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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-26-TB-FINAL-minutesTOWN BOARD MEETING Town of Ulysses April 26, 2016 Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us. The meeting was held at the Ulysses Town Hall at 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg. Notice of Town Board meetings are posted on the town's website and clerk's board. ATTENDANCE: PRESENT: Supervisor- Liz Thomas 1 st Deputy Supervisor- Nancy Zahler Board members- Rich Goldman, John Hertzler, Michael Boggs Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato OTHERS PRESENT: Roger Linder from Utility Service Group, Diane Hillmann, Joanna Lynch, Roxanne Marino, Greg Grodem, Deb Perkins CALL TO ORDER: Ms. Thomas called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. GENERAL BUSINESS: APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA RESOLUTION 2016-89: Approval of Meeting Agenda BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the agenda for April 26, 2016 with the addition of an executive session and a presentation from Roger Linder. Moved: Ms. Zahler Seconded: Mr. Hertzler Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: (none) OLD BUSINESS: TTHM (total trihalomethane) REMEDIATION DISCUSSION Mr. Boggs noted that he recently went to American Water Association conference and met Mr. Linder, who is a Water System Consultant for Utility Service Group in Rochester. The group sells TTHM removal systems (aerators and mixers). Mr. Linder discussed the services offered by Utility Service Group, noting that they guarantee results. Board members and citizens in attendance asked questions. RESOLUTION 2016-90: AUTHORIZING AN AERATOR IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA TANK WHEREAS Town of Ulysses Water District 3 water exceeds EPA thresholds for chlorination by-products, or TTHMs, and WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses is under a Tompkins County Department of Health resolution to reduce the TTHMs to under the EPA limit, and WHEREAS the Town of Ulysses, its TTHM Working Group, and engineers for the Town have been looking at options to reduce TTHMs in the system and have determined there are 2 viable options: 1) to connect to the Village of Trumansburg municipal water system 2) to install a series of aerators --one in the Town of Ithaca water tank near the hospital, and one in the Ulysses tank on VanDorn Road, and WHEREAS the engineers for the Town both recommend that for the aerator option to successfully reduce TTHMs throughout Ulysses Water District 3, an aerator and mixer in both the Ithaca and Ulysses tanks is required, and WHEREAS the Town of Ithaca is making a decision this week on whether to install an aerator, or not, in its water tank, and WHEREAS the Town of Ithaca is requiring the Town of Ulysses to pay half of the expense of an aerator for their tank, and WHEREAS in 2003, the Town of Ithaca and the Town of Ulysses entered into a 30 -year inter- municipal agreement for Ithaca to provide Ulysses with water, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Ulysses agrees to pay half, or up to $57,500, to the Town of Ithaca upon completion of the installation of an aerator in Ithaca's "Trumansburg" tank for the purposes of reducing chlorination by-products in the water it supplies to the Town of Ulysses, and further RESOLVED the Town Clerk will send the Supervisor for the Town of Ithaca this resolution by the end of the day on 4/27/16. Moved: Mr. Goldman Seconded: Ms. Zahler Mr. Goldman made an amendment to the fourth "Whereas", so that it reads "WHEREAS the engineers for the Town both recommend that for the aerator option to successfully reduce 2 TTHMs throughout Ulysses Water District 3, an aerator and mixer in both the Ithaca and Ulysses tanks is required, and". This was seconded by Ms. Zahler. Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler abstain Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 SETTING PAY FOR NEW HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE RESOLUTION 2016-91: SETTING PAY FOR NEW HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE WHEREAS the Ulysses Highway Superintendent has appointed Scott Stewart to work for the Highway Department as a seasonal employee, and WHEREAS the Town Board sets the rate of pay for employees THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board authorizes the pay for Scott Stewart to be $17.00 per hour, and RESOLVED that the Town clerk will send this resolution to the Bookkeeper and Highway Superintendent. Moved: Ms. Zahler Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 Seconded: Mr. Goldman ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF WATER -SEWER MAINTENANCE WORKER RESOLUTION 2016-92: ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF WATER -SEWER MAINTENANCE WORKER WHEREAS the Ulysses Town Board established the position of Water Distribution Operator Trainee and appointed Chris Stevenson to the position, and WHEREAS Tompkins County Personnel Department now deems the job title of Motor Equipment Operator/Water-Sewer Maintenance Worker to be more appropriate. BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board establishes the position of Motor Equipment Operator/Water-Sewer Maintenance Worker and further 3 RESOLVED Chris Stevenson is appointed to the position of Motor Equipment Operator/Water-Sewer Maintenance Worker at his current rate of pay, and RESOLVED that the town clerk will send this resolution to Tompkins County personnel. Moved: Ms. Zahler Seconded: Mr. Goldman Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 SIDEWALK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROUTE 96 Ms. Thomas and Ms. Zahler attended last week's sidewalk meeting. Ms. Thomas discussed the rationale for having the sidewalk on the Smith Wood's side. RESOLUTION 2016-93: SIDEWALK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROUTE 96 WHEREAS The Town of Ulysses and Village of Trumansburg jointly received a grant for Safe Routes to School and Daily Needs Sidewalk Project, and WHEREAS the preliminary designs have been before the public and there have been three public outreach events, and WHEREAS no trees would need to be removed if the sidewalk were to be on the Smith Woods side of Route 96 as opposed to the estimated 30 trees if located on the Fairground side of the road, and WHEREAS the project will stay within budget if the sidewalk is on the Smith Woods side of Rt. 96, but is estimated to need $100,000 additional funding for the Fairgrounds side of the road due to extensive earthwork, tree removal, guard rail relocation, utility relocation and property acquisition, and WHEREAS Fisher Associates recognizes the topography of the Smith Woods side of the road and will design the sidewalk to flow with the natural contours of the land to keep the sidewalk as natural looking as possible, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that based on input from the engineers, design professionals, the public and cost differences, the Town of Ulysses Town Board favors a 5 foot sidewalk laid on the north or Smith Woods side of Route 96 running from the Fairground entrance to ShurSave and made from permeable or porous asphalt, and FURTHER RESOLVED that the town requests a speed limit reduction from 45 to 30 miles per hour from the village to Rabbit Run Road. FURTHER RESOLVED, the town requests leaving the existing crosswalk at the entrance to the Trumansburg Fairgrounds. 