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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-10-RTB-minutesTOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses February 10, 2015 Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us. The meeting was held at the Ulysses Town Hall at 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg. PRESENT: Supervisor- Liz Thomas Board members- John Hertzler, Rich Goldman 2nd Deputy Supervisor- Michelle Wright Clerk- Carissa Parlato Highway Superintendent- Jim Meeker Planner/Zoning Officer- Darby Kiley Attorney for the Town- Mariette Geldenhuys ABSENT: 1St Deputy Supervisor- Nancy Zahler Board member- Dave Kerness OTHERS PRESENT: (none) Notice of Town Board meetings are posted on the town's website and clerk's board. CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Thomas called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. GENERAL BUSINESS: APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA RESOLUTION 2015-47: BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the agenda for February 10, 2015 with the change of deleting the discussion topic of Consulting Engineer. Moved: Ms. Thomas Seconded: Mr. Goldman Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler absent Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Kemess absent Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 3-0 Date Adopted: 2/10/15 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (no comments spoken nor submitted) REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES: (none) TOWN REPORTS: (see appendix) OLD BUSINESS: GENERAL CODE - Ms. Kiley presented several topics for board discussion. Ms. Geldenhuys offered legal opinions on the issues. NEW BUSINESS: CREDIT CARD CHARGEBACK: (Discussion tabled to next meeting). SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR R.E.V. (REFORMING THE ENERGY VISION) RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC SERVICE COMISSION EXTEND THE COMMENT DEADLINE ON 14-M-0101 STAFF STRAW PROPOSAL FOR TRACK 1 and for 14-M-0224 ORDER INSTITUTING THE PROCEEDING AND SOLICITING COMMENTS RESOLUTION 2015-48: WHEREAS New York State's Public Service Commission has undertaken an exciting proceeding 14-M-0101 entitled Renewing the Energy Vision (REV) which aims to transform energy policy to encourage investment in distributed energy resources such as local distributed generation, on-site power, micro -grids, demand response, and energy storage, and it is envisioned that these changes will empower customers by allowing them more choice in how they manage and consume electric energy; and WHEREAS New York State's Public Service Commission has undertaken a related proceeding, 14-M-0224 to Enable Community Choice Aggregation Programs, which aims to increase participation of and benefits for residential and small non-residential customers in energy markets by involving local governments in procuring energy supply service for their residents and, if desired, by developing distributed energy resources or otherwise engaging in energy planning for their residents; and WHEREAS municipal involvement is integral to the successful development and implementation of distributed energy resources, and implementation of these proposals will have profound and lasting impacts on our land -use, our municipal economy, and our residents' welfare; and WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses only became aware of the 14-M-0101 proceeding as a result of research into the REV proceeding; and PA WHEREAS many municipal boards meet only once a month and 30 days' notice is not adequate time to review technical proceedings and provide meaningful input; and WHEREAS a review of dockets on these proceedings does not show involvement of any municipality either as a party or in public comments submitted to date; WHEREAS February 10th is the first opportunity for the Ulysses Town Board to meet and discuss the REV proceedings and solicitation of comments; 011110A" BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Ulysses requests an extension until June 1 on the comment period for the 14-M-0101 Staff Straw Proposal for Track 1 and asks that the Staff not finalize their recommendations until municipal comments are received; and further BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Ulysses requests an extension until June 1 on the comment period for 14-M-0224; and further BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Ulysses requests that the PSC notify all municipalities of the extended comment period on these dockets; and further BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Ulysses requests that the PSC notify all N.Y. municipalities of all existing and future proceedings and comment solicitations related to reforming the energy vision in New York State, and that the notice shall allow for at least 90 days to respond; and further BE IT RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Town of Ulysses is instructed to email certified copies of this resolution to Honorable Kathleen Burgess, Secretary of the Commission and Honorable Eleanor Stein, Administrative Law Judge for the REV proceeding as soon as possible; and that hard copies of this resolution shall be mailed to Honorable Kathleen Burgess, Honorable Eleanor Stein, Honorable Audrey Zibelman, Chair, Public Service Commission, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Senator Thomas O'Mara and to Governor Cuomo. Moved: Mr. Goldman Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler absent Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Kerness absent Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 3-0 Date Adopted: 2/10/15 CONSULTING ENGINEER (Discussion tabled to next meeting). Seconded: Mr. Hertzler PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (no comments spoken nor submitted) MONTHLY BUSINESS: APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1/13,1/27 RESOLUTION 2015-49: BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the minutes of 1/13 as edited by Nancy Zahler and 1/27. Moved: Mr. Goldman Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler absent Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Kerness absent Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 3-0 Date Adopted: 2/10/15 APPROVAL OF CLAIMS: Seconded: Mr. Hertzler RESOLUTION 2015-50: BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approves payment of claims, voucher # 8-52, skipping voucher # 47, totaling $43,119.78. Moved: Mr. Hertzler Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler absent Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Kerness absent Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 3-0 Date Adopted: 2/10/15 Seconded: Mr. Goldman ADJOURN: Mr. Goldman made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m., seconded by Mr. Hertzler and passed unanimously. APPENDIX: TOWN REPORTS: HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT: rd Mr. Meeker reported the following: Busy month with plowing and salting every day. Trying to stay ahead of equipment repairs due to the high use. They are now mixing in stone with the salt to help stretch salt reserves and provide more traction on the roads. PLANNING BOARD / ZONING OFFICER: Darby Kiley Planning Board - On January 20th, the Planning Board held a Sketch Plan Conference on the site changes at 1520 Trumansburg Rd. Renovus Energy purchased the existing, vacant buildings to use as a new headquarters. They will be adding canopies over existing doors, new overhead doors on the warehouse, additional parking, a new truck loading area, signs and landscaping. The Planning Board approved the Site Plan on February 3, 2015. Also at the January 20th meeting, the Planning Board adopted the Rules and Procedures, and continued to discuss changes to the Zoning Law. BZA- No BZA meeting in January. Enforcement actions- Stormwater violation: The engineer for the Pennsylvania Ave project redesigned the Stormwater Plan. Tompkins County Soil and Water reviewed and approved the plan. Zoning violation: 1942 Trumansburg Rd — On December 23' 2014, Judge Dresser sentenced the defendant but stayed the sentence until January 27, 2015. At the January 27th court date, the sentencing was stayed for another 30 days because some progress has been made and a list of additional actions was provided. Grants - Residential Energy Score Project Grant — The Project Team is collecting background housing data for the project, and the members of a Technical Advisory Committee have been selected. Zoning Amendments Grant — we are still working with NYSERDA on the contract documents. Other Meetings/Is sues - Water Resources Council: At the January 26th meeting, the WRC discussed the Water Quality Strategy update by identifying water resource issues. Stormwater Coalition: At the January 21St meeting, the SWC discussed (1) the new SPDES General Permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity; (2) suggested changes to the municipalities' Stormwater Management Program Plan; (3) sewershed mapping; and (4) training. On -Call Engineer: Reviewed submissions, scheduled and held interviews. TOWN CLERK: Carissa Parlato FINANCIAL REPORT: Collected $1288.50 in fees for licenses (dog, marriage, sporting) The town keeps $1128. of that. LICENSES ISSUED: Sporting licenses- 0 Disabled parking permits- 11 Dog licenses and renewals- 79 Marriage licenses- 3 TASKS: Taxes: posting bills, responding to bill requests, collecting money o Big coup- Was able to get an electronic file of payments from the biggest mortgage company for tax payments out of escrow. This eliminated the need to manually post more than $700,000 taxes into my tax software. O Sent a listsery mssg Keeping the website updated Made sure newly appointed people did took their Oath of office General Code Investigating credit card options- working with attorneys, IT person to verify safety and laws. Ordering supplies Updating organizing/filing systems Water: collecting and processing payments, answering general inquiries, issuing licenses, keeping the books balanced, reconciling account balance with Michelle. Updated the Index of Resolutions COMMITTEES: Health Consortium- Attended mtg. on Feb. 5. They are still designing a Bronze plan. Found out that Ulysses can offer its employees more insurance plans to choose from (through the consortium). This would require a resolution and approval by the consortium. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (none) SUPERVISOR -Elizabeth Thomas Water District Meet with Town of Ithaca to resolve water leakage payments for 2014 and discuss aerator in Ithaca water tank. Add new TTHM test results to running total and distribute to Ithaca, DoH and Bolton Pt. Discuss water options with engineer. Lay out plan to talk to Dept of Health, Jacksonville residents, funding agencies to figure out options and costs. Discuss water district management once current operator takes leave. Records and Local Laws Review General Code recommendations for changes to local laws and zoning, make recommendations, request input from Mariette on specifics, edit document with recommendations, present to Town Board. Review zoning changes sent by Darby. r, Shared Services Edit letter to the editor regarding shared grant for sidewalks. Energy Research topics: microgrids, NYS Reforming the Energy Vision, repowering Cayuga Power Plant. Write resolution airing concerns over gas storage facility planned for Seneca Lake. Attend talk about improved energy usage in housing—new and existing. (1/22) Listen to webinar on REV (2/9) Association of Towns (meet 1/26, 2/9) Member of committee working to make AoT by-laws more transparent. Edit letter to be sent to all 932 towns. Trails Gather estimates from programmers for county -wide mapping project Write grant proposal for county -wide trails mapping project. Solicit letters of support. Jacksonville Read through soil test report on Jacksonville properties. EMS Edit EMS letter to patients Review most recent financial information from Village on fire and EMS depts. TCCOG Other Pass resolution making freedom from domestic violence a human right. Pass resolution of support for hiking trails project. End of year budget modifications and help prep for AUD. Work Plan: give input and rate work plan goals for 2015 Review most recent budget numbers for youth programming in 2014. Troubleshoot new time card that tracks comp time. Read through consulting engineering proposals and make recommendations to the committee Make recommendations on credit card chargeback proposal, consult with Mariette and Carissa. Answer constituent's questions re: broadband availability, deteriorated house, Jacksonville properties, water quality, Weekly review of topics with attorney for the town. Prepare agendas, resolutions, background documents, review topics with TB members, conduct meetings, and review minutes. Review claims and budget, make suggested budget modifications to be approved by TB, review payroll, sign checks, 7 Periodic check in with Town Clerk and Deputy Supervisor re work load and coordination. DEPUTY SUPERVISOR / BOOKKEEPER- Michelle E. Wright The beginning of the year is proving to be a demanding time for the bookkeeping position. Activities related to closing out 2014 and starting up 2015 have taken up the majority of my time during this period. Bookkeeper misc. AUD (Annual Update Document) work for the NYS Office of State Comptroller o Establishing personal contact at OSC Office of Local Government Accountability o Employee benefit totals o Energy consumption totals (dollar figure and units of energy used [i.e. kwh, cubic feet of natural gas, etc.]) 1099 forms for contract workers; 1096 form to federal government Updating and ensuring correct signatories on bank accounts Work with Carissa on reconciling water district accounting/billing General 2014 close-out duties, budget modifications (480's) County payroll certification Calculations to Jim for Highway Staff paid time off accruals, calculations for health insurance contributions and 2015 salary calculations Preparation for annual Town Board audit Payroll o Updating deductions for employee contributions to health insurance o Subsequent FICA calculations o Systems work for payroll: communications with Paychex on how to simplify FICA fund accounting Monthly reporting to the NYS Local Retirement System Paid disability insurance General banking: deposits (water deposits, code enforcement deposits, etc.), account reconciliation Deputy Supervisor work, miscellaneous 2015 work plan rating and organization Brief review of septic system testing files per Dave's request Reservations and logistics for annual AOT in NYC Continued development on the salaried staff comp time sheet Sidewalks Continued work on request for qualifications to engineer firms TOWN BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEES John Hertzler- Energy Committee of EMC - Has been researching microhydro -electric power. Vermont will be off the grid in energy production by next year. Attended REV (Reforming NY's Energy Vision) meeting. Rich Goldman - Planning Board liaison - The board seems to be working well together with the new members and received compliments on such from an applicant. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato on 2118115. N