HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Enfield-Town-Government-Newsletter-Fall-2012.pdf1
Town of Enfield
168 Enfield Main Road http://townofenfield.org
October - December 2012 Newsletter
Enfield Town Boards
Meetings are held in the
Community Building, 1st floor
Town Board: 2nd Wednesday, 6:30pm
Town Supervisor
Roy Barriere 277-3843
Deputy Supervisor
Jean Owens 273-5682
Town Council Members
Chris Hern 256-5033
Vera Howe-Strait 273-1413
Ann Rider 277-3478
Debbie Teeter 277-4547
Planning Board: 1st Wednesday, 7pm
Virginia Bryant, co-chair 387-9376
Mike Carpenter, co-chair 277-4204
Ann Chaffee 272-6460
Steve Givin 273-7434
Calvin Rothermich 272-5930
Marie Van De Mark 277-4383
Dan Walker 387-6394
Town Offices
Town Clerk 273-8256
Alice Linton, Town Clerk
Sue Thompson, Deputy Town Clerk
Town Office/Clerk Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 3 pm - 6 pm
Highway Department 272-6490
Barry Rollins, Highway Superintendent
Town Highway Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 6 am - 2:30 pm
Town Court 273-0363
Justice Poole: Monday, 5:00 pm
Justice Varricchio: Thursday, 5:00 pm
Code Enforcement Office
Community Building, 2nd floor
Code Enforcement 277-0266
Alan Teeter, Code Enforcement Officer
Code Enforcement Office Hours:
Monday thru Thursday 8:30-11 am
Wednesday 5-7 pm
Town Historian
Sue Thompson 272-6412
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company
Art Howser, Chief 272-8757
Roger Lauper, Deputy Chief
Kirk Vandee, 1st Assistant Chief
Ben Giles, 2nd Assitant Chief
Shawn Lauper, Captain
County Legislators
Report from the Supervisor
Here we are entering the fall season, starting a new school year, etc…
Hope your summer was very enjoyable. Here are some of the important issues
our Town government has been dealing with this summer.
The second local law for 2012 was adopted at the August meeting – the
Site Plan Review Law. I would like to take this time to thank the Planning
Board for their efforts with this process. They have devoted numerous hours of
their time over the past 2 years, with the fine-tuning of this proposal before it
was passed on to the Town Board. Thanks!! Now we must move forward with
revising the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and the Aquifer Study, which may
also include identifying the Town’s critical environmental areas, which will be a
useful tool for protecting our environment when and if unconventional gas
drilling comes to Enfield.
As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, there has been some
discussion about setting up a new TCAT bus “park and ride” in Enfield. Two
locations are under consideration for the new site – one is at the old highway
facility and the other at the new highway facility. The folks from TCAT are
conducting a survey which may help with the decision on where to place the
new “park and ride”.
The old highway facility was selected as a satellite location for the
County’s next medication disposal program. The date for the disposal program
was September 29th, from 10 am to 2 pm. The details for the program were
posted on the Town’s website and at the Town Hall.
Continued, page 2
Dave McKenna
Enfield/Newfield
564-7243, dmckenna@tompkins-co.org
Jim Dennis
Enfield/Ulysses
387-4058, jpd821@yahoo.com
Aquifer Study or NO Aquifer Study
At the September Town Board meeting, the Board decided to send the
question of whether or not to move forward with an aquifer study to the voters
as a proposition or referendum. Due to some technicalities and timing, this
was not possible. The next best way to deal with this is for the public to voice
their opinion at the public hearing on the 2013 budget, to be held later in
October. The Town Board needs to hear from Enfield residents if we should
move forward with an aquifer study or not.
The study will cost the Town approximately $90,000, but this can be
spread over multiple years. We anticipate using about $10,000 per year of
taxpayer’s money for the project, completing the study in 9 years or less. We
also hope for outside funding, such as grants, private donations, etc., to
reduce the cost for taxpayers and time to completion. Comments can be
emailed to Supervisor Barriere at rlb15@cornell.edu, mailed to the Town Hall
at 168 Enfield Main Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, or voiced at the Public Hearing for
the Budget, to be determined at 10/10 Town Board meeting.
