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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-20TB 7-20-23 Page 1 of 14 TOWN OF DRYDEN TOWN BOARD MEETING July 20, 2023 Zoom Hybrid Present: Supervisor Jason Leifer, Cl Daniel Lamb, Cl Leonardo Vargas- Mendez, Cl Christina Dravis, Cl Spring Buck Elected Officials: Bambi L. Avery, Town Clerk Rick Young, Highway/DPW Superintendent Other Town Staff: Amanda Anderson, Bookkeeper Ray Burger, Planning Director Chris O’Connor, Fire Coordinator Supv Leifer opened the meeting at 6:02 p.m. Board members and audience recited the pledge of allegiance. RESOLUTION #125 (2023) – 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 8, 15 and 27, 2023. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes PUBLIC HEARING SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER ROUTE 13 Supv Leifer opened the public hearing at 6:05 p.m. Ray Burger explained that in 2020 when entering the design phase, the board approved a resolution approving what was then a 2.2-million-dollar project. Now they have worked through the design and various issues and are ready to go into the construction phase. A new estimate shows the price at 3.1 million. Because the DOT is funding a good portion of the project, the agreement needs a supplemental agreement to acknowledge the new construction phase. The Town Supervisor will need authorization to sign that agreement. Cl Lamb said with inflation and the time it has taken to get to this point, we knew that the price would go up a bit. The Rail Trail Task Force has made a number of efforts to secure additional funding. That is not reflected in the documents posted online because they are not germane to what NYS DOT needs from the town. In addition to the funding in the documents online, the town has over $105,000 in additional local grants that have been secured (from Tompkins County, Cornell University, Berkshire Hathaway, the Park Foundation, and other entities). So, there is significant other funding that goes into this that is not reflected in this grant, as well as an Inter-Modal grant from the NYS Assembly of $345,000. The amount that the town is still looking at is between $200,000 and $300,000, which is what was expected all TB 7-20-23 Page 2 of 14 along. There are additional grant opportunities available right now that could make up that entire amount. They are currently looking at additional grant opportunities through NYSEG and the Triad Foundation. The Task Force has a pretty good track record of securing funding and it is expected to continue. The public hearing was left open at 6:09 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING ACQUISITION OF TWO PARCELS OF PROPERTY IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER ROUTE 13 Supv Leifer opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m. Ray Burger explained that the property on the east side of Route 13 is a portion of the twenty-three acres owned by the Knickerbocker Bed Frame Company. They are donating 1.39 acres to the town. On the opposite side of the road, Cornell University had already given the town an easement years ago, but because of the footprint of the ramp for the bridge, we needed to add a sliver on either side of that easement to accommodate the entirety of the ramp. Cornell will amend the current easement to accomplish that. Cl Lamb added there is no cost to the town for these acquisitions. The public hearing was left open at 6:14 p.m. HIGHWAY/DPW DEPARTMENT Highway Superintendent Rick Young said this week he met with TG Miller engineers and reviewed the procedure for lining of the sewer lines in Varna. That project is moving forward and there are a lot of steps involved. They also discussed rehabilitation of the pump station in the section that we took over from Cornell’s apple orchard back toward Varna. He also met this week with Dave Milowski of DEC and TG Miller engineers. Milowski is the state design engineer for the dam on Southworth Road that was built in 1993. DEC wants to do a watershed rehabilitation program. That would start with a review of the as-builts and surveys for sediment control, etc. The cost of this can be covered by a grant and R Young has applied for that. Anything that is not covered by the grant would be the responsibility of the town, the county, and the village, who share expenses for the dam. It is a 270-day performance schedule, so everything would need to be complete in that period of time. The department has been working on Snyder Hill Road and Ellis Hollow Creek Road, and cleaning up the rail trails. Highway Superintendents met with Anna Kelles at the Highway Association meeting and they talked about some of the restrictions with DEC and the time it takes to get a permit. He is trying to move forward with the bank stabilization grant and they had to have input from DEC and Army Corps. The process seems lengthier than it needs to be. They also t alked about CHIPS funding and rules and restrictions that don’t seem to fit anymore. There are some efforts in the works to make changes. Supv Leifer added that Anna Kelles seems surprised to hear that unlike other towns, the town of Dryden supplements state money in order to take care of roads. Highway TB 7-20-23 Page 3 of 14 Superintendents are asking the state to change some of the rules and Anna Kel les was very receptive to suggestions. Cl Buck thanked R Young for giving her a tour of his facilities and an explanation of the efforts in the department. The Town Board previously authorized a Climate Smart grant application for funding to make the DPW building more energy