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Home My WebLink AboutTB Minutes 1972-03-13128 n TOWN OP ITHACA REGULAR BOARD MEETING March 13, 1972 - 5:00p.m. At a regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, held at the Town of Ithaca offices at I08 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 13th day of March, 1972, at 5:00 p.m., there Were ^ ^ PRESENT: Wkitef Schwan, Supervisor ifoel D^tech* Councilman ftbbert N. Powers, Councilman ABSENTi Andrew W. McElwee, HbUhcilman Victor Del Rosso, Coundilihan ALSO PRESENI*: James V. Buyoucos, Town Attorney David W. Cowan, Zoning Officer Marion Morey, Highway Superintendent Mrs. Barbara Holcomb, Chairman, Planning Board Peter K. Prancese, Planning Consultant Hugh (Sam) MacNeil, County Representative Mrs. Beverly Livesay Arthur L. Berkey Evan Monkemeyer Residents of Porest Home Members of Radio, TV, and Press Supervisor Schwan called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. REPORT OP COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE Mr. MacNeil reported on the proposed instrument landing system at the County Airport. This system would permit take-offs at lower 1 levels and with greater safety. The tower controller would be an ' ' PAA employee and the project would cost about $400,000. It would require four technicians. The operating expense would be paid for by the Pederal government. The Board felt it was almost imperative for a variety of reasons for the County to install an Instrument land ing system at the County Airport. REPORTS OP TOWN OPPICIALS Mrs. Barbara Holcomb, Chairman of the Planning Board, reported that the Planning Board had a working meeting scheduled for March l4, 1972 to go over suggestions and criticisms they have gathered as a result of five public hearings pn the proposed Zoning Ordinance. After this meeting the Planning Boa^rd intends to report back to the Town Board. Mrs. Holcomb also noted that a suggestion was made at the January 18, 1972 meeting of the Planning Board that Kennilworth plant taxus hloksi rather than hemlocks. Both had been proposed by Kennilworth for a planting strip. Robert Scannell of the Planning Board suggested that hemlock plantings are not suitable for this particular location. He ^ moved at the Planning Board meeting that taxus hicksi be used and ^^ suggested that the four foot placing proposed by Kennilworth is too wide. They, therefor^, recommended that the spacing be reduced to 3 foot centers. The motion was unajiimously approved. The Town Clerk was instructed to convey this information to Kennilworth Associates. AliaiQVAL OP MINUTES Thfe Approval of the minutes of the meetings of Pebruary l4, 21, and 28"were deferred until the April meeting so that they might be con sidered for approval by the whole Board. n - P' .. 129 n ,• %»?'■. •., ■ f ■.. SIGN ORDINANCE - PUBLIC HEARING - 2 - March 13, 1972 "pi., ^ Proof of publicatior^vand posting of the public hearing with respect,to the proposed sign ordinance was presented by the Town Clerk. It •Appeared that a complete oopy of the proposed sign ordinance was notJ^et ready for distribution. Therefore, the following motion was d,dopted; Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman DeschiRESOLVED, tbat the public hearing oh the proposed sign ordihahce bepostponed until the meeting of the Town Board on April 10, 19t2 at \ 6;00 p.m. . Unanimously carried. ^ The Town Clerk was instructed to re-publish and re-post notice of the public hearing, WATER AND SEWER SURCHARGE. ^ Motion liy Councilman Desch; seconded by Supervisor Schwan,RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hold a publichearing on April 10, 1972 at 5:30 p*ni» to consider the establishment-^of a water and sewer surcharge to collect the repairs and maintenance expenses of the water and sewer districts. Unanimously carried^, ZONING"BOARib REQUEST ^ -v • ;• B^R TOWN BOARD RESOLUTION --BUILDING PERMITS—T- ■ -l-..