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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-06-28 1 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. June 28, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (5) - Seligmann, Smith, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves, OTHERS PRESENT: Deputy City Controller - Thayer Deputy City Clerk - Kaupe Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni Common Council Liaison - Johnson EXCUSED: Commissioner Rusoff PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the June 14, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the June 14, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 15A be substituted for Item 15 on the agenda. No Board member objected. Commissioner Seligmann requested that Item 17A be substituted for Item 17 on the agenda. No Board member objected. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Gary Sloan presented a petition signed by 268 persons from the golf league at Newman Golf Course. The petition raised the issues of cart rental discounts and beer sales. Mr. Sloan raised further issues regarding current operating procedures. Mayor Nichols, Alderperson Johnson, Superintendent Gray and Commissioners Smith, Tripp and Reeves responded. Margot Brinn of the Hector Street Neighborhood Association brought the following issues before the Board: speeding traffic on Hector St., provision of a Park & Ride lot, lack of sidewalks, lack of crosswalks, lack of parking, access to Cass Park, Cass Park lights and noise. Commissioner Ehrhardt responded. David Nutter of the Bicycle Advisory Commission suggested that a bike lane be provided on Hector Street. Commissioner Ehrhardt responded. Mr. Nutter requested that the BAC be notified of pending traffic agenda items and changes to streets which will affect bicycle traffic. Commissioners Ehrhardt and Reeves responded. Ralph Varn of Varn Brothers sought an explanation for the Board's refusal to grant the sewer expansion (Item 17B). Mayor Nichols responded. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: Alderperson Johnson reported on the following: B&A discussion of the Engineering reorganization plan (expansion to be put off until '96) June 28, 1995 2 REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: Route 96; Youth Bureau rehab; transit operations and consolidation; WWTP and County septage agreement; MPO meeting; outdoor dining policy; B&A re: Dept reorganization; Traffic Engineer's report. Commissioner Tripp questioned outdoor dining. Commissioner Reeves asked about the procedure for citizen requests to the Traffic Engineer. Superintendent Gray discussed the procedure. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS AND FACILITIES: Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: Maple Ave reconstruction; Stewart Park; Stewart Ave wall at Edgecliff; detour route signage; Flood Control Project; plantings; 112 and 119 Cleveland Ave boarded up; Cascadilla Park Rd sidewalk; drug testing for drivers; town supervisors meeting; budget preparation. Alderperson Johnson asked about reseeding at the Stewart Park shoreline. REPORT OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER AND SEWER: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: High School video project; dechlorination building nearly complete; dam road construction; Threshold Plaza; water lines; student interns working on: GIS, consolidation plan, IFD bunker working on the water model, structural engineer working on silt dam; Fulton St sewer; City of Auburn re: sludge. Mayor Nichols mentioned the JTPA offer of no-cost labor available 7/10- 8/19. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Request for Free Bricks for IPAC By Commissioner Tripp: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Ithaca Performing Arts Center has requested 4,000 State Street bricks for use in the Cayuga Street Alley of the State Theater, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Landmark Preservation Committee has approved of the use of these bricks at this historical site, and WHEREAS, the IPAC is requesting that the city donate the bricks in order to reduce the installation expenses, and WHEREAS, staff has indicated that there is an adequate amount of State Street bricks to allow such a request; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works grants the transfer of State Street bricks under the usual terms and conditions, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized to enter into an agreement with IPAC. Discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, that the first RESOLVED clause be amended to read "...grants the donation of State Street bricks with all the other usual terms and conditions..." A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously June 28, 1995 3 TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Approval of Procedure for Requests in Traffic Changes Procedure By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Tripp WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works requested that the Mayor appoint a special committee to draft a procedure for responding to traffic-related proposals which are brought before the board, and WHEREAS, the board has reviewed and amended the procedure recommended by the special committee; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works adopts the attached Procedure for Responding to the Traffic-Related Proposals dated June 21, 1995. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Motion to Table A vote to table the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Motion to give the Board Power to Act A vote to give the Board power to act at the next Committee of the Whole meeting resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann A. Request to Waive Pavilion Fee at Stewart Park WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from Deputy Planning Director, Herman Sieverding to waive the pavilion fee at Stewart Park for the City of Ithaca Employee Recognition Picnic on Friday, September 15, 1995; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works approves of waiving the fee for the use of the large pavilion at Stewart Park for the City of Ithaca Employee Recognition Picnic on September 15, 1995. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Request for Water and Sewer Expungement By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp The Board of Public Works received a request to expunge late fees for several water and sewer bills on properties owned by Jason Fane. The bills, due February 15, 1995, are required, at the least, to be postmarked that date. The bills were paid, in person, at the Chamberlain's Office on the morning of February 16, 1995. Employees of Mr. Fane are requesting that the late fees be expunged since the city was not harmed (the checks were hand delivered earlier than mail could be received) and because the client has an excellent record of on time payment. WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works received a request to expunge late charges to several water and sewer bills received on properties owned by Jason Fane, and WHEREAS, the bills were paid at the Chamberlain's Office on February 16, 1995, one day after the required postmarked date, and WHEREAS, the bill was paid after the due date and was shown to carry the usual (10%) penalty for late payment and WHEREAS, the board adopted a policy on April 24, 1991 for late payments on large accounts whereby the grace period is extended from 15 days to 20 days for bills over $10,000; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby approves expungement of $1257.33 in late fees on the water and sewer bills, June 28, 1995 4 accrued since February 16, 1995, for the various properties owned by Jason Fane. Extensive discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, that the third and fourth WHEREAS clauses be deleted. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4): Tripp, Seligmann, Smith, Ehrhardt Nays (1): Reeves Carried 4-1 B. Request to Expand Sewer Service to Peregrine Hollow Subdivision By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp WHEREAS, the Town of Dryden, in accordance to the Intermunicipal Sewer Agreement, has requested the joint owners to consider allowing the town to expand their service area to include the Peregrine Hollow Subdivision (this area is outside of the current service area, with a portion outside the planning area), and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has concerns about the final service and planning areas of the current and proposed new agreement, as well as current and past compensation for the use of city sewer lines; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works is not prepared to approve of the Town of Dryden's expansion until a new agreement is in place which specifically addresses the questions of service and planning areas and the contributions of the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden to the maintenance and installation of the lines which are used to move sewage to the plant, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board is willing to review the request once these concerns are resolved. Discussion followed on the floor. Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni disclosed a conflict of interest in this matter. Amending resolution By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp RESOLVED, that the first RESOLVED clause be amended to remove the reference to the Town of Ithaca and to read: [RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works is not prepared to approve of the Town of Dryden's expansion until a new agreement is in place which specifically addresses the questions of service and planning areas and the contribution of the Town of Dryden to the maintenance and installation of the lines which are used to move sewage to the plant, and, be it further...] A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Smith reported on the Golf Subcommittee's recommended changes for 1996 operations EXECUTIVE SESSION: On a motion the Board went into executive session at 5:45 p.m. June 28, 1995 5 William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor