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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1981-11-09 TOWN OF ITHACA REGULAR BOARD MEETING November 9 , 1981 At a Regular 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 9th day of November , 1981 , there were PRESENT Noel Desch , Supervisor George Kugler , Councilman Shirley Raffensperger , Councilwoman Henry McPeak , Councilman Marc Cramer , Councilman Dooley Kiefer , Councilwoman ABSENT Victor Del Rosso , Councilman ALSO PRESENT Lawrence Fabbroni , Town Engineer James Buyoucos , Town Attorney Helen E . Sundell , 310 Forest Home Drive W . Frank Shipe , 236 Forest Home Drive Margery M . Shipe ; 236 Forest Home Drive Thomas R . Wolski , 233 Forest Home Drive Ruth M . Mahr , 103 Judd Falls Road Joel Silbey , 105 Judd Falls Road Dave Macklin , 133 Pine Tree Road Bruce Brittain , 135 Warren Road Douglas Brittain , 135 Warren Road Kris Merschrod , 123 Warren Road Marilyn Ewing , 1520 Slaterville Road Nancy Hewett , 1518 Slaterville Road Nancy Fuller , Deputy Clerk Beverly E . Livesay , Board of Reps Ruth & John DeWire , 148 Pine Tree Road 0 . H . Pearson , 440 - 1 Forest Home Drive Representatives of the Media Jenny Howe , WTKO William Astor , WHCU PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Supervisor Desch led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance . REPORT OF TOWN OFFICIALS SUPERVISOR ' S REPORT Supervisor Desch stated that tomarrow night , Broome Developmental Services would be holding a meeting in the Town Hall meeting room on the proposed location of a Group Home at 205 Northview Road West . The meeting is open to the public and not sponsored by the Town . He suggested that the Board Members might wish to sit in the audience and observe . TOWN ENGINEER ' S REPORT Town Engineer Lawrence Fabbroni noted that the flood of October 27 and 28 had been the main event , the last few days . He went on to say that unlike five years ago , there was major damage to only a few areas in the Town . Forest Home received the largest damage . Retaining walls were damaged , there are extensive deposits in the creek and the entire area behind the dam . Town Board Minutes - 2 - November 9 , 1981 The Town Engineer estimated the damages to the creek at $ 75 , 000 , damages to the dam and Forest Home Bridge at $ 15 , 000 , although he noted that he had not seem the top of the dam . Shoulder damage at about $ 20 , 000 . Stone Quarry Road was washed out on the lower side of the road , estimated at $ 25 , 000 . He stated that the Burns Road had received all the silt that was washed down , however , the road is now open . Mr . Fabbroni estimated the damage to the Honness - Lane Bikeway at $ 3 , 000 , damage to the Eastern Heights drainage at $ 15 , 000 , South Hill Water Main damage at $ 20 , 000 and damage to Fall Creek in the amount of $ 193 , 000 . He noted that Federal Funding was critical , and we should hear within a week if we will be receiving any Federal Aid . He warned that the damage was not wide spread , therefore , this could work against our receiving any funding . Councilman Cramer asked what would be done about the damaged Freese Road bridge ? Town Engineer Fabbroni stated that the County plans to replace only the individual members of the structure that were damaged . The published cost figure of $ 250 , 000 may be an over estimate , as the figures came out two days after the storm . Councilman Cramer asked about the cable bridge . Supervisor Desch answered , the bridge belongs to Cornell . Town Engineer Fabbroni stated that work is progressing on next years projected budget for the Hospital Transit run . Supervisor Desch noted that the ridership on the hospital run has increased steadily since it was set up over three years ago . REPORT OF COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES Beverly Livesay reported that a week from tonight is County Budget Hearing night . The Hospital ' s Financial Report is in and copies are available . We are meeting next week to deal with it . Also , there will be a meeting next week on weighted voting . She stated that there did not seem to be too many choices . Supervisor Desch asked if there was a computerized plan on file ? Mrs . Livesay responded , not that I know of . Supervisor Desch informed . Mrs . Livesay that the Town Board would like to see the weighted voting plan before it is adopted by the County . Mrs . Livesay went on to say that the Board of Representatives accepted the bid for the elevator and adopted the Youth Services Plan this morning . EAST ITHACA CIRCULATION STUDY Supervisor Desch stated that the Town Board held a public hearing at their October meeting to consider modification to the highway map . The purpose of this meeting is to take the time to consider the background and decide the next step . He went on to say that there will be no public input as this meeting . However , he would recognize Ruth Mahr who will be presenting to the Board , a petition containing 128 signatures approving the following Resolution : We , the undersigned residents of Forest Home , endorse the following resolution passed by the Forest Home Improvement Association on October 6 , 1981 . Town Board Minutes - 3 - November 9 , 1981 PREAMBLE : We consider the proposed alignment of the East Ithaca Traffic Corridor from Ellis Hollow Road to Route 366 , specifically its intersection with Route 366 at Caldwell Road , as detrimental to the Hamlet of Forest Home . We , therefore , urge the adoption of the following resolution by the Ithaca Town Board . RESOLVED : 1 ) That the proposed East Ithaca corridor linking Route 79 and Route 13 be funded all at once and in its entirety , and that construction on all segments of the route be carried on simultaneously . If this is impossible , that funding and construction of the Northern segment of the corridor ( namely that portion between Route 366 and Route 13 ) precede that of the southern segment ( namely that portion between Ellis Hollow Road and Route 366 ) . 2 ) That , as a condition for accepting this alignment , the Town of Ithaca plan and implement , as soon as the new corridor is open , whatever measures may be necessary to prevent use of Caldwell Road as a through - route on either a temporary or permanent basis by the use of dividers , or barriers , or by its complete closing if necessary . ( Copy of the Petition attached to the official minutes ) . Supervisor Desch asked Town Engineer Fabbroni to give the background information . Town Engineer Fabbroni stated that there is a long history of transportation planning in the Town . In the late 50 ' s the Regional Planning Board was developed . They came up with a plan for circulation in the Town . This has long since been superseded by sub - developments , etc . There has been a great amount of planning for Cayuga Heights . The Village of Cayuga Heights purchased property for road in 1968 , planning for circulation routes in the Town of Ithaca . Included was the circulation plan tied to Triphammer Road and Hanshaw Road . The Arboretum Plan was strongly disavowed by -' Cornell . The Town Engineer went on to say that Origin and Destination Studies were conducted by the State Highway Department . They promised to do the Home Interview part , however , they never did . Origin and Destination Studies did not apply to small areas , so as a result , the County Planning Department went ahead without the State study . They ignored neighborhoods and etc . , in the Town of Ithaca and proposed a road between Warren Road and Muriel Street . The proposed road went through BOCES building and through the just approved Eastwood Commons Development . In 1975 , the State Engineers did a follow - up study of the North East area . They studied stop signs , turning lanes and little improvements that would cost under $ 10 , 000 . Through all this , a rash of environmental changes . The original transportation process of the 60 ' s became the state of the art . To make the best use of our roads . Mr . Fabbroni stated that traffic studies in Forest Home have gone on forever , . considering one way traffic and parking lots for Cornell . From a staff and employee point of view , this was not feasible . In 1977 a study was done of East Ithaca as a Church on Honness Lane wanted to build a parsonage right where a road was scheduled to be build . A study was done on the projected development in the Town of Ithaca which projected the amount of traffic Pine Tree Road could stand on its own and for traffic if it was reconstructed . Mass Transit was instituted , providing transportation in virtually every populated section of the Town . In 1978 , a Speed Study was . conducted , . with the purpose of trying to convince the State to go to a 35MPH Townwide speed limit . A complete count of roads :An --the Town of Ithaca was taken in 1980 . Town Board Minutes - 4 - November 9; , 1981 December 1979 , after many many years of flustration , the Town initiated a meeting with Cornell University and the County to study traffic . The Committee met on four occasions , the out - growth of the meeting was the East Ithaca Circulation Study . Trucks on East State Street came up at this time , however , the Committee divorced themselves of this issue , as trucks were considered to be a separate item and the Circulation Study was not a truck by - pass study . Started with traffic data we obtained in October of 1980 . Major traffic point on Campus , transit service in Ithaca area , projected traffic figures that would saturate the area , location of industry in the Lansing area , existing zoning and future land use was taken into consideration . It was determined that local funding was the only way to start the project . The County came up with five alternatives . Designated Pine Tree Road to carry local needs which addressed a by - pass situation essential to local circulation needs . Pine Tree road can handle 3 , 000 cars now and only . projected to double , at worse , if all land was filled in , he noted that Pine Tree Road could carry the additional traffic . Realignment of East Hill Plaza , a proposed road through the Ellis Hollow Elderly Housing Project and the printing company . One plan placed a road through the sheep grazing area , which was unacceptable to Cornell and another joined Pine Tree Road to Judd Falls Road which would be more than a minor relocation . The Town Engineer stated that it was necessary to look at Phase I , II and III collectively . He went on to note that a one - way traffic system for Forest Home had been considered , however , the community was against this . Other alternatives were by the water tank and the golf course . Nothing . was every spelled out as to what would happen to the golf course and Fall Creek itself was not even considered . Cornell Plantations and Arboretium stood in the way also . Councilman Cramer noted that at one point it was suggested that a link between Game Farm Road and Route 79 was a viable alternative . Was this discussed ? Town Engineer Fabbroni answered that this was not a feasible alternative because of several knobs . Councilman Cramer noted that an alternative suggested was the closing of Judd Falls Road to through traffic . The Town Engineer answered yes , along with the alternative to leave Judd Falls Road open along with the alternative to go to a one - way system . Councilman Cramer stated that everything said tonight impacts on Pine Tree Road , Supervisor Desch asked , won ' t there also be an impact of nothing V s done . Councilman Cramer answered , yes . , Supervisor Desch responded that the impact on Pine Tree Road will be great if there is growth on Route 13 , Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that she had no desire to create a route for all traffic , only create another route so that one residential area would not get all the traffic . She stated that she was against any use of Pine Tree Road to Route 13 , as a . connector route . Councilman Cramer stated that he was concerned with the amount of dollars being spent for the East Ithaca Circulation Design legs . Town Board Minutes - 5 - November 9 , 1981 Freese Road leg , Pine Tree Road leg , and now Game Farm Road leg . Does it matter that Freese Road is not in the Town of Ithaca and Game Farm Road is the dividing line ? Supervisor Desch stated that we should have input from County Planning , Councilman McPeak asked about the environmental impact on another Town ? Supervisor Desch. answered that the Varna Fire Department was dependent - on Freese Road for fire protection . He went on to say that the environmental impact on Game Farm Road would be minimal Councilwoman Kiefer added that she failed to see how we would ever get to Game Farm Road . Councilwoman Raffensperger stated that the major problem the Town has is in the Forest Home area , relief for the Forest Home area is the most critical issue . Supervisor Desch stated that there was no need to spend more dollars on the study . We need only to get the highway map revised to recognize how we as a Board , saw the need for such a corridor . The County will need to know where the Town stands . Any reservations that the Board might have should be brought out now . Councilwoman Kiefer stated that she was troubled with supporting the building of Phase I first without a guarantee built into Phase I that Phase II would also be built . She went on to say that she could not see putting more burden on the Forest Home area . Councilman Cramer asked what was the west extension ? Supervisor Desch answered , lines up to do what Jessup Road would have done before Hasbrook Apartments . Councilman Cramer asked if that was a viable connector . Town Engineer Fabbroni answered , not unless it connects to something new Beverly Livesay stated that she felt a meeting should be held at the Ellis Hollow Elderly Housing Project to explain to them the corridor which could end their walkway , before you take any action . Supervisor Desch stated that the Board was not obligated to endorce the report tonight . He stated that he felt the report was an excellent job , no matter what are it ' s shortcomings . He stated that the Board should decide to make changes or not to make changes , then schedule a public hearing . Councilwoman Raffensperger suggested that perhaps the public hearing could be held at the December 7th meeting . DOG CONTROL CONTRACT Supervisor Desch stated that the Town had received the proposed contract from the SPCA for 1982 * r He stated that an addendum would be added as the Town does not want patrolling , the amount of money to be retained by the Town must be changed and the Town does not want the SPCA given the authority to issue licenses . TOWN OF ITHACA WARRANTS RESOLUTION NO . 178 Town Board Minutes - 6 - November 9 , 1981 Motion by Councilman Cramer ; seconded by Councilwoman Raffensperger , RESOLVED , that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approves the Town of Ithaca Warrants dated November 9 , 1981 , in the following amounts : General Fund - Town Wide . . . . . . . . . 0 . 16 . 6000090080 $ 22 , 262 . 87 General Fund - Outside Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 16 , 408 . 95 Water & Sewer Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 38 , 118 . 18 Highway Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 16 , 762 . 44 Lighting District Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 241 . 39 Capital Projects Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 400 . 00 Parks Reserve Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 441 . 07 ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . BOLTON POINT WARRANTS RESOLUTION N0 , 179 Motion by Councilman Kugler ; seconded by Supervisor Desch , RESOLVED , that the Bolton Point Warrants dated November 9 , 1981 , in the Operating Account are hereby approved , in the amount of $ 34 , 920 . 90 after review and upon . the recommendation of the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water 'Commission , they are in order for payment . ( Desch , Kugler , Raffensperger , McPeak , Cramer and Kiefer voting Aye . Nays - none ) . JOINT SEWER AGREEMENT Supervisor Desch noted that each . Board member had a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding which the Board of Public Works feels sets forth the basic policies of implementation which are compatible with current administrative procedures , eliminates duplication of services and provides for substantial input by all parties . ( Copy attached to Official Minutes ) , Councilman McPeak questioned , of the eight members representing the City , one will be elected ? Supervisor Desch answered yes , that is correct . Councilman Cramer questioned the Budget Officer being the City Controller , Supervisor Desch answered yes , however , I think this can be changed down the road , it fifteen or so years . ADJOURNMENT The meeting was duly adjourned . own Clerk