MINUTES
of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday,
May 1, 2000, in the Village Office.
PRESENT:
Trustees Lynn Leopold, Larry Fresinski, Frank Moore and John Bailey; Planning
Board Chairman Ned Hickey; Village Attorney Randy Marcus.
Deputy
Mayor Larry Fresinski called the meeting to order at 7:37P.M.
The
Deputy Mayor opened the public comment period. There were no comments.
Motion- To Close Public Comment Period
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to close the public
comment period.
Trustee John Bailey seconded the motion. A vote was
taken:
Trustee
Frank Moore-Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold
–Aye
Frank
asked what their greatest concern was in the Village. The chiefs’ response was Lansing has a wide
area with many challenges. There is a huge exposure to life safety. It was
asked how Lansing compares to other municipalities our size. The Fire
Department tries not to compare to others around us because no other
municipality has a power plant, state schools, Cargill Salt mines, a mall and
an airport. All these create different challenges.
The
benefits of getting this new ladder truck are:
- Safer aerial device (heavy duty vs. light
duty)
- Heavy duty aerial allows greater reach
- Class A pumper to areas protected by
hydrants (dual-purpose truck)
- Greater flexibility of usage (aerial,
attack pumper, high angle rescue)
- Safer and more maintainable vehicle
- ISO Grading Advantage
ISO
stands for Insurance Services Organization. This is who grades the fire
department. This grade is reported to homeowners insurance and your premium is
based on this. This better rating may save Lansing homeowners some money. The
new truck is computerized, auto leveling and fail safe for firefighter safety.
The present aerial bucket can only hold 250 lbs. and the new truck’s aerial
bucket holds 1000 lbs., which will allow multi person rescues. The present
truck requires climbing the ladder to get to the bucket whereas with the new
truck you just get in the basket and it will take you up and down.
Lansing
Fire budget for 2000 is $638,000 without the loan for the truck. Financing for
this $676,975 truck will be paid by $36,975 from the trade-in of the present
ladder truck, $140,000 from reserve and operating funds and a 10-year $500,000
installment bond with a 5% interest rate. The average Fire District cost will
be $63,750 a year or approximately $8.74 per household.
The
vote for approval of this new ladder truck will take place May 23, 2000 from
4:00PM-9:00PM at Station 5 on Oakcrest Road for Village residents. If approved,
the new truck will be stationed at the Central Fire Station on Ridge Road. Each
of the officers are guaranteed to get 24 hours of training from the sales
representative then they will train the rest of the fire department on the
operation of the truck. The Board thanked the members of Lansing’s Volunteer
Fire Department for coming to the meeting.
Next
on the agenda was the approval of minutes.
Motion-Approval of Minutes
for April 17, 2000 as Amended
Trustee John Bailey moved that the amended meeting notes are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Frank Moore-Aye Trustee John Bailey -Aye
Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold -Aye
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to approve the transfer
and Trustee Frank Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee
Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
On
November 2, 1999 a flagman from Patch ‘n Seal flagged Gretchen Papariello’s car
through before the crack seal had hardened. The tires were packed full of this
material and the chemical bond that takes place would not allow the material to
be removed from the tire. Therefore, the tires were lop-sided and could not be
balanced. It was necessary to replace two tires. Dennis has inspected the tires
and feels we should reimburse Gretchen for the tires since we have not paid
Patch ‘n Seal and they have no interest in resolving this issue. Dennis has
also spoken with the Mayor who approves of this resolution.
Randy
stated that if this claim were approved for payment it would set an undesirable
precedent. Legally the Village is not responsible for this claim. Patch &
Seal is legally responsible. This is a unique situation in that we have never
had a contractor work for the Village that hasn’t performed up to expectations.
Also, Dennis had indicated that there may be a question of fact whether the
motorist was flagged on, or proceeded into the work zone without being flagged
on. Consideration of payment may be a political, not a legal issue. Frank asked
if we could pay this claim then try to recover the money from Patch & Seal
since we made a bad contractor choice. This would establish expectations of
motorist and make Village defense more difficult in the future if we paid this
claim when legally we were not responsible.
The
comment was made that this claim is very old. It was suggested that there
should be a reporting procedure in the Village. John commented that the Town of
Lansing has a nice incident report, which they use. Jodi will call Sharon at
the Town to get a copy of their incident report. The Board tabled the payment
of this claim pending further discussion with Dennis and the Mayor.
