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Home My WebLink AboutMN-BPW-1996-02-14BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. February 14, 1996 PRESENT: Mayor Cohen Commissioners (5) - Seligmann, Smith, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Davidoff 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 - Mackesey Assistant City Attorney - Kennedy Alderperson - Marcham EXCUSED: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. 2. MINUTES: Approval of the Minutes of the January 10, 1996 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 10, 1996 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously Approval of the Minutes of the January 24, 1996 Board of Public Works Meeting By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt RESOLVED, That the Minutes of the January 24, 1996 Board of Public Works meeting be approved as published. Carried Unanimously 3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA: Commissioner Reeves requested that Items 14A and 21 be added to the agenda and that Item 13A be moved ahead of Item 7 on the agenda . No Board member objected. 4. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MAYOR: Mayor Cohen thanked Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni for his quick action on two citizen complaints. 5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD: Alderperson Marcham presented a list of concerns of Fourth Ward residents: key concerns - "Frosh Alley" repairs, Collegetown trash and recycling containers; other concerns - Mitchell St redesign, Stewart Ave bricks, missing street signs, street cleaning, Buffalo St hill pavement, east hill shuttle bus, Eddy St sidewalk near Orchard Pl, City Cemetery maintenance Tony and Irene Petito and Pam Schwartz addressed the Board about a trash violation at 423 First Street and inquired about the procedure for an appeal. The Board advised that the matter be presented at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. Doria Higgins addressed the Board about the proposed Finger Lakes State Park 1996 redesign plan, especially the proposed new access road from Rt 89. 6. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC: Superintendent Gray responded to Ms Higgins and Alderperson Marcham. The Board took up Item 13A at this time. 7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK: February 14, 1995 Page 2 2 8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY: 9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER: Deputy Controller Thayer reported that the Golf Course bid would be sent out on 2/15 and bids would be due on 2/27. 10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON: 11. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF: Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the Board on the following matters: water leaks in Mitchell St system; storm damage; computer networking; GIS; engineering consultations; coordination of street utilities w/Streets & Facilities; bids for automatic meter reading devices; "workfare" w/Tompkins Co; WWTP work - dechlorination facility, pumps, RFP for large water system; cooperation meetings with other water purveyors - energy savings, operational cost savings (e.g., water laboratory); working w/Planning on latest CDBG grant round - Rt 96 tie-in; $80K grant expected from Tompkins Co; Commissioner Davidoff asked about workfare costs (no cost other than supervision) Mayor Cohen asked about State mandates requiring more workers to be sent and follow-up Commissioner Davidoff asked about hours worked (14-20 hours) Mayor Cohen asked about having people from workfare also work as part/time seasonal to enhance their income and chances of getting a full-time job down the road Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the Board on the following matters: workfare: program in place for 2 yrs, 2 people kept for 10 months, some no-shows but program is running better now; Highways: flood damage clean-up at Floral Ave and Dryden Rd; FEMA declared Tompkins Co eligible for disaster funds (overtime and materials) - application in process; routine maintenance Parks & Forestry: Andy Hillman in top 3 on Civil Service exam; tree damage; banner repair; Solid Waste: Christmas tree collection is over; Building Systems: S&F building work; GIAC HVAC; City Hall accessible drinking fountain; lawsuit deposition; Golf Course concession building design; Cass Park ballfield lighting meeting; Commissioner Smith asked about the repair to the Commons track sculpture (probable bad weld) Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters: MPO transportation project meetings; Joint Transit Facility, bus drivers' grievance arbitration; Rt 96: bridge design, fill items, flood damage; CDBG coordination w/Planning; substitution park lands w/Town of Ithaca; Cornell water consolidation; CU Lake Source Cooling project; Collegetown bus pull off lawsuits; Tompkins County recycling contract; office staffing - Tom West (Youth Bureau), Dan Cole (traffic work), Creig Hebdon (CSEA and computer work) The Board took up Item 14A at this time. 12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS: 13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS: A. Request for Encroachment at 109 West Clinton Street By Commissioner Smith : Seconded by Commissioner Seligmann WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received and reviewed a request for an encroachment agreement from Sharon Kellogg, owner of 109 West Clinton Street, and WHEREAS, the existing structure contains a porch which encroaches onto city property by 2.5 feet; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby grants the requested encroachment for the property at 109 West Clinton Street contingent upon the approval of the City Attorney, and, be it further February 14, 1995 Page 3 3 RESOLVED, That the Board reserves the right to direct the encroachment be removed at no cost to the City if the Department requires use of the property, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes the Mayor to enter into an agreement. Extensive discussion followed on the floor with Superintendent Gray and Frederick Beck, Attorney for the property owner. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously The Board returned to Item 7 at this point. 14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS: A. Bid Award for Highway De-Icing Salt. By Commissioner Davidoff: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, bids were received on January 25, 1996 for highway de-icing salt for use during calendar year 1996; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby accepts staff’s recommendation to award the salt bid to Cargill, Inc., 191 Portland Point Road, Lansing, NY for their low bid of $35.00 per ton of bulk salt, delivered; and $31.00 per ton for bulk salt loaded at their Lansing facility, and be it further RESOLVED, That the board authorizes the Assistant Superintendent for Streets and Facilities to enter into an agreement with Cargill, Inc. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 15. TRAFFIC ITEMS: A. Request for Removal of Meters on Stewart Avenue. By Commissioner Ehrhardt: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works has received a request from Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, located at 804 Stewart Avenue, to remove parking meters, and WHEREAS, the request comes as a result of the lack of off street parking at the fraternity house as well as difficulties due to the driveway layout, and WHEREAS, the Board has pointed out that allocating public parking resources is frequently accomplished by the use of parking meters while the responsibility for private automobiles and its associated expenses remain with the vehicle owner; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed and denies this request, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board requests that staff obtain from the Police Department a report on the revenue of these meters in six months in order to consider if the location warrants meters or some other control device to regulate parking at this location. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS: 17. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS: 18. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS: A. Request for Extension of Temporary Reduction in Hours - Water and Sewer February 14, 1995 Page 4 Support Staff. By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt WHEREAS, Paige Rumsey, since returning from maternity leave, is working 14.5 hours per week at her position as Account Clerk-Stenographer and 17.5 hours per week out-of-title as a Principal Account Clerk, in Joanne Phillips absence, and WHEREAS, Joanne Phillips, since covering for Paige Rumsey after her own maternity leave is working 20.0 hours per week, and WHEREAS, Beverly Klinko is currently working 16.0 hours per week as a temporary Account Clerk/Typist, and WHEREAS, the current arrangement was developed with the cooperation of the city to accommodate families, retain job skills, provide cross training, and currently does so at less expense to the city, and WHEREAS, the department is able to accommodate these particular arrangements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That Paige Rumsey and Joann Phillips be allowed to continue to work reduced hours through December 31, 1996, and, be it further RESOLVED, That the temporary Account Clerk/Typist position continue until December 31, 1996. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously B. Recommendation of Appointments to Energy Commission. By Commissioner Seligmann: Seconded by Commissioner Davidoff RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works hereby recommends that the Mayor appoint the following people to the Energy Commission: Paul Sayvetz Paul Glover Janice Putnam Ed Cope Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously 19. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Commissioner Reeves reported on Council's passage of a resolution to install flashing yellow lights on Court St between Albany and Plain Sts and that a traffic study was required. Discussion followed about the traffic study. Commissioner Reeves also reported on the passage of the Commons dog ordinance. 20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS: Commissioner Reeves reported from the Parks Commission: parks survey, "adopt-a-park," tree trusts, Bryant Park upgrade study, Wood St Park handball court and basketball lights, book author wishes to build a play structure and donate it to the City. Commissioner Davidoff reported from the Disability Advisory Council: looking for new members, work plan priority comparison between DPW list and ADA list (legal and safety issues), City Hall bathrooms emphasized. Extensive discussion followed. Bathroom issue to be placed on next agenda. Mayor Cohen will reported that he would appoint 4 new DAC members that evening. Commissioner Seligmann reported from the Recreation Partnership: outlying area participation, using public transportation Commissioner Smith reported from the Golf Subcommittee: effects of the lateness of the bid (add to COW agenda) February 14, 1995 Page 5 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Commissioner Reeves discussed the size of the COW agenda. The Board discussed agenda priorities and time limits. 22. NEW BUSINESS: 23. ADJOURNMENT: On a motion the meeting adjourned at 6 p.m. William Kaupe Alan J. Cohen Deputy City Clerk Mayor