HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-14TB 4-14-16
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
April 14, 2016
Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Linda Lavine,
Cl Deborah Cipolla-Dennis, Cl Greg Sloan
Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk
Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Director of Planning
Jennifer Case, Bookkeeper
Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Peter Myers of the Tompkins County Workers Center spoke to the board about their
efforts and campaign to establish a Tompkins County Living Wage (currently $14.34 per hour)
as the minimum wage and presented a proposed resolution for consideration by the board.
They want to get the County Legislature to approve increasing the minimum wage. Under the
current proposal by the Governor, upstate is limited to $12.50. The City of Ithaca, Town of
Ithaca, and Town of Caroline have passed this resolution. TCCOG has also discussed it. The
living wage in Tompkins County is different than other counties. Barbara Lifton supports the
principle of local wage authority and has asked that more people come to Albany with this
message. A few revisions were requested to the resolution and it will be o n the board’s agenda
next week.
Health consortium update – Cl Cipolla-Dennis will prepare a report and send it to board
members in advance of next week.
Short Road – Supv Leifer said this is not an official town road but may have been in the
late 1950’s. In 1978 residents there signed an agreement that the town had no obligation to
maintain the road. In the 1980’s the town told the residents there that they could bring the
road up to town specifications and then dedicate it to the town. It is currently not our
maintenance issue. An Article 78 proceeding would have to prove that the town has
maintained it for a continuous ten year period.
West Dryden Road Pipeline (a/k/a Freeville-Lansing Reinforcement Project) – Cl Cipolla-
Dennis spoke with Gerry Stern of Tompkins County Highway. Labella has applied for a permit
to do soil borings as part of the EAF and plan for installation. She requested a copy of the
permit. She also attended a hearing in Albany at the PSC for the rate case that would fund
this project. She made a connection with a person from NYSEG who seemed willing to talk at
length and provide more information than the local NYSEG people have so far. They are trying
to get approval internally at Iberdrola for the project. Rochester NYSEG is looking to increase
ratepayers’ costs to pay for a lot of these projects that are bundled together. This is one of
those things. She presumes that Iberdrola is waiting to see if the rate cases are approved
before any of its projects are approved. They want to start construction in 2017 and have the
pipeline complete by 2018. They do not have all the easements t hey need. They talked about
the process of going about eminent domain. They have to get all their permits in place and go
through the SEQR process before they can apply for eminent domain. Locally that is what they
are moving toward. The activity on West Dryden Road right now is part of that process.
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Joe Wilson asked the board to note two things. (1) This ultimately is to feed Lansing
developers and to repressure, increase pressure, in Ithaca area lines. In particular, to serve the
low pressure area nears the Lansing Elementary School. (2) The capacity of the line has been
created to feed what NYSEG would like to be 20 years additional growth in customers that they
don’t have now. So it’s seventeen million dollars to help NYSEG grow for next 20 years and re-
pressure the Ithaca line and serve some development in Lansing.
Cl Cipolla-Dennis said they could walk in any day and apply for a permit. They don’t
have to have all the easements or have things much further along. She doesn’t feel like we’re
ready for that and that we need to think seriously about what it would take to get ready for
that. There are gaps in our zoning law regarding public utilities and we have not consulted
with experts enough to know what we are getting ourselves into. She feels like the town is a
little exposed right now. If they came and applied for a permit, and we then try to change the
zoning law because of gaps in our zoning law, they could cry foul. She asked about the
possibility of putting a moratorium in place.
After further discussion, Supv Leifer will talk with the town attorneys and get a
recommendation from them. Cl Cipolla -Dennis said there are also other things to consider
such as amending the franchise agreement to provide a revenue source for the town.
Supv Leifer has told the Lansing Town Supervisor that we wanted to be lead for SEQR
and will require a full EAF.
J Wilson said an expert would be particularly helpful when considering a moratorium.
There is a lot to consider in the SEQR process and how SEQR is to be applied relative to
increased gas emissions. The term “alternatives” means something different to NYSEG. They
are not thinking alternative technologies and green house gas emission mitigations. We need
environmental engineers and attorneys who can complement that. It is standard procedure to
have a proponent of project to pay for that service. The Ellis Hollow station and Freeville
station are being altered as part of this project. That may be part of the EIS. There is a new
regulator station to be put in the Lansing area for this pipe specifically. They all emit green
house gases.
Linda Parks said NYSEG has marked where they will do the borings and will do the
work the week of the 25th. Dave Bovee was out with them and she talked with him.
Points made during discussion included:
o Emissions may increase more in other towns - would that affect our desire to be
lead agency.
o Methane leakage will occur all along the pipeline.
o NYSEG promised every residence a hook up along the line - could be 100 new
users along West Dryden Road.
o More gas will be used in Lansing than Dryden.
o More greenhouse gasses will be emitted in leakage than in burning of the gas.
o The number of people impacted during construction is greater in Dryden.
o Alternative energy sources should be addressed in SEQR.
Supv Leifer will consult with our attorneys about a moratorium, and noted we may
move on the definition change more quickly.
Planning Board Update – Cl Cipolla-Dennis reported the Planning Board made a
resolution relative to the public utility zoning change. There was discussion on the solar and
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renewable energy law at the Planning Board and they are not ready to move on that yet. She
did let them know the board would like to get that done.
The Planning Board will be meeting at the Varna Community Center this month on
April 27 at 7:00 p.m. The Tiny Timbers development at the corner of Freese Road and Route
366 will be on the agenda.
Ag Committee – Supv Leifer reported they passed a resolution asking the Planning
Board as part of their recommendations to require solar farms to have removal bonds.
There was discussion about the bills this month for work on the geothermal system.
There has been a lot of money spent over the past several year s in maintenance and it was
suggested the board look into it further and perhaps arrange for an evaluation. The solar array
needs to be checked also. Supv Leifer will contact someone about it.
RESOLUTION #77 (2016) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #4
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #4, as audited, general
vouchers #190 through #277 ($240,386.37) and TA vouchers #67 and #68 ($$3,692.96),
totaling $244,079.33.
2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Lavine Yes
Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
RESOLUTION #78 (2016) – APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following budget modifications
for the 2015 fiscal year:
From To
SS2-599 Fund Balance SS2-8120.1 San. Sew. Pers Serv DPW $ 0.80
SS4-8110.4 Admin Contr SS4-8120.1 San. Sew. Pers Serv DPW 2.00
SW7-8310.4 Water Adm Contr SW7-8310.1 Water Admin Pers Serv 1,060.00
2nd Cl Sloan
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Lavine Yes
Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Montgomery Park Presentation – Mike Hattery, Dryden Village Trustee, introduced Mary
Kirkwyland and explained that the Village, with help from the Town Recreation Department,
received a grant to do design work for redeveloping Montgomery Park. They gave a
presentation on the history of the park and displayed and expl ained the new design plan. The
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plan can be found at https://www.dryden-ny.org/montgomery-park. The first part of the
plan to be developed is a new playground. People and families can purchase components of
the playground.
M Hattery said the village is contributing up to $50,000 from their community
development fund for the first phase, and they would like a contribution from the town. They
are submitting various grant applications. The total budget is for the first phase is $70,000 to
$100,000.
He understands there may be some interest in a multi-use court and asked that the
town join with the Village and put that court in Montgomery Park because of the amenities
around it. There was some discussion as to how that might work and it was suggested that it
be brought to the Recreation & Youth Commission.
There was also discussion about building playing fields outside the villages. There is a
big demand for field space. There may be room for a field on the Pinckney Road property. The
cost to develop, potential revenue and maintenance expense would need to be explored.
Permissive Referendum – We’ve been working to get the polling places, poll inspectors
and ballots printed. Press releases have been sent and the legal ad will publish on Saturday.
B Avery asked board members to take some of the prepared posters and notices and distribute
them in public places. A training will be held for election inspectors on April 26 th at town hall.
Trail resolution – Cl Lamb reported that the trail committee met again last night. They
discussed structuring the committee. The Town Board will need to give charge to this group.
They want to be collaborative with the people involved and want to look at it as a task force,
with a limited scope. They are still working on the final resolution for adoption next week.
They are asking for representation from each of the town’s existing boards and committees on
this task force. Bob Beck has been successful in getting key players to these meetings.
The first item will be to obtain easements. Then they will be able to finalize the plan
and apply for funding. The Town needs to be prepared for negotiations for fencing, buffering
and other things the property owners may request.
Planning Board Update - R Burger has prepared a zoning law amendment that
addresses density limitations in those areas served by public water and sewer. He proposes
that six dwellings per acre is appropriate density in those areas. Six is a medium between two
in the rural areas and ten in the hamlets. It allows for more development where it seems
appropriate. The first reading will be next week and the board will set a public hearing for
May.
Red Mill Bridge is being replaced this summer. The old bridge will be coming out in
preparation. The Village of Freeville doesn’t want it. There may be issues with lead paint. He
asked if the board wanted to store it until they decide how to reutilize it and they indicated
they did want to store it.
Supv Leifer said there will be an update on negotiations the Teamsters next week.
Mike Lane spoke about the cut in funding for TC3 last month. He sent the resolution
county passed in support of an increase in base aid. The board can modify that and pass it
next week to be sent on to the state.
There will be presentations next week on dog control and what goes on in the Highway
Department.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Avery
Town Clerk