Next
on the agenda was consideration of a number of items for the Annual
Organizational Meeting.
Trustee John Bailey moved to authorize the Mayor to
appoint Jodi Dake as Clerk/Treasurer of the Village of Lansing and Trustee
Frank Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Frank Moore moved to authorize the Mayor to
appoint Carol Willard as Clerk Part Time of the Village of Lansing and Trustee
John Bailey seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to establish the Ithaca
Journal as the Village’s official newspaper. Trustee John Bailey seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John Bailey moved to establish the meeting
days. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John Bailey moved to adopt Roberts Rules of
Order as the procedural guidelines for Village meetings. Trustee Frank Moore
seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry
Fresinski- Aye Trustee
Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Frank Moore moved to authorize the
Clerk/Treasurer to pay the above stated bills prior to audit by the Board of
Trustees. Trustee John Bailey seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to establish the salaries
for the board members at $3,500 and for the Mayor at $9,000. Trustee John
Bailey seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John bailey moved to set the compensation
rate for the Planning Board at $5,000 for the chairman and $2,500 for each
member. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John Bailey moved to appoint Donald Hartill
as the elected S.C.L.I.W.C representative. Trustee Frank Moore seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John Bailey moved to appoint Michael Newman
as the non-elected S.C.L.I.W.C representative. Trustee Frank Moore seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee John Bailey moved to set the mileage
reimbursement rate at the federally approved mileage reimbursement rate.
Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry
Fresinski- Aye Trustee
Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to
appoint Edward Hickey to the Planning Board.
Trustee John Bailey seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry
Fresinski- Aye Trustee
Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Frank Moore moved to appoint
Phil Dankert to the Planning Board.
Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee
Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee
Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee
John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Appeals
Trustee John Bailey moved to appoint Lorraine
Johnson to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the
motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to appoint John Dennis as
alternate member to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Trustee John Bailey seconded
the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Walter
Wietgrefe asked not to be reappointed to the Greenspace Advisory Council.
Dennis
has submitted an application of the gentleman he recommends for hire as the
Part-time Seasonal Laborer. There were four applicants for the position and
only two came in for an interview. Sheldon Meade lives in King Ferry and
currently works at Carquest. Dennis and Rick have both spoken with Sheldon and
feel he would do the best job for the Village.
Trustee John Bailey moved to hiring of Sheldon Meade as the Part-Time Seasonal Laborer at $8.00 per hour. Trustee Frank Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye Trustee John Bailey- Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye
Next
on the agenda was general discussion. Frank attended the last Cayuga Lake
Watershed meeting and presented the Board with a list of watershed issues that
was compiled from the Watershed Characterization. The group is in the process
of developing a management plan. They would like each municipality to make a
prioritized list representing the top 15 issues, which concern them. This list
is to aid in the brainstorming and the organization would like each
municipality to put into their own words their specific concerns. Ned agreed
that the Planning Board would put this on their agenda for next Monday’s
meeting and have it back to the Board of Trustees for their May 15th
meeting. The Watershed Organization would like this list by the next May 23rd
meeting. Frank informed Lynn that the next meeting was changed to a Tuesday so
she may go.
The
Board discussed at length what the Village’s concerns were. Ned suggested that
we list things that aren’t currently under our jurisdiction (example-run off is
controlled but tourism isn’t). What we are interested in is documented in our
Comprehensive Plan and that would be the place to start. We should look at
intermunicipal issues.
Ned
announced that there is a training session for local government officials on
Basic Powers & Duties of Planning Boards at 6:30PM on May 11, 2000 at TC3.
The sponsor is Tompkins County Planning Federation in conjunction with Tompkins
County Planning Department. Frank asked if it was recommended we go. Ned stated
that it would be very basic. If anyone is interested Jodi has the forms.
John
Bailey spoke with Steve Farkas and they thought that the Town & Village
Boards should have a joint meeting to discuss the wastewater/sewage issues
along with many other things. There are many new members on the Town Board. John thought Dave Herrick should also be
present. This will be discussed further with the Mayor.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee John Bailey moved adjournment. Trustee Lynn
Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Frank Moore -
Aye Trustee John Bailey-
Aye
Trustee Larry Fresinski-
Aye Trustee Lynn
Leopold-Aye
The
meeting adjourned at 9:55P.M.
Jodi
Dake
Village
Clerk