HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-12-RTBTown Of Ulysses
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
Audio available at http://www.ulysses.ny.us/council/tbmeetings/
Present: Supervisor Elizabeth Thomas; Councilpersons Nancy Zahler, David Kerness (arrived
late), and Kevin Romer; Environmental Planner Darby Kiley; Highway Superintendent James
Meeker; Town Clerk; Marsha Georgia; and Attorney Mariette Geldenhuys.
Absent: Lucia Tyler
Others Present: Mario DelRosso, Sarah DelRosso, Doris Houghton, Lawrence McCann, Heinz
Riederer, Tim Fallon, George Breuhaus, Diane Hillman, Richard Goldman, John Hertzler and
Rob Montana
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Ms. Zahler moved seconded by Mr. Romer the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the To wn Board of the Town of Ulysses approve the agenda as
presented.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
APPROVAL OF CLAIMS
Ms. Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. Zahler the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves claims
contingent on approval of the 2nd Board Member #’s 432 through 482 in the amount of
$68,542.22.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. Zahler the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the minutes of
9/10/2013 Public Hearing. 9/10/2013 Public Informational meeting, Regular Town Board
meeting of 10/8/2013, Working Town Board meetings of 10/10/2013, 10/22/2013 and
10/30/2013.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Romer aye abstain for the 10/22 and 10/30 meetings (assent)
Adopted
The 10/22/2013 and the 10/30/2013 Working Town Board meetings were tabled for the next
meeting.
REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
2
No one in attendance.
PRIVILEDGE OF FLOOR
Doris Houghton read a written statement from Peter Houghton as follows:
My name is Peter Houghton, 1333 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca. My family has
owned Cayuga lakefront property in the Town of Ulysses for over 100 years. My
family also owns some 500 acres of farmland and woodland in the Town of Ulysses
dating back to 1929.
I am a NYS licensed professional engineer with knowledge about the west shore of
Cayuga Lake through my personal experience and my 35 year career with the NYS
Department of Transportation. I have addressed this Board on numerous
occasions over the past 14 months regarding the proposed Lakeshore and
Conservation Zoning Districts.
I have addressed issues regarding the seasonal water depth variations as
governed by the NYS Cayuga Lake Rule Curve and its effect on proposed dock
length restrictions. I have addressed the board on the inventory of numerous
seasonal and continuous water courses that traverse NYS Route 89 and their effect
on proposed property set-back requirements from stream banks. I have addressed
the Board on the proposed tree removal language. I have addressed the Board on
the differences between pervious and impervious asphalt surfaces and their effect
on surface run-off into Cayuga Lake. I have addressed the Board on the potential
complications and legal issues that will arise by implementing the Boards
proposed restrictive language regarding the surveying of waterfront properties. I
have addressed the Board on the existing Cayuga Lake jurisdiction details of
several governmental agencies... Federal Army Corps of Engineers, NYS Office of
General Services, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and
the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. I have addressed the Board
on computational errors made in the setting of lot size depth and frontage
specifications.
My remarks to the Board have been both oral and written and have focused on
technical issues and errors in the proposed zoning language. I now find myself
characterized by a Town of Ulysses official as being
... "A bizarre Libertarian hiding behind a curtain of lie s and nothing more than
part of a small infestation of Tea Partiers..."
This statement is personally highly insulting and professionally defamatory. My
remarks to the Board have been diligently researched, informational and
instructive. I have been personally thanked on several occasions by Board
members and Town staff for my input.
The characterization of me as a "bizarre liar" by the Town of Ulysses Planning
Board Chairman is a defamation of character to my reputation as a licensed
professional engineer. In his capacity as Town of Ulysses Planning Board
Chairman, Mr. Zeserson has considerable influence over future Town of Ulysses
land use issues and decisions. His statements show his unmitigated bias against a
group of people who have raised legitimate questions and issues before this Town
Board. His prejudice is not conjecture. He blatantly states it in writing. This
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
3
expressed bias reveals that Mr. Zeserson cannot effectively function as an
impartial member of the Town of Ulysses Planning Board.
I expect this Board to take action to immediately remove Mr. Zeserson from his
appointed position on the Town Planning Board. Having him step down from the
Chairman's position is not sufficient; he has to be removed from the Board.
Failure to dismiss Mr. Zeser son and allowing him to continue as a member of the
Planning Board will demonstrate this Town Boards' tolerance and acceptance of
his statements and views regarding my personal interaction with the Town Board
and, in a larger sense, an entire segment of th is Town's population. Allowing Mr.
Zeserson to continue serving as a member of the Ulysses Planning Board may
expose the Town to legal action.
Peter Houghton, P.E.
Heinz Riederer read the following statement : (copy of this statement on file)
Section 3.4 of “Town Law Rules and Procedures” outlines procedures for motions.
Board Members were not in possession of adequate materials to consider this main motion
before 5PM on Friday 11/8.
As a result this motion to set a date for a public hearing may be null and void.
Subject: Petition Acceptance: We were away for the September/October meetings and I
received the audio of the 8/27/13 Town Board meeting. The tape clearly indicates (at
approximately 1:40) Ms. Thomas speaking about the decision not to accept the petitions “the
decision is difficult there are different opinions”. The written minutes (copy attached) show
“options” in place of opinions.
Copy of minutes provided: Ms. Thomas addressed the question on the “petition for a survey
request”. The topic is not straight forward and she wanted the public to know the decision is
difficult there are different options. Any zoning changes that the Town makes are guided by the
Comprehensive Plan and that is what we have to use. The Comprehensive Plan did include a
survey that was sent to every property owner back in 2006. There were two workshops that were
very well attended by the public. The Town’s Attorney has said that it is not typical that a
survey would be done for a specific zoning area. Any survey would be town-wide not just for a
specific zoning area for a specific zoning change. There were two zoning committees; the
original that worked on Lakeshore Zoning and the most recent ad hoc committ ee, two
subsequent public information meetings, which received many public comments. The advice
from counsel received by the Town was to not do another survey on the desirability of the zoning
change because the Comprehensive Plan should be the Board’s g uide. Once again when the next
draft of the Lakeshore Zoning is completed the public will have an opportunity to give comments
on the parts of the zoning that they find a problem. The Board will be listening and be very
interested in the specific comment s on specific parts of the zoning.
1. I respectfully request that the minutes be corrected so that they reflect accurately what is on
the tape.
Furthermore,
2. As Ms. Thomas stated there are obviously different opinions on this matter among the Board
members we ask that the matter of the petitions request for a survey by 110 property owners be
duly considered by the Board at a future Town Board meeting. The request comes from
approximately 60% of all the properties affected.
Ignoring such a request without proper deliberation in an open meeting is undemocratic and
against all principals of good government.
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
4
Furthermore, I would like to point out that if such deliberations were indeed held without the
public present, any decision recorded in such a forum is in violation of NY State Open Meetings
Law and may be declared null and void.
Lawrence McCann statement as read:
1.) I wish to Question Supervisor Liz Thomas' statement, this summer, that she felt it only fair
and reasonable to hold the Public Hearing while the Lakeshore residents were in Ulysses - their
desire as they had communicated to her.
You have now conveniently forgotten this earlier statement, in a TB meeting, and are rushing to
complete the Zoning, within a month, while residents are not present.
As Supervisor you stated the Public Hearing should be held during the summer, when the
residents are present - that it was fair and reasonable governance.
2.) At the October 8th TB Meeting, now over I month ago, the TB Supervisor Liz Thomas, in
response to my Privilege of the Floor statement, responded that she had created a document that
covered most of the questions Ulysses residents had regarding the Zoning Draft. I asked where
this was available and Liz Thomas stated she would post it on the Town Website. In other
words it was not available. 1 Month later, even closer to the rushed completion of Lakeshore
Zoning this document, from the TB Supervisor, is still not posted or available.
3.) I have tried to Question how the sudden and opaque change to I acre, from the current 2
acre zoning, meets the objective of preserving the Lakeshore for all Ulysses residents. And I
object to the change from 2 to 5 acres across the street within the Lakeshore Zone. A reduction
to one half, on one side of the street and on the other side of Maplewood, in the same district of
rural Ulysses, the proposed zoning is now 250% of the present 2 acres.
The reason given, that lakeshore is too expensive, is true for both North and South of
Maplewood Road and one area should not be so restrictive while an adjacent area (where TB
and PB members live) should not be significantly less restrictive. The affordability argument
makes less sense, along the lake, where the price of a Lakefront Lot will equilibrate to very
close to the current price whether it is 1 or 2 acres.
This is Preferential Spot Zoning.
With the 6 new lots proposed through reducing zoning, from 2 acres to 1 (against the TB's own
Ad Hoc Committee decision), there will be at least 6 new driveways; six new septic systems, 6
parking areas and 6 new homes and of course 6 docks. Why did the AHC and TB go through
this exercise at preserving the Lakeshore, only at the 11th hour, to alter - without discussion -
the character of the lake through a sudden revision to 1 acre zoning? What are the long term
implications with the Girl Scout Camp? At a conservative estimate of 30 trees per driveway 6
new 1 acre lots allows immediately almost 200 trees cut down in the Lakeshore Zone - all to
preserve the lake?
The driveways have already begun to be built, with one lakeshore resident revoking a 30 year
shared driveway easement; possibly to prepare for the split of his property into 1he proposed
2 single acre lots.
Mario DelRosso
I am reading a statement from a Ulysses resident who is unavailable for the Town Board
Meeting. Taxpayers and residents want to make an appearance to present a statement to the TB
regarding the Draft Zoning Rush to completion, but are unavailable at this time of year. This
letter serves to reinforce this highly relevant point, that residents are not available at this
time for a Public Hearing.
I respectfully request that each Board Member individually revisit their position
regarding the urgency of passing the new zoning laws.
As often stated main tax paying owners are not in this area at this time of year.
I believe it to be undemocratic governance to railroad this issue through without
adequate representation.
Susan Ettinger, 79 Maplewood Rd., Ithaca, NY
Ms. Thomas asked the Town Board if they would like to continue a few more minutes with
“privilege of the floor”. The Board agreed to.
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
5
Mario DelRosso said that he and his family own several acres and have lived along the lake for
two generations and have lived in harmony with the lake, the environment and the neighbors.
Mr. DelRosso said that when all of this started it was like a train coming at them and the first
impulse is to get out of the way but then you see that your neighbors are driving this train which
gives you a sense of relief but then you realize they are not slowing the train down. The train is
on the track getting ready to run over you and that is the anger and frustration that we have seen
over a year and a half. The Westshore Homeowners Association has been a little disingenuous
in trying to pretend they represent the lakeshore owners; with half of them living in the Town of
Ithaca. The Ulysses Lakeshore Association was formed specifically to try to address the
concerns of the lakeshore owners. For these comments to circulate that the association was
“veritable Wizard of Oz” a few bizarre Libertarians hiding behind a curtain of lies and nothing
more and all that is dishearten to see our neighbors refer to anyone that disagrees with them that
they are Tea Party people or worse. It is disappointing and you are intelligent people and should
understand the emotion that this creates and take that into consideration when you’re talking
about putting this on a timeline and ramming it through at all costs.
Tim Fallon
Congratulations to those on the Town Board who won with a majority of votes.
For the non-partisan ULA, we have continuing concerns where a majority of
property owners in the proposed Lakeshore zoning area signed a petition and the
petition is being ignored.
The Town board response to the petition appears to be mostly based on legal
advice. With due respect, no one elected the Town Attorney. Where is the public
deliberation that rightfully should have occurred when a majority of affected
property owners asked for a survey?
While the petition may not be ‘typical’, the proposed Lakeshore Zone is far from
typical. That a petition was developed is symptomatic of concerns with being
heard. Why don’t you want to liste n to your citizens? Are you on the Town Board
to represent the citizens? Does a majority request have no merit? If you did the
survey as requested, I believe all would be willing to concede to a majority, and
would feel that fairness ruled. As a natio n, we promote democracy for the world.
Is it too much to ask that democracy be honestly promoted in Ulysses? Please
listen to what the majority of property owners have requested; please do a survey
as requested.
Relative to forwarding your email info to ULA members, I’d like to let you know
there have been no requests from the 105 ULA members to remove their names
from our email list.
Diane Hillman said she is hearing about the concerns about the timing for the
Lakeshore stuff and she just wants to ma ke her usual plea that there are things
waiting in Jacksonville and she does not know if they have to wait for all of the
Lakeshore things to happen or if the Lakeshore people want to delay we could just
go directly to the Jacksonville business.
George Breuhaus said that he has the misfortune to be the brut of Ken Zeserson’s
email. He feels it is totally inappropriate. He thinks that it demonstrates a total
lack of objectivity for a person that holds his position as Chairman of the Planning
Board and asks for his dismissal from the Planning Board.
TOWN REPORTS
Environmental Planner Darby Kiley reported:
Planning Board
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
6
On October 15th, the Planning Board approved a two -lot subdivision in Jacksonville. The
Planning Board continued to discuss sign regulations and the Open Space Plan.
BZA
On October 16th, the BZA reviewed three area variance requests, two of which were
granted (one for a garage side yard setback and fence between properties on
Taughannock Blvd, and one for a setback to the lake on Willow Creek Point Rd), and the
third variance regarding the number of farm animals on a residential lot was tabled until
December.
Other
I attended the October TCCOG meeting where Katie Borgella and I presented on the
Smart Energy Policies t hat are being developed by a Smart Energy Policy group (made
up of municipal and local representatives).
On October 28, I attended a Stormwater training presented by DEC.
Highway Superintendent James Meeker reported the Highway’s activities for the month of
October.
Town Clerk Marsha Georgia reported the monthly fees collected and that she had received the
new computer that will be used for NYS Conservation licensing.
Code Enforcement Officer Alex Rachun previously distributed his monthly report to the Board
members.
Supervisor Thomas thanked Ms. Tyler, Mr. Romer and Ms. Georgia for their service to the
Town. Ms. Thomas reported:
Jacksonville Church – been in contact with Exon Mobil and was told that they will get a
structural engineer to see what needed to be done to keep the building secure.
Attended a workshop offered by the Office of the State Comptroller talking about fiscal
stress of municipalities.
The waterline for the Village will be coming up Falls Road and they are moving ahead
Re-bidding – David Allen the landscaper for the Town has retired, the Town will need to
re-bid that and possibly the plowing of the sidewalks and the cemetery care.
Carissa is stepping down from the Cooperative Extension Youth Program Management
and also Nancy Irish so there will be two new people for the Youth Programs
Water District still is having problems with the testing of the chorine by-product levels
which are too high and could be potentially unhealthy. Mr. Austic has been working on
this. The recommendation from the County Board of Health is to install a mixer in the
tank. Mr. Austic has contacted the engineer.
Attended the Tompkins County Animal Control meeting with Marsha Georgia to discuss
the enumeration and hiring of one enumerator for the w hole County
John Wertis is working on replacing the historical marker that was destroyed
Attended Regional Deer Control meeting
Distributed the monthly operating statement and need to do some budget modifications.
Budget Modifications 2013 Budget
Ms. Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. Zahler the following:
A1110.12 Town Justice Clerk PS increase $5420.00
A1011.1 Town Board Admin Assistant decrease $5420.00
To allow for additional expense for the Court Clerk for salary increase, as well as for
severance and accrued vacation pay for terminated clerk.
A1320.4 Attorney CE increase $6300.00
A1 990.
4
Contingency decrease $1500.0
0 A917 Unassigned Fund Balance decrease $5000.00
To cover additional expense due to amicus brief $5,000 will be covered by a payment from
the Town of Ithaca, representing $5,000 of unbudgeted revenue, so therefore is drawn
from Fund Balance; the rest from contingency.
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
7
A1670.4 Printing and Mailing increase $1,200.00
A1220.12 Deputy Supervisor PS decrease $1,200.00
To cover shortage in the Printing & Mailing line due to mailing out newsletter ($2,000.00).
A7510.4 Historian CE increase $100.00
A1 650.4 Central l Communication CE decrease $100 .00
To budget for Town Historian training out of communication line, which has spent only
about 58% of its Budget YTD.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
Town Board Members and Committees
Nancy Zahler reported that the Youth Commission is working with the Village of Trumansburg
on reconciling the funding spent on youth programs because the Town and the Village po ol their
money and contract their money for several different programs but the summer recre ation
program is o ne that is jointly funded but is run by the Village. The Town has been learning a lot
about how the monies have been allocated, spent and talking about plans for the future. They are
not quite there yet. The Village Treasurer has been d oing a great job refining the information on
the programs. One more meeting should reconcile all that.
Ms. Zahler said that at the next Youth Commission meeting they will be looking at applications
that have been submitted for people interested in the first vacancy for Nancy Irish’s retirement.
