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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