HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1971-05-1751
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TOWN OF ITHACA
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
MAY 17, 1971 - 5:00 P.M.
At a Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca,
Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town Offices at IO8 East
Green Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 17th day of May, 1971, at
5:00 p.m., there were
PRESENT:Walter J. Schwan, Supervisor
Andrew W. McEIwee, Councilman
Noel Desch, Councilman
Victor Del Rosso, Councilman
Robert N. Powers, Councilman
ALSO PRESENT: James V. Buyoucos, Town Attorney
David W. Cowan, Zoning Officer
Peter K. Prancese, Planning Consultant
Marion Morey, Highway Superintendent
Mrs. Barbara Holcomb, Chairman, Planning
Board
Mrs. Carl Valentino, Eastern Heights Civic
Association
Donald Riker, West Ithaca Civic Association
Robert Poresky
Mrs. Roger Livesay
Other residents of Town
Members of Radio, TV, and Press
Supervisor Schwan called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of April 12, 1971 omitted the fact that
the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca and the Town Board of the Town
of Ithaca, in cooperation with other Town Supervisors and Town Boards
in the State of New York, proclaimed the month of May as "Senior
Citizens' Month."
The minutes of April 12, 1971 omitted that the Town Board had approved
the use of Town voting machines by the Ithaca City School District,
two machines for the Cayuga Heights School and three for the North
east School.
Motion by Councilman McElweej seconded by Councilman Powers,
•RESOLVED, that the minutes of the regular meeting of April 12, 1971,
as amended by the inclusion of the foregoing omitted items, be
approved.
Unanimously carried.
BURLEIGH DRIVE AND SANDRA PLACE
Supervisor Schwan read a letter dated April 23, 1971 from William C.
Norton of 131 Burleigh Drive, Ithaca. New York, to the Town Board,
enumerating the following points: (1) Burleigh Drive now has perma
nent residences and home-owners; (2) there is no regulation of the
use of the street by enforcement agencies, no traffic signs or speed
limits; (3) out-of-area motorists are using the street as a main
by-pass and mini-bikes are in evidence without licenses; (4) the
heavy dust problem is an annoyance to residents and contributes to
the danger to the many small children using the street to get to and
from the Northeast School; (5) street lights should be installed
where needed.
Supervisor Schwan indicated that the dust condition would be taken
care of in due course by the Highway Department when they put down
stone and a coat of oil. No heavy black-top will be laid down until
further construction is done. With regard to the danger to the
children, Mr. Morey, Highway Superintendent, was instructed to barri
cade Sandra Place at both ends with creosote posts (at the cul-de-sac
at Burleigh Drive).
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With regard to lighting Sandra Place^ Mr. Schwan said it is Town
policy to place lights at intersections of roads or streets which
have been constructed and deeded to the Town. There is a light at
Winthrop and Sandra, but Sandra Place does not connect to Burleigh.
In the event that Sandra Place does not become a Town street it is
questionable whether there will be a light there. (Sandra Place
is essentially a private street.)
The Town is working with the Department of Transportation of the
State of New York with a view toward regulating speed limits on
interior Town roads.
Supervisor Schwan also read a letter from Mr. Norton, dated May 17,
1971, containing essentially the same information as covered in the
five foregoing points, with the added note that Sandra Place is a
"mess" when it rains . . . "and the children going to and from school
still have to compete with all sorts of vehicles wallowing through
the mud and pot holes."
ACCIDENT BETWEEN MURIEL STREET AND WARREN ROAD
Supervisor Schwan read a letter dated May 7, 1971 from Attorney
Gabriel N. Meckenberg, who represents the BOCES Board of Education
named in a Notice of Claim with the Village of Cayuga Heights and the
Town of Ithaca relative to a sidewalk accident at the Northeast School
between Muriel Street and Warren Road.
MULTIPLE HOUSING PROJECT - SNYDER HILL ROAD
Supervisor Schwan read a letter from Norman R. Jordan, Vice Presi
dent and General Manager of Eastern Heights, Inc., dated March 15,
1971, relative to the above project. In view of the length of time
since the project was originally considered, the matter was turned
over to the Planning Board for reconsideration. They will report
to the Town Board at its next regular meeting.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ON EAST SHORE DRIVE
Supervisor Schwan presented to the Boi^d a communication from Martha
L. Allen with regard to the problem of children walking across East
Shore Drive to get to the new junior high school. This matter was
turned over to the Planning Board. They will report oh it at the
next regular meeting of the Town Board.
FINANCIAL PLAN FOR COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NO. 1
After some discussion the following resolution was duly adopted.
Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Powers,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca accepts the basic
financial plan proposed by the Tompkins County Sewer Agency for
Tompkins County Sewer District No. 1 and described in detail in
Appendix I of the July 1970 0*Brien and Gere Report; Zone 1 and
Zone 3 changes for the Town of Ithaca area included in the district
to be based on the unit charge factors shown in Appendix I; no hook
up charge (other than pennit cost for sewer connection) to be
assessed. ^
Unanimously carried.
