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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpec Mtg. Minutes 11/3/1999144 Minutes of the Special Meeting November 3, 1999 Village of Cayuga Heights Board of Trustees Present: Mayor Anderson, Trustees Fleming, Kira Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning, Attorney Tyler, Treasurer Silber, Supt, of PW Cross, Fire Chief DiVenti, Second Assistant Fire Chief McNeil, Clerk Kord. Others: Sharon O'Brien, Jeff Randall, David Mooney, Walter Lynn, Frank Collyer, Attorney Mahlon Perkins, Jim Giordano, Ina Harper, Roberta Ludgate. Absent: Trustee Bisogni Mayor Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:15 PM and moved the meeting into a Public Hearing of the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board which is composed of the Board of Trustees. It was decided to reverse the order of the public hearings and to consider the hearing for the purpose of reviewing the site plan for the Pfann property at 1111 Triphammer Road under the Village of Cayuga Heights Zoning Ordinance, Section 4: Commercial District and to review the proposal under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Attorney Tyler excused himself from the hearing because of a previously disclosed potential conflict of interest, since the Executor for the Estate for the property at 1111 Triphammer Rd. is a law partner of his at True, Walsh & Miller. David Mooney is proposing to convert the existing two- family dwelling (with no additions) into a professional office within the commercial zoned district. Mayor Anderson reviewed the Environmental Assessment, which is on file, and reported that the proposal complied with existing zoning and that the property in the vicinity is on the North - residential, the South - commercial, East - commercial and West - residential. The action does not involve permit approval from any other agency, or funding and does not result in any significant adverse environmental effects. Supt. of PW Cross noted that he had received an Affidavit of Mailing from Attorney Perkins that the adjoining neighbors had been notified of the Public Hearing. Mrs. Harper, who owns and resided in the adjoining property to the North expressed pleasure that Mr. Mooney was proposing to move his business to the property and asked that the adjoining driveway be blocked to prevent motorists from driving through her property to access that at 1111 Triphammer Rd. Mayor Anderson noted that this was a personal agreement between the two parties and not subject to the present hearing. Mr. Giordano, property owner to the South, asked if there were any plans to create additional parking to the front of the building. Mr. Mooney said that there were no plans. The Public Hearing was closed at 5:25 PM. Resolution 5146 — Accept the Environmental Assessment for 1111 Triphammer Rd. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to accept the Environmental Assessment and that the proposed action will have no negative environmental effects. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. 1 q5 Resolution 5147 — Approve site plan for 1111 Triphammer Rd. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to approve the site plan for the conversion of the property at I I I 1 Triphammer Rd. to a professional office based on the data from the Environmental Assessment. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. At 5:30 the Planning Board closed it's meeting and resumed as the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees considered an Abstract of Warrants dated November 3, 1999. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Meinhardt, VOTED to approve the Abstract of Warrants in the following amounts: General Fund $18,490.44; Sewer Fund $7355.19; and Water Fund $1,267.86. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Mcinhardt and Dunning voted YES. .............. ....................... .................................... At 5:40 PM the Board of Trustees again acting as the Village of Cayuga Heights Planning Board opened the Public Hearing to consider the site plan review under Village Local Law #2 of 1992 with respect to an application for proposed renovation and expansion of the existing Village of Cayuga Heights Firehouse at 194 Pleasant Grove Road, to comply with current requirements for firemalic purposes and personnel safety (i.e. OSHA). The project will also include additional bunker space for volunteers to avoid hiring a professional staff. Mayor Anderson reviewed the Environmental Assessment Form, which is on file, and reported that the Firehouse is considered to be a municipal building and therefore exempt from zoning. The land surrounding this location is used as follows: North — commercial, South — commercial, East — Residential, West — commercial. This action does not involve permit approval from any other agency or funding. Mayor Anderson opened the hearing for public comment on the site plan. There was no public comment. The Mayor continued with the Environmental Assessment and it was reported that there was no adverse environmental effect based on the data presented on the Environmental Assessment Form. Attorney Tyler asked if there would be any adverse effect on drainage because of the enlargement of the parking areas. Engineer Cross felt that any effect would be insignificant. The Public Hearing was closed at 5:45 PM. Resolution 5148 — Accept the Environmental Assessment for Firehouse Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to accept the Environmental Assessment of the expansion and renovation of the Village of Cayuga Height Firehouse at 194 Pleasant Grove Rd., based on the answers to CI to C7 on the Environmental Assessment Form. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning Voted YES. Resolution 5149 — Approve the site plan for the Firehouse Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, 14G VOTED to approve the site plan for the proposed expansion and renovation of the Village of Cayuga Heights Firehouse at 194 Pleasant Grove Rd. Trustees, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. At 6:50 PM the meeting of the Planning Board was closed. At 6:51 the meeting re- convened as the Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mayor Anderson opened the meeting to Privilege of the Floor and Frank Collyer asked to speak about the Firehouse project. He expressed the opinion that the costs of the project should be kept at the $1,500,000 level and that the architect should be instructed to keep costs in line with that dollar amount so that there would be little impact on future property taxes. Treasurer Silber noted that the first two years would be self - funded by the Village surplus and that after that two -year period the Remington Road bond would be retired. Therefore after the initial two years there may be an increase in property taxes for 0 -4 %. Mr. Collyer asked the Board to review the costs carefully and to aggressively seek funding from Cornell University and other foundations. He expressed the opinion that the tax burden on the property owners would be excessive for the next 20 years. Treasurer Silber agreed to meet with Fire Chief DiVenti and to explore additional funding options. Fire Chief DiVenti pointed out that the Cornell Town Houses on Jessup Rd. the Hulbert Ecology House and Hasbrouk Apartments are all in the Village. Supt. Cross invited the Board to a meeting November 4, at 5 PM to discuss the heating and electrical systems for the proposed Firehouse. Attorney Tyler reported he had received a revised Draft Bond Resolution (subject to Permissive Referendum) for the Firehouse renovations /additions from Willkie Farr & Gallagher for adoption by the Board of Trustees by super majority vote, noting it was the same in substance as the draft distributed to each Trustee at the Regular Meeting on October 18'1999. Trustee Kusse stressed that in his opinion the cost for the project should not exceed the $1,500.000 level. Supt. Cross pointed out that a paid professional fire staff would be extremely expensive. Trustee Kira asked about the possibility of selling the house now owned by the Village at the corner of Hanshaw and Triphammer in order to raise more funds. Trustee Meinhardt expressed concern with the escalation of costs for the project and the need to look for alternative funding. There was a general discussion of cost limitations. Treasurer Silber noted that the Bond Resolution does not commit the Village to borrow the full amount authorized. Resolution 5150 — A resolution authorizing, subject to Permissive Referendum, the renovation and construction of an addition to the existing firehouse in the Village of Cayuga Heights, Tompkins County, New York, at a maximum estimated cost of $2,000,000 and the issuance of $1,500,000 serial bonds of said Village to pay part of the cost thereof. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to approve Bond Resolution (see attached Exhibit A for full resolution.). A roll call vote was held: Trustee Fleming voted YES, Trustee Kira voted YES, Trustee Kusse voted NO, Trustee Meinhardt voted YES, Trustee Dunning voted YES, Mayor Anderson 147 voted YES, Trustee Bisogni was absent and did not vote. The vote passed by a super majority (2/3) of the full Board of Trustees (5 out of 7 voting YES). ....... Now ... ............................. ..............................� Treasurer Silber asked to enter into Executive Session at 6:35 PM to discuss a matter of pending tax assessment litigation. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Dunning, VOTED to enter into Executive Session at 6:35PM to discuss a matter of pending litigation. Trustees, Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. Motion by Trustee Fleming, seconded by Trustee Kira, VOTED to move out of Executive Session at 6:50 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. .. ... ................................ ....• ..............................� Motion by Trustee Dunning, seconded by Trustee Kusse, VOTED to adjourn at 6:51 PM. Trustees Fleming, Kira, Kusse, Meinhardt and Dunning voted YES. Elizabeth Kord Village Clerk .r l 1