HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-04-12 TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
APRIL 12 , 1971
The regular meeting of theTown of Danby Town Board was held
tat the Danby Town Hall , April 12 , 1971 at 8 : oo PM .
Board members present : Supervisor Mak. .
Councilman Wilbur
• Councilman Crance
Justice Dorn
Justice Wright
Also present : Zoning officer G . Roberts , Planning Board Chair-
mai Richard Olsem , reporter Fred Yahn of Ithaca Journal ,
Moses Peter , Mary and - Roy Casterline , Rick Dobson , Mrs . Spotts ,
Mrs . Maycumber , Mrs . Evelien , Neal Wintermute , Jack Hardy and
Louis Riker .
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Minutes of regular meetings of Feb 8 and Mar 8 , 1971 and of a
special meeting of April 7 , 1971 were distributed to Board members
for reading and correction .
Correction of March minutes , i ,.e. , General Warrant was reduced
from $1922 . 12. to $1913 . 70 in as much as a bill. from Agway in the
amount of $ 8.. 34 rightfully belongs to the Danby Fire. Company .
Minutes were approved as corrected .
Communications :
1 . Thaler & Thaler re Cerracche Television Cable
In essence : " The use of County and State highways
in the Town of Danby are regulated by the State
Transportation Department and by the County respec -
tively . If Cerracche has used town highways without
permission then notice can be given that until it has
a Franchise , it is illegal .
2 . Agenda of Tompkins Board of Representatives for
Mar 22 , 1971 and April 124 , 1971
' 3 . Tompkins County Board of Representatives Resolution
No . 63 - Approval of Amendment to Tax Law- Sales tax
allocation .
4 . Governor Rodkefellers Proclamation of Earth Week
April 19 through April 25 , 1971 .
5 . Thaler & Thaler - Dossier of Rick Dobson vs
Town of Danby Zoning Ordinance . Dobson has legal
right to placement of seven trailers on his property
since proper procedures were followed prior to the
Amended Ordinance of Aug . 1 , 1969 . He cannot , under
the present zoning ordinance) extend beyond the seven
mobile homes without permission of the Town Board
under the provisions of Section 708 . 2 of the present
zoning Ordinance .
6 . Thaler & Thaler to Gordon Roberts , Zoning Officer
re Right of Zoning Officer to Inspect Property . In
essence , Zoning officer , when property owner refuses
admittance , must obtain a warrant . There is no
• specific statutory authority given under Section
268 of the Town Law which gives the Town Board
authority to enforce a Zoning Ordinance .
7 . Letter from Ed Abbott re meeting to discuss Basin
Board study .
8 . . State of New York Parks and Recreation re State
Subsidy for "grant in aid " to enforcement agencies of
the Snowmobile Law .
9 . State of New York Dept of Agri & Markets re 24 hr dog •
quarantine effective Apr 1 , 1971 to March 1 , 1973 .
Danby Town Board minutes - April 12 , 1971 - Page 2
Communications Cont ' d :
10 . Letter from Senator Ted Day in reply to our letter
re Basin Board Study . Senator Dizy stated that he would
certainly investigate the matter .
11 . Frank Albanese re Ivy Broadcasting Company towers .
Question as to whether Ivy Broadcasting Co is a public
- utility . There is not much information available
but a recent case decided Apr 22 , 19 70 , "although a
radio station does not constitute a public utility in
the ordinary sense . it is , nevertheless , a public.
utility in a limited sense impressed with a public
interest " .
PRIVILEGE OF FLOOR :
Nothing from Board members at this time .
Moses Peter commented on Sanitary landfill operation . Mr . Peter
volunteered to represent Danby at meeting of County Board of
Representatives since he feels we have all too little representation
at these meetings . This will be put on the agenda .
Roy Casterline reported that the County is checking canvasses on
trucks etc .
The ladies present had no comment .
' Neal Wintermute of local Radio Communications Company was present
to tell about various types of radio and communication systems
which are available for use of Highway Dept . This was put on Agenda .
There were no other comments from the floor .
COMMITTEE REPORTS :
A. Highway Dept - Wilbur reported Supt . Chaffee is cutting brush on
Fisher Settlement Rd , Sand Bank Rd . Bald Hill road is left to
finish from last year - Erwin Plan .
Supt . Chaffee is looking into a stone crusher . He is presently
using the County ' s crusher but this presents problems .
Mr . Wilbur reported he had met with the planning board to discuss
housing of Highway equipment as per planning board minutes , copies
of which were distributed with last months minutes to the
Board members .
B . West Danby Water District ; - Crance reported that the Water
Commissioners had met last Sat . re contract proposal for Mt .
Danby Inc , The commissioners ° noted that there is some timber
( ash ) on -the land that Mt . Danby Inc . wihhes to lease . What
would happen to this timber ? The Commissioners feel that any
revenue from this timber should go to the Water District ,
Discussion of water usage in the proposed Ski Lodge brought
out the fact that the lodge would have to pay a Tap fee of
$ 150 . 00 plus costs of cutting into ' an * 8 " line . This could be
an " expensive proposition " - The Water Commissioners also felt
that the lease proposal , should it become a reality , should be
reviewed and amended if necessary every five years . Insurance
problems were discussed . The Commissioners also feel that the
land which the Mt . Danby Inc . would lease should be subject to
change if necessary --- that is , if the Water District needed to
put in another well or new equipment , the ski runs and ski lifts
etc might necessarily have to be moved . There is a need to fence
the well house .
C'ee Insurance - A . Francis Wright stated that rates are going up on
Compensation Insurance . He would like to have the Insurance audit
verified . There is some feeling that perhaps Town of Danby
should consider another source of Insurance . This was put on
agenda .
D . Youth a A . Francis Wright reported no activity .
Danby Town Board Minutes - April 12 , 1971 - Page 3
Committee Reports cont1d :
E . Zoning and Planning - Dorn - no reports
F . Fire - Wilbur met with the Fire Commissioners . The biggest
problem with parking violations seems to be with the
Law enforcement officers . All conditions seem to • be
improving . Justice Wright commented that various items
in and near the area used by the Justices do not add to
the atmosphere of a courtroom . Wilbur to speak to
Firemen about these things .
G . Cemeteries - Dorn - reported that everything is quiet in this
area .
OLD BUSINESS :
A . Highway Supt - absent
B . Zoning Officer - No further reports at this time
C . Planning Board - Olsen - Activities have been reported in
minutes and. communications . Mr . Olsen met with Frank Liguori
re Mt . Danby Inc . . Mr . Liguori to work on it right away and
to advise Olsen by next Wed . if any ramifications are advisable .
D . Appeals Bd . Chapman : absent ,
E;. Voting Machines - Supervisor MakienThe Town of Danby Voting
machines are outdated and can no longer be repaired as parts
• are not available . Costs of new machines discussed . Literature
from " Printomatic " was viewed by all interested persons .
It was suggested that Supervisor Makie get some quoted from
Voting - -Machine sales • companes . . This was put on the agenda for
May.
F . TV Cable Franchise . - Letter from Thaler re Cerracche Televison
Cable was read . Ceracche has crossed town roads . Supervisor
Makie to check out reported roads .
G. New Highway Barn Progress - This has not been forgotten by the
Planning Board - no report at this time .
NEW BUSINESS :
A. Assessment Local Bd . of Review - Fred Thayer declined his appoint -
ment - It is recommended that the Clerk w me to Lawrenceboard .
Cortright and ask if he would accept app
( Clerks note : This letter was written and ITeceived Mr . of
Cortrights acceptanoe • on April 30 , 1971 . Mr
the Board of Assessors was or notified
dabyo letter aoffsMay . 7 , n1971 )
The town board approved this
B . State Aid Reduction in Youth Program - $ 1600 . 00 reduction for
Town of Danby program - There is no definite information on this
only what was in the paper . It is recommended that Supervisor
Makie contact Assemblywoman Constance Cook for an interpretation
and put on May agenda .
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C . Alternate Voting Machine Custodian : Supervisor recommended
an alternate custodian be appointed to act . in Harry
Hatfields absence . A motion was made by Justice Dorn ,
seconded 'by Councilma�ri Edward
Alternate Voting Machine
of 5 ayes , no ft _= noes .
Aesolution . on issuance of $ 75 , 000 . 00 West Danby Water Dist .
/ ; 6 ' . Serial Bonds . Resolution was reudcinmits8entirety .
n No . was moved by
Resolution 5 put to a roll
seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance and duly p
call vote . The vote was 5 ayes , no noes .
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E . County Representative E . J . Miller , Jr . was late in
arriving - Supervisor went on to next item on the agenda . Will
. come back to this item later .
F . Proposed County Road Numbering System- This proposal would
be advantageous to to fire districts , water district and
Danby own Board Minutes - April 12 , 1971 - Page 4
New Business Cont ' d :
F . tax departments . It proposes to generally provide a more
efficient system of assessment program in being able to
put everything on a computer and by referring to road
. numbers . The . County assessor would have records and photo -
graphs of every property - properties would be grouped
together as clusters for tax purposes - The addresses
would be put in the computor and computor would come out
with the valuation . County Assessor is non-committal re
value of this system to the tax department at this time .
City of Ithaca is not to be changed . Supervisor feels
that numbering in the Town of Denby should not be changed
again . We have a good system now and it could not be
improved too much now . Residents of the Town of Denby
might get tax notices mailed to them from the County with
a different address than the one you are used to in
general . New numbering would add to individual expense of
changing address on - checks , stationery , car registrations-
and one could go on and on for something that would
only jeopardize us in as much as others have not done this .
E . Erie J . Miller reports :
On computerizing of renumbering- the county is moving very
slowly and very cautiously on this matter . Danby does not
need it .
EJM reported that he had received a letter from Mrs . Fred
Button in West Danby representing the West Denby Grangg4e
littering in the West Denby area . Recommendation that the
County be instructed to direct the Commissioner of Public
Works to do his job as instructed and and approved by
Resolution . The County offered Danby a fee for picking up
litter . Denby declined . EJM said he had read Mrs . Buttons
letter to the Board of Representatives at their meeting today .
It was turned over to a committee for proper action . EJM
also notified Bob Howard about it because the Sheriff should
be policing these roads and picking up litter . Howard Stevenson
originally was supposed to travel these roads at least once
a week and pick up litter . The Commissioner of Public Works
is appointed and should be instructed to do his job as agreed .
Question was asked as to whether there would be any further
maintenance on Hillview Road . The County reported they had
already spent almost $ 100000 . 00 on that road . They did not
anticipate any further work . The problem of the Hillview
intersection was brought up . Problem seems to be mainly in
snowplowing . The problem really is that it is an unsfe inter-
section . , It should be made so that one can turn in . either
direction . EJM to talk more seriously about this to the
Board .
Landfill ApprJch & Cleanup - Supervisor Makie and Co . Rep .
Miller have talked to the County about this . The County must
be made to live up to the conditions of agreement or tell us
they are not going to and why they are not going to carry
through . EJM should tell the County that we feel we have been
voted out of " sayso " on the Boardand that his position has been
reduced so that they can just put their garbage on our roads ,
that Denby would consider legal action to force them into
doing only what they said they would do , per Supervisor Makie .
EJM said that he had brought up this whole matter at the
meeting of the Board today and yet they did not report it in
the Ithaca Journal . He requested the Ithaca Journal reporter
present to review the report . EJM says the Board of Representative
is having a few problems under the new charter .
SPCA - EJM voted against SPCA picking up dogs . Tried to
bring this up again but it is illegal to do so until next
year .
Rep. Miller asked how Denby felt about TC. - 3 . There will be
much publicity about it in the next few weeks . T® 3 is
moving along fast .
G . Landfill Approach Cleanup Enforcement : Wilbur suggested
Supervisor Makie write a :letter " as requested by the Denby
Town Board'` referring to the original Resolution . There was
also a suggestion that a few arrests for littering might help
Danby Town Board Minutes - April 12 , 1971 - Page 5
the problem , especially if they were given publicity .
Moses Peter wants to stop littering before it gets beyond
control . He suggests that the. cQQn�t of over a Highway ' Supt is
through the budget . When hen're` i gAts funds for an . item , one
should move against it and tell him why . The ultimate control
is that a new man can be hired .
No further comments by E J Miller .
H . Radio and Communications System - Mr: Wintermute gave
figures on cost of systems available and recommendations for each
of two systems . The frequency for radios is allocated by Albany .
The cost would be approximately 1500- 3000 dollars for four mobile
units and a base unit . Councilman Crance moved to have Highway
Supt Chaffee request a frequency from Albany . Councilman Wilbur suggest
ed further checking - also consideration of maintenance costs .
Councilman Crance rescinded hi s motion . Put on agenda for May .
I Insurance - Jump in rates this year from $ 900 . 00 to $ 1600 . 00
with no explanation or forewarning from Insurance Company .
Relations are not satisfactory . Discussion followed with comments
from two Insurance agents present i Peters and iker . Mayranets Wright
to do some interviewing and shopp ng and report
Supervisor Makie suggested that the next meeting be held in West
Darby to enable residents on that side of the town to attend
the meeting more easily . May meeting scheduled for West Danby Fire
Hall . Motion made by Sup Makie , seconded by Wilbur and carried
with 5 ayes , no noes .
General Fund Warrant # 4 - $ 776 . 33 -
Motion by Wright , seconded
by Crance that these bills be paid- carried 5 ayes , no noes .
Highway Fund Warrant # 4 - 802 . 47 - Motion by Wilbur , seconded by
Weight that these bills be paid . carried - 5 ayes , no noes .
Water District Fund warrant # 4 - $ 17 . 20 - motion by Crance ,
second by Dorn that these bills be paid - carried - 5 ayes ,
no noes .
Councilman Crance moved to accept the Supervisors pts asayes ,
submitted - Motion seconded by Justice Wright carried
no . noes . .
A motion was made by Councilman Crance to adjourn - seconded by
Dorn - carried. - 5 ayes , no noes .
Meeting adjourned 11 : 35 PM .
Respectfully Submitted ,
Mildred L . Miller ,
Town Clerk
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