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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-12TB 5-12-22 Page 1 of 7 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING May 12, 2022 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl James Skaley, Cl Loren Sparling Absent: Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Cassie Byrnes, Secretary to Supervisor Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Supv Leifer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. FINANCIALS & HUMAN RESOURCES Abstract Approval RESOLUTION #83 – APPROVE ABSTRACT #5 Cl Skaley offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves Abstract #5, as audited, general vouchers #323 through #407 ($556,604.23) and TA vouchers #20 through #24 ($69,578.55), totaling $626,182.78. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS Sale of Equipment The Highway Superintendent is requesting permission to auction or trade in equipment. He is hoping that the new trucks that have been ordered will be delivered soon and he can dispose of old equipment while prices are still high. RESOLUTION #84 (2022) – AUTHORIZE SALE OR TRADE OF EQUIPMENT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Highway Superintendent is hereby authorized to sell or trade -in the following equipment with the proceeds being returned to the equipment budget line (DA-5130.2): TB 5-12-22 Page 2 of 7 • Chevrolet Silverado 3500H VIN #1GC4KZCG4CF205394 • Peterbilt VIN #1XP5DB9X8TV369930 • New Holland Tractor T600 Series and mower 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Establish Standard Workday and Reporting A resolution was presented to establish the standard workday for the Highway Superintendent and Town Supervisor. Resolution #85 - (2022) Establish Standard Work Day and Reporting Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Town of Dryden hereby establishes the following as standard work days for elected officials and will report the following days worked to the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System based on the record of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the clerk of this body: Title Name Standard work day (hrs/day) Current term begins/ends Participates in employer's time keeping system Y/N Record of Activities Results Highway Superintendent Richard Young, Jr 8 1/1/2022 to 12/31/2025 N 25.36 Town Supervisor Jason Leifer 6 1/1/2022 to 12/31/2025 N 14.63 2nd Cl Sparling Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Municipal Solutions Agreement Supv Leifer explained this proposed agreement is related to broadband bonding and reporting for both the RAN and BAN. TB 5-12-22 Page 3 of 7 RESOLUTION #86 (2022) – AUTHORIZE AGREEMENT WITH MUNICIPAL SOLUTIONS Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the proposed agreement with Municipal Solutions dated May 10, 2022, and authorizes the Supervisor to execute the same. 2nd Cl Skaley Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Graybar Quotes Supv Leifer explained that the board previously approved a quote, but Graybar was able to secure the materials at a lower price. The board should rescind the previous approval and approve the new one. Resolution #87 - (2022) Rescinding Resolution #59 of 2022, adopted on March 10, 2022 Authorizing Purchase of CommScope Equipment Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, at a regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Dryden, held on March 10, 2022, the Town Board adopted the following resolution: Resolution #59 of 2022 which authorized the Town to purchase CommScope fiber interfaces and drop cables for the broadband project detailed in Graybar Quote #0240126072 in the amount of $637,089.50. Whereas, after this resolution was approved, our supplier, Graybar, was able to obtain the same cables at a lower price due to price fluctuations in the fiber industry. Resolved, that the Town Board of the town of Dryden hereby rescinds resolution #59 of 2022, effective immediately. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Resolution #88 (2022) - Authorizing Purchase of CommScope Equipment Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town Board has rescinded a prior resolution authorizing the purchase of CommScope Equipment for the Broadband Project but a lower price was obtained after the approval. Resolved, that this Town Board hereby approves and authorizes the purchase of material s detailed in Graybar Quote #0240459490 in the amount of $526,052.50 . 2nd Cl Lamb TB 5-12-22 Page 4 of 7 Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Hunt Design Phase 2 Proposal Hunt has submitted a proposal for Phase 2 in the Village of Dryden. The board tabled action to next week. Accept Dedication of Twister Way and Phantom Drive This action is related to the agreement with the Cornelius family to acquire property behind town hall and property for the rail trail. The to wn has approved an easement for Cornelius to access his remaining property behind town hall and now will accept Twister Way and Phantom Drive as town roads. R Young said there is documentation from the previous Highway Superintendent that the roads met his specs at that time. RESOLUTION #89 (2022) - ACCEPTING DEDICATION OF HIGHWAYS – TWISTER WAY AND PHANTOM DRIVE Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, on May 20, 2010 the Town of Dryden Planning Board granted to Bernard and Sandra Cornelius subdivision approval for a subdivision to be known as Manhattan Estates Phase I; and Whereas, the final plan for said subdivision was filed in the Office of the Tompkins County Clerk on July 7, 2020, together with approval of the Tompkins County Health Department for said subdivision; and Whereas, said subdivision approval provided for dedication to the Town of two roads to be known as Twister Way and Phantom Drive; and Whereas both Twister Way and Phantom Drive have been constructed and maintained by Cornelius, each with a standard 60-foot right of way to the standard for town roads effective at the time of their construction; and Whereas, said Twister Way and Phantom Drive have been inspected by the Town Superintendent of Highways, Mr. Richard Young, Jr., and pronounced by him to be in satisfactory condition and suitable for use as town highways; and Whereas, Cornelius have requested that the Town accept the dedication to the Town as town highways the said Twister Way and Phantom Drive, Now, therefore, it is hereby Resolved, that the Town upon the presentation to the Town of a deed in good form as approved by the attorney for the Town, accept as Town highways said Twister Way and Phantom Drive; and it is further Resolved, that the Town Supervisor is authorized to execute and deliver as the act of the Town such documents as may be required to give effect to this Resolution. 2nd Cl Lamb TB 5-12-22 Page 5 of 7 Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Comp Plan Amendment John Kiefer explained New York State law regarding comprehensive plans uses the word amendment, so you can adopt a plan and then amendment. Using the word amendment means that we are keeping the 2005 plan and amending this to it. The board scheduled a public hearing on the amendment to the comp plan for June 16, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. There was some discussion on the process if the Town Board were to make changes to the comp plan amendment. If the change is more than a clarification, they will discuss it with the Comp Plan Committee/Planning Board. Safety and Preparedness Committee Nicole Koekebacker has agreed to serve as Chair of this committee. RESOLUTION #90 (2022) – APPOINT CHAIR OF SAFETY & PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby appoints Nicole Koekebacker as Chair of the Safety and Preparedness Committee. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes Cl Skaley Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Amendment to Open Meetings Law The Open Meetings Law was recently amended to allow members of a public body to videoconference into the meeting so long as a quorum was physically present. The board agreed to use the template provided by Association of Towns to draft a local law. It will be made available prior to the public hearing, which was set for June 16, 2022, at 6:05 p.m. Traffic Calming Request Denial Cl Skaley said last fall the board sent a resolution to DOT asking for certain traffic calming measures as part of their upgrade on Route 366. The final schematic failed to show any significant traffic calming except the possibility of a proposed crosswalk at 902 Dryden Road, and no changes in speed signs. Fernando de Aragon is also unclear whether any traffic calming measures are included in the plan. An email was received from a DOT representative saying those features are not included in the contract plan but that does not preclude the town from installing them by applying for a highway work permit from DOT . Comments during discussion: • DOT sees this as a resurfacing project, not a re-engineering project. • The speed limit is currently 30 mph. TB 5-12-22 Page 6 of 7 • Enforcement of the speed limit would be helpful. • Reduction of travel lanes from 11’ to 10’ would also help. • DOT already has a plan in place. • It appears Region 3 doesn’t have full decision-making authority. • We haven’t been able to lower the speed limit on Game Farm Road. • Changing driver behavior is the real challenge. • They would like to see bike lanes in Varna. COUNTY UPDATE Mike Lane reported the legislature recently held their annual budget retreat. They talked about the economy, consumer prices, the stock market, sales tax receipts, and property assessments. They gave the county administrator instructions to come back with a budget with up to a 1.88% increase in the levy, mostly due to labor contracts and planned increases. Last year the tax cap was 6% and they gave the county administrator authorization to go up to 2% and in the end they had a zero percent increase. These are goals and guidelines for department heads to consider in making their requests. He is glad to see things happening with trails, but was concerned that an article in the Cortland Standard said the trail isn’t likely to extend to Cortland because the railroad right-of- way has been plowed over. He hopes that isn’t the case and would like to see an extension of the trail into Cortland County. He suggested partnering with the Town of Cortlandville and Cortland County. A change in land use from an embankment to a plowed field should not deter us from looking at ways to move forward. Cl Lamb said it has been discussed with the Comp Plan Committee and RTTF and they feel it is a project for another time. M Lane said he hopes there isn’t a defeatist attitude. TC3’s new president is Dr. Amy Kremenek. She has been an administrator at Onondaga Community College, is very well credentialled and they are looking forward to having her at the helm of TC3. There is a report for comment from county independent redistricting commission. They asked for opinions from legislators, and M Lane said we should have a smaller legislature and an odd number of representatives. Their report now indicates 16 districts, again an even number (that has been problematic on a couple of votes). He asked that comments be sent to the commission. Increasing the number of legislators will cost the County more money by requiring more staff support. M Lane is worried about the congressional and senate redistricting. That has been turned over to a special master. Our area has been hurt in the past by dividing the county into three senate districts. We had not been part of the Southern Tier district until recently for congressional purposes. It should be done by community of interest. He has no idea how this will end up. A Steuben County acting judge will be deciding the matter. Supv Leifer compared the Supervisor’s financial report from April 2015 to our current financial situation. Our fund balances are much healthier (some is grant funding). The Town is in better financial health and our fiscal stress number was reduced again this year. Cl Lamb reported he sent a letter to DOT about Game Farm Road (in response to their January denial). He provided numbers from our consultant on stopping distances at speci fic speeds and the benefits of a lower speed zone. It can alter the breaking distance by 240 feet. People are currently ignoring the barriers and crossing the road. He copies Anna Kelles on the letter and is hoping for a positive response. TB 5-12-22 Page 7 of 7 Freese Road Bridge – Cl Lamb reported that Groton is not being responsive about taking the trusses and it is holding up the project. If we don’t hear from them soon, we will go forward with a plan to scrap the trusses. The Feds and state want the historic bridge gated off and left in place and the Town is firm on removing it. R Burger said Route 366 repaving is getting ready to start and the state is looking for a place to store materials and equipment. 5 Freese Road is in the center and ideal for parking equipment on. They are looking for storage for millings (temporarily) at 1622 Dryden (by Elemental Pet Vet). They used that site previously. Both sites have SWWPPS in place and stabilized entrances. There is no mechanism for a temporary use like this, but he wants to funnel them into the best temporary spots. Supv Leifer asked if we could get a temporary permit process in place, and he responded his proposed tactic is amending Section 118 (code enforcement) because the state is pushing out a bunch of amendments to these laws to bring them current with all the new additions to the fire code, etc. Part of that is operating permits and they are adding a lot of things that we should cover under operating permits, and he thinks we could cover temporary contracting yards under operating permits. Nothing exists now, and we must adopt changes by the end of year. A model law is being reviewed by staff. Cl Skaley is concerned with coordination of the state’s repaving project with the town’s water and sewer projects. He will contact the town engineer regarding this. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk