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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-09 - TB \C) TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 91.11, 1999 PRESENT: Supervisor Douglas Austic; Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston , Andrew Hillman and Robert Weatherby; Sue Poelvoorde Absent; Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun ; Highway Superintendent James Meeker; Town Clerk Marsha Georgia . Others Present : TC Representative Peter Penniman, Thomas Reitz, Ithaca Journal Reporter Missy, Free Press Reporter Ann Brewer, Peter Demjanec, Susan Madar, Ann Stover, George Kennedy, Mark Croft. CALL TO ORDER Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 PM and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America . APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Austic entertained a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting of January 12th, 1999 and asked for any corrections or changes . Mrs . Duddleston and Mr. Hillman pointed out that on page 3 2"d paragraph should be may and not way . Also the resolution, on re-appointing Bruce Wilson as Town Attorney and the resolution re-appointing David Tyler to the Planning Board, should have a nay vote for Councilman Hillman . Hearing no other corrections or changes Mr. Hillman moved seconded by Mrs . Duddleston to approve the corrected minutes of January 12th, 1999 . Mr. Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted . APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS Mr. Weatherby moved seconded by Mr. Hillman to approve the previously examined voucher number 17 through 64 in the amount of $48, 702 . 14 . Mr. Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr . Hillman aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted . REPORTS of REPRESENTATIVES Tompkins County Board of Representative Peter Penniman reported that the County is still working on the Public Safety Building and looking for options for housing more prisoners or additional alternatives to incarceration . What they are hearing so far although is that they are pretty satisfied with the alternatives to incarceration . This should be coming to a conclusion in the next few weeks and be coming to some resolution and recommendation Town of Ulysses 2 Regular Board Meeting 2/9/99 Peter handed out a couple of handouts one on the Commercial Center Revitalization Grant Program from the County and also an announcement of a State meeting on Youth Needs and Issues . Peter also reported that he met with the gentleman that is working on the Town of Ulysses Web Page and he feels that he is making progress but he has not seen anything change on the page . Thomas Reitz stated that the minutes still have not been updated . Trumansburq Fire Department No one in attendance this evening to give a report. Other Peter Demianec Representative of the Ulysses Comprehensive Plan reported that the committee completed the Draft Comprehensive Plan and he is here to turn it over to the Town Board . He reviewed the executive summary and explained the map . The Town Board will now hold a Public Hearing . TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported that they plowed and salted as needed had a busy month . They are hauling some sand for de-icing and are starting to haul stone for summer projects . Have repaired equipment as needed . A guardrail on the Seneca Road Bridge had to be repaired . Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun reported that three (3) permits have been issued for new starts . Had two chimney fires . Had a busy month in zoning . Mrs . Duddleston asked if there was anything on the Cornell Water System . Are they going to be building do they need a permit? Alex stated that it would be no more than getting a special permit on building a road . It is in the Town of Ulysses' right away . Mrs . Duddleston second question is on the drilling on Halseyville Road — does that require a permit or anything ? Mr. Rachun stated that the drilling is Columbia Gas looking for natural gas . The company is working under a NYS DEC permit . Mr. Rachun has received calls on the noise and if the Zoning Ordinance has an ordinance on noise . He has been advised that the Town's Ordinance is not strong on this and would be next to impossible to enforce . The Town's ordinance would come after the rules of the State DOT. He has talked with the representative of Columbia Gas and he has advised Alex that they would be finished in a very short time . Mr. Reitz asked if any thought has been given to ask to not fill in the gas well and maybe it would be a potential water source well . Mr. Austic said that he could check with them . Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia reported that for the month of January a total of $925 . 50 was collected and of that $714 . 68 was turned over to the Supervisor along with the month report. The busy area is the collection of taxes and to- date a total of $ 1 , 365, 147 . 