HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-14TB 2-14-19
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
February 14, 2019
Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Linda Lavine,
Cl Alice Green, Cl Kathrin Servoss
Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk
Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent
Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director
Jennifer Case, Bookkeeper
The meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m.
RESOLUTION #44 (2019) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #2
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #2 (including a payment
for ancillary employee benefits $6,614.35 added to abstract), as audited, general vouchers #21
through #96 ($321,577.71) and TA vouchers #34 through #36 ($70,227.18), totaling
$371,804.89.
2nd C1 Servoss
Roll Call Vote C1 Lavine Yes
C1 Servoss Yes
C1 Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
PLANNING DEPT
R Burger said next week there will be a public hearing to amend Section 706 of the
Zoning Law so that it refers to the most current version of LEED instead of the 2009 version.
One place that it was used was for the green redevelopment bonus was the 802 Dryden Road
project.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will move their meetings to a 6:00 p.m. start time.
There are two training opportunities that he would like to get town board approval on
for training credits:
• Upcoming Planning Board meeting at end of February- our town attorney will be doing
a presentation and a Q & A session. The ZBA will be invited to attend.
• Recent training presentation by Tompkins County Planning Department, provided
information for grant opportunities, 239 review process, GIS resources, and a myriad of
topics, it was a 2 hour plus meeting. I would say 1 hour was salient training for the
Planning Board members that did attend.
The board discussed a Storm Water Management Presentation that is coming up on
March 18. Information will be sent to both the Planning Board and the Conservation Board.
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The Trinitas application is still not complete.
Lee Road – TC3 Foundation will do outreach in the neighborhood before bringing an
application to the town.
Housing Conditions Survey – Letters approving the extension and the environmental
review package have been received.
Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission
No report. An application was received from Joanne Holland to fill a vacancy and will be
voted on next week.
Rail Trail Trask Force
Cl Green will bring resolutions to the next meeting to authorize the Rail Trail Task Force
to apply for two different grants from the county. One is a Parks & Trails grant for $5,000 that
relates to improvements and the Task Force would like to ask for three more kiosks. The
second one is a larger grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Fund for capital improvement.
The request is for authorization to apply for help to restore and rebuild bridges along the rail
trail, particularly along the Game Farm to Route 13 section. Cl Green will forward proposed
resolutions to board members that will spell out what the board could potentially authorize the
Task Force to apply for.
Planning Board
The Planning Board is working on a wind law and the building energy subcommittee is
moving ahead with proposed revisions to the Comp Plan.
Town Budget
Supv Leifer reported a final 2018 sales tax payment ($235,066) was received from the
County. That actually counts toward 2019 revenue that was not planned for. He will put in
the A fund (not allocated) for the time being. The board needs to decide whether to put some
aside for trails for local match. Some can go toward the defibrillator request by the Highway
Superintendent. The board can vote next week to order those and the money can come out of
the sales tax money. A budget modification will be necessary.
Association of Towns
Supv Leifer will go to the AOT meeting and accept the Comp Alliance award on behalf of
town. The award is largely due to highway department efforts and procedures for safety.
Broadband Study
Supv Leifer and Cl Lamb had a second meeting with Hunt Engineering last week. Supv
Leifer would like to allocate some of the sales tax money towards payment of their proposal to
do a full study about bringing real broadband competition to the town through a municipal
broadband service. A rough cost estimate is $12 million for the construction. For the
construction to pay for itself, you would only need about 2,000 households to subscribe at
roughly $50/month. Speeds higher than anything Spectrum has could be achieved. It would
not involve television. Information gathered would be used to apply for grants and loans for
construction. The proposal is for $25,000 for the study and $5,000 for possible expenses.
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This is worth doing. Spectrum won’t share what areas they cover or don’t cover, DSL is not
highspeed and Clarity’s network is spotty. Assuming this moves forward, Dryden could be the
first municipality in the state to do this. The study would also look at funding models. Supv
Leifer will bring a resolution authorizing him to sign a contract for the study to the meeting
next week.
Teamsters Update
The only thing left to do is to get them an updated wage chart and then the bargaining
unit will vote on it. After that the board can accept it. This would be a 4-year contract. Cl
Green would like it to be reviewed by the personnel committee for review/recommendation.
Then the Town Board will review at our March meeting.
Decommissioning resolution
One of the conditions of the Special Use Permit for the s olar projects at 2150 Dryden
Road was for the Town Board to have final approval on the financial security for the
decommissioning. A Decommissioning Bond was calculated following NYSERDA guidance.
This is the same pattern that was used for the Ellis tract that was approved in December. The
resolution also includes giving the supervisor approval for signing the decommission
agreement.