0 Moved: Ms. Thomas Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs nay Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 4-1 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 NEW BUSINESS: Seconded: Mr. Hertzler SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION RESOLUTION 2016-94: CREATION OF CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan calls for research and recommendations to conserve natural areas and promote policies and procedures to increase alternative energy use and sustainability and WHEREAS, the Town Board's 2016 Work Plan identified a number of projects that could be advanced by a council of concerned citizens from the Town now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Ulysses create a Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council to address the goals of the Town's Comprehensive Plan and the roles of a Conservation Advisory Council as outlined in Article 12-F section 239-x of the New York State General Municipal Law and further RESOLVED, that the attached Conservation and Sustainability Council description (see Appendix A) be adopted to guide the work of the Council for 2016-2017. Moved: Ms. Zahler Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 Seconded: Mr. Goldman RESOLUTION 2016-95: APPOINTMENT OF ROXANNE MARINO AS CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has created a Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council for 2016-2017 and WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses wishes to recruit active and talented members of the community to serve on the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council and WHEREAS, the former Town Supervisor is very qualified to lead the new Council and has expressed a willingness to chair the Council and recruit well-qualified and interested residents to serve on the Council, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Town of Ulysses appoint Roxanne Marino as Chair of the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council effective May 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017. Moved: Ms. Zahler Seconded: Mr. Goldman Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler absent (stepped away) Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 4-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: Ms. Marino commented on the water district efforts as well as the plan for staffing the S&C committee. MONTHLY BUSINESS APPROVAL OF MINUTES RESOLUTION 2016-96: APPROVAL OF MINUTES BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Town Board approve the minutes of 4/7 and 4/12. Moved: Ms. Zahler Ms. Thomas aye Ms. Zahler aye Mr. Hertzler aye Mr. Boggs aye Mr. Goldman aye Vote: 5-0 Date Adopted: 4/26/16 Seconded: Ms. Zahler EXECUTIVE SESSION: Ms. Zahler made a motion to move into Executive Session at 8:35pm for the acquisition of real property. This was seconded by Ms. Zahler and passed unanimously. Ms. Zahler moved to end Executive Session at 9:25pm, seconded by Mr. Goldman and passed unanimously. 0 ADJOURN: Mr. Goldman moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:25pm; seconded by Ms. Zahler and passed unanimously. APPENDIX A: Ulysses Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council Purpose: The Ulysses Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council is formed to research and recommend policies, procedures, and practices to enable the Town to manage and protect its natural resources, and promote environmental sustainability. The Advisory Council will operate under the guidelines of NYS GML Article 12-F section 239-x, regulations for Conservation Advisory Councils and focus on areas consistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan and other relevant Town, County, and State planning documents, key elements of New York State's Cleaner Greener Communities initiative, and relevant to current and proposed Town laws. Composition and Appointment of Members: The Council is initially established by this resolution initially through December 31, 2017, at which time the Town Board may consider continuation of the Council. The Chair, and 2-9 additional members will be appointed by separate resolutions of the Town Board. Scope of work: The Council will propose and is free to modify its annual work plan, and submit it to the Town Board for authorization. The Chair will work with the Town Board to prioritize Council projects. The Council is free to work on issues as a whole or in task groups, but any actions being recommended to the Town Board or its Zoning Update Steering Council should have the endorsement of a majority of the appointed members of the Conservation and Sustainability Advisory Council. Suggested 2016-17 Projects and Topic Areas: • Research and recommend alternative energy ordinances or amendments for the Town Zoning Law (including wind and water). • Review new solar panel regulations and propose revisions as needed. • Recommend to the Zoning Update Committee any zoning changes that would encourage conservation and/or sustainability, focusing as first priority on the areas considered within the Zoning Update project currently underway. • Research and advise on the feasibility of creating a local municipal solar farm or local utility. • Assist the Town Planner and Board in creating inventories and maps of open lands and wetlands within the Town, and recommend to the Town Board ecologically suitable uses for all such areas. 7 • Research and recommend possible ordinance banning plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam. • Review the recommendations of the inter -municipal Residential Energy Score Program. • Research ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate change resilience using NYS Climate Smart Communities guidelines and resources; work with Town Board on possible adoption of the Climate Smart Community pledge and implementation of action items therein. • Assist with public education on conservation and sustainability initiatives and financing opportunities to local residents and businesses. • Review water resource issues as they will be influenced by climate change; consider the need for a water resource protection plan for the Town. Resources from the Town: The Town's Planner has a full work plan and cannot staff the Council, but can provide technical assistance as time permits. The Council shall keep its own meeting notes and may schedule the conference room and use the copier at the Town Hall. Town staff can assist with preparation of the Council annual report for submission to the NYS commissioner of environmental conservation. Reporting: The Council shall make bimonthly reports through the Town Board liaison or privilege of the floor and may request time on the Town Board agenda for presentations when making recommendations. Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato on 4/---/16.