HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-08-RTB Town of Ulysses
Regular Town Board Meeting
March 8 , 2011
* Audio version available on our webpage at www. ulysses . ny. us
Present : Supervisor Roxanne Marino ; Councilpersons David Kerness, Kevin Romer,
Elizabeth Thomas ; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia; Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde;
i Attorney Mariette Geldenhuys .
Absent : Councilwoman Lucia Tyler; Highway Superintendent James Meeker; and Code
Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun.
Others Present : Tompkins County Legislature Representative Jim Dennis ; Trumansburg Village
Trustee Debbie Watkins ; Alan Carstensen; Anne Furman ; Free Press Reporter Bill Chaisson;
Jane Penrose ; Judy Abrams ; John Wertis ; Diane Hillman and Michael Dineen.
Supervisor Marino called the meeting to order at 7 : 00 P . M .
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves
voucher # 72 through 122 in the amount of $42 , 863 . 73 .
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Mr. Romer aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Adopted
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approve the edited
minutes of February 8 , 2011 , for the Regular Town Board meeting.
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Mr. Romer aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Adopted
The minutes for the Special Town Board meeting of March 1 , 2011 were tabled.
REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tompkins County Legislator Jim Dennis reported on the expected impact the mid-year $ 1 . 3
million cut proposed in the New York State budget will have on Tompkins County services .
Trumansburg Trustee Debra Watkins reported that the Village is working on their budget.
Supervisor Marino plans to attend their next budget meeting to discuss the possibility of sharing
expenses for a Zoning/Planner position.
Ms . Marino said that she spoke with Town of Ithaca Supervisor Engman about water availability
to address the Village ' s need for a secondary backup water source .
PRIVILEDGE OF FLOOR
Regular Town Board Meeting 2
March 8 , 2011
Alan Carstensen asked the Board to consider another option for EMS program that would
include two rescue vehicles operated by the Trumansburg Fire Department volunteers and Bangs
Ambulance providing the medical transports . He noted that Newfield and Enfield are going in
that direction. He is asking the Town to propose this compromise to save money.
Ann Furman distributed pamphlets for the upcoming public information session for Ulysses
residents on the grassroots campaign to ban heavy industrial gas drilling in the Town of Ulysses .
TOWN REPORTS
Planning Board Member John Wertis asked for clarification on the resolution the Town Board
adopted at their Special Town Board meeting March 11 , 2011 , and any background information
that the Town Board could provide . Mr. Kerness will provide this to the Planning Board .
Highway Superintendent James Meeker absent .
Town Clerk Marsha L . Georgia reported that a total of $ 1110 . 50 was collected in fees for the
month of February. Ms . Georgia said that second notices have gone out for delinquent taxes and
the water bills were also mailed .
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun absent .
Supervisor Roxanne Marino reported :
• Distributed a condensed and expanded 2011 Operating Statement from the new budget
tracking system — asked the Board to review and provide feedback on which version they
would prefer on a monthly basis .
• Notice of 3 /21 / 11 Road Task Force meeting.
• Notice of 3/9/2011 on establishing a task force on responding to the Emerald Ash Borer
issue .
• Confirmed that Jonathan Kanter will be attending the Planning Board meeting on
March 16 , 2011 .
• Met with Supervisor Engman on a final solution with the Town of Ithaca on water billing .
Ms . Marino asked the Board if they would like her to follow up with the Town of Ithaca to
finalize the money owed to the Town of Ithaca from back water billing unpaid and also to take a
look at revising the contract. The Board authorized her to continue with negotiations .
Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde reported that she brought up the issue of the timing of the
traffic lights at the intersections of Rt . 89/96 and Rt. 96/Clinton Street (Rt . 13 South) at the
Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Planning Committee meeting as requested by
Ms . Thomas . The New York State Department of Transportation manages the lights and they
will be looking at the timing of the lights this year. Ms . Poelvoorde met with the Tompkins
County Soil and Water Conservation District staff to identify tasks they will help the Town
complete related to the stormwater regulations .
Town Board Members and Committees
Mr. Kerness reported on the Lake Shore Zoning Committee and their progress .
