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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1990-12-12435 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 P.M. December 12, 1990 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (5) Cannon,: Reeves, Berg, Cox, Brandford OTHERS PRESENT: Acting Superintendent - Gray Acting Asst. Superintendent - Carpenter Asst. City Attorney - Kennedy Common Council Liaison - Blanchard Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Boyle Co Alderperson Booth 0 EXCUSED: Commissioner Connor [n PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Q Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Works Meeting Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Cannon RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the November 28, 1990 Board of Public Works Meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Executive Session Acting Superintendent Gray requested a brief Executive Session at the end of the meeting to review the Hudson Street budget and negotiations. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: Mayor Nichols reported on the following: Solid Waste Management The Charter and Ordinance Committee will be discussing and drafting a comprehensive solid waste management ordinance at the December 13, 1990 meeting. The outline includes: general provisions, intent, purpose, supervision by Superintendent, collection, disposal, authority to establish fees, dumpsters in front yards, exceptions, recycling requirements, etc. Mayor Nichols commented that Board members may be interested in attending that meeting. Request to Lower Speed on Route 13 The City's request to NYSDOT to lower speed on Route 13 has been denied. Council Liaison Blanchard stated that if the City wanted to appeal this decision they should submit a factual report to the Department of Transportation including pertinent accident information, traffic counts, etc. 1 43(; BPW Minutes December 12, 1990 Further discussion on this matter was referred to the Committee of the Whole. Interim Parks Commission The Interim Parks Commission has completed the first draft of an ordinance creating a Parks and Recreation Commission and Department. The Board and the Planning and Development Committee will be reviewing this in the near future. Street Striping Request Jim Meyer, of 224 Pleasant Street has requested that the crosswalk on Prospect and Aurora Streets be striped. Mr. Meyer stated that this crosswalk is traditionally painted every year, but was not painted this year. Handicapped Parking Space at City Hall Mayor Nichols requested that further discussion on the handicapped parking space at City Hall be held at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Jim Houghton, of Downtown Ithaca Inc. requested that the Board give themselves Power to Act at the next Committee of the Whole meeting for the parking garage improvements discussions. Mr. Houghton stated the improvements that DII have suggested are as follows: 1.) Customer service training for booth attendants 2.) Minimum dress code for booth attendants and a standard of cleanliness for the booths 3.) A 10 minute grace period between hours for people held up in the parking lot exit lines. On a motion by Commissioner Berg and Seconded by Commissioner Cox, the Board of Public Works will have Power to Act at the December 19, 1990 Committee of the Whole meeting. Sarah Hess, of 208 Utica Street,' addressed the Board regarding implementing "Recycle -it- Days ". Ms. Hess stated that she would like to see a Saturday and Sunday in the Spring designated as days where people could put out free, reusable items, such as old sinks, furniture, appliances, etc. on the curb for other people to take away. This weekend would be in lieu of spring clean -up days and the property owners would be responsible for disposing of any items that were not taken. Ms. Hess commented that the City's only responsiblity would be publicity. Further discussion of this matter was referred to the Committee of the Whole. Richard Booth, 3rd Ward Alderperson, addressed the Board regarding an inventory of City lands that was prepared by Charlie Barber a few years ago. He stated that there are quite a few vacant, surplus pieces of land that are extraneous to City purposes on this inventory. Alderperson Booth feels it would be in the City's best interest to sell a few of these lots. He would like the Board to identify these lots and pursue selling them. Deputy City Controller Thayer will provide copies of this inventory to the Board members. This matter will be discussed further at the Committee of the Whole meetings. 2 O m Q 437 BPW Minutes 1990 December 12, OF CITY ATTORNEY orted on the following: REPORT Attorney Kennedy rep Asst. City reliminary injunction was denied by East State street re nest f o Ra P irs - al was: The Wallace s 9 the dens Judge Rose. The basis for ro erty did not establish where the property the 1,) The Wallace's the Judge could not decip lines lay and the material available to him* property lines are from the interest In balancing the interest to the City vs. he found in favor of the City 2•) ty owners, the situation. to the proper emergency nature of due to the Mace's because 3, There is n° irreparable harm to the Wa can pay for any damageS assessed. the City the property eering department is still researching The Engin lines. PORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Blanchard reported t at the conservation the Council Liais information Common would like Advisory Council following projects: 1,) Linden Avenue tank removal oval of abandoned appliances oolmsitethwest Par 2,) Remo the GIAC p 3,) Coal tar situation at ort back to the Conservation Advisory commissioner Connor will rep Council. REPORT OF ACintendentRGraYNDeported on the following: Acting Super et with one amendment. A new DPW Bud et Modifications but $5,000. was Council adopted the DPW budg Common 2g�000) was removed from the budget, dump truck ($ added for maintenance of the existing e Re airs has fallen. It will b East State Street the Wallace's property The stone wall On manner previously discussed* replaced in project is in the final stages of completion. Hudson Street The Hudson Street p 7 -mint Transit Facili Facility The Joint Transit selecting an architect. remind people that dumping snow a violation of the New York Committee is in the process Snow Removal id like to Chief McEwen wou is street rights-Of -ways Vehicle and Traffic law. Linden e has Tank Removal hired A contractor roiect and work should begin of into State P for the Linden Avenue tank removal in mid - January. erintendent Position is reviewing the The Personnel Assistant Su Administrator distributing Superintendent applications and will e Search Committee. 3 Assistant them to the 438 BPW Minutes December 12, 1990 REPORT OF ACTING ASST. SUPERINTENDENT Acting Asst. Superintendent Carpenter reported that the following projects are proceeding: Southside Center - interior painting Creeks and streams cleaning Pothole patching Storm sewer cleaning Meterpost replacement - Dryden Rd. /Oak Ave. Youth Bureau fire lane - brick laying Stewart Park entrance - finished until Spring Safety Program A safety program has been created to provide safety training for employees and on -site safety inspections. A Safety Committee will be formed to perform internal safety inspections. The Department of Labor will provide training for employees. Old Agway Building The old Agway building on Taughannock Blvd. has been vacated and returned to the City. The building has been secured and will be used for cold storage. Fire Station #6 Fire Station #6 has been turned over to the City by the Board of Fire Commissioners and will be used as a temporary homeless shelter until it is sold. The Fire Department thoroughly cleaned out the building. The Department of Public Works has no obligation to maintain the building in accordance to the agreement with the Tompkins County EOC. WATER AND SEWER ITEMS: Hudson Street A request was received from Mrs. Bessie Stratakos, owner of the property at 105 Hudson Street, for partial expungement of the water service bill at this address. In conjunction with the Hudson Street reconstruction project, approximately 30 property owners were notified in advance of the City's intent to upgrade their water service from 1" lead service to 3/4" copper service, at the property owner's expense. Resolution By Commissioner Cox: Seconded by Commissioner Cannon WHEREAS, the water service replacement work was necessary to bring the property owners into compliance with City specifications, and WHEREAS, property owners were notified in advance of this replacement work; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request for partial expungement of the water service bill for 105 Hudson Street. Mayor Nichols suggested that Ms. Stratakos be informed of the City's 5 year payment plan. 4 r Carried Unanimously BPW Minutes December 12, 1990 REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Audit Report Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Cox RESOLVED, That bills listed on the following Abstract be approved for payment: Abstract #23 General Fund . ..............................$ 110,694.87 Water and Sewer Fund .......................$ 0.00 Joint Activity Fund ........................$ 56,747.40 Capital Projects ...........................$ 49,468.88 and, be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. O Carried Unanimously D REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: (n Youth Bureau Board Q Commissioner Cox reported that Sear -Brown has been selected as the architect for the GIAC renovations. Sam Cohen has reported that the work recommended for the acoustical improvements for the Youth Bureau building could be completed under the approved capital project for that building. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: On December 5, 1990, Common Council passed an amended version of the Board's November 28, 1990 Resolution on 1991 trash tag fees. The 1990 trash tags will be accepted up to but no later than January 6, 1991. EXECUTIVE SESSION: On a motion by Commissioner Berg and Seconded by Commissioner Cannon the Board adjourned into Executive Session to discuss possible contract litigation, and negotiations regarding the Hudson Street project. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:10 P.M. Julie Conley Bo le Deputy City Clerk 5 /I," ilL, -)- Benjamin gichols Mayor 43;)