HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12- 4TB 12-4 -02
TOWN OF DRY,IIEN
T OWW BOARD MEETRVG
Decem1wr 4, ,?402
Board Members Present; Supv Mark Varvayanis, Cl Charles Hatfield, Cl Stephen Ste-lick.
Jr., Cl DeboTah Grantham, Cl Christopher Michaels
Other Stected Officials: Bambi L. Hollenbeck, Town Clerk
Jack Binh, Highway Superinumdent
Other Town Staff, Mahlon R. Perkins, Town Attorney
David Putnam (TO Millers), Town Engineer
Supv Varvayanis opened the meeting at 7 :05 p.m. and led board raeliribers and
audience in the pledge of allegiance,
Cl Hatfield reporrgd on recent developments concerning #hc Red Kill road Bridge
project. He said that the State Historic Preservation. Office ( HPO) had arigir a]ly said the
aesthetic value of the ]ridge could not be changed and it thought that left only one option-
Senator Seward has talked with the head of SHPO and it seems the preferred option of a few
,years ago may be possible: to remove the old bridge and put its a two -lane bridge, adding the
trusses back on the side to make it look similar to the origin zA (Option 4-11). They could also
build a new bridge 400' damn streain and leave the old historic: bridge for a pedestrian bridge
(Option C1 -2). There is am ecting tomorrow mcrning at 9:00 pro- with State and County
officials to try and reach an agreement to move the process forward, It will probably take ten
months longer tea go with the 4 -F option. Cl Hatfield said that if the old bridge were
"mothballeri" and set aside, it would only cost $20,000 mere, but if it was relocated to a trail or
some ihing similar it would cast $240,000 more and i1. isn't hkely the DOT would approve that
funding, The Dm2 Option would result in an increased cosC of $50,000 for materials if the 'Town
and County provided the labor, etc for the new road. Cl Hatfield staid they would like the Town
to agree on an option because they wiU need to apply for any addition at funds by mid -
December- Supv Varvayarhs said chat he was sure no one on the board wanted Co Cake control
of the old bridge, and Cl Grantham said they didn't want to build a new road either. Supv
Varvayanis would like to 63ret additional information tomorrow and then make a decision and
vote next week, if a new bridge is built, the old bridge will be the Toum' responsibility, Cl
Grantham said she did not think that: the Town should take over Ire old bridge. Cost to build
a new bridge would be $930,000 (Federal $744,400; State $139,000; County $37,000; Town
$"9,300)- The board would like to wait and make a decision after the meeting DeceTnber 5 so
that they can gather more information.
Last month the hoard discussed the joint sewer agreement and lack of progress and at
the board direction Atty Perkins drafted a resolution stating the Town's position. The
resolution was reviewed and passed as follows-
RESOLUTION 0216 - NO PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH ITHACA AREA
WASTEWATER TREATMENT ]PLANT/JOINT SEWER AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Cl Grantham offered the folloWing resolution and asked for its adopt4on:
WHEREAS, the Town of•Dryden is a.10iat owner along wish the City of Ithaca and the
Town of Ithaca of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant (IAWWTP), and
Page 1 of 1 3
S
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TS 124 -02
WHEREAS, pursuant to a Joint Sewer Agreement dated December 22, 1981 and last
amended April 11, 1984, further amendment to the Joint Sewer Agreement requires approval of
all three owners of the Ithaca Area Wastewater ,treatment Plant, and
WHEREAS, there have been years of discussions (since at least 1993) involving a
regional approach to wastewater collection and treatment involving not only the current owners
of the IAWWTP but also Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing and Town of Lansing, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden has gone on record a number of times in favor of
moving forward and working collectively with the other owners and prospective municipalities
contracting with the LAWWTP toward a regional approach to wastewater collection and
treatment including
• Approval in concept of the draft "Sewer Service Proposal" in the "Cayuga Heights
Service Plant Area" (1993)
• "the Dryden initiative"
• the Kline Road Bypass approach
• upgrades to the IAWWTP to increase the number of gallons per day permitted to be
discharged into Cayuga hake pursuant to the SPDES Permit
• improvements to the IAWWTP to reduce phosphorous and other nutrient levels of
effluent entering Cayuga Lake
• undertaking a review of a regional approach under SEQRA (1999)
• ongoing work on a draft Environmental Impact Statement, and
WHEREAS, the parties have proceeded with preliminary engineering, scientific,
consulting, legal and other professional services in connection with joint applications for
funding under the Clean Air/ Clean Water Bond Acts, including expenses for negotiating
proposed amendments to the Joint Sewer Agreement and agreements with the Village of
Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing and Town of Lansing, and
WHEREAS, there have been agreements executed between the owners and consulting
engineers which approved work which has been completed, including two amendments to the
Engineering Services Agreement, and
WHEREAS, in May, 2001 the Town Board of the Town of Dryden approved amendment
number 3 to the Engineering Services Agreement with the consulting engineers on the
condition that a satisfactory cost sharing agreement be reached, which agreement was to
address costs paid to that time, as well as continuing and ongoing costs and expenses, and
WHEREAS, to date there has been no agreement reached among the owners, or
prospective owners regarding the sharing of expenses involved in the work which has been
completed to date, or work which is continuing and ongoing.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden hereby declares that no
further approval of payment of any continuing and ongoing expenses related to the various
matters referred to herein will be approved by the Town of Dryden until a satisfactory
agreement is in place which addresses the cost sharing of continuing and ongoing expenses, as
well as expenses which have already been incurred and paid out of joint operating funds.
2n" Cl Michaels
Roll Call Vote
Cl Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cllvhchaels Yes
Page 2 of 13
TB 12-4 -02
Cl Grantham Yes
The board reviewed the fire contracts as prepared for 2003. Atty Perkins explained that
there were minor unsubst:ant ive changes in the standard provisions from last year, such as
submitting copies of form DOS438. The major change is the additional provisions in each
contract calling for installment payments of the contract price. The payment schedule provides
that '/1 of the contract price will be paid on February 20, and the remainder divided equally and
paid on July 20, September 20 and November 20. Cl Michaels asked whether failure to comply
with the reporting provisions would justify withholding a payment and Atty Perkins said if the
reports were not received the Town could withhold payment until the reports were received.
The contracts contain a provision that the fire departments can apply to the Town for
reimbursement of expenses up to $5,000 in additional funding each year for such things as
public education and it was noted that the departments seldom take advantage of it.
Cl Grantham asked about a comment in a letter received from Natan Huf3an that stated
the Town of Dryden each year retains $6,000 in an escrow account to be used for a. satellite
station. Supv Varvayanis said there is no escrow account and asked someone to expand on
the comment. Duane Testut said that 15 years ago Varna was considering putting a satellite
station in Ellis Hollow and the Town agreed to set aside $6,000 as a reserve fund to put a truck
in that station if and when it was built. They eventually built on Turkey Hill Road. D Testut
said that $6,000 was in addition to the contract money and was set aside in the Town and he
was unsure at what: point in time that ceased. Supv Varvayanis said he seemed to recall that
being discussed, that it did not come to fruition because of the Highway Department was going
to share it and that was considered illegal. He said if there ever was money that it's been gone
for at least a decade. D Testut said it shows up in their budget paperwork as Town of Dryden
reserve and at some point in time that $6,000 got subtracted out of their contract money.
Supv Varvayanis said he has no idea what that is, and D Test.ut said that in previous years the
$6,000 has been added to what the Town paid under the contract and was added to the check.
Supv Varvayanis asked if they had put the funds aside and D Testut said it has never been
marked and always been part of the contract. Mr Testut said that every year their contract: has
gone up 2"0, and at one point that included $6,000 over and above and at some time that
changed. He doesn't know what happened. He confirmed that they have received the $6,000,
but the 2% has not been applied to it. He said this is the first year they have had any
indication that the $6,000 is for the reserve, and it is the first: time they have received anything
back regarding their budget request. Arty Perkins said if the Town has been paying more than
the contract amount there are some issues to be resolved. Supv Varvayanis will check into the
matter.
Cl Michaels said he likes the provisions of the contracts and would like to see the
departments follow the requirements for reporting. Cl Michaels asked why the Supervisor had
decided to go with paying half the contract amount in the first installment. Supv Varvayanis
said that the departments had stated that they frontload their expenses and it is an effort to
help them with cash flow. Cl Grantham said it. was reasonable to pay them as scheduled in the
contract; they won't get the total payment up front before the service but it helps them out. Cl
Michaels said that the cover sheet need to be changed to reflect: that the Town adopted the
resolution on December 4 rather than November 13, 2002,
RESOLUTION 9217 - AUTHORIZE NEPTUNE HOSE FIRE CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby approve the contract for fire protection
service with Neptune Hose Company No. 1 of Dryden, Inc. in the amount of $147,191,
is changing the date in recital paragraph #6 from November 13, 2002, to December 4, 2002, and
the Supervisor is hereby authorized to sign the same.
