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1 Town Board Minutes
December 13 , 1999
TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
DECEMBER 13 , 1999
PRESENT :
Supervisor Kenneth Horst
Councilpersons : Joel Gagnon, Edward Inman, Howard Steiner, Naomi Strichartz
Others Present :
Code Enforcement Officer - Susan Beeners
Town Clerk - Carol Sczepanski
County Representative - Frank Proto
Members of the Public :
Roy Casterline, Edward M . Roberts, Robert Roe, Sue Howe, Ames Brown, Andy & Mike Thurnheer,
Norbert Nolte, Donald Spanier, Willard Ticknor Daetsch, Eileen Wright, Pat Woodworth, Ira Brous
& Anne Brous, Faith Chase, Linda Dorn
Supervisor Horst called the meeting to order at 7 : 02 p . m . and led all present to the Pledge of
Allegiance to the American flag.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
1 ) Communication - Memo regarding interested persons for handyman
2) Councilperson Steiner requested the addition under new business of a resolution authorizing
the Highway Superintendent to advertize for bids for a 10 wheel dump truck to replace truck
No . 31
3 ) Councilperson Gagnon asked for the addition of a motion requesting authorization for energy
upgrades to the Town Hall Facility .
4) Councilperson Gagnon requested the addition of an item requesting use of the Town Hall for
a meeting of an out of Town Group - Grass Roots for Integrative Planning.
5 ) Councilperson Gagnon asked that permission for a Grass Roots for Integrative Planning
meeting to use the Town Hall Facility be added to the Agenda.
6) The Town Clerk requested a modification to their motion to upgrade the voting machines for
handicapped accessibility.
7) Authorization for Supervisor to sign County Revitalization Contract for the Danby General
Store .
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR:
Town Clerk Carol Sczepanski reported that she has received only response to a request for public
interest in appointments to committees and boards . The Board requested that the Town Clerk publish
the committee openings in the Danby Area News again.
Members of the Public :
Edward M. Roberts - 47 Bald Hill Road would like to have the Town acknowledge the persons who
are responsible for the building of the bandstand, is concerned that nothing is happening to a burned
out building on the corner of Bald Hill Road and NYS Rte . 96B and that residents in his
- neighborhood did not receive the last issue of the Danby Area News .
Ames Brown - 1820 Danby Road - suggested that the Town change our budget cycle and is
concerned that we do not get the maximum effect out of our legal expenses . He was disappointed
that the Fire Department did not have Danby Field Day in 1999 .
Ira Brown - 293 Curtis Road - is concerned that a telecommunication tower may be erected in the
Curtis Road area.
County Representative Report :
County Representative Frank Proto reported on the following Board of Representatives Items :
Telecommunication Towers - the County is proposing to erect from 8 - 10 telecommunication
towers in the County for emergency transmission capability . There is a proposed site in the Curtis
Road area but nothing has been approved at this time .
Danby General Store - has received a Grant in the amount of $2 , 700 . 00 from the County for a
Commercial Revitalization project.
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December 13 , 1999
Tobacco Settlement - The County has not received any money yet .
Sheriffs Department - a second deputy sheriff was approved for the County .
Water Quality Committee Report - CAFO - (Confined Animal Feeding Operation) - may propose
a regulation that requires a manure handling plant to protect our streams from barnyard runoff for
agriculture operations that have from 300 - 1000 livestock .
Danby School - a committee is working on the project to use the Danby School as an agricultural
type school . The project may take up to two (2) years to implement and is a worthwhile project .
Supervisor Statement :
Supervisor Horst thanked the Town for giving him the opportunity to serve as Supervisor for the past
two years . He summarized the projects and activities of in the Town during his term of office .
Revitalization Grants were awarded to the Town for the Town Hall , the Bicentennial Committee for
the bandstand, and a Commercial Revitalization Grant to the Danby General Store . The Danby
School Committee has many representatives from the Town of Danby . A liaison between the
Highway Department and the Town has been established for better communication and an
investment policy is in place . He said that he is leaving the Town in very good sound financial
condition.