What is an Aquifer Study and what does it mean for Enfield? The U.S.
geological survey and County Planning Dept. formed a 20-year agreement in
2000 to study the valley-fill aquifer segments within the County, provided the
Towns where these aquifer segments lie would be part of the program. The
funding ratio was split 30% USGS, 35% County, and 35% Town. Of the 17
aquifer segments identified, 6 have been funded and studied, 3 completed.
The study’s objectives are to help the Town and County define the
geometry (width, depth, layering) of the aquifer within their area and other
geologic and hydrologic aspects (recharge areas, water quality, type of aquifer
-confined or unconfined, current and potential water use). In one case a 3-
Continued, page 3
2
News from Code Enforcement
With fall approaching in a hurry,
it will soon be time to turn on our
heating appliances. That makes it a
good time to have those appliances
checked/cleaned or tuned-up.
Wood/pellet and coal stoves should
always be checked in the fall before
start up to make sure the chimneys
are clear and in good shape; now is
the time to clear out any bee hives
or bird nests before you have a
house full of smoke. Stove pipes or
masonry chimneys should be
checked for cracks or deterioration,
as it's easier to do any repair before
you need to use the appliance and
the weather is still nice. With any oil
fired appliance an annual tune-up is
a great idea, as a cleaner-burning
fire will not only keep the chimney
cleaner but also boost the efficiency
and save on fuel costs.
With the price of fuel on the rise
again many people will be thinking
of ways to save on fuel. One idea is
to add an alternative source to heat
the area where you spend the most
time: for example, a small heater or
stove in a family room will let you
turn down the temperature in the
rest of the house, keeping the rest
of the home a little cooler. If you
might add a heating appliance this
year, a permit is required with an
inspection to ensure that it has been
installed correctly. A certificate of
completion is then issued which
should be sent to your homeowners
insurance company to make sure
the installation is covered. No permit
is required for replacing an
existing furnace, boiler or hot water
heater. Permits are only required
when adding something new.
Fall is also a good time change
batteries in smoke and
CO detectors and give them a quick
vacuum to remove any accumulated
dust.
Have a warm and safe winter,
Alan Teeter
Code Enforcement Office
From the Highway Department
With fall almost here and winter and the white stuff approaching fast, let me
update you on what we got accomplished this summer.
The first mile of East Enfield Center Road was true and leveled; I think it
came out real good. Griffin Rd was re-ground with crusher run added and re-
graded with two layers of stone; we also did a lot of ditching.
We replaced a large cross pipe on West Enfield Center Rd. We got drainage
work done because of the dry weather in some fields and woods to drain the
water away from the culvert pipes and roads. We replace a collapsed culvert
pipe on the first mile of Fish Rd, the dirt section. We also did tree work and
ditching also.
We did a lot of tree and brush work, but have still more to do! We fell short of
money so we didn’t get the last mile of South Van Dorns Rd oiled and stoned
like we had planned. And East Enfield Center Rd still needs to be sealed and
chipped for the same reason. Our hope is to get them prepped and ready with
other jobs so that we can get them done early next summer.
We cut shoulders on Lancaster Drive, Porter Hill and Rockwell Rd. And still
have more to do this fall. This is just a quick update of the bigger jobs amongst
all we do here at the Highway.
We want to mention and thank Ulysses, Newfield, and Tompkins County for
their help this last year. And I personally want to thank the guys here at the
Enfield Highway for doing a good job this spring and summer. Don’t forget they
are Enfield’s “Road Keepers!”
As we go into the winter, remember that the spec’s for mailboxes are located
on the Enfield Web page and at the Highway and Town Hall. As always
remember that speed is the biggest factor in winter accidents. So drive careful
and be safe. And it is always helpful to have a call (good or bad) about the
roads, or weather conditions, 272-6490. See you on the roads!
