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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-09 - TB TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 7/9/2002 PRESENT : Supervisor Doug Austic, Town Board Members Carolyn Duddleston, Sue Poelvoorde, Lee Scott, and Robert Weatherby, Town Clerk Marsha Georgia, Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker. ALSO PRESENT : Richard Coogan of the Jacksonville Community Association, Jack Fulton of the Trumansburg Fire Department, Christian Boissonnas of the Tompkins County E . O.C. , Peter Penniman, Tompkins County Representative, and Floyd and Ruth McMillen of 3868 Colegrove Road. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Regular Town Board Meeting 6/12/02 Noting minor corrections, Ms. Poelvoorde moved, seconded by Mrs. Duddleston to approve the minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting of 6/ 12/02. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY VOUCHERS Mrs. Duddleston moved, seconded by Mr. Scott to approve monthly vouchers number 254 through 292, totaling $32,455 . 18 . Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Trumansburg Fire Department Chief Jack Fulton Mr. Fulton began by reporting that the Fire Department has received 140 calls so far this year. Of these 140, 96 were for the Ambulance. 75 -80% of ambulance calls are called in during paid staff hours. Mark Vann is serving as a liaison between the Fire Department and the Village of Trumansburg. The Department is seeking to keep the ambulance budget down as much as possible, and volunteers for the Fire Department have helped by filling shifts during vacations, etc . A committee meeting to set up the first fundraiser for the purchase of a new ambulance is planned for next week. The Fire Department hopes to be able to purchase the new ambulance in about 10 months. The current ambulance is about 7 years old, and is putting on some mileage. In the hopes of avoiding additional mileage buildup from errand- running in and around the Village of Trumansburg, the Fire Department is hoping to acquire a second vehicle. They have approached the Village of Trumansburg about purchasing its old police car. The current plan is to keep the old ambulance for secondary use after a new one is purchased. Tompkins County EOC Mr. Christian Boissonnas reported that New York State is going to start an initiative to start shifting from fossil fuel burning energy production to wind-source production. Soon, I 1 P 1 1 1 ■ Town of Ulysses Regular Town Board Meeting 7/9/2002 there will be an option on NYSEG bills to purchase wind-generated power, at a higher cost. Mr. Boissonmas stated that he will need the Town Board's views on this. The Tompkins County EOC is also considering starting a program of regular water quality testing for Cayuga Lake, and Mr. Boissonnas reported that Tompkins County recently passed a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act. Tompkins County Representative Peter Penniman Mr. Penniman reported on the random drug testing program and cost. Mr. Penniman relayed that the County is looking into the possibility of taking over more of the management of the program, and has realized that it may be to the benefit of smaller Townships to find their own contractors for the Federal mandated drug testing. Mr. Penniman also reported that the County is dealing with the issue of bringing all departments into compliance as far as protection of confidential records. This has necessitated a good deal of relocation and rearranging of work spaces, to prevent revelation of confidential information through PC screens that can be seen by the public. The New York State Budget is showing a very urgent need for Counties and Towns to lobby the State for departments and causes that seem to be getting pushed down to low priority in the State budget process. Of particular concern are youth services and Medicaid. The Medicaid levies paid by the County have seen large annual increases in the past several years. Relatedly, Mr. Penniman noted that he has a copy of the State Budget for review by anyone who wishes to look it over. Mr. Penman concluded by reporting that Sales tax revenue is already up $ 1M compared to last year and that the public safety radio communications improvement project has been put out for bids. This project coincides well with State plans to revamp the statewide system. The County has been unofficially informed that it will be, able to work with the State on the specifications for the project, in order to tie the two new systems together, and that the County can expect some reimbursement for its new system. Jacksonville ! Community Association Mr. Coogan reported that the J. C.A. realized the grant-funded : sidewalk project would place a new sidewalk directly over an area that will be dug up to install Water District #3 water lines. Mr. Coogan asked Mr. Austic to find out if the grant cycle could be extended in order to avoid putting time and effort into a new sidewalk that will shortly be dug up in order to lay water lines. Mr. Austic stated he would inquire about this. TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker Mr. Meeker reported the highway department spent the month completing a second roadside mowing, cleaning ditches .along Krums Corners Road, working on concrete forms, and helping Tompkins County with its work on Waterburg Road. Mr. Meeker also reported that he is working with Ward Hungerford on his signs survey. Mr. Meeker stated that he has looked over Mr. Hungerford's work, and feels the survey will be a useful source of information for the Town. Mr. Austic asked about the new mowing tractor. Mr. Meeker stated that he expects it will arrive mid-month. Mr. Austic also asked Mr. Meeker to let him know if he has any major projects planned for the next couple of months, and if he plans to put the roof repair project for the Town Barns out to bid this year? Mr. Meeker will work on a bid advertisement to be published for the roof repair project. 2 Town of Ulysses ( 9 Regular Town Board Meeting 7/9/2002 Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun Mr. Austic read the Code Enforcement Officer's report for Mr. Rachun. Mr. Rachun issued 5 building permits in the past month. Estimated construction costs for these projects totaled $ 146,000, and $ 828 was collected in fees. Town Clerk Marsha Georgia Mrs. Georgia stated that although the monthly reports were submitted, and the appropriate percentages of fees were turned over to Supervisor Austic, she did not have the figures with her. Mrs. Georgia reported that she expects to receive several pieces of new computer equipment from the State in order to run the NYS DEC " decals" sporting license sales program, set to become operational for the 2002-2003 sales season. She expected that training on the program would have occurred already, but this has not been the case . Mrs. Georgia also reported that she is finishing up the final reports for the two L.G.R.M.I . F. Records Management grants. Microfilm copies of all Town minutes, a copy of the minutes index, and a copy of the Archival Records inventory will be sent to the Ulysses Philomathic Library, and a copy of the Archival Records inventory will be sent to the Historical Society. Board Members and Committees Ms. Poelvoorde reported that she will bring in a copy of the freight study that was conducted by Tompkins County. One goal identified in the study is the reduction of truck traffic on NYS Route 89 by channeling freight traffic to Route 96. This would have a very large impact on the Village of Trumansburg. Ms. Poelvoorde suggested the survey be reviewed by the Town Planning Board. Supervisor Doug Austic Mr. Austic recommended action to modify the 2002 budget. Mr. Scott moved, seconded by Ms. Poelvoorde to approve the following fund transfers: Increase Justice contractual A1110 . 4 by $2,500, and increase Retirement A9010 . 8 by $ 1 ,477, difference to come from unanticipated mortgage tax revenues in account A3005 . Increase Planning contractual B8020 .4 by $20,000, difference to come from sales tax revenue account 1120. Increase Workers' Compensation account DA9040 . 8 by $722 . 06, difference to come from snow removal account DA5142 . 1 ; also , Increase DB9040 . 8 by $703 . 75 , difference to come from Sales Tax revenue account 1120 . Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. OLD BUSINESS Water District #3 Update Mr. Austic reported that the archeological consultants have turned up a building foundation of the Dann House in Jacksonville. This poses a definite complication, however, specific actions cannot be decided upon until it is known whether or not the water lines will go through that area. Mr. Austic also reported that there is still an unresolved problem with the Woolf Lane subdivision. Town Attorney Bruce Wilson has sent a letter to all residents of the 3 Town of Ulysses Regular Town Board Meeting 7/9/2002 subdivision asking for signed release statements. If 75% of the !residents do not sign release statements, the matter may go before a court. Other Water District Update . Mr. Austic reported that T.G. Miller is doing a map, plan and rr;port for a water system for the Latter Day Saints church. This map, plan and report will be presented to the Town as a water district request. Mr. Austic also reported that the Village of Trumansburg has decided it would like to build a new water tank, located either on Searsburg Road or Seneca Road. Mr. Austic stated that the Village should allow Town residents along the road the tank is on, and between said road and the Village to hook into municipal water at the cost of water. Mr. Vanderzee, of Rabbit Run Road has hired a new engineer to look into a connection for his property. NEW BUSINESS Consider Representative to Tompkins County's Planning Federation Committee Ms. Poelvoorde stated she would be willing to serve on this new committee. The committee will be established at the municipal officers' meeting„ taking place next week. HEARING FROM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS . Floyd and Ruth McMillen , of 3868 Colegrove Road Ruth McMillen complained about the presence of a stone pile at the Highway Barns. Mrs. McMillen stated that she and her husband have consulted a lawyer, and that she will file a lawsuit if the stone pile is not removed. Mrs. McMillen stated that she has asked Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker to remove the offending stone pile that is sited on or near the border between the Town of Ulysses and McMillen properties, and nothing r has been done about her request. Mrs. McMillen further stated that the Town of Ulysses . stole 20' of their property in a recent survey. Mr. Meeker stated that he was never given a survey indicating that he is claiming land beyond the property line, and that the stone pile, washout from which Mrs. McMillen claims has and continues to contaminate her well, does not contain salt or other contaminants. Mrs. McMillen claimed that the Tompkins County Health Department is currently conducting tests of both the highway barns property and the. McMillens' well, and stated that she has NYS DEC and Tompkins County Health Department reports about the situation of her well water and the Town Barns' property. Mr. Austic asked Mrs. McMillen if she would bring copies of her reports to the Town. Mrs. McMillen agreed to do so . In answer to a request from Mr. Austic that she state her intentions in coming before the Board this evening, Mrs. McMillen stated that her concern is with her water quality, and that if the offending stone pile is not removed, she will take legal action against the Town. Mr. Austic asked if Mrs. McMillen is aware of the water district, which includes her property and which she could therefore be served by. Mrs. McMillen stated that she does not care about the water district. Mr. Austic pointed out that the Town could give her 3 water, if water contamination from the Town Highway Barns is proven by reports to be an actual problem. Mr. Austic stated that he would call the Health Department about the situation. CORRESP 0 NDENCE No correspondence was discussed. 4 Town of Ulysses I Regular Town Board Meeting 7/9/2002 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 :00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk ' e Y 10 MLG:kl 5