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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1995-10-25BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. October 25, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (5) - Seligmann, Tripp, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Rusoff 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 Alderperson Schroeder EXCUSED: Commissioner Smith, Alderperson Johnson 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Nichols led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 2. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the October 11, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the October 11, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Reeves requested that the Board grant itself Power to Act, as Item 21A, at the November 1, 1995 Committee of the Whole Meeting, on the request from Ithaca Child magazine to use City property. No Board member objected. Commissioner Reeves requested that Item 17C be for discussion only. No Board member objected. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: City Judge Rossiter offered to help develop a formal program similar to the County’s Service Work Alternative Program (SWAP) which would provide public service workers from those persons sentenced in City Court to perform community service. Supervision and scheduling issues were discussed. Speaking as a private citizen, Judge Rossiter brought up the traffic problems in the 100 block of South Hill Terrace. Discussion of traffic pattern changes. 6. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: 7. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 8. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: 9. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: 10. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: sidewalk program; Southside hired Sear, Brown Group to consult on the program study; Youth Bureau contract is running; Rt 96; Elm Street drainage; IFD parking lot; Planning Dept re: DSS move downtown; GIS mapping; budgets Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: effects of rainstorm (sewer at IHS, Pritchard Dodge area, silt dam overflowed by 3'); Rt 96: Court St utility work, Seneca St work next; loss of pressure in the West Dorms area - possible water leak at Buffalo and Stewart; sludge disposal agreement is close; garage roofs completed; DPW barn roof; lagoon cleaning nearly complete; dechlorination building to be moved soon; TCHD inspections; RFP process for Water Plant; WWTP designs for various projects under review; sewer TV and meter reading equipment acquisition Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: rainstorm effects (Esty St, Court St, Old Taughannock Blvd); Esty St drainage to be repaired by NYS; NYS will clean sewers in area; IFD parking lot; Elmira Rd planters and improvements; leaf pickup; Ithaca Transit bus accident (bus out 2-3 months); Building Systems - Golf Course bldg work, Southside Center; October 25, 1995 Page 2 2 Sign Shop - many signs stolen this Fall, Historic District and Emergency Snow Removal signs being installed; Electrician - Clinton/Cayuga light failed - intersection rewired, Dryden Rd/Eddy St light poles installed; Parks & Forestry - Cass Park Rink open, winterizing water lines in various locations, Fall tree planting programs; Golf Course concession for 1996; budget; Commissioner Reeves asked about alternate parking sites for cars regularly parked on snow emergency streets. Discussion followed. Mayor Nichols asked about a possible fiber-optic connection to the proposed County DSS building on State St 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: 13. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: A. Request to Alter Sidewalk on Cascadilla Park Road By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Tripp The Board of Public Works has been approached by John Steffens and Rosa Spivey of 106 Cascadilla Park Road, as well as Kathleen Lilley of 108 Cascadilla Park Road, who want the city to replace the integral sidewalk and curb in front of their houses in order to eliminate a curb height in excess of 12 inches. The sidewalk has existed this way for more than 15 years when Ms. Lilley took ownership. They feel that the city constructed this, or should have prevented it from being constructed, and should remove and replace it at no cost to the home owners. After discussion, it was suggested that the board consider a compromise where the property owners pay the material costs and the city would supply the labor. Concern was expressed by board members about the condition of private stairs or adjacent walls and embankments during the construction work. WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from the owners of 106 and 108 Cascadilla Park Road to remove and replace the sidewalk and curb adjacent to their property at no cost to them, and WHEREAS, the board has considered the limited information available, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the board directs the department to remove and replace the sidewalk at 106-108 Cascadilla Park Road, and be it further RESOLVED, that the department will supply the labor as well as any associated curbing necessary to complete the work between the curb line and the back of the sidewalk and the property owners of 106 and 108 Cascadilla Park Road will be billed for the materials required for that work as well as all labor and material required for work behind the sidewalk in order to install this work; contingent on the approval of the City Attorney. Extensive discussion followed on the floor with Alderperson Schroeder, Mr. Steffons and Ms. Lilley. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Motion Fails (1-4) Ayes (1): Tripp Nays (4): Seligmann, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Rusoff Assistant Superintendent Ferrel agreed that the concrete curb will be repaired as part of the City’s normal program. B. Request for Parking Permits for Dryden Road Garage for IFD Bunkers By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Rusoff WHEREAS, The Board of Public Works has been approached by the Ithaca Fire Department for four free, full day parking permits in the Dryden Road parking garage to be issued to resident bunkers as part of the bunker incentive program, and WHEREAS, this request reflects a cost of the fire department’s bunker program which will be borne by the Department of Public Works budget and is contrary to the city’s efforts to directly budget all program costs, now therefore be it October 25, 1995 Page 3 RESOLVED, that the board grants the fire department’s request for four free permits through the end of December 1996 and that starting January 1997, the fire department will be billed for all off street parking operated and maintained by the Department of Public Works which is used to meet its operational, contractual or incentive program needs. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 14. TRAFFIC ITEMS: 15. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: 16. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: 17. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Request for Sewer Bill Reduction By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from Thomas A. Allen, 1018 N. Cayuga Street to refund $50.22 of his sewer bill based on his use of water for outdoor purposes that have no sewer impact, and WHEREAS, the Asst. Superintendent for Water and Sewer has responded to Mr. Allen in a letter dated September 21, 1995, explaining that all bills are issued on the same basis, with the knowledge that not all water uses result in sewer flows, and that sewer bills are proportional to water use, but are not directly measured, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the board denies Mr. Allen’s request to expunge portions of his sewer bill to adjust it for watering flower beds. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Amendment No. 2 to Agreement with Stearns & Wheeler for IAWWTF Plant Capacity Upgrade By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt The Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Facility-Special Joint Subcommittee and Stearns & Wheeler engineers entered into an agreement, authorized May 1, 1995, for engineering services in connection with the design and construction of additions and modifications to the Ithaca Area Waste Water Treatment Plant for an amount not to exceed $48,800. The initial project was approved by the Board of Public Works, and Common Council voted its approval on April 5, 1995. The Special Joint Sewer Committee at its regular meeting on August 1, 1995 authorized Amendment No. 1 in an amount not to exceed $6,000 thereby increasing the project from $48,800 to $54,800 for additional engineering services to provide a programmable logic controller (PLC) based control system for operation of raw wastewater pumps. The increase was approved by the Board of Public Works on August 16, 1995, and Common council voted its approval on September 6, 1995. WHEREAS, the Special Joint Sewer Committee, at its regular meeting on October 17, 1995, voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Public Works and to Common Council Amendment No. 2 to the contract for additional services as follows: 1. Assist owner in competing dye testing and stress testing as required by the NYSDEC. Anticipated cost $6,300. 2. Provide an Engineer’s Representative on-site for one (1) day during required bypassing of the wastewater treatment plant associated with installation of a new raw wastewater pump. Anticipated cost $700. 3. Prepare a set of reproducible record prints of drawings showing those changes made during the construction process. Anticipated cost $2,800; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works approves Amendment No. 2 to the contract with Stearns & Wheeler for IAWWTF Plant Capacity Upgrade, said Amendment No. 2 is in the amount October 25, 1995 Page 4 of $9,800 for a new revised total of $64,600 from $54,800 , and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board of Public Works passes its recommendation on to the Budget & Administration Committee and Common Council for approval. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously C. Revised 1996 Water & Sewer Rates Superintendent Gray reported that the rates previously passed by the Board were in line with the Controller’s review of financial projections. 18. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Reeves reported that the TC Office for the Aging and Senior Citizens Council requested that she do a Public Service Announcement for snow shoveling volunteers. Commissioner Seligmann reported that the Energy Commission is interested in looking at Cass Park Rink’s energy usage. Commissioner Ehrhardt reported that Dan Cole will report on traffic capital projects 19. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: 20. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 21. NEW BUSINESS: A. Board has Power to Act By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, that the Board grants itself Power to Act at the November 1, 1995 Committee of the Whole meeting on the request by Ithaca Child magazine to use City property. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Calendar Changes for November and December The calendar for November and December meetings will be as follows: November 8 and 29 - Full Meetings November 1 and 15 - COW December 13 - Full Meeting December 6 and 20 - COW C. Commissioner Tripp - Resignation Commissioner Tripp announced that she is resigning from the Board and associated Boards and Commissions.The announcement was met with expressions of regret from all members of the Board and the hope that she will be available for further service the the City when her schedule permits. 22. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. William Kaupe Benjamin Nichols Deputy City Clerk Mayor