines and procedures, regulatory agencies that they have to
deal with (OSHA, FDA, etc), how they maintain and manage their apparatus, their equipment,
building and facilities. 'There is a an implied mistrust and mismanagement and they would like
® to put that to rest.
Page 5 of 12
TB 02 -13 -02
Bill Ackroyd - It's insulting that someone quoted in the newspaper that we have a
history of poor management:. I think if you look at the board of directors of Neptune Hose
Company and Dryden Ambulance over the years, you will find that the people that are elected
to those positions are reputable and respected business people from Fortune 500 companies,
local municipalities, local businesses and privately owned businesses, and most of them have
been pretty successful. So to carte blanche whitewash us with the term poor management I
think is irresponsible.
D Abbey - In May of 2001 we came to the Town Board with a request for $30,000 in
additional funding for the restocking of supplies and narcotics once the hospital quit doing it
and we were notified that they were going to do this. The Town graciously offered to help us
with that expense. I`ve given you a list of our expenses, and down on the bottom there is some
circling that says medical expendable supplies, medical narcotics and medical non - narcotic
drugs on the front page. They total $18,579. This is what was spent out of the $30,000
allotment. I'm here to give back a check to the district for $11,421 in good Rdth. That's all I
have.
Cl Michaels stated that the reports were fantastic. He suggested that perhaps a
summary report of the accounts receivable without the names of patients would be sufficient.
Cl Stelick asked T Allen how quickly the amount of money that has been uncollected could be
determined, and she thought perhaps within the next month. D Abbey reported that he
believed there was approximately $124,000 outstanding (since 1998). T Allen explained that
each and every file will have to be examined and determinations made with respect to
outstanding balances, such as whether it is a write -off after reimbursement by Medicare or
Medicaid.
Robin Seeley had questions regarding the ambulance budget, which she understands •
was from January. In comparing the figure for January through November 2001 with the
figure for 2002, she noted that the total for 2002 was $395,830 and wondered why that does
not match the $453,000 figure (the contract figure). On the first page there is large increase in
the building lease from $43,000 to $75,000 and she wondered why it went up so much.
Budding repair escrow disappears and she wondered why. The largest expense is the employee
expense because now Dryden Ambulance is paying employees that they weren't before of
$180,000 and she wondered how many full time paramedics that: represents because in the
Town budget the Town had estimated personal services of $125,000.
Dana Abbey responded, that the $180,000 was their worst -case scenario of the total
payroll for all paramedics and the business manager. When they put the budget together they
anticipated the possibility of four full time paramedics and a business manager for the
operation, and went under the assumption that they would not have volunteer help. The
contractual obligation is to provide service around the clock, and if all the volunteers quit they
would have to pay paramedics to fill those spots. With respect to the building lease, D Abbey
and B Ackroyd explained that Dryden Ambulance, Inc pays rent to Neptune Hose and in
previous budgets it was broken down into different line items, and the total has not increased
in two years. Bill tAckroyd offered to have their accountant attend the meeting they would like
to hold on the budget to help answer some of the questions.
R Seeley asked if they assumed a worst: case scenario with respect to wages, why is the
total not $453,000. D Abbey said the budget he has, dated January 2, says $453,000, and
that the budget was worked on in September and October, and the award from the Town
wasn't given until December, so the budget was adjusted after. R Seeley said if they did a
proposal for the Town, they must have had a budget.
Ikon
Hartman, Quarry Road,
said that the Town
accepted a budget for
$453,000 not 40
recognizing
that $180,000 of it, plus
payroll taxes, etc.,
was a. cushion in case
all the
Pagc 6 of 12
TB 02- 13412
® volunteers quit. He said that before the contract was approved, if the Town had known the
details, the Town might have said they couldn't hire five people, and might have lowered the
budget considerably. It sounds like they may not spend the $453,000 but the tax rate went up
1000% because the Town accepted a budget that was worst -case scenario. Dana Abbey
reminded Mr. Hartman that they are a not - for -profit corporation and if there is a surplus and
the contract is awarded to them next year, the amount of the contract will be reduced. Supv
Varvayanis stated that Mr. Hartman's point was that he thinks the Town was deficient.
D Hartman - I don't think there is anybody at the meetings that I have attended that
challenged the dedication of the ambulance corps and their commitment. But when one looks
at a 1000% increase in tax rate and a budget that went from $46,000 to $450,000 and when
one has competing firms that come with bids that are lower for the same service, granted they
collect the revenue, one has to question what's different: in 2002 from 2001, that someone else
is suggesting they can provide it at a significantly lower cost. That does beg the question
whether there has been a deficiency in the way this thing has been managed for a lot of years,
and what I've heard from some of the people at the board is that they were running deficits and
running deficits and now they had to make that up. They made it up by a big increase in one
year. If I misread that, I apologize, but I thought that's what I heard. That says to me it was
mismanaged.
Cl Michaels - You keep mentioning the very large percentage increase in the tax rate
from last year. There was a surplus of about $100,000 in the budget at the end of 2000, and
the budget for 2001 was artificially lowered to clear that surplus. In addition there was about
a $60,000 overrun. The Town was basically trying to bring that surplus down to zero, but
there were some additional charges that came up during the course of the year, and we
actually undershot the total budget. So in the 2002 budget not only does it not include the
® $100,000 that was trying to be refunded back to the district, but is making up $60,000 that
was spent last year that wasn't accounted for. So there is $160,000 differential between the
two budgets that are totally just a matter of an accounting issue.
D Hartman - I would beg to differ. 1 would say that for the last two years we have had
reductions in our ambulance charges, so we made an accounting problem two years in a row,
not one. That says to me that something is being mismanaged.
Supv Varva_yanis - That again, falls on the Town.. There was a significant surplus, there
was an attempt to bring it down. Last year as was just pointed out a request was made for an
extra $30,000. The billing wasn't handled well, and we ran higher expenses and lower revenue
than we expected. We were kind of hoping for a soft landing and it turned out: to be somewhat
of a crash. At the same time we had a crash on this end, we had the contract issue.
D Hartman stated the Town also had an obligation before accepting the budget to
recognize what the potential revenue opportunity vas, if in fact the Town was going to collect
the monies. He said that the tax rate should have been derived by subtracting $124,000 from
$453,000 and that if the revenues received in January continued at the same amount, the total
revenues would in fact be about a quarter of million dollars in revenues, which would have
lowered the budget by $100,000. He stated that: it seem that the worst case scenario was
taken across the board and thrown at the taxpayers saying pay the bill and we'll make up for
next year if we overspend or underspend. He does not believe the Town aggressively pursued
the budget and say determine what was most reasonable to expect, and that is a Town issue,
not an ambulance issue.
C1 Michaels said he understood that Mr Hartman would like to see the budget balanced
so that it resulted in a net balance of zero, but that is very difficult. In terms of the line item
is relating to the Dryden Ambulance contract, he understands that Mr. Hartman would like the
Page 7 of 12
Ts 02 -13-02
Town to have a better understanding of the budgetary items and the numbers that go into that
contract. 40
Peggy Walbridge said she would like Dryden Ambulance to have a meeting with the
Town Board for the next budget and information available to the public so that everyone could
understand what was going on in a timely manner. She suggested it be available in the Fall.
Cl Stelick said he has been working closely with Dana Abbey and that one of his goals
as a Town Board member is to .make sure that information available and every effort will be
made to make sure there are no surprises at budget time.
The budget meeting for the Ambulance was tentatively scheduled February 27, 2002 at
the Dryden Fire Station at 7:30 p.m.
Supv Varvayanis stated that the Town shares a. large share of the responsibility for the
tax increase and he has tried to make that clear. There is a committee set up that will be
working hard and hopefully we'll improve management on this end.
COUNTY BRIEFING
George Totman, County Representative, said this is a new year and not much is
happening yet.
COUNCIL PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
None.
ATTORNEY
Atty Perkins reported that earlier this year the Town received a letter from Nathan
Winograd of the SPCA in response to a letter a citizen had written about a dangerous dog case
that had been prosecuted in the Town of Dryden Justice Court. That case was prosecuted by
the two SPCA officers involved on the complaint of the citizen bitten by the dot;. It was
apparently not the dog's first bite and there may be as many as ten more on record. Following
a hearing, Judge Valentinelli determined that it was a dangerous dog and directed that it be
destroyed. The owner then appealed the decision to the County Court, whereupon Judge
Rowley issued a stay of that order to destroy the dog, until the matter could be resolved. The
District Attorney's Office has decided that it is not involved. Therefore the obligation to
represent the SPCA in the matter will fall on the Town because the Town collects dog control
monies under the Agriculture and Markets Law. There are some issues regarding how the case
was handled. Everybody agreed after a meeting in the Judge's chambers that he could sign an
order to have the dog evaluated by a dog evaluator, and they are waiting for that evaluation to
be completed. The owner has represented to the Court and to everyone else that if the dog
evaluator says this is not a good dog, they will have the dog put down. That would make the
case moot and end the Town's involvement.
A question has been raised about the money that the Town gives in its budget to
Gadabout, the Senior Citizens, the Dryden Seniors, the Southworth Library, the Dryden Town
Historical Society, -Learning Web, and Women's Opportunity Center. Technically, the Town is
required to have some kind of a contract with these organizations before it makes public
monies available to them. A simple contract will suffice. When the Town offers to do
something for a private organization or citizen, it is an unconstitutional gift unless there is
some quid pro quo for the Town. Atty Perkins suggested that we write to these organizations
and request a description of what the Town gets for this money so that he can put together a
simple contract to be renewed annually. That will bring the ']own into compliance with the
Pack 8 of 12
TB 02 -13 -112
opinions of the State Comptroller and Article 8, Section 1, of the New York State Constitution.
is Supv Varvayanis will write to the organizations.
Supv Varvayanis said that he had received a letter from Chris O'Connor of Sapsucker
Woods Road for water and sewer service as an out of district user. He will contract with the
Village of Lansing. Atty Perkins pointed out that he will not be an out of district user because
he will not be connecting to any Town -owned facilities. An out -of- district user by definition
would be someone who is not actually in a water district but connects to the water district:
facilities and they do that contractually. Atty Perkins suggested the board could pass a
resolution saying the Town has no objection to him tapping into Cornell's line.
RESOLUTION #92 - C. O'CONNOR WATER & SEWER
Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that Town of Dryden has no objection to the properties at 143 and 161
Sapsucker Woods Road being connected to non Town of Dryden water and sewer supplies,
whether they be the Village of Lansing, Cornell University, or Town of Ithaca.
2nd Cl Michaels
Roll Call Vote Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
In response to a question from Cl Michaels regarding the CDBG grants to Miller and
Teeter, Atty Perkins responded: You may have heard my report in January about the lawsuit
® which was brought by Mr. Casalaro involving property in Freeville that we had a lien on when
we didn't get notice. Previously the Town authorized me to put together the appropriate
documentation to give to the County so they are aware that we are in fact interest holders, lien
holders, mortgage holders and we get notice of tax foreclosures other than the statutory notice
that goes to every town. I have done that, which Mark has signed and which I will be filing
with the County enforcing officer. The CDBG program papers were not prepared, I hope they
were not prepared by an attorney, they really were deficient. They didn't get the right address
down for the Town of Dryden and had all the papers and notices going to Better Housing. I
only discovered some of this as I was doing a very brief audit of what we had as far as liens and
mortgages on these properties to protect the Town and protect these public monies. I going
over that I discovered these two situations. My recommendation would be first of all to check
with Better Housing to make sure that what we have is exactly what is there, and if it is, a
mortgage of correction ought to be executed and we ought: to get it recorded.
Supv Varvayanis - It sounds like we ought to be on the right piece of property to me. I
assume you don't need a full resolution.
Atty Perkins - Just tell me and I'll take care of it.
Cl Michaels asked if there had been any response regarding the proposed fire contracts.
D Putnam said that the four departments have been meeting to try to answer their concerns as
one so that the Town didn't have four different responses coming back. They will be meeting
again next Wednesday night. Cl Michaels stated again that the report filed with the State will
be sufficient information for the town.
TOWN CLERK
O Board members have the Clerk's monthly report and report of tax collection to date. Of
the $6,064,448.48 total warrant, there is an outstanding balance of $1,468,622.51.
Page 9 of 12
TB 02 -13 -02
ENGINEERING 0
D Putnam reported that they are still working with River Solutions to try to finalize a
budget and schedule for the Fake Road /Virgil Creek project. TG Miller is subcontracting with
River Solutions for some of the work on this project. Atty Perkins felt that for accounting
purposes and expenditure of the finds, a separate contract might be appropriate and will
prepare a simple contract with TG Miller Engineers for this project.
ZONING OFFICER
Board members have been provided with the monthly report, and had no questions.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Jack Bush said that the Board had previously approved a fume change for the trail and
a memorial for Ed Sweetland, and wondered if the board wanted input with respect to what the
plaque /memorial looked like. The Board did not and he will see that it is taken care of.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
J' Bush would like to send employees to several different Cornell Local Road schools at a
cost of $30 per person for a one -day workshop, up to a maximum of $600. Workshops offered
are: Basics of a good road; reducing liability for local. highway officials, surveying methods,
work zone traffic controls.
RESOLUTION #92 - AUTHORIZE ATTENDANCE OF HIGHWAY EMPLOYEES AT CORNELL
LOCAL ROADS WORKSHOPS 0
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Torun Board hereby authorizes the Highway Superintendent to
send his employees to workshops offered by the Cornell Local Roads .Program at a cost of $30
per employee per workshop, not to exceed $600.
2nd Cl St:elick
Roll Call Vote Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvaya.nis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
J Bush reminded the Board that he is still interested in a medical insurance premium
pre -tax payment plan. Cl Michaels said he had reviewed the material provided and wondered
what needed to be done to implement the plcuis. He wondered whether you could have a
medical insurance premium pre -tax payment plan and flexible spending accounts overlapping.
Atty Perkins said he was unsure, but if they were something that would apply to the Highway
Department they would have to be bargained for, not imposed, and would they apply to anyone
else in the Town. Cl Michaels said he was thinking of the employees outside of the bargauiirtg
unit and implementing it, but understood it would have to be bargained for with respect to the
Highway Department. Atty Perkins �vfll review the matter and report back to the board.
J Bush stated that. he believed it was time to move forward with construction of a salt
storage building. Atty Perkins will look into procedure and bring a formal resolution to the
Board in March. 0
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TO 02 -13 -02
A letter has been received from Peter Davies regarding his desire to plant wildflowers at
the junction of Snyder Hill and Sodum Roads, J Bush distributed copies of that letter to the
Board together with a copy of his response to Mr. Davies.
Tompkins County Department of Planning has notified the Highway Superintendent
that there will be studies conducted in 2002 and 2003 and there will be no applications
accepted under the Flood Hazard Mitigation Program for those years.
DISCUSSION
Supv Varvayanis reported that he had contacted Richard Tureeek to see if he wanted to
resign from the Planning Board since he has not attended meetings for quite some time. Mr. T
indicated that he did, but a formal, written resignation has not yet been received. Supv
Varvayanis will follow up on that.
Cl Michaels suggested that the Town institute an attendance requirement for the
Planning Board. 'That will require adoption of a local law, and Atty Perkins will draft one. C1
Michaels suggested that it: may be a good idea for other boards, such as the Recreation
Commission and Conservation Advisory Council.
Atty Perkins reported that just after the Town established the Ambulance District and
prior to the first taxable status date following the creation of the district, the Town passed a
resolution declaring that it would use for ambulance district purposes ag assessed values,
rather than full values. So if a farm had the benefit of an ag exemption, then that would be the
value used in the assessment portion of the formula. Apparently the Assessment Department
never received a copy of that resolution and for years it never got corrected on the assessment
roll. Therefore there has been recent discussion with the Assessment .Department about
whether or not there can be a refund or should be a refund because this resolution was in
place, or whether we can only go forward and do it correctly in the future. Supv Varvayanis
reported that there can be one application made for correction for an individual, or a blanket
application for all farmers. A refund can be made for the past three years, and it is estimated
the total refund by the Town would be around $11,000 total.
There is a site plan review scheduled for ICS Press on March 6, 2002.
RESOLUTION #94 - APPROVE ABSTRACT # 102
Supv Varvayanis offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract # 102, as audited, vouchers
#84 through # 18 1., excepting # 1.04, totaling $173,997.91.
2nd Cl Stelick
Roll Call Vote Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Supv Varvavanis asked Atty Perkins whether it was absolutely necessary for council
members to go over each and every bill and sign them, according to State Law. Atty Perkins
said his understanding was that they did, but he will check into it.
Cl Michaels said that his wife works for Trowbridge & Wolf, the landscape architecture
firm that assisted ICS Press with their submissions for site plan review, and he wondered if he
should recuse himself. His wife did none of the work on the project. Atty Perkins asked if her
Page t l of 12
TS 02 -134)2
employment or compensation depended on whether the project is approved and Cl Michaels
said it did not. Atty Perkins said he did not believe it would be a conflict. 40
Supv Varvayanis will advertise for members for the Youth Commission.
Cl Michaels asked what the nett step would be with regard to the Space /Needs
Assessment for the new town hall. He asked what sections of Town offices needed to be
together and B Hollenbeck told him that those discussions were had at committee meetings.
He wondered if it made sense to separate the Court in a separate building and she told him
that the Court Clerks were concerned about safety if that were to happen.
Supv Varvayanis reported that the union would be voting on the proposed contract
tomorrow. The board considered the possibility of a special meeting to authorize the
Supervisor to sign the contract if it was approved. The board has seen the contract and after
discussion decided to authorize the Supervisor to sign the contract if it is accepted as written.
RESOLUTION #95 - APPROVE UNION CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the contract with the Teamsters as
provided in the February 4, 2002, from Joseph Steflik, Esq. and authorized the Supervisor to
sign the same.
211d Cl Stelick
Roll Call Vote Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
On motion made; seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
9:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/' E� X
Bambi. L. Hollenbeck
Town Clerk
Pagc 12 of 12