Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1977-12-08 TOT^1M OF ITHACA SPECIAL BOA 17E.TING, December 0 , 1977 - 7 ° 30 pane At a Special Meeting of the Town Board of the, Town of Ithaca . omp? kips Count.Vk New York , held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at 1 26 East Seneca Street , . Ithaca , New York , on the 0th day of Deceinber .: x. 977 , at 7 ° 30 nom . , there were PR SEPTT Andrew Tole McElwee , CouncilrLan Victor Del Rosso , Councilman Noel Desch , Councilman P-obert No Powerso, councilMan Catherine A . Valentino , Councilc-aoman Shirley Raffensperger ,. Councilwoman ALSO PRESEWTO JAmes V . Buyoucos , . Town' Attorney, t4t4rence P . Fabbroni , Tovv&m Engineer/Building Inspector IIevekly Livesay , Cdunty Aepresentative 41 Gust Vreeman , Coundi ].rtan -elect w He .11illiam Bat, , 208 Ki- ine Road ArAhUr Ti . Berkey , i ? v Christopher* Circle till it Hilker , 275 3uihs . Road Jim . BelJicola , ' 501 T4 * Seneoa Street Chr' is Karil ( ? ) , 501 T^Je Seneca Street Repkesehtat ves of the MA'adia ^ Don Bateson ;, NM. Cu Joel Meltzer , T^1TKO Philip germane Ithaca .journal ADSENTQ 'Halter J . Schwan , Supervisor PUBLIC IaEARING - REVEI7UE SNARING - 7 : 30 P . M . Proof of posting and publication of notice of public hearing in connection with the enactment of the budget for Federal Revenue Sharing Funds for the year 1970 , having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Deputy Supervisor Andrew T^Z , 1cElwee , in the ahsence of Supervisor Schwan , opened the hearing at 7s45 p . m . He asked for coruunents .first from the members of the Board . Councilwoman Raffensperged stated that she has been opposed to using all of the revenue sharing funds to liquidate the Bolton Point deficit ; that after the last meeting there were . comrnents in the public hearing for revenue sharing that the only other alterna - tives discussed were bike paths and jogging trails . She pointed out to the Board that there are other more substantial things that revenue sharing funds have been considered for , i . e . extension of water and sewer , ;publishing the Zoning Ordinance , the DeWitt Recreation site . She said there were other kinds of public concerns voiced as far as the use of revenue sharing funds is concerned . She recommended that the Board consider not allocating all of the funds to the Bolton Point deficit . She said she would like to see money allocated for the publication of the Zoning Ordinance and $ 30 , 000 for the DeITitt Recreation site . She said she had another suggestion from the Plan ° ning Board that it might be well to allocate about $ 750 . 00 for the improvement of the presentation of materials at Board meetings . This would include an overhead projector , a screen , transparencies , and portable equipment . She said there does not seen to be any particu - larly good reason to allocate all of the money for the repayment of the Bolton Point deficit ; that the Board ought to consider some of the other things discussed in the past . Town Board. Ninutes m December 8 , 1977 Councilman: Del Rosso said the Board faces a problem of priorities , He said the mat t6rs . referred to by Councilwoman .affens � perger are all valid concerns which will receive Ittention. . n due course © He said that there is ho'w a new water syAtem EiPiic°h is xorett_y much one of a kind in the State. of New York , a system put together btu serveral municipal bodies . The ` wat;er system is a vital service and it augers well for future. growth of the entire area ° °, said it appeared to him that the use. oil reVO ue shari,rig funds to ta'ae care> of this one time deficit is a logical: use:g that he is still of the", opinion that revenue sharing ' funcls , � hould be sty used . Councilman Powers statedl that there i5 ' a contractual obliga� tion on the part of the Town to pay ` its share o the Bolton Point deficitQ that tonight ' s ganblic hearing is be$ri he d to announce the decision of the Town Board to pay' this obligat 6fi through the use of revenue sharing funds . He .said , his d cis on t use revenue sharing funds to liquidate the deficit ig. " .pr6tbted by _the _desire . to provide the greatest benefit to the maximum number of oeoplp e Ike sa. l�? if revenue sharing funds are applied cir 'ctly to the deficit , the