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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-14TB 4-14-16 Page 1 of 5 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. TB 4-14-16 Page 2 of 5 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 TB 4-14-16 Page 3 of 5 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 TB 4-14-16 Page 4 of 5 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. TB 4-14-16 Page 5 of 5 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk