HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-10-04 Danby Town Board
Minutes of Meeting
October 4, 2010
Present:
Supervisor: Ric Dietrich
Councilpersons: Leslie Connors,Kathy Halton,Dan Klein,Dylan Race
Others Present:
Town Clerk Pamela Goddard
Code Officer Sue Beeners
Bookkeeper Laura Shawley
Members of the Public:
Ronda Roaring,Joel Gagnon,Ted Crane,Tom Gavin, Julie Kulik.
The meeting was opened at 7:07pm.
Conservation Advisory Council Interview:
Tom Gavin and Julie Kulik were interviewed for positions on the Danby Conservation Advisory Council. Each
interviewee gave a brief description of their background and their interest in the position.A similar set of questions
were asked of each person.Ted Crane,Joel Gagnon,Mary Aim Barr, and Ronda Roaring will be interviewed on
Monday, Oct. 11 starting at 6:30pm.
Privilege of the Floor:
Sue Beeners provided some information about the Shared Energies Facility Coordinator.Danby will have this
person four hours a week. She suggested that the Town work to set priorities for how this person would focus their
time. Suggestions include researching options for renewable energy in municipal buildings. Beeners offered to send
the Board the original Request for Proposal related to this position.
Two letters related to unsafe buildings may be directed to the Town Board from Code Enforcement Officer
Beeners on Monday, October 11. These would be detailed notice orders.
Beeners and Halton advised the Board that a report on the draft plan for the State Forest will be presented by
Jennifer Tiffany on Monday October 11. The DEC will gather public input on the plan through October 29,2010.
Discussion of Meeting formats:
There was a continued discussion of how to set agendas and organize Town Board meetings. Connors
reconsidered the change proposed by her on September 20. She expressed a concern that residents have an
opportunity to see an agenda up to a week prior to planned meetings.This concern is to be put on the October 11
meeting agenda.
Cell Tower Initiative:
There was a final discussion on this topic. Connors expressed surprise that Engman stated that references for
the consulting firm have not been checked out. Dietrich stated that references for applicants were checked during
the process.
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Resolution No. 114 of 2010—SUPPORTING INTERMUNICIPAL CELL TOWER INITIATIVE
WHEREAS,various municipalities in Tompkins County have received applications for permission to construct cellular
communication towers within their borders(and, in some cases, on municipal property), and some of these
applications have elicited substantial public concern or opposition, and
WHEREAS, at the same time, some municipalities have areas where cell coverage is desired but it is substandard or
absent, and
WHEREAS,to date, each municipality has acted on its own, each with their own local ordinances regarding cell
towers, and sometimes seeking expert consultation to evaluate an applicant's need or other assertions, and
WHEREAS, recognizing their shared interests and concerns, several municipalities have decided, through the
Tompkins County Council of Governments(TCCOG),to explore the possible benefits of a more coordinated
approach to the issues surrounding cellular communications.The participating municipalities want to learn what the
current status is of local jurisdiction in this area, and to determine whether some type of coordinated, intermunicipal
approach could enhance their ability to focus cell tower siting at the most appropriate and least disruptive locations.
In addition, some participating municipalities may want outside advice on whether their individual ordinances should
be revised and updated, and
WHEREAS,the participating municipalities (nine interested TCCOG members) issued an RFP for legal services to
advise them on these issues in December 2009, and received four qualified responses, and
WHEREAS, on consideration of these proposals and phone interviews with two of the applicants,the firm of
Silverberg Zalantis,Tarrytown, NY,was selected by representatives of the participating municipalities as the preferred
vendor for this contract for a total of$10,250, as follows:
Presentation-$750(flat fee)
Collaboration feasibility-$1,500(flat fee)
Ordinance template -$3,000(estimate)
Contingency-$5,000
Total to be divided among municipalities-$10,250
and
WHEREAS, in addition, individual municipalities can decide whether to seek an optional review of their specific
ordinance for an estimated $300-$500 per municipality, to be arranged directly with Silverberg Zalantis, now therefore
be it
RESOLVED,that the Town Board of the Town of Danby indicates its willingness to participate in said contract, and
approves the expenditure of$1,300 from Account A1989.400"Other Government Support"for said purpose,
excluding at this time any optional review of the Town's specific ordinance.
Moved by Dietrich, Second by Connors. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors, Halton, Klein, Race, Dietrich
South Danby Road:
Dietrich explained the problem and the need. Halton clarified some of the traffic problems at that intersection.
Highway Superintendent Seamon advised that the proper proceedure is to send a letter, requested by the Town
Board by resolution,to the County in order to post this area as No Parking.A second problem is the drainage in this
location which causes runoff flooding of one property and icy conditions in winter.
A letter was drafted by the Supervisor with the following text:
"It has come to the attention of the Danby Town Board that residential parking at the intersection of South
Danby Road and N.Y.S. Route 9B is creating problems. This is a bad corner under normal circumstances.
Residential parking at this busy intersection is dangerous. Snow plows must drive around parked cars, and traffic
must move outside designated lanes to avoid collisions.
"The Town Board respectfully asks the County to post this area as a no parking zone."
Resolution No. 115 of 2010—TO AUTHORIZE LETTER
RESOLVED,that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes a letter to County Highway requesting
that the area of South Danby Road be posted as a no parking zone.
Moved by Dietrich, Second by Halton. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors,Halton,Klein, Race, Dietrich
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Salt Barn Report:
Laura Shawley described the progress of work being done on the Highway Department Salt Barn. Steel has
been delivered and the highway crew is ready to construct the footers. The project is moving on target.
NYSERDA Grants:
Dietrich gave an update on the Biomass Boiler and insulation projects. Currently,NYSERDA is not supportive
of the hay bale boiler proposal. This impacts the size shed which needs to be constructed and the needed electrical
system which needs to be installed. In addition,there is a previous NYSERDA grant project to install lights and
programmable thermostats in the Town Hall. This is still in process.
Dan Klein gave an update on the shared services positions. Klein,Dietrich, and Beeners attended an
intermunicipal meeting on these positions in late September. Two positions are open. There will be a Community
Energy Educator and a Facilities Energy Coordinator. Participating Towns have begun discussions about the
Facilities Energy Coordinator, focusing on clean energy for municipal buildings/facilities. This will be a one year
full time position,through Cooperative Extension, supervised by the Town of Dryden. It's possible that projects
worked on by this person will benefit/impact more than one town. There was a short discussion of possible projects
in the Town of Danby appropriate for this person and the possibility of getting interns working on this project.
Dog Law:
Clerk Goddard distributed a draft model law from the Town of Groton and information from NYS via Don
Barber. There was a general discussion about the timing of this law, questions about language, etc. Some language
from the Groton draft law will need to be changed in order to be appropriate for Danby.
Dietrich stated that he would update the Town Clerk on whether TCCOG will be working on this jointly
following the next TCCOG meeting. If Guy Krogh is the lawyer of record he will review the proposed law.
Credit Payment Systems:
Goddard gave a brief report of a meeting with representatives from HSBC Bank. They subcontract their credit
payment services through another company. Their system seemed rather complicated. HSBC representatives
suggested setting up a demonstration for the Clerk,Bookkeeper, and members of the Board. Shawley suggested
talking with other municipalities to see what they do. Dietrich suggested asking Ithaca City Clerk Julie Holcomb
how their system is working.
Youth Services:
There was a lengthy discussion of program cuts in the County Youth Services budget and what can be done in
Danby to continue to offer the same level of service. Danby will be losing its Youth Program Manager. (This
position costs in the range of$25,000.)There is a strong concern that if Youth Services are cut from the County
budget these programs will not be restored.Town Supervisors across the county are meeting to strategize what can
be done to keep some level of service for rural youth. There is an attempt to rethink the paradigm,with new ideas of
what youth programs will look like and how they will be managed.
Energy Conservation Survey:
Dan Klein reminded the Board of a door-to-door service project featuring college students who will be
providing information on home energy conservation, to be held in Danby on Saturday, October 30. 5,000 homes
will be visited across the county.Not every home in Danby will be reached. The project is looking for Danby
resident volunteers to help distribute information on energy conservation,retro-fitting homes, and to distribute
compact fluorescent light bulbs.The program wishes to use the Town Hall as a staging area from 10:30-3:00 where
materials will be held and refreshments can be offered to the student volunteers. Permission for this use was granted
by the Board. Klein volunteered to be the point person coordinating the building use that day.
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Danby Town Budget:
The TB continued its discussion of budget areas. Discussion was focused on Youth Services [see above],
Community Council, and an overview of the Highway Department and Water District. The WD kept its proposed
budget exactly level with last year. There is an anticipated increase in staff retirement rates,health insurance costs
(particularly in getting the Health Insurance Consortium started), and workmen's compensation for eight highway
employees.
There was a lengthy discussion of large equipment needs at Highway. Older vehicles and equipment will need
replacement in the next two years. Shawley will bring a resolution to the next TB meeting,to spend funds for a
front end loader. The current loader is unreliable, and should be replaced before the winter maintenance season.
This will likely go out to bid. She advised the board that there will be a need for a new grader in 2011 at an
estimated cost of$250-280,000,which will require a bond. Repairs on the old grader are very expensive. Halton
and Race asked questions about long term planning for large equipment needs in the Highway Department. Dietrich
advised that funds in the Highway Reserve and Building Fund will need to be restored over the next several years.
Shawley describes the current preliminary budget as a"good baseline."The budget, as presented,would
decrease the tax rate in Danby for 2011. The Fire Department has submitted its budget at$12,000 less than what
was estimated. There will be more discussion about what to do with Youth Programs and the Food Pantry.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn the Meeting was made at 9:43 pm.
Pamela S Goddard,Town Clerk
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