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To Andy Frost and the Town Of Ithaca Staff,
We want to take this opportunity to thank you and the
staff for working with us to see this building project
through to completion.It has been a long process but
one which would have never transpired without your
guidance and patience each step of the way.Many times
you only hear the horror stories of how difficult it is to
work with the various agencies involved to get building
projects completed,however in our 4 years working with
you we have found you to be extremely detailed,thor
ough,but also fair and patient with us through the proc
ess.It has been a pleasure working with you and we
want to take this opportunity as a church to express our
appreciation to all working for the Town of Ithaca for
their assistance in helping this vision become a reality.
Sincerely yours,
V J HN SOTERO
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Catherine Valentino Hi .,Jari 21,2002
Town Supervisor
Town Hall
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
It has recently come to our attention that since the town water line now runs along
Coddington Road as far as the Coddington Community Center, it is more feasible for those of us
who live on Bums Road to get town water. All of us who live on the south end of Bums Road
have water problems to some extent. We (the Stauffers) probably have the best water on the
road, although the quality has varied from acceptable to fairly vile-tasting. For the past year it
has been fairly Kad, although about two weeks ago it suddenly took an unexpected turn for the
better. Our household has 6 people, and the quantity of water is adequate for us, but if we have
relatives come for holidays we have to be very careful not to run out. We have also had bacteria
problems and thus have to chlorinate the water. No doubt you will hear worse stories from other
residents, but I can assure you that we would very much like to have town water.
Sincerely,
Doug & Donna Stauffer
275 Bums Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Town Supervisor Ithaca, ny i485o
.Catherine Valentino 215 n. Tioga street
607-273-1721
January 24,2002
President Peggy Williams
Ithaca College
300 Job Hall
2 Fountain Place
Ithaca, NY 14850
Re: Ithaca College Master Plan
Dear President Williams:
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for including the Town of Ithaca in your
Master Plein process. We have been impressed with the quality of work completed by
Ithaca College officials and Sasaki Associates. We also appreciate the openness and
inclusiveness that has been demonstrated in the process of developing the Master Plan.
We know how difficult it is to forecast needs into the future, but your Master Plan
provides a strong basis to move ahead. It will be a useful document not only for the
College, but also for the Town, because it helps us understand the current conditions and
overall needs of the College, and outlines reasonable approaches to meet those needs in
the foreseeable future.
The Town of Ithaca stands ready to work with Ithaca College as a partner in
implementing the Master Plan. Thanks for a job well done.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
cc: Town Board
Tom Salm, Vice President for Business Affairs
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Arthur N.KAHN,Esit
8 Pine Grove Street-PO Box 1423
Woodstock, N.Y. 12498
(845)679 2120
Fax:(845)679 6976
March 4, 2002
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TOWN OF ITHACA
PLANNING. ZONING. ENGINEERING
Ms. Mary Russell
Town of Ithaca
Deputy Town Supervisor
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca. NY 14850
RE: Tovy/n of Ithaca v. Tompkins County
Dear Ms. Russell:
I wanted to thank you for providing me with the material regarding the above referenced matter. I
have reviewed Judge Relihan's decision and can only conclude that he did not carefully read County of
Monroe. There seems to be no other explanation.
Needless to say I will follow your case to the Appellate Process and will use, to great advantage I
believe, the material that you provided to me.
Should you have any questions kindly contact me
VenJI truly yours.
ARTHUR M. KAHN
cc Jeremy Wilber, Town Supervisor, Town of Woodstock
160 Crescent Place
Ithaca, NY 14850
March 17, 2002
Ithaca Town Board
215 No. TiogaSt
Ithaca, NY 14850
Ithaca Common Council
108 East Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
To the Ithaca Town Board and the Ithaca Common Council:
IIB E n w n
MAR 1 9 2002
AHEST.
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
I urge both the Board and the Council to take active steps to educate and encourage people to clean
up after their dogs on the public trails of the Town and City, and to review any existing regulations
concerning owners' responsibility for their dogs' fecal waste.
At 8 am this morning I took a walk on the South Hill Recreation Way from Crescent Place to
lacovelli Park and on south to the gate which blocks vehicle traffic on the section toward Bums Rd,
perhaps 1 1/2 miles one way. I took along a plastic bag to clean up any litter along the trail on my
way back.
Starting back from the gate, I noticed several piles of dog waste, so I decided to clean that up as well.
It soon became clear that dog waste would constitute the major part of the cleanup. Because, while I
also collected 3 snack wr^pers, 2 tissues, 3 cigarette butts, and 1 empty cigar package, the plastic
grocery bag was full of dog waste when I finished past the Crescent Place entrance to the trail.
Eleven pounds of dog shit!
About 50% of the waste along the trail was collected from the gate back to lacovelli Park, perhaps
5% from lacovelli Park down to the Pearsall Street entrance, and the remaining 45% from the
Pearsall Street entrance past the Crescent Place entrance to Hudson Street. Some of it was weeks
old, most quite recent. Almost all had been deposited on the grass verge; only 2 piles were on the
cindered trail. On the upper part of the trail the deposits were heaviest near the entrances from private
homes to the trail (i.e., from the gate back to Juniper Street). On the lower part of the trail the
deposits were heavy all along the trail from around the Crescent Place entrance out to Hudson Street.
Dog waste on the trails is not a dog problem, it's a people problem. Despite the excellent signs at the
public entrances to the South Hill Recreation Way, a few people walking their dogs do not take
responsibility for collecting their dogs' waste. Even supplying complimentary litter bags at trail
entrances, as some Onondaga County parks do, might not address the problem. But the trails of the
town and city fill many purposes for both residents and visitors from early morning into the evening
each day. Dog waste isn't just litter, it poses a health hazard. I urge constructive action on this
unpleasant issue.
This afternoon I will leave the cleanup bag with a copy of this letter at the city public works
department garage for disposal.
^cerely, ,
David Ritchie
TOMPKINS COUNTY
AGRICULTURE & FARMLAND PROTECTION BOARD
615 Willow Avenue Ithaca, New York 14850
Telephone (607) 272-2292 Fax (607) 272-7088
March 18, 2002
olj^JLULU
MAR 1 9 2002
ATTEST
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
126 East Seneca Street
Ithaca NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino,
I am writing on behalf of the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board to thank you for
participating in the recent Farm Friendly Town Award survey. Six towns in Tompkins County returned the
survey, with a few farmers in most towns also completing a shorter version of the same survey.
It was very encouraging to hear from Town officials and confirm a high level of awareness and dedication to the
support of agriculture in our communities. All participating communities are commended for their efforts on
behalf of agriculture. In reviewing the responses, this year's stand-out community is the Town of Dryden, and
they will be recognized by proclamation at the County Board of Representatives on Tuesday, March 19^^, and by
presentation of a commemorative plaque at the Town Hall on Wednesday, March which is National Ag Day.
We learned a lot from this first year process and next year will be sending the surveys out earlier and also trying
to involve more farmers. One thing we wanted to pass along is that in most towns farmers seem to be unaware of
the ways in which their towns work on behalf of agriculture. In order to avoid "stacking the deck" in favor of any
one town, we did not survey farmers that serve on Town Boards or the Agriculture and Farmland Protection
Board, nor did farmer members of that board participate in choosing the winning town. Excluding these farmers
from the process means we excluded the farmers with the most knowledge about their town's efforts to support
agriculture. We will work on a way to include those farmers next year as well as ways to help you raise
awareness v.dthin your farming community regarding how your to^vn \vorks to encourage agriculture. The Farm
Friendly Town Award is one way to let farmers know what you're doing.
We would also like to help your town with any agriculture-related initiatives you might be considering. We'd be
happy to provide information on any of the topics mentioned in the survey or any other areas of interest you might
have.
Thank you again for your participation and we hope you'll participate next year as well!
Sincerely,
Debbie Teeter
Agriculture Program Manager
The mission of the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board shall be to encourage Arming in the County through
local initiatives which create favorable conditions that allow farmers to operate economically viable enterprises.
Orig - File Copy - Walker/Valentino/Noteboom
flrLLLLO
MAY - 6 2002
_■ fTHACATrtwiPWNfclfeflK"
May 1,2002
Ithaca, New York
Town of Ithaca
401 Harris b Dates Dr.
Ithaca, New York
Attention: Town Supervisor and Mr Walker:
Dear Sir:
For years we have requested to have the Town take care of a ditch drainage problem that has
been causing a lot of mosquito's and a health problem that needs to be taken care of.
This ditch which runs along the east side of Lisa Lane has as much as 4 inches of water in it
constantly and is 80' long. This ditch and the culvert needs to be cleaned out so the water can
drain.
We would appreciate your attention to this problem.
Yours truly,
Maureen M. Schmitt
215 Texas Lane
257-2633
ci] ty\
i • *• ^cc: Tompkins County Health Department «
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ccc: Attorney ■ r ■
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MS
Catherine Valentino
^i^From: Stewart, Gary [GSTEWART@ ithaca.gannett.com]
'^Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 9:43 AM
To: cvalentlno@town.ithaca.ny.us
Subject: town web site
Hi Cathy:
Please pass this along to folks who need to read it.
I look at Web sites all day long.. By far, the Town of Ithaca offers the
most up-to-date and informative municipal site that I've ever had the
privilege to access. Thanks to those folks who built the site and stay
committed to maintaining it. Your efforts are appreciated, not only
through my job as a newspaper editor, but also as a Town of Ithaca
resident. It's a wonderful place to visit and helps any number of
people.
Thanks, again
Gary Stewart
Senior Editor
The Ithaca Journal
rs
TIME WARNER
CABLE
Via Certified Mail/
Return Receipt Requested
May 7, 2002
Ms. Tee-ann Hunter, Clerk
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Hunter:
As you know, Time Warner Enteitainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership ("TWE-A/N") has been
granted a franchise to operate a cable television system in your community. I am writing as part of our on going
efforts to keep you apprised of developments involving TWE-A/N.
TWE-A/N is organized as a general partnership. The managing general partner of TWE-A/N is Time
Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. ("TWE"), AOL Time Warner indirectly holds approximately 75% of
the ownership of TWE. The remaining interest in TWE, approximately 25%, is held by MediaOne TWE
Holdings, Inc. ("MediaOne") an entity indirectly owned by AT&T Corp. ("AT&T"). AT&T's interest in TWE
is non-voting and passive. In other words, AT&T has no managerial authority or control over TWE or TWE-
A/N.
As you may have read, AT&T and Comcast Corporation have announced a transaction whereby their
respective cable television holdings (including AT&T's 25% interest in TWE) will be combined under
AT&T/Comcast Corporation ("AT&T/Comcast"). While we do not believe this transaction requires any action
on your part, we wanted you to be aware of this development.
The AT&T/Comcast transaction will have absolutely no impact on our cable system or its operations.
TWE-A/N will continue to exist and operate as before. In particular:
• The franchise will continue to be held by TWE-A/N. There will be no transfer or assignment of
the franchise or the cable system.
• There will be no change in the partners of TWE-A/N or the ownership of TWE-A/N itself.
• The local management and staff will remain the same.
• There will be no change in our commitment to provide our customers with the best in
programming choices and customer service at a competitive rate.
• This transaction will have no impact on our business policies or practices.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance. We
certainly value the fi ne relationship we have with your community.
Sincerely, _ . ,
Thomas P. Doheny
General Manager
Cc: Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
50 YEAHs
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mv.14.2002 1:42PM SCC ELMIRfi RD NO.40S P.2
I.
^4*^ Ms. Catherine Valentino
Town Board
215 Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
To Whom it May Concern, 5/8/02
I am writing this letter to support the town bringing municipal water up Bums Road.
My two-year-old daughter attends childcare at Happy Heart located in Sharon Hilker's
home. Sharon's private well water is unable to pass the Health Department tests that
would allow Sharon to use her water with the children. This is a great concern for us.
We send our daughter to Happy Hearts because it is a wonderful, nurturing, and enriching
environment for small children. Sharon is a very highly qualified care provider, and we
feel extremely fortunate to have been blessed with her in our lives to care for our
daughter.
Brianna, our daughter, was diagnosed with Failure to Thrive Syndrome at one year old
due to extremely poor weiglit gain, Brianna has undergone intensive and invasive testing
to ^e out sweral serious health conditions. Fortunately, Brianna has been gaining
weight, and is very healthy today. Obviously, her food and water intake is a great
concern because of this condition.
We would urge the Town Board to consider bringing municipal water up Bums road to
Sharon's house. We are on municipal water ourselves, and know that we can trust that it
is safe, and healthy. As tax paying citizens, we hope that we can have some smgll say in
how our tax dollars are being spent.
Thank you for considering our request.
Sincerely,
Paul and Maria Muscente
20 Saunders Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
272-2090
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y, 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads, Parks, Trails, WaterSSewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
May 10, 2002
Sheriff Peter Meskill
Tompkins County Sheriffs Department
779 Warren Road
Ithaca, N.Y.14850
Dear Sheriff Meskill,
Thank you for meeting with us last month to discuss the possibility of the Town
contracting the Sheriffs Department for additional road patrols in areas of the
Town perceived as experiencing speeding or other related traffic problems. We
intend to follow-up on this issue, but it will take a little time for us to work out all
the pieces. I still need to discuss this issue with the Town's Transportation
Committee, to see if they are interested in recommending the concept and
working out specific details of such a contract with members of the Town Board.
We also still need to evaluate the accident data that you were very kind to
provide us with. We will be hiring a summer intern in early June who will be
responsible for tabulating and examining this data. We hope to use this
information to identify any potential problem areas within the Town.
We expect to work out these issues over the coming summer months, and hope
to get back with you by mid or late summer.
Thank you again for taking the time to meet with us.
Sincerely,incereiy, /
AA^illiam Lesser, Town of Ithaca Transportation Committee, Chair
Cc: Supervisor Catherine Valentino
Michelle Benedict-Jones
135 Iradell Road
Ithaca, New York 14850
May 14, 2002
Town Clerk
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
f®
Dear Town Clerk:
I am a resident of the Town of Ithaca and have been asked by my neighbors to inquire as to
the possibility of getting municipal water service on Iradell Road. We live on the section of
Iradell Road between Trumansburg Road and Sheffield Road. We understand that a pump
station will be put on Wolf Lane, and are hopeful that our section of Iradell Road will be
included in any new water service the Town of Ithaca is planning.
About three years ago, we sent the Town of Ithaca a petition signed by all of our neighbors
requesting municipal water service for our neighborhood. That petition should be on file
with the Town. This petition was our response to a very dry summer that saw a number of
our wells run dry. We are fearful that that situation could happen again.
We would appreciate any consideration that you could give to including our section of
Iradell Road in any plans for expanded municipal water service with the new pump station
on Wolf Lane. Thank you very much for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Michelle Benedict-J
Cornell
College of Arts and Sciences
Catherine Valentino, Town Board
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY
Department of Music
Cornell University
Lincoln Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-4101
Telephone: 607 255-4097
Fax: 607 254-2877
Web: arts.cornell.edu/miisic
%
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m
May 16,2002
Dear Ms. Valentino,
This letter is on behalf of the request of Sharon Hilker and Happy Hearts Daycare to be
connected to the municipal water system. Both our daughters, ages two and four,
attend Happy Hearts. This truly remarkable place is crucial not only in the lives of our
entire family, but is a vital community resource for some dozen families. This is not to
mention the outstanding outreach programs, such as the monthly trips to visit the
residents of Longview Nursing Home, and other charity events that Sharon involves the
children in. Happy Hearts is a crucial part of the social fabric of Ithaca; as an employer,
care-giver, and model of service.
Sharon's commitment to the children she works with is truly awe-inspiring, not
only for the creativity and love she brings to her direction of the daycare, but because of
the demands of the job itself. Unfortunately, she has experienced serious difficulties
with her water system, thus massively increasing the demands of the job. Although she
has found alternative solutions for procuring drinking and bathing water, thus
safeguarding the health of her children, this situation is certainly placing unfair
demands on her. Given the centrality of this institution in so many lives, and the
indispensable service this daycare provides in nurturing so many young people, we
believe the Town Board should seriously consider extending water to Happy Hearts.
Sharon Hilker's commitment to this community is a long-term one; it seems to us that
the community's reciprocal commitment to her, in providing her with water, would
make it possible for her to continue this service for many years to come.
Sincerely,
/
David Yearsh
Assistant Professor of Music
/
Annette Richards
Associate Professor Music and
University Organist
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JIW -4 2001
Supervisor Catherine Valentino
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino:
As an advocate for persons with disabilities, it has come to may attention that in
several areas the town is not in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) in regard to reserved parking for individuals with disabilities.
I would be glad to point out these areas to you so that this situation can be
remedied. 1 am confident that you will want to correct this matter so that all citizens will
have access to the goods and services available in our community.
Since ADA has been on the books for over a decade, I believe whatever
corrections are necessary should be made within a reasonable length of time. I would
also like to remind you that Title II of the ADA does not invalidate state or local laws that
provide greater or equal protection for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Please advise me by what date town residents with disabilities can expect the
Town of Ithaca to be in full compliance with the ADA as far as parking is concerned.
With warm weather upon us, this seems like the ideal time to get the job done.
I am certain your prompt consideration of this matter will be greatly appreciated
by all caring people in our community.
