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
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Regular Town Board Meeting
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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
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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
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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
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