Page 3 of 13
21id Supv Varvayanis
Roll Call Vote
C1
Hatfield
Yes
Cl
Stelick
Yes
Supv Varvayanis
Yes
Cl
Michaels
Yes
Cl
Grantham
Yes
TB 12-4 -02
RESOLUTION #218 - AUTHORIZE VARNA VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FIRE CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby approve the contract for fire protection
service with Varna Volunteer Fire Company in the amount of $117,079, changing the date in
recital paragraph #6 from November 13, 2002, to December 4, 2002, and the Supervisor is
hereby authorized to sign the same.
2t ill Supv Varvayanis
Roll Call Vote
Cl Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Cl Grantham Yes
RESOLUTION #219 - AUTHORIZE BROOKTONDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that t
service with Brooktondale
recital paragraph #6 from
hereby authorized to sign
2nd C1 Stelick
Boll Call Vote
his Town Board does hereby approve the contract for fire protection
Fire Department in the amount of $10,500, changing the date in
November 13, 2002, to December 4, 2002, and the Supervisor is
the same.
Cl
Hatfield
Yes
Cl
Stelick
Yes
Supv Varvayanis
Yes
Cl
Michaels
Yes
Cl
Grantham
Yes
RESOLUTION #220 - AUTHORIZE ETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, INC.
FIRE CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board does hereby approve the contract for fire protection
service with Etna Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. in the amount of $109,242, changing the
date in recital paragraph #6 from November 13, 2002, to December 4, 2002, and the
Supervisor is hereby authorized to sign the same.
2nd Cl Hatfield
Roll Call Vote
C1 Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
ltigc 4 of D
TB 12=4 -02
Cl Grantham Yes
feRESOLUTION #221 - AUTHORIZE W.B. STRONG FIRE COMPANY OF FREEVILLE, INC.
FIRE CONTRACT
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this
service with W.B. Strong Fire
the date in recital paragraph
Supervisor is hereby authoril
2nd C1 Hatfield
'town Board does hereby approve the contract for fire protection
Company of Freeville, Inc. in the amount of $115,484, changing
#6 from November 13, 2002, to December 4, 2002, and the
;ed to sign the same.
Roll Call Vote C1 Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Vaivayanis Yes
C1 Michaels Yes
C1 Grantham Yes
With respect to the ambulance contract, Atty Perkins said he has received a proposal
which the Board also received a copy of last month. The board has received his analysis of the
proposal. Cl Michaels asked whether the fees could be paid to Dryden Ambulance and Atty
Perkins said that could be done and whether it was a good idea might be a subject for
discussion. He said it would add another layer of potential accountability when you have
someone else handling money that is supposed to come to the Town. It is his recommendation
that the Town not do that. The 2002 contract so that the Town received all the revenue so
there was no reason for it to go to Dryden Ambulance.
® Term Allen said many of the checks are made directly to Dryden Ambulance because
they negotiated the contract with Multi -Med and are turned over to the Town. She said the
level of accountability is already established and in fact turning over the checks causes a delay.
If they keep the billing money it is much simpler and has the same sort of accountability. The
contract provides for monthly reports and they have provided that. Multi -Med is a third party
involved and they provide an accounting. Atty Perkins suggested that any contract state that
all checks be paid either to the Town of Dryden or Multi -Med or whoever the Town decides is
going to collect on behalf of the Town of Dryden Ambulance District. He said the bigger
question is which kind of deal is the Town going to strike; who will be responsible for the
collection is the issue.
C1 Michaels said that Dana Abbey expressed concern because it has been suggested
that the Town be responsible for the cost of collection only beyond the first $150,000 collected.
Cl Grantham stated that is not what the contract they have in front of them says. Cl Stelick
said he did not remember net or gross being discussed at the initial meetings, but it was
referred to as net in later conversations, and his understanding was that it was net. He wanted
the 2003 proposal to be less than 2002 and if they use the net figure, it is not less because the
Town is bearing the expense of the billing. Supv Varvayanis said that using the net figure
would result in the contract actually being more than the previous year. Multi-Med charges
15% for collection fees.
