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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-11-13 - PH Sn TOWN OF ULYSSES PUBLIC HEARING PRELIMINARY 2002 BUDGET 11 /13/2001 PRESENT: Supervisor Doug Austic, Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston, Andrew Hillman, Sue Poelvoorde and Robert Weatherby, Town Clerk Marsha Georgia ALSO PRESENT : Grace Wolf of the Trumansburg Free Press. Supervisor Austic called the hearing to order at 7 : 05 pm and opened the floor for comments. No comments were heard. Mrs. Duddleston moved, seconded by Ms. Poelvoorde to close the public hearing. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye The hearing closed at 7:25 pm. Respectfully submitted Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG:kl 3023. TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR BOARD MEETING 11 /13/2001 PRESENT: Supervisor Doug Austic, Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston, Andrew Hillman, Sue Poelvoorde, and Robert Weatherby, Town Clerk Marsha Georgia, Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun, Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker. ALSO PRESENT: Grace Wolf, of the Trumansburg Free Press, Lee Scott, elect Town Board member, Margo McClure, and Joseph Farrell. 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 : Regular Town Board Meeting of 10/9/2001 , Special Board Meeting of 10/3/2001 The Board members reviewed and discussed the minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting of 10/9/2001 . After noting corrections for both sets of minutes, Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mr. Hillman, to approve the minutes of 10/9/2001 and the minutes of 10/3/2001 as amended. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS Mr. Weatherby moved, seconded by Mrs. Duddleston to approve vouchers 417 through 493 , totaling $35 ,434. 87. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Peter Penniman , Tompkins County Board of Representatives Mr. Penniman was absent, attending a Tompkins County budget meeting. No report was presented. Trumansburg Fire Department No representative of the Trumansburg Fire Department was present, and no report was presented. Joe Farrell of Farrell-Messler Insurance Agency-Insurance Quotes Town of s Ul sse Y , Regular Board Meeting 11 / 13/2001 Mr. Austic introduced Mr. Farrell, noting that Mr. Farrell's company submitted the only insurance bid the Town had received and that all Board members had received copies of his proposal. Mr. Farrell reviewed his proposal for Town insurance. Mr. Farrell called particular attention to the fact that his quotes are based on replacement costs for the Town's buildings, equipment and furnishings. Under Farrell-Messler's proposal, coverage would be provided for: public property; general liability for Town buildings and roads, including "failure to supply" and employee benefits; owners and contractors protective liability; inland marine, crime, and automobile coverage; herbicide/pesticide liability; umbrella coverage; public officials liability; and workers compensation. Mr. Austic noted that he would use the figures provided in Mr. Farrell's proposal for the budget in lieu of the fact that they are the only estimated figure, the Town has received. TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent James Meeker Mr. Meeker reported the highway department mowed road shoulders, prepared the equipment for the winter months ahead and replaced the road-dossing pipe on Glenwood Heights Road. Mr. Austic asked Mr. Meeker if surplus DB funds and additional sales tax revenue could or should be used to increase the number of miles of Town roads that are paved each year. Mr. Meeker stated that this would be possible. Mr. Austic asked how much more the highway department employees could do without losing their agility to conduct other necessary duties. Mr. Austic suggested that Mr. Meeker consider this matter and report back to the Board. Mr. Austic also asked what the status of Honeybee Lane is. Mr. Meeker reported that the survey has been done and the next step is turning the matter over to the Town Attorney. Mr. Meeker asked the Board how they felt about the Town being charged to take road- killed deer to the County landfill instead of handling them on their own. Mr. Meeker stated that it seems unfair that the municipalities are charged for this service, since municipalities are not at fault for "generating" deer. Mr. Meeker also noted that the numbers of road-killed deer that are reported by the State to the local papers do not include those removed from Town highways. Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun Mr. Rachun reported that he issued seven building permits, all for additions, and that one area variance Was heard and granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Estimated construction costs totaled $ 127,000 and $554 was collected in fees. Mr. Rachun reported that the Ledger property has been in the process of being cleaned up. Town Clerk Marsha Georgia Mrs. Georgia reported that the Town Clerk's Office collected a i;otal of $ 1 , 759, of which $577 was turned over to Supervisor Austic . Mrs. Georgia lalso reported that her office will be hosting a Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund workshop on "Fugitive Documents" on Wednesday. Board Members and Committees 2 a2/ 5 Town of Ulysses Regular Board Meeting 11/ 13/2001 Mrs. Duddleston reported her attendance at an aquifer study meeting. Essentially, at a cost of approximately $5Million, the matter was tabled for the time being, and the general consensus was there is a need to look for a less expensive means of developing an aquifer study. Ms. Poelvoorde reported that she attended the freight study public hearing. Discussion of freight traffic in the Town of Ulysses focused on NYS Routes 89 and 96. Supervisor Doug Austic No questions were posed concerning the Supervisor's financial report. Ms. Poelvoorde asked about the status of the $500,000 grant from the Dormitory Authority. Mr. Austic reported that the matter is currently before the NYS Legislature for approval, after which the contract will come back to the Town. Mr. Austic also reported that the Town received a letter of concern from Barton & Loguidice regarding continuing work on the engineering for Water District #3 before winter settles in. Mr. Austic reminded the Board Members that the Town is unable to apply for Revolving Fund loan monies until the engineering for the Water District has been completed. OLD BUSINESS Update on Water Districts Supervisor Austic noted that the update on the financial status of Water District #3 was addressed under the heading of the Supervisor's Report . The next matter concerning Water District #3 is the attainment of land for the tank and pumping station. Mr. Austic reported that he spoke to Paula McClure regarding her land on Wolfe Lane, which is tentatively intended for the location of the pumping station, and wrote a letter to Nedra Harvey regarding her land, tentatively intended for the location of the water storage tank. The appraisal for the property on Wolfe Lane was approximately $6,000, and the appraisal for land on Van Dorns Corners Road was approximately $3 ,500 for a 100' by 150' parcel. Mr. Austic reported that he sent letters to the property owners of these two parcels concerning the appraisals, and that Ms. McClure has expressed dissatisfaction in the amount of money relative to the depreciation the water district structures will have on the rest of her property. In answer to the question of what she wants for the sale of her piece of land, Ms. McClure has asked for $ 10,000. Mr. Austic asked what the Board's opinion on the situation was. Mr. Weatherby asked if the McClure property is the only possibility. Mr. Austic stated that there was another parcel considered, and that, for some reason, the engineers chose the McClure property over the other one. The Board discussed possible means of addressing the situation. Ms. Harvey has not responded to the letter sent by Mr. Austic at this time. Cayuga Nature Center Streetlight Mr. Austic stated that as he thought about a donation as was requested for Cayuga Nature Center, it occurred to him that one means of helping them would be to volunteer for the Town to pay for the Cayuga Nature Center streetlight . The Board discussed this possibility. Mr. Austic noted that the bill for the streetlight is $ 13 .00 plus change each month, totaling a little more than $ 156 each year. Currently, the Town bills the Cayuga Nature Center back for the funds after the Town receives the bill from NYSEG. Mrs. Duddleston moved the following, seconded by Ms. Poelvoorde; 3 ll' Town of Ulysses Regular Bbard Meeting g 11 / 13/2001 BE IT RESOLVED, that, as a donation, the Town of Ulysses hereby agrees to pay the electric bill for one streetlight at the Cayuga Nature Center, with payment to be made on a monthly basis after the bill is received from NYSEG. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. Mr. Austic will notify the Cayuga Nature Center of this resolution. Other Mrs. Duddleston asked if the Town was going to have a meeting with the Village of Trumansburg' and, or, the Trumansburg Fire Department concerning the proposed budget for the Town's contract with the Trumansburg Fire Department for fire and ambulance protection. Mr. Austic stated that it would be good to at least have a contract that clearly spells out what services the Fire Department will provide the Town, and request quarterly reports on the department's activities. Mr. Austic stated that a meeting with the Towns of Covert and Hector would also be useful. NEW BUSINESS Meeting with City of Ithaca Board of Public Works Mr. Austic reported that he will attend a meeting with Bill Gray, the Commissioner of the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works on Wednesday, November 14th regarding the supply of water for Water District #3 from the City of Ithaca. Budget " Mr. Austic noted the following changes to the proposed 2002 budget : Budget account A1910.4 (Unallocated insurance) was increased to $ 18, 500 ; account A9040. 8 (Workers' Compensation) was increased to $ 1 ,915 ; account B9040. 8 (Workers' Compensation) was increased to $251 ; account DA9040. 8 (Workers' Compensation) was increased to $6,673 ; and account DB9040. 8 (Workers' Compensation) was increased to $6, 146. The B fund appropriations balance was amended to $39,558 . Land for Tank & Pumping Station This item was covered earlier in the meeting, under the heading; of "Old Business-Update on Water Districts" . PUBLIC C 0 MMENTS No comments from members of the public were heard. CORRESPONDENCE Mr. Austic reported on receipt of a letter and pamphlet from Computel Consultants, a company specializing in utility bill analysis, which reviews utility bills for errors, and, when they are found notifies utility companies for refunds. The Board agreed that this would be worth looking into , and advised Supervisor Austic accordingly. Mr. Austic also reported on the receipt of a "Zoning Proposal Submitted for Review and Comment" from the Town of Ithaca, which would amend the Town of Ithaca Zoning 4 ■ c. 1 Town of Ulysses Regular Board Meeting 11 /13/2001 Ordinance in relation to the definitions of telecommunications facilities. The letter was sent to all municipalities that border the Town of Ithaca. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mrs. Duddleston to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Mr. Hillman aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Weatherby aye The meeting adjourned at 9: 15 pm. Respectfully submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG :kl 5