Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-11 - TB TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING APRIL 11, 2000 PRESENT: Supervisor Douglas Austic; Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston, Sue Poelvoorde, Andrew Hillman and Robert Weatherby; Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun ; Highway Superintendent James Meeker; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia ® Others Present: Free Press Reporter Grace Wolf and Ann Stover. Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 PM and lead those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Regular Meeting of 3 / 14 / 2000 Mrs. Duddleston moved, seconded by Ms . Poelvoorde the approval of the minutes of the March 14th, 2000 meeting . Ms . Poelvoorde pointed out that on page 2, under Mr. Meeker's report that it should be added that Mr. Meeker requested that the board members visit the town barn sometime to discuss a future roof repair project. Also on page 3 under the discussion of a community center that the board did recommend that Supervisor Austic periodically communicate with Mr. Stevenson if the building that housed the old post office does not sell . Other changes and/or corrections were given to the clerk. Mr. Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mrs . Duddleston to approve the previously examined vouchers # 132 through # 173 in the amount of $20,811 . 08. Mr. Austic aye Mrs . Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms . Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye O Adopted REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTATIVE OF TOMPK(INS COUNTY BOARD Peter Penniman addressed the issue of increased farmland assessment and overall increases . Mr. Penniman stated that the Assessment Department is 9-11 Town of Ulysses 2 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 relying on property owners to contact them when errors have been made . Not always does assessment visit the sites, they just look at the maps. Mr. Austic feels that some of the information the assessment department is putting out is extremely confusing and is giving the people the wrong information . The Board discussed the false security that people may have by estimating what taxes may be using the agricultural exemptions and STAR. If the values are up and these exemptions are gone than taxes would be very high . The Municipal Officers Association addressed land assessment with the county and was informed that when there was not substantial information in this area of sales they went to surrounding areas for sales. Mr. Austic stated that only three areas of large sales of land in Ulysses have been sold in the last several years and the last one sold in November for a little over $600 an acre. Another large parcel where the tower went was also sold for around $E600 an acre about four years ago . Mr. Austic questioned how they came up with a $1200 an acre value when the sales in Ulysses were $600 to $700 . Mr. Penniman responded to a question about the county-wide tower situation . He stated that a resolution . was passed by the County Beard to authorize the County Attorney to obtain options for land for potential sites for the towers under the configuration the County purposed . The main reason for that is so they can have an idea of land available before putting out a request for proposals to various venders who would actually install the system and that way if sites were lined up than the proposals that come in will be comparable. He stated that there are still a lot of questions on technology, coverage factors and things like that. They are still trying to analyze these things but don't want to hold things up. Peter distributed a list of questions that he had asked at the last committee meeting . The Board asked about the longevity of the new system and about bonding for an obsolete system . Mr. Penniman stated it is like buying computers, " Do you not buy one because it will be obsolete in a few years?" Mrs. Duddleston asked if this had been passed . Mr. Penniman stated no it has not, the only thing that has been passed is to obtain options to buy or lease land without actually buying or leasing the land, making preliminary agreements with land owners. Mr. Hillman asked how much of the $8. 5 million does the County already have set aside. Mr. Penniman stated, very lithe of it would be bonded . The way Barbara Blanchard made it seem was that they had money set aside. Mr. Penniman stated that it has been a capital program as an item . 5udoe Rector asked what the added surcharge for 911 systems went for. Mr. Penniman said that is to run the 911 operations not the radio towers. Mr. Austic asked about furnishing cell phones and if they would get better coverage that way? Mr. Penniman stated that is one of the questions they are looking into. Mrs. Duddleston asked when the County was going to vote on this? Mr. Penniman said that they were going to go ahead and ask for proposals because until than they would not know for sure what the costs would be. He feels that in a month or two they would be doing that. The County probably would be looking at it late fall, time for budget. al= � . I l 1 j j it 1 1 I 1 . 1 - �� . . _ .i. .. (. a ' I .� . � L w. . a l�♦ . . . .1 1 G I _r a8 Town of Ulysses 3 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 TRUMANSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT - no one in attendance from the Fire Department. CAYUGA NATURE CENTER Mr. Austic introduced the following resolutions from the Cayuga Nature Center. They are requesting the Town Board endorse their application for grant money for two projects known as Tree Tops Arboretum and Ask a Naturalist. 151 Resolution : O WHEREAS, the Cayuga Nature Center, Inc . is applying to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a grant under the project to be located at 1420 Taughannock Blvd . , a site located within the territorial jurisdiction of the Board; and WHEREAS, as a requirement under the rules of these programs, said not-for-profit corporations must obtain the "approval/endorsement of the governing body of the municipality in which the project will be located ", NOW, THEREFORE, be it stated by this August body that the Board of the Town of Ulysses hereby does approve and endorse the application of Cayuga Nature Center, Inc. for a grant under the Urban and Community Forest Program for a project known as Tree Tops Arboretum and located within this community . 2nd Resolution : WHEREAS, the Cayuga Nature Center, Inc . is applying to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a grant under the project to be located at 1420 Taughannock Blvd . , a site located within the territorial jurisdiction of the Board ; and WHEREAS, as a requirement under the rules of these programs, said not-for-profit corporations must obtain the "approval/endorsement of the governing body of the municipality in which the project will be located", NOW, THEREFORE, be it stated by this August body that the Board of the Town of Ulysses hereby does approve and endorse the application of Cayuga Nature Center, Inc. for a grant under the Urban and Community Forest Program for a project known as Ask A Naturalist and located within this community. OThe general consensus of the Town Board was to table both resolutions at this time and requested that a representative from the Nature Center come and explain the programs in advance of passing such resolutions. Judge Rector a Board Member of the Cayuga Nature Center will pass this on to the Center. TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported that they plowed and salted as needed, removed the old overhead doors, reframed and repaired the metal I-beams, and the new overhead doors were installed . The forms are built in the new addition for the concrete . They have started raking sod along road sides to repair from winter plowing and have been hauling stone . The salt trucks had all been de-winterized until the storm hit on Sunday. a Town of Ulysses 4 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun reported that a total of four building permits were issued, one for a new single family, one for an alteration, one for an addition and one for a business addition . One application was received for a Board of Zoning Appeals for an area variance that was heard and granted for property on the lake. Mr. Rachun attended a seminar on March 28th on Purchasing Development Rights for Agricultural Land put on by Cooperative Extension . He has some information available if anyone is interested . He stated that the Town of Ulysses may not have the soil that would generate the purchasing of development rights but it may be something that may be able to work out. Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia reported that a total of $ 1020 was collected for the month of March and of that $ 624 was turned over to the Supervisor along with the monthly report. A total of $ 134 . 60 was collected in penalties on taxes for the month . A refund was made to a taxpayer clue to an error on the tax bill due to the County not issuing his agricultural exemption in the amount of $248. The list of addresses was finished for the prospective water district list that was provided to her through a map. . There also have been several requests for information on assessments from property owners to help them compare other comparable assessments before they met with the County Assessor. (Board Member Sue Poelvoorde reported that she attended a meeting of an oversight committee for the Cayuga Lake Waterfront Revitalization Plan . She referred to a copy of the preliminary draft copy she had and feels that the Town may want to look through it. Although at this time there are not any projects identified in the Town of Ulysses there is a component in this plan about open space and one of the areas that they are recommending for any future possibility would be Camp Comstock as a public access point. There is a discussion on how that may happen and possibly the plan might recommend the County may be the vehicle to getting this town and any towns that have recreation provided services. The plan at this time is recommending that thei county maybe the vehicle for those projects . Stu Stein had brought up the issue of that and felt local municipalities being concerned about how that may impact them . This will be discussed when the county and the consultants come around and discuss this plan with the towns. Each town will be asked to adopt the plan . Another issued that was brought up consistently at the public workshops is noise on the lake. They are possibly going to make a recommendation that municipalities jointly adopt policies for speed limits on the lake and zones for give miles per hour. Right now it is a hundred feet from shore and they would like to extend that to two-hundred feet and possibly looking at operating n hours; when personal watercraft vessels could start operating on the lake, such as not before eight • o'clock and not after six. Those are the kinds of things the town needs to be aware of and think about because a decision will have to be made . Also another issue is the consistency review, which would be if municipalities, who would be the body to : assure that actions within the town are compliment with the waterfront plan, adopt this plan . It was already brought up that there are already bodies in place such as planning boards and the 239 reviews . Ms. Poelvoorde received a memorandum from Fernando deAragon of Ithaca- Tompkins County Transportation Council . He states that he had been contacted by Assemblyman Marty Luster's office with a request for the ITCTC staff to coordinate the submission of a prioritized list of projects to be considered for funding under the New York State Multi-Modal Program . Funds are available it I ,a 111 a ' ;I I� Rt I to " ICI t-3O Town of Ulysses 5 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 for construction, re-construction , enhancement, improvement, replacement, reconditioning, restoration, rehabilitation and preservation of State, county, town, city and village roads, parkways and bridges . Mr. Austic stated that the town had not been notified of this. Mr. Austic will get together with Mr. Meeker and put something together for roads/bridges . Councilman Hillman stated that the City of Ithaca had been notified some time ago and are putting some applications in . O Board Member Andrew Hillman reported that he attended the Joint Youth meeting and reported that they have several summer programs scheduled . Andy distributed a calendar of events . The Ulysses Youth are still dealing with a space for activities issue due to the construction at the school . Also, they are still looking for a permanent home. There was an environmental workshop that he attended in Jacksonville Park. This was sponsored by the Youth Commission and put on by Black Locust Int. Black Locust has a new web sit, address blacklocust.org, that they got with an AOL Grant and you can see some aspects of the Jacksonville event. Board Member Robert Weatherby reported that he visited the Town Barn and looked at the needed roof repair situation . Needs to be repaired and Mr. Meeker will be getting some cost estimates. Board Member Carolyn Duddleston reported that she had been out of town for a couple of months but received a call from a concerned resident in reference to picking up garbage and debris along her roadside. The question she had was would the town pay to dispose of this or would she have too . This was discussed and determined that Carolyn would take care of it. Supervisor Austic reviewed the financial report and no questions were heard . OLD BUSINESS LOCAL LAW # 1 (DOG CONTROL) SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE Supervisor Austic introduced, moved by Mr. Hillman and seconded by Ms. Poelvoorde the following Local Law # 1 for 2000 : BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses to Amend Local Law # 1 of 1979 titled " Dog Control and License Fees Law" as follows : Section 9. Penalties ® A violation of this law shall constitute a violation as defined in the Penal Law of the State of New York, and shall be punishable by a penalty of not less than $25 and not more than $250 for the first violation, not less than $50 and not more than $250 for the second violation, and not less than $75 and not more than $250 for the third and all subsequent violations, or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed five days for each violation. These penalties shall be in addition to any other penalty provided by law. Mr. Austic aye Town of Ulysses 6 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms . Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted A public hearing was set for May 9th, 2000 at 7 : 15 PM just before the Regular Town Board Meeting . Mrs . Georgia will publish notice in the paper. SHURSAVE STREET LIGHTS As reviousl discussed at the January 2000 meeting about the three street P Y lights at the entrance to the Trumansburg Shur Save grocery store and the request of Mr. Seafuse that the Town possibly help defer some of the expense . Mr. Austic stated that the NYSEG has informed him that changing the light bulbs can save half of the cost. Ms . Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mr. Hillman the following : Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves to pay for the two streetlights on Route 96 and Mr. Seafuse pay for the one on his property. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted OTHER NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION : FIRE DISTRICT TAXES Mr. Austic asked the Town Attorney Bruce Wilson to looking into the possibility of reducing fire tax to agriculture land assessment on the land and how the Town would go about doing that. Also to fire tax non-profit groups that use fire service such as Wilkins School , NYS Parks, and churches , This could mean that on farmland fire tax could be half on the land but leave the full assessment on the buildings. It is legal to charge a non-profit organization for a service such as fire tax. If this could be done it would bring the price of fire protection down even further. He feels this is worth looking into. • OTHER Mr. Austic received a newsletter from the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization and a request from Sylvia Hurlbut, Supervisor of the Town of Ledyard, for a letter of support. Example follows : As a member of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Management Plan Intermunicipal Organization, the Town of Ulysses County of Tompkins wishes to express its support of Town of Ulysses 7 Regular Town Board Meeting April 11 , 2000 the Town of Ledyard's application for funding under the NYS Department of State (DOS) Quality Communities Demonstration Program . This funding will be used to help carry out activities critical to the 3rd year of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Management Planning Program, particularly as pertaining to the Intermunicipal Organization (IO) and public awareness, education, and public participation activities . It will also help us to strongly gear the final year of the program toward its ultimate goal of watershed management plan implementation. We are committed to the watershed planning program and the success of its Intermunicipal Organization as a vehicle for planning implementation . We also recognize the potential farther reaching benefits of the Plan and the I0 to the watershed's communities in terms of preserving open space, sustainable economic development, and improving intergovernmental partnerships, shared services and collaborative projects that stretch beyond water resource protection . We hope the DOS, through this new grant program , will also support our growing local partnership, and, via your application , encourage the DOS to do so . Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mrs . Duddleston the following resolution : Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses sends the foregoing letter of support to the Town of Ledyard for the application to the New York State Department of State's Quality Communities Grant. Mr. Rustic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms . Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted Supervisor Austic will mail out tomorrow . HEARINGS FROM GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS - no one wished to be heard . CORRESPONDENCE - previously discussed . ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business Mr. Hillman moved, seconded by Mrs . Duddleston to adjourn the meeting . Unanimously approved, meeting adjourned at 9 : 30 PM . Respectfully submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG : mlg