efficient. We have been notified that we have been awarded $70,000 that will be used for that project. Supv Leifer thanked Alice Green, John Kiefer, and Craig Anderson for their work to make this happen. RESOLUTION #126 (2023) – APPROVING INSULATION AND WINDOW REPLACEMENT AT THE DPW OFFICE BUILDING AND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN SUPERVISOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH NYSERDA TO APPLY EARNED GRANT FUNDS TO THE PROJECT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the Town of Dryden has earned another NYSERDA grant in the amount $70,000 as a result of taking several Clean Energy Community high impact actions, including most recently achieving a 16 % decrease in municipal building greenhouse gas emissions over the past year due to purchasing 100% renewable electricity, and Whereas those grants can only be applied to additional town actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and Whereas a NYSERDA-approved energy audit of the DPW office building recommended insulation, window replacement and air source heat pumps for greater energy efficiency, and Whereas when completed, the project will replace 100% of the gas-fired building heat with electric air source heat pumps, and Whereas the Town Board approved the heat pump installation by unanimous resolution on April 20, 2023, and Whereas enclosing the DPW office building with insulation and replacing energy leaking windows is estimated to cost up to $70,000, and Whereas the new $70,000 grant will allow the Town to do the energy upgrades in the preferred order: sealing the envelope before installing heat pumps, and Whereas the Town can earn additional points towards grants by insulating and electrifying the DPW office building, and Whereas DPW Superintendent Rick Young has agreed to be Town project manager for the installation, now therefore Be it resolved, that the Dryden Town board approves the insulation and window replacement project at the DPW office building and authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign a contract with NYSERDA applying the earned grants to that project. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes TB 7-20-23 Page 4 of 14 Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Supv Leifer closed the public hearings for the supplemental agreement with NYSDOT and for the acquisition of property to accommodate the pedestrian bridge over Route 13 at 6:25 p.m. RESOLUTION #127 (2023) - Authorizing the implementation, and funding in the first instance 100% of the federal-aid and State “Marchiselli” Program-aid eligible costs, of a transportation federal-aid locally-administered project, and appropriating funds therefore Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, a Project for the Dryden Rail Trail Phase 2 P.I.N. 395071 (the “Project”) is eligible for funding under Title 23 U.S. Code, as amended, that calls for the apportionment of the costs such program to be borne at the ratio of 80% Federal funds and 20% non -federal funds; and WHEREAS, in March 2020, the Town Board authorized $2,190,675 which included a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant of $1,469,665 that was made available by the New York State Department of Transportation for the project to cover the costs of Design, ROW and Construction work; and WHEREAS, the current Construction estimate was more than anticipated, with costs projected at $3,057,082 which includes $2,169,082 in federal funding; and WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden desires to advance the Project by making a commitment of 100% of the non-federal share of the costs of Design, ROW & Construction, currently totaling $887,417, which is comprised of State, county, town, and private funds; and WHEREAS, the Town Board on February 17, 2022 issued a negative declaration under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and Regulations adopted pursuant thereto by the Department of Environmental Conservation of the State (collectively, “SEQR”) with respect to work on the Dryden Rail Trail pedestrian bridge; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board, hereby authorizes the Town of Dryden to pay in the first instance 100% of the federal and non -federal share of the cost of Design, ROW and Construction work for the Project or portions thereof; and it is further RESOLVED, that the sum of $3,057,082 is hereby committed and will be bonded for and made available to cover the cost of participation in the above phase of the Project; and it is further RESOLVED, that in the event the full federal and non-federal share costs of the project exceeds the amount appropriated above, the Town of Dryden shall convene as soon as possible to appropriate said excess amount immediately upon receipt of notification to the Town from New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), and it is further RESOLVED, that the Supervisor of the Town of Dryden is hereby authorized to execute all necessary Agreements, certification or reimbursement requests for Federal Aid and/or Marchiselli Aid on behalf of the Town of Dryden with the New York State Department of Transportation in connection with the advancement or approval of the Project and providing for the administration of the Project and the municipality’s first instance funding of project costs and permanent funding of the local share of federal-aid and state-aid eligible Project costs and all Project costs within appropriations therefore that are not so eligible, and it is further TB 7-20-23 Page 5 of 14 RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be filed with the New York State Commissioner of Transportation by attaching it to any necessary Agreement in connection with the Project, and it is further RESOLVED, this Resolution shall take effect immediately. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes In connection with this there is a proposed resolution for a supplemental agreement with Erdman Anthony for engineering services. They have brought us to this point in the design phase and to complete that have a construction inspection contract, a supplemental contract is needed. It contains a not to exceed amount of $262,000.00 which is within the budget. RESOLUTION #128 (2023) – AUTHORIZE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT #2 FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES – DRYDEN RAIL TRAIL PHASE 2 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: Whereas, the current Construction estimate for a project for the Dryden Rail Trail Phase 2 PIN 395071 (the project) was more than anticipated; and Whereas, the Town of Dryden, by Resolution #127 (2023) has authorized an increase in the total project authorization as a result of such current Construction estimate, and Whereas, additional engineering services by Erdman Anthony are anticipated as a result of changes based on the current Construction estimate; Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Town Board hereby approves Supplemental Agreement #2 for Engineering Services with Erdman Anthony, in the form as p resented, for an additional cost not to exceed $262,000; and be it further Resolved, that the Supervisor of the Town of Dryden is hereby authorized to execute such Supplemental Agreement and any other necessary documents in order to effectuate the same; Resolved, this resolution shall take effect immediately. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Supv Leifer closed the public hearing on acquisition of real property for the pedestrian bridge over Route 13 at 6:28 p.m. TB 7-20-23 Page 6 of 14 RESOLUTION #129 (2023) AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE DRYDEN RAIL TRAIL PHASE 2 PROJECT Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, the Town has for several years engaged in a series of property and easement acquisitions in furtherance of the creation of a recreational trail (the “Trail”) for non -vehicular use by the public within an abandoned railroad property, and in order to provide safe passage over New York State Route 13, the Trail requires the construction of a bridge over said state route (altogether, the “Project”); and WHEREAS, the Town has identified the need for an additional acquisition of property to construct said bridge, said property being fee title to a portion of property from 17 Hall Woods Road, LLC, known as 17 Hall Woods Road, Tax Map No. 52.00 -01-4.32, and an easement from Cornell University for a portion of property without an address, Tax Map No. 53.00-01-16; and WHEREAS, §247(3) of the General Municipal Law provides that the acquisition of interests or rights in real property, including by easement, for the preservation of open spaces is a public purpose and that such acquisition requires a public hearing subject to due notice; and WHEREAS, by Resolution of the Town Board, a public hearing was scheduled on the acquisition for the furtherance of the recreational trail project, and notice of said public hearing was duly advertised in the official newspaper of the Town and posted on the Town Clerk’s signboard; and WHEREAS, said public hearing was duly held on the 20th day of July 2023 at 6:10 p.m. and all parties in attendance were permitted an opportunity to speak on behalf of or in opposition to said proposed acquisition; and WHEREAS, environmental review of the Project was completed on February 17, 2022, by Resolution #53 (2022) of the Town Board issuing a negative declaration; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden does hereby accept the donation of a portion of property of 17 Hall Woods Road, Tax Map No. 52.00 - 01-4.32 from 17 Hall Woods Road, LLC and an easement from Cornell University for a portion of property without an address, Tax Map No. 53.00-01-16 as set forth hereinabove; and be it further RESOLVED that the Town Supervisor, upon review and approval by the Attorney for the Town as to form, is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to accept said acquisitions of fee title and an easement for the Dryden Rail Trail Phase 2 project, PIN 395071. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes PUBLIC HEARING AMEND THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND SITE PLAN 1847 HANSHAW ROAD TB 7-20-23 Page 7 of 14 Supv Leifer opened the public hearing at 6:29 p.m. Ray Burger said that in 2020 the Town Board approved a special use permit and site plan for a contractor yard at this address. The owner, Terance Bailey, would now like to amend that permit to put a second building on the property for storage of construction materials and tools. The property is a flag lot with a long driveway back to the buildings. It is well-screened with natural vegetation from nearby residential property. There are conditions of the original approval that included maintenance of the vegetative barrier and protection of the federal wetland in the southeast corner of the parcel. The County commented on the temperature of the lighting and use of lower temperature lighting and that was added as a condition. It was noted that the current building is very energy efficient. No SEQR review is required. The hearing was left open at 6:33 p.m. TOWN FIRE COORDINATOR Chris O’Connor has kept the board informed of his activities via email. He will be meeting with the fire departments regarding budget requests after August 1. There was a recent meeting of the town fire chiefs that was beneficial and they expect to begin meeting regularly again. With respect to training he said there are three state fire instructors that are assigned to the county, and the problem is the request must come from the local fire department. State instructors pretty much teach whenever and wherever they’re needed. They must have a lot of courses in order to be certified as an instructor and it doesn’t pay very well. It has probably been 8 or 9 years since anyone else in the county has stepped up to be a fire inspector. He has suggested the possibility of some of the current members becoming skills instructors, so they can help the state fire instructors. We may get a few more people that way, but it’s a difficult problem. Someone from an adjacent county can teach here and that does happen. PLANNING DEPARTMENT The department monthly report is available on the website. R Burger said the department is on the cusp of hiring a planner and probably at the next meeting there will be a resolution to approve a new employee in town hall. PUBLIC HEARING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – HOUSING REHABILITATION Supv Leifer opened the public hearing at 6:40 p.m. and read the legal notice that was published. R Burger explained this is a hearing to get input from residents. The town will be applying for a grant of up to $500,000 to be used for housing rehabilitation and is partnering with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS). The comment period will end on July 25. Delia Yarrow of INHS said she has been working with R Burger on this application. This funding from the federal government can help homeowners with a lot of things such as roof and septic repairs, heating systems, and energy efficiency work. It does prohibit them from working on mobile homes in parks, but INHS works hard to find other sources for those. CDBG funding can take care of a lot of serious issues that are very expensive for a family or single person on a fixed income. Supv Leifer said the town has participated previously in this type of CDBG funding and most recently in a HOME grant, working with Tompkins Community Action. Supv Leifer closed the public hearing on the 1847 Hanshaw Road matter at 6:46 p.m. TB 7-20-23 Page 8 of 14 RESOLUTION #130 (2023) - Amending Site Plan and Special Use Permit for a Contractor Yard at 1847 Hanshaw Road, Tax Parcel 42.-1-29 Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, A. In July 2020 Terance Bailey received a Special Use Permit (SUP) and site plan approval to locate a contractor yard at 1847 Hanshaw Road, Tax Parcel 42.-1-29; and B. On May 19, 2023 Mr. Bailey applied to amend his SUP and site plan with submittal of an application to construct a second building, SUP worksheet, elevations, notice of ground disturbance and sketch plan, and C. The Town Planning Department considers the application complete and in conformance with the requirements of the Code of the Town of Dryde n (Code) §270-11 and §270-12, and D. A public hearing was held on July 20, 2023 with public comments registered in the meeting minutes and considered by this board, and E. The Tompkins County Planning Department has reviewed the application pursuant §239 –l, -m, and –n of the New York State General Municipal Law, and F. In a letter dated July 13, 2023, the Tompkins County Planning Department made recommendations that have been addressed by the applicant or are addressed by conditions in the first resolve below, and G. The Stormwater Management Officer reviewed the proposal and concluded that only a ‘Simple’ Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), consisting of erosion and sediment control practices, and prepared by the Stormwater Management Officer, is re quired, and H. Pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) and its implementing regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617, the Town Board of the Town of Dryden determines that this proposal is exempt from review since it is a Type II ac tion under 6 CRR-NY 617.5 (c) (9), and I. The Town Board has reviewed this application relative to the considerations and standards found in Code §270-11 for site plan review and §270-12 for Special Use Permit. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. The Town Board approves the sketch plan documents, submitted with the application dated May 19, 2023 as site plan for 1847 Hanshaw Road, conditioned on the following prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy: a. Exterior lighting will be night-sky compliant and at below 3000 degrees K. b. Building finish will be neutral colors. c. No outside storage south or east of building (to protect wetland) d. The existing 20 foot wide vegetative buffer along property lines adjoining residential parcels shall be maintained in accordance with Code 270-9.10. e. Construction shall be outside of the wetland located in the southeast corner and not impact it. 2. The Town Board hereby finds that the considerations for approval of the requested Special Use Permit listed in Code Section 270-12 have been met, specifically that: a. The proposed use is compatible with the other permitted uses in the Rural Residential district and compatible with the purpose of this district as Contractor Yards are a TB 7-20-23 Page 9 of 14 permitted use in this zone and this parcel is located near the Hanshaw Road/ Route 13 intersection near other commercial businesses; b. The proposed use is compatible with adjoining properties and with the natural and manmade environment, as this proposal is for a single building located 350 feet from the road and screened by existing trees and there are other large buildings much more visible along this stretch of Hanshaw Road; c. Parking, vehicular circulation, and infrastructure for the proposed use is adequate. There are eight parking spaces provided and emergency vehicles have access from the roadway; d. The overall impact on the site and its surroundings considering the environmental, social and economic impacts of traffic, noise, dust, odors, release of harmful substances, solid waste disposal, glare, or any other nuisances has been considered and found to be negligible, based on the low volume of traffic associated with this business and that it will not generate noise, dust, odors or release harmful substances; e. Restrictions and/or conditions on design of structures or operation of the use necessary to ensure compatibility with the surrounding uses or to protect the natural or scenic resources of the Town have been incorporated into the site plan; f. The project complies with the requirements for site plan review and conforms to the Town’s Commercial Design Guidelines to the maximum extent practicable in that: the site is screened from residential uses by the existing landscape. 3. The Town Board, finding that the applicant is in compliance with all other provisions of the Code and other applicable ordinances, approves this amendment to the Site Plan and Special Use Permit for the contractor yard at 1847 Hanshaw Road with the Town of Dryden Standard Conditions of Approval as amended August 14, 2008. 2nd Cl Dravis Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes CDBG comments: Chuck Geisler said he is happy to see this potential effort moving forward and he will submit written comments. On Tuesday, the Governor released a number of executive actions regarding housing. She has been fighting for 800,000 affordable units across the state that fell apart in the budget process. Unfortunately, her new effort applies almost exclusively to New York City. In the larger state context, almost 3% of the housing in New York State is in mobile and manufactured homes. In rural New York, the percentage is over 10%. In the Town of Dryden, it is 16%. He liked what he heard from D Yarrow tonight, and the work that INHS has done in the Compass mobile home park conversion in the Village of Trumansburg. After many years of planning, INHS purchased a mobile home park adjacent to the village and are slowly converting it to affordable housing that is energy efficient. He would like to propose that since INHS is active in that program and helping us via this CDBG initiative, that we seriously contemplate, study, and analyze a “Compass 2” project in the Town of Dryden. A few days ago, the rural TB 7-20-23 Page 10 of 14 housing coalition in New York State put out a report focusing on mobile home parks in particular. One of the things it suggests is using purchase of development rights (much the same way we protect farmlands and open space) to purchase the development rights in our mobile home parks or some subset of them, to prevent investor-owned financialization of mobile home parks. It is a lot to think about. In addition to any of the bricks and mortar and other heat pumps and efficiencies that might be brought to our community through a grant, he would like us to look at a menu of different ways we could improve our mobile home park communities as affordable housing. Because of utility costs and such they are not as affordable as they could be. We could consider a community buyout or purchase of development rights. Lastly, there are different ways to incentivize private owners of mobile home parks to upgrade their existing housing stock to make it truly affordable for low and medium income and working families. Delia Yarrow said they are working on learning about what they can do. Resources are always changing and they are trying to figure out how the resources that the state has allocated work, so that when they apply for funding, they are good at it. They are hoping to scale up and be able to help more than just the one community they are working on in Trumansburg. It will take some time, but they are working on it. Supv Leifer shared the abstract introduction and needs description that was posted online. He said this builds on past work the town has done, and there is already a waiting list of about fifty people interested in applying. There were no further comments, and the public hearing was closed at 6:56 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until July 25, 2023. There is a proposed resolution promoting fair housing in the Town of Dryden. That would include training for staff and promotion through pamphlets and posters and the town has a plan in place. RESOLUTION #131 (2023) – AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING IN THE TOWN OF DRYDEN Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, under the Federal Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, it is illegal to deny housing to any person because of race, color, religion, gender, physical or mental disabilities or national origin, and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 expands coverage to include disabled persons and families with children, and WHEREAS, in July of 2015, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) released the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (“AFFH”) rule, clarifying