HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-11-08 TOWN OF DANBY
TOWN BOARD MINUTES
NOVEMBER 8 , 1971
The regular meetina of the Town of Danby Town Board was held in
the Danby Elementary School , November 8 , 1971 , at 8 : 00 P . M .
Board members present : Supervisor Donald Makie
Councilman Gerald Crance
Councilman Ralph Wilbur
Justice Floyd Dorn
Justice A . Francis Wright
Also present : Appeals Board Chairman Moses Peter , Planning Board
Chairman Richard Olsen , Zoning Officer Gordon Roberts , Ithaca
Journal reporter Fred Yahn , Mary Oltz , Roy and Mary Casterline ,
Bob and Gloria Farrell , Rick Dobson , Dorothy Riniinen .
The minutes of the regular meeting of October 11 , 1971 , were
distributed to Board members for reading and correction .
The minutes were approved as presented .
COMMUNICATIONS :
1 . A letter to Supervisor Makie from Sheriff Robert
Howard , detailing their patrol of Hillview Road
on October 12 - October 14 , 1971 .
2 . A letter from the Area Beautification Council regard -
ing a meeting to be held on Trees in Your Community .
3 . A memo to Town Clerks of calendar deadlines .
November 15 is the deadline for filing the Town
Budget .
4 . A letter to Richard Olsen from Frank Liguori regard -
ing the failure of the Town of Danby to appoint a
member to the County Planning Board .
5 . A notice of the Builders ' Association Meeting concern-
ing Open Space Environment to be held on November 17 ,
in Syracuse .
6 . Agenda of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives
meeting .
7 . A claim from Margaret Adams , West Danby , for property
damage to her house on August 5 , 1971 , from huge limbs
falling from dead elm trees on the highway .
P RIVILEGE OF FLOOR :
Justice Floyd Dorn reported that Traffic Court has been very busy
lately . There were thirty - one cases in October .
Justice A . Francis Wright said his court has also been very busy .
He said he has not had as many traffic cases as Justice Dorn , but
has had other rather complicated and time - consuming cases .
D orothy Rihiinen raised a question about dead tree limbs falling
from a tree located across the road from her , which are endanger -
ing her property .
B ob Farrell asked if the road he is on - - Makarainen Road - - is
an abandoned road or an existing town road . The road is shown
on a County Map as a Town Road . Mr . Farrell was advised to check
with Highway Superintendent Richard Chaffee .
Danby Town Board Minutes - Ncv ember 8 , 1971 - Page 2
Privilege of Floor Cont ' d :
Mr . Rick Dobson said he had a complaint about the recent decisions
of the Zoning Appeals Board when a permit was granted for a
trailer to be erected on a lot that is less than one - half acre
of land and about thirty feet from his water system , and which
was no hardship at all on the people involved , and in an instance
where a man had seven and one - half acres of land they refused his
permit to build a house because he only had fifty feet of right -
of - way . In the case where the permit for the trailer was , granted
on one - half acre the people only had twenty- five feet of right - of -
way . The house planned for the seven and one - half acre lot would
probably have added at least $18 , 000 to the tax books , while
the trailer will probably not add more than $1 , 000 to the tax
books . He said he felt this was wrong and should be investigated
by the Town Board . Supervisor Makie stated that they expected
a report from the Appeals Beard Chairman later in the meeting and
would place the matter on the agenda .
Ithaca Journal reporter Fred Yahn asked what was considered a
proper covering of the garbage section of the Sanitary Landfill .
He said he had been taking pictures at the close of day and he
felt all the garbage was not being covered . He was advised that
there is supposed to be two feet of dirt covering all the garbage
at the end of the day . Supervisor Makie said he had attended a
seminar on Sanitary Landfills and there it was stated that there
should be a covering of six inches of dirt every two hours and
two feet at the end of the day .
COMMITTEE REPORTS :
A . Highway Department - Councilman Ralph Wilbur reported that
the Fisher Settlement Road is completed and the papers have
been sent in so we should have the money before too long .
Highway Superintendent Chaffee has been working on the
Dawes Hill Road . He is gravelling it and should have it done
in a couple of days . Ever Mr . Johanson is happy with the road .
Because the Transportation Bond was defeated they have had
a meeting with the County Highway Superintendents and the
State Department of Public Works . They are definitely going
to cut down on the salt and cinders on County and State High -
ways , and they are going to cut the snow plowing down . On
County Highways this may not affect our town too bad . It seems
there is a terrible mis - use of this and great variations in
the amount that the towns charge the county . For instance ,
last year some of the towns were plowing County Highways for
the year for $160 per mile . Some of the towns were getting
as much as $600 per mile . This won ' t be any more. , because
Howard Stevenson will control this as to when they are to plow
the road and when they aren ' t . On the State Highway Superin-
tendent Chaffee has always used his own discretion and when it
needed plowing he sent the grader out . Now he is not to send
the grader out on the State Highway until he has an order to
send the grader out . Consequently , without a doubt , our snow
plowing money is going to be down . Chaffee didn ' t seem to
think this is going to affect our town as much as some others .