Town is using tax monies which the water users have , alieady pain to the Federal governmento lie said that although he it riot perfectly at ease with the information given to the Board as the causes of the deficit , even though $ 300 , ObO represents less than a 40s error in forecasting ( compared to the total cost ) , it is still a iarge , amount of money by an�r standards * He said that although he agreed with the decision of the Board that the entire amount of the revenue sharing funds should be applied toward the deficit , he would recommend to the Southern Cayuga Lake Inter- municipal ZAlater Commission that they present such -information as is required in order to document the causes of the deficit and to indicate what actions are 'being taken to preclude future deficits . S. Councilwoman Valentino, said she could not add much to what Councilman Powers said ., but said that she had talked with some resi � dents of the Town who said they would like to see the revenue sharing go to Bolton Point ; that they do not want to see an increase in their rates . She said , however , that she has the same concern as Council - woman Raffensperger � � ,That is going to happen to the DeWitt Recreao Lion site project? She said if all of the revenue sharing goes to the Bolton Point deficit , something must be done about the Town ' s other commitments . Councilwoman Raffensperger commented that one of the cited advantages of using revenue sharing funds to liauidate the Bolton Point deficit is that it will save the Town interest money on the borrowed funds since the borrowing will: be paid off sooner . She noted that this is not a clear gain because under the changed circum� stances the Village of Cayuga Heights is not likely to contribute $ 7 , 500 . 00 to the. park ( DeWitt ) as contemplated ® that the Town ' s share will now be $ 37g500o00 rather than $ 33 , 000 ° 00 . Councilman Desch said that during the recent political cam- paign, -use had been asked on a number of occasions how . the Town of Ithaca was going to pay its share of the $ 300 , 000400 deficit .o that on every one of those occasions his recommendation was to use revenue sharing funds , pri.marily ' for the reasons already discussed . He said there is no sense in increasing the burden on the taxpayer in the tray of interest expense , that it is extremely fortunate that revenue sharing funds are available *, that his view is that the use of revenue sharing funds to liquidate the deficit is the soundest method . Mre Berkey asked the Town Attorney if the resolution author - izing the Town of Ithaca to borrow its share of the deficit was in® valid because it stated that the borrowing would be repaid out of Bolton Point revenues . Since this is no longer the case , he asked I it were necessary to adopt a new resolution . Mr . Buyoucos said he could not answer the question because he did not know what the situation would be when the payment on the note becomes due . rare 3 Town Board Minutes - 3 December a , 1977 Berkey asked if the resolution adopted is illegal now that the '^ocqj intends tb liquidate the deficit with revenue sharing funds . The Town. Attorney said, that the question is new ancd that he could not ansTuer it at this time ; that he had not investigated that question . Hka Berkey asked what kind of opportunities the citizens have for a permissive referendum . in connection with the payment of the $ 3000000 deficit , since it is an additional expenditure for the To<<Tn . Mr . Buyoucos said that the only time that a permissive - referendum is required is when the law sa ' s you must have it . °-lr . Berkey asked if there were any opportunity kot a permissive referendum.. Fir . Buyoucos said he had not had an opportunity to research that question . He said he would not give an opinion affecting the Town ' s credit without loot ing into it . Mr . Berkey abkeAwhen _ he -might have an . answer to his question . Mr . 8uyoucos said he: could not tell him that he would talk the matter over with the Town Board , that his responsibility is to the Town Board . Rr . Berkey asked if a summary of the questionnaire of Pray of 1976 , sent out with taspayers ° money , was . available . He said it was Promised three meetings ago . He asked if the slxrmary was available so that it could be heard what the people think is . important in the �'olpm . ir . .Fabbroni said he had summarized the police part of the survey at Mr . Berkey ° s request , but that he had not surunarized the rest of it . He said it appeared Mr . Berkey is making a more comprehensive request at this time . Hra Berkey said he had asked specifically for a surrnary of the alternative ways for using revenue sharing money . Mr . Fabbroni said Hr . Berkey ° s original request had to do with the constable and that he had asked Mr . Berkey to come into the Town Office and discuss how the information might be analyzed ° that when 14r . Berkey did not come in he made a summary on his oim in spite of the fact that police portion. of. the survey was not the primary purpose of the survey . Mr . Fabbroni commented generally that if the Town Board requested. it , he could make a full report on the statistical shortcomings and °' long ® comings " of the results of the questionnaire ; that it was .not for fir . Berkey to characterize or determine what should or should not have been done insofar as a statistical analysis of the survey, is concerned . Rr . Berkey pursued the matter and said he hoped that the survey would be completely summarized even if it were only a smmmary of how many people indicated what projects they felt were important . Mr . Berkey stated that he was not sure that .( looking at the 1973 Bolton Point budget ) some of the deficit could not be repaid out of Bolton Point revenues . He asked Councilman Powers if he had care° fully examined the budget so that he was satisfied that it is not possible for some of the deficit to be paid from Bolton Point income . Councilman powers said he had not . Mr . Berkey asked Councilman Powers if he thought he should before voting on the use of revenue sharing funds to liquidate the deficit . Councilman Powers said he had expresQ sed his opinion very .clearly . When Mr . Berkey repeated the question Councilman= Poi4ers. said again that he had e.Ypress.edd his opinion very clearly . Batt referred to the extension of Ithaca city bus routes to "�ompkinslCounty Hospitals housing areas northeast of the City , and s , everal other points outside: the city limits which is now under study by the City . Councilman Desch said that the consensus of the Ithaca Town Board in. an informal discussion before this meeting was that he should contact the City of Ithaca. and express the Town Board ' s inter - est in entering into a discussion concerning the feasibility of bus service in the areas noted . Councilman Desch said there is a real opportunity to accomplish something . 14r . Batt asked if it wonlr.� be possible for the mown to support in any way some of the studies that would be necessary for extension of the bus service . He suggested that some of the revenue sharing money might be used to pay for such studies , Councilman Desch said it is a. possibility , depending on the parameters the City of Tthaca is thinking about . . . T Town Board Miinutes - 4 December 8, ,, 1977 k1r . Berkey sand; he had some -Additional questioftb `DenUty Supervisor Ndtlwee said he had used up his allotted �}ive minttes- Common C'ounci�T� meetinsystem-,sand is used by the. 'City of .xtna°ca fa� it'"�� limiting g so used "at meetings of 'the. bmp�cih4% County Board :of Representatives. Mie Rai t. 4ike� if. he eou� y' 6 it the remainder of his time to Mr . Berkey o. It Va's agreed that he cool do so . Mr . Berkey noted `that the. public „ h"eating Had st'a 'rved: fzftee� minutes` late , `but that he itJ5 t ated ,being alld%d five min . Fir . Berkey. directed this, question at . Councilman Deb6h . Tlhy .Z, �, that through August of .1977 months ) prroperty insurance expense was $ ll. .44:96 . 00 and yet for the year, 1978 only $ 6 ,, 6 ®00, 00 is being budgeted ;, why .s it the property insluranee has dr'ipped significantly) Councilman Desch said that one of t4 d cast reduction measures that the Commission is taking is proonrat:ing t-he cost of . in-surance over :a longer period , of time ® In addition tovApreading the cost. the C6m� mission hays been able to bring about , a cyst reductioh- in the _ plan itself The insurance now is one whole insurance , ackage whereas initiaally it WAS several packages . It is now a un� .fied. O`lan which has 'resulted in acost rediletion 11ta Berkey' asked it; .could nest` hav e' been done that wa y st in the fir Pace since it w0u14 havo "meant 'a saving of $ 2 a 0339 . 000 Councilman Desch Said' he would have td ask that question of someone else , since he (Desch.. rraas not � Member of the Budget Committee of the Commi. sign . °then t17r , Berkey began to ask other questions with regard to the Bolton Point budget -, Councilman Desch. said he would like to take issue with the line of questions . He said he would be most happy to educate Per . Berkey on the details of the budget , but. he did not think it necessary° to address those questions at this, time . councilman McElwee -agreed that it was not the purpose; of this hearing to discuss th4 Bolton Point budget , but rather to to discuss the use of revenue sharing funds, for a particular purpose . Council-man ?Desch , however , said he thought Mr . Berkey ' a general question about -identifying sig ® ni,ficant .surplus funds within the Commission budget is appropriate because o . °° we are , after all , talking about using revenue sharing money to support that operation , at least our share of it . But I think in order to answer that question that he or anybody else who might be interested in,, -.we ar+r going to have to spend a lot more time than is available tonight ® As far as I am concerned , my knowledge of that budget indicates that there is no identifiable surplus which can be allocated to the problem . I think we have to rely to a certain extent on Mr . Schwan ° s analysis and the analysis of the Budget Com- nittee of the Commission , and I think that is basically what the rest of the Board has been dosing . However, the Commission , as several people have stated , is committed to completing the next fiscal year 459i.th a small surplus . In the event that does take place , I think we should nct lose sight of the fact that the revenue sharing funds for the folly wing year could then be allocated on a different basis than forecast at this point . I don ' t think the questions Mre Berkey is raising at this point are precisely pertinent to the decision which Has been made and should be sustained tonight . That is my reasoning . " Willis Hilker objected to the use of revenue sharing fun' s for the Bolton Point deficit , contending that the Bolton Point pro ject did not benefit the whole Town , but only a portion of the Town He observed that this is the second time revenue sharing funds have been allocated to the Bolton Point project , the first time to hold the levy to $ 25 , 00 rather than WoS0 . He said he would much prefer to see the revenue sharing money used to reduce taxes . Councilwoman Raffensperger , in connection with the five- minute limit placed on discussion by the Deputy Supervisor , said comment from the public had never been limited before in any Town meeting . She said , `° I think this is an important policy decision which the Board as a whole ought to discuss . If this is going to be a prece - dent , it is one I would regret seeing . '° 57 Town Board 111oute s :DeoeAboor S . 1511 n at er _ ers r�s ai h rn o be Ndardr- the DOpuky- supervis closed the hearinj at S : 18 pvm Jr .and tie tet torte Motion by Coun, ca loran Desch ; sevorrded. by nollman powgft , RESOLVED r that the stunt of �� � 236 dt� � representin the last two quarters of the 1977 Federal: Revenue Oharitq .Ettliteleme&± ; together with four quarters of the 1978 Federal Revenue haring rit3tl:,ement in the anticipated tamount of 4 94 :p 132-a:-0'8 p a total. of 139 .p 3 . ,QO o be allocated for the pant of the -70vm of Ithaca ` s share (1,17 9=jr. 00�ae goo) of the Bolton Point deficit . The resolution was put to a roll call vote with the follow• ing result Councilman Del Rosso voting Ayea Councilman powers voting Aye . Councilman McElwee fang Aye . Councilman Desch voting Aye.. Crr= ilwomann Valentino voting Aye Councilwoman Raffen,sperger voting a1ay . The resolution vas thereqpon, ;decloare4 ,duly adepted . A,DJOU LMNT Motion by Councilman Desch $ seconded by Councilman. HiCEI-Wee , RESOLVED# that the meeting be adjourned . (Del Rosso p Ralfensperger , powers p IvIcE11wee a Desch r and Valentino voting Aye . Ways �- none . ) The meeting was adjourned at 8 > 2.0 p . m,, IM Edward L Bergen Town Clerk I