Sincerely,
^ John ^ynolds
rBI.THISSHEETISINTELEDTODEPICTTHEDIIENSIONALREQUIREMENTSOFTYPICALACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACES.THESIDEWALK.CURBING.PAVEMENTANDANEELSTOPMATERIALSSNAILBEASSPECIFIEDELSEmIEREINTHECONTRACTSDOCWZNTS.2.MINIMIMNUMBERTOTALSPACESMINIMLNMJEROFINLOTACCESSIBLESPACESIT025IZGTOSO25110753?GTOIOO4101To1505151TO2006201TO3007301To4003401TO5009501TO10002ZOFTOTALEXCEPTION:PARKINGAREASONTHEPREMISESCi,ORIMMEDIATELYAOJACENTTo,MEDICALSERVICESFACILITIESPROVIDINGTREATMENTFORMOBILITYIWAIREDPERSONSANDOTHERSIMILARLOCATIONSMAYREQUIREAGREATERNUMBEROFACCESSIBLEPAaINGSPACESTHANINDICATEDABOVE.REFERTOTHEAPPLICABLEACCESSIBILITYSTANDARD.3.LOCATION-PARKINGSPACESFORUSEBYPERSOAGWIThDISABILITIESSHALLBETIESPACESCLOSESTTOTHENEARESTACCESSIBLEWILOWGGFACILITYENTRANCEONANACCESSIBLEROUTE.9,BEATLEAST2440ITmIWIDEANDSHALLNAVEANPEIPENOICULARTOTHESTALLSTRIPETO5.COMMONACCESSAISLESFOR900PARKING-TWOACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPLSlAYSHAREACOMMONACCESSAISLE.FORACUTEANGLEDPARKING.SUCHASEd’PARKING.ORWHEREONEWAYDRIVEWAYAISLESWDIADPREVENTVANSWITHPASSENGERSIDELIFTSFROMBACKINGINTOACCESSIBLESPACES.ANACCESSIBLEACCESSAISLEMUSTBEPROVIDEDFOREACHACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACE.6.SIGNING-EACHACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACESHALLBEMARKEDBYPERMANENTLYINSTALLEDABOVEGROO1OSIGNSWHICHDISPLAYTHEINTERNATIONALSYMBOLOFACCESS.EACHCOMMONACCESSAISLESHALLEUARKEDBYPERMANENTLYINSTALLEDABOVEGROUNDSIGNSINDICATINGTHATPARKINGISNOTPERMITTEDIN(HEAISLE.SIGNSSHALLNOTBLOCKWEACCESSIBLECLEARWIDThOFADJACENTWALKWAYSORBELOCATEDWHERETHEYILAYBEHITPYVEHICLESBEINGPARKED.THEBOTTOMOFSIGNSLOCATEDINWALKWAYAREASShALLBEATLEAST2032mmABOVETHEWALKWAYSURFACE.THEBOTTOMOFSIGNSLOCATEDINNON-WALKWAYARESSHALLBEBETWEEN1525wnAND2134smABOVEWEPARKINGSPACEPAVEMENTSLPFACE.1.SURFACESLOPES-ACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACESANDACCESSAISLESSHALLBELEVELWITHSURFACESLOPESNOTEXCEEDING1:50INALLDIRECTIONS.8.OVERHEADCLEARANCEVEHICLEACCESSROUTESTO1140FROMACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACES.INCLJINGINGARAGESANDOPENPARKINGSTRUCTURES.SHALLHAVEAMINIMLPAVERTICALCLEARANCEOF2896mm.SECTiONA-A9.PAVEMENTMARKINGCOLORS-REQUIREDACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACEANDACCESSSLESTIP!?:GANDDTHqOPTIONALPAVEMENTMARKINGS.SUDIASTHEINTERNATIONALACCESSSYMBOL.SHALLBEPAINTEDWHITEORBLUE.ID.SEETHESTANDARDSHEETIDEWALKCURBRAMPOLTAILrFOROTHERTYPESOFCURBRAMPSTHATMAYBEAPPROPRIATEFORCERTAINSITECONDITIDNLRompMox.Slope1:12SeeNote6BottomOfSgn•NonWwayAreaCurbing.SeeNoteISignOrNaParkingSign6100STALLLAYOUTACCESSIBLEPARKING100mmWideBlueOrWhiteStripesDiagonalStripes45Ang(e,610mnOnCenterDrivewayAi&eSign-CurbingLotSeeNoteIAccessibleRainsSidewc*cSeeNoteIReservedParklngTypicalEachSpaceSeeNote6WheelStopITypicol)CrassSlopesNotToExceed1:50InAllDirectionsInPa-kingSpacesAndAccessAisleBreakawaySupportPa-king’SqnACCESSIBLEPARKINGI:SDInAlDirectionsInParkingSpccosAndAccessAisleN.Y.M.U.T.C.D.51cmNa.P4-6CrossSlopesNotToExceedHSOInAUDirectionsInrtan.,—Smoath.FlushTronsitianN.Y.M.U.T.C.D.SiiNa.P1-2tan.CurbRompSlope1:12OrFlatterSTALLLAYOUTACCESSIBLECurbingPARKINCSECTIONB-BACCESSIBLEPARKINGTYPICAL4.DIMENSIONS-ACCESSIBLEPARKINGSPACESSHALLADJACENTACCESSAISLE2440nunWIDEMEASUREDACCOMMODATEVANSWITHLIFTS.SPACEAISLESIGNINGlO5x460)GDr.NOTE:ALLDIMENSIONSINMILLIMETERSU1LESSOTHERWISENOTEDSTATEOFNEWYOREOEPARTMENTOfTRANSPORTATIONMETRICSTANDARDSHEETDETAILSACCESSIBLEPARKINGFORPERSONSWITHDISABILITIES1996CECHIELENGIFELESICmISSUEDUNDEREL96-019M608-4
Tompkins County
BOARD OF REPRESENTATIV
Courthouse, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Telephone: (607) 274-5434 Fax: (607) 274-54
w'^'w.toiiipkins-co.org
Cathy Valentino
Ithaca Town Supervisor
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino,
June 5,
You asked me to describe how the County intended to proceed in relation to
towns when siting any new towers that may be necessary for our emergency
communications system.
The County intends, if at all practicable, to site and construct necessary
towers in conformance with local rules and regulations. The County will
provide to the appropriate Town agency all the information required under
local laws or regulations. It will also provide any other information the town
might desire if it is reasonably available.
We will work with Town regulatory agencies and attempt to modify plans to
conform with either Town standards or desires. Should it be necessary to
build a tower that is out of compliance with local standards, we hope that
this will be done with the understanding and endorsement of the Town.
As Chair of the County Board I remain committed to searching for mutually
acceptable solutions to specific problems and issues rather than engaging in
struggles over who has the final authority.
Sincerely,
Tim Joseph
Chair, Tompkins County Board of Representatives
Recycled paper
Catherine Valentino
Town of Ithaca Board of Representatives
Ithaca, NY June 6, 2002
Dear Catherine Valentino,
As the parents of a young child at Happy Hearts Nursery School we are
requesting that the Town of Ithaca supply municipal water to the homes on Bums Road.
Happy Hearts, owned and operated by Sharon Hilker, provides our family, and currently
at least 12 other families, with excellent childcare and learning experiences. As you may
know, there are not enough childcare providers in Ithaca so we are fortunate to have
discovered Happy Hearts.
It has come to our attention that because of the quality of the well water our
daughter's teachers must boil water for play activities and/or purchase water for the
children to drink — this is an additional chore and expense for an already busy crew of
hard working teachers.
We ask that you give this your immediate attention. Thank you in advance for
your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
& Linda Cimakasky
If6^ ^ n
JIM 10 2002
tTHACA town CLERK
DATE: June 7, 2002
TO: Town of Ithaca Town Board
Town of Ithaca Planning Board
FROM: Bruce Brittain and Doug Brittain
RE: Proposed Revisions to Town Zoning Ordinance
We were pleased to see the many positive changes in the proposed
Zoning Ordinance. The new Conservation and Lakefront Residentii
welcome addition, as is the proposed major increase in the amount of land which is
zoned Agricultural. Allowing mixed use (commercial and residential) in Commercial
zones, and second dwelling units in accessory buildings in some Residential Zones are
also major improvements. The review and approval process has also been revised,
clarified and simplified. It is clear that a tremendous amount of thought and hard work
has gone into this proposed revision, which is a great improvement over the existing
ordinance.
We are also pleased that the Town Board is seeking public input early in the process,
before the plan is set in stone. And by making copies of the proposed new Ordinance so
readily available, both in hardcopy and electronic format, you should receive much more
informed feedback from the public.
While there is much to be proud of, however, there are still some areas that seem to have
been overlooked or avoided. Staff seem justifiably proud that the Zoning Ordinance has
been revised to incorporate video stores (a business which had not existed the last time
the Ordinance was revised), and that the Agricultural Zone has been increased in size
(and right-to-farm provisions added), in order to help farming ~ a declining industry.
But what about higher education? Something is wrong when the largest industry in the
Town (and County) is not even recognized in the Zoning Ordinance. It is important for
the Town to decide what uses would be appropriate in a Campus Zone, and what the
boundaries for the zone would be. By not doing so, planning decisions are left to
Cornell and Ithaca College, with the Town limited to granting (or denying) Special
Permits and Approvals. The lack of a new Campus Zone represents a major lost
opportunity in the proposed revised Zoning Ordinance.
In addition, it seems inappropriate to simply keep the existing Residential zoning for
Cornell-owned land in the vicinity of campus. Although the proposed Zoning
Ordinance designates much of the Six Mile and Buttermilk Creek areas as Conservation
Zone, there is no similar protection for the undeveloped land adjacent to Fall Creek
(including Plantations land) or Cascadilla Creek. Just because the land adjacent to these
creeks is owned by Cornell does not mean that it should not be zoned Conservation.
Likewise, Cornell-owned land which is currently under cultivation could be zoned
Agricultural. A blanket use of Low and Medium Density Residential cannot substitute
for a considered use of Campus, Conservation and Agricultural Zones. And, as before, it
should be up to the Town to decide what the boundaries of these areas would be, in
order to help direct and buffer the future development of the Cornell campus.
We understand that the rezoning of Cornell University and Ithaca College lands is a
complex issue, and one which might unnecessarily delay the adoption of the rest of the
proposed Zoning Ordinance. If you decide to delay that aspect of the new zoning until
later, that may be okay, but let's not forget that it's still on the agenda.
Another part of the proposed Zoning Ordinance which we would like to see changed is
that of parking lot specifications. It would be a major improvement for the Town to
require parking lots to include trees, and to recommend the use of porous or
discontinuous paving surfaces (such as brick, block, gravel or turf block), rather than
black-top. As we recall, Floyd Forman (former Town of Ithaca Planner), indicated that
his home town in Massachusetts required one tree for every four parking spaces.
Performing a Google search on "parking trees ordinance" turns up some very
interesting material, including specific ordinance language. Greenville, SC, requires one
tree for every 15 parking spaces and one shrub for every five parking spaces. The City-
Parish Planning Commission of Baton Rouge, LA, requires one large or two small trees
for every 12 to 25 parking spaces, depending on the size of the lot. Burlington, NC,
requires that a minimum of one shade tree shall be provided for every 3,000 square feet
of vehicular surface area, and that no parking space shall be more than 50 ft from the
trunk of a shade tree or further than 75 feet from two or more shade trees. The Cities of
Sunnyvale and Sacramento, CA, both require that trees shall be planted and mmntained
throughout surface parking lots to ensure that at least fifty percent of the parking area
will be shaded within fifteen years after the establishment of the lot. Durham, NC,
requires that vehicle parking areas containing 4 or more parking spaces shall provide a
landscaped area, adjacent to and outside of the street right-of-way, equal to 6 square
feet for each linear foot of street frontage, with one 2 - 2 V2 inch caliper tree for every 30
linear feet of frontage. Burlington, NC, requires six inches of tree diameter for every 50
linear feet of street frontage. Burlington further states that it shall be the responsibility
of property owners to maintain in perpetuity all landscaping required pursuant to its
zoning ordinance. (Googling "grass paver" and "turf block" also turns up enough
sites to indicate that alternative paving technology is well-established and available.)
If the Town of Ithaca were to adopt regulations similar to these, it would do much to
beautify the parking lots we already have (which could be grandfathered-in, but
brought into compliance when enlarged or rebuilt). It should also help to reduce
controversy when new parking is proposed. One of the major concerns residents in the
greater Ithaca area seem to have relative to development is the construction of big, ugly,
runoff-producing parking lots. If the lots could be made to be more aesthetically
pleasing and ecologically friendly, there might be less public outcry when a new one is
proposed.
Such a requirement of, say, one tree for every four parking spaces (or portion thereof)
could be applied uniformly across all zoning categories. Thus, all single family
residences would be required to have one tree near the driveway. Multiple residential
areas with more parking would be required to have more trees, and large parking lots
would have to have many trees. This change should be relatively easy to enact, and
would make the Town of Ithaca a more pleasant place to live, to work and to shop. (It
should be pointed out that much residential land already has enough trees to satisfy this
regulation, and apparently so do some existing parking lots, such as the parking along
Tower Road.)
Another concern which many residents seem to have relative to development stems from
the mass regrading of land, with the resulting destruction of natural land contours. This
could be addressed by limiting the amount of regrading to plus or minus a few (4?) feet
from the original ground contour (except within the building footprint or during
construction). This would preserve the general lay of the land, while still allowing roads,
buildings and the like to be developed.
In addition to beautifying parking and preserving ground contours, it seems that the
Town could be doing more to support "Smart Growth." Smart Growth planning
principles call for commercial establishments to be pedestrian-, bicycle- and transit-
friendly. This often means locating buildings close to the road, with parking situated in
the rear. For example. Bend, Oregon's off-street parking ordinance stipulates that motor
vehicle parking areas shall be located and designed so as to facilitate safe and
convenient pedestrian and bicycle movement to and from public sidewalks, streets, and
transit stops. This is achieved not only by locating buildings closer to the street, but also
by providing raised or protected walkways through the parking lots, and by connecting
on-site pedestrian walkways and bikeways to other existing pedestrian and bicycle
facilities. We did not find language of this type in the Commercial section of the
proposed Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance.
We are pleased with the changes which have been incorporated into the proposed new
Zoning Ordinance, and we commend you for your considerable efforts to date. The
concerns that we have relate to the fact that the Zoning Ordinance hasnT gone far
enough, or hasn't been completed, especially in regards to Cornell University. Fifty or
75 years from now. Town residents should be able to look back with satisfaction at how
thoughtfully the Town has developed. We need a Zoning Ordinance that will cause this
to happen. You have made an admirable start, and we encourage you to continue with
this important process.
Thank you for your consideration, and best of luck.
xc: John Barney
Jon Kanter
Susan Ritter
£^ELS1I3?
THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
STEVEN SANDERS
63rd District
Room 036
Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12248
(518) 455-5506
FAX (518) 455-4801
e-mail: sandersdassembly.state.ny.us
CHAIRMAN
Committee on Education
COMMITTEES
Cities
Housing
Rules
Steering
June 10,2002
Ms. Tee-Ann Hunter
Town Clerk
Town of Ithaca
215 N. fioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Hunter:
Thank you for your recent correspondence sent to me, urging my opposition to the
creation of the New York State Institute of Cultural Education, and the corresponding proposed
funding of said Institute by quadrupling the present five dollars collected by all County Clerks
and the Register of the City of New York on all recorded, indexed and entered documents to
twenty dollars, effective July 1, 2002.
1 agree with the assertion that the Governor's desire to remove the State Archives,
Museum, Library and Public Broadcasting from the Office of Cultural Education in the State
Education Department, and replacing it with a public benefit corporation, NYICE, to be directed
by political appointees, and funded by fees and foundation grants, sets a dangerous precedent.
The Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund was established in
1989 to improve records management and archival administration in New York's local
governments. The Fund supports a program of regionally based technical assistance and grants
to local governments to improve and enhance the management of their records and information.
The current LGRMIF grant application review process is designed to provide "peer review" of
application, leading recommendations for grant awards to be made by the Commissioner of
Education. By all accounts, it is a well managed program, with a strong record of helping local
governments maintain unique local historical records, for the benefit of all New Yorkers. You
will be gratified to learn that in the state budget for fiscal year 2002-2003, adopted May 16th, the
Assembly Majority rejected the Governor's proposal to alter the current system by removing the
LGRMIF from the auspices of SED, although we were unfortunately unsuccessful in preventing
the increase in the fee, sought by the Senate and the Governor.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
.c^
Steven Sanders
Member of Assembly
201 East 16th Street, New York, New York 10003. (212) 979-9696, FAX (212) 979-0594, TDD (212) 979-2965
Room 2234, 250 Broadway, New York. New York 10007, (212) 312-1484, FAX (212) 312-1479
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 NORTH TIOGA STREET, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850
WWW. town. ithaca. ny. us
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
PHONE (607)273-1721 FAX (607)273-5854
June 20, 2002
Peg Sauer
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany. New York 12233-4751
Dear Ms. Sauer:
Enclosed is a certified copy of the Town of Ithaca Town Board Resolution No. 2002-091
wherein the governing board of the Town has authorized me to withdraw as Licensing
Agent for the New York State Department of Conservation.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Tee-Ann Hunter
Town Clerk
Enc.
Cc: A. Carvill, Budget Officer
lAMES L SEWARD
SENATOR, 50TH DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
SECRETARY
MAjORITV CONFERENCE
THE SENATE
STATE OF NEW YORK
□ ROOM 307
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY. NEW YORK 12247
(518) 455-3131
□ 41 S. MAIN STREET
QNEONTA, NEW YORK 13820
(607) 432-5524
COBLESKILL(5l8) 234-8133
CORTLAND (607) 758-9005
HERKIMER (315) 866-1632
ITHACA (6071 272-4806
NORWICH 1607) 336-7309
July 3,2002
Hon. Tee-Ann Hunter
Town Clerk
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Hunter:
Congratulations! I am pleased to infonn you that the State Education Commissioner Richai'd P.
Mills has awai'ded the Town of Ithaca a $14,922 inactive records grant. I commend you for your
leadership and initiative in applying for this grant and congratulate you on your success.
As you know, the New York State Archives administers this grant program in consultation with
Hhe Local Government Records Advisory Council. The Council, comprised of local government
officials and records experts, reviewed all grants and made recommendations to Commissioner Mills,
who made the final decision on grant awards.
You will be receiving formal notification of this grant from the New York State Archives
shortly. Again, congratulations on your success and please contact my office if I can be of assistance on
your project.
Sincerely yours,
JLS/ecr
S L. SEWARD
te Senator
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www. town, ithaca. ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads, Parks, Trails, Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PUNNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
July 3, 2002
The Honorable George Pataki
Executive Chamber
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Pataki:
The Town of Ithaca received record rainfall on May 13,2002. This event followed several
days of heavy rain and resulted in flash flooding throughout the Town. Because of steep
sloped topography, storm water management in the Town of Ithaca is an ongoing challenge.
One of our connector roads, Stone Quarry, is located on one of our steepest slopes and
received extensive damage as a result of the storm. It is now officially closed to any through
traffic and is extremely unsafe due to a 50 foot drop-off where there was once a shoulder.
Our Town Highway Superintendent and Town Engineer estimate the cost of adequately
repairing the road to prevent future flood damage at $500,000. For a small community that
has an average annual highway repair budget of $90,000, the expenditure of this sum will
have a wide-spread detrimental impact on our Town.
The Town immediately explored the possibility of FEMA funding for the repair of the road.
Unfortunately this repair project does not meet FEMA requirements because it is less than
$750,000 and, because of the storm's isolated nature, no emergency was declared by the
Govemor. We have explored other funding possibilities with no positive results.
To protect the fiscal stability of my community, I am requesting your help in securing funds
for the repair of Stone Quarry Road. It is evident from our research that the government has
no safety net for communities caught in this unfortunate situation. I understand that elected
officials have access to item money that could help us. Beyond our own immediate need, I
recommend you look into legislation that could help small communities in similar unfortunate
circumstances.
From your record of public service, it is evident to us that you are supportive of local
communities and willing to address their problems. Your assistance in this matter would be
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor
€*CEtSl^
THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
MARTIN A. LUSTER
Assemblyman 125th District
CHAIRMAN
Committee on
Mental Health
COMMITTEES
Agriculture
Energy
Health
Higher Education
Majority Steering
MEMBER
Joint Legislative Commission on
Rural Resources
July 3, 2002
inn 6 E 1 W 6
I JUL - 9 2002
ATTEST
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Dear Cathy,
Thank you for your July 2"^* letter regarding the need for funding the repairs of Stone
Quarry Road.
