HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-21TB 7-21-22
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TOWN OF DRYDEN
TOWN BOARD MEETING
July 21, 2022
Zoom Hybrid
Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb,
Cl Loren Sparling, Cl Leonardo Vargas-Mendez
Absent: Cl James Skaley
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 opened the meeting at 6:13 p.m. Board members and the audience
participated in the pledge of allegiance.
Cl Sparling has provided edits for the June meetings to board members and the clerk,
and those edits were made.
RESOLUTION #119 – APPROVE MINUTES
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby approves the meeting minutes of June 9 and
June 16, 2022.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes
Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
PUBLIC HEARING (CONTINUED)
LOCAL LAW TO ALLOW VIDEOCONFERENCING
FOR THE TOWN’S PUBLIC BODIES
Supv Leifer asked if there were any comments on this matter. There were none from the
public or board members. The public hearing was closed at 6:16 p.m.
The Governor has extended the emergency order to allow virtual meetings and the
board did not act on the proposed local law this month. Supv Leifer said the town will need to
provide a link to recordings on the website after it is adopted. According to our town attorney,
the boards affected would be policy-making boards or any committees that have two or more
Town Board members on them.
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PUBLIC HEARING (CONTINUED)
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
Supv Leifer asked if there were comments from the public.
Mckenna Crocker read the following statement:
Good Evening Town Board,
My name is Mckenna Crocker and I am a rising junior at Dryden High School, President of the
Sustainability Club, and voting member on the Town of Dryden Climate Smart Communities Task Force. I
am speaking to you tonight urging you to vote “Yes” on the Dryden 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
The Dryden 2045 Comprehensive Plan, including the Climate Action Plan, is a forward -thinking robust
plan with a clear purpose. It has realistic targets and suggests strategies for how to achieve those
goals. The plan provides many options that are no-cost or low-cost, and the Town has already
implemented many of these at the local level.
At the High School, our Sustainability Club has tackled important environmental and climate -related
issues including enhancing and improving our cafeteria recycling and composting efforts, performing
energy audits, creating a campus trail system, collaborating with other schools in the Central NY Youth
Climate Summit, and most recently we’ve been working with NYSERDA, Cornell Cooperative Extension,
NYSEG, School Administration, and the District Facilities and Grounds to acquire a double port Electric
Vehicle Charging Station for the middle/high school campus. The Sustainability Club has fundraised to
offset the installation costs and will continue to fundraise each ye ar to offset the annual electricity
costs. We are planning to make charging free for all staff, students and community visitors, and due to
our fundraising and grants, there will be no charge to the District for the station, installation, or
charging. We still need to have a few conversations with our school administration to gain final approval,
but the other pieces are in place. I share all of this, because this is the work of students who have a
collective mindset that we are in a climate crisis and the time to sit and do nothing has long since
passed.
The time is now for us to pass the Dryden 2045 Comprehensive Plan and continue our proud tradition of
being a leader in the region and beyond.
Thank you for your time.
Martha Robertson spoke in support of the plan. She said a huge amount of work has
gone into this and it is a real revision. It’s time to move ahead with this. She formerly
represented Dryden as a county legislator and is a current member of the town’s workforce and
affordable housing committee. There is so much in the comp plan that the housing committee
will be able to look at and see how they can facilitate making some of these things happen.
She hopes that we will be able to continue to make use of the good data and good information
in the plan. It contains a strong sense of what the values are for the town. She hopes the
board will move ahead and adopt the plan.
Alice Green again thanked the students for their support for this plan. It has been
wonderful to have them be involved. At the last public hearing she made a lot of thank yous,
but left Ray Burger out. In addition to thanking John Kiefer and our consultant, Sam Gordon,
for guiding us through the process, and the Town Board and Planning Board for all their work.
She thanked Ray Burger for being steady and so supportive throughout the entire process.
There were no further comments, and the hearing was closed at 6:22 p.m.