Ms. Zahler will be attending the Chamber’s annual meeting and the first of several sessions
presented by the Human Coalition of Tompkins County is part of the NYS Health Exchange that
is that is advising people on how they can sign up for affordable health care. They have agreed
to do an outreach in the Town Hall this coming Thursday November 14 th, 2013 and will be back
with more advanced planning on Thursday the 5th of December.
Ms. Zahler has had an ongoing conversation with the Village of Trumansburg who are still
interested in exploring providing of some police service to the Town. The Town and Village will
continue to communicate on this topic.
Mr. Kerness asked about the progress of the Amicus Brief. Ms. Geldenhuys reviewed the
progress.
OLD BUSINESS
NON-CONFORMANCE ZONING
Ms. Thomas said that we have on the agenda the Non-Conformance Zoning but on the agenda it
does not say SEQR adoption and it does not say consideration of adoption of the Non-
Confor mance Zoning Law. Because of that the Town Board cannot move on that so at this time
it will be set aside.
Ms. Zahler moved, seconded by Ms. Thomas the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses table SEQR
determination and Non-Conformance until a future meeting.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
8
Adopted
BUDGET
Ms. Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Kerness the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses approves the
Preliminary 2014 Budget with the modifications made tonight in Water District #3
changing the total appropriations to $283,630.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
ZONING REVISIONS
Ms. Kiley reviewed all of the changes to the Zoning Law.
There is a Public Informational Meeting scheduled and advertised for November 18, 2013 to be
held at the Ulysses Historical Society.
The Board discussed to change or table the Lakeshore Zoning and just have the Public
Information meeting on Article #3, Conservation Zone and Marine District because Mr. Kerness
felt he needed to review changes to the Lakeshore District.
Ms. Thomas does not want to table Lakeshore Zoning. She feels that it makes sense to do this as
a unit without the in water structures. Ms. Thomas said to Mr. Kerness that when he reads it
over he will find that it was what they had and he will find it is what we had except ed. Mr.
Kerness would like to change the 1 acre to 2 acres. There are not changes you have not seen or
provided to you. Mr. Kerness feels there may be other changes and he wants the time to review.
Mr. Kerness said he can sit down with Ms. Kiley tomorrow and review.
Ms. Thomas said that to enable to set the Public Hearing that has to be done tonight, so either it
is going to be left out or not ; based on tonight’s meeting.
Ms. Geldenhuys pointed out that to introduce a resolution for the public hearing you would have
to accept the document for purposes of the public hearing without further change until the public
hearing. Ms. Geldenhuys said that if the Board is not in agreement tonight that this document is
ready it does not make a lot of sense to have the public information meeting either.
Ms. Zahler made a suggestion as what to accept or change so they could move forward.
Mr. Kerness reminded the Board that he said he would sit down tomorrow and discuss this with
Ms. Kiley.
Ms. Thomas said that if the changes are not made tonight there is no final document to go to the
public hearing.
Mr. Kerness said another couple of months certainly would not change anything. Why are we so
intent on passing this in the next 30 days? This document surely has some short comings.
Ms. Thomas said she could make a resolution to move forward. Ms. Geldenhuys said that under
“privilege of floor” a comment was made as to when the resolution had come available to the
Board under the “Rules and Procedures”.
The Board checked the time the resolution was sent out t o the Board. Mr. Romer said it was
timed stamped before 5:30 pm and the rule is before 5PM on Friday.
Ms. Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. Zahler the following:
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
9
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses pursuant to the Rules
and Procedures to accept the resolution pertaining to the public hearing and public
information session regarding changes to the Zoning Law and the drafts of the Zoning
Law that was sent 5:25 PM on Friday rather than before 5 on Friday.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness abstained
Mr. Romer nay
Failed
The Board discussed this further.
Mr. Kerness moved, seconded by Ms. Zahler the following:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses waive the Rules and
Procedures to accept the documents emailed Friday after 5 PM deadline.
Ms. Thomas aye
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer nay
Failed
Mr. Kerness said that the dates can be changed for the Public Informational meeting and the
Public Hearing. The Public Informational meeting can be on December 2, 2013, have the Public
Hearing on December 11, 2013 and vote on the document on December 17, 2013. This is just a
suggestion. The Board will have to check their calendars.
ECODE
Mr. Kerness moved, seconded by Ms. Thomas the following resolution:
RESOLUTION OF THE ULYSSES TOWN BOARD TO CONTRACT WITH
GENERAL CODE FOR CODIFICATION SERVICES
WHEREAS, Town of Ulysses representatives met with a General Code representative on
May 21, 2013, the Town provided General Code with existing local laws, and General
Code provided a Proposal for Codification Services dated July 24, 2013; and
WHEREAS, a General Code representative presented the proposal of services at a Town
Board meeting on September 24, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project will be nefit the Town officials, Town staff, and
residents by providing comprehensive, up-to-date municipal information in one location;
and
WHEREAS, the base contract price of $13,733 will be spread over three budget years;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Ulysses agrees to the contract
with General Code as specified in the Proposal for Codification services dated July 24,
2013 with a Base Codification Project Price of $13,733; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board authorizes Supervisor Thomas to
sign the above-referenced contract with General Code.
Ms. Thomas aye
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
10
Ms. Zahler aye
Mr. Kerness aye
Mr. Romer aye
Adopted
NEW BUSINESS
No new business to discuss.
PRIVLEGE OF FLOOR
Doris Houghton said she has noticed in the minutes that executive session has been used
correctly. In my husband’s statement read tonight it was asking to dismiss Mr. Zeserson and if
you don’t it appears that you are going to tolerate that kind of language and perhaps agree with
him and I hope that is not what this Town Board feels. I expected it to be brought up in new
business but no one brought it up.
Heinz Riederer said that it seems to him if you have two Town Board members who are coming
off the Board and have two new Town Board members coming on the Board that will have to
live with what you are doing the last few days of December. He feels that the two new members
should be brought into the process and given the opportunity to see and review these documents
before passing. A Board member tonight said that he did not feel that they would hear anything
new at the public hearing. That is troublesome to him because you are asking the public to
comment.
Tim Fallon said that just a point of clarification that at some point the Ad Hoc Committee had
agreed to 2 acres, secondly that it has been said right along that at this time of year a lot of
seasonal people are not here and even harder to get comments between Thanksgiving and
Christmas. Mr. Fallon feels like the Board is rushing. Mr. Fallon feels a new survey could serve
the Town better. Mr. Fallon addressed the vindictive email from Ken Zeserson and that he
should resign from the Planning Board.
Lawrence McCann
What just happened tonig ht? You are not behaving in good faith. Instead you display arrogance
and disrespect toward the taxpayers and residents of Ulysses who are just asking for a fair,
democratic shake.
We have no representation, but you are hell bent on passing these incomp lete zoning regulations
immediately. Tonight it has decayed into you trying to overturn your own Town Board Rules and
Regulations, through your lawyer? A shell game, bait and switch? Tonight you have cut out the
Lakeshore part of the zoning, leaving everyt hing else? How about a zoning plan that listens to
the community? Not a zoning plan that says lets go ahead with all else ...except my
grandfathered property.
You have completely changed the Zoning Draft tonight. Clearly, as evidenced by the length of
the Town Board deliberations and uncertainties tonight, this document is not ready for prime
time.
Again, we above the lakeshore - yet within the Lakeshore Zoning, have no representation;
everything is stricter above and more lenient where Town Board and P lanning Board (and
Committee) members live. What about the change to 5 acre zoning, in only a select, specific
area, the arbitrary 15% slope demarcation, issues with tick management and tree removal. Where
is the scientific analysis that backs up the vague statements that my land is “highly erodible” and
too “steep”? Why is the much steeper land, along the lake, not subject to these preferential spot
zoning regulations? Perhaps because some of you live in that much steeper land that is, in fact,
more erodible. Where is the data to back these vague assertions? There is no mechanism to help
pay the cost of these highly restrictive, onerous obligations placed upon the landowners /
taxpayers, while you sit comfortably “Grandfathered”. What about Lucia Tyler’s input? She has
stated she wants to be present for these discussions.
Regular Town Board Meeting
November 12, 2013
11
It has been an incredible night to watch your Town Board member question the “Integrity” of his
own Town Board - not once but twice! This is not a democratic process. This is not a fair
process. Why do you refuse an open process? You are railroading us.
(I was arrogantly cut off by the supervisor stating that my time was up. Contemptuously, the
meeting was ended by a motion.)
ADJORNMENT
Mr. Kerness moved, seconded by Ms. Thomas to adjourn the meeting. Unanimously approved
and meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha L. Georgia
Ulysses Town Clerk