HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1996-07-31BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. July 31, 1996
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) - Davidoff, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Smith, Vargas
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
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Seligmann, Commissioner Davidoff was excused at 4:35 and did not vote
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Cohen led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
2. MINUTES:
3. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS:
Commissioner Reeves asked about a proposal to place dumpsters under the parking garage (Mayor Cohen is waiting
for information and will bring it to the board)
5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
6. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC:
7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
Deputy City Controller Thayer reported on the following matters:
Golf Course concession - J. Ciaschi not interested in the concession, send concession back to Golf Committee
10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON:
11. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters:
Highways: Mitchell St water/sewer/storm sewer/street work; Southwest Park land filling; Giles St overlay; Court St
concrete work; Chestnut St dam cleanup; Mayor's work on DPW crews
Parks & Forestry: Cliff St closed - fallen tree; new brush chipper delivered; tree inventory 95% done
Building Systems: IPD entrance doors; IPD sign foundation; GIAC repairs and vandalism cleanup/repairs; City Hal
HVAC repairs; IPD/Jim Miller/John Efroymson meeting - graffiti cleanup
Transit: bus breakdowns; bike racks on buses starting 8/19
Other items: meetings w/Army Corps - dredging at fish ladder, meeting - boathouse stabilization - $100K grant
money (must be matched and closed out by 8/97); budget preparation
Alderperson Mackesey asked about tree watering
Discussion of boathouse work and future plans for Southwest Park
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on the following matters:
Rt 96 project using 2/3 of staff time; Court/Buffalo St water and sewer mains; TV used on all west end water and
sewer mains; Buffalo St pump station; island lift station; CFCU project; DSS project; Collegetown - new project;
Mitchell St; WWTP plan from O'Brien & Gere; personnel reorganization; budget ready at end of the week; sewer
contract with Dryden and Town of Ithaca; CU/West Ave water supply work after Mitchell St completion; silt dam
work
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters:
lawsuit work w/Attorney; meetings w/new Transit manager; Rt 96 coordination; budget; trip to Ottawa - skateboard
park and traffic calming; WWTP joint ownership contract; sidewalk contract; handball court bid; Rt 13 sewer
interceptor survey; Cass Park Pool bid; Southside 1st phase repairs; Collegetown new 5-story building - contractor
issues; Esty St - coordination w/NYS; National Night Out 8/6; extensive discussion of personnel issues
12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS:
13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS:
A. City Employee Bus Pass
By Commissioner Smith: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, the Common Council passed resolutions in 1992 and 1993 to allow employees to ride Ithaca Transit for
free, and
WHEREAS, each of the resolutions allowed for an experimental period of one year, and
WHEREAS, Ithaca Transit cannot receive State Aid and Operating Assistance (STOA) for “free” rides which has
July 31, 1996 - Page 2
resulted in lost income of roughly $7,000 since 1993 and is approaching $3,000 per year for 1996/1997, and
WHEREAS, a more useful employee bus pass would involve the ability to transfer between all these systems in a manner
consistent with the goals of less expensive employee transportation, fewer cars and consolidated transit service, now
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Director of Personnel should work with the unions, Superintendent of DPW, Transit
System Manager and the General Manager of Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) to develop a transition plan
for city employee bus passes.
Discussion followed on the floor.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS:
15. TRAFFIC ITEMS:
16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
A. Approval of Proposed Handball Court in Wood Street Park
By Commissioner Reeves: Seconded by Commissioner Ehrhardt
WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works passed a resolution on July 17, 1996 approving the concept of
building a handball court in Wood Street park, and
WHEREAS, the board’s resolution stated that updates on the project would be given as well as a final
report on the project; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works has reviewed the final proposal for installation of a handball
court, including modifications to a softball field, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That funding for this project be taken out of the remaining $13,000 in CDBG funds and that
construction of the handball court, including final siting of the court, be done in a manner that results in the
least impact to the other activities in the park.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously
17. ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ITEMS:
18. WATER, SEWER AND SOLID WASTE ITEMS:
19. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
Commissioner Ehrhardt (Traffic Committee) reported on the following matters:
• Cleveland Ave client committee meeting
• South Hill Terrace one-way change - arrangements for implementation within 90 days
20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Commissioner Reeves proposed that BPW budget meetings begin after the board meetings beginning
next week.
22. NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Reeves discussed a memo from Acting Police Chief Barnes and Fire Chief Wilbur which
detailed the traffic problems in the Collegetown area.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
At 5:05 p.m., on a motion by Commissioner Ehrhardt and seconded by Commissioner Smith, the board
went into executive session to discuss a contractual matter with Assistant City Attorney Kennedy.
At 5:35 p.m., on a motion by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Vargas, the board
resumed regular session.
23. ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion by Commissioner Smith, seconded by Commissioner Vargas, the meeting adjourned at 5:35
p.m.
William Kaupe Alan J. Cohen
Deputy City Clerk Mayor