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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-12TB 1-12-17 Page 1 of 6 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING January 12, 2017 Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Deborah Cipolla-Dennis, Cl Kathrin Servoss Absent: Cl Linda Lavine Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Director of Planning Jennifer Case, Bookkeeper Kevin Ezell, Code Enforcement Officer Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENTS Supv Leifer opened the meeting and the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. The board has copies of the proposed local law and it is available on the town’s website. There were no comments from the board. Joe Wilson said he applauds the board for taking its time. NYSEG, by creating a pipeline that is unregulated by state or federal authorities, has thrown the town a difficult problem. There are lots of aspects to it and a long list of things to do in order to ultimately protect the interests of the town and its resident s. Taking time to work through the details is a good thing from his perspective. He supports the extension of the moratorium for six months. It is appropriate. Linda Parks echoed J. Wilson’s words and said she appreciates the hard work and effort that has been put into this. We don’t know what could be around the corner for us. She appreciates the board taking its time and doing it well and methodically to have the best town and community we could possibly have. An email comment was received from Judy Pierpont in support of extending the moratorium: Thank you for doing the hard work of making sure that the Town is on top of the zoning issues that are necessary to process the pipeline permit if it comes. I imagine that it is very time-consuming and complicated. I cannot be at the hearing tonight, but I am very much in favor of the town extending the moratorium and having the time to complete its work fully and properly. The hearing was left open. RESOLUTION #23 (2017) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #13 AND ABSTRACT #1 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 1-12-17 Page 2 of 6 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #13 (2016), as audited, general vouchers #976 through #1048, totaling $341,778.56, and Abstract #1 (2017), as audited, general vouchers #1 through #15 ($112,791.28) and TA vouchers #1 and #2 ($4,81.42), totaling $116,872.70. 2nd Cl Servoss Roll Call Vote Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes There are two items that need further review before payment. RESOLUTION #24 (2017) – APPROVE PAYMENT OUTSIDE THE ABSTRACT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the following payments outside the abstract: Susan Brock, Esq., not to exceed $31,060.00 and Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility not to exceed #16,000.00. 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes There will budget modifications at the next several meetings. Supv Leifer said he will be compiling the savings that has been accomplished in this budget year. It is fairly significant. Highway Superintendent Rick Young explained that he needs to purchase plow equipment for the truck he recently purchased. He can do this under the same bid that he purchased the truck from, but it expires at the end of this week or the price will increase about $10,000. The cost is $84,000 and it is in the equipment budget. He will also be looking to encumber unexpended equipment money. RESOLUTION #25 (2017) – AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY PURCHASE Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes the purchase of plow equipment off the Oneida County bid at a cost not to exceed $84,000.00. 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes A draft of the 2017 §284 was distributed to the board. R Young said it is subject to change depending on unexpected damage. The board will vote on the final version next week. TB 1-12-17 Page 3 of 6 The roads listed are ones that they noticed needed attention over the summer. He encouraged the board to call him if they have any questions. R Young reported there are only nine new meters left to install in the Yellow Barn Water District. Supv Leifer said he had received calls from Yellow Barn residents about the benefit charge on their tax bills. He has sent a letter to all those property owners explaining the need to replenish the fund balance. Supv Leifer closed the public hearing on extending the moratorium at 7:29 p.m. RESOLUTION #26 (2017) – ADOPT LOCAL LAW EXTENDING MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN PUBLIC UTILITY INSTALLATIONS THROUGH JULY 20, 2017 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, for the reasons set forth in Section 1 of proposed Local Law __ of 2017 entitled Local Law Extending the Moratorium on Certain Public Utility Installations through July 20, 2017, the Dryden Town Board requested the Attorney for the Town to draft a local law for Town Board consideration; and Whereas, at its meeting on December 15, 2016, the Town Board introduced the local law and set a public hearing for January 12, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.to receive public comments on it; and Whereas, the Town Board held a public hearing at the Town Hall, 93 East Main Street, Dryden, New York on the 12th day of January, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of considering a proposed local law Extending the Moratorium on Certain Public Utility Installations through July 20, 2017; and Whereas, notice of said public hearing was duly advertised in the Ithaca Journal; and Whereas, said public hearing was duly held on said date and time at the Town Hall of the Town of Dryden and all parties in attendance were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of or in opposition to said proposed local law, or any part thereof; and Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, it has been determined by the Town Board that adoption of the proposed local law is a Type II action because it constitutes “adoption of a moratorium on land development or construction” pursuan t to 6 NYCRR § 617.5(c)(30), and thus adoption of the proposed local law is not subject to review under SEQRA; and Whereas, the Town Board finds that the proposed moratorium will provide time for research, discussion and drafting of new public utility zoning requirements, will further the health and welfare of the community, and is in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that Local Law 1 of 2017 entitled Local Law Extending the Moratorium on Certain Public Utility Installations through July 20, 2017 is hereby adopted; and it is further Resolved, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file said local law with the Secretary of State as required by law. TB 1-12-17 Page 4 of 6 2nd Cl Cipolla-Dennis Roll Call Vote Cl Cipolla-Dennis Yes Cl Servoss Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Recreation Department Staffing Cl Servoss reported that the DRYC Search Committee has determined the position to be filled should be full time and called a Recreation Coordinator. They want to advertise beginning January 18 for a minimum of three weeks. The committee hopes to fill the position by April 1. Depending on the number of applications received, the posting could be extended. Cl Cipolla-Dennis said Cl Lavine asked her to relay she’d like it posted for thirty days and agrees with that. Supv Leifer said the town board needs to discuss this at a business meeting before any action is taken. They don’t have a report from the committee yet and need to discuss duties, wages, and the budget. Cl Cipolla-Dennis pointed out that the salary needs to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act. A report from the search committee is expected by the end of the weekend. Supv Leifer reminded the board that we are in y ear one of at least two years of trying to fix the revenue and expense problem. It’s possible the 2016 year will end better than we originally thought, but those books won’t close until March. We need a clearer picture of where we are before planning future positions. The board planned for one full time and two part timers for 2017. Depending when this person would start it might not be a big problem, but it will impact the 2018 budget. If we are talking about running the programs we have now and not greatly expanding what the rec department is doing, there may not be a rush. Expanding the programming adds expenses and we need to decide if we are ready to do this. The big focus now for recreation is the trail, and we have a trail committee doing that work. The board needs to determine if the current staff is able to handle the current programming. Perhaps more duties/hours could be given to existing town staff. Cl Lamb said he believes the committee is envisioning this position to grow the programs and look strategically at the town and areas that aren’t participating in our programs and bring town services to them. A decision needs to be made on what to do with the recreation reserve fund. Should there be an innovative matching grant program if a non-profit community center has a project? New programming could include the arts and that would require a different type of leadership and more hours. Cl Servoss said budgeting and accounting experience is important as well as communication skills. The applicant would need good communication skills and be able to talk to a five year old and then the child’s parents in a professional manner, communicate appropriately through social media, update the website, coordinate resources throughout the town, find instructors, and deal with the schools. That type of communication and management is very important. Bolton Point Agreement Supv Leifer said the group that is re-writing that agreement will make a presentation to the board when they have a final draft. It likely won’t be much different than what was presented last November. This new agreement should make it easier to expand the service area. He asked board members to review the summary sheet. TB 1-12-17 Page 5 of 6 Legal Services Agreement The board has appointed Susan Brock and Mariette Geldenhuys as its town attorneys. The retainer agreement with M Geldenhuys did not have an end date, but S Brock’s did. The Supervisor will