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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1981-09-24 TOWN OF ITHACA SPECIAL BOARD MEETING , September 24 , 1981 At a Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca , Tompkins County , New York , held • at the Town Offices at 126 East Seneca Street , Ithaca , New York , at 7 : 30 P . M . , on the 24th day of . September , 1981 , there were PRESENT Noel Desch , Supervisor Victor Del Rosso , Councilman George Kugler , Councilman Shirley Raffensperger , Councilwoman Marc Cramer , Councilman Dooley Kiefer , Councilwoman Henry McPeak , Councilman ALSO PRESENT Lawrence Fabbroni , Town Engineer PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Supervisor led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance . Supervisor Desch noted that the Town Board was invited to attend . a meeting with the Forest Home Association at the Forest Home Chapel on September 30 , 1981 at 4 : 30 P . M . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that the meeting with the City of Ithaca on the Wastewater Treatment Facility was scheduled for Wednesday ,. October 14th and that this was the same night of her County Board meeting , therefore , she would be unable to attend. . The Supervisor asked the Town Clerk to call Mayor Bordoni to ascertain the possibility of changing the meeting date until Wednesday , October 21st , PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER TOWN OF ITHACA TENTATIVE BUDGET Proof of posting and publication notice of a Public Hearing to . consider the Town of Ithaca Tentative Budget having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor opened the Public Hearing . ( Copy of Tentative Budget attached to the official minutes ) . o . Supervisor Desch presented his 1982 Budget message . He stated that the preparation of the 1982 Tentative Budget has been particularly difficult because of the combined .impact of continuing inflation and dwindling financial support from non - town sources . It quickly became clear that we had to set more specific priorities than had been the casein previous years . The top two priorities , in my view , are existin.g staff and new tools to enable all of us to service the tax - payers with even greater effectiveness . We have , for example , already designated $ 30 , 000 for the acquisition of an in - house computerlxgord processor . On the personnel side , it is my view that we must continue to recognize the value of our existing staff and reward . them appropriately . We expect a great deal from all of our staff and also will continue to offer new challenges , such as becoming computer literate , dealing with the operation of complex utility systems , etc . Town Board Minutes - 2 - September 24 , 1981 With the foregoing attitude , as policy makers , we can assure our consitutents that we will have the capacity to meet the challenges in the years ahead without an undue burden on the taxpayer . In the first cut of this budget , I included .a full year salary for a full time Systems Analyst / Planner . Such a position would enable us to achieve primarily two aims ( 1 ) To provide substantial staff assistance in the initiation of planning studies , such as ' housing , zoning , transportation , f circulation utility services and , thereby , support and extend our capability to look ahead 5 - 10 years . ( 2 ) To i create in -house capability to bring on line administrative , t financial and engineering systems through the use of the automated equipment to be obtained during the year . In this way , . we can maximize the value of computing and word process - ing equipment and assure proper documentation and self E training . In a large organization these would be separate positions , but we cannot afford nor , at this point in time , justify it . Our total costs , however , have indicated to me that we cannot support the position for the full year without an inordinate tax increase . I have , therefore , included $ 10 , 000 with the recommendation that the person be hired on May 1 , 1982 , as a full time permanent position . In terms of timing , this will be about right with regard to final selection of equipment . The 1982 Tentative Budget preserves our commitment to the continuation of those long range plans that maximize our investment in resources namely , 10 year highway repaving and machinery replacement programs , bus service support , park and recreation trail and water and sewer upgrading . Specifically for example , under Machinery 1982 , is the year programmed for the purchase of the additional cinder spreader and sufficient funds are included for this purchase . No additional personnel are needed for this expanded level of service . However , in 1983 , we face the prospect of spending $ 100 , 000 for a 4 - wheel drive snow plow . This is needed for f the . high . drift areas on both county and town roads . If we i are to continue to provide this . service to the County , they will need to provide some capital funds , for the cost re - covery rates do not include amortization of such specialized equipment . On the revenue side we can expect a leveling or cap on state aidand the budget reflects this likelyhood . In the highway revenue area we show the newly consolidated highway aid ` program , a relatively small increase due to the prevalence of county roads in our Tow There is still a possibility of Safer Off Systems money for the equivalent of the Sand Bank Road Guardrail Project , but the amount and timing is too un - certain to have it included in the budget . We are hoping to have approval to apply such funds to the upgrading, of Stone . Quarry Road . We have just been informed that our revenue sharing alto cation for Entitlement Period 12 and 13 will be $ 171 , 916 . The Tentative Budget takes the $ 8 , 084 difference from the drainage project proposed use . On the matter of sales tax credit , we again have followed the policy of not considering its impact on the tax rate . Any'' other policy would leave our financial situation in a too speculative position and dependent on continued restraint Town Board. Minutes - 3 - September 24 , 1981 at the county budget level . There may be some credit against the -Town wide tax rate ( to taxpayers outside the Village ) but consumer spending has leveled off . On the Parks budget , I have cut the Parks Committee rec - ommendation significantly on the basis that plans for new parks have not been advanced to the point where we , as a board , can defend the level of expenditure proposed . . We also have a new special lighting district. , namely the Clover Lane Lighting District and the budget and tax rate . is included in the budget . In closing , it is a pleasure to report no increases in 4 several major areas , water benefit , sewer benefit , water and sewer surcharges and the water rate . In the case of the Town water distribution benefit . charges , it has now been 10 years since the special districts were consolidated and the benefit charge is still the same . Councilwoman Raffensperger questioned the unexpended balances . She asked what happens to them , are they lumped together ? Supervisor Desch answered , the unexpended balances remain , as tagged . Councilman McPeak asked the Supervisor if he had shown the Cornell conCribution for fire services in the revenue on fire ? Supervisor Desch answered no , the Town ' s share goes directly to the City , who calculates the reduction , in computing our share of the cost . Supervisor Desch noted that the adoption of the final budget will be on November 5 . Salaries of elected officials must be published in the newspaper ten days prior to the November 5th meeting . He noted that the salary of the Supervisor has not increased in ten. years and to hold down the tax rate , he had not increased the salary of the Supervisor , Town Board members or the Justices . Supervisor Desch asked the Board what they wished changed . He noted that somethings can be changed later , however , a lot cannot . Councilman Raffensperger noted that the $ 16 , 000 figure added as an unexpended balance had not been taken out as a highway appropriation . - Councilwoman Raffensperger asked what would be the amount of the unexpended balances at the end of the year ? Supervisor Desch stated that he did not expect any substantial change in the year end unexpended balances . Councilman Del Rosso stated that he felt there would be very few accouts with surpluses , at the end of the year , . Supervisor Desch stated that he did not want to make the same mistake the City had and end up with large deficits , Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she would like to know if the balances were - dwindling . . Supervisor Desch stated that he would provide the Board Members with . an- estimate of the year end balances -' at the budget hearing . Councilman Del Rosso stated that he felt this was a very realistic budget . Town Board Minutes - 4 - . . September 24 , 1981 Councilman Kugler agreed . He also stated that he felt the salary of the elected officials should not be increased this year . . RESOLUTION N0 . 155 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Cramer , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Tom of Ithaca hereby approves as a Preliminary Budget for the Town of Ithaca , for the fiscal year beginning January 1 , 1982 , the itemized Tentative Budget of estimated revenues and expenditures , as prepared , a copy of which is made a part of these minutes ( Desch , Del Rosso , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . Councilman Cramer thanked Jean Swartwood and Sally Alario for the extra time and effort , put in by them , so that the budget would be ready and final form for the Board ' s consideration . PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION TENTATIVE BUDGET Proof of posting and publication of notice of a Public Hearing to consider the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission Tentative Budget having been presented by the Town Clerk , the Supervisor opened the Public Hearing . There being no persons wishing to speak in favor or opposed to the Tentative Budget , the Supervisor declared the hearing closed , following discussion . RESOLUTION NO . 156 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Del Rosso , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves as a Preliminary Budget for the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission , for the fiscal year beginning January 1 , 1982 , the itemized Tentative Budget of estimated revenues and expenditures, as prepared , a copy of which is made a part of these minutes , ( Desch , Del Rosso , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . CONSOLIDATION OF VOTER REGISTRATION POLLING PLACES RESOLUTION N0 . 157 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilwor : an Raffensperger , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby authorizes the consolidation of voter districts for voter registration day , October 10 , 1981 , and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED , that Districts 1 and 2 will register at Statler , West , Districts 3 , 4 , and 5 will register at the Ellis Hollow Elderly Housing and Districts 6 , 7 , 8 , and 9 will register at the Northeast School . ( Desch , Del Rosso , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . RENEWAL OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE FOR STONE QUARRY ROAD WATER IMPROVEMENT Town Board Minutes - 5 - September '. 24 , 1981 RESOLUTION NO . 158 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Cramer , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby authorizes the Supervisor to execute the renewal of Bond Anticipation Note Number 2 for the Stone Quarry = Pittman Lane King Road West Water Improvement at the best interest rate that . the Supervisor can negotiate . ( Desch , Del Rosso , . Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . AUTHORIZE TOWN - WIDE WATER IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT RESOLUTION N0 , 159 Motion by Supervisor Desch ; seconded by Councilman Cramer , . RESOLVED , . WHEREAS the Town Board —of—the Town of Ithaca authorized the selection of Stearns and Wheler , Engineers and Scientists , of Cazenovia , New York , as consultant to perform a town - wide water distribution system investigation on August 18 , 1981 , and WHEREAS Stearns and Wheler has offered a contract for professional services for same investigation for actual costs incurred up to $ 15 , 840 . plus a fixed fee of $ 3 , 960 . , and WHEREAS , such potential maximum of $ 19 , 800 . falls within the budget established , NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca authorizes the . Supervisor to execute said contract upon his satisfaction that the scope is sufficiently defined and upon the review of any Town officials he considers necessary and appropriate . . ( Desch , Del Rosso , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDS Tom. Engineer Lawrence Fabbroni stated that something had happened. between the State and Federal governments in the classification of roads . Stone Quarry Road and Burns Road ended up in the urban area . . The only classification that would take them off is a re - classification to a local functional classification . Mr . Fabbroni went on to say that the City must also agree to take their_ portion. of Stone Quarry Road off , however , the City Engineer seems quite sympathetic , so there should be no problem . RESOLUTION NO . 160 Motion by Councilman Del Rosso ; seconded by Councilman Cramer , RESOLVED , WHEREAS the process of reviewing the Federal Aid Highway Systems 1980 and 1990 Highway Functional Classification and 1980 and 1990 Urban Areas occurred in 1976 , and WHEREAS , the maps approved by FHWA in January 1978 lumped all 1990 . Classifications and Urban Areas into the 1980 Classification and Urban Areas mapped thereon , and WHEREAS , route U7565 from Route 96B to South Albany . Street along West King Road from SR96B to Stone Quarry Road along Stone Quarry Road and along Spencer Street from Stone Quarry Road to South Albany Street , was lumped into the 1980 Urban Area as was route U7583 Burns Road , and Town Board Minutes - 6 - September 24 , ' 1981 WHEREAS , the AADT of Stone Quarry Road is approximately 3200 , and WHEkEAS , the AADT of Burns Road is approximately, 400 , and WHEREAS , these two segments are at least temporarily misplaced in competition for available federal aid funds within the Urban Area , and WHEREAS , the Town of Ithaca and City of Ithaca are presently prevented from using Off - System funds on these two segments given present classifications and location within the Urban Area , and WHEREAS , the only Non - System designation within the Urban Area is a local functional classification , NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca that route U7565 from Route 96B to the City - Town line on Stone Quarry Road be reclassified from a minor arterial . to a functional classification , and FURTHER BE IT PESOLVED , that route U7583 , Burns Road from Coddington Road to SR79 be reclassified from a collector to a local functional classification . ( Desch , Del Rosso , Kugler , Raffensperger , Cramer , Kiefer and McPeak voting Aye . Nays - none ) . ADJOURNMENT The meeting was duly adjourned . To Cler