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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTownBoard_Minutes_20190708Danby Town Board
 Minutes of Regular Meeting
 July 8, 2019, 7pm, Danby Town Hall Present: Councilpersons: Leslie Connors, Ric Dietrich (Supervisor), Jim Holahan, Jack Miller, Matt Ulinski Others Present: Town Clerk Pamela Goddard Legislator Dan Klein Bookkeeper Laura Shawley Highway Jack Shawley Jr. Public Ted Crane, Ronda Roaring, Sarah Schnabel, Joel Gagnon, Bruce Richards, Katharine Hunter. Meeting Opened at 7:04 pm Privilege of the Floor Ronda Roaring expressed concerns about the qualifications of George Adams, as an applicant to the Conservation Advisory Council. In her view the Town needs representatives with more interest and experience in land preservation. Ted Crane expressed concerns that the public is poorly informed about meeting agendas, and that interested parties might miss items added to the agenda at the last minute. He also had questions about the process for advertising and recruiting applicants for the CAC. The membership was expended from seven to nine members but the public was not informed that seats were available. He stated that he had no objection to Adams as an applicant, but did have concerns about the process currently being used. 2020 Census Information Katherine Dillon, Partnership Specialist with the NY Regional Census Center, made a presentation about the importance of the 2020 census. The 2020 census will be a short form with just 11 questions. The goal is to count every person residing in the US at that time. Dillon highlighted protections to individual responses to the census. The data is collected to create valuable statistics and individual questionnaires are strictly confidential. Census Bureau employees take a lifelong pledge of confidentiality. The penalty for wrongful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years. Dillon highlighted the problem with undercounted households and populations. These include children, low income households, non-English speaking households, and foreign-born peoples. Locally, the area of West Danby has been undercounted in recent decades. Lack of broadband internet access may have contributed to a lower response rate. This is a high priority area to raise the response rate. Four ways to respond. 95% of households will receive their census form in the mail. People may respond online, by mail, or by phone. Forms will be available in twelve (12) non-english languages and additionally large print and braille. Less than 1% of households will be counted in person by a census taker. The census center is seeking 300 enumerators in Tompkins County. Dillon asked the Town Board to help raise awareness of the 2020 census. Legislator’s Report Dan Klein reported that Tompkins County has formed a committee to raise awareness and participation in the census. Klein gave information on TCAT Zone II fare changes. Up until recently, “outbound” trips within zone II were free and standard trips cost $2.50. As of mid-August, that fare will change, costing $1.50 in either direction. This is a reduction in fare for the most common trips. Dietrich asked whether the TCAT route to Newfield can be directed to include West Danby? Klein stated that this was, “worth another look.”
 Town Board_Minutes_20190708 • Friday, July 12, 2019 Page ! of !1 3 Warrants ABSTRACT #10 OF 2019: GENERAL FUND #307-319 for a total of $6,621.96 Moved by Ulinski, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich HIGHWAY FUND #217-222 for a total $5,634.20 Moved by Connors, Second by Miller. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich WEST DANBY WATER DISTRICT FUND #17-20 for a total $336.49 Moved by Connors, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich Recreation Partnership Report Ulinski presented a resolution approving a contribution for the 2020 budget. RESOLUTION NO. 52 OF 2019 - APPROVE BUDGET EXPENDITURE FOR RECREATION PARTNERSHIP, FOR 2020 Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby authorizes the inclusion of an expenditure of $13,273 for its contribution to the Inter-Municipal Recreation Partnership. This contribution will be for the 2020 budget. This contribution is down from $13,349 for the year 2019. Moved by Ulinski, Second by Connors. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich Financial Resolutions - Highway Department Bookkeeper Shawley brought two resolutions for consideration by the Board. Shawley provided information on quotes received for the replacement of garage doors at the Highway facility. This improvement is part of a grant from NYSERDA through the Clean energy Communities Program. RESOLUTION NO. 53 OF 2019 - APPROVAL BY THE TOWN BOARD TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF GARAGE DOORS AT THE HIGHWAY FACILITY Whereas, the Town has been awarded a grant from NYSERDA from their Clean Energy Communities Program, and
 Whereas, part of the project is the replacement of the garage doors, and
 Whereas, a lot of research was done to reach a decision about the right solution that would work for the Highway’s needs and aide in the reduction of heat loss and provide for energy efficiency, and
 Whereas, The Town of Danby’s procurement policy has been followed and three quotes have been obtained for the replacement of the doors,
 Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby awards the contract for the replacement of the garage doors to Ithaca Overhead Door at the cost of $27,800. The cost will be covered by the NYSERDA Grant awarded to the Town. Moved by Ulinski, Second by Connors. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich There was discussion of the proposed 2019 work plan for road repair and improvements. Laura Shawley reported on behalf of Carl Seamon. Further details regarding a five year plan for road repairs will be presented later this summer. There are five major repair projects planned for 2019. Several of these involve rebuilding road beds. The final surface work for some of those projects, such as Marsh Road, will be completed in 2020. Details on this road work were presented by Jack Shawley Jr., Deputy Highway Superintendent. He answered questions about “cold mix pave,” a new product which increases depth and flexibility to the roadbed. Ulinski asked whether there is a plan for informing residents of the extent of the work and the length of road closures due to rebuilding? Jack agreed that this is a good idea. The Highway Department will work on this. A tentative plan for 2020 was presented. In addition to finishing work on Marsh Road, the Highway Department is planning to replace the roadbed on Comfort Road, do a partial roadbed replacement on Gunderman Road, and replace the roadbed on Hornbrook Road in 2020.