The 2002 contract says that Dryden Ambulance will provide three certified ambulances
with all the equipment and supplies fully and completely capable of both basic life support
(BLS) and advanced life support (ALS). The contract proposed for 2003 says `Dryden
Ambulance will provide an ambulance service with all of the personnel, equipment and
supplies required by the public health law and the regulations promulgated by the Department
is of Health. At least one of such ambulances shall at all times be fully and completely capable of
Page 5 of 13
TB 12 -4d12
providing advanced life support. In the event that all of the ambulances shall fail to meet the
® ALS certification requirements for more than 48 consecutive hours, Dryden Ambulance shall
immediately report the same in writing to the Town." Cl Grantham said this is a decrease in
the number of ambulances and an increase in the amount of money requested.
Atty Perkins' recommendation is that there was a thorough review of the form of the
agreement and what the board should be talking about is how much the Town is going to pay.
The form of the contract was fine last year and it ought to be this year because nothing has
changed. There is an issue of how much is paid and how the funds are collected.
Terri Allen said that the contracts are essentially the same regarding ambulances
provided, but Dryden Ambulance is guaranteeing they are going to staff the one ambulance
and if for whatever reason they are unable to do so with any of the other ambulances they uril.l
provide the Town with the proper notification. Cl Grantham said that is not what the contract
says.
Cl Michaels said except for the amount, he doesn't know why the same contract can't
be used this year. The'rown budgeted for a specific amount ($290,000) in expecting Dryden
Ambulance to bear the cost of collection for the first $150,000. Teri Allen said that through the
end of November they had collected $215,741 (gross). Cl Grantham said Dryden Ambulance
had earlier said they were going to give $25,000 back to the Town and Cl Michaels said that
was also his understanding.
Cl Stelick confirmed with D Abbey that Dryden Ambulance's budget is for
approximately $445,000. They came to the Town asking for $445,000 and the tax levy is
$290,000, so they are looking for $155,000 in funds from billing. Dan Tier said they had
originally planned on the tax levy being $295,000 and one of the difficulties is that in their
0 budget discussions they were looking for a contract in order to plan and didn't have one. They
had a contract drawn up and sent to Atty Perkins and then were told that the Town would
write the contract. Now it is December and thev still haven't seen one and it makes it difficult
to negotiate. Cl Stelick said he had always understood that Dryden Ambulance needed
$445,000 and he didn't believe Dryden Ambulance would ask for one thing knowing they would
get less and the first he heard about gross or net was after the first meetings. Supv Varvayanis
said they had been trying to transfer costs to the Town. Cl Michaels said he had brought it up
with Dana Abbey and was told that the Town would only pay collections costs on the portion
above the $150,000. D Abbey said he may have misspoke and they did not intentionally
mislead anyone. They did not intend to transfer costs to the Town. T Allen said the $150,000
has always been referred to in that amount and it has always been the intent ghat amounts
collected over that would be turned over to the Town. The intent was that Dryden Ambulance
would receive $150,000 and any excess would be turned over to the Town.
Cl Grantham said she didn't think the 'Town should pay the collection cost on the
$150,000, it should be gross.
Cl Michaels made a. motion to authorize the Supervisor to sign a contract with Dryden
Ambulance, Inc., subject to approval by the Town Attorney, providing for $290, 000 to be paid
quarterly, the cost of collection of the first $150,000 to be eventually received by Dryden
Ambulance to be paid by Dryden Ambulance, and the Town will pay the collection costs for any
amounts after $150,000, with the rest of the terms of the contract from last year to apply.
Atty Perkins said the Town would have to decide who would be the biller and have the
contract with Multi-Med. Dryden Ambulance currently contracted that out with the Town's
approval.
N,gc6of13
T8 12 -4 -02
Cl Stelick asked why Dryden Ambulance was paid quarterly instead of half the amount
® in the first payment like the fire contracts. Cl Grantham said they were paid quarterly last:
year. Supv Varvayanis seconded the motion and said that the Town should probably contract
for the billing in order to receive information. Cl Michaels said that there could be a three
party contract. Atty Perkins said that could also be accomplished in Dryden Ambulance's
contract.
T Allen asked if the Town was going to collect all the money and leave Dryden
Ambulance out of it, how will the Dryden Ambulance receive the money. Atty Perkins said
there will be records of what was billed and collected and it will be paid over to Dryden
Ambulance. D Abbey suggested that if the Town wanted to be involved so heavily in the billing
then perhaps the Town should take over the billing. Atty Perkins said the sharing of the
proceeds is the complicated part. D Abbey said there seemed to be a lack of trust. Cl Michaels
said that it was his understanding that what: he had proposed was what was happening now.
T Allen said that the billing is easier than it used to be, but it is still difficult and if the Town
was not trusting, perhaps the Town should do t:he billing, keep the proceeds, and pay Dryden
Ambulance the $445,000 they had asked for. She said they did the best they could.
Supv Varvayanis said the increase in collections Dryden Ambulance, Inc. had no where
near covered the increase in costs that they have, and that the Town could go to another
contract provider, get better coverage with all advanced services and pay a much lower
subsidy. Cl Grantham said the Town could not have an ambulance contract Like the Town of
Lansing.
Cl Michaels said be does not understand the concern Dryden Ambulance has. There
will be three parties (the Town, Dryden Ambulance and Multi -Med) that are completely aware of
all the financial information going back and forth. He said Atty Perkins had suggested that the
Town keep the status quo in terms of the collected fees being paid to the Ambulance District as
they are now, and he doesn't know why it is a concern to continue to do. T Allen said that
before the ambulance company got their money in lump sum and now the Town is going with
quarterly payments, and a variable on a monthly basis for the billing. This causes a cash flow
problem because if the money goes directly to the Town and the Town on a monthly basis
writes a. check to Dryden Ambulance, this takes longer. It would be easier for Dryden
Ambulance if the money came directly to them. Atty Perkins suggested to help the cash flow
and delay the Town could pay them a certain amount per month as a base amount toward the
$150,000 and reconcile for the previous month.
Cl Michaels amended his motion to say the collection terms and methods to be at the
approval of the Supervisor and the Town Attorney. He said he didn't know why it was such a
huge issue and there seems to be a practical way to work out where the checks go that satisfies
everybody's concerns. He proposes to keep the contract: basically the same, with the amount to
be $290,000 spread out over the year, the first $150,000 collected to go to Dryden Ambulance
with them paying the collection costs for it, and anything over $150,000 goes to the Town and
the Town will pay the collection costs for it.
Teri Allen asked if they were to do the billing themselves again, where was the incentive
to do a good job and get the most amount of money for the Town. She said if they have to bear
the cost of collecting the first $150,000 and they can't afford it, and they take the billing on,
where is the incentive? She said it has already been established that: doing the billing on your
own is not a good business idea.
Supv Varvayanis said that in 2001 they had an $86,000 increase in net assets, they
took on about $125,000 in costs, increased the contract fee by somewhere around $200,000
and they should have plenty of money.
Page 7 of 13
TB 12-4 -02
Cl Michaels said Dryden Ambulance was a not for profit corporation and their tax
returns were available on the internet. He had reviewed them and Dryden Ambulance, Inc. is
very well fiscally managed. They have a lot of net assets, their reserves are fully loaded, and
they can buy their whole fleet of ambulances over again with cash on hand. He gives them all
sorts of credit for how well they have fiscally managed themselves, but states they are not a
poverty case. This is not something where the health and safety of Dryden's residents rides on
this $22,000 (the estimated cost of billing for the first $50,000). He said that his guess was
that when they file their 2002 tax return you'll see a huge increase in their net assets again,
and even with the contract as he proposed for 2003 he expects they would have another large
increase in net assets. Teri Allen said the difference this year is $180,000 in payroll, and Cl
Michaels said that would still leave $237,000 worth of money to fund operations. T Allen said
you still had to consider expenses for the building, benefits, running the station, taxes,
equipment costs, and supplies. Cl Michaels said that every year Dryden Ambulance's income
has greatly exceeded their expenses to the equivalent of a 20 -40% profit margin it they were a
for profit corporation.
T Allen said the Town had budgeted for $290,000 and anything above that is what they
are going to recoup and give back to the Town. She said there really isn't any out of pocket
cost for the $150,000. They haven't asked for more than has been budgeted and have agreed
on the $290,000. She said the other part of it is based on the job that they do; based on call
volume, accuracy of the billing and the number of calls they do. They want to be able to do the
best: job they can, not only for the community, but for the Town and the ambulance service
itself. She said a big part of it is the billing and she feels you need to be expert at doing it.
When they got the billing it was in sad shape and she thinks they have exceeded expectations
with respect: to the billing. She said the incentive to do a good job is to go with the best job,
and by putting the cost of the billing back on them is a disservice to Dryden Ambulance. Cl
Michaels said he hoped it had been expressed that Multi -Med would be a requirement for the
billing.
Dana Abby suggested a. one lump sum, paid in two installments and the Town could
take over the billing. T Allen said they would be willing to submit the PCR's if that was what
the Town wanted and then all Dryden Ambulance would be responsible for was doing a good
job. That would solve the issue of who gets what and pays for the billing and the incentive
would still be there to do a good job and provide as many ambulances as possible when they
were needed.
Atty Perkins said the confusion comes about because whoever made the proposal that
the first $150,000 would go to Dryden Ambulance and then the issue of who pays the costs of
billing and collecting that, and is it really $150,000 or is it less than $150,000. He said under
the current contract they get $453,540 and bear all the costs of collection. The proposal now
seems to be $290,000 plus the net of $150,000 first billed. The motion and amendment as he
understands it is that the Town of Dryden will have some arrangement with Multi -Med where
the checks will come to the Dryden Ambulance District. Multi -Med will be a service and the
service they provide will be to take the information given to them by Dryden Ambulance,
process applications for payment, receive checks payable either to the Town of Dryden
Ambulance District or the Town and turn over those funds on a regular basis. The Town then
pays over to Dryden Ambulance as they receive the money. Atty Perkins said Dryden
Ambulance has certain requests that they've made and the Town of Dryden is looking at lost
revenue in the costs of collecting it.
Cl Michaels said that he had been told that in 2002 Dryden Ambulance would be
returning $25,000 to the Town. Dana Abbey said they had hoped to, but he wasn't sure about
it now. Cl Hatfield said he does not want the Town to take over the billing again.
Page 8 of 13
TB 12 -4a 2
Cl Stelick said that he wanted to make it clear that previous to Dryden Ambulance, Inc.
taking over the billing, he was told there was no old money to be found. However, after Dryden
Ambulance, Inc. had done their job, they went with Multi -Med to find any old monies that had
not been collected. To date they have collected a gross amount of about $16,000 because of
Multi -Med's efforts. He said asked if Dryden Ambulance takes over the billing, does the best
they can and they have a shortfall, what would be done? Since Multi -Med has taken over the
billing income has been consistent and they are doing a good job. He said that he knows
Multi -Med is doing what they are paid for.
RESOLUTION #222 - AUTHORIZE CONTRACT WITH DRYDEN AMBULANCE, INC.
Cl Michaels offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that. this Town Board hereby authorizes the Supervisor to execute a
contract with Dryden Ambulance, Inc. to provide ambulance service to the Town of Dryden,
subject to approval by the Town Attorney, providing for payment of $290,000 payable in
quarterly installments, and collection of the first $1.50,000 billed to be paid over to Dryden
Ambulance, Inc., less the expenses of billing/ collecting, and the Town will pay the collection
costs for any amounts after $150,000 (collection terms and methods to be approved by the
Town Supervisor and Town Attorney), the rest of the terms from the last contract to apply.
211d Supv Varvayanis
Roll Call Vote Cl Hatfield No
Cl Stelick No
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Cl Grantham Yes
D Abbey said that he assumed that the terms of this contract would not be acceptable
to Dryden ambulance and asked what would happen then. Supv Varvayariis said he thinks it
would be better if Cl Michaels, Cl Stelick and Atty Perkins would meet. with Dryden Ambulance.
D Abbey said there had been no communication regarding changes. Supv Varvayanis said he
had heard for a whole year how they were going to come in at a much lower price, and he told
everyone he didn't believe it and it turns out he was right. They came in asking for a higher
price and that's what slowed things down. After discussion a meeting was tentatively set for
December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at Atty Perkins office.
Cl Grantham stated that Kevin McMahon had resigned from the Conservation Advisory
Board and she has a resume from Milo Richmond who is interested in filling the unexpired
term. She stated he was a natural resource person and would be a valuable member of the
CAC. Cl Michaels agreed.
RESOLUTION #223 - APPOINT MILO RICHMOND TO CAC
Cl Grantham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby :appoints Milo Richmond to the Conservation
Advisory Council to fill the unexpired term of Kevin McMahon (expiring December 31, 2003).
2nd Cl Michaels
Roll Call Vote C1 Hatfield Yes
C1 Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Pagc 9 of 13
TB 12 =4 -02
Cl Michaels Yes
isCl Grantham Yes
Cl Grantham said she had asked Egner & Associates to provide her with a list of things
to consider in site selection in the event the Town chose to put the Town Hall somewhere other
than the present site and estimates on renovation and addition to the present building and
shared Egner's response with the Board. To renovate the existing and add a 1,600 square feet
addition is $380,000 and to renovate and add a 6,000 square feet addition is $1,190,000. The
cost of a new building had been estimated at 1.3 to 1.6 million dollars. Cl Stelick said that was
before it had determined that the public assembly space had been over estimated because of a
misinterpretation of the building code. They have now decided the size can be reduced. With
digitizing the records, the size of the vault could also be reduced. Cl Stelick noted that if the
present building was renovated there would still be no storage space for equipment for the
youth programs. He also noted that if a new hall was built, the Highway Department may be
able to utilize the old budding. Jack Bush said that as long as there was room for expansion of
the highway facility that would be all right. He also said that perhaps the board should look at
relocating the highway facility down on Johnson Road next to where they stockpile the stone.
The Fingerlakes Aquaculture building is for sale and perhaps they should look into that.
The board further discussed renovating and expanding the current town hall and
making do with a smaller building. Cl Grantham will ask Pam Kingsbury to compare that
option with the new building originally designed and the cost, considering renovating and
expanding at the current: location and the expense, including drainage issues, of a new
building at the rear of the existing site. Cl Stelick wants to consider flexibility and make sure
that what we build now is usable in the future, noting that technology does not necessarily
mean less space. He said that this would be a flexible piece of property if we built another
building, but not if the present building was renovated. He also stated that the athletic
equipment could be stored in a. separate storage building. Cl Hatfield said that he did not
believe a new building would cost much more than renovating and adding on to the existing
building, noting that renovating would probably not correct all the problems with the old
building.
Jack Bush stated he had expressed to the engineers his concerns with the current site
and being able to expand the highway facility in the future and any fixture expansion of the
torn hall if necessary. He has put $40,000 into a fund toward an addition on the highway
barn. It would be on the opposite side from the town hall, forcing parking to the other side. He
said there needs to be long range vision and assumption that the Town is going to grow. Cl
Grantham said they had estimated 20 years into the future. J Bush suggested the town
purchase property on Ellis or Enterprise Drive for the Town Hall, and that would put it in the
Town and out of the Village. He cautioned the board to leave room for expansion.
Cl Grantham said the building committee would look at the space needs study again
and make some adjustments. She would like information from the Highway Superintendent
about any proposed expansion and vision for 20 years from now. She would like information
from Cl Stelick about recreation equipment needs. She said her preference is to renovate and
expand the current building and use the money saved on other facilities and work such as
aquifer studies or recreational facilities. Cl Michaels said that he was concerned with what
would happen with the people working here while the building was renovated and the costs
involved and wondered whether renovation was really cost effective. Cl Hatfield said you
should build for what you need now and some extra so that you wouldn't have to add on iii a
few years. He doesn't think it would cost that much more for a new building.
Supv Varvayanis reported to the board that Stu Berg had notified him that he will be
from the Zoning Board of Appeals at the end of the year when his term expires. Cl
® retiring
Grantham advised the board that Bruce Osadchey whose term expires at the end of this year
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TB 124 -02
will not be continuing on the Conservation Advisory Council, but she believed the others whose
terms are expiring will continue.
Supv Varvayanis has been contacted by Ed Marx of the TC planning Dept inyuhing
about the status of the DOT facility relocation. He told Supv Varvayanis that the State would
like to have a resolution from the board saying the board would work with the Village to get
water to the Ellis Drive site. Cl Hatfield suggested a steering committee be formed of members
of the Town and Village Boards to work together on the matter. Supv Varvayanis said he had
talked with Bob Baxter of Dryden Mutual who indicated something could be worked out and
said that he had talked with Senator Seward who assured him that something could be worked
out. Cl Michaels reminded the board that the Village had sent a letter to the Town stating they
would not be willing to provide water to the Ellis Drive area unless it was annexed to the
Village. Cl Stelick and Supv Varvayanis said they thought the Village was willing to work
something out. Cl Stelick said that his biggest concern was Dryden Mutual and if they are
willing to work on where the DOT is and purchase some property, he'd like to get water out
there. Supv Varvayanis said any way they could water to the area works for him and he has
previously stated that the use is appropriate there and he would feel uncomfortable putting it
on East Main Street, and if Mr. Baxter is happy that is also good. Supv Varvayanis and Cl
Stelick offered to serve on the steering committee. Cl Stelick said he'd like to move forward and
there is a lot to gain if Dryden Mutual is able to expand and the DOT brings 40 additional
people in, it's a positive thing for the Town of Dryden.
