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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-13 - TB 8- Ja TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 8/13/2002 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, Christian Boissonnas Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 pm and led the assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-Regular Town Board Meeting 7/9/02 Mr. Scott moved and Mrs. Duddleston seconded, to approve the minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting of 7/9/02 as presented, noting one change. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted APPROVAL OF MONTHLY CLAIMS Ms. Poelvoorde moved and Mrs. Duddleston seconded to approve monthly vouchers numbers Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Tompkins County Representative-Peter Penniman Mr. Penniman was not present. No report was presented. Trumansburg Fire Department No representative was present and no report was presented. Other Mr. Austic noted that the Village of Trumansburg has set a budget meeting for September 30`h . This meeting will address the budgets for Fire, EMS and Youth. Town of Ulysses Regular Town Board Meeting 8/ 13/2002 Environmental Management Council-Representative Christian Boissonnas Mr. Boissonnas reported on the following items that were addressed at the July meeting of the EMC : • the Water Resources Council is working to develop a list of recommended regulations for "jet-skis" and other motorized watercraft on the lake. • NYSEG has launched its "Catch the Wind" program, which allows customers to pay additional for wind-generated energy supply. • There seems to be a need for a "clearing house" for information from Water Quality Records. • the Tompkins County Greenhouse Gas Reduction resolution was adopted unanimously by the Council. Mr. Boissonnas also asked the Board how much they know about the USGS Aquifer Studies of the Town, a matter that was reviewed and discussed by the Council shortly before he took over as the Town' s representative. The Board answered that they do not know much about this matter. Mr. Boissonnas will look into it further. Jacksonville Community Association-Representative Richard Coogan Mr. Coogan reported that the JCA did not meet last month. An extension has been granted for the sidewalk improvement grant. TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker Mr. Meeker reported that the highway department trimmed around signs, worked on box culvert for the Maplewood bridge, helped Enfield with paving and hauling materials, paved Glenwood Heights Road, and continued mowing. The Department is currently hauling paving materials for Tompkins County' s work on Watt:rburg Road Mr. Meeker noted that a new device, which shows the temperature of paving material when it is being spread, showed the temperature of the material used to pave Glenwood Heights Road to be 330 degrees. Mr. Austic asked if Mr. Meeker received the letter from NYS ]SOT about a planned detour for bridge repair on Route 227. Mr. Meeker stated he has not, and Mr. Austic gave him a copy of the notice. Mr. Austic also noted that the CHIPS program has changed. Mr. Meeker stated he is aware of this, and has the forms to apply for the funding that the Town Supervisor used to have to apply for. . Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun Mr. Rachun was not present and no report was presented. Town Clerk Marsha Georgia Mrs. Georgia reported that a total of $ 1 ,231 was collected in fr.es during the month of July. Of this, $565 .95 was turned over to Supervisor Austic. Mrs. Georgia noted that she and her deputy attended a NYS DECALS training workshop, .which prepares her office for selling the new NYS DEC sporting licenses. They are still awaiting the arrival of the equipment to operate the new system. Mrs. Georgia also noted that the copy machine lease has expired. Copy Machine Supply is looking into the possibility for opening a lease on a new copier. Board Members and Committees Ms. Poelvoorde reported that she attended a meeting with representatives from the Towns of Ithaca, Danby, Caroline, and Dryden regarding the cable franchise and Countywide planning efforts. The group is going to pose a recommendation to the County that the 2 Town of Ulysses Regular Town Board Meeting 8/ 13/2002 Towns and the County develop a planning partnership that would operate similarly to the Intermunicipal Recreation Partnership. Supervisor' s Financial Report Mr. Austic noted that the water district capital projects fund shows up as being greatly over budget. This is due to the fact that the Town did not expect work on Water District #3 to start so soon. Mr. Austic also noted that the previously approved tractor for the highway department was purchased, and consequently shows up as an expense taken from the DA fund. OLD BUSINESS Update on Water District #3 Mr. Austic reported that he has met with Mark Zaharis, a resident of the Woolf Lane subdivision about the situation with the subdivision residents. Mr. Zaharis feels he can obtain an adequate number of release statements from the other residents, so long as the Town of Ulysses agrees to construct the pumping station and lay the property out to their satisfaction. Mr. Austic will give Mr. Zaharis a letter stating that the Town of Ulysses will abide by the specifications requested by the Woolf Lane subdivision residents, and listing said specifications. The Town of Ithaca Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing for a variance allowing the pumping station on Monday, August 19th. Ms. Poelvoorde asked how the engineers are addressing the discovery of the presumed Dann House foundation. Mr. Austic answered that the engineers are, essentially, trying to decide how to address the situation. They will have to dig the site up, creating an inventory of discoveries, and will go from there . Ms. Poelvoorde also noted that the City of Ithaca' s Board of Public Works has passed a resolution allowing the Mayor to sign a contract with the Town of Ulysses to supply the Town with water for Water District #3 . Later in the meeting, Mr. Weatherby asked for an update on the Village of Trumansburg' s involvement with Water District #3 . Mr. Austic noted that the Village has approved an allocation of up to $ 80,000 to help the Town pay the cost of increasing the pumping station and to connect the Town and Village water districts. The Village is also still looking into finding a site for a new water tower. Zoning Review-next step Mr. Austic stated that he has received a letter from George Frantz, stating that he has received his 10th contractual payment out of 15 . Mr. Frantz notes that the Town Board and Planning Board have reviewed the draft Zoning Ordinance once. While there are still some issues to go back to, the big issue remaining to be addressed is the Zoning Map. Mr. Austic suggested that the Town Board and Planning Board work diligently to get their comments in and be able to bring the draft Ordinance and Map before a public hearing in the next couple months. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that this might be unrealistic, especially with only one monthly meeting, and also noted that a public informational meeting should be held before a public hearing . It was noted that some Town Board members and the Town clerk do not have updated copies of the draft Zoning Ordinance . Mr. Austic will ask Mr. Frantz to bring several copies to the Town Clerk for distribution to board members and filing. NEW BUSINESS Empire Zone Consideration Mr. Austic stated that the Town of Ulysses has the opportunity to apply as a participating Town in the County' s application for an Empire Zone . Mr. Austic noted that part of Wilmot Auble' s property on the north end of Town and the land recently purchased by the Trumansburg Community Nursery School, and a few other properties were put on the list as properties that could be included . An Empire Zone will be a commercially zoned 3 Town of Ulysses U. Q\ Regular Town Board Meeting Q 8/ 13/2002 area, where business development and expansion is encouraged by breaks in sales, employment, corporate, and real estate taxes. After brief discussion, Mr. Scott moved and Ms. Poelvoorde seconded the following resolution: WHEREAS, , Section 961 of Article 18-b of NYS General Municipal Law authorizes application by Tompkins County Area Development for designation of Tompkins County as an Empire Zone within the meaning of said statute; and WHEREAS, such designation could greatly benefit Tompkins County in that new businesses would be encouraged to locate in the zone area, and existing businesses would be encouraged to expand in the zone area and such new and expanded businesses would generate new employment opportunities for Tompkins County residents; and WHEREAS , Tompkins County intends to authorize submission of an application for designation of areas within Tompkins County as an Empire Zone; and WHEREAS, Tompkins County Area Development, in consultation with the Town of Ulysses wishes to designate certain areas within the Town of Ulysses as part of the proposed Empire Zone; and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses is desirous of working with Tompkins County Area Development through the Empire Zone Program to provide enhanced employment opportunities for its residents; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses, that it fully supports and concurssin the Tompkins County Area Development actions to authorize and submit an application for an Empire Zone designation within the Town of Ulysses and other areas of Tompkins County. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted Other Proposed Draft-Cable Agreement with Time Warner Mr. Austic noted that all Town Board members received a copy of this draft agreement in their baskets. Mr. Austic suggested the idea, initially proposed by the Town of Ithaca, whereby each municipality will sign its own contract with Timm Warner instead of having a County-wide agreement. Mr. Austic also noted that the Town should increase fees in some way to compensate the loss in franchise fees resulting from the New York State law prohibiting collection of franchise fees for broadband internet services, such as Time- Warner's Road Runner. Mrs. Georgia noted that employees of the Trumansburg Home : Telephone Co . really pushed switching to its new DSL service. Mr. Austic agreed to contact the Town of Ithaca Supervisor about hiring a contractor to draw up a simpler, Town-by-Town contract. Title Issue-Easement Request for Old Agway Property Mr. Austic reported that he has received a call from Gary Redmond, owner of the former Agway property. Mr. Redmond wants an easement so that he may refinance the property after a title search revealed the Town of Ulysses as the owner of his driveway. He does not believe that the Town ever officially took the drive over as a highway. Refinancing is not possible for Mr. Redmond unless this title issue can be resolved. Mr. Austic reported that Town Attorney Bruce Wilson has determined that the Town of Ulysses does own the driveway, it having been turned over by GLF in 1986 as a dedicated road. Mr. Austic asked the Highway Superintendent's view on this !matter. Mr. Meeker noted that the driveway is not needed as a highway turn-around, but that turning the drive over 4 Town of Ulysses (i CD Regular Town Board Meeting 8/ 13/2002 to private property would create an access hardship for a neighboring property owner. Mr. Meeker suggested the request for an easement be denied. In further discussion, the Board determined that the property owner will not have any trouble accessing his property if the drive is maintained as a Town road. Mr. Austic will let Mr. Redmond know that the Town will not grant him an easement. New York State Youth Services Funding Mr. Austic reported that New York State has increased its youth services funding. Mr. Rustic recommended the Town of Ulysses and Village of Trumansburg turn the funding application process over to Tompkins County, receiving reimbursement from the County for municipal youth services. Ms. Poelvoorde moved and Mrs. Duddleston seconded, the following resolution: WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has in the past allowed Tompkins County to apply for and manage State funding for Town youth services, and, WHEREAS, Tompkins County is willing to do so again this year, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED , that the Town of Ulysses hereby authorizes Tompkins County to apply for and manage state funds for Town youth services, as has been done in the past. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Adopted. HEARINGS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS No comments or complaints were heard. CORRESPONDENCE No correspondence was reported. ADJOURNMENT Having no further business, Ms. Poelvoorde moved and Mr. Weatherby seconded to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Austic aye Mrs. Duddleston aye Ms. Poelvoorde aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye The meeting adjourned at 8 :45 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk ` MLG:kI 5