HomeMy WebLinkAboutTownBoard_Minutes_20181210Danby Town Board
Minutes of Regular Meeting
December 10, 2018, 7pm, Danby Town Hall
Present:
Councilpersons: Ric Dietrich (Supervisor), Leslie Connors, Jack Miller, Matt Ulinski
Not Present:
Councilperson: Jim Holahan
Others Present:
Town Clerk Pamela Goddard
Code Paul Hansen
Bookkeeper Laura Shawley
Public Ted Crane, Ronda Roaring, Pat Woodworth, Bruce Richards, Anne Klingensmith,
Anna & Marty Blum
Meeting Opened at 7:02 pm
Privilege of the Floor
Ronda Roaring spoke on various items. She asked about the status of a request for speed limit
reduction on the section of South Danby Road where she lives. This section is County road, and has not
had a formal request for speed limit reduction. Supervisor Dietrich suggested that she present a
neighborhood petition for this request. Roaring urged the Board to continue work on land management for
Town owned parcels and logging issues in the Town.
Ted Crane spoke regarding the draft Code of Ethics, urging the Board to review the model Code of
Ethics posted by the NYS Comptroller’s office. He wondered why anything different from the model
would be proposed. He also spoke regarding the proposed resolution in support of the Environmental
Management Council recommendation to the County Legislature for a ban on single use plastic shopping
bags. Crane was fully in support of the information included in all the “whereas” and first “resolved”
sections (plastic bags), but expressed concern about second “resolved” recommending a proposed charge
for paper bags. especially since none of the supporting “whereas” clauses contained any reference to
paper bags.
Warrants
ABSTRACT #12 OF 2018:
GENERAL FUND
#510-541 for a total of $18,697.04
Moved by Connors, Second by Dietrich. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich
HIGHWAY FUND
#298-326 for a total of $81,058.05
Moved by Ulinski, Second by Miller. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich
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Approve Minutes
MOTION - APPROVE MINUTES
Moved, That the Town Board of the Town of Danby approves the minutes of November 5, 12, and 19, 2018.
Moved by Connors, Second by Ulinski. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich
Resolution in Support of the Environmental Management Council Plastic Bag Ban
Recommendation to the County Legislature
The Board considered and acted on a draft resolution from the Tompkins County Environmental
Management Council. The recommendation, to ask the County Legislature to enact a local law banning
the distribution of single-use carry-out plastic bags in retail stores. Supervisor Dietrich urged Anne
Klingensmith to express his concerns related to environmental contamination from plastic by-products to
the EMC, with the hope that they would extend their work beyond this ban. Klingensmith stated that the
EMC has every intention to do so, and that this bag ban is a first step.
There was some discussion of the recommendation that retailers be required to charge a $0.10 fee for
paper bags. Klingensmith stated that this practice has been shown to provide an incentive for shoppers to
have reuseable bags for their shopping. There were conflicting accounts regarding whether retailers (e.g.,
Wegman’s) support this charge or not. Klingensmith says that there has not been a “massive objection” to
this from stores. Dietrich reported that that some stores sees this as a difficult transition and strain on
customer service. There was agreement that education will be very important, should this pass. Specific
aspects of the bag ban are still in the research stage.
The Board discussed the final “whereas,” which had been left with the option of the local
municipality to add text, if desired. After a brief discussion, they decided to use language from the Town
of Enfield resolution, as provided by Klingensmith.
RESOLUTION NO. 70 OF 2018 - DANBY RECOMMENDS THAT THE TOMPKINS COUNTY LEGISLATURE ENACT A LOCAL
LAW TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BY BANNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF SINGLE-USE
CARRY-OUT PLASTIC BAGS IN RETAIL STORES
Whereas, more than 100 billion single-use plastic bags are used and disposed of annually in America, which equals
about 307 bags per person per year, and
Whereas, even though a 2009 New York State law requires large businesses to provide consumers with plastic bag
recycling receptacles, less than one percent of plastic bags are recycled, and
Whereas, improper disposal results in plastic bags becoming litter on our streets, parks, and beaches, clogging our
storm drains and sewers, and degrading into our soils and waterways, and
Whereas, plastic bags that are blown or washed into our rivers, waterfalls, and lakes may threaten the lives of avian
and marine species through entanglement, choking, or by toxicity, and
Whereas, plastic bags that are landfilled take about 1,000 years to biodegrade, while those that remain in the
environment as litter photo-degrade in about a year into micro particles that may be consumed by wildlife thus
diminishing and contaminating a part of our food chain, and
Whereas, a 2018 study found that 93% of bottled water, from 11 major brands sold across the world, contains
particles of plastic, and
Whereas, plastic bags must be screened out of yard waste collections, have contaminated food scrap composting
facilities, and have jammed the mechanical parts of recycling balers and sewage treatment systems, and
Whereas, the impacts of plastic bag use and pollution have ignited a global movement to dramatically reduce the
amount of disposable plastic bags distributed, and
Whereas, the state of California and Puerto Rico, along with more than 200 cities, towns, and counties across the
United States, and more than 15 municipalities in New York State have legislation limiting the free distribution of
single use plastic bags, and
Whereas, the Town of Danby is committed to protecting our natural environment through conservation efforts such
as the reduction of plastic manufacturing and reduction of disposal of single-use products,
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Now Therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby recommends that the Tompkins County Legislature enact a
local law with their legal authority pursuant to New York State Municipal Home Rule Law (Sec.10(1)(ii)(a)(11)),
banning the distribution of single-use carry-out plastic bags in retail stores as an efficient and cost effective measure
to address the issues of plastic litter, soil and water pollution, and microplastic contamination; and it is
Further Resolved, that the EMC recommends that retailers be required to charge a $0.10 fee, which they may
retain, for recyclable paper bags provided for carry-out purposes; and it is
Further Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of the Tompkins County Legislature.