RESOLUTION #224 - FORM COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH VILLAGE OF DRYDEN
IN RELOCATING THE NYS DOT FACILITY
Cl Grantham offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, Tompkins County Resolution No. 305 (dated December 19, 2000)
established the County's interest in effecting the relocation of the New York State Department
of Transportation ( NYSDOT) Maintenance Facility from its present location on the waterfront off
Third Street Extension in the City of Ithaca, and
WHEREAS, Senator James Seward has secured $3.0 million in the 2002 -2003 State
Budget to support this project, supplemented by NYSDOT funds of approximately $700,000,
with possible additional funding from the sale or lease of the existing property on Third Street,
and
WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden by Resolution #176 on August 7, 2002, acknowledged
that there were several sites in the Town that may be acceptable for relocation of the NYSDOT
facility and indicated its willingness to meet with all interested parties, and
WHEREAS, as it appears that the most desirable site for the relocation of the NYSDOT
facility is on Ellis Drive in the Town of Dryden, just north of the Village of Dryden,
Now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Supv Mark Varvayanis and Cl
Stephen Stelick to work with representatives of the Village of Dryden as a steering committee to
obtain water for the selected site on Ellis Drive.
2c, Cl Stelick
Roll Call Vote
Cl Hatfield Yes
Cl Stelick Yes
Supv Varvayanis Yes
Cl Michaels Yes
Pagellof13
TB 12-4 -02
C1 Grantham Yes
Cl Hatfield said that the Town had drilled test wells in the area years ago and was not
successful. D Putnam said it was not the volume of the water they found, but the quality. Atty
Perkins said he may have some information and can put together a history. Cl Grantham
would like USGS to have the information in connection with the aquifer study. Cl Michaels
said it would be prudent process to consider other ways of getting water to the site, though it
seems the most efficient way would be to hook into the Village's supply and purchase water.
Board meetings for January were set for January 2 and January 8, 2003.
The Town has received resumes from Matty Hamel of TC3 and Vicki Wilkins of SUNY
Cortland for the newly created positions on the Recreation Commission. Board agrees that
they will be good additions to the Commission.
RESOLUTION #225 - APPOINT RECREATION
MEMBERS
Cl Hatfield offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Matty Hamel to serve on the
Recreation Commission with a term to expire December 31, 2004, and Vicki Wilkins to serve on
the recreation Commission with a germ to expire December 31, 2003.
2nd C1 Grantham
Roll Call Vote
Cl
Hatfield
Yes
C1
Stelick
Yes
Supv Varvayanis
Yes
Cl
Michaels
Yes
C1
Grantham
Yes
Cl Hatfield said that they'd had a letter last month from resident of Hurd Road stating
that the Highway Superintendent had laid down 22' of blacktop. He has gone out and
measured the road in nine different: places and it averaged 20'3" of blacktop. He said the
resident had accused the Highway Superintendent of doing everything illegal and wrong and he
wanted to go on record as saying that there is not 22' of blacktop on that road. He is sick and
tired of hearing all kinds of accusations and when he goes to check it is wrong.
Peggy Walbridge of Hunt: Hill Road said she has measured it at 21'12' and 22' so she
thinks they have different tape measures. Cl Hatfield said he measured it from dirt on one side
to dirt on the other side, and she said she measured from the edge of the pavement to the edge
of the pavement. Cl Hatfield said he had too, and it was not 22' any%r *here. P Walbridge said it
was more than it vas. Cl Hatfield said it wasn't as the resident stated anyway.
With respect to Seeley v Bush, Atty Perkins reported that he had spoken with the
Supervisor about having a 50(h) examination and it is yet to be scheduled.
Supv Varvayanis told Cl Michaels and Cl Stelick to remember when they went into
negotiations with Dryden Ambulance on Friday that there are three providers who are
interested in providing service. From the proposals last year, this is by far the most expensive
and is the only one that didn't guarantee advanced life support on every ambulance, the only
one that had people responding from only one location, the only one that had people not in the
ambulance, but carrying a beeper, and in his opinion it is by far the worst. proposal. He said
Svc are putting our citizens at risk and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars extra to do
it. He doesn't see how it relates to supporting volunteerism. He thinks it is a very warped
sense of volunteerism to put citizens at risk, and charge extra to do it. He also pointed out the
Page 12 of 13
TB 124wO2
chief of the ambulance asked him last year if he had it in writing if Bm—igs would take
49 volunteers because he had a waiting list of people who wanted to ride on his ambulance, and
we have to switch to paid drivers because they can't get one volunteer to drive on a Dryden
ambulance. He said that is something that ought to be remembered.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting %vas adjourned at
10:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Hollenbeck
Town Clerk
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