HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1990-12-05BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
December 5, 1990
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Berg, Brandford, Cannon, Connor, Cox, Reeves,
Mayor Nichols; Council Liaison Blanchard, Acting Supt. Gray, Acting
Asst. Supt. Carpenter, Asst. City Atty. Kennedy, City Controller
Cafferillo.
The following were additions to the Agenda:
Asst. City Atty. reports:
C) Forest Home Drive update.
d) East State Street litigation update - Executive Session.
Route 13 widening project.
Trash tags for 1991.
Request for expungement of water service bill.
The following were deletions to the Agenda:
Asst. City Atty. reports:
a) Parking ramps: reserved spaces ruling.
b) Abandonment of South Tioga Street for County Mental Health Bldg. -
back -up information handed out at 10/3/90 meeting.
Water and Sewer bill expungements - back up information handed out at
11/14/90 meeting.
Special Joint Sewer Subcommittee (SJS) request for BPW approval of
Village of Lansing, Town of Lansing and Town of Dryden connection to
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Downtown Ithaca Inc. (Jim Houghton) Concerns: Increase in parking
rates in 1991.
Also:
a. Suggests customer service training for parking lot
attendants.
b. Institute a dress code for attendants and cleaning policy for
booths.
C. Institute a 10 minute grace period for parking lot users.
1. Executive Session - East State Street litigation update.
The BPW went into Executive Session at 4:10 pm to discuss this item and
reconvened at 4:55 pm. No action was taken. Mrs. Wallace spoke to the
BPW regarding this item and felt there was a lack of communication
between staff and the residents in this area. She also urged the BPW
not to fill in the gorge in this area.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
December 5, 1990
2. Trash tags for 1991.
City Controller Cafferillo was present for this discussion.
Commissioner Reeves noted the memo from Acting Supt. Gray concerning
the lost revenue of $9,000 due to the grace period allowed in the BPW
resolution for sale and usage of 1991 tags. Dominick noted the
substitute resolution that he and the Chair of B &A are proposing,
stating that 1991 trash tags be sold starting December 20, 1990. He
felt that if 1990 tags were used until February 1st, revenue would be
lost. It was also noted that City Chamberlain Parsons is working with
the outlets and no final arrangements have been made yet. Discussion
followed about when the new tags would arrive from the printers and it
was determined that they should be available about December 17th or so.
Commissioner Berg felt that the upcoming holidays may pose a problem
with the sale of 1991 trash tags. Discussion followed. The BPW agreed
to change the grace period for the use of 1990 tags to end January 6th
and requested that press releases be issued with this information. The
BPW also directed staff to consider the week of January 7 through the
12th being a "warning only" violation for those still using 1990 tags.
3. Route 13 widening project.
(W Commissioner Reeves noted that Common Council will be voting on a
resolution regarding this project tonight and asked the BPW if they
would like her to object to the Planning and Development Committee's
proposed resolution. Commissioner Reeves also noted that the State is
holding a public meeting on December 12th and urged the BPW to attend.
Council Liaison Blanchard noted that there will be a substitute
resolution being proposed at tonight's Council meeting, which she will
get copies for the BPW. Commissioner Cannon felt the BPW should
discourage the resolution as proposed now. Commissioner Cox felt the
resolution was inappropriate at this time. It was noted that the State
is moving fast on this project. Discussion followed. Commissioner Cox
also noted that the area is question is the Town of Ithaca and felt it
wasn't the City's business, while Mayor Nichols noted that many people
in the City felt that changes in the Town will impact the City. The
BPW decided to request that Common Council table the resolution until
after the State's public hearing.
4. Request for expungement of water service bill.
Commissioner Reeves noted a request from Bessie Stratakos for partial
expungement of a $300 water service bill for work done in conjunction
with the Hudson Street project. Acting Supt. Gray noted that this was
a changeover and update of the water service and that about 30
addresses were notified in advance of this replacement work. Acting
Supt. Gray also noted that the property in question is rental property.
Discussion followed about the other 29 properties that were updated.
The BPW decided to deny Mrs. Stratakos' request for partial expungement
and suggest that Mrs. Stratakos take advantage of the City's 5 year
payment plan.
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Committee of the Whole
December 5, 1990
S. Handica ed ParkLng space at City Hall.
Mayor Nichols asked about this request from the Disability Advisory
Council for an additional handicapped parking space in the City Hall
parking lot. Commissioner Reeves noted the confusion as to which space
the Council felt was going to be available. It was noted that due to
DPW consolidation plans, the Council felt that the City Electrician's
space would be available. Discussion followed about the 4 handicapped
parking spaces available in Center Ithaca. The BPW directed staff to
further look into this and contact the Disability Advisory Council for
their suggestions.
6. Forest Home Drive update.
Asst. City Atty. Kennedy noted that preliminary discussions between the
City, Town and Cornell have resulted in the Town and Cornell being
responsible for plowing Forest Home Drive this winter.
7. Superintendent of Public Works position discussion.
Commissioner Reeves noted the discussions regarding the Supt. position
by Common Council and the Mayor and that the BPW never made a formal
opinion regarding this position. She asked the BPW how they felt about
no Supt. She also noted that funding for a portion of the Supt. of
Public Works' position has been put into restricted contingency for
1991. Commissioner Cox noted a report that he and Larry Fabbroni just
completed at the request of the Mayor regarding DPW operations and
consolidation. He noted that this report suggested one person in
charge with three people reporting to this person, that is a Supt. /City
Engr. at the top and a Director of Water and Sewer, Assistant Supt. of
Streets and Facilities and an Senior Engineer reporting to the
Supt. /City Engr., with no trimming of management personnel.
Commissioner Cox further noted that this report shows the Engineering
Section broken down and combining all engineering technicians.
Discussion followed about the funds for the Director of Water and Sewer
being put into restricted contingency. Discussion also followed about
the Asst. Supt. position and it was noted that this position was just
advertised and many applications have been received. The BPW strongly
felt that the current situation of two people doing 5 jobs is
unacceptable. The concensus of the BPW was that there needs to be a
Supt. and will discuss this issue further and invite Common Council and
the Mayor to voice their opinions on this topic.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm.
Notes by
Lisa Cornell
Administrative Secretary
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