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Home My WebLink About2011-09-13-RTB Town of Ulysses Regular Town Board Meeting September 13 , 2011 Present : Supervisor Roxanne Marino ; Councilpersons Elizabeth Thomas, Lucia Tyler, David Kerness and Kevin Romer; Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde; Highway Superintendent James Meeker; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia; and Attorney Mariette Geldenhuys. Others Present : Jacksonville Community Association Representative Diane Hillman, Free Press Reporter Louis Dipietro, Bill George and Bangs Ambulance President Tim Bangs . Supervisor Marino called to meeting to order at 7 : 00 p .m. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Ms . Thomas the following resolution: BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approve the previously examined vouchers numbered 361 through 411 in the amount of $69,348 . 34. Ms . Marino aye Ms . Thomas aye Ms. Tyler aye Mr. Romer aye Mr. Kerness aye Adopted APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes for the August meeting were approved at the Special Board meeting on August 25 , 2011 . No other meeting minutes are available for review. REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES Tompkins County Legislator Jim Dennis - Mr. Dennis was absent due to a conflict with a Tompkins County Budget Committee meeting. He phoned Ms . Marino earlier and provided a report on the following information. Tompkins County Budget — initial submission includes a 5 . 4% tax levy increase. Mr. Dennis noted that he feels that there will not be drastic cuts to Rural Youth services . The Tompkins County Legislature is proposing a resolution to pass a Local Law superseding the State of New York mandated property tax cap . SGEIS Horizontal Drilling and High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale — Mr. Dennis is getting involved with others to get the Finger Lakes watershed exempted from gas drilling just as the State of New York has proposed for the New York City and City of Syracuse watersheds . Trumansburg Fire Department & EMS - no one in attendance and no report provided. Trumansburg Village Representative - no one in attendance. Ms. Thomas provided a summary of the topics discussed at the Village meeting. The Village has set a Fire/EMS budget meeting for September 26, 2011 , at 7 : 30 p .m . PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Ms . Hillman updated the Town Board on the activities of the Jacksonville Community Association and the maintenance work done around the pond area of the Jacksonville Park She thanked Highway Superintendent Jim Meeker for the assistance that the department gave to the group . Ms. Hillman asked the Town Board to start working on the Zoning proposals that were presented to the Board earlier to help address some issues occurring in the hamlet. TOWN OF ULYSSES 2 Regular Town Board 9/13/2011 TOWN REPORTS Planning Board Chairman Ken Zeserson was absent due to a Planning Board public hearing taking place simultaneously. Highway Superintendent James Meeker — reported on the activities of the Highway Department and updated the future of the work on the Seneca Road bridge project. Federal funding will not likely be available for the project. Tompkins County Highway Department is now proposing that it be advanced at the local level . Town Clerk Marsha Georgia gave her monthly report and also said that the water bills were mailed. Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun was absent due to the Planning Board public hearing. He provided the Town Board with a copy of his monthly report. PRESENTATION — Bangs Ambulance Service * *Audio can be accessed on the Web page at www.ulysses . ny. us Mr. Tim Bangs, President of Bangs Ambulance Service, gave a presentation to the Town Board on what service Bangs could provide to the Town. Supervisor Roxanne Marino reviewed the monthly operating statement with the Town Board. Ms. Marino said 'that a meeting with the Town of Ithaca is scheduled for September 20, 2011 , to discuss how to equitably share the cost of the unaccounted for water. Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde said that she is working with a new staff person at Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District on the stormwater tasks the office is assisting the Town with. Ms . Poelvoorde is also working on getting a quote for insurance from NYMIR before the draft budget is presented. Upcoming Meetings September 15 , 2011 7 p .m. Special TB meeting — Lakeshore Zoning Presentation September 27 , 2011 7 p .m. Special TB meeting // Public Hearing on Local Law October 3 , 2011 7 p .m . Budget Presentation October 11 , 2011 7 p .m. Regular Town Board meeting October 17 , 2011 7 p .m. Special Town Board October 25 , 2011 7 p .m. Public Hearing — Budget November 3 , 2011 7 p .m. Special TB — vote on 2012 budget November 15 , 2011 7 p .m. Regular Town Board Town Board Members and Committees Ms . Thomas reported on the Tompkins County Council of Government' s Drilling Task Force activities. She also noted that she is working on a Community Foundation grant request for the Youth Services program. Ms. Tyler reported that at the Healthcare Consortium meeting they voted to increase the health insurance premium by 9 . 5 % . The increase is needed to raise the funds for the program capitalization that is required by New York State. Mr. Romer reported that he will be attending a meeting of the Tompkins County Emergency Management group on September 20, 2011 , at the Old Jail conference room. RFP for Engineering Services to Evaluate Road Damage Ms . Marino asked the Town Board if they wanted to be included in a Request for Proposal that Tompkins County will be sending out for additional engineering assistance related to road damage from excessive, heavy truck traffic . The Town Board directed Ms . Marino to inform the Tompkins County that the Town of Ulysses is interested in being included in the project. Broadband Resolution , • TOWN OF ULYSSES 3 Regular Town Board 9/13/2011 Ms . Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Kerness the following resolution : BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the following resolution : RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A COUNTY-WIDE SURVEY OF RESIDENTS ABOUT BROADBAND INTERNET WHEREAS many residents of the Town of Ulysses have broadband access due to the proximity of Finger Lakes Technology Group, there are still areas in the southern portion of our town without an affordable high-speed connection to the internet; and WHEREAS not only is this a disadvantage to residents but also dampens the economic potential of small businesses located throughout our rural areas ; and WHEREAS without finding a way to provide high-speed internet to all our residents, there will continue to be a digital divide within our communities . THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses supports a survey of town residents and businesses to determine the level of need for better internet accessibility options including the type of service currently available to residents, how well this service meets their needs, and what quality of service would be necessary for them to take advantage of technology features provided by the internet. Ms . Marino aye Ms . Thomas aye Ms. Tyler aye Mr. Kerness aye Mr. Romer aye Adopted Local Law to Override Tax Cap LOCAL LAW # 3 OF 2011 TOWN OF ULYSSES, COUNTY OF TOMPKINS A local law to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c Section 1 . Legislative Intent It is the intent of this local law to allow the Town of Ulysses to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing 2012 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 a local government ' s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body. ISection 3. Tax Levy Limit Override The Town Board of the Town of Ulysses, County of Tompkins, is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing 2012 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law § 3 -c . Section 4. Severability If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph , subdivision, or part of this local law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid or unconstitutional, the court ' s order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the TOWN OF ULYSSES 4 Regular Town Board 9/13/2011 remainder of this local law, 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. Ms . Marino aye Ms. Thomas aye Ms . Tyler aye Mr. Kerness aye Mr. Romer aye Adopted The Public Hearing on the law is scheduled for September 27 , 2011 , at 7 : 00 p .m. Budget 2012 Ms . Marino reported that she has started preparing the draft 2012 budget. She requested that the Town Board advise her as to what specific programs they would like to see in the budget and also to let her know their thoughts on salary increases and health insurance premium cost-share payments . The Board discussed the Car Share program and if it would work in the Town to decrease the cost of owning vehicles . The Town Board agreed that it was too late to further explore the option for the 2012 budget. Hearing no further business, Ms. Marino moved, seconded by Ms . Thomas , to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved and meeting adjourned at 10 : 10 p .m. Respectfully submitted, Marsha L. Georgia Ulysses Town Clerk MLG: mlg