EASTERN HEIGHTS PARK
With regard to the acceptance of a deed to the Eastern Heights Park
by the Town of Ithaca, since no reply had been received from Mr.
Jordan about the intentions of Eastern Heights, Inc., this matter
was tabled.
Mr. Morey, Highway Superintendent, indicated that the Town of Ithaca
had fill available and would use it in the Park area.
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APPOINTMEMT
The Town Board received a recommendation from the Planning Board for
the appointment of Reynolds Metz as Assistant Zoning Officer of the
Town of Ithaca to assist Town Zoning Officer David W# Cowan.
Mr. Donald Riker, West Ithaca Civic Association, recommended that the
Board consider having a full time zoning officer. Supervisor Schwan
noted that for the current year there is nothing in the budget to
support a full time zoning officer. Relative to the appointment of
Mr, Metz, Supervisor Schwan asked what the pleasure of the Board was.
Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilman McElwee,
RESOLVED, that Reynolds Metz of 23^ Enfield Falls Road,•Ithaca, New
York, be appointed as Assistant Zoning Officer for the Town of Ithaca,
to be paid at the rate of $3.00 an hour for approximately 10 hours a
week, such appointment to become effective May 17^ 1971-
Unanimously carried,
TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman McEIwee,
RESOLVED, that $4,050,00 be transferred from Surplus Account H-2810
to Capital Fund Account H-1997-3 (well drilling).
Unanimously carried.
The Board" agreed, - however, that although this money was transferred
it was not to be paid until the report from Layne-New York well
drillers was received and accepted by the Town and not until all
releases as the Town might require were received by the Town.
RENEWAL OF BOND- ANTICIPATION NOTES
Motion by Councilman McElwee; seconded by Councilman Powers,
RESOLVED, that bond anticipation notes heretofore executed- by the
Town of Ithaca, in the following amounts and with respect to the
following districts, pursuant to provisions of resolution authorizing
the construction of the said districts, shall be renewed at 4.5^
interest and the Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute^ such
renewal notes and such other instruments and take such other steps
as may be legally required to effect such renewals:
Second South Hill Water District - Note #1
Snyder Hill Road Water District Note
South Hill Sewer District - Note #3
264,938.00
192,000.00
180,668.00
Unanimously carried.
CORRECTION OF WARRANTS
Motion by Councilman McElwee; seconded by Supervisor Schwan,
RESOLVED, that warrant dated December 31^ 1970 (General Fund) be
corrected from $9^176.79 to $20,752.84 and that warrant dated March
8, 1971 he corrected from $63,393•9^ to $63, 394.26.
Unanimously carried.
DESIGNATION OF BONDING ATTORNEYS FOR
PROPOSED DISSOLVED WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTS
Attorney Buyoucos indicated it would be necessary to designate
bonding attorneys to act for the Town in working with a bank in
the preparation of an analysis, preparation of a brochure,, setting
up amortization schedules, sale of bonds, etc. for the water and
sewer districts for which bonds have been authorized and the
districts for which bonds have not been sold. There was a question
of what all this would cost and since there was no clear cut answer
with respect to cost; Supervisor Schwan suggested that this matter
be held until the Board knew more about what the "package" would
cost.
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REPORTS
Zoning Officer, David W. Cowan, reported that a special approval
had been granted to Walter Wiggins for an exclusive restaurant on
Danby Road, He emphasized this was a "special approval" and not
a variance. The Zoning Board of Appeals had met on May 3> 1971 and
approved Mr. Brink's rebuilding his barn not less than 90 feet from
Route 13. Mr. Brink will need to come to Mr. Cowan for a building
permit prior to building.
Councilman Powers questioned what would happen in the event that
Mr. Wiggins should sell the property or cease to operate the
restaurant. Would the "special approval" be automatically transferred/i
to another owner or would a new owner have to come for a new approval? -
Mr. Cowan said that the "special approval" was granted to Walter
Wiggins and he (Cowan) understood that to mean that should the
operation for any reason be taken over by another party a new
approval would have to be sought.
Peter Francese, Planning Consultant, reported that the Planning
Board would meet on May l8th and that the following topics would
be discussed:
(1) There will be a public hearing to review the application
of Mr. Frederick Rolfe for the re-zoning of a portion of his land on
Five Mile Drive (Floral Avenue) from R-9 residential to multiple
family residential. Mr. Rolfe is proposing to construct 12 apart
ment units in three buildings on approximately 3*^ acres. No water
and sewer are available. All units require drainage fields and wells.
The soil appears to be acceptable for drainage.
(2) Otis Drew wants to add one lot to his subdivision. The
Planning Board feels there is no objection to this.
(3) Traffic problems relative to the two new Junior high I !
schools.
(4) Appointment of a new member of the Planning Board in view
of the fact that Reginald Collins is leaving. He is moving to
Dryden.
(5) Eastern Heights Subdivision.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Motion by Councilman Del Rosso5 seconded by Councilman McElwee,
RESOLVED, that the warrants dated May 17, 1971, in the following
amounts, be paid:
General Fund 4 48,126.49
Highway Fund ........| 6,309*32
Unanimously carried.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
Edward L. Bergen
Town Clerk