HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-03-13 - TB 1 �
TOWN OF ULYSSES
REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
3 / 13 / 2001
PRESENT: Supervisor Douglas Austic, Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston,
Andrew Hillman, Robert Weatherby, Town Clerk Marsha Georgia, Code
Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun , Highway Superintendent James Meeker, Peter
Penniman
ALSO PRESENT: Scott Sherwood , Richard & Peg Coogan, Grace Wolf.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Regular Town Board Meeting of 2 / 13, Public
Hearing of 2 / 13
Mrs. Duddleston moved , seconded by Mr. Hillman to approve the minutes of the
Regular Town Board Meeting of February 13th, 2001 and the Public Hearing of
February 13th, 2001 .
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 monthly vouchers,
numbering from 75- 114, totaling $ 37,386 . 90 .
Mr. Austic aye
Mrs. Duddleston aye
Mr. Hillman aye
Mr. Weatherby aye
Adopted .
REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tompkins County Board of Representatives : Peter Penniman
Mr. Penniman reported on vacancies on the Advisory Board . Mr. Penniman listed
these vacancies and encouraged the Town Board members to send interested,
qualified individuals to apply . Vacancies exist on the following committees :
Affirmative Action Committee, Criminal Justice Advisory Board , Alternatives to
Incarceration Board, Environmental Management Council, Fire, Disaster & EMS
Advisory Board , Human Rights Commission, Tompkins County Planning
Federation, and Tompkins County Youth Board .
Mr. Austic noted that he believes the Planning Federation is in a regrouping
process.
Mr. Penniman stated that he had understood the same, and reported that he will
be receiving an updated list of vacancies soon .
Mr. Penniman reported that the Health Planning Council is conducting a survey
on end-of-life care in Tompkins County. Mr. Penniman left a few surveys, due in
by the end of the week.
Mr. Penniman is now serving on the Recreation Partnership Board and the
Recreation Facilities Committee .
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Town of Ulysses \�
Regular Board Meeting
3/ 13/2001
Mr. Penniman reported that Tompkins County's Emergency Communications
Towers Project is moving ahead slowly.
Mr. Austic reported on work on the issues between some Town Officials and
County representatives, consisting of identifying Tower Ordinance regulations
that are common and uniform throughout the County.
Mr. Austic also noted that the Town of Ulysses Attorney is not able to be involved
in discussing the County's right to supercede local law in this matter, as he is
also a Tompkins County Attorney.
TOWN REPORTS
Highway Superintendent James Meeker
Mr. Meeker reported a busy month for the highway department. Because salt has
been difficult to obtain, the Town is using a salt and sand mix. When weather
conditions permitted work besides snow and ice removal,, the highway
department hauled loads of loose stone, to be used for paving projects.
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun
Mr. Rachun reported that no permits were issued this month . Fees were received
for three projects in the review stage. The Planning Board conducted a Site Plan
Review for the construction of a new storage building at the Trumansburg
Fairgrounds, which was approved . Sprint has contacted the Building Office
regarding the placement of an antenna on the existing Water Tower.
Town Clerk Marsha Georgia
Mrs. Georgia reported February fees totaled $776. 50. $595 of this was turned
over to the Supervisor. The Town Clerk's Office helped the Jacksonville
Community Association in producing mailing labels for a letter to be sent to land-
owners along the proposed Water District #3 . Tax Bills have been coming in very
slowly, and the house-numbering book has been updated .
Board Members & Committees
Mr. Hillman reported that the most recent Joint Youth Commission had been
canceled due to weather.
Supervisor Douglas Austic
Mr. Austic asked if there were any question regarding the Supervisor's financial
report. None were noted .
OLD BUSINESS
Emergency Tower Update
This matter was discussed under Mr. Peter Penniman's report. Mr. Austic noted,
again, that the Town's primary concern with the project is the question of
whether or not Tompkins County will abide by local Tower Ordinance regulations.
NEW BUSINESS
Interviews for Planning Board Candidates
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To of Ulysses ` 5
Regular Board Meeting
3/ 13/2001
Mr. Austic reported that there are four candidates for the Planning Board
position . New York State encourages Towns with an agricultural district to have
at least one agricultural representative on the Town Planning Board . After some
discussion, the Board set an interview date for Saturday, March 24th, at 9 : 00am,
with Saturday, March 31st, chosen as an alternative date.
Municipal Officials' Meeting : 3 / 20 / 2001, at the Lehigh Valley house
Mr. Austic reported that at this meeting local municipal officials will discuss the
Emergency Towers Project and will hear about Development Rights from Monika
Roth, of Cornell Cooperative Extension .
Other:
Atlantic Inland
Mr. Austic reported that Atlantic Inland has requested permission to conduct
electrical inspections in the Town . Mr. Austic reported that the company did
inspections a number of years ago, and is not allowed to do so now because the
Town of Ulysses contracts solely with NYS Board of Fire Underwriters.
Mr. Rachun noted some issues that would be involved with doing so . The Board
decided to discuss the matter at the next Board meeting, after Supervisor Austic
has had the opportunity to look into the potential legal issues of the matter. Mr.
Austic will also invite representatives of Atlantic Inland to make a presentation to
the Board at the April meeting .
HEARINGS FROM GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS
Mr. Scott Sherwood spoke, requesting information about Water District # 3 and
requesting the inclusion of the Spruce Row Campsite in Water District # 3 . Mr.
Sherwood noted that he had understood from his attendance of a recent
Jacksonville Community Association meeting that the cost of the system to
households would be lessened by the consumption of more water, and that
Spruce Row certainly does use a great deal of water. Mr. Sherwood asked the
Town to have the possibility looked into .
Mr. Austic reported that he would send someone to look into it.
Mrs. Georgia asked if there were any other households near Spruce Row
interested in receiving municipal water.
Mr. Sherwood stated that at least three of the home-owners in the area would
be interested , but thought that a couple residents would not be.
Mrs. Peg Coogan asked the Board if any sort of assistance could be available, if
Water District #3 is formed, to help reduce the cost of connection for lower-
income households.
Mr. Richard Coogan asked the Board if it would be possible for the Town to look
into burying electrical lines if and when the Water District #3 water lines are
installed .
Mr. Austic stated it could be looked into, but noted that he was not familiar with
the regulations regarding the underground placement of multiple utility lines in a
single underground channel .
Mr. Meeker noted that having electrical and water lines buried together would
create hazard and increased difficulty for repair crews.
The Board agreed to look into the possibility.
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Town of Ulysses
Regular Board Meeting
3/13/2001
Mr. Austic reported on his recent meeting between the Town of Ulysses, the
Mobil Corporation, the NYS DEC, and the NYS Attorney General's Office. Mr.
Austic reported that he requested $500,000 from the corporation to help pay for
the formation of Water District #3 . Mobil Co. encouraged the Town to seek
money from other corporations, and agreed to discuss the possibility of giving
the Town of Ulysses the requested funds.
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence was brought to the Board's attention .
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Hillman moved, seconded by Mrs. Duddleston, to adjourn the meeting .
Mr. Austic aye
Mrs. Duddleston aye
Mr. Hillman aye
Mr. Weatherby aye
The meeting adjourned at 8 : 30 pm .
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