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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-14 - TB c) io TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MAY 14, 2002 PRESENT : Supervisor Doug Austic, Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston, Sue Poelvoorde, Lee Scott, and Robert Weatherby; Highway Superintendent James Meeker; Town Clerk Marsha Georgia; Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun absent. Others Present: Richard Coogan, Christian Boissonnas, Free Press Reporter Grace Wolf and Faith. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 4/9/02 Noting minor corrections, Mr. Scott moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting of April 9th, 2002 . Mrs. Duddleston seconded. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS Mr. Weatherby moved to approve vouchers numbers 179 through 210, totaling $21 ,848 . 56. Mr. Scott seconded. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Tompkins County Board of Representatives: Peter Penniman Mr. Penniman was absent and no report was presented. Trumansburg Fire Department No representative was present and no report was presented. Jacksonville Community Association Mr. Coogan reported that the J. C .A. has not had any recent meetings. TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent James Meeker Mr. Meeker reported that the Highway Department spent the last month cleaning roadsides and the cemetery, as well as cleaning out the saltboxes. Mr. Meeker also reported that he met with a representative from Alom Tractor to work on a contract for a new tractor. Tompkins County Highway Department has been working on Waterburg and Halseyville Roads. - `Q 1 Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun Mr. Rachun was absent and no report was presented. Town ClerkiMarsha L. Georgia Mrs. Georgia reported that the Town Clerk's Office collected a total of $ 1 ,465 in fees this month. Of this, $745 was turned over to Supervisor Austic. A handful of tax payments have trickled l in. Property owners only have a couple of weeks left to pay the local collector. At the end of the month tax collection will be turned over to Tompkins County. Mrs. Georgia reported that several residents have picked up assessment grievance forms in preparation for the assessment grievance day tomorrow. Board Members & Committees Mrs. Duddleston updated the board on research into separating the Trumansburg Fire Department from the Ambulance Service. Lead EMT Chris Hammond has learned that part of the Ambulance was never joined to the Fire Department, The resultant hope is that this will allow the Ambulance to bill for services. Presently, the Ambulance service is working on getting all its E: IT's advanced training. Mrs. Duddleston reported that the department is looking into tree purchase of a new ambulance, and would like to know how the Board feels about ;keeping the old ambulance as a back up. A sum of $60,000 is currently set aside to go towards this purchase. . Mrs. Duddleston also reported that the Fire Department has stated its intention to continue to respond to fallen tree calls, which the Town then must pay for, even when the State, County or Town highway department also responds to the call. The Board expressed a consensus of dismay and disapproval of this stance. Mr. Christian Boissonnas from the audience spoke on this matter. In defense of the Fire Department quickly responding to this type of calls, he stated that fallen trees could result in fire from electrical lines and other serious problems. Mr. Austic and Mr. Meeker suggested that the Fire Department dispatcher could find out the situation before sending a truck. Supervisor D oug Austic No questions were posed on the Supervisor's financial report. Mr. Austic noted the recent addition of a capital projects expense fund for Water District #3L OLD BUSINESS Update Water District #3 Mr. Austic reported that the Town of Ithaca approved the Woolf Lane subdivision. The next step will be appearance before the Town of Ithaca Board of Zoning Appeals on May 21g, to request a variance for side and front yard requirements. A second remaining property issue is the residential use deed restriction, for which a meeting with residents of the subdivision will be needed. The closing for the Harvey property on Van Dorns Corners Road will take place tomorrow. Comments on Cayuga Lake Waterfront Plan Mr. Austic noted that the Town Board was asked to consider the Plan and provide comments a couple of months ago, and opened the floor for Board members to share these comments. 2 Ms. Poelvoorde noted that she is unsure how the consistency review aspect of the Plan, whereby municipalities are urged to inform one another of new developments being reviewed in their jurisdictions, would function since municipalities really do not have any legal jurisdiction over others. As far as she can see. it seems that this aspect of the Plan would more or less suggest that municipalities extend courtesy to their neighbors by notifying them of new developments and sending information on said projects. Mr. Austic pointed out that the Plan would just be a set of guidelines that municipalities can use in reviewing relevant projects. Ms. Poelvoorde noted that, if this is acceptable to the Town, we should logically include aspects of the Plan that we feel the Planning Board should consider in the new Zoning Ordinance. Mrs. Duddleston asked if the Cayuga Lake Waterfront Plan, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network's Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan and the Vital Communities Initiative are all needed? Ms. Poelvoorde stated that each serves its own beneficial purpose. Mr. Weatherby asked if the Plan would create a lot more "red tape" for new construction? Mr. Austic stated that it does not purpose to address individual residences, but is rather primarily targeted at commercial and recreational development. Mr. Scott noted that it seems excessive that the Plan map includes areas as far away from the lake as Dubois Road. It seems that setting the boundary closer to NYS Route 89 seems much more reasonable, considering the goal of the Plan is to protect the waterfront area. Comments on Cayuga Lake Watershed Restoration & Protection Plan The Board reviewed the Watershed Plan; the general consensus was in agreement with the plan. Mr. Austic noted that the Town of Ulysses comes out as being a much less significant polluter than other involved communities. The Township is only mentioned for its negative impacts on the lake in one place in the Plan, which identifies Willow Creek as a source of lake pollution. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network should produce and provide an annual work plan, provided to the municipalities as an addendum to the annual contract. The work plan should provide a breakdown of annual expenditures, showing participating municipalities how the annual membership fee of $900 will be spent. Mrs. Georgia will pass these comments on to Deborah G . Grantham, Chair Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization. Comments on Tompkins County Vital Communities Mr. Austic asked if the Town Board supports the adoption of the Vital Communities Initiative' Development and Preservation Principals by Tompkins County. Ms. Poelvoorde noted that the Principals are an interim measure while the County continues work on what will ultimately be, essentially, a County Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Austic noted that the principals are very much in line with what the Town of Ulysses has adopted in its own Comprehensive Plan. Issues that a County Comprehensive Plan might address include highway development, water systems, and commercial development. Mrs. Duddleston noted that there is a possibility that the County may develop ideas of how the Town of Ulysses should develop that are in opposition to what the Town of Ulysses considers best for the municipality. Mr. Austic stated that the principals are logical and, as noted before, coincide with the goals the Town of Ulysses has already identified in its Comprehensive Plan. 3 . b3 Ms. Poelvoorde noted that adoption of the principals would express the fact that the Town does wish for intermunicipal discussion of current and future development issues and other matters that affect municipalities throughout the County. Ms. Poelvoorde moved the following resolution : Whereas, the Vital Communities Initiative was undertaken to create a countywide vision of the future growth and development in Tompkins County, and Whereas, the County has, through its Department of Planning, engaged in an . extensive outreach effort to solicit public input as the basis for drafting and refuting the Development and Preservation Principals, and Whereas, the Board of Representatives proposes to adopt these principals as an interim measure to : ® Continue a community dialogue on the future growth of the County, ® I Evaluate the land use impacts of County programs and decisions, and O Guide the preparation of a County Comprehensive Plan, and Whereas, the County recognizes that in New York State land use regulation authority is delegated to towns, villages and cities, but that counties have a role in studying and fostering Intermunicipal coordination on issues that have countywide impact, and need to consider land use implications in their decision- making, and Whereas, these principals are intended to be used as a framework for continued dialogue with local municipalities regarding Intermunicipal communication and cooperation on planning and development issues throughout the County, now therefore, be it Resolved , that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses supports the adoption of the proposed Vital Communities Development and Preservation Principals by the County Board of Representatives as County policy. Mrs. Duddleston seconded the motion. Mr. Weatherby asked why the Town wants to add more red tape when we already have a Comprehensive Plan and are working on a revised Zoning Ordnance? Ms. Poelvoorde stated that adoption of the principals will not add red tape, and called attention to the facts that the Town of Ulysses already supports these principles and that the principles will be applied for consideration by the Town Planning and Zoning Boards according to the Town's own discretion. Additional planning and zoning considerations gleaned from the adoption of these principals and, later, a Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan could be applied as part of the Zoning Ordinance itself A vote on the motion was called : Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston nay Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted 4 t Other NYSLGRMIF Program, Changes Ms. Poelvoorde asked if this was still a matter the Town can act on? Mrs. Georgia reported that she was not able learn anything further on the matter. NEW BUSINESS Environmental Management Council: Representative Mr. Austic noted that Christian Boissonnas has submitted a resume to represent the Town on the EMC, filling the post that was recently vacated by Heather McDaniel. Mr. Austic stated that as far as he knows, the EMC meets monthly. No other resumes were submitted. Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mrs. Duddleston to recommend Christian Boissonnas for appointment as the Town of Ulysses representative to the Environmental Management Council. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. Consider Deferred Compensation Plan Mr. Austic noted that Town Justice Roger Rector asked the Town Board to look into the Deferred Compensation Plan. To allow Town employees to participate in the plan, the Town Board simply has to pass a resolution to participate in the plan. There is no fee for the Town unless the payroll service, ADP, or another future service charges a fee to withhold funds from an employee's paycheck. Once the plan is passed, a representative from New York State will come to explain the program to the Board and interested employees. Ms. Poelvoorde spoke on behalf of the program, saying that it is a good program for retirement investment. Mr. Weatherby moved, seconded by Mr. Scott the following : WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses wishes to adopt the Deferred Compensation Plan for employees of the State of New York and other participating public jurisdictions (the "Plan") for the voluntary participation of all eligible employees; and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses is a local public employer eligible to adopt the Plan pursuant to Section 5 of the State Finance Law, and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has reviewed the Plan established in accordance with Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 5 of the State Finance Law of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the plan is to encourage employees to make and continue careers with the Town of Ulysses by providing eligible employees with a convenient and tax-favored method of saving on a regular and long-term basis and thereby provide for their retirement; 5 } 05 NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby: RESOLVED, that the Town of Ulysses hereby adopts the Plan for the voluntary participation of all eligible employees; and it is further RESOLVED, that the appropriate officials of the Town of Ulysses are hereby authorized to take such actions and enter such agreements as are required or necessary for the adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the Plan; and it is further RESOLVED, that the Administrative Services Agency is hereby authorized to file copies of these resolutions and other required documents with the President of the State of New York Civil Service Commission. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoo'rde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. Adopted. Supervisor Austic will ask a representative to come and present the program to all interested employees. Inventory of Historic Sites in Ulysses Mr. Austic reported that Paula Horrigan is seeking a grant to inventory Historic sites in the Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg. In the grant, the municipality must provide a percentage of the total cost; the figure could total up to $4,000. The inventory would probably include some sites that are already on the NYS Historic Register as well as identify other unique sites that are not. The Village of Trumansburg has already tentatively agreed to provide some funding, and Ms. Horrigan has applied for the grant. The Board's consensus was that the Board members need to see the grant application and get some more information on the grant program. Other Jacksonville Revitalization Grant Project The Jacksonville Community Association received $6,600 from the County in grant funds for revitalization. The grant stipulates that 25% of these funds need to be matched by the Town. The funds will be used to redo some sidewalks and to relocate the bus shelter. Mr. Austic suggested the funds come out of the funds the Town has set aside for additional highway repairs. The Board agreed that this would be acceptable. Water District #3: Supervisor's Authorization to Sign/Act on Town 's Behalf Mr. Austic stated that it would be wise to appoint him to act an behalf of the Town of . Ulysses in actions pertaining to Water District #3 . This would allow himself to sign the closing documents and other official legal papers, rather than necessitating the signatures of all the Town Board members on all legal documents. Effectively, this would appoint Mr. Austic as the head commissioner of the water district. Mr. Scott moved to appoint Douglas Austic to represent the Town of Ulysses as its agent in matters relating to Ulysses Water District #3 . Mrs. Duddleston seconded. 6 G4 Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. HEARINGS OF GROUPS & INDIVIDUALS No comments were made. CORRESPONDENCE New York State Transportation Law : " Hours of Service" Amendment Mr. Austic reported that NYSEG has asked the Town of Ulysses to pass a resolution in support of amending NYS Transportation Law section 214. The proposed amendment would exclude utility trucks from the hours of service regulations that currently only allow commercial truck-drivers to drive for a certain number of hours each day. Presently, utility truck drivers are not logged for the total hours of actual time spent driving each day, but rather for the total amount of time spent "in the field", which includes the time spent on the repairs and other services they tend to . Mrs. Duddleston moved, seconded by Mr. Scott, to sign and send a letter of support of this amendment to the Town's State legislative representatives and other State Officials. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. 1st Half Mortgage Tax and Sales Tax Payment Mr. Austic reported that he has received the Town's share of mortgage tax revenues for the first half of the year. The total was $44,000, which is not as good as past years' revenues, but means the Town will most likely receive the annual budgeted amount of $35 , 000. The Town of Ulysses generated $ 118 ,000 in sales tax during the first quarter of 2002 . Of this, the Town collected $29,000, and $58 ,000 was claimed by the Village of Trumansburg. The Town's share totaled some $ 70, 000, but we opted not to take the full amount as is normal. Time Warner Cable Partnership Mr. Austic reported that Time Warner has signed on with another partner. The contract will not change access in the Town of Ulysses. Mr. Meeker noted that he has been frustrated by the presence of buried utility lines in locations where he has been informed that there are none. The problem seems to be in keeping up-to-date on new underground installments. Mr. Austic stated that the Board could ask Time Warner Cable to address this matter better with next year's contract. 7 . 1 Tompkins County Planning Department: new Senior Planner Mr. Austic noted correspondence stating that the Tompkins County Planning Department has hired Mark Sawyer as a new senior planner. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further business, Mr. Weatherby moved, seconded by Ms. Poelvoorde to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye The meeting adjourned at 9: 15 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG• cited; 8