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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. Page - 2 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 Page - 3