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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Minutes 1974-06-17TOWN OP ITHACA SPECIAL BOARD MEETING June 17, 1974 - 7;00 poltio At a special meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca, Tomp- ^ kins County, New York, held at the Town of Ithaca Offices at 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, on the 17th day Of June, 1974, at n 7:00 p,m., there were PRESENT; Walter J. Schwan, Sufiervisot Andrew V7. McElwee, councilman Noel Desch, Councilman Robert N. Powers, Councilman ABSENT; Victor Del Rosso, Councilman ALSO PRESENT; Barbara Holcomb, Plailnihg Board Chairwoman Reynolds Metz, Zohing Officer David W. Cowan Gerald Messmer, N. Y, State Electric & Gas Corporation The Supervisor called the meeting to order at 7;05 p.m. MERCURY VAPOR LIGHTING FOR THREE LIGHTING DISTRICTS RENWICK HEIGHTS, FOREST H0t4E, GLENSIDE A discussion was held in re the proposal by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation to replace the existing incandescent fix- 1 tures in the above-named lighting districts with mercury vapor fix tures at the following increase in costs per year; ^ (a) Renwick Heights - $27,22 (b) Forest Home 47.80 (c) Glenside" 35.92 Mr. Powers wondered why this proposal had been turned down by the Board when it was first presented. f4r. Schwan and Mr. McElwee stated that it was because of the color of the lights. Mr. Messmer stated that the new lights which would be installed are not bluish- green, but have a reddish tone. There was a brief discussion of the lasting quality of the mercury vapor lights. The present incandescent lighting will have to be replaced in the near future, because the cost of maintaining them is increasing. Mr, McElwee stated that he did not care for mercury vapor lights at all, whatever color. Motion by Supervisor Schwan; seconded by Councilman Desch, RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca authorize and * hereby does authorize the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation ( I to change the existing lighting in the Renwick Heights Lighting Dis- trict, the Forest Home Lighting District and the Glenside Lighting District from incandescent to mercury vapor. There followed a brief discussion of the contract with New York State Electric & Gas Corporation whereupon the Supervisor called for a vote; Supervisor Schwan, voting aye. Councilman Desch, voting aye. Councilman Powers, voting aye. Councilman McElwee, abstaining. The Supervisor declared the motion carried. - 2 - June 17, 1974 Supervisor Schwan informed Mr, Messmer that the Town Clerk will send him a letter of authorization. FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACT WITH CITY OF ITHACA Mr. Schwan pointed out that a sum of $25,000 should be added to the figure of $840,000 which is the amount paid by the City of Ithaca for its fire system. The $25,000 is for the services of a fire coordinator which is required and had not been included in the compilation of figures presented at previous Board meetings. Supervisor Schwan stated that he had been in conference with Mr. Ned Boice of the Caytiga Heights Fire Department and he indicated that fire trucks are running around $130,000 to $160,000 each and that pumpers are ^nning around $50,000 to $65,000 each. A ladder truck and two engines would be needed in Mr. Boice's opinion for each station on each of the three hills. They also discussed the relative merits of a volunteer force. Mr. Boice felt that 50 to 60 volunteers are needed per station to be effective. The State requires 24 one- hour training sessions per man per year and Cayuga Heights Fire De partment is having difficulty getting twelvo men out to a fire. It was Mr. Boice's firm opinion that it would not be economically feas ible for the Town of Ithaca to create its own fire department on a volunteer basis at this time. He felt that a contract with the City of Ithaca for $100,000 is a bargain, per year. Supervisor Schwan suggested that the Town could send out . coxirtesy fire bills to Cornell University, Ithaca College, the County Hospital,lOOF and even the schools. Supervisor Schwan said that he would talk to City officials again to see if it can be determined what their 10-year.prognosis is. They are presently heading for a million dollar budget for fire pro tection. It would be nice to know what that budget will be in 10 years. He felt that they will have to take some responsibility for holding the line. The salary rate right now, including medical, re tirement and social security is $770,000 per year. Mr. Powers pointed out that the bulk of their increases have been m^dated by someone else other than just the City officials, e.g. Fire Underwriters, If we ask them to commit themselves on a ten-year basis, we should commit ourselves too. Supervisor Schwan noted that we cannot contract on a ten-year basis anyway according to Town Law, only on a five-year basis. Councilman Desch felt that there could be no signing of any contracts on a five-year basis without in- depth forecasting study. Councilman Powers wondered if there is any way the City can guess any better than we can. Councilman Desch felt that they can since they have the data. Councilman Desch felt that it was important for the Town to determine just what kind of service we expect to give our citizens. Supervisor Schwan also pointed out that the City of Ithaca has not told us where their volunteers are coming from and it was ^ his opinion that they are coming in bulk from the Town of Ithaca r people. ^ Councilman McElwee suggested that Supervisor Schwan talk to Charles Weaver, City Fire Chief. Supervisor Schwan did not agree. He thought that he should talk to the Underwriters. To him, the costs are not germain until you find whether the volunteer effort will work or not. Councilman Desch suggested that Supervisor Schwan should try to obtain a copy of the Fire Labor contract with the City of Ithaca. Supervisor Schwan said that he would tiry. It was finally determined that Supervisor Schwan will set up a meeting with the City of Ithaca officials in this matter. r - 3 - June 17, 1974 WATER AT BOYNTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Supervisor Schwan said that Boynton Junior High School is hooked to the City water line on North Cayuga Street o They pay only the surcharge in the aunouht of $690,84 (approximately) a year. The school is hooked to the Renwick Heights Sewer District. The question is whether or not to hook them up to the Town water system now or when Bolton Point is on the line. They have 99.8 units. The income generated from hooking them up would bes 99.8 units x $23,00 = $2,295,00 99,8 units x $25.00 = $2,495.00 (Bolton Point) $4,790.00 It will cost $12,000 to $15,000 to hook them up. Councilman McElWee wafe in favor of just plugging them in as part of the over-all system. Supervisor Schwan said that the decision should be made soon enough so that Lozier Engineers, Inc. can go ahead and design the system for inclusion with Bolton Point, It was gener ally agreed to tell Lozier to go ahead and design it. PROPOSED LOCATION OF TOWN HALL IN CLINTON HOUSE Barbara Holcomb, Planning Board Chairwoman, presented a letter to the Board from Historic Ithaca dated June 17, 1974, with a new proposal for the Town to rent the second floor of the Clinton House. The new proposal is for an annual rental of $7,500 ($2.50 per sq. ft.) and an assumption by the Town of the cost for renovations of approximately $45,300. The lease would be for 10 years. Councilman McElwee felt that the area would need central air- conditioning. He noted that it would be quiet. He thought parking might be a little difficult. Councilman Powers thought parking would be no more difficult than where the Town Offices are now located. Mr. McElwee felt that Mrs. Holcomb's suggestion of having Historic Ithaca renovate the office space at their expense per o\ir specifications and then pay the higher rent of $3.50 per sq. ft. with a pre-payment of $40,000, for example, is the best approach to take. Mrs. Holcomb felt that the shell rent rate of $2.50 is the lowest figure they will accept. She also felt that the $45,300 reno vation figure is their highest estimate with everything of super qua lity such as full carpeting at $8.00 per sq, ft, and all sorts of con tingencies built in. She pointed out that they maintain that the second floor does not need full air-conditioning. She felt from having visited the* building several times that it was very cool with out any air-conditioning at all. The cross ventilation is vastly superior to our present quarters. It was decided that Supervisor Schwan and Councilmen Desch and Powers will visit the Clinton House in the very near future. ^ ADJOURNMENT j 1 The special meeting was adjourned at 7s45 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Nancy M. Fuller, Acting-Secretary