I've made some inquiries on behalf of the Town and have been told that there is no
minimum fund request for FEMA grants. However, there is a rather intensive review process
and, as you may be aware, if the Feds fund the project, they are likely to undertake all
management and oversight of the restoration. This, in all likelihood, can lead to a Stone Quarry
Road that will barely resemble what has previously existed.
As you may be aware, Assembly "member item" funding is generally limited to small
grants and, in any event, my allocation for the state fiscal year 2002-03 has long been expended.
Similarly, the new "c-cap" program, which might have been able to fund a portion of the Stone
Quarry Road project, has also been accounted for. Although I have not yet heard from all
sources, my sense is that there are no outstanding transportation grant programs that might
provide assistance to the Town. However, I will follow-up on this.
I wish the Town well with regard to this project and will keep my eyes and ears open for
any source of assistance that might become available.
Sincerely,
Martini. Luster
Member of Assembly
125'^ District
MAL:lka
□ ALBANY OFFICE: Room 826. Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248, (518) 455-5444
□ DISTRICT OFFICE: 106 East Court Street, Itfiaca, New York 14850, (607) 277-8030
«./ BOLTON POINT \
<(WATER)^ SOUTHERN CATUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION
SVSTEM
''"^ACA, ^
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 1 78
Ithaca, N.Y. 14851
SHIPPING ADDRESS:
1402 East Shore Drive
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
COMMISSIONERS:
H. MICHAEL NEWMAN
Chairperson
WALTER R. LYNN
Vice Chairperson
CATHERINE VALENTINO
Treasurer
RONALD ANDERSON
STEPHEN FARKAS
DONALD HARTILL
CHRISTOPHER MICHAELS
MEG OVERSTROM
MARY RUSSELL
MARK VARVAYANIS
STEPHEN C. LIPINSKI
Consutlont
PAULTUNLSON
General Manager
LAWRENCE PARLETT
Administration
JACK RUECKHEIM
Distribution
KENNETH BUTLER
Production
TOWNS OF DRYDEN • ITHACA • LANSING — VILLAGES OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS • LANSING
(607) 277-0660—FAX (607) 277-3056—E-MAIL SCLIWC@aoLcom
July 9, 2002
Honorable Alan J. Cohen
Mayor - City of Ithaca
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Alan:
ol li-UXLI
JUL 1 1 2002
ATTEST.
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
The Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission has asked
me, as Chairman of the Commission, to communicate with you regarding the need
to either conclude or terminate the discussions regarding inclusion of the City as a
member of the Commission.
In April 2001, a proposal was submitted to the City for inclusion of the
City in the Commission. While there have been sporadic meetings, to this date
we have not received a concrete response from the City indicating which
provisions of the proposal are acceptable and which, if any, are not.
The Commission is at a point where it needs to move forward on a number
of projects relating to the water treatment plant and transmission facilities. Some
of these projects can proceed independent of whether the City is, or is not, going
to be a member of the Commission. Others depend on our expected load in the
years ahead and the capacity required to meet that load.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission believes we need to set a
timetable to bring closure to the matter. Accordingly, if the City is interested in
becoming a member participant with the other member municipalities of the
Commission, we expect to receive a written, detailed, specific response to the
proposed Agreement which the Commission provided to the City well over a year
ago. As you know, Cornell University has opted out of becoming a member of
the Commission and has also chosen not to lease its facility to the Commission.
We recognize that certain changes will have to be made in the proposed
Agreement due to Cornelfs withdrawal. That can be accomplished when the next
iteration of the Agreement is drafted. However, the Commission will draft no
further agreements unless and until the City has provided its written response. If
we do not receive the written response by September 1. 2002, we will assume that
the City is no longer interested in becoming a member municipality of the
Commission and proceed accordingly.
Excellence in water quality and customer .service
If the City has responded as requested above by September 1, 2002, we would expect to
complete the negotiations and reach a tentative agreement no later than December 31, 2002, with
ratification and approval by all of the municipal partners to occur no later than March 1, 2003. If
the process fails to meet these milestones, it is the Commission's intention to recommend to the
current member municipalities that the negotiations be terminated and that the Commission
proceed without the City as a member.
We look forward to receiving your response by September C.
Very truly yours.
H. Michael Newman, Chair
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission
xc: Commissioners
Division of Facilities Services
Original in Lake Source Cooling Box
Dt-i'<irluk'iil oflllililu-<iiiiii I'elephone: <>07 255
Miiiui;ii'iiicnl \-,w. ()07 23:
Wel>: www.iitilitif
Curnell Uni\ fr>itv
Humplireys Sfivice Building
Irli.H'.i, NY I l.s3,1-37()i
July 12, 2002
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca. New York 14850
Attn: Ms. Mary Russell
Deputy Supervisor
llii JUL 1 5 200Z
TGvvr^i Oh* iTi-iACA
PLA'Y'-i'i i3, .".C;. r:''^3:^'•.•^:R!NGi
Subject;
Dear Mary,
Lake Source Cooling Data
Thanks for your letter of June 12 to Lanny Joyce and the subsequent June 25 letter
from Benchmark Environmental Engineering & Science, requesting additional Lake
Source Cooling (LSC) data. We would like to resolve any LSC data issues and clear
up any questions about its validity.
We have provided the Town's consultant with the data that our consultant. Upstate
Freshwater Institute (UFI), has reported, which includes significantly more data
than called for in the data sharing group (DSG) agreement. The agreement
specifically stated that data "accumulated for the DEC water quality monitoring
requirement" be provided to the DSG. Cornell has spent significant additional
funds to collect this extra data on a voluntary basis for the years immediately
surrounding start-up.
Data collected by others (City of Ithaca, Village of Cayuga Heights, NYS DEC, etc.)
are also being analyzed on a voluntary basis. All of this additional data is not
needed to comply with the conditions of the SPDES permit and therefore is not part
of the DEC monitoring requirement Nonetheless, we have provided all of these
data since 1999 in the form of comprehensive annual reports prepared by UFI. The
reports including all of the data taken by UFI, have been available to all via the
Lake Source Cooling web site for quite some time.
There is one data set unrelated to water quality that has not been reported, namely,
the monitoring related to the impact on biological organisms. The preliminary data,
which was discussed at a spring 2001 DSG meeting, indicated that the entrainment
of mysid shrimp was at the level of 1- 2 organisms per 1000 gallons of water
pumped. First year data indicated that this level was approximately 3 shrimp per
1000 gallons. This current level of entrainment is not thought to have a significant
effect on the lake's ecosystem. This information has been discussed in draft form
with the NYS DEC and will be shared with the DSG once it is final. Collection of
this data is ongoing, including testing the effectiveness / need for the light
deterrent system at the intake structure. Very preliminary results indicate that the
light deterrent system does not seem to have a consistent effect on the entrainment
rate. The anticipated completion of this work is fall 2002.
Unfortunately, the June 25"' Benchmark letter did not clarify the specific additional
information needed that is not already included in the annual reports. In order to
resolve this, we have arranged for a meeting between all parties involved on July
18, 2002 from 2:00 - 4:00pm iii room 133 of Humphreys Service Building. It is our
hope that we will be able to address all disagreements or misunderstandings about
the data at that time.
We would be interested in reviewing any reports or other types of information that
Benchmark has provided the Town to try and understand their dilemma. If there
were any other clarifying documents or information that would be helpful to
expedite this process, these would be welcomed.
Sincerely,
jun Adams
Cc: Hal Craft
Henry Doney
Karen Edelstein
John Gutenberger
Kate Hackett
Nancy Schuler
Daniel Winch
GADABOUT
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. INC.
A Voluntary Transportation Sen/Ice for Older and
Disabled Tompklns County Residents
attest_^^^^nclerk
July 17,2002
Ms. Tee Ann Hunter, Town Clerk
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Ms. Hunter:
Gadabout Transportation Services would like to apply for binding frorri the Town of
Ithaca for the year 2003. We have been advised in your letter of Jun 28 that the Town is
not planning on any significant increases for 2003. With that in mind we are requesting
$10, 800 for next year based on the following increases in service:
Our ridership has continued to increase dramatically. In 2000 we carried 12,323 one-way
rider trips from the Town of Ithaca, and in 2001 it was 14,632. Of those, 3,299 were for
people using wheelchairs. This represents an 18.7% increase. Service to Kendal,
Longview, and Alterra continue to grow, as does service to the various medical
complexes in the area. Meanwhile, cost for fuel, insurance, and maintenance and repair
continue to rise.
Gadabout clearly provides a specialized service to both elderly and disabled riders that
cannot be duplicated by any other kind of transportation available.
We would appreciate your consideration for next year and look forward to continued
collaboration with the Town of Ithaca.
Sincerely,
-1 / >
\i
Judith E. Willis
Executive Director
'/ /
737 Willow Avenue » Ithaca, NY 14850
Ithaca: 607-273-1878 • Groton: 607-898-4661
MAURICE D. HINCHEY
26TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEES;
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT,
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.
AND RELATED AGENCIES
INTERIOR
Consre£(£( of tlje ®mteti ^tatcg
^ou&t of Eeprescntatibcs
Mlafifjinston, iSC 20515-3226
July 18,2002
The Honorable Catherine Valentino
Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
Thank you for contacting my office and seeking my help in your efforts to repair
Stone Quarry Road in the Town of Ithaca. I am sorry to hear about the extensive damage
caused by heavy rains last May and can appreciate the burden this places on the Town's
budget.
I have looked into ways in which the federal government might assist you but
regret to report that, in the absence of a disaster declaration, there is little direct federal
funding available. As you correctly point out in your July 2 letter, the Governor made no
such declaration following the storms in May. Federal earmarked funding is unlikely
because funding is extremely limited this year and because the federal government
already provides funding intended for this sort of work through formula grants to the
states. As you probably know, getting this project included in the local Transportation
Improvement Program, managed by Ithaca's Metropolitan Planning Organization, is
necessary in order to receive the federal aid administered by the NYS Department of
Transportation. I have taken the liberty of contacting NYS DOT and the Ithaca-
Tompkins Transportation Council on your behalf to discuss the importance of repairing
Stone Quarry Road. These entities informed my office that this project could receive
priority placement on the five-year TIP plan, should you decided to submit an application
this Fall. You may contact Ithaca-Tompkins Transpoilalion Council (274.5570) for more
information on this process.
Thanks again for contacting me about this matter. I enjoyed hearing from you.
Sincerely,
WASHINGTON OFFICE;
2431 RAVBURN BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515-3226
(202)225-6335
BINGHAMTON OFFICE:
100A FEDERAL BUILDING
BINGHAMTON, NY 13901
(607) 773-2768
KINGSTON OFFICE;
291 WALL STREET
KINGSTON, NY 12401
(845) 331-4466
ITHACA OFFICE:
123 S. CAVUGA ST.. SUITE 201
ITHACA, NV 14850
(607)273-1388
MONTICELLO OFFICE:
(845)791-7116
s LiJJ-A,!:!M
mn-M jljyj
-I
Maurice D. Hinchey
T?f3TTA
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
H. CARL MCCALL
STATE COMPTROLLER
Patricia Lamb McCarthy
DEPUTY COMPTROLLER
DIVISION OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
STATE OF NEW YORK
Office of the State Comptroller
409 STATE OFFICE BUILDING
333 EAST WASHINGTON STREET
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13202
Norman E. Bagley, III
Assistant Director
Voice: 315-428-4192
Fax:315-426-2119
July 19, 2002
Ms. Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino:
Thank you for your letter of July 3, 2002, asking Comptroller McCall to help you obtain money so that you can
adequately repair Stone Quarry Road, which was extensively damaged as the result of a storm. The Comptroller takes
concerns raised by New York's residents very seriously, and 1 have been asked to respond to your letter.
You state in your letter that you understand that elected officials have access to item money that could help your town.
The Comptroller's Office does not have item money available to it. Item money is generally available to your local state
legislators. I recommend that you contact them and see what, if anything, they may be able to do for you. In reference to
your request for legislation that could help other small communities in similar situations, you should also discuss that
issue with your legislators.
For your convenience, the local addresses of your state legislators follow:
Senator
James L. Seward
41 S. Main Street
Oneonta,NY 13820
Assemblyman
Martin A. Luster
106 E. Court Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Thank you again for seeking the assistance of the Comptroller's Office.
cc: Patricia Lamb McCarthy
Deputy Comptroller for Municipal Affairs
Sincerely,
Norman E. Bagley, III
Assistant Director
Division of Municipal Affairs
^ H 6 H 0 W H
JUL 2 2 2002
ATTEST.
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
5*rBL5lQB
State of New York
Department of Transportation
333 East Washington Street
Syracuse, N.Y. 1 3202
JU
E i E I V H
JUL 2 4 2002
ATTEST.
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Jon P. Edinger, P.E.
Regional Director
Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
Joseph H. Boardman
Commissioner
July 22, 2002
Governor Pataki has asked me to respond to your letter of July 3 regarding Stone Quarry
Road.
We are well aware of the intensity of the heavy rainfall that occurred on May 13, 2002.
The resultant damage was limited to one or two isolated sites. Neither a New York State or
Federal emergency declaration was issued. As such, the FEMA and other relief programs are not
available. Funding programs such as CHIPS and Federal highway funding would be potential
sources of funds.
The Ithaca Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) will be updating the
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as part of this year's work program. This review
will include the addition of new projects. Stone Quarry Road is functionally classified as an
urban collector. As such, a project to reconstruct Stone Quarry Road could be considered under
the regular Federal aid program.
Fred Noteboom attended yesterday's ITCTC Planning Committee meeting where the TIP
update process was discussed. He would also be familiar with the CHIPs process.
If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to call me or Steve Vetter at
(315) 428-4409.
Very tnily yours.
P. EDINGER, P.E.
Regional Director of Transportation
cc: Fred Noteboom, Town of Ithaca
Fernando de Aragon, ITCTC
07/25/2002 09:08 6072572314 PAGE 01
To: TimMiddlebrook (fax 845-486-0635)
From: Bob Nicholas, 107 Updike Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
(H) 607-277-5359 or (W) 607-257-0456
25 July 2002
Re: Water Damage Claim
Enclosed with this fax are bills for expenses sustained due to the negligence of emplo/ees
and/or contractors of the Town of Ithaca. They are itemized as follows:
* Remove and replace ceiling, painting of walls/ceiHng, etc $ 1,144.25
* Replacement Futon and deh very fee $ 417.44
* Wood trim (after new caipet was laid) $ 16.01
* Removal/disposal of saturated caipet/underlay, hire of air
movers, dehumidifier, etc. (see ServiceMaster invoice) $ 1,008.09
* Lay Carpet, underlay, etc. $ 703.73
* Purchase of paint for bathroom and bedroom $ 78.78
* Repair of water supply pipe to bathroom $ 113.67
Invoice Totals $3,481.97
This figure does not include approximately $ 40 required to run the air movers and
dehumidifier for three days, nor does it include approximately $ 60 for damage to var. ous
CDs and audio tapes that were ruined. Also not included is the cost of laundering clot^-es,
general cleaning, time and gas in running around replacing all these things, loss of the use
of the room, loss of leisure time, and general inconvenience and aggravation. During Ihe
moving of items from the room, an antique roll-top desk was badly damaged and will
require extensive repairs. All this needs to be taken into account when you cut your
check to compensate us.
Your insurance assessor calculated the damage at almost $ 3,100, which did not include
the costs of the futon, the need to replace wallpaper, replacement of CDs/tapes,
electricity, etc.
Please send a check for the remainder of our claim immediately so that we can settle the
remaining costs associated with this incident.
bert A
oz- -i ^
\
ATTEST^^:f^NCL|2<
103 Judd Falls Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
July 24, 2002
Cathy Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N.TIoga
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Cathy:
I forgot to pay my water bill. No excuses—not any you might consider good
enough.
Then I saw the penalty. Designed, no doubt, to prevent culprits like me from
paying late, but totally ignoring the fact that sometimes people just forget and,
no matter what the fee, it's not going to have the salutary effect of getting all
those payments in on time. A more likely effect: to pauperize forgetful water
consumers.
Plainly spoken: the penalty rate on late payments for water and sewer iis
usurious. No utility that I know of exacts a late payment rate that high. Nor
does any credit card company, and, at least with credit cards, consumers have
a choice to move to a competitor with a lower rate.
I would like to request that the late payment fee on my recent bill be waived,
but I won't, because that sounds too cheap, and I don't want to be in the
position of begging. Instead, I urge that the Town of Ithaca amend the
payment policy: (1) lower the penalty rate by at least 50%, (2) adopt a policy
of automatically forgiving one late payment (perhaps every three years) for
residential customers, and (3) consider a daily penalty, with the full penalty
due after 90 days (as it is, the penalty is the same regardless of whether the
payment is late by one day or 90 days, so that, once the penalty goes into
effect, the consumer has no incentive to pay sooner rather than later).
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ruth M. Mahr
Mwt^ (Out and Sftian Stitzen.
119 Q^wi&mdg^ (Piace.
Jthaca, ^£m 14850
Jufy27,2002
SfticA- Sicfioch
MaifUm<4nc^ Manage
ilawn Gf, JMaca
(DiewiStuA,
We. &inc&ie£g. opfMeciaie gewt aasiAtance in pianning and impiementing tHe menuvdai &encfi pHoject
foft Jhent at Eadt SAme UtcvA, (JAe BmcA b. juU ivAat we imagined it to. Be. Wm. one e&peda((g pleaaed
with the aJte. Jib. a fieaiUifid and peaceful place aimlaehing the iahe that Shent tmed,
Oa time goea. on, the hoHdh lealUg. of (ife without owe Beloved oon deepens owt aohhow. and gnief, Jhe
Bench giucAUA and the entvte a canununitg. a Apecial place ta Ait and view, the tmeBeautg and o&tenitg
of owt entmonmenL 3. hnow. that Jhent would opend a iot of time thene, p&thapA in a wag, he does.
JHeaoe conueg awe thanho to. the Jown of Jihaca emplogeeA who wmhed to. pnepaxe the Aite and
inAtall the Bench. 3t b btulg BeautifuL She entixe path b touelg. 3, hcwe aeen people fbhing fxom the
xocho and enjoging the pewilion axea, Jibwondexful fox the conmuinUgio. have cuxeoAta die tahe
not fax fxom town.
We tooh foHwand to. the plague hat wM Be placed on the Bouldex. SexhapAwewillhcweaAmM
dedication cexemong at that time. Sleaoe giue oux xegwub to goux Aon, Sliglan. Slnent opohe of him-
often and enjoged hb fxiendAhip-.
