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Home My WebLink About2022-03-10TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 1 of 7 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING March 10, 2022 Via Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb (6:35 PM), Cl James Skaley, Cl Loren Sparling, Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez Absent: Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to the Supervisor Supv Leifer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Cl Lamb has another meeting and may be able to join later. FINANCIALS AND HUMAN RESOURCES RESOLUTION #54 (2022) – APPROVE ABSTRACT #3 Cl Skaley offered the following resolution and asked for its approval: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #3, as audited, general vouchers #134 through #217 ($572,578.25) and TA vouchers #10 through #14 ($6,970.58), totaling $579,548.83. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS Deputy Highway Superintendent Highway Superintendent Rick Young announced that his deputy, Ron Senecal, will be retiring at the end of the month and he has appointed Michael Hall to replace him. He has been training under R Senecal for a few days already. RESOLUTION #55 (2022) – APPOINTMENT OF M HALL AS DEPUTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the current Deputy Highway Superintendent, Ronald Senecal, is retiring as of March 31, 2022, TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 2 of 7 Therefore, to ensure a smooth transition of duties, the new Deputy Highway Superintendent, Michael Hall, will start March 7, 2022, RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Michael Hall to the position of Deputy Highway Superintendent. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes R Young reported that NYSDMV has changed the rules on obtaining a CDL. He has experienced difficulty getting CDL drivers, most recently receiving only three applications for a vacancy. The rate of pay here also is problem. He would like to set aside funds for training for current employees to get their CDL and has found a program where most training is provided online then the student attends an in-person class, and the license is guaranteed when finished. The cost is about $3,000. He would like to offer paid training for current employees and add a training budget line and perhaps transfer funds to that. There was discussion about the possibility of a of contract with the employee to stay for a certain period of time or they have to repay the town for the training course. There is a possibility of losing drivers to prevailing wage employers. Clean Energy Planning Position Cl Sparling - "This is the continuation of approved Resolution 200 (from Nov 18 , 2021) that created a Clean Energy planning intern position. Well, after screening over 20 applications and interviewing four candidates for this position, a hiring committee comprised of representatives of the Planning Department and the Climate Smart Task Force have selected Ella Bormet for the position. Ella is a Cornell University sophomore, who is pursuing a Bachelor's in Environment and Sustainability, with a concentration in Sustainable Development and a minor in Climate Change. NYSERDA will fund 90% of her salary and the remaining 10% is covered by a portion of a previous NYSERDA Clean Energy grant already received. I, for one, would welcome Ella into our Dryden family, and ask for the Board's approval to hire her as Dryden's Clean Energy Planning Intern, effective Mar 14, 2022, to Mar 10, 2023." RESOLUTION #56 (2022) – HIRE GABRIELLA (ELLA) BORMET AS CLEAN ENERGY PLANNING INTERN EFFECTIVE MARCH 14, 2022 TO MARCH 10, 202 3 Cl Sparling offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) has offered local municipalities an opportunity to apply for a grant for a Clean Energy Internship, covering 90 percent of the salary; and Whereas, a portion of a previous NYSERDA Clean Energy grant already received can be applied to the Town of Dryden’s 10 percent match, and Whereas, the Dryden Town Board approved creation of the internship position on November 18, 2021, and TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 3 of 7 Whereas, Tompkins County Civil Service has approved an update to an existing Planning intern position job description for the Town of Dryden internship, and Whereas, a hiring committee, comprised of representatives of the Planning Department and the Climate Smart/Clean Energy Community Task Force, screened more than 20 applications and interviewed four candidates for this position, and Whereas, the committee selected Gabriella (Ella) Bormet, a Cornell University sophomore, who is pursuing a bachelors degree in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainable Development and a minor in Climate Change, and Whereas, both Tompkins County Civil Service and NYSERDA have approved Gabriella Bormet’s application for the internship, and Whereas, the intern will work under the supervision of the Town of Dryden Planning Director and the Climate Smart Coordinator, with both remote and on site assignments, now Therefore, be it resolved, that the Town of Dryden Board approves the employment of Gabriella (Ella) Bormet as Clean Energy Planning Intern, at a salary of $17 per hour, for up to 15 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 30 hours per week during the summer, effective March 14, 2022, through March 10, 2023, which coincides with the 12 -month period of the NYSERDA grant. 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Broadband Purchase Orders The board considered quotes from Graybar for equipment for the broadband project. No payment is made until the equipment is delivered. RESOLUTION #57 (2022) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF ZYXEL EQUIPMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the purchase of Zyxel wireless routers and extenders for the broadband project as detailed in Graybar Quote #0239973120 in the amount of $40,804.90. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #58 (2022) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF VERTIV EQUIPMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 4 of 7 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the purchase of Vertiv Corp outdoor cabinets for the broadband project as detailed in Graybar Quote #0240106192 in the amount of $19,488.07. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #59 (2022) – AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF COMMONSCOPE EQUIPMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the purchase of Commonscope fiber interfaces and drop cables for the broadband project as detailed in Graybar Quote #0240126072 in the amount of $637,089.50. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes RESOLUTION #60 (2022) – AUTHORIZE LICENSE FEES FOR BROADBAND PROJECT Cl Skaley offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the purchase of license fees for the broadband project as detailed in Graybar Quote #029388667 in the amount of $1,969.00. 2nd Supv Leifer Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Recreation Partnership Agreement Board members have reviewed the proposed Intermunicipal Recreation Partnership Agreement for 2023 through 2027. RESOLUTION #61 (2022) – APPROVE RECREATION PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the Intermunicipal Recreation Partnership Agreement as presented for a term beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2027, and the Town Supervisor is authorized to execute the same. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 5 of 7 Supv Leifer Yes Youth Services Agreement An agreement (attached) with Cornell Cooperative Extension has been presented to provide services to the town. RESOLUTION #62 (2022) – APPROVE AGREEMENT FOR YOUTH SERVICES Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the agreement presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide youth services to the town for the sum of $112,216.00 according to the terms of the agreement. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Town of Dryden Affordable & Workforce Housing Committee The Planning Board is aware of the formation of this committee and will designate a member to serve on this committee. The proposed resolution was discussed and clarified, resulting in a slight revision. The committee will bring in others from time to time when they need more information in specific areas. RESOLUTION #63 (2022) – ESTABLISHING A TOWN OF DRYDEN AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING COMMITTEE Cl Vargas-Mendez offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, Tompkins County grew moderately in the last ten years, while the percentage of senior citizens increased and youth population decreased, indicatin g changing housing needs, and Whereas, new census data indicates that the Town of Dryden lost population, and Whereas, in the last six years, only 77 single family houses and 119 multi-family units were constructed, and Whereas, of the 1891 rental households in Dryden, 46.2% are cost burdened and 27.3% are severely cost burdened where cost burdened refers to when more than 30 percent of income is going to pay for housing costs such as rent or mortgage, and Whereas, from 2010-2019, the median income of renters has dropped 14.1% while median income for homeowners has increased 5.8%, therefore, it Resolved, that the Town of Dryden will establish an Affordable and Workforce Housing Committee to focus on owner and rental housing deficiencies and identify var ious impediments to the construction and rehabilitation of such housing in the Town and the Villages, and further TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 6 of 7 Resolved, that the committee shall invite various persons with specific knowledge of housing to clarify impediments and possible remedies in promoting the development of workforce and affordable units in the Town, and further Resolved, this committee shall report to the Town Board and be comprised of 7 members, including two Town Board members, representatives of each of the two villages, one Planning Board member, and other knowledgeable persons who may contribute to the efforts of the committee. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Broadband Contract – Supv Leifer presented a proposed master service agreement with GraybaR for installation of the fiber project and asked for authority to sign it, pending approval by the town attorney. Construction will begin with a pilot project in the Etna area, then proceed along the railbed to Freeville and the Village of Dryden. RESOLUTION #64 (2022) – AUTHORIZE MASTER AGREEMENT WITH GRAYBAR Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the master agreement with GraybaR for installation of the town fiber project, subject to approval by t he town attorney, and authorizes the town attorney to execute the same. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Local Board of Assessment Review RESOLUTION #65 (2022) – APPOINT LOCAL BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints James Skaley and Leonardo Vargas- Mendez to serve on the Local Board of Assessment Review for 2022. 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Skaley Yes Supv Leifer Yes Tompkins County Assessment will be notified of the appointment and the town’s preferred date for the review (May 13, 2022). TB 3-10-22 D R A F T Page 7 of 7 Cl Lamb joined the meeting at 6:35 p.m. COUNTY BRIEFING Mike Lane announced the County Legislature will meet on Thursday next week, so there will be no county representatives available for the Town Board meeting. The county is conducting local assessment reviews because of the number of assessment changes. Local boards can only make recommendations and staff from County Assessment will be present as well as county legislators. Proposed changes are currently on the county website. The county is close to naming a new county administrator. TC3 is very close to naming a new president. Construction will move forward on the bridge in Etna over Fall Creek Road. The independent redistricting committee continues to meet . They have started looking at sketches of different possibilities and different scenarios. M Lane recommends an odd number of legislative districts. There are new state rules about the deviation a district can have in population. It was a 10% deviation and is now 5%. Community of interest is considered when looking at the scenarios, as well as regularity in size is important, and the number of districts in the city. Board members may provide concerns and comments directly to the committee. Cl Lamb is concerned about lowering the speed limit on the entire length of Game Farm Road. A trail crossing there will be finalized next week. Lowering the speed limit may result in a plan that works without restructuring the road itself. He asked M Lane to support the request for a lower speed limit. Mike Bishop and Kathy Russell have asked the town to consider a resolution entitled Resolution Urging the Department of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs to Heed Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Removal of Clint Halftown from Representative Role. After a brief explanation, this will be added to next week’s agenda. Varna Sewer Project – They don’t expect a lot of bidding, and there is no guarantee on pricing. Cl Lamb said he expects a good funding announcement for the pedestrian bridge over Route 13. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk