The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1995-11-29BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. November 29, 1995 PRESENT: Mayor Nichols Commissioners (4) - Seligmann, Smith, 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 EXCUSED: Common Council Liaison - 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 November 29, 1995 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the November 8, 1995 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. 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. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: Mayor Nichols raised the issue of parking rate changes as a result of Common Council’s anticipated actions on the 1996 budget. The Mayor reported that he did not have any appointments to the two vacant Board seats. 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: 6. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: Deputy City Clerk Kaupe announced that PC Codebook, an electronic version of the Municipal Code, was available on the City network and was also available on floppy disk to City staff and Board members. 7. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 8. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: Deputy City Controller Thayer reported on budget-related items, including parking rates and plumbing fees. He also reported that the current budget was $15,000 over the Mayor’s recommendation and that reductions were being sought in Departmental requests. Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities Ferrel reported that certain reductions were made in the DPW budget. 9. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: 10. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: budget; drug/alcohol testing meetings and policy; Albany transit conference; development of possible programs and policies for outsourcing certain engineering work; Ray Benjamin’s move to Streets & Facilities; Lynne Yost’s parenting leave; future meeting on cooperative work programs w/Bill Mobbs and Chuck Moynihan in Syracuse; NE Transit extended hours for holidays; painting of new small buses; Dan Cole working on: watershed property acquisition, Elm Street drainage, storm drainage modeling in Collegetown, Oak Ave survey work for meter installations; staff time for Computer Committee and Union negotiation; 1996 license fees; railroad crossings; CHIPS reimbursement; TIP projects; ISTEA enhancements program; citizen requests; task force issues; sidewalks; Youth Bureau project heat pump wells; November 29, 1995 Page 2 2 Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: lagoon/dechlorination site work; storm damage; sewer pump station maintenance; DPW roof work; sludge agreement with Tompkins County and future agreement with Auburn; Route 96: agreement on extra costs, Seneca St. new sewers, new water main across State St. bridge; flow testing for water model; water leaks discovered - 700GPM at old Wilcox Press site; plant capacity contract for sewer plant work; remote monitoring devices; budget; discussion of water loss issues followed; Commissioner Ehrhardt asked about the acquisition of the sewer inspection camera; Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: snow damage - 350 overtime hours; beaver damage; yard waste/leaf pickup program ending mid-December; Sign Shop - Historic signage; Electrician - Christmas lights, water plant electric service; Seneca St. garage 2nd entrance opening for holidays; Parks & Forestry - Elmira Rd. planter, bare-root planting program; alcohol/drug testing program and policy for commercial driver’s license holders; cold storage building site work and design proposals; 11. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 12. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: 13. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: 14. TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Request for Reduced Fee for Motorcycles in Parking Garages. By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request for a reduced parking fee for motorcycles within city parking garages; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works does not see this request as being appropriate at this time and therefore denies the request for reduced parking fee for motorcycles within city parking garages. Discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Smith RESOLVED, That the RESOLVED clause be amended to read: RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies the request for reduced parking fee for motorcycles within city parking garages. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 15. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: A. Request for Use of Stewart Park After Hours. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, Robin Goodrich has requested that the Board of Public Works grant her permission for use of Stewart Park after 10:00 pm, and WHEREAS, Ms. Goodrich has stated that she works late hours and wishes to walk through the park in order to unwind for the evening; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works denies Ms. Goodrich’s request for permission to walk in Stewart Park late at night based on the city code which sets time restrictions on all users of the park, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the board wishes to express its understanding to Ms. Goodrich and encourages her to find an alternate walking route. November 29, 1995 Page 3 Discussion followed on the floor. Amending Resolution By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Reeves RESOLVED, That the second RESOLVED clause be deleted. A vote on the amending resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously A vote on the amended resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 16. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: A. Request for Waiver of Professional Insurance Requirement. By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, the Engineering Department wishes to hire a consultant for professional services to analyze the work stations within the department, and WHEREAS, the prospective consultant has stated that the insurance requirements are too costly; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby waives the requirement for professional liability insurance for this project. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 17. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: 18. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: 19. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Ehrhardt (Planning Committee) reported on the Bicycle Plan. Commissioner Reeves (Parks Commission) reported on the parks inventory and that the Cornell Society of Engineers has offered to build a pedestrian bridge across Cascadilla Creek at Willow Ave/Lincoln St (discussion followed). Mayor Nichols called attention the skateboarding meeting on November 30 (discussion followed). 20. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 21. NEW BUSINESS: Superintendent Gray requested that the Board facilitate Ray Benjamin’s transfer to Streets & Facilities. A. Resolution Directing Superintendent Gray to Fill the Junior Engineer Position By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, that the Board directs the Superintendent of Public Works to fill the future Junior Engineer vacancy as soon as possible. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 22. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:15p.m. William Kaupe Carol Reeves Deputy City Clerk Vice-Chair