HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-23-PH-minutesPUBLIC HEARING
Local Law to Amend the Enforcement Provision of Local Law #1 of 2007, which provides for
administration and enforcement of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
TOWN OF ULYSSES
September 23, 2014
Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulvsses.nv.us.
The meeting was held at the Ulysses Town Hall at 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg.
PRESENT:
Supervisor- Liz Thomas
Board members- Rich Goldman, John Hertzler, Nancy Zahler, David Kerness
Clerk- Carissa Parlato
Attorney for the Town- Mariette Geldenhuys
Code Enforcement Officer- Alex Rachun
Deputy Supervisor- Michelle Wright
OTHERS PRESENT:
Diane Hillmann, Bonze Anne Rose Blayk, Dave Gell, Phil Antweiler
Mr. Goldman made a motion to open the Public Hearing at 6:37pm, seconded by Ms. Zahler.
Ms. Thomas noted the purpose of the Public Hearing: to give residents the opportunity to voice their
opinions on the proposed law, a Local Law to Amend the Enforcement Provision of Local Law #1 of
2007, which provides for administration and enforcement of the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code.
Ms. Thomas opened the public hearing and made the following statement:
Specifically, this local law allows the town of Ulysses government to have additional tools to
encourage property owners to clean up and maintain neglected properties. In 2007 the Town passed a
local law to implement enforcement of the State Building and Fire Prevention Codes. The Town Board
is taking action to amend this law to provide the Town with more tools to address unsafe structures and
properties with significant exterior maintenance violations, such as accumulation of junk on a property.
In the most serious cases, if all other existing strategies fail to correct chronic problems, the new law
would enable the Town to make the needed repairs and then add those costs to the owner's property
tax bill, a legal remedy used in other local towns. In case of unsafe structures, the town could arrange
to have the building demolished and those costs assessed back to the property owner. This law applies
only to town, not village residents.
She continued with the following:
The hearing date was set by town board resolution on Tuesday, August 12, 2014.
The legal notice of the hearing was published in the Ithaca Journal on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014.
The affidavit of publication was presented.
Comments on this proposal will be taken until Oct. 7.
Ms. Hillmann and Mr. Antweiler expressed their support for the law.
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With no further comments, Mr. Kerness made a motion to close the hearing at 6:44pm, seconded by
Mr. Goldman.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato, 9/25/14