COMMUNICATIONS :
1 ) Quotes for Voting Machine Modifications
2) Contract - Commercial Center Revitalization Program - Danby General Store
3 ) Memo and suggestions from Councilperson Steiner regarding "Handyman" .
REPORTS :
EMC Report - Robert Roe reported that the Tompkins County Board of Representatives on
December 7 , 1999 confirmed that the EMC membership would be a minimum of 21 voting
members .
Highway Department Report - November report 1999 received .
Zoning Department - November 1999 report received .
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer reported that she has scheduled a meeting with a local
contractor who is interested in doing some repair work to the Town Hall Facility .
Planning Board Report :
Susan Beeners reported that the Tompkins County Planning Department is now without a Circuit
Rider and the County will hire a new person soon to fill that position .
Supervisor Horst reported that the Town has signed a contract to extend the services of the Circuit
Rider through March 31 , 1999 and that contract has not been signed by the County at this time . We
have already lost the month of December under the current contract .
Bob Roe reported that the he has reviewed with the Planning Board Chair the County ' s Economic
Development Strategy and the Town of Danby is briefly mentioned .
Recreation Partnership
Councilperson Gagnon reported that the group working on the future of the Recreation Partnership
are now trying to decide what form a structure might take in order to continue the partnership in the
future . Alternatives are being explored on how to subsidize cost of programs and how to redistribute
the cost of providing services .
Danby Community Council:
Pat Woodworth reported that Margaret Shepard wrote and submitted a grant proposal to Tompkins
County Trust Foundation and Danby Community Council has received an additional $ 5 ,000 . 00 for
the playground . It is expected that the playground will be built in May or June of 2000 . The
Community Council Annual Meeting will be held on the second Thursday in January 2000 . There
was a problem with the distribution of the Danby Area News in the Spencer area and residents have
not received the last issue .
Senior Citizens :
The Danby Senior Citizens Annual Christmas Dinner was held on December 2 , 1999 at the Common
Ground . The guest speaker was Tompkins County Representative Frank Proto .
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December 13 , 1999
Dog Control - SPCA October 1999 report received.
Danby Fire District
The Annual Danby Fire District Election will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 1999 between the
hours of 6 : 00 - 9 : 00 p . m .
Noise Ordinance Committee :
Councilperson Strichartz reported that the Noise Ordinance Committee is meeting and are in the
process of gathering information and plan to look at many other ordinances .
OLD BUSINESS :
Town Hall Heating System Update
Supervisor Horst reported that this item is on the agenda due to a publication in the Danby Area
News .
Councilperson Gagnon reported that the information that was reported on the heating system in the
Danby Area News was a combination of things that were talked about in open session at the last
Board Meeting . Other information was what he had gathered in talking with and interacting with
the engineer when he was going through the building . He said reported on behalf of the Building
Committee as to what the engineer had found . The point of the article was to tell residents that we
had to regroup and re-examine our options . We now have a report from the engineer that details
alternatives that are available to the Board and we should perhaps re-examine how we want to deal
with the situation in terms of what strategy is needed to remedy the deficiencies .
Supervisor Horst reported that the last he had heard about the heating system, with the engineer
present, was that there was not enough space to increase the size of the duct work with the framing
around the heating room. It seems that it would be appropriate that the Board should be made aware
of the information in a public meeting before publication .
Councilperson Strichartz said that she likes the idea that information is published for the public so
that they are informed with the exception of things that are related to litigation .
Councilperson Steiner said that when he read the article he found it interesting and appeared to him
that neither the Building Committee nor the Town Board knows what they are doing because the
Town Board did in fact act . The article implicates that we are going to change our minds and go a
different direction.
