HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-14 ',I
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1 Town Board Minutes
April 14, 2003
TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
APRIL 14, 2003
Regular Meeting
PRESENT :
Supervisor Dietrich
Councilpersons : Joel Gagnon, Norbert Nolte, Naomi Strichartz, Gladys Varona-Lacey
Others Present :
Carol W. Sczepanski - Town Clerk
Susan Beeners - Code Enforcement Officer
Frank Proto - County Representative
William Hall - Highway Superintendent
Sue Howe - Highway Secretary
Members of the Public :
Roy Casterline, Ames Brown, Sarah Newman, Ken Horst, Eileen Wright, Willard Daetsch, George
Arsenault
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS :
1 ) No . 7 - Under New Business - Community Council use of building May 18 for Irish Group
2) No. 8 - Under New Business - West Danby Water District - Generator for emergency power.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR :
Town Clerk - reported that the Fire District Grant request for the Danby Field Days Parade has been
awarded in the amount of $ 1 , 500 . Confirmation should be received in writing soon .
Members of the Public :
Sarah Newman reported to the Board : 1 ) that the Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing by the
Planning Board will be on Wednesday, May 21 , 2003 at 7 : 00 p . m. here at the Town Hall . The
hearing will be advertized in the May issue of Danby Area News . Copies of the Comprehensive
Plan Draft Summary will be available for residents to pick up and a copy of the complete draft will
be at the Town Hall for residents to review . 2) The Planning Board would like to hire a summer
intern to work with them in the completion of the comprehensive plan and that the intern position
has been posted. 3 ) Kate Hackett has passed on to the Planning Board the next step for the County
Aquifer Study and the maps have been transmitted to the Board.
Bruce Brumfield of 1043 Coddington Road, Brooktondale, NY submitted a petition signed by 20
(twenty) residents to the Town Board requesting that the Town support them to the County and the
State of New York to do a safety review of the area and possible consider a speed limit reduction on
Coddington Road from the Town of Ithaca line to German Cross Road .
Representative Frank Proto said that he would obtain a letter of support from the County Legislature .
County Representative Report
County Representative Frank Proto reported :
1 ) Local assessment Board of Review (Grievance Day) is Thursday, May 3 , 2003 from 3 : 00
to 6 : 00 p .m . at the Town Hall .
2) Has a concern with the Simenilli Project -with using eminent domain as a means
obtaining space for the project.
3 ) Lake Source Cooling - Cornell University approached the committee that reviews the data.
He is going to request a review as the DEC has not signed off on the renewal of the Cornell
permit .
4) New County Charter has been passed .
5 ) There will be a second meeting with the County fire emergency department, highway
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2 Town Board Minutes
April 14, 2003
representatives , and representatives from the Town of Caroline and the Town of Danby.
6) Questions with the County on who investigates animal cruelty cases . He understands that
the Tompkins County SPCA does not investigate cruelty complaints .
Highway Report
Purchase of Pickup for Highway Department
Councilperson Nolte reported that the Highway Superintendent would like to purchase a pickup
From the Town of Dryden for $ 16,500 to replace the van . The truck is to be used as a back-up use
for the one ton pickup .
Motion to Transfer Funds to Reserve Funds
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby transfers from Unallocated Fund Balance into :
DA5142 . 4R - $ 10,000
DA5130. 2R - $ 10,000
A5132 .4R - $2 ,000
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 39 OF 2003
TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF PICKUP
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Councilperson Strichartz
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby transfers $ 8 ,500 from the Reserve Fund,
$ 6000 from Unallocated Fund Balance of 2002 , $ 1000 from DA5130 .400, $ 1000 from A5132 . 400
to Account DA5130 . 2R for a total deposit of $ 16, 500 . 00 .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Motion to Purchase Pickup Truck
A motion was made by Councilperson Nolte and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that the
Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the purchase of a used Pickup truck from the Town of
Dryden for $ 16 , 500 . 00 .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Zoning Report
Code Enforcement Officer Susan Beeners reported that housing has increased by 64 since the census
2000 report for a total of 1248 . We presently have eight (8) permits in process and another twelve
( 12 ) pending. She said she expects 25 -30 by the end of this year. Building permit fees are up by
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April 14, 2003
30% from 2002 year to date . She has consulted with the Town Attorney regarding the Old Town
Road abandonment issue and on the pre-existing lot questions by a resident in their letter to the
Planning Board. The road abandonment information will be passed on to the Board in June and there
are no issues related to the rights for the pre-existing lots to exist . The Commercial Revitalization
Grant program application date still is unknown . The Planning Board will hold two(2) public
hearings on April 16 , 2003 .
Community Council Report
Councilperson Strichartz reported that Community Council will be meeting monthly on the last
Monday. The Community Council Agreement between Community Council and the Town of Danby
has not been adopted at this time. Community Council will hold a special meeting to go over the
agreement and to fill out the forms needed for the Town Board to approve .
Senior Citizens Report
Carol Sczepanski reported that the Senior Citizens held their monthly dish-to-pass dinner and
meeting on Thursday, April 3 , 2003 at 6 : 00 p . m . Joe Lockwood, the Good Growing Doctor, was the
guest speaker. The next meeting will be May 1 , 2003 at 6 : 00 p . m.
Dog Control Report :
Councilperson Gagnon questioned the 29 cats that were sent to the SPCA as it is our understanding
that they do not accept cats . (The County now has a contract with the SPCA. )
COMMUNICATIONS :
West Danby Water District Report
Roy Casterline submitted a Water Quality Report for the West Danby Water District. The report is
posted on the Clerk ' s bulletin board.
OLD BUSINESS :
Community Council Agreement (Contract)
Councilperson Strichartz said she will have a copy of the proposed agreement Between Community
Council and the Town of Danby to present to the Community Council at their next meeting .
Supervisor Dietrich said that the Vice-president was not sure of what to put into the contract
agreement. Community Council will send the Town a proposed 2003 agreement with expected
expenditures inserted.
NEW BUSINESS :
PushBack - Excessive Property Tax Burden
RESOLUTION NO. 40 OF APRIL 2003
EXCESSIVE PROPERTY TAX BURDEN
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Supervisor Dietrich
WHEREAS, New York State relies primarily on income tax and sales tax as sources of revenue,
while local governments and schools rely primarily on property tax and sales tax, and
WHEREAS, income taxes have been reduced significantly over the last 15 years under both
Republican and Democratic administrations, and
WHEREAS, State actions that shift expenses and impose new costs on local governments and
school systems have been a driving force behind these property tax increases , and
WHEREAS, the STAR program provided significant property tax relief to homeowners, but this
relief has been negated by further cost shifts that have overwhelmed the impact of STAR, and
WHEREAS, the total tax burden in New York State has now been transferred to an excessive degree
onto property tax, and
WHEREAS, this excessive reliance on property tax results in an unfair allocation of taxes that
harms particularly vulnerable businesses and homeowners, now therefore be it
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April 14, 2003
RESOLVED, that the Town of Danby Town Board calls on the governor and Legislature to resolve
the current State budget crisis without resorting to measures that simply reallocate costs to schools
and local government and force further property tax increases that will result in the loss of jobs and
homes .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
APPOINTMENTS TO THE LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW
RESOLUTION NO. 41 OF 2003
APPOINTMENTS TO THE ADVISORY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW 2003
By Councilperson Gagnon : Seconded by Councilperson Nolte
WHEREAS, Tompkins County Department of Assessment has requested that the Town of Danby
establish a Local Advisory Board of Assessment Review, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County Department of Assessment has requested the Town Board of the
Town of Danby to appoint two (2) individuals to serve on the Local Advisory Board of Assessment
Review, now be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby appoints Allen S . Becker of 88 Hillview
Road, Spencer, NY and Randolph Brown of 98 Station Road, Spencer, NY to serve on the Local
Advisory Board of Assessment Review on May 15 , 2003 from 3 : 00 to 6 : 00 p . m .
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
RESOLUTION NO. 42 OF 2003
REQUEST FOR REDUCED SPEED LIMIT ON CODDINGTON ROAD
By Councilperson Strichartz : Seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey
WHEREAS, Coddington Road is a populated road with an unposted speed limit, and
WHEREAS, fifty-five (55 ) miles per hour presents an unsafe environment for Coddington Road
residents and motorists using said road, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Danby has received a petition signed by
24 residents requesting a posted speed limit on Coddington Road, now be it
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby requests Tompkins County Highway
Department and the New York State Department of Transportation to reduce the speed limit on that
portion of Coddington Road from the current end of the 45 mile per hour speed limit in the Town
of Ithaca to a point southeast of German Cross Road a distance of approximately 1 . 1 miles in the
Town of Danby to 45 miles per hour.
A roll call vote on the resolution resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
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April 14, 2003
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Recreation Supervisor for Pond Program
Councilperson Strichartz requested that the Town Board create a new position entitled Supervisor for the Danby
Pond Program. We are allowed to run the program but need an administrator. A supervisor was needed for the
recreation director programs at the pond and to supervise lifeguards .
Supervisor Dietrich said he had a problem with that job description. He said that in the past we paid the coordinator
a stipend and that the pond coordinator was a volunteer position and now the position is on our payroll as a Town
employee . He would like the pond to consider becoming a part of Community Council .
Councilperson Strichartz said that in the past Community Council said they did not want the responsibility of the
pond . If they are changing their minds about that and will take the responsibility for the pond that ' s fine .
The Board reviewed a document received from Tompkins County Youth Bureau . The form was a request for
information for the Tompkins County Municipal Planning Group Vitality and Accountability Assessment. This
form is to identify programs and accomplishments .
Motion to Approve Use of Building for Concert
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that the Town
Board grant permission to Community Council to use the Town Hall Building for a concert to be held on May 18 ,
2003 .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Generator for West Danby Water Tower Emergency Power
Roy Casterline would like to see the issue of emergency power to the water tower settled. They need to get this
done . The West Danby Fire Department is used for emergency purposes . Water needs to be supplied to the Fire
Department. Roy said that the generator at the fire house is big enough to run the water pumps but the wiring needs
to be run to the pumps .
Councilperson Gagnon said that it may be cheaper to put a generator at the pump house .
Approval of Supervisor ' s March 2003 Report
A motion was made by Councilperson Gagnon and seconded by Councilperson Nolte that the Town Board of the
Town of Danby approves the Town Supervisor' s March 2003 report as submitted.
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Approval of the Town Clerk ' s March 2003 Report
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Gagnon to approve the Town
Clerk ' s March 2003 report as submitted .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
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April 14, 2003
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
General Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2003
A motion was made by Councilperson Nolte and seconded by Councilperson Strichartz that the Town Board of the
Town of Danby approves the General Fund Warrant No . 4 of 2003 , voucher numbers 139 - 197 in the amount of
$ 18 , 701 . 67 .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
Highway Department Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2003
A motion was made by Councilperson Strichartz and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that the Town board
of the Town of Danby approves the Highway Department Fund Warrant No . 4 of 2003 in the amount of $22 , 808 . 02
voucher numbers 41 -62 .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No. 4 of 2003
A motion was made by Councilperson Nolte and seconded by Councilperson Varona-Lacey that the Town Board
of the Town of Danby approves the West Danby Water District Fund Warrant No . 4 of 2003 in the amount of
$ 561 . 32 voucher numbers 12 - 15 .
A roll call vote on the motion resulted as follows :
Gagnon Aye
Nolte Aye
Strichartz Aye
Varona-Lacey Aye
Dietrich Aye Carried Unanimously
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 9 : 40 p . m.
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min-4- 14 . 03 Carol W. Sczepa A if, Town Clerk
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