HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-16-RTB Town of Ulysses
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 16, 2011
Present : Supervisor Roxanne Marino ; Councilpersons Elizabeth Thomas, Lucia Tyler,
David Kerness and Kevin Romer; Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde ; Environmental
Planner Darby Kiley, Highway Supervisor Jim Meeker, Tompkins County Legislator
Jim Dennis, Zoning/Planning Secretary Robin Carlisle Peck and Attorney Mariette
Geldenhuys
Supervisor Marino called the meeting to order at 7 : 01 p . m . She noted that an Executive
Session to discuss legal matters has been added as the last point of business on the
agenda.
2011 BUDGET MODIFICATIONS
Budget Modifications were presented to move funds to proper allocations .
Mr. Kerness moved, seconded by Ms . Thomas the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the
following budget modifications for 2011 .
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
Supervisor Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approve
payment of vouchers #452 to #502 for a total of $ 86,240 . 45 .
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Supervisor Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer the following :
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the minutes of
10/03/ 11 Budget Meeting and the 10/ 11 / 11 Regular Meeting as written by Ms . Georgia
and edited by Ms . Poelvoorde.
10/03/ 11 10/ 11 / 11
Ms . Marino aye abstain
Ms . Thomas aye aye
Ms . Tyler abstain aye
Mr. Kerness aye aye
Mr. Romer aye aye
Adopted
Regular Town Board Meeting 2
11 /16/2011
REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tompkins County : (Board - Jim Dennis, Sheriff Department) Jim Dennis offered his
congratulations to the re-elected Town Board Members as well as the new Town Justice .
He reported that the County Budget was approved . The budget was 1 % above the tax cap .
To eliminate the increase they would have had to reduce fund balances and then recover
them in 2013. The County does maintain and have a good credit rating. The legislators all
agreed using the fund balances would not be a good decision. He stated other
municipalities are using fund balances to get taxes under the 2 . 9% tax cap . The biggest
problem in meeting the tax cap is the State of New York has done nothing to address
mandate relief. Medicaid costs are out of control .
The County did allocate $ 500 toward the State Hearing, Ulysses has agreed to pay $ 300
as well as other municipalities contributing to the cost of renting the State Theater for the
hydrofracking meeting.
The County will be forming a search committee for a Highway Manager. They will have
a Highway Manager and a Civil Engineer these positions are not being created but have
not been filled. Mr. Meeker has been asked to participate on the search committee .
Mayor-elect Svante Myrick will be setting up meetings with the Towns to discuss areas
of mutual interest and future cooperative efforts .
Mr. Dennis discussed the redistricting. He stated the County' s population grew but the
City of Ithaca did not, thus the City will lose representatives . They are looking at how to
divide the city.
Trumansburg Fire Department & EMS — no one in attendance and no report provided.
Mr. Kerness stated they should have a report and preferably representation for this on a
monthly basis . Ms . Marino stated she usually gets a written report and will communicate
with them this should be done if a representative not in attendance.
Trumansburg Village Representative — no one in attendance .
Ms . Marino stated she had communication from Herb Engman noting that the Village is
going to pursue building a water filtration plant for the Village rather than pursue a hook
up to the Town of Ulysses lines . There has been no direct communication from the
Village.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR — no public comment.
TOWN REPORTS
Planning Board Environmental Planner Darby Kiley reported that the Planning Board
approved the ATC Project. The ZBA approved a variance for interior work for an
apartment that was below the 750 square-foot requirement. Revised plans were prepared
and approved. The apartment is an accessory apartment in a single-family residence.
Ms . Kiley filled in for Ms. Thomas at a Tompkins County Council of Government ' s Gas
Drilling Task Force to plan for the upcoming public hearing that will be sponsored by
Tompkins County with support from several towns . The hearing is on December 1 , 2012 ,
7 : 00 p .m. to 11 : 00 p . m . She is replacing Sue Poelvoorde on the Tompkins County
Stormwater Coalition and is renewing contacts with that group . She will be meeting with
Planning Board Chair Ken Zeserson and Mr. Rachun after Thanksgiving.
Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported on work up to November 15 . The
Highway Department hauled hot mix for the Village. The Village in turn helped them
with stormwater projects . They were busy paving, installing culvert pipes . They installed
culvert pipe on Agard Road for the Black Diamond Trail crossing as well as prepare the
trucks for winter.
Regular Town Board Meeting 3
11 /16/2011
Town Clerk — Ms Carlisle Peck presented the monthly report for the Town Clerk ' s
office .
Code Enforcement Officer - Ms . Kiley reported for Mr. Rachun that three people have
been interviewed for the part-time Fire Inspector position. They hope to have a decision
tomorrow.
Supervisor Roxanne Marino asked the Board if they had any questions on the
Operating Statement . The Town received notice that the Community Foundation grant
application was sent approved for Teen Rural Programming for continuing the teen jobs
program. The budget adopted on November 3 , 2011 will be posted on the Town ' s web
page . She is preparing a narrative that will follow .
She reminded the Board that a resolution needs to be passed to amend the Personnel
Manual related to the final decision made on employee contributions to health insurance.
Mr. Kerness stated he would review the personnel policies for changes . Ms . Marino noted
that she would like to discuss this at December 13 , 2011 meeting.