-- The Board discussed the request of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a^' rn resolution to the effect that henceforth the Zoning Board of Appeals^ill refuse to corisidier an appeal in cases where a building has beenj ' pegun without a valid building permit. Town Attorney Buyoucps felt ^0;that such a resolution would be illegal and advised against it. WhenIt is discovered that a building.has.been built without-a permit theperson will be sent a.notice that he is vin violation^6f the ZoningOrdinance and will.be given 30 days to reply. If there is no replyformal action will- be begun for violation of'the' Zoning Or^dinance ofthe Town of Ithaca. If a building has been started and an applicationis subsequently applied for and if the Zoning Officer flndsothat the .application is not within the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, anaction will be starthd for Violation of the^ Zoning Drdihanc'ev^-Withi-o respect to a building started without a valid permit the Zoning Officer,|f requested to present the matter to the Board of Appeals^ can refuse,tp: do so. iShpulif Officer*s action be deemed arbitrary the.] aggrieved party could "take the matter to court. * • ' OliOSING OFF ROADWAY MOM SNYDER HHil^ ROAD ^ . Ir - ' The Town Board consiaiered a request foir the', blocking*-of 20-fdot;a!-eeroadway from Snydej* HIM Road-so that'it would not become a "lovers*lane". Mr, Moray, Highway Superintendent, was instructed to take care.of the matter by putting up two posts with a cable stfross and'padlock ing it, with a key supplied for the City as well as the Town. -r/- taOHTlKO ? .JOlgOR HlQH'jSCTatOil^^SimtK KXTTS Supervisor Schwan readt a iietteit dateid February 4972^ frqmvi;^- William Bfittftier, Assistant Superihtenderit^ Tthacra* City School Dis*briot/ rreqUest-iiig that the Board ask the New^York Stsd^e Electric & Gas Corporationfor supervisory lights ^near^ the ?ehtrances and y exits to the two^ hew j^unlor hi^pi schools ati HanshaW>B:6ad and North OSyuga Street. Extensionih order to help the floWi Of • Vehicular ctrafflci#. i .. :i : • ... ' -jrvi fku^- -.h - ... ' ■ ■ PiJ. bc^ b. -porP.-■ P cf: ■ ^ tl'. ' r. tb r.'! I'oy f-ind i T f\c tin ..'.I.' ^ rv-.v HrbP -p ,,b^-b r 'r PK.; 0 be?;, .e. ■ : ■] ir r-;-: Lh.. ■ b; Ab -• ; ■•'.j': vt JP.e .-'e'.jr ?zi ." bv-'^rJ e; z vi?)b !.';J er e' b rizzlZ'': bf> ■>eo'ne''l aie •/ bhe /30 - 3 - March 13, 1972 Although there was general inclination on the part of the Board to light these particular exits and entrances, it was felt that it should not become a precedent, and that each such request should be consider ed individually. The Board agreed that it would join with Mr. Banner and actually ride the area and look at the exits and entrances in question, and make decisions on each individual one. LIGllTIlirG - IHTEftSECTIOW OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY PARKINC^ LOT ENTRY AND DRYDEN ROAD (Route 366) Supervisor Schwan read a letter from Mr. G, J. Messmer, Residential Repliesentative of the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, with regard to the 400 watt mercury street light at the above indicated intersedtioh. Hfe said they were turned down in theif recent request for a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation to move thp light. It seenis that the director for thid eirea will only alloW the use of three street lights over a state highway where an intersection is to be lighted. Mr. Messmer recommended the use of three 175 watt mercui^y units at an elnnual cost of $135400 ($45.o6 each per year) and the removal of the bhe 400 wat,t unit* She 400 watt iinit Obste $75*00 per yeari the three street lights installation would,be a $6Q400 ner year,increase# the Electric & Gas Corporation requested the Board's decision on this matter as soon as possible# the supervisor said he would write to the Department of Transportation to clarify this matter before making a decision. Mr. Schwan said in the meantime he would have the New York State Electric & Gas Corpora tion put up what they can without controversy. APPfaOVAL OP WARRANTS Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that the warrants dated March 13, 1972, in the following dmhiounts, be approved; General Fund ••###..$ 197,446.84 Highway Fund #••••..$ 10,110.43 Unanimously carried. Mr# Powers suggested that there was an unusual number of rather small bills among the warrants and that perhaps we should consider a petty cash fund for the Highway Department in order to eliminate the writing so many small checks. Mr. Morey was asked to look into the matter of what other towns are doing in this regard. The Board felt we might give some thought to a petty cash fund for amounts under $5.00. CORRECTIONS TO WARRANTS Motion by Supervisor Schwan^ seconded by Councilman Powers, RESOLVED, that the following corrections to warrant totals be made: General Fund: November 4, 1971 •••••• $ 11,216.62 December 13, 1971 55,636.08 December 31, 1971 $ 19,^51.25 Hi^way Fund: December 31, 1971 •.