Buddy Rollins Sr., Highway Superintendent
From the Supervisor, continued from page 1
We have just entered the budget season. Letters have gone out to all
Department Heads for their input as to their needs for 2013. The tentative budget
will be created and presented to the Town Board by the end of September. The
Public Hearing on the preliminary budget will be scheduled for some time in
October. At this point, I do not anticipate an increase in the tax rate, however this
is mainly dependent on employee benefits, such as the retirement, compensation
insurance, and health insurance. That was the category that had the biggest
impact on the last two budgets.
Speaking of budgets, the Town is very fortunate to have received additional
funding from the County once again. During the past few months, we have been
awarded 2 grants to assist with some of our programs:
· The Enfield Beautification Committee was awarded a total of $1,800 for local
beautification projects. This grant was from the Tompkins County Community
Beautification Program.
· The Enfield Community Council has been awarded a total of $1,000 to help fund the
2012 Harvest Festival. This grant was awarded by the Tompkins County Tourism
Planning Board.
This, of course, would not have been possible without the extra time and effort
devoted by our committee grant writers, and Tompkins County. Thanks!
Unfortunately, we now have another committee vacancy. Michael Carpenter
has resigned from his position on the Planning Board. We thank Mike for his
commitment and dedication on the Planning Board, most of which he co-chaired
along with Virginia Bryant. If you know of anyone who would be interested in
filling that seat, please let me or Virginia know.
Last, but not least, don’t forget to visit our new and improved website - http://
townofenfield.org/content. Please take time to visit the website for meeting
minutes, committee reports, agendas, etc… Our Town Board meetings are
normally held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting at 6:30 pm. As
always, if you have any questions or concerns about any Town issues, please
contact any of the Town Board members.
Roy Barriere, Town Supervisor
Attention TCAT Riders
(and wannbe’s)
Did you know… that while
technically NOT a TCAT Park-and-
Ride, there is plenty of room for
parking to the right of the Town Hall
if you want to drive there to catch
the bus at this “Walk Up” stop!
3
Dates to Remember
October 3 Planning Board Meeting
Community Building, 7 pm
3 Volunteer of the Month
nominations due
10 Town Board Meeting
Community Bldng, 6:30 pm
November 6 Election Day
7 Planning Board Meeting
Community Building, 7 pm
7 Volunteer of the Month
nominations due
10 Comp Plan Surveys due
14 Town Board Meeting
Community Bldng, 6:30 pm
December 5 Planning Board Meeting
Community Building, 7 pm
5 Volunteer of the Month
nominations due
12 Town Board Meeting
Community Bldng, 6:30pm
Volunteer Recognition
Volunteerism runs strong in the Enfield Community; here’s a “Thank You”
to our most recent Volunteers of the Month:
July 2012: Roger Hubbell
Roger is a long-time resident of Enfield and has volunteered in many ways throughout
his life, including the Enfield Fire Company, a number of town committees and in
elected positions. Roger and his RV club did highway cleanup for a number of years
along Route 79. He is a long-time member of the Enfield Grange and is active with the
Enfield Senior citizens. He is the liaison between the Grange and the Senior Citizens
and is still active with the Food distribution sponsored by the Enfield Baptist Fellowship.
August 2012: Judy Hyman & Nancy Spero
Judy and Nancy worked together to organize a Square Dance fundraiser for the Enfield
School Age program, with Nancy calling and Judy recruiting her band to play. There
was a great turnout and many generous donations were received on behalf of the
School Age program, which experienced some financial setbacks last year.
September 2012: Cortney Bailey
Cortney has been a very active school parent, serving as President of the Enfield
Elementary PTA for the last 2 years. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that the
current generation of school children has equal opportunities and enrichment in the
school environment. Her cool head and organizational skills were a great part of
making the recent playground build at the school such a success. She spent many
hours soliciting donations, coordinating volunteers, food shopping and attending to the
many details necessary to making a large event like this a success.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for our community?
Submit a letter of nomination for Volunteer of the Month to Roy Barriere at
the Town Hall by the first Wednesday of each month for consideration.
From the Enfield Town Clerk
Students are back in school and
the weather is much more comfortable.
We have been busy issuing hunting
licenses, along with dog licenses and
handicap permits.
Although Trumansburg, Newfield
and Odessa school tax bills have
already gone out, Ithaca bills don't go
out until the beginning of October and
are due October 31. Town and County
tax bills will be mailed at the end of
December and can be paid without
penalty until January 31.
We will have additional hours
during the month of January, but our
October, November and December
hours will remain Monday - Thursday
from 3-6 p.m. We are always glad to
come in extra hours to accommodate
your needs, if you just give us a call.
The Town Hall remains at 168
Enfield Main Road; we have no plans
for moving in the near future. As
always, you can contact us at 273-
8256 and find information on the
town's website: www.townofenfield.org
Happy Fall!
Alice Linton, Town Clerk
Sue Thompson, Deputy Town Clerk
From the Town of Enfield Planning Board:
You're Invited to Complete the Comprehensive Plan Survey
The Town of Enfield is beginning the job of updating its Comprehensive
Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a document that describes the history,
current state, and future vision for the community. The new Plan will serve as
a road map to guide future growth and development while promoting the
health, safety, and general welfare of the people. It's essential that the
Comprehensive Plan reflect the interests of all Enfield residents/land owners,
so please complete the enclosed survey. Make your voice heard!
The Comprehensive Plan Survey Committee
Virginia Bryant, Planning Board Chair
Judy Hyman, Nancy Spero, Art Godin, John Tavares
From the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company: 2012 Year to Date
2012 is turning out to be a very busy year. We are at 338 calls as of
September 1st, the highest recorded in over 12 years. We respond to a large
variety of calls each year that include: house fires, car fires, brush and grass
fires, motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, public assistance, storm
related incidences, hazardous conditions, mutual aid to Ithaca, Mecklenburg,
Newfield, and Trumansburg as needed, and more. Sometimes residents
apologize for us having to respond at all hours of the night for what they feel
are small issues. We enjoy helping those in need, when and where ever.
Art Howser, Chief
Aquifer Study, continued from page 1
dimensional computer model was developed which shows the time it takes for water to replenish pumping wells.
The benefit to the County and Towns is having the information about your aquifer system to make informed
decisions on how to best manage and protect the water resource. In some cases the studies have determined critical
recharge areas that should be protected and additional sources of groundwater not yet discovered. The program has
been successful and its cooperative nature has resulted in close relationships between the USGS, Town, and County to
work toward a common goal.
The information will also provide local government, water managers, businesses, and homeowners with ground-
water information to help ensure that there will be 1) safe drinking-water supply, 2) water available for economic
development, and 3) healthy aquatic environments. The study will build upon the USGS data collection efforts in the
state and on the interpretation of the Nation’s water availability.
4
Town of Enfield
168 Enfield Main Road
Ithaca NY 14850
Three important issues for residents to speak out about:
· The Comprehensive Plan Update: Please complete the enclosed
Comprehensive Plan Survey!
· Funding for the proposed Aquifer Study (page 1)
· TCAT Bus Service—please complete the survey on page 4
Attention Enfield Residents
TCAT is considering service options for the Town of Enfield, and your input is needed!
1. Do you currently ride TCAT? ____Yes (if yes, please check below.) ____No
____a. I use the current Park-and-Ride
____b. I walk to catch the bus
____c. TCAT stops in front of/near my home
____d. Other ____________________________________
2. Would you use a Park-and-Ride if it were located near the new Enfield Highway facility, 475 Enfield Main Road (near
Trumbulls Corner Road)? ____Yes ____No
3. Would you use a Park-and-Ride if it were to be located at the current Town Hall, 168 Enfield Main Rd?
____Yes ____No
4. Would you use TCAT if buses were able to travel farther south, as far as new Enfield Highway facility, 475 Enfield
Center Rd.? ____Yes ____No
Additional Comments: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Please mail your responses to: Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc.
737 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, New York, 14850
Attn: Patty Poist, Communications and Marketing Manager
If you wish to call in or email your responses, contact Patty Poist at 607-277-9388, ext. 560, or email pp1@tcatmail.com