Sincexelg,
Maxg dnnand Sinum Sit^iex
'h
m f - m j uli
^
_T35rTA'■ nj ■)j <wot AQfev-rr > |
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYA
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20530
I
2DRS-02-18 2NY062
204-50-210
July 31,
Catherine Valentino
Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that we have closed our investigation
of the Town of Ithaca for alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA). As you know, in an attempt to facilitate informal resolution of this dispute, we
referred the dispute to a mediation service. We have been informed that mediation did
not fully resolve the dispute. After a careful review of this matter, and in light of our
heavy workload and limited resources, we have decided to discontinue this
investigation without pursuing it to full resolution. We have informed the complainant of
our decision.
Our decision should not be construed as a determination that the Town of Ithaca
has not violated the ADA. Nor does this determination affect the rights of private
citizens, who are entitled under the ADA to bring actions in Federal district court for
violations of the ADA.
We also maintain the authority to conduct compliance reviews under the ADA,
even in the absence of a particular complaint. We may at any time decide to conduct a
compliance review or to re-open our investigation.
We encourage you to call our toll-free ADA Information Line, 1-800-514-0301
(voice), or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY), if you have any questions about how to comply with
the ADA. You may also wish to call your regional ADA Technical Assistance Center,
funded by the U.S. Department of Education. By calling 1-800-949 -4ADA (voice and
TTY), you will be connected automatically to the center serving your region. The center
can assist you In understanding the ADA and can refer you to local entitles or
individuals who may be able to provide further assistance.
Sincerely,
Sally Conway ^
Accessibility Specialist
Disability Rights Section
N CLERK
archive copy
To: Cathy Valentino, Ithaca Town Supervisor
Co: Andy Frost, Building and Zoning, Town of Ithaca
Ann Barnes, Ithaca High School
June Losurdo, Tompkins County Chapter American
From: Renwick Heights residents
Re: Noise levels during cancer fundraiser
Date: July 30, 2002
On the evening of Friday, July 12, and continuing on until Saturday
morning, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, sponsored by
the Tompkins County chapter, held its annual fundraising event at the
Ithaca High School track/football field. The goals of the organization
and the 1,400 people who participated as walkers, sponsors,
supporters, musicians, and service providers are certainly laudable
and we are sure their hard work will benefit those who suffer from
cancer.
Unfortunately, the residents of the Renwick Heights neighborhood
were forced to pay too high a price for this community effort. Despite
the good-will gesture of the organizers in canvassing the
neighborhood prior to the event, those onsite the night of the relay
nonetheless forgot that people live near the track and go to sleep
(some even go to work on Saturday morning). Loud music and
announcements blared from the loudspeakers all evening and into
the night and early morning. Complaints to the sheriffs department
were met with a slight dial-down of the volume, but not enough to
afford neighbors a night of undisturbed sleep. (The coup de grace
was the 5:15 am wake-up call to the walkers, which woke up most of
Renwick Heights as well.) The neighbors are well acquainted with
cheers and announcements emanating from the stadium: we hear the
roars during football games and other athletic events. But those
activities cease at an appropriate hour; this one went on and on and
on.
Perhaps the organizers can look for another venue where the
activities will not interfere with the sleep of an entire neighborhood.
Alternatively, they can reduce the volume. The sound need only
travel 100 yards, the length of a football field;'there is no need for it to
be loud enough to disturb residents through closed windows (on a
summer night!) a half-mile or more away. Why not invite walkers to
'1
oJ
(R
bring "walk-mans" and then broadcast the music and announcements
over a pre-set radio band, as local health clubs do with TV
broadcasts in their facilities?
Surely with just a little thought, the Cancer Society could find a way to
be a good neighbor. In a similar vein, town officials should consider
the concerns of the residents; perhaps even ask for their input before
awarding a permit for an all-night, noisemaking event at the stadium.
At a minimum, the town should grant such permits only with
restrictions on the use of the public address system in the post-
midnight hours, j J r\ ' '
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Tompkins County Senior Citizens' Council Inc.
A private organization in public service
119 West Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
Telephone: (607) 273-1511
Fax: (607) 272-8060
E-mail: council@tcsenior.org
August 1,2002
A1 Carvill, Budget Officer
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850 \
Dear Mr. Carvill:
We are extremely grateful to the Town of Ithaca for its support of the Senior Citizens'
Council. We would request that the Town Board consider continuing its support in 2003
at $8400.
In 2001 the number of Town of Ithaca residents participating in Council sponsored
programs were as follows:
¨ 225 took part in regular weekly activities at the Senior Center.
¨ 100 (approximately 27% of active volunteers) were Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program - RSVP volunteers. They performed 13,942 hours of service (22% of the
total hours reported for the year). TTiey served as tax counselors, health insurance
counselors, drove Gadabout, worked in libraries and museums, assisted with
bloodmobiles, etc.
¨ 250 participated in Senior Citizens' Council unit activities.
¨ 33 took part in walks held on trails in the Town of Ithaca. Town of Ithaca Residents
participated in the annual Seniors Walk for Fitness at Stewart Park and/or the Heart
Walk at Pyramid Mall.
¨ 45 Town of Ithaca residents received Health Insurance Counseling.
¨ 2,842 Town of Ithaca senior citizen households receive the quarterly newsletter
"Senior Circle". The newsletter provides usefiil information on Ton^kins County
aging services and programs, as well as helpful tips for keeping fit.
¨ 174 participated in the "Senior Circuit", the Council's life long learning program
Town of Ithaca residents also benefit fi-om the annual flu clinics, which are conducted by
the County Health Department. The Senior Citizens' Council locates the sites, trains
Retired and Senior Volunteer Progi-am — County Health and Wellness Progi'am — Senior Center — Senior Circuit
volunteers, to handle the paperwork and oversees the operation of these clinics. In
2001/02 season over 2,496 flu shots were administered at these clinics.
Through the Senior Citizens' Council Town of Ithaca residents have access to health
insurance counseling, tax counseling, health screening clinics, safe driving courses,
discounted bus tickets, photo copying and most importantly a friendly and helpful staff
who answer numerous questions and help Senior Citizens access other services they may
need.
I am enclosing a copy of the agencies 2002 Annual Report.
Sincerely,
Peg Hopper
Executive Director.
Enc.
George M. Dentes
District Attorney
¥
attest
fjHACA
ins County
T ATTORNEY
ortli Tioga Street
, New York 14850
r" ••
:r.; i-
t -}-:
Telephone
(607) 274-5461
^"^^^ITHACATOVVN Ct
Hon. Catherine Valentino
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
August 1, 2002
Re: 2003 County Budget
The current County fiscal crisis threatens to greatly increase the Town of Ithaca's legal
expenses, and this is the time to express any objections or concerns you may have to your
representatives on the County Board.
The County's fiscal situation has led the Board of Representatives to ask County
departments to aim for a 20% reduction in spending. If that holds, the District Attorney's Office
will be forced to layoffs Assistant District Attorneys, reducing our staff of A.D.A.'s from 5.63
to 2.63.
These A.D.A.'s are the front-line prosecutors who handle cases in the local criminal
courts, including Ithaca Town Court. If the reduction in staff occurs, we will be forced to cut
back on our prosecution efforts in the local criminal courts. Specifically, we will cease
prosecuting lower level offenses in the local criminal courts, and will turn responsibilityfor
those prosecutions over to the municipal attorneys (or such other attorneys as you may
designate). We contemplate that the offenses initially turned over to the municipal attorneys
would be sub-criminal offenses, including things like Speeding, Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful
Possession of Marihuana, and Harassment, but this may be extended to include selected
misdemeanor offenses if necessary to relieve case pressures on our remaining staff. In effect, the
Town of Ithaca will be forced to hire its own Town Prosecutor similar to the City Prosecutor that
exists in the City of Ithaca. Of course, the Town could refuse to take on this burden, but in that
event the offenses would go completely unprosecuted.
I am not happy about this prospective delegation of prosecution authority and believe it
will disserve the public. Municipalities will incur considerable expense to pay attorneys for
litigating scores of cases annually. Inconsistent plea bargaining policies are likely to be adopted,
leading to unfairness between County residents charged in one municipality versus another.
Court clerks, judges, police officers, defense attorneys, and victims will have to deal with the
confusion that follows uncertainty about which prosecutor's office is handling a case, and the
further confusion that results when a case shifts from one prosecutor's office to another after
charges are reduced or upgraded.
Recycled paper
Hon. Catherine Valentino
August 1, 2002
page 2
There is good reason for the Town of Groton and other municipalities in the County to
object to this prospective shift in prosecution expense. New York State law provides that
prosecution is the District Attorney's responsibility, stating in section 700 of the County Law:
It shall be the duty of every District Attomey to conduct all
prosecutions for crimes and offenses cognizable by the courts of the
County for which he shall have been elected or appointed.
Clearly, this State law contemplates that all prosecutions in the local criminal courts are to be
handled by the District Attomey, and, therefore, that the expense of those prosecutions is to be
borne by the County. But the courts have interpreted section 700 to permit District Attorneys to
delegate prosecution authority to others (see, People v Soddano. 86 NY2d 727 [1995]), and that is
what we will be forced to do if our staff is decimated in the manner currently being contemplated.
I hope that you will consider the adverse impact on the Town of Ithaca from such a
change, and that you will write to your representatives on the County Board to make your
feelings known. Now is the time to do this. Budget documents are being distributed to County
Board members this week, and review of budgets by program committees (including the Public
Safety Committee, which reviews our budget) will occur in August.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call.'
John Barney, Esq.
Hon. Clarence Larkin
Hon. Ray Bordoni
eorge M. Dentes
District Attomey
123 Renwick Drive
Ithaca, New York 14850
August 5, 2002
Mr. Fred Noteboom, Highway Superintendent
Town of Ithaca
Highway Department
107 Seven Mile Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Mr. Noteboom,
We want to thank you |or the arrangements you made during the recent repaving of
Renwick Drive, both in keeping our access to the street open while the road work was in
progress, and in arranging with the workmen to provide handicapped access to the path to our
front door. Although before the repaving our quadriplegic son was able to get to the front door
when he parked his car in the drive way (he has a robot for his wheelchair), it is now a great deal
easier and safer. And I shall now set to learning to use crutches instead of a walker, and hope to
be able to drive my car on my own (Fortunately all the controls are with the right leg.)
The contractors have done a superb job on repaving the road. From our upstairs windows,
we can see the flow of water during a rainstorm, and there must be shallow drainage channels in
the tar. The water sheets down Wyckoff Road and Renwick Drive, then splits into three streams
each of which flows into the drainage ditch on the far side of the road. It is fascinating to watch!
Once again, thank you for your help.
> Sincerely,
ft O o
Rada Dy^dn-Hudson
ISWZ
Neville Dysbn=Hadson
08/07/02 \VED 14:31 FAX 518 455 3123 SEN. SEWARD 1^001
lAMFS L SEWARD
SENATOR, 50TH DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN
INSURANCE COMMnTKK
SECRETARY
MAtORlTY CONFERENCE
THE SENATE
STATE OF NEW YORK
■^OOM ?l)Y
l-iC;iSLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12247
1715) 455-3111
U -11 5. MAIN SiTREET
OnKONTA-NEWYORK 11821
1607} 432-5524
COBI.F.$KILL 15161 234-6113
CORTLAND (6(J'/1 tja-oooS
HERKIMER [315) 566-1033
ITHACA (407) 2/3.4806
NORWICH (607) 33S-73i1iJ
r\
August 7, 2002
Mr. B. R. Oswald
Mobility Management Bureau
NYS Department of Transportation
Building 4, Room 209
Albany, N.Y. 12232
djtjjXLlIIL^AUG - 7 2002
ATTEST
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Re: Town of Ithaca - Technical Assistance in
Traffic Engineering & Transportation
Planning for Localities
Dear Mr. Oswald:
I am writing to lend my strong support for the grant application by the Town of Ithaca for their
transportation plan under the NYS Technical Assistance in Traffic Engineering and Transportation
Planning for Localities program.
The town has begun the process of preparing a plan which would be added as a component
of the Comprehensive Plan. The plan includes a number of off-road pathways for transportation and
recreational purposes to address the needs of pede.strian.s and bicyclists, together with the beginning
phases of a system of connecting walkways.
The Town of Ithaca i.s in a unique geographic and topogr^hic setting which contains Cornell
University and Tthaca College. Because of the volume of users firom these two entities alone, the
transportation system and road system experience pressures not seen in other nearby central New York
communities, thus making pre-planning for such systems a critical high priority.
1 would wholeheartedly endorse their request for funding and would ask that their application be
given every consideration. I commend the Town of Ithaca for its progressive planning. Should you have
any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
(J JAMES L. SEWARD,
State Senator
JLS:Imb
O
Tompkins County
BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES
Courthouse, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Telephone: (607) 274-5434 Fax: (607) 274-5430
w>^'w.tompkins-co.org
August 6, 2002
D r-11 w H
AUG - 8 2002
ATTEST
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Hon. Catherine Valentino
Town of Ithaca Supervisor
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
You recently received a letter from the District Attorney suggesting that, because of County Budget
problems, the cost of prosecution may be shifted from his office to Town and Village govemments. This
is a gross misrepresentation of reality. As Mr. Dentes makes clear in citing section 700 of County Law, it
is the duty of the District Attorney to prosecute all crimes and offenses in the County. It remains his duty
regardless of the outcome of budget deliberations, and cannot be imposed on anyone else. The District
Attorney may delegate prosecution authority, as has been done with the Ithaca City Prosecutor, but only
with the agreement of the government to which it is delegated.
The County's fiscal situation is indeed very serious and there is a likelihood that many important County
functions will be cut back. I expect to see real reductions in both quality and quantity of service provided
in many areas of County government. This is regrettable, but probably unavoidable. As a result of budget
pressure and spending reductions. County roads in your area may be poorly maintained compared to past
practice. This does not mean that Towns and Villages will become responsible for County road
maintenance. The level of prosecutorial services may well be reduced, and this is a serious issue, but
Towns and Villages are neither required nor expected to take over.
It is difficult enough to manage major cutbacks in County programs without false claims about shifting of
expenses. I and other Board members welcome your input and would be pleased to hear from you
concerning the County services that matter most to you, your constituents, and your municipality. But
please don't allow yourselves to be used in a lobbying campaign based on misinformation and scare
tactics.
Sincerely,
Tim Joseph, Chairman
Tompkins County Board of Representatives
o Recycled paper
August 13, 2002
TOWN OF NEWFIELD
166 Main Street
Newfield,NY 14867
(607) 564-0654 Phone
(607) 564-7329 Fax
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
126 East Seneca Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino:
We have received a letter from a resident located in Newfield requesting multiple
road improvements and dump operation requests. We feel the operation of the proposed
dump would have an effect on the residence of Newfield and would like to have a
discussion regarding this potential dumpsite. It is my understanding that at this time
there are no applications for this dumpsite and no public hearing date has been set.
Please let me know when we can discuss the road improvements and dumpsite
operations, as well as the public hearing date for the proposed dumpsite.
Sincerely,
Charles Berggren
Town Supervisor
Enclosures
Cc: Glenn Caslick
Angelo Petito
Mr. Charles Berggren, Supervisor
Town of Newfield
Town Hall, Newfield, NY 14867
34 Millard Hill Road
Newfield, NY 14867
May 14, 2002
Dear Mr. Berggren:
This letter pertains to the new and developing Ithaca dump site
that adjoins our property in the Town of Newfield. Following
are some conditions for road improvement and for dump operations
that we would like to have the Town formalize in writing and have
in place before dump operations begin:
ROAD IMPROVEMENT
1. Blacktop the VanOstrand Road from Rte. 13 to the
dump gate. Present truck operations on the dirt
road send up clouds of dust when the road is dry.
Mud and rocks are now a safety problem at the
intersection of Rte. 13, VanOstrand Road, and Millard
Hill Road; this condition will worsen with increased
truck traffic from the dump, unless the road is paved.
2. Install a continuous guardrail on the south (gorge)
side of VanOstrand Road between Rte. 13 and the dump
gate for traffic safety, and to prevent further
"creep" of the roadway onto our property, through time
3. Weekly removal of trash illegally dumped along the
road and at the dump gate; removal to be done by
dump operators.
4. If purposeful road-widening occurs, road should be
widened equally on both sides of the road, with no
additional tree-removal.
5. Construct and maintain ditches and culverts on the
north (dump) side of the VanOstrand Road, so that
surface-water runoff originating on the dump side of
the road stays on that side instead of crossing the
road onto our property.
DUMP OPERATION
1. Dump entrance gate locked, except during hours of
operation. Considering nearby homes, apartments,
and state-park campsites, limit dump operation to
hours between
(more)
9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Prohibit the "banging" of
dumptruck tailgates intended to clean out the truckbeds.
2. No dumping of combustibles (including wood and trees),
hazardous materials, plastics, paper, or materials other
than those specified for an "exempt" operation by NYSDEC
Solid Waste Regulation 6NYCRR, 1993 (see below).
3. No on-site burning.
4. Erosion controls that work (no sheet-plastic water-erosion
barriers).
5. Construction and maintenance of on-site monitoring
wells and scheduled professional monitoring to determine
whether soil or water contamination is occurring,
especially needed here because of highly permeable
soils, sands, and gravels. The dump site was
pseviously a commercially-operated gravel bed. Private
wells and springs serve as the domestic water sources
in this area of Newfield, still outside the Newfield
town water district.
6. Continuous and unrestricted access to the dump site for
compliance-inspection by officials of Town of Newfield
and N.Y.Dep't of Parks & Recreation (also an adjoining
neighbor of the dump site).
7. No truck storage, truck terminal, or vehicle service
area to be constructed on-site.
Through discussion with the Office of Solid & Hazardous Materials,
DEC, Syracuse, we understand that if this dump is to be operated
as an "exempt" operation for construction and demolition waste,
ONLY the following recognizable and uncontaminated materials may
be dumped:
- concrete and concrete products (including steel or
fiberglass reinforcement rods that are imbedded
in concrete)
asphalt pavement
brick
glass
soil
rock
(NYSDEC Solid Waste Regulation 6NYCRR, Part 360-7.1(b)(1)(i),
October 9, 1993). (Their website: www.dec.state.ny.us).
If this dump is to be operated under other than "exempt" status,
please let us know. Our neighborhood remains opposed to this dump
for reasons that are both aesthetic and economic. This dump
(more)
reduces the values of our properties, leads to loss of tax
revenue for the Town, and is thus a loss for all of Newfield.
If we can't prevent these losses, let's at least push Ithaca
for help in meeting the above conditions aimed at reducing
the negative impacts of this development on Newfield.
Please let us know if we can be of help in this effort.
Sincerely,
Glenn S. Caslick
cc: Newfield Town Rep, County Bd. of Supervisors
Newfield Town Code Enforcement Ofcr.
NYSDEC - Solid & Haz. Materials
Exec. Dept. -NY State Parks & Rec.
Mgr., R.H. Treman State Park
Tee Ann Hunter
From: Philip M. Syphrit [pms26@cornell.edu]
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 12:45 PM
To: THunter@town.ithaca.ny.us
Subject: my cat was shot
Tee-Ann,
I was given your name and e-mail address when I called the Town Hall this
morning.
My wife Katy and I live at 696 Coddington Road. She has lived there for
15 years. On Tuesday morning at about 4 a.m. I let our cat Simon outside,
as usual. I left for work about 6:45. Around 7:45 my wife was just
sitting down to breakfast when Simon came home. He had been shot in the
left front leg. We took him to Companion Animal Hospital at Cornell, where
Dr. Erick Trotter told us that Simon had been shot with a 22 caliber
hollow-point bullet.
The bone in the leg was so badly shattered that the vet removed Simon's
leg yesterday afternoon. He will be 3 legged the rest of his life.
We notified the sheriff's office, and my wife spoke with officer James
Rolfe. He was very kind. We have spoken to all of the neighbors that we
know--no one heard anything or seems to know anything about it. Again,
they were all very upset and sympathetic.
This situation is terrible. We live in a good neighborhood in a good
town, and someone shot a firearm, in that neighborhood, with cruel
intentions, and has seriously injured our pet. As angry and sad as I am
about this, I am thankful it wasn't a person who was shot. Whoever did
this must be found. Who knows if this will happen again; who knows if the
next person's pet will be killed instead of just maimed; who knows if the
next time it will be a person. This situation, this shooting, is terrible,
unacceptable, and just plain wrong.
I want the entire town board to be aware of this event. I want them to
know that I am hurt, sad, and angry.
Please give all of the board members a copy of this e-mail.
Thank you all for anything you can do to prevent this type of thing from
happening again.
Phil Syphrit
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads. Parks, Trails, Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
August 15, 2002
Mayor Alan Cohen and
Common Council Members
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Mayor Cohen and Common Council Members:
This a reminder that the Town of Ithaca is still awaiting the City's response
regarding several outstanding sewer issues and our fire service contract. Some
of the sewer partnership issues include the First Street interceptor, our proposal
to resolve the sewer partnership joint interceptor funding problem, and the
amount of fund balances belonging to each SJS partner. Supervisor Valentino
requested at the last SJS meeting that Controller Steve Thayer set a meeting to
try to resolve the sewer administrative overhead charges issue and that meeting
has been set. The Town of Ithaca Is very interested in resolving these issues in
a timely manner. Please contact us regarding them at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Mary Russell
Deputy Supervisor
511®
OFFICE OF
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
CITY OF ITHACA
310 WEST GREEN STREET
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850
TEL (607)272-1234
FAX (607) 272-2793
August 22, 2002
Mayor Cohen,
On August 13, 2002, We, the Board of Fire Commissioners voted in unanimous
rejection of a proposal to implement fees for emergency ems and rescue services
performed by the Ithaca Fire Department within the City and Town of Ithaca. Given the
very nature of this proposal, the valuable time spent by Chief Wilbur and other members of
the Ithaca Fire Department, and to provide a basis for this decision, a written statement is
warranted.
The proposal was first brought to the Board of Fire Commissioners in July,
seeking an attachment of fees for emergency rescue services performed by the Ithaca Fire
Department. Similar services are currently provided by Bangs Ambulance, which is a "for
profit" agency. Albeit the IFD responds to calls-in-kind, as of this writing the IFD is not
a "for profit" agency. Rather, it is a department under the City of Ithaca and primarily
funded by taxpayer dollars. Being cognizant of the City's fiscal woes, we indulged this
line of thinking, submitted questions and requested follow-up information of Chief Wilbur.
As always, the Chief did an exceUent job and the materials were available for the August
meeting.
In researching this area, it was found that private, for profit agencies and some
volunteer-only fire departments attach such fees to their services.Fire Departments whose
medical and ambulance services are a separate unit within their department,and usually the
only source a community has for the provision of these services, are the ones who must
charge for these services. In further exploration, fees of this nature, per the proposal, are
unprecedented for fire departments whose majority are paid firefighters and tax payer
funded According to the City Attorney's review, there is only an "appearance" of
propriety for attaching fees of this nature and content. With an estimated $124,000 in
potential revenues generated fi-om these fees, factoring in the uncertainty of insurance
coverage, non-payment, collection services, third party billing systems, and undoubtedly a
court challenge, the possible revenues will quickly become deficits. The risks far outweigh
the questionable gains;the loss of respect and prestige for a fine Department and the ones
responsible for a decision of this kind will be enormous.
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Attirmallve Action Program'Recycled Paper
After careful review and discussion, it is our determination that a fee for
emergency services is not the appropriate venue with which to generate revenues for the
City of Ithaca. Further, to attach revenue generation to a department whose very charge
is to protect, save, and assist, is a contradiction at best and certainly ill-advised. Residents
have necessary expectations when situations occur. When there is an assault, robbery, or
murder, it is expected that Police OflQcers will respond. When a water main breaks, the
expectation is the folks from Public Works will take care of it. And, when a home is on
fire, car accident victims require extrication, a loved one has a massive heart attack and
time is not on their side, the Fire Department will respond. These are not "optional"
services used by a few. They are essential services used by all. To think otherwise is
nothing more than short-sighted.
Should the Mayor's ofiBce, members of Common Council, and the City Ithaca wish
to pursue revenues via the Ithaca Fire Department, the appropriate avenue would be
through legal channels. It would be prudent and advantageous to pursue increases in
restitution judgments upon those found guilty of malicious intent and blatant disregard.
Those who decidedly jeopardize their safety and that of their rescuers when proceeding
on trails that are closed and find themselves in the gorge; Those who park their cars in
clearly marked fire lanes or next to bright orange fire hydrants; And, those who illegally
bum items in their backyards leading to out-of-control fires. These are the situations that
put our firefighters lives and the lives of our residents at great risk that the community
should be compensated for. It is not the "accident" victim, the cardiac patient, nor their
families who should be further burdened by a bill from the fire department. This is simply
common sense and places value upon a priority department.
Respectfully,
City of Ithaca-Board of Fire Commissioners:
Robert S. Romanowsld-chair
(Town of Ithaca)
Greg Kirkpatrick-commissioner
( Town of Ithaca)
Paul R. Alexander-vice chair
(City of Ithaca)
^JanaL. Taylor-commissioner
( City of Ithaca)
cc: Common Council Members
TIME WARNER
CABLE
August 27, 2002
Ms. Tee-ann Hunter
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Hunter
Jhaca, NY 14850
MG 3 D 2CC'
^rrEsT
Dear Ms. Hunter,
I am writing as part of our ongoing efforts to keep you apprised of developments
involving the ownership of our local system. As you biow, Time Warner Entertainment
- Advance/Newhouse Partnership ("TWE-A/N") d/b/a Time Warner Cable has been
granted a franchise to operate a cable television system in your community. Time Warner
Entertainment Company, L.P. ("TWE") is the owner of approximately 66% of TWE-A/N
and is the managing general partner.
As you may have read, AOL Time Warner Inc. ("AOLTW") has recently entered into an
agreement with AT&T Corp. to restructure the TWE partnership as illustrated on the
accompanying charts (the "Transaction"). As described below, the Transaction will have
absolutely no impact on our cable system, its operations or local management.
The Transaction may be summarized as follows:
• The majority of the AOLTW and AT&T Corp. partnership interests in TWE will
be held by an entity controlled by AOLTW to be called Time Warner Cable Inc.
("TWC").
• AOLTW will own stock representing approximately 82% of the equity in TWC
and 90% of the voting power. The remaining 18% of the equity will be indirectly
owned by AT&T Corp. and, after consummation of the AT&T/Comcast merger,
by AT&T Comcast Corporation (collectively, "AT&T").
• TWC, in turn, will own approximately 94% of the equity of TWE as the sole
general partner. A subsidiary of AT&T will retain an approximate 5% limited
partnership interest and a subsidiary of AOLTW will retain the remaining 1%
equity as a limited partnership interest. AOLTW will continue to control TWE
and in turn TWE-A/N thi-ough its control of TWC.
50 years
jOlMMM
5/9 llr.ll Strri'l It/iaru. \} /4S5(J '/'ri h07.'J7'J.TST5
• It is expected that AT&T will place both its shares of TWC and its residual
limited partnership interest in TWE in a trust to be approved by the Federal
Communications Commission. Under the trust arrangement AT&T will have no
power to vote its stock in TWC or otherwise influence or participate in the
management or operation of TWC, TWE or TWE-A/N.
• After the restructuring Time Warner Cable will, subject to market conditions,
conduct one or more public offerings whereby AT&T will sell its remaining
minority interest in TWC and TWC will sell additional stock to the public up to a
combined limit of approximately 35%. AOLTW expects to retain at least 65% of
the equity and at least approximately 77% of the voting power, thus continuing to
control TWC, TWE and TWE-A/N.
I would like to once again assure you that this Transaction will have absolutely no impact
on our cable system or its operations. In particular:
• There will be no transfer of the Franchise, which will continue to be
held by TWE-A/N.
• There will be no change in the partners of TWE-A/N.
• The local management and staff will remain the same.
• There will be no change in control of the franchise or the franchisee
from AOLTW. Time Warner Cable will continue to be solely and
exclusively responsible for the day-to-day management and
operation of the cable television system.
• There will be no change in our commitment to provide our
customers with the best in programming choices and customer
service at a competitive rate.
• This transaction will have absolutely no impact on our business
policies or practices.
• Local management will continue to report to the same executives of
Time Warner Cable.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or if 1 can be of any
assistance. We certainly value the fine relationship we have with your community.
Very truly yours, ^
Thomas P. Doheny
General Manager
Cc: Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
TWEAN - Before Transaction
AOL Time
Warner Inc.
("AOLTW")
AT&T Corp.
1(0%'
MediaOne of
Colorado, Inc.
1 )0%
MediaOne TWE
Holdings, Inc.
72% general partnership
and limited partnership interests'
28%
limited partnership interest^
Time Warner
Entertainment
Company, L.P.
("TWE")
Time Warner
Entertainment -
Advance/N ewhouse
Partnership
("TWEAN")
1/
2/
3/
148596.6
Ownership held through intermediate subsidiaries.
Includes approximate 2% limited partnership interest held directly by MediaOne of Colorado, Inc.
Includes approximate 2% partnership interest held directly by a subsidiary of AOLTW.
TWEAN - Contribution of TWE Interests
AOL Time Warner Inc.
("AOLTW")
100%'
American
Television and
Communications
Corporation
("ATC")
1%LP
82% equity
(89% voting)^
AT&T Corp.
100%'
MediaOne of
Colorado, Inc.
18% equity
(11% voting)^
-y
Time Warner
Cable Inc. (£(k/a
MediaOne TWE
Holdings)
94% GP
Time Warner
Entertainment
Company, L.P.
("TWE")
67% GP'
I
5%LP'
1/
2/
3/
4/
148596.6
Time Warner
Entertainment -
Advance/Newhouse
Partnership
("TWEAN")Ownership held through intermediate subsidiaries,
hicludes direct interest held by Warner Communications Inc.
Expected to be held in trust pending disposition.
Includes approximate 2% partnership interest held directly by a subsidiary of AOLTW.
TWEAN — After Transaction
Time Warner
Entertainment -
Advance/Newhouse
Partnership
("TWEAN")
Public
At least 65% equity'
(77% voting)
Up to 35% equity
(23% voting)
100%
94% GP 100%
1%LP
Time Warner
Entertainment
Company, L.P.
67% GP'
AT&T Comcast
Corp.
American
Television and
Communications
Company
MediaOne of
Colorado, Inc.
AOL
Time
Warner Inc.
("AOLTW")
Time Warner Cable Inc.
^1/
2/
3/
4/
M8596.6
Ownership held through intermediate subsidiaries.
AOLTW's percentage interest in Time Warner Cable Lie. includes direct interest held by Warner Communications Inc. (AOLTW owns
100% of Warner Commumcations Inc.)
Expected to be held in trust pending disposition.
Includes approximate 2% partnership interest held directly by a subsidiary of AOLTW.
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads, Parks, Trails, Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607)273-1704
August 28, 2002
Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency
200 East Buffalo Street
Suite 102A
Ithaca, NY 14850
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In response to the public hearing notice regarding the proposed Industrial Development Agency
financing for the College Circle Associates, LLC, apartment complex adjoining the Ithaca
College playing fields located in the Town of Ithaca, I plan to speak at the September IS*'' public
hearing to voice the Town of Ithaca's opposition to this proposed financing. This appears to be
an inappropriate use of Industrial Development Agency funds in that the apartments will be a
privately-owned residential development, leased to Ithaca College. The IDA financing would
not result in a new business locating in the County, nor would it significantly add to the County's
job force. The Town believes that this would set a bad precedent for use of IDA financing, and
could have negative repercussions on the Town's tax base. In addition, at the time of Town of
Ithaca Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals approvals of the College Circle
development earlier this year, the developer (Integrated Acquisition and Development) and
Ithaca College made no representation that IDA financing would be requested, and, in fact, the
developer stated that the College Circle development, although involving Ithaca College
programming and being intended for Ithaca College students, would be developed strictly as a
private development venture.
On behalf of the Town of Ithaca, 1 urge the Industrial Development Agency to deny this request
for IDA financing. 1 look forward to presenting the views of the Town of Ithaca in more detail at
the September 18*'' public hearing. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
cc: Town Board Members
Tompkins County ^
Industrial Development Ay!:,ency
Administration provided by ATCAD
August 20, 2002
To: The Chief Executive Officers of the Affected Tax Jurisdictions
Re: Tompidns County Industrial Development Agency and College Circle Associates, LLC in
conjunction with South Hill Land Associates, LLC and Ithaca College, Town of Ithaca, New York
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to General Municipal Law Sections 859-a and 874(4)(b), you are hereby notified that the
above-referenced project is seeking property tax exemption according to the enclosed Payment-in-Lieu-of-
Tax ("PILOT") schedule. ^
The proposed exemption from real property taxation deviates from the IDA's Uniform Tax
Exemption Policy for the following reason: the Company will lease the facility to Ithaca College. Ithaca
College, as an educational corporation, has several options of financing the project which would result in the
project's being entirely exempt from real estate taxes and sales taxes.
The project will result in the construction of new east residential campus with up to 750 beds of
student apartment-style housing to be located adjoining the Ithaca College playing fields.
The Board will hold a meeting on Thursday, Septeniber 19,^2002 at 1:30 p.m. in the boardroom of
the Tompkins Trust Company, 121 E. Seneca Street, IthaciTNewYork, to consider final approval on this
project.
Prior to taking final action on the proposed deviation, the Agency will review and respond to any
correspondence received from any affected tax jurisdiction regarding such proposed deviation. Please
respond with written comments within thirty (30) days for timely consideration of the same at the Agency's
meeting.
The Agency will allow any representative of an affected tax jurisdiction present at the meeting to
consider the proposed deviation to address the Agency regarding such proposed deviation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
TOMPKINS COUNTY
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
200 East Buffalo Street, Suite 102A, Ithaca, New York 14850 • phone: (607) 273-0005 • fax: (607) 273-8964
Payments in lieu of taxes
("PILOT" payments)
for Ithaca College project
(College Circle, LLC and South Hill Land Associates, LLC)
• PILOT payment in first year: $235>000.00
• The payments will continue for forty (40) years and will be increased annually at the prorated rate of
increase of Town, County and School tax rates.
Wlage of Clayuga IHetgffh
MARCHAM HALL
836 HANSHAW ROAD
ITHACA, N.Y. 14850
August 28,2002
Telephone
607-257-1238
Office Hours
,9 A.M. - 4 PM.
Catherine Valentmo, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N-, Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Cathy:
The puipose of this brief note is to ask you to serve as a proxy for the ViQage of
Cayuga Heights in the continuing franchise discussions with Time-Warner. Inasmuch
as the needs of the Town of Ithaca and the Village are similar, I believe asking you to
assist us in this regard would greatly facilitate the negotiation process.
I sincerely hope that it will be possible for you to assist us in this regard.
S™erely,
Walter R. Lynn
Mayor
C: Dave Tyler
Maiy Russell
mm
5v
CITY OF ITHACA
310 West Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5497
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
Telephone: 607/272-1234 Fax: 607/272-2793 H ®
SEP 5 2002
ATTEST
September 3, 2002 ITHACA TOWN CLERK
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Cathy:
Please accept our appreciation and thanks for the Town of Ithaca's
willingness to help us obtain the funds necessary to "rent" a team of horses
to pull the Ithaca Fire Department's 1896 Steamer in the New York State
Fair Parade held in Syracuse on August 29, 2002.
A combined effort of the Town of Ithaca, the Ithaca Veteran Volunteer
Firemen's Association, and the Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners all made
this a successful venture. Please pass along our thanks to the Board
members, as well as Deputy Supervisor Mary Russell who facilitated our
request.
Several career and volunteer firefighters participated in marching along side
the steamer in the parade - and the best part, they won 1st place In their
division - trophy and all!
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Brian H. Wilbur
Fire Chief
Robert Romanowski, Chair
Ithaca Board of Fire Commissioners
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification."o
Mrs. Catherine Valentino
Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York, 14850
Dear Cathy, September 7,2002
I am writing to e3q)ress my support for the Town of Ithaca 2002 Bums Road Water
System Improvement Project and urge the Ithaca Town Board to approve it without
delay. The critical need has been clearly identified by the communications to the Town to
date. The matter has become even more urgent due to the extended drought this summer.
I know that a number of the property owners have found it necessary to haul water in to
fill their wells several times ai*eady this summer.
As you know I am aware of the necessary legal procedural steps the Town is required to
take before constmction can proceed. At the appropriate time I would hope you would
engage our Assemblyman Marty Luster and Senator James Seward to assure prompt
consideration of this project by the State Comptroller rather than to let it languish on
someone's desk in that office. A clear case can be made that the Town is facing a
significant health emergency in this case.
Thank you for your assistance on this important project.
Very Sincerely,
Noel Desch
132 Updike Road
lAMES L, SEWARD
SENATOR, 50TH DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
SECRETARY
MAiORITY CONFERENCE
THE SENATE
STATE OF NEW YORK
B ROOM 307
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY. NEW YORK 12247
(518) 455-3131
□ 418. MAIN STREET
ONEONTA, NEW YORK 13820
(6071 432-5524
C0BLESKILL(5I8I 234-8133
CORTLAND (607) 758-9005
HERKIMER 1315) 866-1632
ITHACA (607) 272-4806
NORWICH (607) 336-7309
Sq3tember 12, 2002
Hon. Catherine Valentino,
Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino:
attest
Re: Stone Quan7 Road Repairs
I have received your letter requesting assistance with funding for repairs of flood damage
on Stone Quarry Road in the Town of Ithaca.
With this yeaj-'s budget funding already in place, unfortunately, there appears to be no
immediate source of revenues available at this time. Please be assured I will continue to explore
avenues of assistance and I will keep you advised if any progress is made on this issue.
In the meantime, by copy of this letter, I am forwarding your request to the Regional
Director of the NYS Depailment of Transportation in Syracuse, to see if there may be other
sources of emergency funding for the dangerous situation which has ocurred as a result of the
flooding. They would be knowledgable as to whether there may be any Federal funding stream
available for such emergencies.