We have not been misusing this at all . As a matter of fact ,
he has been turning the time in exactly as the men put on
their time cards . We are one of the low towns on the cost
per mile . Chaffee feels that they were just generalizing
to get some of the other boys to either get in line or get in
trouble . He seems to think that if we want out of plowing
the State Highway that definitely right now we can get out .
Chaffee questions whether we are making any money with the
Danby Town Board Minutes - November 8 , 1971 - Page 3
Committee Reports Cont ' d :
plowing . Supervisor Makie said he feels we get a fair rate
of reimbursement . Councilman Wilbur said that they are going
to let the snow build up before they call for the graders
to scrape it down . Chaffee feels that if this is what they
intend to do the Town cannot afford to do it because they
will wear out a set of blades just going to Ithaca and back .
Councilman Wilbur said that the line of attack they are using
is that this is going to cause people todo a lot of scream-
ing as to why the roads are not salted , and whys; they are not
cindered and why they are not plowed . They feel that then
without a doubt if there is a Transportation Bond again then
the people are going to vote for it .
Supervisor Makie said that if when Highway Superintendent
Chaffee turns in his time for snow plowing he would send a
copy to Makie , then he could be sure we are actually getting
all the money that is due . At the present time Makie has
no way of knowing if we actually get all the money that is
due us .
Richard Olsen asked if there is anything lined up for the
Bruce Hill Road . Councilman Wilbur said it is not included
in the Donovan Plan and would have to come under his regular
repair and maintainence program , which he has been doing now
that he has finished the Erwin Plan .
B . West Danby Water District - Councilman Gerald Crance reported
that he had heard nothing from Schlieder . Crance said he
spoke with Austen and he is coming tomorrow night at 6 : 00 P . M .
to install the new chlorinator .
C . Insurance - No report .
D . Refuse Collection & Disposal - No report .
E . Youth - Justice A . Francis Wright asked if the reports had
been filed yet . Supervisor Makie said he had not received
them .
F . Zoning & Planning - No report .
G . Fire - No report .
H . Cemeteries - No report .
OLD BUSINESS :
A . Highway Superintendent - No report .
B . Zoning Officer - No report .
C . Planning Board Chairman - Richard Olsen recommended that the
Board appoing Lou Ackerman to the Town Planning Board .
D . Appeals Board Chairman - Moses Peter reported that on November 4 ,
1971 , a public hearing was held to consider three requests .
One involved the reinstatement of a non- conforming use to put
a trailer on a 1001 by 100 ! lot owned by Mr . & Mrs . Evelien
to be occupied by Mrs . Evelien ' s elderly mother . Three
neighbors spoke in favor of granting the request and one
spoke against it . The Appeals Board felt a hardship was
shown and granted the request . The Board denied' ancapplicant
who wanted to build a house on West Miller Road . He owned
D anby Town Board Minutes - November 8 , 1971 - Page 4
Old Business Cont ' d :
a seven and one - half acre lot , but did not have any road
f rontage , only a fifty foot right - of- way . Neighbors in the
immediate area spoke against granting the request . The Board
felt there could be a problem with parking on the highway and
felt the quality of construction was questionable . The third
was an appeal by Charles Bruce to permit him to build an auto
â epair shop on the same lot where his house is located . There
was no one present to express opposition .
Mr . Dobson spoke against bhe granting of the permit for the
trailer and said he felt that having an elderly relative was
n ot sufficient hardship as everyone will eventually have
elderly relatives to care for .
E . Town Site Status - Supervisor Makie reported that Bob Bartholf
is working on measuring the land to see what they have got
for the site , which would be east of their building , so they
are still looking upon it favorably . The site in terms of
size would probably be adequate . Hautala ' s have not called
back . George Awad called and was very anxious to do business
and would come down on the price somewhat . Makie said he
told him that as soon as he had this all together he would
immediately contact his lawyer and have the short term option
drawn up . Mr . Ash has decided he will not sell either portion
o f his property for this purpose . Land in this area is
generally appraised for $400 an acre .
F . Zoning Ordinance & Fees - Postpondd until next month .
G . Appoint Planning Board member - Justice Floyd Dorn made a
motion , seconded by Justice A . Francis Wright , to appoint
Lou Ackerman to the Town Planning Board . The motion was
carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes .
H . A motion was made by Justice A . Francis Wright , and seconded
by Councilman Ralph Wilbur , to appoint Richard Olsen as the
representative of the Town of Danby to the County Planning
B oard . The motion was carried by a vote of five ayes and
no noes .
I . The West Danby Water District Public Hearing will be held on
N ovember 22 , 1971 , at 7 : 30 P . M . in the West Danby Fire Hall .
NEW BUSINESS :
A . Adopt budget - Supervisor Makie explained the changes in the
budget as a result of a higher assessed valuation of property
than anticipated , which will result in a tax rate of $12 . 22
per thousand , two cents per thousand less than had been
anticipated . Councilman Ralph Wilbur made a motion to adopt
the revised budget . The motion was seconded by Councilman
G erald Crance and carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes .
B . Area Beautification Council Appointment - Tabled until next
month .
C . Resolution to Transfer Funds - Supervisor Makie stated that
a resolution was needed to transfer $40 . 00 from Contingent
Account A1990 . 4 to Municipal Association Dues A1920 . 4 , to
Res . x# 16 cover an increase in the dues . Justice A . Francis Wright
made a motion to approve Resolution # 16 to transfer $40 . 00
D anby Town Board Minutes - November 8 , 1971 - Page 5
N ew Business Cont ' d :
from Contingent Account A1990 . 4 to Municipal Association
Dues A1920 . 4 . The motion was seconded by Justice Floyd Dorn
and duly put to a roll call vote . The motion was carried by
a vote of five ayes and no noes .
D . Margaret Adams Claim - Councilman Ralph Wilbur will check
with the Highway Department regarding this claim .
E . Makarainen Road - Supervisor Makie will check with the Highway
Superintendent and the County to determine if this is a Town
Road .
F . Rick Dobson ' s Complaint regarding denial of permit for build-
ing on seven and one - half acre lot - Mr . Peters said it is
necessary to know all of the facts in order to properly
consider the problem . The individual was single and there
might be six or more occupying the building . There was no
â ight of way guaranteed . There was the possibility of a
snow removal problem as well as a parking problem . Super -
â isor Makie asked the Planning Board to consider whether
there needed to be a change in the present ordinance to
cover individuals who wish to build in the back lands of
the town . Zoning Officer Gordon Roberts stated that before
the gentlemen purchased the property he had spoken with him
and advised him to obtain his building permit before he
purchased the land . He later found that the gentlemen had
started construction without having obtained a permit .
P RIVILEGE OF FLOOR :
E . J . Miller , Jr . , County Representative , arrived at the meeting
and reported that there had been an extremely long meeting of the
County Representatives that morning . He stated that on November 17
at 7 : 30 P . M . there will be a meeting of the County Representatives ,
Rural Supervisors and Highway Superintendents . On November 18
there will be a public hearing on the County Budget . Mr . Miller
said there is mortgage tax money in the amount of 112 , 000 coming
to the Town of Danby . Mr . Miller stated that the equalization
rate for the Town of Danby is down to 80 from 83 last year .
Mr . Miller said cooperation between the City of Ithaca and the
surrounding towns is badly needed . Councilman Gerald Crance
asked if Mr . Cortright ' s proposed suggestion to require all
trucks headed for the Sanitary Landfill to be covered had been
d iscussed . Mr . Miller said he will bring it up for discussion .
Mr . Miller also spoke of the problems of the County Fire Coordinator .
H ighway Warrant #11 in the amount of was approved
to be paid . The motion was made by Justice A . Francis Wright ,
seconded by Councilman Ralph Wilbur . The motion was carried by
a vote of five ayes and no noes .
General Fund Warrant # 11 in the amount of $ 1 , 022 . 82 was approved
to be paid . The motion was made by Councilman Ralph Wilbur ,
seconded by Councilman Gerald Crance . The motion was carried
by a vote of five ayes and no noes .
The motion to, accept the Supervisors Report was made by Justice
A . Francis Wright , seconded by Justice Floyd Dorn and carried by
a vote of four ayes and no noes .
Danby Town Board Minutes - November 8 , 1971 - Page 6
New Business Conttd :
Councilman Gerald Crance was advised to sell the old chlorinator
if he can find someone who wants it .
Supervisor Makie read a list of the debtload of the Town of
Danby . It covers highway serial bonus in the amounts of
$3 , 565 . 00 ; $10 , 408 . 00 ; $14 , 082 . 00 and $ 26 , 000 . 00 . The West
Danby dater District has serial bonds in the amounts of
$ 6 , 000 . 00 ; $ 90 , 000 . 00 ; and :; 75 , 000 . 00 .
A motion was made by Justice A . Francis Wright and seconded
by Justice Floyd Dorn , to adjourn the meeting . The motion was
carried by a vote of five ayes and no noes .
The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 25 P . M .
Respectfully submitted ,
021A1/172FJâ1--
Mildred L . Miller ,
Town Clerk