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Cl Lamb remarked that considering all input this received, it is kind of quiet to pass it
with a few people in the room and a few online. To those people already mentioned he added
the members of the steering committee: John Kiefer, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, Linda Wagenet,
Craig Anderson, Joseph Wilson, Tony Salerno, Dan Bussmann, Alice Green and Simon St
Laurent. A lot of thought, hours, and long meetings have gone into this. It’s been quite a
process. Ray Burger, Sam Gordon and our consultant team have been fantastic in putting this
together. The community has been woven through this whole document. The process began
in 2019. It took a little longer than expected and with time it has aged well. The plan provides
current and future board and committee members a lot of things that we can do in various
areas. This is a document of who we are. We have a climate action plan , and not many other
municipalities have that. This is a document that puts our views on paper and puts up for
review what this town stands for. He is glad to hear the voices in support of it. There is n o
dissent tonight and that is affirming for all the work that has gone into it.
Cl Sparling said he contributed to the edits, but could not have edited it without it
being a solid piece to begin with. It is chock full of valuable information. The plan is quite
readable. He thanked everyone involved and the residents who are the foundational piece to
the document.
Cl Vargas-Mendez thanked the Planning Board and Ray Burger for all the work that has
been done. It is an impressive plan and will help us and future representatives to make
decisions on many levels. Thank you.
Cl Lamb said the steering committee did dedicate this plan to the late Tom Hatfield who
served the town in many ways for many years. That was an appropriate thing to do.
Supv Leifer thanked everyone involved. This is a plan for the youth of Dryden, and he
is glad they are involved. We need more young people involved in town government
everywhere. This plan will lead to work on zoning and other town policies. In the past, most
people looked at a comprehensive plan as something to build zoning on, but it is more than
that, especially with the climate action plan. Included in the appendices is the ground water
study. That is data we didn’t have before. When we work on zoning we talk about density in
neighborhoods. There are certain areas in town that can only support so many wells. There is
also information on the existing fiber build out that will be helpful for what we are doing with
Dryden Fiber. This is a good amendment that will lead the town’s policies for the next 20 years.
He thanked everyone involved.
The board reviewed the environmental assessment form. Ray Burger has notified
neighboring municipalities and received no comment. The county’s 239 review contained some
suggested revisions to maps. The town did not include the suggested expanded area of
wetlands because from a regulatory perspective we are only concerned in this instance with
regulated DEC wetlands. They updated the open space resource map to include the
snowmobile trails in town. The county had some comments about future land use plans
regarding nodal development areas. Those are valid comments, but will come into play when
the town reviews and revises zoning. What we have spelled out in the plan represents the
town’s vision. The devil is in the details and the details will be reflected in future zoning
updates.
RESOLUTION #120 (2022) – APPROVE DRYDEN2045 –
AN UPDATE TO THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden seeks to update its 2005 Comprehensive Plan; and
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WHEREAS, the Planning Board of the Town of Dryden worked to prepare Dryden2045 -
An Update to the 2005 Comprehensive Plan (hereinafter referred to as “Dryden2045”) and
recommended its adoption as an amendment to the 2005 Comprehensive Plan by the Town
Board; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board elected to treat adoption of Dryden2045 as a Type I action
pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and established itself as Lead
Agency under SEQRA; and
WHEREAS, on June 17, 2022 the Town Board sent a Notice to all involved and interested
agencies regarding the establishment of Lead Agency status, and more than 30 calendar days
have passed without objection from any agency; and
WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Planning Department reviewed Dryden2045, pursuant
to GML § 239-m, and had no recommendations on this proposal; and
WHEREAS, on June 16, 2022 the Town Board held a duly noticed public hearing on
Dryden2045 and all parties in attendance were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of
or in opposition to said Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board, after due deliberation, finds it in the best interest of the
Town of Dryden to adopt Dryden2045.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to Part 617 of the implementing
regulations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the Town Board has thoroughly
considered the possible environmental impacts of the adoption of Dryden2045. The adoption of
Dryden2045 will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and the Town Board
adopts a negative declaration with respect to Dryden2045; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board hereby adopts Dryden2045, a copy of
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Dryden2045 shall be filed in the Town Clerk’s Off ice,
filed with the Tompkins County Planning Department and there shall be due notice of said
adoption as otherwise provided by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall take effect immediately.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes
Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
HIGHWAY/DPW DEPARTMENT
Highway Superintendent Rick Young reported they got the Virgil Creek Dam cleaned
out this week. There was a lot of debris in the weirs. They helped the state and the village
down at Willow Brook and behind the fire station, and they will finish up there next week.
They are doing a lot of roadside mowing. When the permits come through for Pinckney Road,
they will begin that bank stabilization project, hopefully before September. The new trucks
that were ordered have not yet been delivered and the status is unclear. They have been doing
a lot of culvert pipe replacements in driveways. The broadband project is going well. The
streetlight replacement has begun. There is a lot of activity right now.
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PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Ray Burger said the monthly update is on the web. Dryden is participating with other
municipalities in the Safe Streets for All grant program (a multiyear program). They would like
to put in an application to do safety action plans. These are a prerequisite for future grant
applications. They are planning to submit prior to the September 15 deadline, and he will
have a resolution to support that next month. This is an 8 0/20 grant, so there would be some
town contribution and he will have more details next month. This is a continuing program and
should be good for extending sidewalks and there may be ways of addressing trail crossings
and trail head issues for pedestrian safety.
The Planning Department has had no success in hiring a full-time planner. They will
try now to get a part-time inspection position. In the fall they will try for a planner again. They
need help in both areas.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility – There is a boiler replacement plan for
the plant. R Burger explained the boilers are all failing. They need to replace two this year.
The town’s share of the expense will not exceed $12,870. This round of boiler replacements
will allow the plant to continue to function sufficiently. The resolution before the board sets
the public hearing for August 11.
RESOLUTION #121 (2022) – ADOPT PUBLIC INTEREST ORDER IAWWTF CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOILER REPLACEMENT
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
RESOLVED, that Dryden Town Board hereby adopts the following Public Interest Order
In the Matter
of
the Proposed Improvement Project Pursuant to
Town Law §202-b for the Wastewater
Treatment Plant in the City of Ithaca serving
the Town of Dryden known as the Boiler
Replacement Capital Project
ORDER CALLING
PUBLIC HEARING
WHEREAS, a plan and proposal have been duly prepared in such manner and in such
detail as heretofore has been determined by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden, Tompkins
County, New York, relating to the Capital Project recommended by the Special Joint Co mmittee
(SJC) for Boiler Replacement, pursuant to Town Law § 202-b, at the Ithaca Wastewater
Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) in the City of Ithaca owned and managed jointly by the City of
Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and Town of Dryden (Owners), which wastewater treatment plant provides
wastewater treatment services for the Town’s Consolidated Sewer Districts served by such
wastewater treatment plant, such improvements to be constructed and owned by Owners, and
WHEREAS, said plan and report have been prepared by MRB Consultants, duly licensed
by the State of New York and have been filed in the office of the Town Clerk where they are
available for public inspection, and
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WHEREAS, on June 8, 2022, the Special Joint Committee SJC resolved to recommend to
the Owners to establish IAWWTF Capital Project ___________ Boiler Replacement in an amount
not to exceed $650,000.00, and
WHEREAS, the SJC thereby recommended authorization of this project contingent upon
action by Owners committing their percentage of reimbursement shares to the Joint Activity
Fund allocated per the Joint Sewer Agreement as follows:
Municipality Percentage Project Cost
City of Ithaca 57.14 $371,410
Town of Ithaca 40.88 $265,720
Town of Dryden 1.98 $12,870
=============
TOTAL: $650,000.00
=============
WHEREAS, the IAWWTF serves the Town of Dryden Consolidated Sewer District, and
WHEREAS, the maximum proposed to be expended for the improvements is $650,000.00
of which Town of Dryden’s share is $12,870, with the proposed method of payment being that
the Town will reimburse the City of Ithaca for the former’s share pursuant to a contract between
the Town and the City of Ithaca. The Town will not issue or co-issue any bonds but pay its share
of expenses from sewer rents and charges from the Consolidated Sewer District, and
WHEREAS, due to the Corona Virus/COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor of the State of
New York has authorized municipalities to conduct certain public hearings and meetings by
virtual means in order to ensure the public health and safety,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Dryden,
Tompkins County, New York, as follows:
Section 1. A public hearing is scheduled for August 11, 2022 at 6:05 PM via Zoom and
in-person at the Town Hall, located at 93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053, to determine
whether it is in the public interest to approve a Capital Project for Boiler Replacement at IAWWTF,
as recommended by the SJC. Access details for the Zoom meeting shall be posted on the Town
of Dryden website at www.dryden.ny.us not less than 24 hours prior to the date of the hearing.
