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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg Mtg. Minutes 11/15/1999Minutes of the Regular Meeting November 15, 1999 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning, Attorney Tyler, Supt. ofPW Cross, Police Chief Lansing, Fire Chief DiVenti, Clerk Kord. Absent: Trustees Kusse and Meinhardt, Treasurer Silber. Others: Judge Galbreath, Robin Palmer, Steve Shiffrin, Ron Schmitt, Carol Schmitt, Richard Staples, Kay Newman, Adelaide Gomer, Fred Gouldin, Jeffrey Cox, Jeff Randall. Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM and moved into Privilege of the Floor recognizing Fred Gouldin of the Village Deer Committee. Mr. Gouldin presented a ;proposal, which is on file, for the funding of a Deer Management Study of the feasibility of deer control by both contraception and culling. The study would include identifying 6 -7 bait sites in the Village to be used for either deer contraception or deer culling and to collar as many deer as possible in order to track them electronically to better estimate the deer population, their movement and areas where deer activities are high and therefore where deer management activities would be most effective. The committee, through the results of two surveys and a public meeting estimate that 80% of the Villagers favor a reduction in the deer herd and that 55% of those residents preferred the use of a contraceptive method rather than a lethal one. Paul Curtis, Extension Wildlife Specialist at Cornell University, has conducted a similar study at the Seneca Army depot, and it was proposed that he be hired to do the Village study. There was a general discussion of the study and other deer management programs throughout the state, the possibility of finding 6 -7 study sites, the illegality of using firearms in the Village, and the involvement of the NYSDEC and USDA. Resident Robin Palmer expressed his opinion that further study may be necessary, but that he would prefer that no action be taken with respect to contraception or culling. Resident Adelaide Gomer presented the Board with a letter, which is on file, and expressed her strong opposition to any culling of the deer and urged that the deer be controlled though alternative non - violent methods. Ms. Gomer would support a sterilization study and has offered to assist in funding if there is a guarantee that no culling is involved. Resident Steve Shiffrin expressed his concern with the process used in making the decision for deer management and felt that public hearings should be held by the Board of Trustees rather than by the Village Deer Committee, which in his opinion is biased. There was further discussion of the problem and possible solutions and the Board will continue its discussions at future meetings. Supt. of PW Cross noted two omissions in the Minutes of the Special Meeting of November 3, 1999. On page one, in the third paragraph the phrase "from any other agency" should be included after "The action does not require permit approval'. The saute should be added on page two, paragraph four, after the same phrase. � 1 140 Motion by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming, VOTED to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 18, 1999 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of November 3, 1999 as amended. Trustees, Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning voted YES. The Mayor Reported on the following: - Judge Glenn Galbreath asked the Board to authorize him to submit a grant application to the Justice Court Assistance Program. Resolution 5151— Authorize Grant Application for Justice Court Assistance Program Motion By Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to authorize Judge Glenn Galbreath to apply for a grant from the Justice Court Assistance Program for the purchase of 3 filing cabinets, a fax machine, and a Dictaphone, foyer and ramp improvements to the Village Hall, and a sound system, for a total request of $6,538.76. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni, and Dunning voted YES. - There are various Cayuga Heights vacancies on Tompkins County Advisory Boards and appointments due for representatives whose terms expire Dec. 31, 1999. Mayor Anderson asked for suggestions on appointees, expressing concern over lack of willingness and acceptable candidates. • Fire, Disaster and EMS Advisory Board — Delegate and Alternative, expiring 1999; Delegate and Alternative, expiring 2001. Fire Chief DiVenti agreed to look into finding representatives. • Environmental Management Council — expiring 1999. • TC Planning Federation - expiring 2000 • TC Youth Board — expiring 2000 • TC Water Resources Technical Committee — expiring 2000 - The TC Youth Bureau has requested that letters be sent to the State expressing opposition to the elimination of funding for youth services. - There has been a response from the City of Ithaca on the Interimmicipal Water Project, but there has been no response as yet from Cornell. The meeting planned for Nov. 181h has been canceled. - The need for a Northeast by -pass in the NESTS report is still being questioned. - There are still monies available for hazard mitigation from the State. Tompkins County, was not in the thirteen counties declared in the major disaster area. - The department heads have been asked to provide reports on Y2K readiness. .......................................... ..............................� Police Chief Lansing presented his report and reported on the following: - To the best of his ability, the Police Department has been checked for Y2K compliance. He is also arranging adequate police coverage for the Village for Dec. 31. - There were two situations of domestic abuse in the Village during the past month. This is unusual in the Village, but noted that in both cases the people involved were hA 1 41 not permanent residents. The victims were referred to the Task Force for Battered Women. Fire Chief DiVenti presented his report, which is on file, and reported on the following: - He has written memos to his officers asking for reports on Y2K readiness and is coordinating with Police Chief Lansing for coverage on Dec. 31. - This month there were 51 emergency calls, 32 involving medical operations and 28 involving fire - fighting operations. The fire department provided mutual aid 7 times. - There were two minor fires during the month. - The Public Safety and Building Committee met with Robert Mitchell and Assoc. to discuss the mechanical design of the proposed firehouse. Gender equity in terms of bathroom facilities and space is a concern and will be addressed by the architect. - The ladder truck is receiving some minor pump work and the department has the use of a "loaner" truck from Sullivan Fire Apparatus. • ............. 11........................... ..............................1 Supt. of PW Cross presented his report including a written Y2K Status report, which are on file, and reported on the following: - There was a discussion of the steps taken and those to be put into place to make the Village Office Building, the DPW Garage, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant compliant. It is his professional opinion that the Village of Cayuga Heights Department of Public Works is on schedule to be fully Y2K compliant before the end of the year. - Mr. Cross contacted Jack Rogers, the previous Village Engineer, with reference to a request that the Village install a water system along East Remington Road. Mr. Rogers was not aware of any specific reason.why a water main had never been installed at that location, but pointed out that it was not unique in the Village. Mr. Cross felt that at this point in time it was not necessary to put in such a system, but in long term planning that it would be advantageous to have a fire hydrant at that location. - After using the new side -load garbage packer it was determined that it would be most efficient if residents would use one full size garbage bag inside the can to contain the garbage and make for easy removal, and avoiding problems of wind, sanitation, and lifting heavy cans. Residents will be asked to comply with a request to this effect. - The Cornell Lake Source Cooling facility will have a sanitary sewer connection into the Town of Ithaca and will be a customer of the Ithaca WWTP. They will also need to drain their cooling lines (about 500,000 gals.) to do maintenance and emergency repairs. Cornell has requested that the cooling water be pumped into the Village of Lansing trunk main which is treated by the Cayuga Heights WWTP. There was a discussion as to how Cornell would be charged by the Village for the use of the Cayuga Heights facility. Mr. Cross will check with Treasurer Silber on methods of payment. .......................................... ......................... assume Attorney Tyler reported on the following: - He asked that each month there be a full report from the Fire Department on the Firehouse Project and requested teleconferencing via a speakerphone with the 3 r 4? Architect so that the Board could ask and receive direct answers to their questions, as - the project moved forward, to save extra traveling for the architect. Attorney Tyler has been in contact with Ben Curtis with reference to planning for government network through Time -Wamer for 2 way full motion video conferencing. He explained some of the prospective uses for it if implemented. ........... Now ...... . .... ................. ..............................� Treasurer Silber was absent, but his report is on file and Mayor Anderson noted that there were two requested transfers. Resolution 5152 — Approve Transfers Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, From To Amount A1990.4 Contingency A1620.41 Village Hall Contr. Exp. $2,000 A8560.4 Shade Tree Contr. Exp. A8510.4 Comm. Envir. Contr. Exp. $ 500 VOTED to approve Transfers as listed in the Treasurer's Report. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning voted YES. A Special Meeting was set for Monday, November 22, 1999 at 5:00 PM in the Village Hall to approve the payment of bills. Attorney Tyler requested that the Meeting move into Executive Session. Resolution 5153 — Executive Session Motion by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming, VOTED to move into Executive Session at 10:40 PM to discuss two matters of pending Litigation. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning voted YES. Motion by Trustee Kira, seconded by Trustee Fleming, VOTED to move out of Executive Session at 10:50 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning voted YES. •.... YYYYY. Y ........................ YYY ..YYYYYYYY.t \YYYYY..Y.YYYYY.... Y.1 Motion by Trustee Dunning, seconded by Trustee Bisogni, VOTED to adjourn at 10:51 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Bisogni and Dunning voted YES. Elizabeth Kord Village Clerk 1 4