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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-10 - TB TOWN OF ULYSSES REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 10,2004 PRESENT : Supervisor Doug Austic , Town Councilpeople Lee Scott, Robert Weatherby; Roxanne Marino and Don Ellis ; Town Clerk Marsha Georgia; Highway Superintendent James Meeker and Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun. Others Present : Richard Coogan, Chairman Planning Board, Steve Ferrari of the Trumansburg Free Press and Michele Reaves of the Ithaca Journal . Supervisor Austic called the meeting to order at 7 : 30 pm, and lead those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Austic asked if everyone had a chance to read the minutes and if there were any comments . Ms. Marino stated that she has lots of editorial stuff January 13 , 2004 - Regular Town Board Meeting Page 5 — Water District Report — change Forman to foreman Page 5 — PWC Regulation — Ms. Marino said she could send the Clerk the her corrections — the change is to strike out what Mr. Austic had stated about her attending the meeting - Ms. Marino believes this was not so that it was about him attending the meeting. Page 9. under the appointments — Joint Youth Commission Liaison — she feels that she agreed to this appointment Ms . Marino asked if she should give the Clerk left out words and such. Mr. Austic stated that yes, as long it does not change the contents . Page 14 — she would rather see the whole thing about the Zoning Ordinance reflect a little more of the discussion — a couple of things in the argument that are not there. After a long discussion of the changes Ms. Marino would like to see in the minutes, they were tabled until the next meeting. Mrs . Georgia asked for her notes so she could make changes . Ms . Marino stated she would email them to her. January 17, 2004 - Special Town Board Meeting Ms. Marino made the following changes and comments : 3rd paragraph 1st page — removes in lieu of absence — replace with the absence. 2nd paragraph 1st page — insert hiring and duties of before Deputy Supervisor 2nd page — will give these changes to Ms . Georgia. January 26, 2004 - Special Town Board Meeting Mr. Ellis would like the minutes to reflect that at one point Mr. Brown was offering to use wood on the front part of the barn and so fourth and he feels that statement is a significant statement. Mr. Ellis knows that the Planning Board is going to have another look at things . Mr. Scott stated that he also indicated that it would be one side of the barn. Ms . Marino stated that she understood that he had said the sides facing the road . Mr. Austic agreed that he had said the side facing the road. Mr. Scott stated that this is a discussion for the Planning Board. Mr. Brown will look into this wood siding. Ms. Marino wants added into the minutes her statement that she is very much in favor of this project but she wanted to express the concern about the metal siding not meeting the Comprehensive Plan, in preserving the essential character structure in the neighborhood Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 and that she has heard concerns about PDD ' s being used as sin zoning and that the Town could be sued for that. Mr. Austic stated that the January 13 , 2004 Regular Town Board Meeting would be tabled and asked for a resolution to adopt the January 17 , 2004 and January 26, 2004 Special Town Board Meetings with the foregoing changes . Mr. Ellis moved seconded by Ms . Marino the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the minutes of the Special Town Board Meetings of January 17 and 26, 2004 as amended. Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms . Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Mr. Weatherby moved seconded by Mr. Scott the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the previously examined vouchers #23 through #77 in the amount of $ 55 , 517 . 15 . Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms . Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. Mr. Scott asked about the voucher tabled at the January meeting for $900 for dues for Cayuga Lake Watershed. Mr. Austic had discussed this with Mr. Kennedy and he feels that it is a worthwhile membership . Mr. Ellis would have liked to discuss this directly with George Kennedy but he is out of Town now . Mr. Scott moved, seconded by Mr. Ellis the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the voucher tabled at January' s meeting and included it in this payment as voucher #78 in the amount of $900 for dues to Cayuga Lake Watershed . Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms. Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Tompkins County Representative Peter Penniman — absent:. Trumansburg Fire Department — no representative. Planning Board Report, Chairman Richard Coogan reported that the Planning Board would address Site Plan Review for Flo-Tech on Wednesday. Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 Mr. Coogan stated that after a discussion of his acceptance of Deputy Supervisor position he is willing to step down, as Chair of the Planning Board and Rod Porter is willing to step in as Chair if that would please the Board. Mr. Austic suggested getting a formal recommendation from the Planning Board. Mr. Ellis asked if Planning Board members were each appointed by the Board or is that a • Superintendents appointment. Mr. Austic stated that the Board appoints them each for seven years . The letters were discussed from interested applicants for the Planning Board . Two have been received and others maybe forth coming and anyone interested should be encouraged to have them in before the March meeting. Others Representative to Joint Youth Committee Michel Vonderweidt - Mr. Vonderweidt introduced himself and stated that he is also the representative to the Recreation Partnership in Ithaca. Mr. Vonderweidt stated that the Recreation Partnership is at a cross roads this year losing the State funding, County funding, and expenses up by $53 , 000 for facility fees that the City of Ithaca has decided to impose on the partnership. The Recreation Partnership feels that it is a very good idea to invite all the officials from all the member communities to come down to the annual meeting on March 4th. This will give everyone a chance to ask questions as to the future of the Recreation Partnership . Mr. Vonderweidt handed out invitations . He would like to see two or three people from Ulysses because there will be some tough questions asked like can we afford it, the number of kids being served, and cost of programs . Mr. Ellis asked for a brief description of the Recreation Partnership . Mr. Vonderweidt explained that this was formed by all of the municipalities in the County except for Lansing. The programming is currently only offered by the Ithaca Youth Bureau and most of it is held in Stewart Park or Buttermilk Park. It is to complement what is offered locally. Like certain programs you could not offer locally because it is two kids from Trumansburg, two youth from Groton, two from another community. You cannot run a program for two youths , but by grouping them you have a program with a dozen or so youths . These are programs all year round. It has everything for example : drama, Cass Park sailing and swimming, a lot of outdoor education programs year round. Mr. Austic stated that the Town is paying around $ 6500 a year for membership . Mr. Vonderweidt stated there are approximately 300 kids participating roughly 50% from the Ithaca City School district and 50% from the Trumansburg School district TOWN REPORTS Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported that for the month his crew plowed and salted as needed, worked everyday since the weekend of January 3rd, have made repairs as needed, when not plowing or pushing back snow they are overhauling the trucks . The speed limit request for Searsburg road has been sent to NYS DOT . Mr. Meeker is looking into participating in "OLD TIRE PICKUP" this year. The Soil & Conservation will do the advertising and fliers and they will also handle the sorting of the tires . They will pay the Town of Ulysses $ . 25 per tire to haul them away and will charge $ 1 to leave the tire . The $ . 25 will handle the fuel costs for the Town. It is more a public service. The date has not been set. Mr. Scott moved, seconded by Mr. Weatherby the following : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves that Highway Superintendent James Meeker work with Soil & Conversation to set up a day for a "tire collection day". Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms. Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye Adopted. • Mr. Austic had discussed with Mr. Meeker a new treatment for salt that is suppose to make salt work better on the roads when the temperature is 10° below or more. This additive would increase the salt price by another $ 10 per ton. Mr. Meeker may try some of this to see how it works next year. Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun reported that two permits were issued for additions and the Zoning Board of Appeals heard one area variance because a garage exceeds 20 ' in height. Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia reported that $ 1 , 164. 30 was collected in clerk fees for the month of January of that $ 732 was turned over to the Supervisor along with her monthly report. To date the total collected in taxes is $2,317 ,264. The Town' s levy has been totally paid to the Supervisor, a total of $7045 was paid to the County for the service charges on installment payments which 207 property owners took advantage of and a payment on the 2004 Tax Warrant of $ 1 , 550,000 to the County was made. Board Members and Committees Councilman Ellis reported he had met with the Trumansburg Fire Chief Jack Fulton and was very impressed as always, that he runs a great operation. When Mr. Ellis was visiting the fire hall training was going on and it was really an impressive group of people of all sorts and different ages . He cannot say enough good about that fire department.. Mr. Ellis stated that he has been told respectively that all the fire trucks are 4-wheel drive vehicles and that is not so — there is only one tanker truck that is 4-wheel drive. One of the concerns brought up by the Chief and brought up in previous meetings are the long driveways . The Chief stated that unless it is or has been a dry spell the trucks couldn 't go down these driveways . Mr. Ellis stated that what came up in a meeting discussing flag lots is there should be a good standard for those driveways . Mr. Ellis feels this is a good thing to think about. If a driveway is longer than a certain distance there should be different standards than a regular driveway. Mr. Rachun explained about the process when getting a building permit. Ms . Marino asked if maybe it wouldn ' t be a good idea to get from the fire department what they would recommend as a driveway to make it more accessible for the trucks and give this to property owners . Mr. Austic stated that you could not require them to do it. Ms . Marino said maybe it would just be a helpful thing if Alex had it when people come for building permits. Mr. Coogan stated that he would inquire as to how other Towns are handling this same problem . Mr. Ellis went on to state that the big thing in the Fire Department is the administrative adjustments of having full time salaried people for the ambulance and EMT . Supervisor Austic asked if everyone got a copy of the operating statement for this month and asked if anyone had any questions. No questions heard. OLD BUSINESS Water District #3 Progress Report Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 Mr. Austic reported that last week the water line was chlorinated from our water pump to the Town of Ithaca line. Bolton Point requested that this be done. Also Verizon has hooked up two lines that are necessary to run the pumps . Now we are waiting for the weather to improve to chlorinate the rest of the line. PWC Regulations Discussion Mr. Austic talked with the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca and they have a couple of changes that they want to change or add to the Lansing Law . One of them is in the fourth whereas it states " 100 to 250 feet for a 10 mile an hour zone". They want to change that to 500 feet there and in Section 5 . Also take out the i , ii ,iii under Section 5 . The Town of Ithaca will make those changes and schedule a Public Hearing in March. The Town of Ulysses can do the same thing. It turns out that most of the 3000 signatures on the petition received are not residents of the Ulysses, only about 100 of them . Ms. Marino asked about Section 9 and Mary Shelley ' s comments . Mr. Austic stated that she would be at the hearing not to change it at this time . It was the general consensus to put this out for public comments . Mr. Coogan reviewed the meetings that are scheduled for February and March as follows : Public Informational Meetings on Draft Zoning Ordinance February 24, 2004 at 7 PM in the High School Cafeteria March 4th, 2004 at 7 : 30 PM at the Francis Racker Center, Wilkins Road 3rd meeting not set as yet. The Town Board discussed how to publicize the meetings and decided to advertise in both the Ithaca Journal and the Free Press . Mr. Coogan reported that January 5th Draft Zoning Ordinance, map and chart are now posted on the Town ' s website. Hazard Mitigation Public Input February 25th, 2004 at Jacksonville Community Church 7 : 15 PM March 3rd, 2004 at Francis Racker Center, Wilkins Road Recreation Partnership March 4th at Human Services Building Regular Town Board March 9th, 2004 Town Hall Planning Board Meeting - Public Hearing Flo-Tech March 11th, 7 PM Town Hall Joint Town Board II Planning Board - Ron Mead Ag and Markets Representative March 17th, 2004 at 7 PM at Town Hall Considering the above schedule the Public Hearing for the PWC was set for March 30, 2004 at 7 : 00 PM to be held at the Town Hall. Other Mr. Austic reported on the Village Board SEQR process for the Auble Hearing and that they voted to declare a negative declaration. The Village has scheduled a meeting to vote Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 on the annexation. If they adopt the annexation the Village and Town will have to file Orders of Acceptance with the County Clerk and than have a Special Election allowing the registered voters within the annexed property to vote. NEW BUSINESS ft K. j . Blanding Electric Inc. Payment Request Supervisor Austic received the payment request and also the recommendation from the engineers for the first payment . Mr. Austic moved, seconded by Mr. Weatherby the following: WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has received the certified Second Submission for work completed through January 20, 2004 Contract No . 1B — Electrical Construction DWSRF Project No . 16097 and WHEREAS, the total amount of work done to date is $ 17 ,440 .00 . No monies are being requested for stored materials under this payment and, WHEREAS, a retainage of five percent (5 %) of the value of work done to date, totaling $ 872 . 00, has been withheld from the payment per the Contract Specifications and WHEREAS, the total amount due the contractor for the second payment is $ 15 ,228 . 00 and, WHEREAS, Barton & Loguidice, after review, authorize the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses to make the second payment to Blanding Electric , Inc . in the amount of $ 15 ,228 . 00 for work completed for the period ending January 20, 2004 . NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses authorizes Supervisor Austic to issue a check to Blanding Electric , Inc . in the amount of $ 15 ,228 . 00 for the second payment for Town of Ulysses Water District No . # 3 Water System Improvements . Mr. Austic aye Mr. Scott aye Mr. Weatherby aye Ms . Marino aye Mr. Ellis aye . Adopted. Zoning Ordinance Mr. Austic announced the meeting with Ron Mead of NYS Ag; and Markets for March 17 , 2004 at the Town Hall . Mr. Austic asked Mr. Coogan about the "Bus Trip" and he stated that the Planning Board was going to discuss the particulars about taking a tour of the Town. Mr. Coogan asked about the format that would be used for the Zoning Informational Meetings? Mr. Austic stated that George Frantz did the presentation at one and he did the other one . If Mr. Frantz were available that would be a good idea. We could open it up for discussion and/or questions and the Board could answer that. Mr. Frantz will be asked to provide a written presentation and also to email it prior to the meeting to the Board Members . This presentation will be made available as a handout at the meeting. . The arrangements will be made so that both the Planning Board and the Town Board will be seated in front of the residents attending the informational meeting. 1; Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 Disaster Mitigation Joint Meetings The meetings for public input have been set — previously stated. Ms. Marino asked for some explanation of the plan. Mr. Austic outlined the draft intermunicipal plan that was drafted by The Thomas Group — Tetra-Tech Company for Tompkins County Planning Board. Only one copy of the draft plan was received and that is in the Conference room where it is available for inspection. It is also on the Tompkins County web page and at the libraries . Ms. Marino suggested that when we do advertising for the meetings we make that information available. When this was started the Village and School were both approached to attend the County meetings and they declined. At this time Mr. Austic feels they need to be involved with the local meetings. This plan needs to be in place or no one within the town will be able to apply for Federal FEMA monies after a disaster. Tompkins County Budget Meeting Vote Tompkins County has provided a list of places to consider for intermunicipal cost savings . Mr. Austic reviewed the list, which includes the following categories : • Sheriff/Police • Highway Issues (snow removal, town/county roads) • Youth • Planning (aquifer study, circuit rider, GIS support) • Unified Court • Libraries • Environmental Health • Elections • Community college • Fire Services • Human Services • Cooperation between Police (Cornell, IC and Ithaca City etc) • Public Transportation • Affordable Housing • Health Insurance • Commercial Development • Tax Collection After a discussion of the different areas it was a general consensus of the Town Board that at the meeting to be held on March 1st, 2004 at the County the following three areas may warrant consideration : • Highway Issues • Health Insurance • Youth There was a discussion about forming a group to discuss combining the efforts of the Town, Village and School and forming a Ulysses Youth Service and provide more services locally. This may be something in the future if the Recreation Partnership becomes too costly. Ms . Marino has a letter from an interested person and she also would be interested in maybe forming a committee when the time presents itself Stormwater Progress Mr. Austic felt that the Stormwater meetings could be tabled because we have more time to set up what is needed to fulfill the Notice of Intent . Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 Mr. Coogan explained briefly what he was doing as to what is defined in the Notice of Intent and the time frame . Ms . Marino is interested in forming a committee . Mr. Austic stated to go ahead, get together with Mr. Coogan and maybe get a couple of other people. Ms . Marino has a name of a person that has voiced interest. Deputy Supervisor Position Appointment Supervisor Austic announced that he has appointed Richard Coogan as his Deputy Supervisor. Mr. Austic reported that he received five applications and he reviewed and interviewed all of them . Mr. Coogan was the most qualified for the position because of what he is doing at this point. Other New Business Ms. Marino suggested having a one question handout that people could fill out when they come to the Zoning Informational Meetings or when they pick up a draft plan or even having it available on the Town Web Page that just says "what in your view is the purpose of the Agricultural Zone" . Then these would be compiled and would give the Board some sense as to where the people that are participating are coming from Mr. Ellis stated that the thing you would be asking to poll is just that one part of the zoning, the part establishing the agricultural district. Ms . Marino stated yes because that is the one that there is the most difficulty in coming to any sort of consensus about. She thought that it could be a piece of information that could be potentially helpful and would be a good time to ask this when we are having the informational meetings . The information could also be used when reviewing the Comprehensive Plan in 2/3 years . Mr. Ellis stated that there are at least a couple of reasons to ask those kinds of questions ; one is to really chase a point where there is a piece of information that you really want to know but the other one is that it is just part making a meeting worthwhile when people get a hand out, sort of mind jogging questions so they start to get into thinking what' s going on. Mr. Austic stated that however the original intent was to preserve agricultural land. During discussion open space came up and than it got into discussions of view and those kinds of things . Ms . Marino stated, one scenario, as she has heard a lot of people say is, including some farmers, is that farming may not go on because they do not have the next generation that wants to do it and so it may not be here . Ms . Marino dose not want that nor do most, but should that happen we should be thinking in terms of how we try to plan and how the land is used, if there is anything as a Town that we can do to direct things to grow in a way that we view the Town wants according to the Comprehensive Plan and what people think at these meetings . In that sense of "what do you view as important" in the purpose of this ordinance, asking a question like that it seems to her would be helpful . Mr. Austic stated he was looking through the Town Budget and he purposes that the Town set aside $50 to $75 thousand in a reserve account to purchase development rights in the future. The Town has the money to do that and not to say it would happen today or tomorrow. Mr. Ellis stated that he thinks that it is one of those kinds of things where right from the start it is really good to see what other kinds of support for that, not so much to save the money but to be careful not to have the Town fund something, themselves but people come in. The leadership issue is a real big thing. Ms . Marino thought that the Town should consider it, but she feels like she would like to think about it some more before she just said yes. Something to consider in the next 2 to Q Regular Town Board Meeting 2/ 10/2004 3 years, really look at this stuff, start to plan, talk to the people involved, there are not that many of these large farmers so why don' t we talk to them. Mr. Austic said that they come to meetings and they start talking, they get a little angry and then everyone says we don' t need to listen to these people, he has heard it several times, several meetings . Ms . Marino said than lets try again with a different mechanism, we ' ve got to get the zoning ordinance revision through first thing through but she is saying to work further on this over the next 2 to 3 years . Mr. Scott stated there is more acreage controlled that is not controlled by farmers and very few of these people have been approached and they should be approached more than the farmers . Ms . Marino agreed with that. We are doing something based on worrying about the farmers and I think we should worry about farmers but we should also worry about what the plan is for the people that do not want to farm . Mr. Austic stated that what you can not do — you can ' t — law will say you can ' t tell a guy the he cannot use his land because it is open space or a view, unless you pay him for it . Ms. Marino said yes she understands that they would have to be compensated for that, but you can say that you cannot put twenty homes in a row , all lined up . Mr. Austic said no the Town is not saying that — they are saying every 500 ' is not twenty houses in a row . Mr. Austic went on to state that what is failing to be seen, in his opinion, things are not happening, things are not going the way a lot of people are thinking they are, they might but they are not. Mr. Austic stated that one of the first steps is to define "open space" . Mr. Ellis stated that Mr. Austic ' s suggestion of the setting aside $ 50/$75 for development purchases is a great one and should be studied, brought out to the public so it brings enthusiasm and other money because there are folks that own large pieces of land that he has talked with who really are looking to how they can sort of plug into that. Mr. Austic stated that than there are people that will never sell their land — the things that people think may happen — may never happen — to make a plan to avoid all that and make it real restrictive upon someone else becomes really tough. Ms . Marino said than if she makes a question would Mr. Austic take a look at it? Mr. Austic stated that he would. Hearing no further business Mr. Weatherby moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Scott. Unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned at 9 : 50 PM Respectfully submitted, .. f 1 Marsha L. Georgia L.. Ulysses Town Clerk 0