RESOLUTION #45 (2019) - Approving Financial Security for the Potential
Decommissioning of Five Large-Scale Solar Energy Systems at 2150 Dryden Road
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS,
A. SUN8 PDC LLC was granted five Special Use Permits (SUPs) to construct five large-scale
solar energy systems at 2150 Dryden Road in Dryden, New York, on land involving Tax
Parcels #38.-1-3.11, 38.-1-3.12, 38.-1-3.13, 38.-1-3.14 and 38.-1-3.15, and
B. These permits have now been transferred to a new owner, Dryden-Tompkins Solar II,
LLC, and
C. A condition of the SUPs’ approval was that “the Town Board shall determine the amount
of the financial security bonds or other forms of financial security to be provided for
each site, to assure removal of the systems and property restoration”, and
D. The Exhibit A attached to the “Solar Decommissioning Plan –2150 Dryden Road” dated
January 2019 states the basis for the Decommissioning Bond Values (“Bond”) that will
be maintained for the duration of these 5 projects, and
E. This same Exhibit will be made a part of the Decommissioning Agreement (“Agreement”)
to be executed by the permit holder, the landowner and the Town.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
The Town Board finds that the Bond is sufficient to assure the removal of the systems and
property restoration and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the Agreement incorporating
this Bond.
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Exhibit A
Decommissioning Bond Value
Decommissioning Bond Value
Timeframe
(Year) Amount ($)
1 $350,000
2 $350,000
3 $350,000
4 $350,000
5 $350,000
6 $350,000
7 $350,000
8 $400,000
9 $400,000
10 $400,000
11 $400,000
12 $400,000
13 $450,000
14 $450,000
15 $450,000
16 $450,000
17 $450,000
18 $500,000
19 $500,000
20 $500,000
21 $500,000
22 $550,000
23 $550,000
24 $550,000
25 $550,000
26 $600,000
27 $600,000
28 $600,000
29 $650,000
30 $650,000
31 $650,000
32 $650,000
33 $700,000
34 $700,000
35 $700,000
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2nd Cl Green
Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes
Cl Green Yes
Cl Servoss Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Climate Smart Community Task Force
Cl Green will bring a resolution next week that would establish a climate smart
community task force. Just that resolution will get the town a significant number of points
towards certification as a bronze level climate smart community. The task force’s role will be to
guide the process of documenting the steps that Dryden has already taken toward being a
climate smart community. The goal of that designation is to be able to use that status to apply
for a grant that may cover up to half of the expense of the comprehensive plan update. Several
people have stepped forward to be on that task force - John Kiefer (Chair of Planning Board),
Peter Davies (Chair of the Conservation Board), Joe Wilson (Planning Board) and R Burger
(Planning Department) and Cl Green will serve. Cl Green will chair that board. The resolution
will spell everything out and that will go to NYSERDA and get us 20 of the 120 points that we
need toward the bronze designation.
Compensation Study Phase 2
Cl Green said last semester the position analysis part of the study was completed.
There are three 2nd year graduate students who have stepped forward to be on the team to do
the next phase of the study. This will include putting together data that was gathered last
semester and doing an external market analysis of what other comparable municipalities pay
employees. We are on track to get a set of recommendations for a wage system for the town
and hope it will be available in May and can be used for budgeting purposes for 2020.
Emergency Services
The February meeting was cancelled so there was no discussion about the proposed
coordinator position. At the end of the month there will be a meeting of the subcommittee of
the Emergency Services Committee and County studying deficiencies in the departments.
P Brunner reported there is an opportunity through the NYS Local Government
Efficiency Program that will fund a study and advise as to what direction the town should go.
The idea is to consolidate emergency services in the town including the villages of Freeville and
Dryden. We will get ideas about what would work best for the town and hopefully eliminate
any overlap we currently have.
Fire contracts have been signed by all departments for 2019.
All documentation has been received from Etna for 2019. The town will compare call
response rate this year to last year. If the call response increases, previously withheld funds
could be directed to their capital reserve fund. That agreement will be reduced to writing.
Cancer disability benefits – The Village of Dryden wants to divide the cost for Neptune
Hose Company (roughly $2,500) with the town. The Village cites call breakdown and that 2/3
of the calls are outside the Village. The Village of Freeville covers WB Strong Fire Company.
Etna Volunteer Fire covers their coverage directly, Varna Volunteer Fire should be doing the
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same, but all money comes from funds raised by fire district tax and paid to the departments.
Supv Leifer will gather information and the board will take action in March.
Vacation Allocation Policy
There is a proposal that would provide consistency with allocation of vacation leave
between the DPW/highway staff and town staff. DPW employees get it up front at the
beginning of the year, town staff accrue in increments monthly. The goal is to change so that
all employees get vacation time in January of each year. It will be effective January 1, 2020.
This year will be same policy of monthly accruals. This will save time for the payroll clerk. The
advantage is consistency and efficiency.
RESOLUTION #46 (2019) – APPROVE AMENDMENT TO PERSONNEL MANUAL –
VACATION ACCRUAL
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, in 2016 the Highway Department contract author ized Highway/DPW
employees to receive their annual vacation allotment on January 1 each year, rather than in
monthly increments, and
WHEREAS, at the time of the Highway/DPW change, it was also discussed to allocate
town hall staff vacation allotment on January 1 each year, and
WHEREAS, for consistency purposes, payroll staff has recommended that town hall
staff be allocated their full year’s vacation allotment on January 1 each year, now therefore be
it
RESOLVED, that in the interest of efficiency and consistency, the Town Board agrees to
credit town hall employees with their annual vacation time on January 1 each year, beginning
on January 1, 2020, instead of making monthly accruals, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Town of Dryden Personnel Manual be amended to replace the
Vacation Accruals Section in its entirety with the following language:
ACCRUAL
Vacation time will be allocated to each employee on January 1st each year, beginning in 2020.
Permanent employees (including full time or part time employees, excluding temporary and
seasonal employees) shall earn vacation time based on length of service with the Town.
New employees receive 5 days of vacation time on their one-year anniversary. No vacation is
available before their one-year anniversary. Each January 1st thereafter, employees will be
credited with vacation time based on the chart below.
Term of Employment Vacation Days Earned
First Anniversary 5
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2nd year 10
3rd year 11
4th year 12
5th year 13
6th year 14
7th year 15
8th year 16
9th year 17
10th year 18
11th year 19
12th year and beyond 20
Vacation leave shall not exceed 20 work days per year.
Recognizing that vacation time may be used in hours, not just days, vacation hours shall be
determined as follows:
• 40 hour/week employees receive 8 hours/day of vacation
• 35 hour/week employees receive 7 hours/day of vacation
• 25 hour/week employees receive 5 hours/day of vacation
• 20 hour/week employees receive 4 hours/day of vacation
2nd Cl Servoss
Roll Call Vote Cl Lavine Yes
Cl Green Yes
Cl Servoss Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
Social media policy
Cl Servoss asked that this be put on hold. She is working on drafting a policy and will
bring it to the HR committee in the next month or two. Supv Leifer stated the Town’s Facebook
page is his office’s domain. R. McHugh will put press releases and such out that are approved
by Supv Leifer or Cl Lamb. His idea is that what goes on the Facebook page will be mirrored on
the town’s website.
George Road Bridge
Cl Servoss received a call from Barton & Loguidice (B & L) regarding moving the bridge
project forward. We have the permit application to be signed tonight and forwarded to B & L for
the permit through the Department of Environmental Conservation. The State requires that
the town pass a resolution stating the town is willing and able to fund the cost of construction
up front and them be reimbursed by the State through this grant program. We need
reimbursements funded within 30-45 days if submitted on a regular basis. Cl Servoss will
have the resolution ready for next week’s meeting.
Public hearings next week are scheduled on the housing tax exemption and LEED
change.
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Cl Lamb asked for clarification on procedure when a resolution passed by an advisory
board and directed at the town board gets circulated. For example, the Conservation Board
passed a resolution last month, if the Town Clerk or Deputy Clerk is there, and the Chai r asks
that it be forwarded, do they do it? B. Avery responded yes, and the minutes are available on
the website for all to see.
Cl Green asked who is responsible to give feedback to the boards/committees when that
happens. It’s common courtesy for a board member to respond and at least acknowledge
receipt. D. Lamb said the primary liaison to the board/committee is the one that should
respond. It was agreed that it is ok to acknowledge receipt of the correspondence, but no one
person speaks for the Town Board until the Town Board has had a chance to have a discussion
and act on something.
Cl Lamb reported he received word back from the consultant regarding the business
loan fund. The consultant has drafted documents, the application process and the guidelines.
Cl Lamb will run it by his committee and then bring it to Town Board for approval. Hopefully
this will be done within the next month.
Doris Lobdell from the audience had questions regarding the fire coordinator position:
What does the job entail? What do you have to be or do to fill that position? That has not been
determined yet. Supv Leifer said his idea is someone that can help with all the administrative
work for all the departments, and to also act as the Town Board’s liaison. The problem is the
Town Board does not have any fire experience. D. Lobdell asked if it would be advertised in the
paper for discussion. He replied yes, if the position is created it will be paid and we want to
hear what the departments would like to see. This has been talked about off and on over the
years.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously carried the board moved into executive
session at 7:15 p.m. to discuss the proposed acquisition of a parcel of property where public
discussion would substantially affect the value of such parcel. Highway Superintendent Young
was invited to attend. No action was taken and the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Avery
Town Clerk