#.. $ 8,699.67 Unanimously carried. The foregoing corrections in the abstracts (warrants) are due to the adding of some checks to one abstract and taking some checks from another when the original form was typed in original form after the meetings. Also, the encumbered accounts were added to some of the December 31, 1971 abstracts which increased the totals. 'I ^ , if-;. _ March 13, 1972 DOMOYAN FUMD v 'T-.j-Ih,. f h.;. SuperviS(?;E Schwan read a: letter fr<an :the Highway-Superintendent of " Newfleld a,aW)i!tg us to write to the-estate and try to save the Donovah Plan; for torn, jhl^iways. The inclination of' the Board was to support this position, LETTER FROM ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS Supervisor Schwan read a letter from the Association of Towns which- wp directed to all town supervisors of member towns of the Associa- tion, urging them to attend a Rally in Albany to review grievances problems of towns. It was the general feSling of the Board that pressure on legislators could be exerted in somfe other manner thap a "March on the Capitol",. :• Councilman Powers suggested in conneqtion With the Association of Towns thdt someone from the Zoning Board of Appeals sfibuld attend the annual meeting When next held. He felt it would be valuable. He said he had gone one year and had fodnd it tremendously usefuli Rl!EEWAL.6g BOIJD--:Aki?iciPATION ROTES C - - Supervisor Schwanj seconded by Councilman Powers, kesolved, that in accordance with the authority granted to the Town of Ithaca pursuant to Section 209-r of the Town Law under which a s-dopted dissolving all the existing water and sewer districts of the Town of Ithaca, that the Supervisor be authorized to sign and deliver each of the . boj^d antiiSipAtdon notes for the dissolved sewer districts, separately or in' the aggregate, which notesshall all mature, on March/3>, 1973, . ® ' . Unanimously carried,' FORE^ST HOME BRIDGES - PUBLIC -HEARING . . -j ' • ; . • • ' .i.* n • • •. i ' .. r- t'-l ' I"'■"Prodff of posting and publication having been presented- the Townsupervisor opened the public hearing with respect to the Town ofIthaca tuning over the Forest Home Road, called Rt. 392, subject tothe Por^||,Home bridges at Judd Falls Road and Caldwell Road being ;! ;to .meet the specifications of the Tompkins County 'ConMissionerof Public,-Works, -K; : Supervisor Schwan indicated the Town hadba communication from theAssistant Commissioner of Legal Affairs of the Department of Transportation Saying that it did not appear that a Public Hearing was re- S matter, but thatcthe Town Board felt It would be betterto hold one nevertheless so that;the public which is involved in thismatter would have a chance to speak. Supervisor Schwan read a sample resolution prepared by the Depai'tmentof Transportation covering the Town*s 'request for the- State of NewYork to turn over and surrender to the Town' of Ithaca apportion ofState Highway, knowa-as Ithaca-Dryden Road, Paxt 1, ^ O There were many residents of the Forest Home area present at themeeting and some were interested as to what portion of the road wouldbe made one-way. Supervisor Schwan read a recommendation from the ® « |Planning Board of the Town of Ithaca with respect to the Town takeover 'of State Route 392 (forest Home Road)5 as follows: "The Planning Board suppgapts in principle the Towh takeoverof . State .Route 392 (PcHraeHSt Home Road) and the two bridges ■ihvalved, but urges that the road not be accepted^until thetwo bridges have been brought up to structural standards as one-lane bridges by the State, Further, we recommend that the determination of whether-certain sections of the road should become one-way roads^Should be arrived at only after close consultation with * r V - 5 - :n March"13, 1972 and recommendations from the Forest Home Civic Asi5^c4.ation as to appropriate traffic pa.tterns in the area arid/ Further^ ' we recommend that the traffic j)atterns thus arrived at should be reviewed after one year of actual trial with a view to modifications if needed. We ,4lso suggest that Cornell bo consulted in regard to the condition of certain Cornell maintained roads which might become an integral part of the onS-way traffic pattern." t i Supervisor Schwan emphasized that the Town of Ithaca is not committed apart from the fact that the bridges will be one-way. The Town Board is anxious to hear from the people. Supervisor Schwan indicated that the actual implementation of the resolution when the bridges have been re-built gives us time to work out some kind of a traffic pattern which We could try out before we get the road. The Board felt it did not at this time want to be committed to any particular direction or method* Mr. Schwan said the people living there in Forest Home could probably give us ah insight into what we should experiment with for a period of time. There did not appear to be any objection to the Town take-over of the road and the bridges^ most of the Forest Home residents appearing to be in favor of the plan. Supervisor Schwan suggested that the Forest Home Civic Association sit down with a map and work out something in terms of one-way, two-way, or alternative traffic patterns and let the Board have the benefit of their thinking. After some further discussion, the following resolution was adopted: Motion by Councilman Desch; seconded by Councilman Powers, n ^ WHEREAS, certain portions of State Highway No. 681, also known i as Ithaca-Dryden Road, Part 1, lie within the bounds of the Town of ' ' Ithaca, it is RESOLVED, that the Town of Ithaca does hereby request the Commissioner of Transportation of the State of New York to turn over a-fid surrender to the Town of Ithaca that portion of State Highway No. 081 also known as Ithaca-Dryden Road, Part 1, described as follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of the centerline of said high way with the easterly corporation line of the City of Ithaca (Station 04»00x); thence easterly along said centerline, through the H^let of Forest Home, to the intersection of said centerline with the westerly line of the Town of Dryden (Statioin 84+50^^) , heing a length of 8,450x feet situated in the Tdwh of Ithaca as shown on the Official Map of such State Highway filed with the Department of Transportation. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall become effective only on the conditions that (A) 'the Town of Dryden adopts v the necessary resolutions and takes any and all steps and proceedings which may be necessary to accomplish the surrender to the Town of pry den by the Commissioner of Transportation of the State of New York of that portion of the said State Highway which lies between Route 366 and the said westerly'line of the Town of Dryden, and (B) that (1) each of the two bridges over Pall Creek will be reconstructed by the Commissioner of Transportation of the state of New York as one lane I bridges with a total width no greater than the present width of said I ! bridges and that-a sidewalk for pedestriahs^: separated by ,a railing from the travelled portion of the highway over said bridges, be recon structed at a width ho 'leSS 'thah siic (6)'-feet, such reconstruction to be made in accordahce' with' the requirements and specifications of the Commissioner of Public Works of the County of Tompkins, it being under- Stood that the width of the said bridge and the said sidewalk may be modified provided that the Tbwn Board of the Town of Ithaca or the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca^ or its duly authorized agent agrees to such modification ahd (2T provided'that sdid. County Commissioner furnish the Town with a certificate that .such :reconstruetion;has been^ itiade satisfactorily ih accordance With said requirements, and (C) that it is understood'that said bridges will:be maintained and repaired by the County of Tompklnd except for the deck^ wd approaches. 132 ■k:\ - ,6 - March 13, 1972 The Board members were polled and voteji.as f611ow.s; Councilman Desch Aye Councilman Powers •,•••••• Aye Supervisor Schwan •••••••«. Aye The I'esolution was thereupon adopted and the hearing closedi ADJOURMMEI^T X ~ The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.ini until 7s30 pkih; on Monday, March 20., 1972 ♦ Edward L» Bergen i; <T. ' '-S.■ RESOLUTION TO RENEW FOLLOWING NOTES at;MARCH 33 1972 New East Ethaca Water District $ 38,000.00 Northeast Sewer District 425,000.00 Slaterville Road Sewer District ^393,000.00 Ellis Hollow Road Sewer District 7%7,500.00 South Hill Sewer District 502,068.00 South Hill Sewer District 172,004.00 Ext. No. 1 to Second South Hill Water District (I966) 51,250.00 Second South Hill Water District (1966) 198,186.00 Ext. No. 2 to Second South Hill Water Dis. 10,000.00 Ext. No. 1 to South Hill Sewer District 97,000.00 Snyder Hill Road Water District 182,000.00 Second South Hill Water District (1966) 254,8l4.00 Ext. No. 2 to South Hill Sewer District 118,000.00 South Hill Sewer District , 278,928.00 $ 2,797,750.00