In addition to participation in the public hearing via Zoom or in-person, all members of the public
wishing to submit written comments on this proposal may do so in writing addressed to the Town
Clerk at 93 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053 or by email to townclerk@dryden.ny.us.
Section 2. The Town Clerk of the Town of Dryden is hereby authorized and directed to
cause a copy of this order to be published once in the Ithaca Journal and also to post a copy on
the Town website and notice boards not less than 10 nor more than 20 days before the date of
the hearing.
Section 3. This order shall take effect immediately.
2nd Cl Lamb
Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes
Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
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Bone Plain Road Speed Limit Reduction Request – The board reviewed the
information provided in connection with a request from residents to lower the speed limit on
Bone Plain Road.
RESOLUTION #122 (2022) - REQUEST LOWER SPEED LIMIT ON BONE PLAIN ROAD
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the Dryden Town Board has received a request from residents of Bone Plain
Road for a speed limit lower than the current 55 miles per hour, and
WHEREAS, in 2005 the Town sought and was granted a lower speed limit on several
roads in the vicinity of, and that intersect, Bone Plain Road, and
WHEREAS, in 2006 the Town requested a lower speed limit on Bone Plain Road and the
request was acknowledged by NYS DOT, but no determination was received, and
WHEREAS, there are several homes very close to the road, the total number of dwelling
units has increased and there are currently approximately 97 driveway cuts on Bone Plain
Road, and
WHEREAS, there are frequently runners, bicyclists, and families and children that walk
and bicycle along the road, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Dryden Town Board, being concerned for the safety of its residents
and other members of the public traveling through the Town of Dryden, hereby requests that
NYS Department of Transportation conduct an appropriate traffic study and requests an
appropriate speed limit reduction.
2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez
Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes
Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
NYSERDA CONTRACT – The town has received another grant, but the document has
not yet been received. Supv Leifer requested authorization to sign that when it is received,
subject to attorney review.
RESOLUTION #123 (2022) - AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF DRYDEN SUPERVISOR TO
SIGN A CONTRACT WITH NYSERDA TO COMPLETE ENERGY UPGRADES AT THE TOWN
DPW/HIGHWAY OFFICE BUILDING FUNDED COMPLETELY WITH A NYSERDA GRANT
Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
Whereas, on May 23, 2022, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) notified the Town of Dryden that it has qualified for a $10,000 Clean Energy
Community grant; and
Whereas the award of the grant is based on the Town’s completion of energy savings actions
including purchase of 100% renewable energy for municipal operations, and
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Whereas, the grant may be applied only to specific new energy savings actions, including
building energy efficiency upgrades; and
Whereas, the Climate Smart Community Task Force voted unanimously to earmark that grant
towards an energy audit and recommended energy savings upgrades at the DPW/Highway
Department offices; and
Whereas, NYSERDA will fund the $3400 certified energy audit by L&S of Clifton Springs
directly out of the $10,000 grant; and
Whereas, the balance of the grant, $6,600 may be applied to energy upgrades such as
insulation and more efficient windows; and
Whereas, NYSERDA requires approval of the contract for the $6,600 before the energy audit
work can begin, now
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Town Board authorizes the Supervisor to sign the contract
with NYSERDA, after attorney review, for the grant balance of $6,600 for energy upgrades to
be completed by the end of the 2023 calendar year.
2nd Cl Sparling
Roll Call Vote Cl Sparling Yes
Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes
Cl Lamb Yes
Supv Leifer Yes
ADVISORY BOARD UPDATES
Planning Board – Did not meet in June.
Conservation Board – Did not meet in June.
Recreation & Youth Commission – Quorum was not present for the June meeting.
Ag Advisory Committee – The Ag Committee devoted the entirety of their July 13
meeting to a brainstorming session on possible projects to submit for the Cornell Design
Connect application. Issues involving the absence of local destinations for meat processing,
the decline in farmers markets selling local foods, phosphorus runoff from fields, and
affordable housing for migrant workers were raised, but no specific project emerged from the
discussions. Cl Sparling will forward to them any future funding opportunities that he may
come across that could apply to a potential ag project.
Climate Smart Communities Task Force – Tonight the Town Board passed a
resolution regarding the energy audit and upgrades for the DPW office building.
Regarding Community Choice Aggregation -Paul Fenn, CCA program consultant for the
Town and City of Ithaca, gave a presentation on June 29 to members of the TCCOG energy
subcommittee, updating them as to the current work being done on the CCA project and their
anticipated timeline. The update also served as a promo to surrounding municipalities to buy -
in to CCA. With the Ithacas anticipating a roll-out date for CCA in spring 2023, time is short
for municipalities to get in on the ground floor with them.
Knowing that our CSC had a multitude of questions about CCA and its application to
Dryden, Cl Sparling helped arrange for Paul Fenn to give similar presentations to elected
officials all around Tompkins Co. and their energy advisory board members. Apparently,
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Dryden was well-represented at these subsequent sessions. CSC will process these
presentations at their next meeting on August 2.
Safety & Preparedness Committee – The committee will have a table at a Tompkins
County Emergency event in September. They are still looking for another committee member.
Workforce & Affordable Housing Committee – The committee discussed the Cornell
Design Connect opportunity. There may be two projects that come up. One is on housing
issues, and another is to create something like a promotional piece for the Village of Dryden.
Chuck Geisler presented on a study to be done regarding manufactured housing around
Dryden. They do not have a lot of information on that housing information and the information
would be welcome.
Rail Trail Task Force – Cl Lamb has had a lot of conversations with our consultant
and County Highway about the proper interpretation of the crossing plan that has been
amended to reflect the reduced speed limit of 45 mph on Game Farm Road. There still seems
to be some ambiguity in the plan that Cl Lamb is trying to sort out. The county and our
consultant have different interpretations. They may have to have a stake holder meeting to
sort it out. The county will send letter detailing what they think is needed for the crossing.
We need to come up with something that mitigates the safety concerns right now. The county
is proposing no action for another year and that is unacceptable.
Broadband Committee – The committee is meeting tomorrow. As everyone knows,
construction has begun. Supv Leifer and Cl Lamb met with the town attorney and bond
counsel today to discuss options for bonding. It was a very positive meeting. Construction is
moving toward Freeville and they are currently at Johnson Road. R Young will send a crew out
next week to fill a washout. We are waiting for word about when the pilot area will be switched
on.
Freese Road Bridge – Cl Lamb has conveyed to the state what was discussed last
week, that our first option is to see the old bridge rehabilitated by a private company and
managed through an MOU with the Federal government and they can figure out how to best
care for the old bridge. Our second option is to find another use for the old bridge locally and
find grant money and use it on the rail trail. There has been no response yet.
CITIZENS PRIVILEGE
Chuck Geisler said he is thrilled about the reduced speed limit on Game Farm Road.
He asked what has happened with the request on George Road. This is a parallel situation.
How can we get one down and not the other? Cl Lamb said what it really comes down to is the
stopping distance at the speed. One of the key things is how long it take s a vehicle travelling
55 mph to stop. There is a table for that. There are also other factors that come into
consideration (driveways, sight lines, vehicles per hour).
C Geisler urged the board to continue to push for a reduction on George Road.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bambi L. Avery
Town Clerk