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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1993-02-24LO 7 m .Q BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. February 24, 1993 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols ' Commissioners - Rusof£, Tripp, Reeves, Gerard, Smith, Brandford OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent of Public 6rks - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Deputy City Controller - Thayer Senior Stenographer - Holcomb Common Council Liaison - Berg ABSENT; Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Shimer (excused) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE• Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 3 Meeting At the request of the Mayor the approval of the Minutes of the February 10, 1993 Board of Public Works meeting will be postponed until the meeting of March 10, 1993. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA Water. hewer and Solid Weste Items Superintendent Gray requested the addition of item 17A Recommendation for Appointment of Laboratory Director: No Board member objected. Buildings, Pro oerties end Transit Items Commissioner Reeves requested the addition of Item 12A - Strand Theatre Environmental Audit. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE BOARD: Stewart Park Jon Merritt, Vice Chair of the Disability Advisory Council, spoke to the Board regarding changes that still need to be made and worked on at Stewart Park. Asst. Supt. Ferrel stated that Stewart Park work is on the work plan for Spring. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON• Parkins Committee Council Liaison Berg reported that the Parking Committee met last week and will be meeting on a regular basis and will be addressing the issues of parking, including parking lots, lot booths, street parking, etc. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT• Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following items: City Court Building - The glass in the front of the building will be going in early next week. 1 5%„ February 24, 1993 Municipal Pool at GIAC - There is a June 1 deadline. If an agreement to meet that deadline is not reached with the contractor, the Supt. will need to make plans to bypass that and call the bonding company to finish the project. 1992 Sidewalk Assessments - The assessments should be before the Board shortly and the 1993 contract is under preparation. Kline Road Sewer Relief Project - The work is proceeding and bids should be back in early April. Strand Theater - Assuming that it is decided to proceed with demolition, the asbestos removal work would be done right after the Festival in early June and then demolition would be in July. Flood Control Banks - A request has been made to DEC for a permit to work on flood control to stabilize the banks at the end of Seneca Street. Linden Avenue Fuel Tanks - Staff has stopped doing testing. We will be asking the testing lab who did all the tests to give us a summary and their determination of the levels. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following items: Budget for Snow Removal - The current budget for sand and salt is $50,000 for all of 1993. To date we have $16,500 left in the account. We have used 278 tons of salt more than we used in all of 1992 and 230 tons of sand more than in 1992. Also our overtime wages for snow removal are very high for this year so far. Ponds at Golf Course - A request has been received from the Golf Club Pro to install a couple of small ponds around the Number 1 green area. There is a drainage problem in that area and the ponds should help with that. BUILDINGS. PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS• A. Strand Theater By Commissioner Rusoff: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, Common Council has directed the City Engineer to proceed with an Environmental Audit of the Strand Theatre, and WHEREAS, proposals for an Environmental Audit have been received and are being reviewed by staff; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants itself Power to Act at its Committee of the Whole meeting on March 3, 1993 to accept proposal for said services. Carried Unanimously By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard WHEREAS, The Board of Public works has received requests to improve the intersection of University, Lake and Willard Way, and WHEREAS, The Board has reviewed the Traffic Engineer's proposal of August 3, 1989 to re -align the curbing; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the design concept and directs staff to implement the changes in the 1994 work plan. 2 Carried Unanimously February 24, 1993 B. Request for Strobe Stoo Light at Titus Avenue and Albany Street By Commissioner Smith, Seconded by commissioner Reeves WHEREAS, The Board of Public Works has received comments concerning safety at the intersection of Titus and Albany Streets, and WHEREAS, A request for the installation of a strobe stop light has also been received; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has considered the installation of a strobe' stop light and feels that it is not appropriate for residential areas such as Titus and Albany Streets, Carried Unanimously C. Request for Yield Sign at Center Street and North Titus Avenue By Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Gerard WHEREAS, The Board of Public Works has received a request to install a yield sign at the intersection of North Titus and Center Ln Street; now, therefore, be it (D RESOLVED, That after consideration of the accident history and the geometry of the intersection, the Board denies the request for installation of a yield sign on Center Street and directs staff to .m review the intersection yearly between now and the Route 96 changes Q which will result in a cul -de -sac on North Titus Avenue. Carried Unanimously my commissioner uerard: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, The City of Ithaca currently has an agreement with the Ithaca Farmers Market to hold- market in DeWitt Park on Tuesdays from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm between May 11 until October 26, 1993, and WHEREAS, The market has requested that the time for the Tuesday market be extended for one hour; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of the request to extend the Tuesday Dewitt Park market hours . intil 2:00 pm, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to enter into a revised agreement which reflects the extended operation and occupancy of metered spaces. Carried Unanimously BUDGET, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION ITEMS• A. Increase in Street Permit Fees By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, Common Council has directed the Board of Public Works in its 1993 Budget Direction (resolution 14.16 of December 2, 1992) to review the possibility of increasing fees for "Street Opening Permits"; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby adopts the proposed fees of Street Permits as follows: Current Fee Proposed Fee Sidewalk Construction Fee: $5.00 $10.00 Street Opening Fee: $10.00 $30.00 and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Street Occupancy fee shall be adjusted as necessary to keep it current with parking meter rates and related City costs on a case by case basis. Carried Unanimously 3 February 24, 1993 B• A ointment of Cit Forester with Tem orar Chan a in Work Hours Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Gerard WHEREAS, The position of City Forester has been approved by the Vacancy Review Committee and Common Council, and WHEREAS, The interviews, reference checks and hiring have been completed by staff; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works officially approves the appointment of John Friedeborn as City Forester at an annual salary of $37,862 (40 hour work week), and be it further RESOLVED, That the position be temporarily placed in a part -time status of twenty -five (25) hours per week for a period not to exceed six (6) months. Carried Unanimously Staff has interviewed several candidates for the position of Lab Director and made a recommendation. After reviewing the qualifications required for the position, the changes that are expected in the near future for certified laboratory test and regulatory controls at both the water plant and the wastewater plant, the Chief Operator and the Assistant Superintendent have recommended Jose Lozano. Resolution By Commissioner Brandford: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, staff has interviewed candidates for the position of lab director, and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed candidate qualifications and references; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Jose Lozano be hired as Laboratory Director at Step 6 on the Administrative Unit 1993 Compensation Plan (1992 step 6 is $28,254), contingent upon approval of the Budget and Administration Committee and Common Council. Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Audit Report RBy Commissioner SOLVED, That bills listed cond the bfollowing 1 p Abstract bp approved for payment: Abstract #4 General Fund......... .. .....................$14,855.25 ........... Water and Sewer Fund .............. .....................$16,725.77 Joint Activity Fund ...... ..............................$ 3,759.27 Capital Projects .................. .....................$76,660.56 Solid Waste .............. ..............................S 6,507.47 and be it further RESOLVED, That bills receivable be approved and rendered. Carried Unanimously ADJOURNMENT: ` On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. %illttl �c � Connie J. Holcomb Henjam n Nichols Senior Stenographer Mayor ,