Sincerely yours,
JfnES L. SEWARD,
rtaie Senator
JLS:lmb
O
AMES L. SEWARD
-NATOR. 50TH DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
SECRETARY
MAIORITY CONFERENCE
THE SENATE
STATE OF NEW YORK
h'rGCM 307
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY. NEW YORK 12247
(518) 455-3131
□ 418. MAIN STREET
ONEONTA, NEW YORK 13820
(607) 432-5524
COBLESKILL (518) 234-8133
CORTLAND (607) 758-9005
HERKIMER (315) 866-1632
ITHACA (607) 272-4806
NORWICH (607) 336-7309
September 12, 2002
Mr. Jon P. Edinger, Regional Director,
NYS Department of Transportation
333 East Washington St,
Syracuse, N.Y. 13201-1428
Dear
Re: Flooding on Stone Quarry Road
Town of Ithaca
I am enclosing a copy of a letter I have received from Catherine Valentino, the
Supervisor for the Town of Ithaca, who is seeking assistance with funding for an emergency
situation which has arisen due to flooding, causing a hazardous 50 foot drop-off where there
was once a shoulder.
As I indicated to Supervisor Valentino in my letter, with the current budget already in
place, there are no sources of funding available to me at this time. I would appreciate it if you
would contact her to outline any possible emergency funding stream, either state or federal, that
might be available to the town for such a problem and ask that you respond to her directly.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely yours.
JLSrlmb
cc: Supervisor Valentino
MES L. SEWARD,
te Senator
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads, Parks, Trails, Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
September 17, 2002
William and Carolyn Mallory
9 Kepner Street
Buckhannon, WV 26201
RE: 2002 Real Property Taxes
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Mallory:
Today I tried reaching you by telephone. Finding no one at home, I attempted to
leave both of you a phone message but your answering machine told me "no
remaining time for incoming messages."
As promised I made several phone calls to the County Finance Director, David
Squires, and the County Tax Collector, Helen Beach in an effort to assist you in
finding some measure of real property tax relief. With disappointment I have to
advise you that the taxes must be paid in full to the County. The County cannot
collect a partial payment now since the second installment date of July 1®^ has
passed. The balance due as of today which now includes penalties is
$10,905.25.
Please know, that myself and Cathy Valentino, Town Supervisor tried on
your behalf to find some tax relief and even a relaxed tax payment solution.
I understand you may have more questions. Should this be the case, please do
not hesitate to call me. I will do my best in finding answers for you.
Sincerely yours,
Alfred F. Carvill
Ithaca Town Budget Officer
Cc: Ithaca Town Clerk, Tee Ann Hunter
Ithaca Town Board Members
Ithaca Town Supervisor, Cathy Valentino
Ithaca Town Receiver of Taxes, Debbie Kelley
Town Supervisor Ithaca, ny i485o
-atherine Valentino 215 n. Tioga street
607-273-1721
September 18, 2002
Mr. Michael Stamm
Tompkins County Area Development
200 East Buffalo Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Mr. Stamm:
Thank you for meeting with us on Tuesday afternoon regarding the College Circle
Associates LLL/South Hill Land Associates LLC project near the Ithaca College campus. In
light of the information you, Mr. Proujansky and Mr. Sieverding provided to us, the Town
withdraws its opposition to the involvement of the IDA with the project.
Very truly yours,
Catherine v aientino
Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
Town Supervisor Ithaca, ny i4850
Catherine Valentino 215 n. Tioga street
607-273-1721
September 24, 2002
Brian and Mary Ann PItzer
119 Cambridge Place
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Brian and Mary Ann;
I was so pleased to hear that you are happy with the memorial bench
project in Brent's honor at East Shore Park. I have taken time to visit the site and
enjoy the sunsets. It is truly a very special place. Personally, I am able to reflect
on the important values of life while I sit there and look out at the beautiful area.
I know that you have decided not to have us place a plaque in Brent's
memory on a boulder in the park. The words that we were going to place on the
plaque, perhaps never need to be any place but in the hearts of your wonderful
family, friends and those of us that were honored and touched by your memories
of...
"a young man who had a deep appreciation for the beauty of
Cayuga Lake. He is remembered for his ability to instill in others a
love of the lake and the spectacular sunsets from this special
place."
It has been a pleasure and an inspiration for me to get to know the two of
you. May God bless you, your family and friends.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor
S.P.C.A.1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
607/257-1822 Fax: 607/257-5470
TOMPKINS COUNTY www.spcaonline.com
September 25,2002
The Honorable Catherine Valentino and
Members of the Ithaca Town Board
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino and Members of the Town Board:
This letter serves to provide the Town with a summary report of services provided
relative to our animal control contract. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to be of
service. If you have any questions, comments or would like me to make a formal
presentation to the Board as it considers approval of a new contract, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Over the last year, there have been a lot of exciting changes at the SPCA, all in an effort
to save more lives and increase the level of services to the citizens of Ithaca. These
changes have allowed us to save 100% of all healthy and friendly dogs and cats. For
public safety reasons, rabies suspect animals and dogs with aggression are still humanely
euthanized.
In our continuing effort to provide even better service to your community, we also
upgraded our emergency pager system. Citizens experiencing stray animal related
emergencies can page an officer 365 days a year, 24 hours a day at 1-888-216-4362. If
they leave a detailed message, an officer will respond shortly. This is a toll free telephone
call. This information has been faxed or mailed to all local law enforcement agencies, is
available on our website at www.SPCAonline.com and is noted on our regular shelter
telephone number answering message.
As a service to towns that contract for dogs, we also accept owner-relinquished dogs on a
space available basis that may otherwise become a burden on the town or result in
improper care by being abandoned or neglected. We have been able to accept all owner-
surrendered dogs to date. There is also no added cost to the Town or its citizens for this
service. In addition to caring for stray cats under our contract, we have also been
accepting owner-surrendered cats as a public service at no cost to the Town of Ithaca or
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal
The Honorable Catherine Valentino and
Members of the Ithaca Town Board
Town of Ithaca
September 25,2002
Page two
its citizens. We also spay/neuter all these animals before adopting them out, further
decreasing potential conflicts and reducing the overall burden on the Towns.
We spay/neuter the pets of low income Ithaca citizens for free, enforce dog licensing
statutes, ensure neighborhood tranquility by intervening over nuisance barking and other
animal related conflicts, investigate cruelty cases, and seize and enforce dangerous dog
laws. All of these are provided to the Town of Ithaca and are generally not available
anywhere else.
In FY 2001, the SPCA spent $52,709 on services to the Town of Ithaca with private
donations accounting for the differential between our costs and Ithaca's contract for
services.
As you know, dog control is a state mandated local service, requires dogs to be held for
five days in a humane manner with care and feeding and requires dogs to be spayed or
neutered prior to adoption or deposits taken with follow-up. We provide all of these
services, including veterinary care, with staff dedicated to the welfare of animals and
service to the Town of Ithaca, and do so at a very competitive cost.
If you have any questions or comments on the enclosed year-end report, please do not
hesitate to contact me. I can be reached directly at 257-1822 extension 27.
Very truly yours.
[Nathan J. Winograd
Tompkins County SPCA
2002 Budget
10/3/01
Ordinary Income/Expense
Income
Fund Raising
Humane Income
Contract Revenue
Sales Income
Interest - Checking
Grants/Bequests
Total Income
Expense
Salaries - Other
Payroll taxes
Workers Comp Insurance
Health Insurance
Uniforms
Employee Benefits- Other
Employee Education
Office Supplies
Telephone
Page Line Rental
Postage - General
Advertising/PR
Resale Items
Bank Service Charge
Legal & Accounting
Liability Insurance
Miscellaneous
2002 Budget
200,000.00
65,100.00
184,437.00
3,600.00
400.00
30,000.00
483,537.00
329,052.00
27,973.00
8,000.00
48,500.00
1,200.00
500.00
2,500.00
8,000.00
8,000.00
450.00
4,500.00
3,000.00
2,500.00
1,500.00
9,500.00
3,300.00
800.00
•fundraising report attached (proprietary)
Animal Food & Supplies
Medical Supplies
Cleaning Supplies
7,750.00
13,000.00
5,000.00
Euthanasia
Veterinary Expense
Rabies Vaccinations
Animal Cruelty
Humane Education
Newsletter
Fund-Raising Expense
1,000.00
28,000.00
2,400.00
1,000.00
500.00
7,000.00
33,000.00
Board Activities 700.00
Page 1 of 2
2002Budget
Ordinary Income/Expense
Off-site Adoption 2,500.00
Bidg & Ground Maint. 3,500.00
Equipment and Repairs 9,000.00
Utiiities 14,000.00
Snow Removai 500.00
Refuse Coilection 3,300.00
Vehicle Repairs 4,500.00
Gasoline 7,000.00
Vehicle Insurance 1,900.00
Total Expense 604,825.00
Surplus/(Deficit) 121,288.00
Page 2 of 2
October 1, 2002
Ben Curtis, Chairman
Tompkins County Cable Commission
C/0 Village of Lansing
2405 N. Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ben:
This is to formally notify you that the Town of Ithaca is withdrawing from the Tompkins County
Cable Commission regarding the negotiation of a Franchise with Time Warner Cable. We are in the
process of negotiating a separate Franchise that will be tailored to the interests of the Town.
Thank you for your assistance to date in connection with the attempts to negotiate a Franchise
Agreement that would be useable by most of the municipalities in the County. We are sorry that it
was not able to be completed satisfactorily.
For your information, enclosed is a copy of the resolution of the Town Board withdrawing from the
Cable Commission.
With best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Catherine Valentino
Supervisor
CV:clw
Enclosure
xc: Tom Dohney, Time Warner Cable
COPY: TOWN BOARD
d
Fred Noteboom
Highway Superintendent
Highway Department
Town of Ithaca
Ithaca, N.Y.
Dear Mr. Noteboom,
Thank you!
I am not sure how or why the decision to install drainage along Winthrop
Drive and Sandra Place was made, but I am very happy that the deep ditches
along the perimeter of my property are gone and new grass is emerging in
their place.
I especially want to extend my thanks and compliments to the crew (Don's)
that did the work. These men were patient, helpful and responsive; making
what could have been a rough summer a pleasant one. It was apparent from
the beginning that the men were focused on getting the job done, but I am
most appreciative of the fact that they also were intent on making the
neighborhood look better and being supportive and helpful to the
homeowners whose properties were effected.
Thanks again to the Town for making my lawn mowing easier and
improving the appearance of my yard and kudos to the men who did the
work!
Miclja|pl F. Luzzi
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Water, Region 7
615 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse, New York 13204-2400
Phone:(315)426-7500 • FAX: (315) 426-7459
Website: www.dec.state.ny.us
October 3,2002
Cathy Valentino
Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Enn M. Crotty
dommissiorier
Subject: Critical Permit Compliance Information
Dear Ms. Valentino:
I am writing you to insure that you are aware or the upcoming Phase 2 stormwater regulations. These
regulations are implemented by DEC through the Federal Clean Water Act. Your municipality has been
identified as requiring a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit under the new
regulations. One requirement is that you submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to be covered by a General
Permit by March 10, 2003. It is important that you understand the permitting process and the
requirement for the development and implementation of a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP).
Tompkins County will be hosting a meeting for Highway Officials on October 15, 2002. The new
stormwater regulations will be presented. Please encourage you Superintendent to attend.
Sincerely,
Steven P. Eidt, PE
Regional Water Engineer
Copy: Town Board
October 3, 2002
Mr. Dan Walker
Town Engineer
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
D i e i IV i
ocr -4 2002
Dear Mr. Walker,
I am writing to pass on to you my appreciation for the fine work the Town crew did in
laying drainage pipe and filling in the ditch in from of my house on Winthrop Drive. The
crew took special care in working around our flower bed that ends at the edge of the old
ditch. Our mail box was in the way, and it was difficult to remove the railroad ties at the
edge of our driveway. Everyone was cordial and polite. They were most willing to go out
of their way to help us out.
Please pass on our thanks to the members of the crew.
Sincerely,
Richard W. Brown, Jr.
322 Winthrop Drive
Ithaca, New York 14850
Page 1 of 3
Catherine Valentino
From: Sandy Wold [sandy@ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us]
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 12:26 PM
To: Catherine Valentino
Subject: Town Role in National issues
Dear Catherine,
I want to appreciate what you said last night at the town meeting. I understand and respect your desire
to not pursue a resolution regarding a national/global issue without piior discussion of how it relates
to town issues and that you were elected on a platform based on town issues. I myself came last night
without thinking through how to make those connections clear, but I am very interested in
participating in that discussion because I know that there are connections. The connections are
economic, social, and environmental. In short, I see that the money our national government pours
into the military industry deprives our town from meeting the needs of our people in terms of having
the resources to invest in the development of green businesses, alternative transportation, and
alternative energy. In terms of social issues, I see the connection as our inability to provide all town
citizens with adequate mental health care, dental care, disease prevention, and quality of life. By not
providing all town citizens with this kind of care, I see this as a violation of human rights. In addition,
by allowing this war, we are consenting to our government's bullying and unilateral decision-making
process which is counter productive to peace-making. In terms of environmental issues, I see war as
destructive of ecosystems (theirs and ours, ours due to weapons testing and global connections) and
of bird migration patterns and populations.
Please let me know when the town board intends to discuss this important issue as I would like to
offer more information on the topic. I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to other
town board and staff. Thank you for serving our town, taking time from your dinner hours, and for
thoughtfully considering and following through on this topic. It will indeed be a precident for our
town and our country if we can gain clarity on the role of a town in terms of national decision-
making. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
Sandy Wold, M.S. Science Education
128 Rachel Carson Way
272-3814
»»
Date: 4 Oct 2002 11:15:44 -0000
From: "Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org"
To: "Sandra Wold"
Subject: All Hands on Deck: Iraq Vote Imminent
Dear MoveOn Member,
This is it.
For the last seven months, MoveOn members have been working hard to prevent a
unilateral, pre-emptive war on Iraq. We've written over a quarter million emails and
10/11/02
Page 2 of 3
thousands of letters to the editor. We've made well over 40,000 phone calls to the offices
of Congresspeople, and we've met with the offices of nearly every Senator in the country.
The purpose of all this work has been to impart a single, clear message to our elected
representatives: that a war on Iraq, based on the evidence we have now, is a very bad
idea.
Early next week. Congress will likely vote on a resolution to authorize the use of military
force against Iraq. As a result of our pressure, we've won a few small but important
concessions. The resolution no longer authorizes the President to use military force
anywhere he pleases in the Middle East. It pays homage to the UN and the system of
international law, and it requires the President to report back frequently about the status
of the conflict, the plan for reconstruction, and the impact of a war on Iraq on the
campaign against terrorism.
But while the language has softened slightly, the resolution still allows the President to
go it alone, without any allies. It permits him to wage war against Iraq indefinitely, and it
doesn't require him to work within the dictates of the UN Security Council. If Congress
passes this resolution, the President will be able to launch a war against Iraq on a
moment's notice. No more authority or Congressional approval is needed.
In lobbying calls over the last week, we've heard again and again that Congresspeople are
taking this vote very seriously. The sheer volume of calls and letters, some aides have
told us, has caused Congresspeople to think twice about rubber-stamping Bush's
proposal. Many Senators and Representatives are still on the fence about how to vote;
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) called this the most difficult issue she's ever wrestled
with.
It is absolutely critical that we keep the pressure on in these last few days. Please call
your Senators right now at:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
DC Phone: 202-224-4451
Local Phone: 212-688-6262
Senator Charles E. Schumer
DC Phone: 202-224-6542
Local Phone: 212-486-4430
Representative Maurice D. Hinchey
DC Phone: 202-225-6335
Local Phone: 607-773-2768
For contact information for other Senators and Representatives, go to:
<http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/>http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Don't worry if you've called before ~ call again. In fact, feel free to call every day until
the vote. Let the staffer you speak to know you're a constituent. Then tell the staffer that
10/11/02
Page 3 of 3
you strongly oppose a war on Iraq and you sincerely hope the Senator or Representative
will vote against the Bush Resolution. Once you've made your call, please let us know by
filling out the form below:
Name:
Email:
Did you get through? — YES NO
How many calls did you make? — 12 3 4
(If the form doesn't work, go to <http://www.moveon.org/callmade_iraq.html?id=788-
1323356-4bAK3hxyb9SbyHVPlQzWlw>http://www.moveon.org/callmade_iraq.html?
id=788-1323356-4bAK3hxyb9SbyHVPlQzWlw.)
Keeping a count helps us lobby Congress more effectively.
Please call immediately to stop a war on Iraq.
Sincerely,
—Eli Pariser
International Campaigns Director
MoveOn.org
October 3, 2002
P.S. For more information, go to our page of links and resources on Iraq at:
<http://www.moveon.org/infoiraq.html>http://www.moveon.org/infoiraq.html
You can help decide the direction of MoveOn.org by participating in the discussion
forum at:
<http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?
forum_id=223>http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=223
This is a message from MoveOn.org. To remove yourself from this list, please visit our
subscription management page at:
<http://www.moveon.org/subscrip/i.html?id=788-1323356-
4bAK3hxyb9SbyHVPlQzWlw>http://www.moveon.org/subscrip/i.html?id=788-
1323356-4bAK3hxyb9SbyHVPlQzWlw
««
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE.
"We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive."
Albert Einstein
10/11/02
>/ BOLTON POINTS
SiWATER
iviAILING ADDRESS:
RO. Box 1 78
Ithaca, N.Y. 14851
SHIPPING ADDRESS:
1402 East Shore Drive
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www.boltonpoint.org
CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION
TOWNS OF DRYDEN • ITHACA • LANSING — VILLAGES OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS • LANSING
(607) 277-0660—FAX (607) 277-3056—E-MAIL SCLIWC@aol,com
October 4, 2002
Honorable Alan J. Cohen
Mayor - City of Ithaca
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
COMMISSIONERS;
H. MICHAEL NEWMAN
Chairperson
WALTER R. LYNN
Vice Chairperson
CATHERINE VALENTINO
Treasurer
RONALD ANDERSON
/^PHEN FARKAS
uONALD HARTILL
CHRISTOPHER MICHAELS
MEG OVERSTROM
MARY RUSSELL
MARK VARVAYANIS
STEPHEN C. LIPINSKI
Consultant
PAUL TUNISON
General Manager
LAWRENCE PARLETT
Administration
JACK RUECKHEIM
Distribution
KENNETH BUTLER
Production
Dear Mayor Cohen,
Thank you for your letter of August 18, 2002. Inclusion of the City as a
Commission member was raised at the Commission meeting of September 5,
2002. Following thoughtful and thorough discussion, the Commission has decided
to retain its current configuration and terminate further negotiations with the City.