Moved by Ulinski, Second by Connors. The motion passed.
In Favor: Connors Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich
Code of Ethics
Matt Ulinski brought the most recent draft of a revised Code of Ethics to the Board for discussion.
The draft was to be sent electronically, for Board review and comments. This draft is substantially based
on the model Code of Ethics from the NYS Department of State and a model from the NYS Association
of Towns. The municipal CoE is subordinate to the Ethics Code in NYS law. The current draft Danby
CoE revisions have been reviewed by the Town Attorney, with comments. The Town Attorney suggests
that, rather than having a local board of appeals related to ethics violations, the Town use the County
Ethics Board as an impartial arbitrator. It was also recommended that this be a policy and not a local law.
Matt asked the Board to review the document and be prepared with comments for further discussion
at the next TB meeting. The draft will be posted on the Town Board page of the Danby web site. After all
comments have been received, and corrections made to the document, it will be sent to the Town Attorney
for final review. Ulinski hoped that the Code of Ethics could be approved early in 2019.
Code Office Report
Information was presented by Code Officer Paul Hansen, regarding work being done on the bus stop
park and ride at Dotson Park, across the highway from the Town Hall. The concrete pad has been poured.
The shelter may be installed by the end of 2018. The location is already an active bus stop.
Hansen reported on the status of a County Beautification grant. $1,500 has been received to cover
costs related to the planting areas at the entrance to Town Hall. This will cover the cost of the stone used
for the planters. A second grant, for 2019, will cover more of the costs of the actual shrubs and flowers.
These are matching grants. Labor provided by the Town can be used as the match.
Solar energy billing for other municipal buildings (such as the Fire Station), has been in place for the
past year. Hansen reported that the Town is beginning to see credits for solar energy produced. Close to
$12,000 in credits have been accrued.
Hansen reported on a meeting attended, related to replacing current street lights with LED fixtures.
The New York State Power Authority is stepping in with an offer to, “do all the work” and to help pay for
LED lights. This work is to include installation of the fixtures and a financial loan (1.5%) for the
infrastructure. It is estimated that the cost of street lighting will be one tenth of the current cost. The
program through NYPA will take the place of a previous plan to buy through a City of Ithaca contract.
Hansen hopes that the agreements will be in place sometime over the winter or early spring, with
installation to take place in the summer of 2019. These fixtures will be “dark sky” compliant.
There was a brief discussion regarding the maintenance of the LED fixtures and lights. Hansen
reported that the maintenance should be low, as the lights are rated as “25 year” lights. Resident Bruce
Richards reported problems with maintenance of this type of fixtures in his work place (saw mills), noting
that the bulbs have not been as reliable as advertised. This question will be researched, as part of the
agreement process.
Resident Crane wondered why the Town would want to take out a loan (with its interest cost) rather
than pay for the lamps outright. Supervisor Dietrich noted that the Board had previously discussed and
approved only a purchase option.
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Hansen reported that he is gathering quotes for replacement doors for the entrance to the Town Hall,
facing the main road. The cost should be less than $7,000 for both door, including hardware. The cost for
these will come from the building reserve fund. The Board gave a verbal ok for this expenditure.
Short Reports - Justices, Town Clerk
Copies of both Justices’ monthly reports were circulated to the TB.
The November Town Clerk’s Report; $1,275.80 was received in the month of October reflecting
seven days of DECALS license sales, 36 dog licenses, two building permits, one planning fee, and one
Board of Zoning Appeals variance request. $901.76 was disbursed to the Town Supervisor, $308.04 to NY
DEC, and $66 to the NYS Animal Population Control Program.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm. !!!!
______________________________________
Pamela Goddard, Town Clerk
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