97 has been collected . The Town has been paid in full . Mrs . Georgia will be turning over the 1St Installments to the County budget/ Finance tomorrow and at that time will make her first payment on the 1999 warrant . Town of Ulysses 3 k Regular Board Meeting 2/9/99 Board Members and Committees Councilwoman Duddleston reported that on January 27th the Recreation Partnership had a meeting with the County, Towns, City of Ithaca and from that meeting a smaller group will be picked to see if they can come up with a plan for the year 2000 . Mrs . Duddleston handed out copies of the minutes of the meeting . She feels that the Town of Ulysses will not get by another year on 1 what they have been paying . The Town is paying less than the Town of Enfield and has more participants in the programs . The next meeting will be 2/ 14/99 at the Human Services Building . Councilman Hillman reported that he attended the Ulysses Youth Meeting last Tuesday. There has been a lot going on . A fencing workshop took place at the Trumansburg Conservatory that was well attended . The Family Forestry Workshop will be coming up this Saturday at the Jacksonville Park. That's filling up fast so if anyone is interested get your registration in soon . The Committee is having a meeting for parents to alert them of dangers on the Internet . The Jacksonville Community Association met recently and it was decided that they are interested in getting • some sidewalks put in through the grant being written by the Village . Mr. Hillman stated that the audit meeting that the Board had on January 23rd was boycotted by him because he believed it was not legally posted and not in compliance with the "Open Meetings Law". Mr. Hillman notified the Supervisor of this that morning . He researched this with Bob Freemons' office the Director of the Committee Open Government and it confirms what he thought. Merely posting a draft copy of he minutes on the bulletin board does not constitute a conspicuous posting . It was not posted so therefore it was not a legal meeting Mr. Austic does not agree with Mr. Hillman . He feels it was posted, the paper was notified and the Board Members were notified . Supervisor Austic reviewed the Financial Report. It is not completed due to the fact the books are not completely closed . On the Cash Flow he asked the Board to notice that he has opened two CD accounts for a $ 100, 000 each paying 4 . 75% the regular savings is only paying 2 . 8% . Mr. Austic is working on a new program now for the books . The Annual Audit is fairly close to completion and should be filed soon . OLD BUSINESS Cayuga Nature Center Light It has been brought up before that the NYSEG installed a streetlight in front of the Cayuga Nature Center that they felt the Town of Ulysses had approved it. The NYSEG can not bill Cayuga Nature Center they can only bill a municipality for a street light. If the Town does not agree to pay for it and get the reimbursement from the Nature Center NYSEG will have to remove it . Also Mr. Austic stated he checked with DOT about the request for lights on Rt. 96 and Perry City Road and they say they would not allow us to put one light at anyone location . The Town could put a series of lights . He does not understand how the light was installed for Cayuga Nature Center. A NYSDOT permit was never requested before this installation was done . The general consensus of the Board is to apply to DOT for a permit for the light at Cayuga Nature Center and than go from there . Town of Ulysses 4 Regular Board Meeting 2/9/99 NEW BUSINESS Employment Policy (Insurance Reimbursement) At budget time it was discussed about increasing the amount to be reimbursed to an employee if they choose to go on to their spouse's health insurance instead of taking the health insurance offered by the Town . Mr. Austic asked who of the Board Members would like to look into this and write up an up-date for the personnel policy . It is now at a reimbursement up to a $ 1000 . Mrs . Duddleston and Mr . Hillman said they would work on this . Receipt of Comprehensive Land Use Plan from Committee This was previously presented at the start of the meeting . Date for Public Hearing for Comprehensive Land Use Plan The Board discussed a date for a public hearing . The hearing was set for MARCH 1sT, 1999 at the Trumansburg Fire Hall on Main Street, at 7 : 30 PM . Legal notices and publication will be done . The Board will hold the Public Hearing, review the document and possibly pass it at the next meeting . Grant Proposal Discussion Mr . Austic stated that he has been working with Paula Horrigan , Peter Demjanec, Kris Cail, Thomas Reitz and Alan Vogel on this grant proposal that has been in the paper. There is a meeting on February 22nd to firm up what they will be asking for . Most of the money would be spent in the Village to upgrade their sidewalks and that kind of thing . They were talking about a plan maybe going from the edge of the Village to the trailer park or to the fair grounds and beyond . In the Town they may not be real sidewalks but walking paths . In Jacksonville they were talking about concrete in certain places . Mr. Hillman stated than this has already been talked about with the possibility of Jacksonville . Mr . Reitz stated that they talked about doing sidewalks from Swamp College Road to Colegrove Rd . Mr . Austic thinks that it is in the plan . Mr . Hillman asked if they would be hooked to the park in anyway . Mr. Reitz said that he has to understand it has to be transportation related . It has to go along a main road . Mr. Hillman feels that it can be connected to recreation from a main road . Mr. Austic says that it can be worked out . The deal is with the grant is that it is an 80% funding . The Town would have to come up with 20% of would is in the Town . No way have they gotten into paying for what is in the