While there may have been some modest benefit to the Commission and its
customers, the slow pace of negotiations with the City on this matter has been a
concern and the potential costs and liabilities could well offset any possible
benefit. Many factors were considered:
• For twenty-six years the Commission thrived by virtue of members conducting
Commission-related business in a reliable, decisive and timely manner. Four years
have elapsed since the City approached the Commission for potential help with its
water system. The City has yet to take the requisite steps to either conclude or
suggest modifications to the proposed agreement, calling into question its ability
to make the timely decisions required for proper Commission functioning.
Moreover, while the wastewater treatment discussions with municipalities that
comprise the Commission are not, and never were "linked" to our water
discussions, inability of the City to reach agreement is duly noted.
• Members of the Commission are equals. On-going insistence that joining the
Commission "should have no worse an effect on its water rate and rate payers as
the impact of the city building its own new water treatment plant" is simply not
acceptable. The water rate charged to Commission members is based on financial
realities in effect each fall when the Commission determines the rate for the
coming year. This single rate is uniformly paid by all members.
• Fiscally, the Commission is sound, with the capacity to meet member needs for
the foreseeable future. The fiscal stability of the City, in contrast, is a subject of
concern. Acceptance of the City as a partner could expose members to financial
obligations that would benefit only the City.
Excellence in water quality and customer service
• The decision of Cornell to withdraw from merger negotiations has altered both operational and
financial aspects of the proposed collaboration. The Commission has dealt with this new reality
by establishing regular and on-going discussions with Cornell, at both the policy and operational
levels, to promote effective intersystem cooperation. This model could iso apply to relations
with the City.
Although the Commission has voted to terminate discussions about City membership, I assure
you our Water Emergency Aid agreement of June 1986 remains in full force and effect.
Moreover, should the City determine that it wishes to purchase water from the Commission, we
are prepared to work toward a mutually agreeable sales agreement.
Sincerely,
H. Michael Newman, Chair
Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission
cc. Commissioners
City of Ithaca Common Council
October 7,2002
Town of Ithaca
126 Seneca St.
Ithaca, New York 14850
Att: Fred Noteboom:
Dear Sir;
Your crew recently finished a project cleaning out the ditch along Lisa Lane which was and had
been darning up water.
We want you and your crew to know that you all did a great job and we express our gratitude to
all.
Sincerely,
Maureen M. Schmitt^ / . ,
215 Texas Lane T
Catherine Valentino
i-rom: Ann Lynn [alynn@ithaca.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 09,2002 10:12 AM
To: Catherine Valentino; KLKarchPC@aol.com; WBurback@town.ithaca.ny.us; whil @cornell.edu
Cc: Lynn, Mike
Subject: Time Warner Cable Franchise
Dear Town Board,
I saw in today's paper that there will be an open town meeting regarding
the franchise agreement with Time Warner. I would like the Town to
address the issue of programming with Time Warner. As you may or may
not know, the Time Warner in Ithaca no longer carries the national
broadcast network UPN. Because a Syracuse affiliate of UPN changed its
affiliation to the WB (Warner Broadcasting) almost 2 years ago, in
Ithaca we now get two WB stations on the cable line-up and no UPN
station. (One of the WB stations is blacked out during prime time.)
Other areas served by Time Warner of Central New York (Syracuse and
Cortland) almost immediated picked up UPN from WSBK in Boston so that
their customers would have access to UPN programming. Time Warner of
Central New York in Ithaca has chosen not to do this.
Because of our geographic location. Time Warner has a virtual monopoly
on TV in the Ithaca area (the only other choice is dish). I feel that
they should be forced to carry all the national broadcast networks in
order to serve the public.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ann Lynn
n Lynn, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor of Psychology
Ithaca College
607-274-1278
www.ithaca.edu/faculty/alynn
10/15/02 TUE 15:39 FAX 518 457 2716 AG PROTECTION 1^002
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS
George E. Pataki Nathan L Rudgers
Commififilonar
October 15,2002
Honorable Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino:
Pursuant to Section 305(4} of the Agriculture and Markets Law, the Department of Agricutttire and
Markets has completed its review of the Final Notice of intent submitted by the Town of Ithaca, In
connection with the advance of pubilc funds for the construction of waterllnes within Tompklns County
Agricultural District #1.
The Rnal Notice of Intent was sent to the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, the
Advisory Council on Agriculture, and the Tompklns County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board for
their review of the proposed action. The Commissioner of Environmental Conservation did not Identify to
the Department any potential adverse effects and the Tompklns County Agricultural and Farmland
Protection Board did not submit any comments. The reviewer for the NYS Advisory Council on Agriculture
stated the proposed action does not appear to have any material effect on agriculture In the area. Based
on all relevant information before me, I have determined that the proposed action would not have an
unreasonably adverse effect on the continuing viability of farm enterprises within the district; or state
environmental plans, policies and objectives. This determination is due, in part, to the fact that no farms
exist along the proposed waterline extension.
Please be advised that In order to complete its filing obligations under Section 305(4), the Town
must certify to me at least ten days prior to advancing the funds to construct, or constructing, the
waterllnes, that it has made an explicit finding that the requirements of Section 305(4) have been met, and
that to the maximum extent practicable, adverse agricultural impacts revealed In the Notice of Intent
process will be minimized or avoided. The certification shall set forth the reasons In support of the finding,
and is more fully set forth in Section 305(4)(g) of the Agriculture and Markets Law.
Sincerely.
NATHAN L RUDGERS
Commissioner of Agriculture
and Markets of the State of New York
cc; James Bell, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Charles Wide, NO! Reviewer, Region 2
- R. DsMond, Chair, Tompklns County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board
File: 02/045-NOI
1 winners Circle ¨ Albany. New York 12235 ¨ Phone: (5 \ 8) 457-4188 ¨ Fax: (518) 457-3087
10/15/02 TUE 15:39 FAX 518 457 2716 AG PROTECTION 1^003
Example Certification Pursuant to Section 305(4) of the Agriculture and Markets
Law (AMI)
Commissioner Nathan L Rudgers
NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets
1 Winners Circle
Albany, NY 12235
RE: Water System improvements, West End of Bums Road, Town of Ithaca,
Tompkins County Agricultural District No. 1
Dear Commissioner Rudgers:
The Town of Ithaca hereby certifies that it has made an explicit finding that
the requirements of Section 305(4) have been met and that consistent with
social, economic and other essential considerations, to the maximum extent
practicable, adverse agricultural impacts revealed in the Notice of Intent process
will be minimized or avoided.
The finding is supported by information provided in the Preliminary and
Final Notices of Intent and the following. The water district was formed to
provide needed potable water and fire protection to the residents in the water
district. The groundwater that is available to landowners within the project area
contains the presence of natural gas and poses a significant health hazard to
residents. Since the health and welfare of the residents is dependent upon the
availability of public water, no alternative was considered. Furthermore, no farms
exist along the proposed waterline extension route.
As a result of the above measures, no irreversible or irretrievable
commitments of agricultural resources will be made as a result of the proposed
action.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino
Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKE
1 Winners Circle
Albany, New York 12235
Division of Agricultural Protection
and Development Services
518-457-7076
Fax, 518-457-2716
October 29, 2002
Honorable Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Re: Certification - Final Notice of Intent Tompkins County
Agricultural District # 1 - Town of ithaca - Construction of
Wateriines
Dear Supervisor Valentino:
I have reviewed the certification submitted by the Town of Ithaca in connection with the
advance of public funds for the construction of wateriines in the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins
County Agricultural District #1.
The certification meets the requirements of Section 305(4)(g). Therefore, the Town has
completed its filing obligations under Section 305(4) for the proposed action. Please be
advised that the Department will proceed to close its files in this matter.
Sincerely,
Ph.D.
Chief, Agricultural Protection Unit
cc: R. DeMond, Chair, Tompkins County AFPB
File: 02/045-NOI
Coddington ^oad Community Center, Inc.
CRCC is a private, not for profit corporation in support of community and family life.
Board of Directors
Janis Graham. i'rcsidciU
Aiiihor I'i llea/lh'Mc'c/ical
Journahsi
Carol Bayles. Vice-Pres.
Bioiechnolog}' Facility
Manager. Comell Univer.vty
Louise Mudrak. Secretary
Owner. LYM Ixindscape
Research
Rcncc Brown. Treasurer
Acting Dean. Dept. Physical
Therapy. Ithaca Callege
Janette McCord
7'C.-1 Head.Start. Child
Development Coordinator
Mark Malkin
Electrical . Communications
Engineer. Thomas <& Assoc.
.eve Nicholson
('ommercia! Salmon
Fisherman & at-home Dad
Pat Wasyliw
Asst. Dean in Arts & Sciences.
Cornell L'niversitx'
Executive Director
Anne Morrisscitc
attest nK
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca. NY 14850.
Dear Catherine Valentino,
The Board of Directors of Coddington Road Community
Center wants to extend a special invitation to you because of
the special support you extended to us. Without the help and
generosity of friends like you, our wonderful new building
would never have become a reality.
We hope you will be able to attend our ribbon cutting
ceremony (you'll find the details in the enclosed invitation).
But, if for any reason, you will be unable to attend, please give
us a call so we can give you a "personal tour" of the new
Center. We would love to have the opportunity to show you
around and to thank you in person for your support.
Very sincerely,
Janis Graham, President, for the entire Board of Directors
tel. 607-273-5758
email. Qrahami@twcnv.rr.com
Coddington Summer Camp Program Coddington Child Cure Pl'Ogritin Communitj' Outreach Programs
920 Coddington Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone (607) 277-1434 E-mail: crcc@ clarityconnect.com
December 9, 2002 Town Board Meeting Correspondence Folder
TRUE, WALSH & MILLER, LLP
Attorneys at Law
Peter J. Walsh
Sally T. True
R. James Miller
John Moss Hinchcliff
Elena Salerno Flash
Rosanne Mayer
George R. Pfann, Jr.
David A. Tyler
Hilary T. Eraser
Laurie M. Johnston
Adam R. Schaye
Joanna R. Garrard
Carolyn S. Lee
The Commons
202 East State Street, Seventh
Ithaca, New Yor
Of Counsel
Fred Weinstein
stance E. Cook
SteAien Yale-Loehr
Roger B. Sovocool
ne: j^7) 273-4200
(607) 272-6694
E-mail: dat@twmlaw.com
Web: www.twmlaw.com
November 8, 2002
Catherine Valentino
Supervisor, Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Re: Time Warner Franchise Agreement
Dear Cathy:
Mayor Lynn and the Board of the Village of Cayuga Heights wanted me to write to thank
you for your taking the lead in getting the franchise matter concluded and put to bed. We
appreciated your persistence in pursuing the matter to a successful conclusion.
Although you and your folks did the lion's share of the work, including arranging the
meeting the State Public Service Commission representatives, I enjoyed working with you and with
John Barney in our "team effort" to get this thing concluded. Again, many thanks for your hard
work and congratulations on a job well done.
Very truly yours,
David A. Tyler
xc: John C. Barney, Esq.
Mayor Walter R. Lynn
H:\3016\001\valentino-ltr.wpd
CORNELL
UN I V E R S I T Y
Grounds Department 307 East Palm_RQad _ Telephone: (607) 254-1661
Ithaca, NY 14850(< f : FAX: ' 254-1699 '
November 12, 2002
Honorable Catherine Valentino
Supervisor/ Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Valentino,
NOV 1 5 2002
town 01- i"i HACA
ZONING. tlNGINEERlNG
RE: Urgent Caldwell Road Safety Repairs
This is to advise you that the neglected roadway conditions on the sharply curved,
steeply-sloped portion of Caldwell Road (i.e. approximately 700 foot in length,
southward from its intersection with Plantations Road) is a serious community safety
problem and needs timely correction. While the drive lane portion of this roadway was
repaved approximately three years ago, the roadway shoulder and ditch banks were not
brought up to an acceptable safety standard or to Town of Ithaca Road Construction
Specifications. A number of locations there lack the required four (4) foot minimum
shoulder width adjacent to the drive lanes, have dangerously sharp drop offs of two feet
or greater, and greatly exceed the Town's ditch slope and erosion control specifications.i
S
Sk.
While driving to work before dawn last week up this portion of the Caldwell Road
hill, I had a near pedestrian-vehicle accident when a jogger rapidly rounded the blind
curve at the top of the hill well within the drive lane—as there was no road shoulder nor
pedestrian walkway to accommodate the jogger. Only a few days later while driving
home from work down this same section of Caldwell Road after darkness at about 6:15
PM on November 5, 2002,1 was forced to make an emergency stop to avoid a one car
accident on this same hazardous roadway site. I was among the first to arrive on the
scene of this accident. From what I could determine from the shocked and tearful victim,
while she was driving slowly down Caldwell hill, her wheels slipped off the shoulderless,
drive lane on wet leaves, and she could not stop her car from skidding into the drainage ^
ditch. Upon my inspection, I found that the ditch was so steep and close to the edge of ^ ^
the travel lane that it almost undermined the drive lane pavement. The woman's stranded
automobile blocked the roadway, perpendicularly, with its front wheels in the deep ditch
just over the edge of drive lane creating a potentially, multi-vehicle pile up, accident ^
situation. ^
<ai»
u.
The history on this section of Caldwell Road, furnished by the Cornell University
Police Department, reveals an unacceptably high rate of reported accidents. Since April
1997, not including the recent vehicular accident of 11-5-02 cited above, our University
Police Department has investigated eight (8) accidents there. These data, do not include
accidents investigated there by the local sheriffs office or the New York State Police, nor
Printed on Recycled Paper
the likelihood of many more unreported or minor accidents, including a number
involving extrication assistance to motorists in winter by my own departmental staff.
Over the last twenty years, I have also, unfortunately, found it operationally necessary
to respond, outside our maintenance jurisdiction, to the recurring requests of local police
officers to dispatch both Comell emergency snow/ice control vehicles and equipment and
barricades (to close-off this section of Caldwell Road) during episodes of winter snow
and icing conditions, A properly re-designed road and pedestrian way on Caldwell Road
hill, meeting accepted engineering standards, would sharply reduce these avoidable
roadway maintenance emergencies.
I've spoken with Fred Noteboom, Town Highway Superintendent, and Dan Walker,
Town Engineer, so I know they are very familiar with this situation and possible interim
remedies. A timely, interim safety improvement to roadway shoulders and drainage
ditches might be implemented there by installing drainage pipe covered with rock cobbles
to increase shoulder width and eliminate the currently hazardous pavement edge drop off
condition. This current condition can cause vehicles to overturn or hang up when they
skid off the narrow travel lanes during recurring fall (wet) leaf drop seasons, frequent
inclement winter weather, and in low visibility and/or wet pavement driving conditions.
In view of my confidence in our shared public safety values and your talented staff, I
am hopeful that you will give this serious problem immediate attention and help preclude
the unnecessary, probable future loss of property and life on this unacceptable roadway.
Please keep me informed on your plan of action, and feel free to contact me,
immediately, if I can be of any assistance in resolving this grave concem on a timely
basis.
Sincerely,
Dennis B. Osika
Director
DBO;dbo
Cc:
M. Amundsen
W. Boice
P. Cox
H. Doney
S. Egan
J. Gutenberger
F. Noteboom
D. Walker
W. Wendt
Town Supervisor Ithaca, ny i4850
Catherine Valentino 215 n. xioga street
607-273-1721
November 22, 2002
Mr. Alan Cohen, Mayor
City of Ithaca
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, NY 4850
Dear Mayor Cohen,
I am disappointed in your response to the Town of Ithaca's efforts to
resolve the outstanding Interceptor shared cost issues. I believe the Town has
made it clear that we are not willing to pay your requested amounts. We have
outlined to you in a spreadsheet created by Danie| Walker, Director of
Engineering for the Town of Ithaca, the reasons why we have offered what we
believe to be a fair settlement for the disputed costs.
Dan and I would be willing to meet with you and your team after we have
received your counterproposal and an explanation of areas of disagreemont.
Please respond to each separate disputed item as outlined in Dan's spreadsheet.
I will contact Karen, your assistant, to set up a meeting once Dan and I
have reviewed your counterproposal and are prepared to discuss a possible
agreement.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor
cc: Dan Cogan
Bill Gray
Mary Russell
Mike Hall
Dan Walker
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR • ALAN J.COHEN
Telephone: 607/274-6501 Fax: 607/274-6526
Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino,
Thank you for your letter of 10/17/02 regarding the question of cost sharing
for interceptors used by both our municipalities. While I am appreciative that you
are trying to bring resolution to this long outstanding question, I can not agree with
your current proposal.
I suggest that we discuss this matter in person to speed up our deliberations. I
think that a meeting between you and I and our respective teams should be held in
the near future. If you are amenable to this, I will have my assistant Karen set the
meeting up. She will call you in the next few days to see if you are interested and if
so when you are available.
Thank you again for your efforts to move our discussions forward. I look
forward to speaking with you soon.
cc: Dan Cogan
Bill Gray
Mary Russell
Mike Hall w/attachment
Respectfully,
g @ II D ' W II
NOV 2 1 2002
ATTEST
ITHACA TOWN CLERK
'An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program'O
mm CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR • ALAN J.COHEN
Telephone: 607/274-6501 Fax: 607/274-6526
11/25/02
Ms. Catherine Valentino, Supervisor
Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Dear Supervisor Valentino,
Thank you for your letter of 11/22/02 regarding the question of cost sharing
for interceptors used by both our municipalities.
You have asked for a counterproposal to your suggestion, but the City of
Ithaca does not have one at this time other than our original request. We are ready
to sit and discuss this issue and bring resolution to it as soon as possible.
There are two issues to discuss and resolve. One is the question of which
projects should be co-funded. This is sometliing we need to review again. Dan's
spreadsheet is a good start, but more discussion to understand your position is
needed.
The second issue is of course the overhead charge. That is also something we
simply need to come to an understanding about. I am confident we can do so when
we sit down to talk and fully understand each other's position. I can not say I fully
understand yours at this point, and I do not know if you understand ours. At the
least, the city needs a better understanding of your position-
Thank you again for your efforts to bring resolution to this matter. I will ask
Karen to call you in the hopes of scheduling a meeting in the near future.
Respectfully,
cc: Dan Cogan
BUI Gray
Mary Russell
Mike Hall
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with an Affirmative Action Program'
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 NORTH TIOGA STREET, ITHACA, N.Y. 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
PHONE (607)273-1721 FAX (607)273-5854
November 25, 2002
Ms. Marsha Georgia
Town Clerk
Town of Ulysses
10 Elm Street
Trumansburg, New York 14886
Dear Marsha:
The Town of Ithaca's Town Historian recently resigned effective the end of the year.
Before we begin our search for a Town Historian, we wanted to define this person's role
as our Town Historian. It would be helpful for us to know if you have a Town Historian
and if they receive compensation for their services, the hours of work, what their duties
consist of and are your Town's needs being met. The Town has also considered the
possibility of a mutual Town Historian between two or more municipalities and would
like to know if your Town would be interested in exploring the idea further.
If possible, could you please furnish the Town with this information by Friday, December
13, 2002. We are discussing this further at our next Records Management Committee
meeting in the middle of December and it would be helpful to have your input for that
meeting. Feel free to call in your response if a letter is bothersome.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to give us the requested
information. We will share what we find out with all of you. Please call the Town Clerk's
office at the number above with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
fdiui idijm
Carrie Whitmore
Deputy Town Clerk
Cc: Tompkins County Clerks
. /
dy
^77¥.
STATE OF NEW YORK
UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
EMPIRE STATE PLAZA
4 ESP, SUITE 2001
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223-1450
(518) 474-3828
JONATHAN LIPPMAN
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
Mr. A1 Carvill
Ithaca Tn. Ct, 215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Mr. Carvill:
November 27, 2002
The State's Justice Courts are of vital inq)ortance to New York's justice system and the community, yet the towns and
villages that support them often have limited budgetary resources. For these Courts to remain viable in an increasingly
sophisticated age, they need additional assistance and resources. Therefore, during the 1999 session of the Legislature,
the Unified Court System sought establishment of an ongoing program of State assistance to the Justice Courts. With the
aid of the State Magistrate's Association and many other fnends of the Justice Courts, our efforts were successful,
culminating in enactment of chapter 280 of the Laws of 1999. In the years to come, chapter 280 will make it possible for
Justice courts to acquire con^uters and other essential electronic equipment, and to maintain a dignified appearance.
To fund the provisions of chapter 280 during the 2002-2003 State Fiscal Year, the Legislature included an
appropriation of $500,000 in the Judiciary Budget. During this past spring, we invited all interested towns and villages to
apply for a grant from these appropriations. We received 432 applications totalling $2.7 million. I am pleased to advise
you that the Town of Ithaca has been awarded a grant as described in the enclosed list of item(s) awarded.
Thank you for your participation in the Justice Court Assistance Program. I look forward to working with you in the
future to help the Justice Courts continue their long tradition of service to the community.
Very truly yours.
ORI Number: NY054121J
CC: Hon. Joseph J. Traficanti, Jr.
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
Hon. Anthony V. Cardona
Presiding Judge
Hon. Judith F. O'Shea
District Administrative Judge
ITEM AWARDED
Computer Software
FAX Machine (Med. Volume)
NYS Flag
Town of Ithaca
# SPECIAL COMMENTS:
COMPUTER
RELATED:
NON-COMPUTER
RELATED:
$397.50
$417.92
$189.00
VALUE
AWARDED:
Amount of check your Town Supervisor will receive: $1,004.42
Total value of award:
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING AWARD DISBURSEMENTS: Your Town Supervisor should receive a check for the
amount of the grant sometime between December 24th - 31st. All grant recipients are reminded that, as required by law,
funds received hereunder may not be used for purposes other than the purchase of the item(s) set forth on the list above.
Also, as stipulated in the municipal certification accompanying the application for your grant, "any goods and/or services
purchased with any Justice Court Assistance Program funds shall be obtained in accordance with acceptable procurement
practices established by the governing municipality including, but not limited to, competitive bidding and procurement
policies and procedures."
December 5, 2002
Carrie Whitmore
Deputy Town Clerk Town of Ithaca
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca. NY 14850
Dear Deputy Town Clerk Whitmore,
Alice Laue, Town Clerk of Enfield, asked if I would answer your letter dated November
25, 2002 regarding Town Historians.
I am glad you are inquiring upon the position of the historian of the towns, villages, and
City of Tompkins County. I believe it would be a serious mistake to eliminate any
historians' position in our county. Each position is important to that community to help
not only to preserve our past but preserve our future. We do this by involving ourselves
in record preservation both town and private citizen. We help to give direction to those
regarding history of their land, homes, and families. We help to preserve buildings and
lands within our communities. We give support to each of our local Historical Societies.
We work with groups during historic celebrations within our communities. We work with
our local school children on my different historical projects, especially in the 4*^ grade.
I personally don't believe any of our local historians would have the time or energy to
cover another town/village/city if they are as busy as I am in the history of our
community. Our Tompkins County Municipal Historians group has worked hard in
keeping the positions of Town Historians full and active. Our group is always ready to
help in locating a Historian for any of the Town and Villages of Tompkins County.
In answer to your letter, yes, the Town of Enfield has an active Town Historian.
No the Town Historian does not receive compensation for their services, nor has any of
the previous Town Historians. There is a small budget to pay for paper, folders, etc.
The hours of work depends on what is going on at the moment but based on last year's
historian report it was an estimated 10 hours a week depending on what was going on,
sometimes more. I have enclosed a copy of my annual report from last year to give
you an idea of what I do, or at least from that year.
The duties of the town historian consist of collecting, preserving and making available
materials relating to the history of the community. Attached is a job description which
was given to each of the Town Supervisors of towns and villages of Tompkins County
from the County Historian, Carol Kammen and Town Historians.
^ December 5, 2002
Page 2
Carrie Whitmore
I believe the Town's needs are being met in the Town of Enfield with our Historian's
position.
I would have to answer no the Town of Enfield is not interested and combining
municipalities in the historian's positions.
Thank you for your time.
.1 r
Sue Thompson
Enfield Town Historian
487 Enfield Center Road
Ithaca. NY 14850
Cc: Alice Laue, Enfield Town Clerk
Jean Owens, Enfield Town Supervisor
Historians of the Tompkins County
n- -
TOMPKINS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
401 Harris B. Dates Drive
Ithaca, New York 14850-1385
(607) 274-6688
9 December 2002
Paul Tunison
Production Manager
SCLIWC
1402 East Shore Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
Re: 2002 Water System Inspection
Dear Paul:
Enclosed is the narrative inspection and Field Compliance Report form completed as part of the
recent sanitary survey of the SCLIWC water system. I appreciate Jack Rueckheim and Ken
Butler for taking the time to accompany me.
Your staffs expertise, high level of care, and response to requests and changing regulations and
standards is recognized and appreciated. Your reaction to the short time frame for a new
Vulnerability Analysis and revised Emergency Response Plan is but one example. I look
forward to reviewing these documents in the next few weeks.
Please call me if you wish to discuss this report.
Sincerely,
John M. Andersson, P.E.
Director, Division of Environmental Health Services
pc: Stephen Lipinski, Chair, SCLIWC
Stephen Farkas, Supervisor, Lansing-T
Catherine Valentino, Supervisor, Ithaca-T
Mark Varvayanis, Supervisor, Dryden-T
Walter Lynn, Mayor, Cayuga Heights-V
Donald Hartill, Mayor, Lansing-V
Dan Walker, P.E., T-Ithaca
John Strepelis, NYSDOH
Michael Burke, NYSDOH
Steven Kern, Senior Sanitarian
a:scliwc02
Recycled paper
TOMPKINS COUNT^ OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF FN^RO^VDENTAL HEALTH
401 Hams^B. briye
Ithaca, New^V!c'rjr4-^504^
' • (607) 274-6688'
REPORT OF 2002 INSPECTION
SCLIWC (BOLTON POINT) WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Paul Tunison, General Manager
Ken Butler, Production Manager
Jack Rueckheim, Distribution Manager
On October 22,2002, John Andersson. P.E., of the Tompkins County Health Department
inspected the Bolton Point Water Treatment Plant with Paul Tunison, Ken Butler and Jack
Rueckheim. In addition to the main facility, the raw water pumping station, the new Oakwood
Lane pump station and building for the future PRV were inspected.
System Description
The raw water pump station on the shore of Cayuga Lake pumps water to the treatment facility
on East Shore Drive. The sodium hypochlorite system to control zebra mussels began operation
in July 1995 and is used when the raw water temperature is above 5OF. At the treatment facility,
chlorine, polymers, and alum are added at the rapid mix tank; the water then flows to the
flocculation/coagulation tanks, then to the settling tank with tube settlers where sodium
hydroxide and starch can be added, followed by rapid sand filters. Liquid chlorine in ton
cylinders is used for disinfection through the process. Water is pumped firom the clear well to the
Burdick Hill tank, firom where it is further distributed to the member municipalities of the Towns
of Ithaca, Lansing, and Dryden and the Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing.
Backwash water and sedimentation basin sludge are de-watered in drying lagoons and stored on-
site, with clear supernatant recycled through the plant.
The plant is currently operated midnight - 4 PM Mondays, midnight - 5 PM Tuesday through
Friday; 7 AM - 5 PM on Saturday, and 4 AM - 4 PM on Sunday.
Water is re-chlorinated at the Cliff Street (Ithaca-T), the Monkey Run (Dryden-T), and the Pine
Grove pump stations and the Milliken Road PRV (Lansing-T). It is sometimes added at the
Emmons Road storage tank.
Violations:
No violations are noted.
-more-
Recycled paper
SCLIWC 2002 Ins. p2/2
Deficiencies:
1. The Tmmansburg Road tank overflow is still not adequately constructed or protected. The
pipe is considerably too small, does not appear to be screened, and is terminated near the top
of the tank. The "Recommended Standards for Waterworks" must be followed. All water
storage overflow pipes must be terminated between 12 and 24 inches above the ground
surface, screened with 24 mesh, and discharge over a drainage inlet structure or a splash
plate. Overflow pipes shall be located so that any discharge is visible, and be of sufficient
diameter to permit waste of water in excess of the filling rate. This is more critical than ever
as the new Oakwood Lane pump station serving the tank has a higher capacity than the old
Cliff Street pump station.
2. The Pesticide/Herbicide analyses (Table 90 of Part 5-1) was completed in September 2001; it
was due by June 2001; and Lindane was not analyzedr The next round of sampling4s due
this month.
Other
1. Hunt Engineers are working on a preliminary design for a new Hungerford Hill tank for the
T-lthaca. An extension of the Transmission Main to the Inlet Valley is also planned, which
would supply the West Hill area of the T-lthaca with Bolton Point water mstead of City of
Ithaca water. Also, the electrical facilities at the raw water pumping station and the plant will
also be upgraded.
2. New diesel powered generators have been installed at the raw water and finished pump
stations for emergency service. All underground fuel tanks have been eliminated.
3. With the completion of the Oakwood Lane pump station, the Cliff Street station is relegated
to emergency use only.
4. Water extensions were completed in the Armstrong Road (T-Lansing) and Cayuga Heights
Road (V-Lansing) areas, and a major effort to provide cross-connection control in the
Hungerford Road area firom Cornell University facilities was completed.
5. A significant effort is also underway on ERP revisions with a new VA designed to especially
address terrorism, due at the end of2002.
Water Quality
Operating reports are received every month on time. All of the required sampling to date is done
and the results are satisfactory. Analyses still due in 2002'are inorganic, nitrate,~POC & VC^
Pesticides/Herbicides, and the more routine microbiological (monthly), THM's and HAAS
(quarterly), and turbidity (daily). In addition, the monthly TOC removal rates and related
sampling is up to date.
a:scliwc02
Barbara B. M. Kone
Town of Caroline Historian
P O Box 136
Slaterville Springs, N Y 14881-0136
11 December 2002
Attn: Carrie Whitmore
Town Clerk's Office
TOWN OF ITHACA
215 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, N Y 14850
Dear Ms. Whitmore,
Mr. Don Barber, Town of Caroline Supervisor, asked me to answer your letter to Ms.
Kim Case, Town of Caroline Town Clerk, regarding your search for a Town Historian.
I have been the Historian for the Town of Caroline for more than 16 years and have
enjoyed every minute of it. I have worked closely with the Town Board members over
the years, and I feel they appreciate my efforts.
My duties consist of answering questions regarding local and family history, researching
and writing articles for the local newsletter, giving presentations to Senior Citizen,
Church, and Youth Groups as well as the 4"^-grade classes at Caroline Elementary
School. I feel I have been able to help research and answer questions that past Town
Boards have faced, such as flood areas, bridge replacements, fires, etc. My office was
very involved with the Town's Bicentennial celebrations in 1994-95. These duties
included writing a history of the town, finding photos of historical events, places and
important people in the Town's history, researching various subjects for the scheduled
events, finding past residents, and organizing events.
I have an office and have established regular hours when I am available. There is one
person who volunteers part time to assist me in research. I am paid $700 a year (almost
$1.00 per hour) for my work. The Town also provides a small budget for the office
expenses. I do not feel that any historian who is preserving, studying and disseminating
the history of their town can possibly take on the responsibility of doing the same for any
other municipality. I think the needs of the Town of Caroline are being met.
Sincerely,
Barbara B. M. Kone
Historian, Town of Caroline
Superintendent, Highway Department
Town of Ithaca
106 Seven Mile Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Sir:
® d 0 ^ n
DEC 1 6 2002
CLERK
1585 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
December 12, 2002
For yoiir information, I wish to point out three incidences of mal-aligned services by
your department; ^
1. In early November, since I piled leaves on a side road (Burns Way), and they
were not easily visible,^! called in my location to be helpful. These were never picked up,
though friends have intormed me that their leaves were picked up twice on Pine Tree Rd.' Mine
are now being plowed onto my side lawn and I would appreciate a response to my recent second
2. Burns Road received a coat of chips and tar this summer, though the need for this
could have been well argued as unnecessary. This topping has now been totally plowed off and
is presently at the top of this dead end road or clogging the side drainage areas. The large truck
with side wings that has been plowing this road has not only removed the surface application
from last summer but has gouged into the previous surface to create pockets for further erosion
and wear. How will this road be repaired? Is the correct equipment hem^ used on this road for
snow removal?
3. This morning at approximately 5:30 am the large truck that was plowing snow
became embedded in the ditch as it proceeded down Burns Way to Burns Rd. This has left a
large trench plowed into the embankment of my back lawn, which I diligently have maintained
as a lawn area. This '"trench" has caused a pool of water to collect and it is also in the immediate
area where the sewer line crosses to a pumping station. I would appreciate replacement of my
sloped lawn area. When and how will this be fixed?
1 am trying to be rational about these issues but if! have this many concerns in the space
0 two months for some 750 feet of roadway, what must your maintenance records and needs be
1 all the Town loads received such abuse! Needless to say, I hope you will give me some
reassurance that things will get better.
Gopy:^^therine Valentino
Sincerely,
(Mrs.) Grace A. Saatman
ph: 272-3748; e-mail: gas2@c-omell.edu
Town Supervisor Ithaca, ny i485o
Catherine Valentino 215 n. Tioga street
607-273-1721
December 18, 2002
Mr. Jim Blizzard
44 East Miller Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Jim,
On behalf of the Town of Ithaca I would like to thank you for all the work
you did to produce the fine video presentation on the Town of Ithaca's proposed
new Zoning Ordinance. Your willingness to provide technical assistance made
the project possible. Your enthusiasm and patient guidance helped to make the
final product reflect well on the Town.
Thanks again and best wishes.
Sincerely,
Catherine Valentino
Town Supervisor
Xc: Wendy Skinner, Tompkins County Public Information Coordinator
TOWN OF ITHACA^ \ Jl/ 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads. Parks. Trails. Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
December 20,2002
Captain Jackman
New York State Police
1850 Dryden Road
Freeville, N.Y. 13068
Dear Captain Jackman,
This will make a matter of record our telephone conversation this morning in which I
explained our plans for additional traffic enforcement in the Town of Ithaca. The
enclosed copy of a letter to Sheriff Meskill lays out our plans for the supplementary
patrolling. My reason for having contacted you was to seek for similar assistance on state
roads in the Town.
You asked that we identify areas where supplementary patrolling may be beneficial. In
that regard. Sue Ritter, Assistant Planner, will be sending under separate cover maps of
accident data in the Town for 1999-2001. She will also contact your office to discuss
transmitting electronic versions of the maps in a form most convenient for your use.
Based on the accident data, we have been able to identify the following problem areas in
the Town:
• Route 96 between the hospital and the city line,
• Route 13 at Seven Mile Road,
• Mecklenberg Road near the city line, and
• Route 96B south of the city line.
We are then seeking your support with additional traffic patrolling in those locations and
others you may recognize as similarly problematic. We note all the locations identified
above are at points where the road use changes dramatically, and hence share some
similarities with the 'rural collectors' we are asking Sheriff Meskill to provide additional
patrols for.
The most expeditious way to proceed I expect is for me to telephone once you have had
the opportunity to review this request to answer additional questions.
Thank you very much for your support in this important endeavor.
Regards,
Bill Lesser, Chair
Town Transportation Committee
Cc: T-A Hunter, Town Clerk
S. Kitten Ast. Planner
TOWN OF ITHACA
ioga Street, Ithaca, N.'
www.town.ithaca.ny.us
^ X ira-i /, // 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
TOWN CLERK 273-1721 HIGHWAY (Roads, Parks, Trails, Water&Sewer) 273-1656 ENGINEERING 273-1747
PLANNING 273-1747 ZONING 273-1783
FAX (607) 273-1704
December 20,2002
Sheriff Peter Meskill
779 Warren Road
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
Dear Peter,
We at the Town of Ithaca would like to thank you and Randy Haus for meeting with us
on November 21®^ for the purpose of discussing supplementary patrolling fo Town roads.
We I believe came to a general agreement on how to proceed, which I am summarizing
here for the record:
1. The initial focus will be on the Synder Hill/Pine Tree Road/Honess Lane and Park
Lane complex. Following that, enforcement will be rotated to Coddington and E.
King Roads, and Warren/Hanshaw Roads. Those are * rural collector' routes
which become increasingly densely populated closer in, and hence use conflicts
seem to arise with commuting traffic.
2. Principal emphasis is to be on safety. Hence, we are seeking reductions in speed
and oAer potentially dangerous behavior, including following too close and
failure to stop at signs.
3. The purpose of the supplementary patrolling is to change behavior so there is not
an intent to be unduly harsh. That is, ticketing will be done at the discretion of
the officer present. We still need to decide on whether to begin with warnings or
tickets, and on how to announce the program to our residents.
4. The general behavior-changing approach will be to have a month-long initial
enforcement period, followed by shift to another area, and then perhaps returning
after a one or two week period.
5. Speeds will be measured prior to, during and following the enforcement periods.
As an example, the Town will utilize its counters, but it is hoped you can
sometimes augment those efforts with the use of your speed-indicating trailer.
Tracking vehicle speed will help us (a) measure the success of the program, and
(b) decide on when to return to the earlier enforcement areas. We recognize this
is an experiment for all parties and need to cooperate closely as we measure and
refine our success and objectives.
6. You indicated the constraints your Office operates under to be:
• Must plan the patrolling within existing shifts,
• Town must determine how aggressive the enforcement should be, and
• The Sheriffs Office must retain flexibility to respond to emergencies.
We understand and accede to those requirements.
7. The agreement will operate in 90 day blocks. You will provide a monthly report
for the Town.
Kindly notify me of you require additional detail on our plans at this time. We will be
back in touch well prior to the initiation of the program in March or April 2003 to
establish the final details.
Regards,
Bill Lesser, Chair
Transportation Committee
Cc: T-A Hunter, Town Clerk
S. Fitter, Ast. Planner