and simplifying existing fair housing obligations, and WHEREAS, the AFFH rule requires certain HUD and New York State grantees to conduct an Assessment of Fair Housing planning process and analyze their fair housing landscape and set locally determined fair housing priorities and goals, and WHEREAS, Town of Dryden is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing through numerous activities including making brochures regarding Fair Housing Laws available in the town offices, posting the USHUD Equal Opportunity/Fair Housing poster in the town offices, posting rights and obligations on the Town of Dryden website, being subject to the Tompkins County Local Antidiscrimination Law No. 1 -2004 as a municipality within Tompkins TB 7-20-23 Page 11 of 14 County, assistance to those with complaints, and support through the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights, and WHEREAS, Town of Dryden desires to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which require a formal resolution stating its good faith and intention to continue complying with fair housing requirements, and WHEREAS, Town of Dryden desires that all persons be made aware that it is the policy of the Town of Dryden to support the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and to implement fair housing activities to ensure equal opportunity in housing for all persons, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that as a municipality of Tompkins County, the Town of Dryden within the resources available through County, State, federal, and community sources, the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights will assist all persons who believe their fair housing rights have been violated, concerning their rights and responsibilities, so that they may seek equity under relevant laws, RESOLVED, further, that the Town of Dryden shall publicize this Resolution and through this publicity shall cause real estate brokers and sellers, private home sellers, rental owners, rental property managers, real estate and rental advertisers, lenders, builders, developers, home buyers and home or apartment renters to become aware of their respective responsibilities and rights under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and any applicable state or local laws or ordinances, RESOLVED, further, that the Town of Dryden will continue notifying community members of their respective responsibilities and rights concerning Fair Housing laws and complaint procedures, including, but not limited to: the printing, publicizing and distribution of this Resolution; the distribution of Fair Housing information provided by local, State and federal sources, through local community contacts; and the publicizing the role of the Fair Housing Officer and of the assistance available and means of accessing it to those seeking to file a discrimination complaint. 2nd Cl Vargas-Mendez Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes COUNTY BRIEFING None DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS Red Mill Bridge – Cl Lamb said he obtained documents about the town’s obligation to the structure. The town has to show that we have treated it responsibly. At one point we planned to do something purposeful with it. The snowmobile club was interested in putting it on one of their trails behind the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home. The club would have to maintain it. If they are still interested, the Town would need a memorandum of understanding with them because the structure is eligible for the historic register and the town would expect a certain level of care. R Young will contact the president of the Dryden Caroline Drifters Snowmobile Club and Cl Lamb will determine what kind of paperwork we need to have in place. If the snowmobile club doesn’t want it, R Young knows someone else who may. TB 7-20-23 Page 12 of 14 Wetlands/Town Land – Supv Leifer has shared maps and plans for the property behind the town hall. There will be a wetland delineation done. R Burger said DEC will do it for free, but it may take a while. He will start the process. The Conservation Board was concerned about the location of an easement through a wetland and Supv Leifer said he can talk with Bernie Cornelius and we can probably make a change in the location of the easement. Agreements with Hunt Engineers and Gleamon Technology – These agreements need some amendments. Supv Leifer will have the new proposed agreements next month. Local Law to exceed the tax levy cap – Supv Leifer introduced the following proposed local law to exceed the tax levy cap for 2024 and a public hearing was set f or August 10 at 6:05 p.m. Section 1. Legislative Intent: It is the intent of this local law to override the limit on the amount of real property taxes that may be levied by the Town of Dryden, County of Tompkins pursuant to General Municipal Law §3-c, and to allow the Town of Dryden, County of Tompkins to adopt a town budget for (a) town purposes, (b) fire protection districts, and (c) any other special or improvement district, and Town improvements provided pursuant to Town Law Article 12-C, governed by the Town Board for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024 and ending December 31, 2024 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law §3-c. Section 2. Authority: This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes the Town Board to override the tax levy limit by the adoption of a local law approved by vote of at least sixty percent (60%) of the Town Board. Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override: The Town Board of the Town of Dryden, County of Tompkins is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year 2024 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the limit specified in General Municipal Law §3-c. Section 4. Severability: If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this Local Law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance, shall be adjusted by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this Local Law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered. Section 5. Effective date: This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. IAWWTP Plant Repair – The special joint commission met on Wednesday and recommended a series of projects to the owners of the plant. They weren’t confident in some of the numbers and are holding a special meeting tomorrow at noon t o approve those. Part of the project is the boilers that are needed before winter, so they want to get all the approvals as soon as possible. The town must publish a public interest order, hold a hearing, and after approval there is a 30-day period for permissive referendum. To expedite the process, this board can hold a special meeting for the purpose of setting the public hearing for the August 10 meeting. The board will hold a special meeting on July 25 at noon. 2024 Budget – Supv Leifer asked board members to start thinking about when budget meetings might be held. Worksheets will be going out to department heads soon. Department TB 7-20-23 Page 13 of 14 heads ask for guidance from the board and will consider personnel reviews and pay increases. Inflation is down from last year, so we’ll be on a more normal footing for that part of it. Truck costs have jumped dramatically, and delivery time is two years out. The board consensus is to keep budget requests within the CPI and special requests can be considered. Funds for the rail trail have to be put in as a backstop. The multifunction machine in the media room needs to be replaced; we might consider a new website and/or a new phone system. Some expenses can come from unexpended fund balance. The spending is different than what the town ends up with for a tax levy. The anticipated cost of living adjustment is 2.7 for 2024 for New York State. ADVISORY BOARD UPDATES Recreation & Youth Commission - Will start working on a plan for the land behind the town hall. Broadband – The agreements mentioned will be amended. More installations are happening. Climate Smart Communities Task Force – We had an action tonight on the NYSERDA grant. Chuck Geisler has stepped down from this committee. Workforce & Affordable Housing – minutes are posted on the web. Conservation Board – Additional topics not already discussed covered at their meeting were ditch maintenance and working with DPW on that and questions about how we handle beaver dams. Cl Buck met with R Young and sent a follow up email to CB members. Planning Board – Cl Lamb reported they reviewed tonight’s Hanshaw Road application at their last meeting. They also discussed North Street development and the Lucente project. They would like to see sidewalks put in place for those residents. The company that owns the vacant lot on the corner of Freeville Road and North Street was contacted, and they didn’t say no to working with the town on an idea for re-use. The North Street Committee is working on ideas and trying to coordinate plans with the village. There was one applicant that responded to the RFP for the zoning update. A subcommittee of the Planning Board met with them today. There will be more discussions on whether to recommend this group to the Town Board for selection. Rail Trail Task Force – Cl Lamb announced they received a $30,000 grant from Berkshire Hathaway. R Young inquired about the trail parking situation on Stevenson Road. There doesn’t seem to be any progress in the property trade between Cornell and the pheasant farm. Cl Lamb will contact Cornell Real Estate about this. He has been working with Cornell Real Estate on an easement to the town for space for a path from the Varna Community Center to the rail trail. Hillside Acres would like a connection also and that would be across Cornell property. Other Business Design Connect – Cl Buck will talk with Marty Conger about applying for a Design Connect grant in connection with development of the fields out back. After discussion, the board passed the following resolution. RESOLUTION #132 (2023) – SUPPORT DESIGN CONNECT APPLICATION Supv Leifer offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: TB 7-20-23 Page 14 of 14 RESOLVED, that this Town Board hereby authorizes and supports an application to Cornell’s Design Connect to develop a plan for fields behind town hall with the primary purpose of recreation fields and a pedestrian path to TC3 and to make suggestions for ot her uses including parking, access to the landlocked parcel still owned by Cornelius and possibly some facilities. 2nd Cl Lamb Roll Call Vote Cl Vargas-Mendez Yes Cl Buck Yes Cl Dravis Yes Cl Lamb Yes Supv Leifer Yes Electronic Billboards – Cl Lamb reported that he and R Burger met with representatives of Park Outdoor and reviewed what the town expects in terms of changes to our sign law and they were pretty agreeable on matters concerning lower lighting and reducing the number of legacy signs as electronic billboards are constructed. They will provide feedback to the town, and we may make some adjustments to our sign law at the first meeting in August. CITIZENS PRIVILEGE None. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bambi L. Avery Town Clerk