NEW BUSINESS :
RESOLUTION NO. 85 OF 1999
TRANSFER OF HIGHWAY FUNDS - Approved
By Councilperson Steiner : Seconded by Councilperson Inman
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby transfer funds in the amount of $300 . 00
from Account No . A5132 . 400 in Account No . A5010 . 200 for the purchase of a printer.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 86 OF 1999
TRANSFER OF HIGHWAY FUNDS - Approved
By Councilperson Steiner: Seconded by Councilperson Horst
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby transfer funds in the amount of 3 , 000 . 00
from Account No . DA5120 . 100 to Account No . DA5142 . 100 for anticipated weather related
overtime payroll hours .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
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December 13 , 1999
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO . 87 OF 1999
TRANSFER OF FUNDS -Approved
By Councilperson Steiner : Seconded by Councilperson Gagnon
WHEREAS, the Town of Danby Highway Department has received $ 815 . 75 from the Town of
Danby for repairs to the Town Hall Driveway entrance , and
WHEREAS, the sum of $ 815 . 75 is to be deposited in a Revenue Account No . DA2300 . 00 , now be
it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby transfer funds in the amount of $ 815 . 75
as follows : $611 . 00 from Account DA2300 to Account No . DA5142 . 100 for payroll related to snow
removal and $204 . 75 from Revenue Account No . DA2300 to DA5142 . 400 .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO . 88 of 1999- Approved
YEAR END MEETING DATE SET
By Councilperson Inman : Seconded by Councilperson Strichartz
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby sets the Year End Meeting Date of
Wednesday, December 29 , 1999 at 7 : 30 P . M .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO . 89 OF 1999 - Approved
ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BOARD DATE SET
By Councilperson Inman : Seconded by Councilperson Strichartz
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby schedule a Special Meeting for the
Organizational Meeting of the Board for the Year 2000 for Wednesday, January 5 , 2000 at 7 : 00 p . m . ,
and be it further
RESOLVED , that a regular Agenda Meeting of the Town Board of the Danby will follow the
Special Meeting .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 90 OF 1999 - Approved
RE-KEYING OF TOWN HALL FACILITY LOCKS - Approved
By Councilperson Strichartz : Seconded by Councilperson Gagnon
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December 13 , 1999
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes Councilperson Inman to order
new keys for the re-keying of the Town Hall Facility Locks .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 91 OF 1999- Approved
ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL FUNDS
By Councilperson Strichartz : Seconded by Councilperson Inman
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the modification of $ 600 . 00 in
the Community Council Programs be transferred from Youth Training to Youth Services for the
1999-2000 Outing Program .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
GENERAL REPAIRS CONTRACTOR FOR THE TOWN PROPERTIES - Discussed
Councilperson Steiner submitted a memo with recommendations to the Town Board of three
contractors who have expressed an interest in doing minor repairs, upgrades and maintenance at the
Town Hall Facility and are versatile enough to meet the needs of the Town of Danby properties . 1 )
TMC Contracting ; 2) Dutton Contracting; and 3 ) Richard Monclova.
RESOLUTION NO. 92 OF 1999 - Approved
AUTHORIZATION FOR BUILDING COMMITTEE TO HAVE ENERGY UPGRADE
WORK ON TOWN HALL FACILITY - Approved
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Councilperson Steiner
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the Town Hall Building
Committee to have the energy upgrade work to include tightening up the parameter of the craw space
and insulation, door sweeps, and other small repairs to the Town Hall Facility by a qualified
contractor for an amount not to exceed $ 1 ,000 . 00 without further Town Board authorization, and be
it further
RESOLVED, that the funds for the upgrade work is to be charged to Account A1620 .400 .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO . 93 OF 1999
RESOLUTION PROMOTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SPEED LIMITS ON LOCAL
ROADS
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Councilperson Strichartz
WHEREAS , speed limits are a concern in many areas in the Town and County, and
WHEREAS, the uniform state speed limit of 55 mph (miles per hour) is often inappropriately high
on many local roads, and
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December 13 , 1999
WHEREAS , the New York State Department of Transportation has exhibited great reluctance to
lower speed limits on local roads when requested to do so, and
WHEREAS , the local governments are better positioned to work with their residents to set speed
limits on local roads and more likely to be responsive to their residents ' concerns , and
WHEREAS, the Association of Towns is well positioned to advance the passage of enabling
legislation by the State Legislature, now be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby requests that the Association of Towns
pursue the enactment of legislation by state legislators that would enable local governing bodies to
set the speed limits on local roads under their jurisdiction, and be it further
RESOLVED , that the Town Clerk is directed to convey a copy of this resolution to other
municipalities in New York State, inviting them to support this request .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 94 OF 1999
AUTHORIZATION FOR HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT TO ADVERTIZE FOR BIDS
FOR NEW TRUCK
By : Councilperson Steiner : Seconded by Councilperson Inman
WHEREAS , The Highway Superintendent has stated that the Town of Danby is in need of a ten
wheel dump truck with plow and spreader to replace the Town Highway Truck No . 31 , and
WHEREAS , the Highway Superintendent has asked permission to replace Town Highway Truck
No . 31 with a new dump truck, now be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the Highway Superintendent
to advertize for bids for one ten ( 10) wheel dump truck with plow and spreader to replace truck No .
31 , and be it further -
RESOLVED, that the Town Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids .
Discussion :
Councilperson Gagnon is concerned about where funding for the purchase of a new truck would
come from .
Supervisor Horst said that the truck should have been replaced in 1988 .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
Request for Use of the Town Hall for GRIP Meeting
Councilperson Gagnon is part of a group of citizens (GRIP Grass Roots for Integrative Planning) and
would like Board permission to hold a meeting at the Danby Town Hall Facility on Sunday, January
9 , 2000 at 2 : 00 p . m . They would like to hold meetings at various places around the County . They
would like to invite the Town Board to come to the meeting and share with the group concerns and
hopes for the future planning issues for the Town of Danby .
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December 13 , 1999
No permission was granted at this time .
RESOLUTION NO. 95 OF 1999
AUTHORIZATION FOR SUPERVISOR TO RENEW INSURANCE POLICIES- Approved
By Councilperson Steiner : Seconded by Councilperson Gagnon
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the Town Supervisor to renew
all Town insurance policies for fiscal year 2000 with the existing insurance carriers to ensure that
our Town insurance policies do not lapse .
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES
Supervisor Horst reported that the amount budgeted in our Town budget is going to be short for
1999 . He has received notification from Blue Cross/Blue Shield that the rates 2000 will be increased
and the amount budgeted is not sufficient. It will be necessary to increase the insurance line in the
new budget.
Motion to Increase Authorized Funds to Modify Voting Machines - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve
additional funds for modification of the voting machines to make them handicapped accessible .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
Revitalization Contract for Danby General Store
The Town has received a contract agreement from Tompkins County between the County and the
Town for the Commercial Revitalization Project. The wording in the Contract naming the Town as
the recipient was discussed and authorization for approving the contract agreement was deferred
until clarification from the County is obtained .
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
General Fund Warrant No. 12 of 1999 - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to approve
General Fund Warrant No . 12 of 1999 voucher numbers 519 - 560 in the amount of $ 14 ,288 . 58 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
Highway Fund Warrant No. 12 of 1999 - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve
the Highway Fund Warrant No . 12 of 1999 voucher numbers 279-302 in the amount of $ 14 ,252 . 45 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
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December 13 , 1999
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 12 of 1999 - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Inman to approve
the West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 12 of 1999 voucher numbers 42 - 45 in the amount
of $464 . 95 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
HR - 1 Building Construction Account Warrant - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Inman and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve
the HR- 1 Building Construction Account Warrant in the amount of $2 , 714 . 25 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
HR - 2 Capital Reserve Account Warrant - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to approve
the HR - 2 Capital Reserve Account Warrant in the amount of $ 17 ,900 . 00 .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
Motion to pay Dog Control From Account A872 - Approved
A motion was made by Steiner and seconded by Councilperson Inman to pay the SPCA Voucher for
Dog Control Services from Account A872 .
Town Clerk' s November 1999 Report - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Inman to approve
the Town Clerk ' s November 1999 report as submitted .
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
Town Supervisor' s October 1999 and November 1999 Report - Approved
A motion was made by Councilperson Steiner and Seconded by Councilperson Strichartz to approve
the Town Supervisor' s October 1999 and November 1999 report as submitted .
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December 13 , 1999
A vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Inman Aye
Steiner Aye
Strichartz Aye
Horst Aye Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 10 : 20 p . m .
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Carol W . Sczepans 1, I own Clerk
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