Village . The funding of the 80% is funded by pay back. You pay up front and than get reimbursed . The deadline is April ft and the idea is get this proposal together by March 15tH Town of Ulysses T)i Regular Board Meeting 5 2/9/99 Mr. Meeker stated that this may not be the time for this but the Jacksonville Assoc . may want to contact NYS DOT and request that the white lines are painted back on Route 96 in Jacksonville . That way people walking could see where the walking lane is much better. Meeting with Robert Miller Mr. Austic met this week with Robert Miller who is the grant writer from Buffalo and he wasn 't impressed to get many grants for the Town because of the population . He did state that there is a good possibility of getting grants for aging, youth and recreation . The first thing that he suggested is getting a plan for the water and cost. He did push Mr. Austic in the direction of asking for funding from Marty Luster and Randy Kuhl under their member items to do a study of the best possibility of getting water. The Town also has some sales-tax money that could be used . Mr. Austic is meeting with an engineer tomorrow to talk about getting an estimate for this study. 1998 Budget Modifications Year-end Mr. Austic entertained a motion to make the following year-end 19998 budget modifications : GENERAL A FUND INCREASES DECREASE A 1010 . 4 $ 1547 . 33 1110 . 12 2829 . 50 A1110 . 14 1433 . 86 $ A1110 . 15 1110 . 13 1436 .44 2300 . 38 1110 . 14 699 . 50 A1220 . 4 32 .41 1410 . 11 468 . 00 A1420 . 4 5313 . 71 1450 . 4 289 . 06 A1620 . 2 2703 . 68 1910 . 4 1206 . 04 A1620 . 4 4807 . 91 1920 . 4 60 . 00 A1670 . 4 2185 . 94 1990 . 4 5000 . 00 A7310 . 1 572 . 12 5010 . 4 405 . 00 A7310 . 4 3247 . 80 5132 . 4 399 . 36 A8810 . 4 200 . 00 5182 . 4 128 . 95 A9055 . 8 34 . 75 9010 . 8 1216 . 93 9030 . 8 113 . 59 Total increase $ 24370 . 89 9040 . 8 2136 . 78 9060 . 8 5204 . 37 9950 . 9 2786 . 37 Total decrease $24379 . 89 PART TOWN B FUND Increase Decrease 63620 . 1 . 08 1990 . 4 $ 1395 . 13 B8010 . 1 . 06 68010 . 11 58 . 72 68010 . 4 407 . 83 B9060 . 8 928 . 44 Total Increase $ 1395 . 13 HIGHWAY A FUND Increase Decrease Town of Ulysses 6 Regular Board Meeting 2/9/99 DA5130 . 1 8135 . 51 5130 . 4 11446 .44 DA5140 . 1 3310 . 93 Total Increase $ 11446 . 44 HIGHWAY B FUND Increase Decrease D B5110 . 1 8510 . 48 5110 . 4 13042 . 02 DB5112 . 2 3427 . 44 D B9030 . 8 614 . 10 D B9060 . 8 490 . 00 Total Increase $ 13042 . 02 Mrs . Duddleston moved seconded by Mr . Weatherby the foregoing modifications . Mr . Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr . Hillman aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted . Mr. Austic stated that he has transferred the $5000 to the Building Fund and the $ 15, 000 to DA Equipment Reserve . There is a sizeable amount of money in the DA Fund due to less snow at the end of 1998, around $70, 000 . Mr. Meeker has been talking about adding on the Town Barns for storage of the smaller equipment. Mr. Austic got a ballpark estimate on the cost for this and he states that there would be enough money for that plus put more money in the Equipment Reserve Account. Mr. Austic recommends that $40, 000 be put in the Building Reserve and ad another $25, 000 to the Machinery Reserve . Mr . Hillman moved seconded by Mrs . Duddleston the following ; RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses transfer $40, 000 into Building Reserve and $ 25, 000 into Machinery Reserve from the DA's unexpended fund balance . Mr. Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr . Hillman aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted . Other The Village of Trumansburg sent a letter stating that they felt that the Town of Ulysses should be participating in the Veterans Exemption . They feel at this time, the Town of Ulysses does not participate at all . Mrs . Georgia does not know how this actually works and how the Veterans qualify. Mrs . Georgia will check with Tompkins County Assessment Department and get some information on this . Mr. Hillman asked if the Highway Superintendent was aware of the damage to the Halseyville Road when the equipment was moved from one gas-drilling site to another. He asked if this was a Town road or a County? Town of Ulysses Regular Board Meeting 2/9/99 Mr. Meeker stated that he talked to the Forman of the Gas Company on the day they moved it and he would take a look at it and take care of it. Hearing from Groups and Individuals Mr. Austic asked if any one is attendance that wishes to speak? Hearing none Mr. Austic moved on . Correspondence Mr . Austic has received several things from Assemblyman Luster's office on different grants that are available . Mr. Austic will look into these . He also has received a letter from the NYS Retirement System stating that they no longer will be charging for the administration of retirement system . He has heard from the County on the purchasing of electric under different companies . They can purchase it slightly lower than we are paying now by one to one and a half cents . Mr. Weatherby suggested that Mr. Austic pull out the other studies on the cost of doing water and maybe they can be just up dated . Hearing no further business Mr. Hillman moved seconded by Mr. Weatherby to adjourn the meeting . Hearing no objection the meeting was adjourned at 8 : 59 PM . Respectfully submitted , Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG : mg . •