 Town Board_Minutes_20190708 • Friday, July 12, 2019 Page ! of !2 3 MOTION - AGREEMENT TO SPEND TOWN HIGHWAY FUNDS - 2019 Pursuant to the provisions of Section 284 of the Highway Law, we agree moneys levied and collected for the repair and improvement of highways, and received from the state for repair and improvements of highways, shall be expended as follows: General Repair: 1. A sum not to exceed $45,000 shall be spent on Marsh Road from Hornbrook Rd. to Miller Rd. The roadbed will be replaced on approximately 75% of the road. This will involve digging up the roadbed and replacing it with layers of drainage fabric, 10 inches of gabion rock, and 6 inches of lime stone crusher run. Drains to the ditches will be installed every 40 feet. After the road settles over the winter, the surface will be treated with 3 inches of cold mix pave and sealed with oil and stone. These surface treatment costs will be part of next year’s request to spend funds.
 2. A sum not to exceed $160,000 shall be spent on Troy Road. The road will be shimmed and crowned, and covered with 3 inches of cold mix pave. The road will then be sealed with oil and stone.
 3. A sum not to exceed $115,000 shall be spent on Miller Road from the top of the hill to Nelson. Two spots on the road, approximately 100 ft. in total, will be dug up and replaces with heavy fabric, gabion rock, and lime stone crusher run. The surface with then be treated with 3 inches of cold mix pave and then sealed with oil and stone.
 4. A sum not to exceed $50,000 shall be spent on Upper Durfee Hill Road. The top of the hill has a spot, approximately 100 feet long, that needs to be dug up and replaced. The header walls on the inlet side of the creek will be rebuilt. This is at the intersection of Howard and Durfee Hill Roads.
 5. A sum not to exceed $50,000 will be spent on Field Stone Circle. The road will be ditched and the surface will be treated 3 inches of cold mix pave and sealed with oil and stone. The funding for the projects listed above will come from the CHIPS Capital Improvement Program amount that is awarded to the Town of Danby from New York State in the amount of $377,314. The remaining $42,686 will be funded from the Highway Fund, account DA5110.400, Road Repair. Moved by Holahan, Second by Connors. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich Conservation Advisory Council Application Ulinski presented an application for membership on the Conservation Advisory Council. Ulinski stated that this application was in response to recruitment at the end of 2019. Adams had expressed interest in serving on the Conservation Advisory Council at that time. Ulinski further commented that recruitment is done through notifications in the Danby Area News and by word of mouth. Dietrich spoke in favor of Adams application, pleased with his interest and experience in relation to Danby conservation. Ulinski noted that Adams has experience with GIS software and in grant preparation. Ulinski clarified that he is moving this appointment without an in-person interview of the applicant. There are two remaining open seats. These will be advertised with a notice in the Danby Area News and on the Town web site. RESOLUTION NO. 54 OF 2019 - APPOINT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Danby appoints George Adams to a two year term on the Conservation Advisory Council, for 2019/2020. Moved by Dietrich, Second by Holahan. The motion passed.
 In Favor: Connors, Holahan, Miller, Ulinski, Dietrich Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm. !!!!! ______________________________________ Pamela Goddard, Town Clerk Town Board_Minutes_20190708 • Friday, July 12, 2019 Page ! of !3 3