HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-10-13-TB \ 3
TOWN OF ULYSSES
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 13111, 1998
PRESENT: Supervisor Douglas Austic; Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston,
Andrew Hillman and Peter Penniman ; Councilman Robert Weatherby absent;
Highway Superintendent James Meeker; Town Clerk Marsha L Georgia .
Others Present : Planning Board Chairman Peter Demjanec; Rep . Trumansburg
Fire Department Bill Carlisle; Tom Reitz, Free Press Reporter Ann Brewer;
Ulysses Library Representatives Judy Barkee and Jesse Miller; Ann Stover.
Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order and led those assembled in the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America .
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs . Duddleston moved seconded by Mr. Penniman to approve the minutes of
the Regular Town Board Meeting of September 8th, 1998 . Two items were
changed . Tom Reitz was not listed as in attendance and the spelling of the last
name of the Director of Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation was wrong . It
should be De' Aragon . Hearing no other corrections or changes the minutes
were unanimously approved .
APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS
After examination of claims Mr . Penniman moved seconded by Mrs . Duddleston
to approve claim numbers 323 through 378 in the amount of $52645 . 18 .
Mr. Austic aye
Mrs . Duddleston aye
Mr . Penniman aye
Mr . Hillman no vote
Adopted .
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
Representative Tompkins County Board Peter Meskill was absent from
the meeting .
Trumansburg Fire Department Bill Carlisle reported that there were seven
fire calls for the Village, nine for the Town, five for the Town of Covert, and one
mutual aid . Ambulance calls were eleven for the Village, nine for the Town,
seven for Hector, two for Covert and one for Interlaken . Total calls were fifty-
two, with a total of 332 . 86 man-hours, the year to date calls are 281 . No
questions asked .
Mrs . Duddleston thanked Bill for coming .
Planning Board Chairman Peter Demianec asked the Board for direction for
the Planning Board . The items that the Planning Board have been asked to do in
addition to the re-working the Zoning Ordinance are an Adult Entertainment
Ordinance, revision of the Tower Ordinance and a Right to Farm Ordinance . The
question he has of the Board is " Does the Board have a preference for which of
these the Planning Board should concentrate on ?" He would like to suggest a
course of action that he is comfortable with . He knows the major project is the
revision of the Zoning Ordinance and this is frankly a very large task. Personally
he would prefer to work on the three smaller tasks and get those closed out by
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Regular Town Board Mtg.
10- 13 -98
the end of this year . Recess for the holidays than reconvene at the first of the
year. In order to do that he would ask the Town Board to extend the
commercial moratorium for six months . He would than have the Planning Board
brake down in sub-committees and work on the lesser projects .
Mrs . Duddleston asked about the Comprehensive Plan and if it would be done by
the end of the year?
Mr . Austic stated that it is not the Planning Board's project. It is the
Comprehensive Plan's project, although Peter is a member, Mr. Austic also stated
that the Comprehensive Plan is very close to being ready for a public hearing .
The Board felt that Peter's plan to work on the lesser projects would be a good
plan .
ULYSSES PHILOMATHIC LIBRARY
Judy Barkee, Director reviewed the daily operations of the library . In the
children's reading program they had over two hundred children sign up this year.
She reviewed the program . In September they had their major kick off for
"Library 2000" and they had over 300 people come to the open house. They
have their pre-school story time going on at this time . She is working with a Girl
Scout for a badge . A lot going on, a lot of fun ! On November 7th is the Candle
Light Dinner and everyone is invited . Judy asked if anyone had questions. Judy
turned the floor over to Jesse Miller.
Jesse Miller gave a little history of how the library started out. The library is
chartered for the Town of Ulysses . The word "philomathic" is Greek for love of
learning . It was first organized in 1811 . It was housed in the back of " Herman
Camp's Store" and lasted until 1839 . The current library was re-organized in
1935 when the Masons donated the rear-wing of their building where they are
today . It grew a little bit at a time over the next fifty years . Some of the major
changes were a telephone, bathroom , which were big landmarks for them . In
1985 a fairly major rehabilitation projects and opened up the second floor, so at
that point they had three floors . Between 1985 and 1992 the use of the library
doubled . The circulation doubled , the book collection went from $6000 to $7000
to up to $ 11000 to $ 12000 . They became computerized . They now have access
to all the books in 29 libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System . If someone
needs a book from another library it can be at this library in a day or two . Also
in the early 1990's they were told that they had to become handicapped
accessible if they were to continue receiving funds . A study was done with
different options, one of which was a new building . At first they said they could
not do that but when they worked through the other options they started seeing
that may be the best way to go. Also Finger Lakes Library Systems consultants
did a study and concluded that the staff and operations were excellent but that
they were severely limited for space . In 1993 they did a community survey of
over 300 people . The conclusions were that everyone knew of them , two-thirds
used them, they liked the quaintness of the library but they wanted more books
and better services . In 1993 also the New York State Libraries Public Standards
Law was passed and they said that libraries had to meet 10 standards if they
were to continue to receive state funds . The most important one being
adequate space . At this point they came to the conclusion that they had to
expand their thinking as to doing a fix to the current library years from now.
After considerable debate they voted to construct a low maintenance library on a
center site in the Village. The reason was to devote their energy and tax dollars
to run the best library they could and not just maintaining a building . They
choose the Gow Chevy site on the corner of Main St. and South Street, a
purchase offer was made in 1995 and spent the next two years doing
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Regular Town Board Mtg.
10- 13 -98
environmental studies . They closed on the site last December . They hired an
architect familiar with library designs and came up with the design they
presented tonight. After looking at several designs they decided on this one . It
has 7, 900 square feet . It is situated on the site so the parking will be in the back
and will use as much as the existing foundation as possible . It will have a couple
of courtyards because everyone talked about how quaint, beautiful and
wonderful they are now . One will be children's corner where someone can read
to them or anyone can sit and read and study . This proposed library has space
for 22,000 items . There will be separate space for children . There will be 60
seats for reading and computer use . Have study space including computer use,
business and investment reference, adequate staff workspace and an office for
the director . In 1993 fund raising committees were put together. They estimate
this building at a $ 100 a square foot for a total of around $800, 000 for the
building and another $ 100, 000 for site and furnishings . They hope to raise a half
a million of that from the community and businesses . The other $400, 00 they
hope to raises from the governments, grants and other resources . The effort is
being called " Library 2000" because they hope to be under construction in the
year 2000 . They finished paying for the site in September 1998 and at the
present time Assemblyman Luster is giving $90, 000 from NYS; others have given
around $ 210,000, so they have about a third of it .
They reviewed the floor plans .
The Board thanked them for their presentation .
TOWN REPORTS
Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported that for the month of
September through October 13th . They poured concrete for a box culvert
extension on Reynolds Road , ditch cleaning , put in forty feet of pipe for
driveway, finished ditching on Rice Road , paved Rice Road , sealed Cold Springs
Rd . and Krums Corners Road . Right now they are helping Town of Enfield . Mr .
Meeker reported the status of the repairs to the vehicles . They are mowing back
shoulders . He still has shoulders to put down on Rice Road , Cold Springs Road ,
and Krums Corners Road . Salt prices have gone down a little . He has been
discussing the contract for plowing and mowing the country roads . He has
shown them that they have underpaid the Town over the years for this contract.
After they reviewed they agree that they have underpaid the Town and will make
it up in the December payment.
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun (absent)
Supervisor Austic read the report. Five permits were issued and two zoning
hearings .
Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia reported that for the month of September a
total of $4822 were collected in fees . Turned over to the Supervisor, along with
the monthly report, was $709 and $3912 was turned over to NYS DEC .
Board Members and / or Committees
Carolyn Duddleston reported the Recreation Partnership has completed their
budget and the by-laws . Copies were distributed . The Partnership did meet with
the Mayor of Ithaca and the big question is whether there will be a recreation
partnership board in the year 2000 . They did not get a direct answer although
the City does wants to continue but they do not know monetarily how much .
That is still up in the air. The 1999 budget is no increase .
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Regular Town Board Mtg.
10- 13 -98
Peter Penniman asked about court reports . Board members haven't been
getting the report. Supervisor Austic will copy for them .
Mr. Penniman feels that it would be nice to have the school district to somehow
increase their share, because their tax base is pretty closely covering what the
library serves .
Supervisor Austic reviewed the Financial Report. No questions heard .
October 20th, 1998 at 7 : 00 PM has been set for the budget work session .
Information on all budget requests is in the conference room next to the Boards
mailboxes .
Thomas Reitz reported for the Transportation Council and mentioned the tip
funding for future years . Mentioned the monies from the State for looking at the
Ithaca bike trail and that being enlarged to the County bike trail system . Also
ground breaking will probably be next year for the Black Diamond Trail .
OLD BUSINESS
Safety Issue at Shur Save
Supervisor Austic is in receipt of an order from NYS DOT. They have approved
the reduction in the speed limit from the Village limits to 1/2 mile South to the
intersection of Taughannock Park Road . This speed limit will be 45 MPH .
Other Old Business none heard .
NEW BUSINESS
Budget Work Sessions
Supervisor Austic stated that the way the tentative budget stands now it would
be about a 3 % increase . Last year tax rate was $ 1 . 67 . A 3% would be about
$ 1 . 72 and that probably would be reasonable .
1
Mr. Penniman asked if a public hearing date could be set. Mr. Austic states that
the budget has to be adopted by November 20th so a public hearing, prior to the
November Regular Board Meeting would be okay.
Other New Business
Fee for Site Plan Review
Supervisor Austic stated that someone had suggested 1 % of the project cost.
He states that this would be fine but for some projects it could be $20, 000 or
more . The Board discussed this . Possibly a 1 -% that could be put into an
escrow accounts and use what would be needed for consultants and return the
balance not used .
Mrs . Duddleston moved seconded by Mr. Penniman the following :
Whereas the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses duly enacted and
adopted a change in the Town Zoning Ordinance on October 6th, 1998
adding a new "Site Plan Review";
Whereas the Town Board needs to establish a fee for the Site Plan
Review process,
Whereas the intent is that the discretion of the Planning Board be
exercised based on the costs to be incurred by the Town .
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Regular Town Board Mtg.
10- 13 -98
Now Therefor Be It Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of
Ulysses sets the fee as follows :
A $75 non-refundable fee and a
1 % of the estimated project cost. This 1 -% to be held in an escrow
account to cover reasonable consulting expenses incurred by the Town .
Further Resolved that the balance of this 1 -% not used will be
refunded within 60 days of the completion of the site plan review process .
The Planning Board can waive this 1 -%
Mr . Austic aye
Mrs . Duddleston aye
Mr . Penniman aye
Mr . Hillman no vote
Adopted .
Set Public Hearing Date for Extension of Commercial Moratorium
The public hearing was set for November 17th, 1998 at 7 : 30 PM .
Hearing s from Groups and / or Individuals
None heard .
Correspondence
Supervisor Austic reviewed . Mrs . Georgia asked about the correspondence
received about property exemptions for the elderly and the handicapped .
Apparently the County has passed something on this type of tax break for
handicapped persons . The information was not clear. Doug will look into this .
Hearing no further business Mr. Penniman moved seconded by Mrs . Duddleston
to adjourn the meeting . Hearing no objections it was unanimously approved .
Meeting adjourned .
Respectfully submitted ,
Marsha L. Georgia
Ulysses Town Clerk