Deputy Supervisor Sue Poelvoorde reported that at the Ithaca-Tompkins County
Transportation Council meeting upcoming projects for funding in 2012 were reviewed
and the Seneca Road Bridge is back on the list.
Mr. Dennis discussed the TCAT funding and organizational structure. Due to funding and
staff issues, TCAT shut down some rural routes rather than risking getting people stuck
in town with no rides. They are reviewing how TCAT operates and whether it should be
run as an authority vs . a not-for-profit .
Mr. Meeker noted concern for adequate highway funding as several county roads are
getting bad. Mr. Dennis noted that one of the benefits of having a highway manager is
that the person will control the money allocated for roads . Mr. Dennis suggested it would
be beneficial to have Mr. Meeker prepare list of concerns he has for County road ' s in
Ulysses .
Town Board Members and Committees
Ms . Tyler stated it is necessary to have a new resolution approved for her to remain as a
representative on the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC) for
2012 .
Supervisor Marino moved, Mr. Romer seconded the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses appoint Lucia Tyler to
the EMC for 2012 .
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
Ms . Tyler stated the EMC is reorganizing to get more input . The legislator' s will be
appointing additional representatives . They feel if they expand they will get more input
from different stakeholders, which could result in more connection with the legislature.
She noted it would not impact 2012 as it will take time. They are working on the dSGEIS
comments for December approval .
OLD BUSINESS
Road Inventory & Pavement Management — Ms . Marino reported that the road
inventory work completed by LaBella is available. Tompkins County is in the process of
releasing a Request for Proposal to hire a firm that would be on retainer to provide
Regular Town Board Meeting 4
11 /16/2011
follow-up structural analysis of roads . An update could be done annually. This
information will assist for the Local Road Use Law and Road Use Agreements .
Update on Zoning - Lakeshore and Conservation Zones
Mr. Kerness stated the Lakeshore Committee has revised the draft. They hope to have a
rewrite done to put before the Board soon. Rod Hawkes is revising the Conservation
Zone so the two zones have parallel wording. Mr. Kerness would like to propose they
prepare both ;drafts for final presentation to the Town Board, have Ms . Geldenhuys
review and then have the sections added to the Zoning Law document.
Ms . Marino reminded the Board that Bergmann Associates has been hired to update the
Zoning Law document . They will prepare the final draft as well as revise the maps .
Concern that people may not be informed of the new zones was raised. Discussion
concluded that people who are stating they were not informed were at Comp Plan
meetings and supported the Lakeshore Zone. The Board agreed that the above process
would be a good way to continue the process . They hope to review and have a
presentation for January 2012 .
Town of Ithaca Water Agreement Amendment
Ms . Marino reported that the Town of Ithaca has agreed in principle to resolving the
water loss issue including the following stipulations — the Town of Ulysses will pay
$21 ,000 for past water purchases with the fines waived; Town of Ithaca will absorb the
cost of unaccounted water for future with the Town of Ulysses using a formula of Town
of Ithaca 16 . 3 % and the Town of Ulysses 83 . 7%. Town Board members thanked Ms .
Marino for resolving the issues and agreeing with the resolution.
EMS Contract for 2012 and Next Steps
The Board discussed the latest version of the Fire and EMS contract and issues with
developing a contract with the Village of Trumansburg. The Board made several changes
to the contract and Ms . Geldenhuys will write up the changes and forward them to the
attorney working with the Village on the EMS changeover. Supervisor Marino stated she
has made multiple attempts to discuss the contract with Mayor Marty Petrovic with no
response . She noted how frustrating this is as a large part of the Town ' s budget is
committed to these services and the lack of communication is not helping the inter-
municipal cooperation that is needed for this issue .
NEW BUSINESS
Solar Panel Lease Opportunity
Ms . Marino reported that she has communicating with Joe Mareane regarding the benefit
of signing on to the solar panel program that is available for municipalities . The company
does a cost benefit analysis, including savings and loss estimates for the Town. She asked
the Board if they were agreeable in pursuing this . The Board agreed it would a reasonable
item to pursue if no cost was involved. It was noted they had already had audits done on a
previous occasion. Some of that data could be used in the analysis . The company offering
the program is working through NYSERDA and tax credits are available if the program is
utilized .
Winterfest
Ms . Marino stated the Town allocated $ 3 ,000 towards expenses for the annual
Winterfest. They have been asked for this amount again this year. She does have concern
about this amount as they are cutting the event from Friday and Saturday to just Friday.
Unfortunately, there is a time issue due to the event happening on the first weekend of
December. There was an issue of the business ' not being informed of the change from
two days to one day. The Conservatory planned an event for Saturday not knowing it was
not part of Winterfest.
Ms . Marino made the motion, Mr. Romer seconded the motion.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves allocation of
$3 ,000 for the 2011 Winterfest event.
{
Regular Town Board Meeting 5
11 /16/2011
Ms . Marino aye
Ms . Thomas aye
Ms . Tyler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer nay
Adopted
Ms . Marino moved, seconded by Mr. Romer to adjourn to Executive Session. Board
voted unanimously to adjoin at 9 : 50 p .m.
The Board returned to the Regular Town Board Meeting at 10 : 17 p .m . and adjoined
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Carlisle Peck
Secretary