have that agreement for review next week. Conservation Board Alternate Supv Leifer is preparing an amendment to the local law that established the Conservation Board to provide for alternates on that board. January 19, 2017 Agenda: Update on the study to consolidate water/sewer districts - Supv Leifer is hoping that consolidating a lot of these districts will r educe the impact on the tax levy cap by using only usage rates to fund the districts Community Choice Aggregation Group Resolution – Cl Cipolla-Dennis explained there is an ad hoc group that has been meeting for about a year and is asking TCCOG to make them an official advisory committee. They are trying to consolidate an energy source and negotiate for a three to five-year fixed rate. It would provide an equal or less expensive rate to residents and a certain percentage of the energy would have to come from renewables. That percentage has not yet been determined. Anyone currently being served by NYSEG would be automatically opted in to this service. The town would have to choose to participate. Marie McRae and Cl Cipolla-Dennis would be the representatives from Dryden. The resolution will come to the board next week. Introduction of amendment to the Subdivision Law – This amendment will shorten the deadline for plat submittals from 30 days to 21 days. This could mean shortening the approval process from 5 months to 3 months. A public hearing could be held in February. Introduction of Solar Law revision – this is an amendment to the Zoning Law. The Planning Board will meet next Tuesday to review the proposal as currently drafted and make recommendations to the Town Board. The Town Board will then introduce it next week and schedule a public hearing for February; unless it is determined other changes are needed. Cl Cipolla-Dennis said representatives from Distributed Sun gave a presentation to the Planning Board. Some of the Planning Board members were concerned that what they were seeing was a much larger scale than they had anticipated. At the special meeting on Tuesday they will discuss possibly adding a section to the law regarding “industrial” solar, which is the aggregation of several two-megawatt farms in one area. She said she feels we shouldn’t be concentrating on the size of the farms based on the wattage because technology changes and we are really concerned about what the footprint is. Perhaps we should be talking in terms of acreage. Supv Leifer said the current use of the land should also be considered. What is currently being proposed is ag friendly, generates clean energy, and brings local jobs. It doesn’t wreck the land because when they no longer produce energy, they will be removed and the land can be put back into use. The law will protect all the good ag soils. Things to be considered in the special use permit process will include the soil type, view shed, buffering, and other potential impacts. It may not be appropriate everywhere. There will be time to discuss this more at next week’s meeting. R Burger noted that if we want to get these systems constructed this year, the process will need to move along. We r eally don’t want to extend construction into next year. TB 1-12-17 Page 6 of 6 R Burger asked whether the board would be willing to have an introduction of a solar project while the law is still being promulgated. After discussion the board agreed that it would be willing to have a first look at the plan, but would want to get a legal opinion first and perhaps do it at a special meeting. Supv Leifer noted the board will also need to schedule a special meeting on the water/sewer districts. Perhaps Varna would be a good locati on for both. Revised Site Plan for 1401 Dryden Road – Storage Squad – They would like to move their kiosk closer to the road. It would encroach on the front yard setback and they will be going before the ZBA in February for a variance. They are also moving the fence back away from the road. These two changes affect the site plan and R Burger would like the board to discuss the adjustments on the record and the file can be amended to reflect the change. The board briefly discussed the various volunteer organizations in the town, bringing them together, and discussing ways they could help each other. R Burger said Phoenix Books has been purchased and the new owner will have ag- related sales. They want to expand and put trailers on the property. It will be discussed next week. Tomorrow night two of the five people being inducted in the Dryden School Athletic Hall of Fame are employees of the town – Kirsten Clapper and Rex Hollenbeck. There is an Energy and Economic Development Task Force being established by Martha Robertson. They will meet for the first time on January 18 at noon. This is a follow up to a study by a group established by the County legislature. Cl Cipolla -Dennis, Supv Leifer and R Burger will attend. Supv Leifer reported he did an interview with Time Warner on solar. The county has markers commemorating its first 200 years to place in each town in the county. The town board needs to decide where to place Dryden’s marker and let them know. There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk