HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-29TOWN OF DRYDEN
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
May 29, 2014
Present: Supervisor Mary Ann Sumner, Cl Gregory Sloan, Cl Joseph
Solomon
Absent: Cl Jason Leifer, Cl Linda Lavine
Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk
Other Town Staff: Andrew Sciarabba, TG Miller Engineers
Supv Sumner opened the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Supv Sumner explained that it is necessary to schedule a public hearing to determine
whether it is in the public interest for Bolton Point to acquire additional facilities wi th respect
to the water main planned for construction this summer. The improvement is being paid for
out of reserve funds. There will be no additional bonding for it.
RESOLUTION #92 (2014) - CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING
PURSUANT TO TOWN LAW 202-b ON THE PROPOSAL FOR
THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF DRYDEN, ON BEHALF
OF TOWN WATER DISTRICTS, AND IN CONNECTION WITH
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE
INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION (SCLWIC) TO
ACQUIRE AN INTEREST IN FACILITIES TO BE CONSTRUCTED
BY THE VILLAGE OF LANSING.
Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, a map, plan and engineer’s report have been prepared by T.G. Miller, P.C.
in connection with the proposed installation by the Village of Lansing of ap proximately 425 feet
of 18-inch ductile iron pipe, 105 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe, 7 gate valves, 2 pipe hydrant
assemblies and other necessary fittings and appurtenances under NYS Route 13, and
WHEREAS, said proposed improvements have been designed so that SCLIWC can
interconnect with the Village of Lansing water mains on a temporary emergency basis which
interconnection will provide a redundant crossing for the SCLIWC transmission system, and
WHEREAS, the emergency interconnection will be subject to a use agreement between
SCLIWC and the Village of Lansing which agreement will apportion the expenses of
construction of such improvement between the Village and members of SCLIWC, and
WHEREAS, the Agreement of Municipal Co-Operation between the members of SCLIWC
requires the approval and authorization of all the parties to such use agreement, and
WHEREAS, Town Law 202-b requires that the Town Board hold a public hearing on the
proposed acquisition of additional facilities and appurtenances thereto and the proposed use
agreement, now, therefore
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BE IT RESOLVED, that a public hearing shall be held by the Town Board of the Town of
Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, on whether it is in the public interest for the acquisition
of additional facilities and appurtenances thereto and the proposed use agreement referred to
in the preambles hereto, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, said public hearing will be held at a regular meeting of the Town
Board on June 19, 2014 at 7:15 p.m. prevailing time at the town hall, 93 East Main Street,
Dryden, New York, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the town clerk shall post notice of such public hearing on
the town signboard and publish notice of such public hearing in the official newspaper of the
town, such posting and publication to occur at least 10 but not more than 20 days prior to
such public hearing.
2nd Cl Sloan
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Solomon Yes
Supv Sumner Yes
PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING INCREASE IN THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT TO BE EXPENDED FOR YELLOW
BARN WATER DISTRICT WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Supv Sumner opened the public hearing at 7:00 p.m. and dispensed with reading of the
public notice. She explained it is necessary for the board to pass a resolution to authorize an
increase of the amount necessary to fund the Yellow Barn Water District improvements. The
bids for the project came in higher than the engineers estimated. An increase of $115,080.00
will need to be approved. The increase to a typical property would be $112.97. The threshold
for requiring Comptroller approval has increased by about the same amount.
A resident asked about expected costs after the first year. Supv Sumner said she
doesn’t expect a significant change. The cost of water may increase with the rate of inflation.
Andy Sciarabba said the debt service amount won’t change, but the cost of delivery of water
may increase causing an increase in the water rate. They don’t anticipate any major
maintenance expense in the five years or so, because the equipment will be ne w.
The new water tank will be deeper in the lot, about 200 feet off the road. It will be an
above ground tank, 22’ tall. The tank is glass fused to steel.
The town will do the demolition of existing structures, after the new system is up and
running, as time permits to help save money.
The cost to an average property owner will be $1,157.98 in the first year. $498.77 of
that will appear as a special district charge on their tax bill. The balance will be water usage
billed and may be higher or lower depending on consumption.
A resident said he had informally studied water rates around the state of New York and
they vary quite a bit. Sometimes 10 gallons is $.01 and sometimes 1 gallon is $.01. The rates
vary a lot. Supv Sumner said the water rate set by the town for other districts is lower than
the water rate here. All but one of the town’s districts have already paid off their debt.
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A Sciarabba said this was modeled after looking at what the use has been over the
years. West Danby has a similar size system and their water rate is $14 per thousand. $12
per thousand is what is anticipated for Yellow Barn. They also estimate maintenance in
replacing the 1 inch lines, and we’ll have to make sure we continue to make those upgrades.
Supv Sumner said the other water districts are served by Bolton Point and the water
rate is lower because there are a huge number of customers across several towns. The
operational costs are spread among a lot of users. She added that there is a possibility of
bringing Bolton Point water to the Village of Dryden and at that time the Yellow Barn District
may find it advantageous to join that system. It may never happen, but it would be nice.
The project is behind the anticipated schedule, but at this point the estimated start
would be late summer. If the project is substantially complete by the end of the year, property
owners can expect to see the first district charges on their tax bill in 2015.
One of the most significant pauses in the process will occur after tonight, assuming the
board adopts the resolution. The resolution is adopted subject to permissive referendum. The
board will have to wait a mandatory 30 days to see if a petition for a referendum is recei ved
from the residents.
New water meters will be treated as a separate program. There will be a one-time cost
of about $250 to replace the meters. Once construction commences they will discuss how to
implement that.
No SEQR is required for the resolution.
Supv Sumner closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m. and the board adopted the
following resolution.
RESOLUTION #93 (2014) - APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT TO BE EXPENDED FOR YELLOW BARN
WATER DISTRICT WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, New York (the
"Town") has caused a map, plan and report (the "Maps and Plans") to be prepared in
connection with the proposed establishment and improvement of the Yellow Barn Water
District (the "District"); and
WHEREAS, the boundaries of the District are set forth on Appendix A attached
hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Town proposes to acquire, construct and install a water supply
and distribution system and related facilities in the District (the "Improvements"), consisting of
the acquisition, construction and installation of water transmission mains and lines, and
acquisition of furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required in connection
therewith, all as more particularly described in the Maps and Plans; and
WHEREAS, by resolution adopted on May 17, 2012, the Town Board authorized
the establishment of the District and the acquisition, construction and installation of the
Improvements at a maximum cost of $524,920, with the annual cost to the typical property
owner in the District to be approximately $1,045.01 per year; and
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WHEREAS, on January 10, 2013, the New York State Comptroller approved the
establishment of the District at a cost not to exceed $524,920; and
WHEREAS, based upon bids received for construction of the Improvements, the
Town Board has determined that the maximum cost of the Improvements will be $640,000,
constituting an increase of $115,080 over the original estimated max imum cost; and
WHEREAS, based upon the increase in the maximum cost of the Improvements,
the first-year cost of the District to the typical property in the District is now estimated to be
approximately $1,157.98 per year; and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2014, a resolution was adopted by the Town Board
calling a public hearing to be held on May 29, 2014 to hear all persons interested in proposed
increase in the maximum cost of the Improvements to the District; and
WHEREAS, the resolution was published and posted as required by law; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the matter was held by the Town Board on
May 29, 2014 and the matter was fully discussed and all interested persons were heard.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden hereby determines
that it is in the public interest to authorize the increase in the maximum amount to be
expended for the Improvements and the increased cost of the Improvements will not be an
undue burden on the property which will bear such cost.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Improvements are hereby authorized at a
maximum cost not to exceed $640,000.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is subject to permissive
referendum as provided in Town Law Section 209-h, in the manner provided in Article 7 of the
Town Law, and is subject to the approval of the State Department of Audit and Control in
accordance with Town Law Section 209-h.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Supervisor is hereby authorized and
directed to execute and file on behalf of the Town an appli cation for New York State
Comptroller’s approval of the increase in the maximum cost of the Improvements in form and
substance acceptable to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
2nd Cl Solomon
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Solomon Yes
Supv Sumner Yes
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Supv Sumner said one of the justices attended the Dryden Village public safety meeting
where they discussed the possibility of establishing a traffic violations bureau for the purpose
of dealing with parking tickets in the village. Atty Perkins has prepared a local law which, if
adopted, will allow the court to establish a traffic violations bureau.
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RESOLUITON #94 (2014) – INTRODUCE LOCAL LAW ALLOWING ESTABLISHMENT OF A
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAU
Cl Solomon offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby introduces the following proposed local law
and sets a public hearing on the same for June 19, 2014, at 7:15 p.m.
1. This Local Law is adopted pursuant to authority given towns under of Municipal Home
Rule Law Section 10(1)(i) and General Municipal Law 370 which permit a town to
authorize the town justice court to establish a traffic violations bureau to assist the
court in the disposition of certain infractions in relation to traffic violations .
2. The Town of Dryden Justice Court is hereby authorized to establish a traffic violations
bureau as herein provided.
3. The traffic violations bureau is limited to the disposition of Village of Dryden parking
tickets, to which the alleged violator pleads guilty. All fines assessed for a parking
violation of a Village of Dryden ordinance or local law sh all inure to the Village of
Dryden. All non- guilty pleas shall be subject to adjudication and disposition in the
Court.
4. The town justices are authorized to make arrangements with any public officer
designated by them as may be necessary, convenient or prudent to administer such
bureau including accepting pleas of guilty, collecting fines designated by the Court for
pleas of guilty to such tickets, issuing receipts for such fines collected, accounting, at
least monthly, for monies received, and the payment to the village treasurer, at least
monthly, all such monies received.
5. The town justices are further authorized to do any and all acts, and take any and all
steps necessary, convenient or prudent to implement the traffic violations bureau,
provided such acts and steps are consistent with this local law and General Municipal
Law Article 14-B.
6. The town justices may designate the fines to be paid for parking tickets for those
violators pleading guilty which fines may be satisfied at the bureau, provided su ch fines
are within the limits established as penalties for such offenses.
7. This local law shall take effect upon filing by the Secretary of State.
2nd Cl Sloan
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Solomon Yes
Supv Sumner Yes
Supv Sumner said the board passed a local law in April regarding hiring town
constables. After much debate, they have agreed on a salary of $40 per hour, which is less
than the $50 they were paid as independent contractors. Supv Sumner will send a hire letter
after the board has made the appointments. She noted that James Niemi, David Buck, and
Ralph Gray have served admirably for a number of years and have reluctantly agreed, because
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of their loyalty to the court, to continue at a pay rate significantly lower than their rate as
contractors. They all have previous law enforcement experience.
RESOLUTION #95 (2014) – APPOINT TOWN CONSTABLES
Supv Sumner offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints James Niemi, David Buck and
Ralph Gray to serve as Dryden Town Constables at the rate of $40.00 per hour.
2nd Cl Sloan
Roll Call Vote Cl Sloan Yes
Cl Solomon Yes
Supv Sumner Yes
There being no further business, on motion made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Avery
Town Clerk