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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-10 30 TOWN OF DANBY TOWN BOARD MINUTES AUGUST 10 , 1998 PRESENT : Supervisor R. Kenneth Horst Councilpersons : Joel Gagnon, Edward Inman, Howard Steiner, Naomi Strichartz Others Present: Carol W . Sczepanski-- Town Clerk Code Enforcement --Officer, Susan Beeners Frank Proto - County Representative Members of the Public : Mary Oltz, Judy VanDermark, Bob Roe, Arch & Esther Dotson, Pat Woodworth, Mary Lou Hardesty, Daniel Richardson, Michael Raffe, John Henderson, Ted Jones, Dan Klein, Harry Mussell, Elizabeth Roe, Linda Howe, Susan Warren, Ames Brown, Elaine Sousa and others . Supervisor Kenneth Horst called the meeting to order at 7 : 08 P . M . and led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag . ADDITIONS TO AGENDA : 1 ) New Business - discussion related to the resignation of the Jennings Pond Program Manager. 2) New Business - Freedom of Information Law discussion. 3 ) New Business - Transfer of Funds for the Highway Department - resolutions 4) Old Business - Update on the sale of the Town Barns property. 5 ) New Business of a proposed telecommunications agreement. 6) New Business - Proposed Adult Entertainment Facility Study 7) New Business - Insurance Quotes Materials 8) New Business - Councilperson Gagnon submitted a proposed resolution for clarifying Danby Area News Guidelines . Elizabeth Owens Roe, Danby Area News Editor asked that the Board place the proposed resolution on the September Agenda to give her time to review the proposed revision. 9) New Business - Transfer of funds for bookkeeper 10) Old Business - completion of town hall facility 11 ) Susan Beeners requested the addition of a request for funds for the residents survey analysis . No Board Member objected. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Town Clerk Carol Sczepanski reported that she has contacted Community Service to come in and evaluate the supplies needed to complete the finishing touches to the painting of the restrooms and meeting room, and other services they can provide to the Town. The "Welcome to Danby" road signs that were purchased by the Bicentennial funds have been received and will be installed in the near future . Councilperson Steiner asked Councilperson Inman to itemize everything that is needed to complete the renovation/addition project. He said that he thought that the meeting room would be completely painted, the floors cleaned and the curtains hung at the completion of the project. Councilperson Inman said that the remaining finishing touches to the meeting room is beyond anything that was included in the contract. County Representative Report: County Representative Frank Proto reported on the following : 1 ) Farm City Day - The County is sponsoring a Farm City Day at the LuLin Farm on Saturday August 15 . 931 Town Board Minutes 2 August 10, 1998 2) Flood Damage in West Danby - Linda Sheliever and Harry Mussel from Soil and Conservation, and Ward Hungerford from Tompkins County will address the Board tonight with information related to finding for the flood damage in West Danby. 3) Budget 1999 - in progress and are preliminary. There are no fund balances this year to offset possible increases in programs . Wednesday, September 23 , 1998 from 7 - 9 p .m . A public forum will be held on the County Budget at Boynton Middle School . 4) Beautification Grant - deadline September 1998 . Danby stands a good chance for funding. 5) Library - no decision made for moving the County Library to the Woolworth ' s building. There are serious concerns that many businesses in downtown Ithaca are closing. 6) Medical Conference - A medical conference was held in July with 150 medical professionals in attendance . 7) Block Grant - The County has received a block grant through Senator Seward and the funds are being circulated on various projects throughout the Town. 8) Archives Grants - (SARA) $ 80,000 has been awarded in Tompkins County. A meeting will be held in September in Tompkins County. 9) Medicare - The County will loose in 1999 $300,000 - $400,000 in programs in that is related to home based care . 10) Veteran ' s Cemeteries - War Veterans are concerned that there is no Veteran ' s Cemetery in this part of the Finger Lakes. As a need exists , the Veterans are pursuing through our State Assemblyman Luster the possibility of developing an area at the Sampson Base . 11 ) Telephone Charges - We are all being assessed a fee approved by the FCC to pay for the Internet access for public schools . He questions whether the school districts are going to reduce our school taxes for this charge . Members of the Public Susan Warren - 884 South Danby Road - concerned that the box culvert on South Danby is not adequate to carry off water and creek bed near their property is causing unnecessary flooding and needs cleaning. Linda Selega - Tompkins County Resource Conservationist (USDA) from the Natural Resources Conservation Service addressed the Board with information regarding the Emergency Watershed work that provides funding for flood damage . There is variety of stream banks stabilization programs available for immediate situations that need to be corrected . She presented materials and draft contract to the Town for the Emergency Watershed Programs to review. An engineer has looked at the flood damage that occurred in West Danby on Tupper Avenue and Maple Avenue and assessed the situation. The USDA can provide approximately 75 % and a sponsor for the Town is responsible for 25% for the remaining cost of the work. The work is estimated to be approximately $ 16,000. Time limit for application for funding is 205 after occurance (July 8 , 1998) and completion in 220 days . COMMUNICATIONS : 1 ) Resignation notice from Amy Cusimano (Jennings Pond Coordinator) 2) Letter to Board from Linda Howe related to funding for bookkeeper salary. Reports : EMC - Robert Roe reported that there will be no meeting of the EMC in August. He reminded the Town that there will be a conference September 11 - 15 , 1998 in Ithaca sponsored by the EMC for all units in New York State . Highway - Superintendent William Hall reported in addition to the normal maintenance and repairs of Town roads that the Town has spent the last few weeks repairing flood damage--replacing the box culvert on LaRue Road and repairing damage on the Valley View Road culvert. Short Road in West Danby was widened to accommodate the delivery of a double wide manufactured home and for winter maintenance of snow plowing. Code Enforcement Office Report - Susan Beeners submitted the Code Enforcement Monthly $ 2 Town Board Minutes 3 August 10, 1998 Report for July 1998 and reported that the "This is Danby" maps have been received . A set consisting of the 1853 , 1866 and a current map may be purchased at the Town Clerk' s office for a $ 3 . 00 donation to cover the printing costs . Dog Control Report : A petition and letter was filed from residents in the Jersey Hill area regarding several dogs running loose and barking all night. The clerk will forward the petition to the SPCA . Planning Board Report: Planning Board Chair Arch Dotson acknowledged and congratulated the Town Board for reaffirming the task of the Planning Board in relation to the preparation of the comprehensive plan. The Planning Board is reviewing the residents survey and hopes to have it ready to mail soon. The help we have received from the County has been invaluable . A member of the City and Regional Department at Cornell University has volunteered his class seminar of graduate students to assist in the analysis of the Danby survey and providing other information for our comprehensive plan at a cost of $ 500 for copying materials . Community Council Report :_ President Judy VanDermark reported that the cake wheel at the Danby Field Days was very successful and $ 170 was raised . They are continuing to register youth for ball programs and the second youth flyer will be published soon. Upcoming activities include a band concert will be held on Sunday, August 30th from 2 : 00 - 5 : 00 p .m . at the Danby Fire Station and they would like to see a lot of community support. The first blood drive in Danby will be held at the Danby Fire Station on Saturday, September 12th. Judy will be scheduling appointments for the blood donors . Pat Woodworth submitted a 1998 budget Summary by age group from Community Council . Water Resource Council : Ted Jones submitted copies of minutes from the Water Resource Council , a list of members of the committee and the bi-laws of the Tompkins County Water Resource Council and the Tompkins County Water Resources Technical Committee for the Board ' s review. Fire District Report: Roland Boda of the Danby Fire District reported that they have a clarification on Use of Fire District Buildings and Properties. A copy of the regulations and fees for use of the Fire District Building and Properties is on file with the Town Clerk. OLD BUSINESS : Revised Reapplication - NYS Planning Federation Grant Code Enforcement Officer Susan Beeners reported that there is a modest change in the reapplication of the NYS Planning Federation Grant. The grant is for an economic development project and will include a business persons survey, a residents survey, a community directory listing of business and community services . There would also be an economic type of analysis study which would supplement the comprehensive plan. The request is for $ 3 , 180 . 00 with matching funds from the town for $ 1 , 534 . 00 . The Planning Board has recommended that the Town Board re-approve the reapplication for a NYS Planning Federation Grant with final budgeting subject to the normal budgeting process . Motion to Authorize Supervisor to Simi New York State Planning Federation Grant Reapplication A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and Seconded by Councilperson Steiner to authorize the Town of Danby Supervisor to sign the New York State Planning Federation Grant Reapplication on behalf of the Town Board of the Town of Danby . Discussion : County Representative Frank Proto suggested that the Town ask Senator (R) John Kuhl and 533 Town Board Minutes 4 August 10, 1998 Assemblyman Martin Luster for letters of support to be submitted with the grant reapplication. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Town Hall Cleaning Services : Supervisor Horst reported that Gerald Catlin is interested in providing the cleaning services at the Town Hall . It may be necessary to have someone to clear the walks in the winter as well as a person to clean and oversee the Town Hall facility. Community Council - Proposed Resolution Requesting Amendment to Budget Community Council has requested that the Town Board amend the Town of Danby 1998 Budget by $ 5 ,988 by increasing the Youth Services expenditures and decreasing the unappropriated fund balance. Supervisor Horst reported that the funds were placed in the unappropriated funds and no action was taken to that effect. On march 9 , 1998 a motion was passed by the Town Board to allocate the funds . There was no action taken on this request at this time . Completion of Town Hall Facility Councilperson Steiner requested a listing of items that need to be completed to the Town Hall Facility. A list of items necessary for the completion of the facility, cost and time frame for the completion should be submitted to the Board for consideration. There should be funds remaining from the renovation/addition project to cover the cost . Resignation of Jennings Pond Coordinator: Supervisor Horst read a letter of resignation from Amy Cusimano the Coordinator of the Jennings Pond Program was delivered to the Town Clerk and was addressed to Danby Community Council, Town of Danby. The resignation was dated July 28 , 1998 and was effective immediately. A copy of the resignation letter was delivered to Josefina Griffin . There is no supervision at the Pond to oversee the pond program at this time . Amy will continue to provide the payroll information for the lifeguards . Discussion: The Board discussed a temporary replacement of the pond coordinator if someone could be found for the remaining three weeks of the swim program. Staff members, lifeguards and others as possibilities were discussed. Councilpersons will search the community for a volunteer to supervise the pond program. Councilperson Inman said that he would like to close the swim program immediately until a person to supervise the program is in place . Motion to Close the Jennings Pond Swim Program A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon that the Town Board of the Town of Danby will close the Jennings Pond Swim Program if a coordinator for the program is not found by 8 : 00 P .M . , Wednesday, August 12 , 1998 (at closing) that the pond program will remain closed until a suitable coordinator is found and authorizes the Town Supervisor to hire a coordinator for the program if one is found . Discussion: v 4 Town Board Minutes 5 August 10, 1998 Councilperson Strichartz and Supervisor Horst will call the pond volunteers to see if anyone is interested in taking on the supervision of the Jennings Pond Program for the remainder of the season. Councilperson Steiner the most important responsibility for the coordinator is to ensure that the lifeguards are on duty and to bring up the nets . A councilperson could check each day to insure that the lifeguards are on duty and we could instruct them that bringing up the nets is an added responsibility. He said he is willing to check on the pond and lifeguards one or two days per week. A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Nay Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Councilperson Steiner, Councilperson Strichartz and Community Council President Judy VanDermark will volunteer their services to oversee the pond program for this week while they search for a replacement for the coordinator of the program. United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service Cooperative Agreement No. 604.9 A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorize the Town Supervisor to sign a Cooperative Agreement between the Town and NYS Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service for application for funding from the Emergency Watershed Program to repair flood damage that occurred in West Danby on Tupper Avenue and Maple Avenue and along the stream beds as assessed, with the USDA providing approximately 75% of the cost and a sponsor for the Town for 25% of the remaining cost estimated to be approximately $ 16,000 and the time limit for application for funding is 205 after occurance (July 8 , 1998) and completion in 220 days . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Motion to Extend Meeting A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon at 10 : 00 p .m. to extend the meeting until all business on the agenda is completed . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Carried Unanimously Horst Aye Quotes for Town Insurance A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to advertise for insurance quotes for providing insurance for the Town of Danby. X35 Town Board Minutes 6 August 10, 1998 A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Appreciation to John Henderson A motion was made by Supervisor Horst and seconded by Councilperson Inman that the Town Board of the Town of Danby extends appreciation to John Henderson of 441 Comfort Road, Ithaca, New York for the donation of a set of World Book Encyclopedias to the Danby Reading Room . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Comi Telecommunication Service Proposed Agreement A draft agreement from Richard A. Comi of Comi Telecommunication Service was sent to the Town for providing a "Wireless Facilities Siting Law" for the Town Board to review. The draft agreement was reviewed and amended by the Town Board . Motion to Send Draft Agreement for Providing a Wireless Facilities Siting Law to the Town Attorney for Review A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to ask the Town Attorney to incorporate the recommendations of the Town Board into the draft agreement from Comi Telecommunication Service for providing a "Wireless Facilities Siting Law", for his review and approval, before the agreement is returned to Comi Telecommunications Service for their approval . Discussion : Councilperson Steiner said that the Board should approve the agreement with the incorporated changes before it is sent back to Comi Telecommunications Services . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Transfer of Funds for Bookkeeper Salary Supervisor Horst reported that funds need to be transferred to cover the town bookkeeper salary for the remainder of the year. Due to additional responsibilities and duties it is necessary to increase funding to cover the expense for the remainder of 1998 . The bookkeeper explained in a letter to the Board that her duties have increased and with a new accounting system, financial reports , extra hours that were necessary for her to be here for the 536 Town Board Minutes 7 August 10 , 1998 internal audit, $mart Review and NYS Audit. She estimated that additional funding is needed for approximately 400 hours . Motion to Transfer Funds from A1990 .400 to A1220 . 110 A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to transfer $4,000 .00 from A1990 .400 (Contingency Fund) to A1220 . 110 to cover the salary of the bookkeeper for the remainder of 1998 . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Request for Funding for the Danby Survey Analysis and Related Comprehensive Plan Products. Code Enforcement Officer submitted a request for funding for the Danby Survey Analysis and Related Comprehensive Plan Products . Rolf Pendell, Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning proposes that a class at Cornell University can conduct a full semester project to our survey analysis and related comprehensive plan products and has requested a budget of $ 500 . Susan explained that funding for the comprehensive plan project can be used for this project. Motion to Approve Funds for the Danby Survey Analysis and Related Comprehensive Plan Products A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to transfer $ 500 . 00 from A1010 . 4 to A8020 .401 to cover the expense of the Danby Survey Analysis and Related Comprehensive Plan Products as requested by Rolf Pendell , Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning to provide : 1 ) Data entry and analysis of the Survey . 2) Studies of various comprehensive plan components including : Format options for the Danby Comprehensive Plan; Soils mapping, conducting of traffic counts, windshield land use surveys ; and a report will be presented to the Town with 15 copies of the report . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Highway Superintendent' s Request to Transfer Funds The Highway Superintendent submitted a request to transfer funds between accounts within the highway budget to cover secretarial and conference expenses Motion to Transfer Highway Funds A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Inman to transfer $2000 . 00 from A5010 . 2 to A5010 . 110 for secretarial expenses and $400 . 00 from A5010 . 2 to A5010 .4 for highway conference expenses . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : i x' 37 Town Board Minutes 8 August 10, 1998 Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously APPROVAL OF WARRANTS West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No. 8 of 1998 A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Strichartz to approve the West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 8 of 1998 voucher numbers 25 - 27 in the amount of $ 195 . 63 . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Highway Fund Warrant No. 8 of 1998 A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve the Highway Fund Warrant voucher numbers 126- 141 in the amount of $21 , 393 . 34 . A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously General Fund Warrant No. 8 of 1998 A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve the General Fund Warrant No . 8 of 1998 voucher numbers 279 - 318 in the amount of $ 15 ,097 . 23 . A vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Approval of Town Clerk' s July 1998 Report A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to approve the Clerk' s July 1998 Report as submitted . A vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Horst Aye Carried Unanimously Town Board Minutes 9 August 10, 1998 Approval of Town Supervisor' s July 1998 Report A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to approve the Town Supervisor ' s July 1998 Report as submitted . A vote on the motion resulted as follows : Gagnon Aye Inman Aye Steiner Aye Strichartz Aye Carried Unanimously Construction Fund Warrant Councilperson Inman reported that he has adjusted the Construction Fund Applications and the following are to be paid in the amounts approved : Application # 10 - B . Milligan Contraction,Inc . $ 14 , 932 . 74 Application # 11 - Airtech Heating A/C Systems $ 5 ,000 . 00 Application #3 - Blanding Electric $ 908 . 60 Total Construction Warrant $ 20 ,841 .34 Other Business Historic Ithaca Danby Project Councilperson Gagnon reported that he has read through the document prepared by Historic Ithaca and there are many inaccuracies and inaccurate dates in the publication. FOIL (Freedom of Information Laws) Councilperson Strichartz has requested that discussion of the FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) be placed on a future Agenda. Clerk' s Service Window The Clerk has requested that the service window to her office be altered to better serve the public . A local contractor has consulted with a company that can replace the window and adjust the counter to make it more serviceable to both the clerk and public . The adjustment will be made soon. ADOURNNMENT : On a motion the meeting adjourned at 11 : 50 P .M . /Ng 64/4.-4/ min- 8 - 10 . 98 Carol W . Sczepan •// i i own Clerk