HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1996-08-28BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEEDINGS
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 4:00 p.m. August 28, 1996
PRESENT:
Mayor Cohen
Commissioners (5) - Davidoff, Ehrhardt, Reeves, Seligmann, Vargas
OTHERS PRESENT:
Deputy City Controller - Thayer
City Clerk - Holcomb
Superintendent of Public Works - Gray
Assistant Superintendent of Streets and Facilities - Ferrel
Assistant Superintendent of Water and Sewer - Fabbroni
Common Council Liaison - Mackesey
Alderperson - Gray
Community Development Administrator - Stevenson
Engineering Intern - Krantz
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Smith
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:
5. COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE THE BOARD:
Margaret Ann Smith of 525 W Buffalo St spoke to the board about a sidewalk assessment for driveway work, a
neighbor's tree growing in her yard and glare from Byrne Dairy.
6. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC:
Mayor Cohen responded to Ms Smith that the board could only deal with the sidewalk/driveway issue.
Superintendent Gray will review correspondence regarding the sidewalk/driveway for adequate notice and make a
determination for further action. Discussion followed with Ms. Smith and Toby Krantz.
7. REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
8. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
9. REPORT OF CITY CONTROLLER:
10. REPORT OF COUNCIL LIAISON:
11. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF:
Superintendent Gray reported to the Board on the following matters:
Cornell concrete course; Transit System: bikes racks on all buses; SJS: CU offered private sewer; MPO: DOT
proposed addition of $2M bridge work - City and County work would be displaced; Cornell opening - signage and
police coordination; capital projects review; sidewalk contract wrap-up; surveying: DPW cold storage, interceptor
sewer, Cliff St rehab; handball court project out to bid shortly; Cass Park Pool out to bid soon; PESHA inspection;
new graffiti at Seneca St garage; equipment rehabilitation and auction; sewer TV used at Buffalo St; FEMA disaster
reimbusement; Army Corps/DEC Flood Control Channel dredging project this fall
Commissioner Davidoff asked about the status of the Cornell sailing activities use of the Flood Control Channel
(Gray contacted the organization involved at CU (Athletic Director will look into the matter), Commissioner Reeves
reported that the Parks Commission wanted a report from Pat Kennedy on the legal issues)
Assistant Superintendent Ferrel reported to the board on the following matters:
Highways: Mitchell St curbing and paving; street patching; E State manhole raising; Giles St paving;
Parks & Forestry: mowing, tree trimming; Stewart Park: playground mulch; swing set repair
Building Systems: bldg maintenance; City Hall/Commons brick repair; graffiti removal; Taber St house boarded up
Sign Shop: crosswalk striping; street sign replacement
Electrician: Court St school lights complete in time for school opening
Other items: street roller failed (will be replaced); municipal auction; 1997 budget preparation
Commissioner Seligmann asked about Cass Park ballfield lights (RFP for design work in process); Mitchell/Cornell
intersection open for school? and 500 block of Mitchell plans (Mitchell/Cornell will be open; 500 block will be
patched for winter 1997)
Commissioner Reeves asked about West End coordination.
Alderperson Mackesey asked about record-keeping for current DPW work.
Assistant Superintendent Fabbroni reported to the board on the following matters:
IWWTP upgrade contract going to bid; water system contract pending Pat Kennedy's review; T/Ithaca to upgrade its
water model to match other partners; E State St water leak- repairs delayed until Mitchell & Giles complete; team
approach for pump station maintenance; Mitchell St/Cornell St - complete; Mitchell/Elmwood - proceeding; Rt 96
water/sewer services; Court/Meadow water valve leak; Buffalo St, Lift Station and Giles St pump station designs;
electronic mapping projects; First St/Fall Creek interceptor survey, bid package ready in October; 15 service
requests
12. REPORT OF OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS:
Community Development Administrator Paul Stevenson reported on several CD projects:
• Cleveland Ave street improvements - Dan Cole will be studying traffic calming measures and school bus
discharge;
• Southside - Sear, Brown design and engineering work, asbestos abatement required;
• Conway Park - playground equipment ordered; Wood St Park - out to bid soon;
• MHA - land conveyance needed, new street will be built (Fall '96) and BPW must name it (w/MHA
member input), housing will be stick-built in the future, new park will be built (Spring '97) a name is
needed as well, abandonment of Lake St to be done this winter, CD grants
• CD grants to be announced in September (Buffalo St parking, Southside expansion, W State St
improvements
13. BUILDINGS, PROPERTIES AND TRANSIT ITEMS:
14. HIGHWAYS, STREETS AND SIDEWALK ITEMS:
15. TRAFFIC ITEMS:
16. CREEKS, BRIDGES AND PARKS:
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:
• South Hill Terrace one-way proposal neighborhood meeting: 12 attended - no consensus (those in favor cited
safety, those opposed cited inconvenience), Ehrhardt and Dan Cole still reviewing the matter
• Planning Board accepted Wegman's DEIS (drainage not an issue, traffic mitigation measures are a problem to
be reviewed with Planning Board)
• Capital Project Review Committee - Cass Park cooling system repairs: discussion of existing Cass Park rink
contract obligations, discussion of operating deficit and future operations (in-line skating, skateboard park,
possible discontinuance of ice-skating)
20. REPORT OF BOARD LIAISONS:
21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
22. NEW BUSINESS:
23. ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Julie Conley Holcomb Alan J. Cohen
City Clerk Mayor