Ms . Thomas reported on the following meetings :
• Attended School Board to request the Youth Department be allowed to use the School
parking lots for a fundraiser at during the Grassroots Festival
• Community Science Institute annual meeting
• Council of Governments Task Force on gas drilling
• Upcoming meeting in Cooperstown on "how to apply local controls to shale gas
industrializing"
• Resource binder on Natural Gas Exploration & Development from Tioga County, New
York ( copy will be printed for Board ' s information)
• Cornell Economic Impact study using Pennsylvania information
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March 8 , 2011
• TCCOG — Ms . Thomas will be out of town for the next two meetings on 3/24 and 4/28
and asked another Board member attend in her place
• Tompkins County Animal Control report
• Emergency Preparedness update
• Cooperative Extension work on energy conservation grant activities
• TC3 offering government efficiency grant
OLD BUSINESS
Road Assessment Study (Towns of Enfield, Caroline, Ulysses)
Ms . Marino said that Ulysses was part of a three-town effort to put out a Request for Proposal
(RFP) to do a "Road Assessment Study" that will gather data on our the existing conditions of
the Town roads that will be used to work towards developing a Road Use Agreement Law. Two
engineering firms were interviewed . At the last meeting of the working group they were still
processing the options proposed by the firms and they also discussed the option to use the
Cornell Local Roads intern program . Ms . Marino summarized that using the intern program to do
an assessment of the Town ' s 36 miles of roads and input the data into the computer would cost
roughly $4, 800 - $ 12 . 00/hr. working full-time for six to seven weeks . This program would
require having Highway Supervisor Meeker on board as the intern will work closely with the
Highway Department .
Ms . Marino said that establishing a database of the road conditions is highly recommended for a
variety of reasons, e . g . capital investment plan, capital infrastructure inventory. She has heard
this from many sources at a several meetings on the Roads topic . Ms . Marino said that she
believes this is a worthwhile thing to consider. The Town did budget money this fund to
complete the task. Ms . Marino will meet with the Highway Superintendent and review the intern
option with him .
Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services Request For Proposal (RFP)
Mr. Romer reviewed the newest version of the draft RFP with the Town Board. It was the
general consensus of the Town Board to allow Mr. Romer to mail out the RFP to service
providers for comments only.
Cleaning Contract
The Board discussed the contract and asked Ms . Georgia to advertise the position . Ms . Georgia
said that Ms . Porter wants to continue cleaning but needs some clarification on the contract.
Clarification of Town Board Resolution to Planning Board
The Planning Board had not received a copy of the resolution adopted by the Town Board at the
special meeting held March 1St. Mr. Kerness will follow up with this and make sure that all PB
members receive a copy with some clarification .
NEW BUSINESS
4
Resolution to NYS on Youth Services Cuts
Ms . Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Kerness the following :
REQUESTING NEW YORK STATE TO MAINTAIN FUNDING STREAMS FOR
YOUTH BUREAU AND FURTHER URGING ELIMINATION OF COMPETITIVE BID
FUNDING
WHEREAS , Governor Cuomo has submitted his proposed 2011 -2012 Executive Budget
recommending the development of a Primary Prevention Incentive Program (PPIP), and
Regular Town Board Meeting 4
March 8 , 2011
WHEREAS , this proposal actually slashes the current allocation of funding for Youth
Development and Delinquency Prevention (YDDP) , Special Delinquency Prevention Program
(SDPP), and Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) , by 50%, and
WHEREAS , this proposal eliminates these funding streams and offers the distribution of
funds on a competitive basis to counties, resulting in the elimination of funding to many rural
counties, thereby promoting inequities in prevention and positive youth development services
across New York State, and
WHEREAS , the proposed competitive bidding process will also result in a loss of local
planning and control , and
WHEREAS , the aforementioned proposal will dismantle the current youth bureau
system, structure and funding streams, and will be especially detrimental to all municipal youth
bureaus , and
WHEREAS , current youth development and prevention services are provided through a
fair and equitable formula-driven allocation through the New York State Office of Children and
Family Services, and
WHEREAS , the current funding through youth bureaus structures ensure appropriate
local monitoring, evaluation and accountability, and
WHEREAS , youth development, prevention and intervention are essential for critical
services to children and youth, and
WHEREAS , if adopted, this portion of the Executive Budget would result in the minimal
loss of over $ 200, 000 of youth services dollars for Tompkins County, and
WHEREAS , if adopted, New York State will be abandoning its long-time national
leadership and partnership in youth prevention, intervention and development services, as
articulated in Article 19 -A of the Executive Law, and
WHEREAS , the Town of Ulysses believes that providing services and programs for
children and youth is an investment, not only in delinquency prevention, but also in the
development of all our young people, in all ways thus enriching our society and nation as a
whole, and
RESOLVED , on recommendation of the Health and Human Services Committee, the
Town of Ulysses hereby requests Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature maintain
the current youth bureau funding streams, albeit with proportionate reductions, and eliminate the
concept of competitive bid funding,
RESOLVED , further, That Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature be
directed to uphold Article 19-A of the Executive Law and to maintain the current youth bureau
system and structure which is in the best interest of the 26,000 children and youth of Tompkins
County and of the children and youth of New York State as a whole,
RESOLVED , further, That the Clerk of the Legislature is hereby directed to forward a
certified copy of this resolution to Governor Cuomo , Assembly Speaker Silver, Senate Majority
Leader Skelos, Chair Senate Children and Families Committee Senator Savino , Chair Assembly
Children and Families Committee Assembly Member Paulin, Senator O'Mara, Senator Nozzolio ,
Assembly Member Lifton, and the New York State Association of Counties.
SEQR ACTION : TYPE II-20
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Mr. Romer aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Adopted
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March 8 , 2011
Resolution on Priority and Timeline for Zoning Action
Mr. Kerness moved seconded by Ms . Thomas the following resolution :
Resolution to set High Impact Industrial (HII)
And
Office, Technology and Mixed Use (OTM) Zoning Law
As the Town Board ' s First Priority
WHEREAS , the Feb . 8th presentation by the Ulysses Gas Drilling Board of a resolution to
prohibit high-impact industrialization was accompany by an eloquent out pouring of community
support, and
WHEREAS , a petition with 1047 town signatures asking the town board to ban hydrofracking,
and
WHEREAS , the resolution in question which proposes an amendment to our zoning law which
will prohibit high-impact industrialization will have more weight if passed PRIOR to the DEC
finalizing the Supplemental Environment Impact Statement governing Hydrofracking which is
planned for June 2011 , and
WHEREAS , the Town Board has adopted a three-part plan for considering all zoning changes
currently before it and the resolution in question was given first priority,
BE IT RESOLVED, that a detailed schedule (attached) governing consideration of this
resolution be given first Priority and adopted by this Board at today special sessions .
1 . Planning Board (PB)
Review, comment recommendations 3/2 — 3 /21
SEQR Part one Draft 3 /22 — 3/22
2 . HII & OTM Mapping
First Draft 3/ 12 — 3/ 15
Second draft 3/ 16 — 3/22
Final Mapping 3/22 — 4/ 12
3 . Town Board review and comment 3/ 1 — 3 /8
Update HII & OTM with PB and TB comments 3 /22 — 4/20
4 . Legal review, comment and recommendation
HII &OTM zoning document 3/ 1 — 3/ 16
Map and SEQR 3/21 — 4/ 12
5 . Other Reviews
County (239) 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
Village of Trumansburg* 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
Town of Enfield* 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
Town of Ithaca* 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
County Health Dept * (informal) 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
Ag & Market* (informal) 5/ 1 — 6/ 1
6 . Update HII &OTM and TB approval as required 6/ 1 — 6/6
* Zoning Law, Map and SEQR sent with memo stating Ulysses intends to be lead agency
7 . Public Hearing
Letter to Land owners (Not required)
Public Notification 6/8
Public Hearing 6/ 14
8 . TB Update and Approve HII & OTM 6/ 14 - 6/23
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March 8 , 2011
9 . Submit HII & OTM to the State for Review and Approval 6/24 — 7/25
10 . HII & OTM Zoning becomes law 7/26
Ms . Marino nay
Ms . Thomas nay
Mr. Romer nay
Mr. Kerness aye
Defeated
*Note : A timeline was adopted by the Town Board at the January 25 , 2011 Special Town Board
meeting.
Cayuga Lake Triathlon Approval Letter Request
Ms . Marino reported that she received a request from the Cayuga Lake Triathlon committee for a
letter of approval from the Town of Ulysses to use public roads in the Town ' s jurisdiction for the
bicycling portion of their triathlon . The Board authorized Ms . Marino to go ahead with this letter.
Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings
Ms . Marino had distributed to the Board, at the beginning of the meeting, a suggested outline for
upcoming meetings but with time constraints it was not discussed .
Public Comments
Michael Dineen spoke in favor of Mr. Kerness ' s resolution and timeline and asked for a sense of
the Board ' s priority.
All of the Town Board members present commented that the updating the zoning law is a
priority for them .
Hearing no further business Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer to adjourn the meeting.
Unanimously approved and meeting adjourned at 9 : 55 p . m .
Respectfully Submitted,
Marsha L. Georgia
Ulysses Town Clerk
MLG : mlg