Village of Lansing

 

 

MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, October 2, 2000, in the Village Office.

 

PRESENT: Mayor Don Hartill; Trustees Larry Fresinski, Frank Moore and Lynn Leopold; Planning Board Chairman, Ned Hickey; Attorney Randy Marcus

 

Mayor Don Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:37P.M.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Mayor asked for Public Comment.  There were many Ithaca High School Students that were present but no comments.

 

Motion- To Close Public Comment Period

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to close the public comment period.

Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

            Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Next on the agenda was the engineer’s report. Dave Putnam stated that Lake Source Cooling was eager to make a connection which they need for their final CO. Cornell has paid us $2,350 but the contract is not finalized yet. The Mayor proposed that we let CU connect as long as they agree to have a finalized agreement by 12-31-00.

 

Resolution #3708- To Allow Cornell University to Make a Physical Emergency Sewer Connection for Lake Source Cooling with the Stipulation that the Final Agreement is in Place by December 31, 2000 or the Pipe will be Capped Off.

 

The Mayor commented that Dennis has to approve it also.

 

Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to allow this connection with the stipulation and Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Two unforeseen things have happened on the Uptown Road Project. First, an old culvert was found under the road. It is a 21-inch pipe, which is rotten and had nothing running in it. Dave guessed that it was done back in the 60’s however, we have no record of it and it has to be removed. The second thing was that it was necessary to reditch in front of the swim club so water will flow.

 

Resolution #3709- Approval of United Asphalt Inc. Change Order #2 for

                              $2,686.00 for the Uptown Road Project to Remove a Culvert

                              ($1946.00) and Extra Ditching ($740.00)

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to accept Change Order #2 and Trustee Frank Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Dave informed the Board that United Asphalt will be removing the asphalt slope adjacent to the Cinema property owner by Mr. Thaler and putting in grass. Dave also received a letter from Ward Hungerford stating that they have accepted United Asphalt’s price to move the Warrenwood Road driveway. It should take place October 9-27th. The driveway will be operational before the traffic light goes up. The old entrance will be closed. The poles will go up in November and the traffic light will be in around Christmas.

 

Dave also informed the Board that United Asphalt could perform the required paving at Churchill Dr., and he recommended having them do so, because it will save the Village money as compared to bidding it out as a separate project. Randy confirmed that because the work will be under $20,000, the complete bidding process is not required.

 

Resolution #3710- Change Order to Allow United Asphalt Inc. to do the

                               Churchill Drive Turn Around in an Amount Not to

                               Exceed $9,946.

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to accept this resolution and Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Murray Estates has once again sent their yearly request to have a controlled bow hunt. The Mayor stated that this is the only deer population control we have in theVillage. For the past seven years they have been able to hunt on Murray Estates in accordance with Village Law I (1993).

 

Resolution #3711- Annual Extension of Local Law I (1993) to Allow a

                              Controlled Hunt on the Murray Estates During the

      State’s Official Hunting Season October 15th to

      December 18, 2000.

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to accept this resolution and Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Next on the agenda was the approval of the minutes September 18, 2000. Lynn submitted a few small changes.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for September 18, 2000

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved that the draft meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

           

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski -Aye                            Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Ned presented the Trustees with a Walkway Implementation Plan.  At the Planning Board’s September 26th meeting they recommended approval of this plan. The Planning Board’s (P.B.) opinion is that adoption of this plan would be a positive step towards the enhancement of pedestrian travel within and around the North Triphammer Road commercial core of the Village. The plan incorporates the sidewalks in the North Triphammer Road plans. The P.B. would like to see the Village have the same plans for sidewalk maintenance as they do for roads.  The Mayor would like to see sidewalk added to the southside of Mobil that goes all the way up to Friendly’s. Brook Drive sidewalk also needs to go around the corner. The sidewalks on N. Triphammer will be concrete and will be maintained through the winter. Maintenance is not a small issue financially.

 

Frank would like to see a plan for a Cayuga Heights Road sidewalk. Ned stated that there could be 4-foot shoulders on the road but it was unsafe for pedestrians or bikers. The future plans are for a walkway to go up the south side of Arrowwood Dr. in behind the health complex and continue into Sapsucker Woods.  Once we have sewers, Cornell plans to put up apartments behind the health complex. This Walkway Plan doesn’t deal with future and rural areas. The Greenspace Committee will deal this with.

 

Ned feels that the key to implementing this Walkway Plan is to put it into a 5-year plan. Ned also noted that property owners are paying for most of the sidewalks.

 

Resolution #3712- To Endorse the Walkway Implementation Plan with the

                               Extension of the South sidewalk from Mobil up to

                               Friendly’s.

 

Trustee Frank Moore moved to endorse the Walkway Implementation Plan and Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Ned informed the mayor that Mr. Weitgrefe  has complained because nothing has been done with the trail and the catch basin on his property. Also, three Janivar Dr. residences have volunteered to help with signs on our trails. The trail around the pond on Janivar Drive needs work. The Mayor said it is a question of money and a lot of it.

 

Next on the agenda was Proposed Local Law E (2000), Amendment of Village of Lansing Zoning Law to Clarify and Improve Parking Space Requirements. Randy explained that this is not changing the existing parking requirements. This proposed law is to add detail to various provisions of the Zoning Law in order that the Zoning Law covers all uses of property, and changes in use of property, with respect to the determination of parking space requirements for such uses. If a use were not already defined then the Planning Board would define the number of parking spaces by special permit process only. Presently, there is not a “catch all” category in the Zoning Law so it would go to the Planning Board. Other changes are procedural changes. It eliminates additional condition section that never really existed. This cleans up the problems with the Zoning Law. These are just issues we never dealt with before. Frank and Randy had a lengthy discussion regarding this.

 

Resolution #3713- To Set a Public Hearing for Proposed Local Law E

                              (2000), Amendment of Village of Lansing Zoning Law

                              to Clarify and Improve parking Space Requirements for

                              7:35P.M. October 16, 2000 at the Village Office

 

Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to set the public hearing and Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

The Mayor stated that there has been good long-term progress on the sewer situation. We will get an agreement that is affordable. The big argument is where the service will go which doesn’t affect the Village. The resolution that we are considering is to participate in the next round of bond act funding. We are asking for an additional $6.4 million which leaves $11.5 million to come from local municipalities. The real issue is the Village of Cayuga Heights becoming a member with no rate increase. The bad news is we can’t do anything until the EIS is completed.

 

Resolution #3714- Municipal Resolution

 

Resolution authorizing the items listed below pursuant to the Clean Water/ Clean Air Bond Act of 1996.

 

WHEREAS, the Village of Lansing, herein called the “Municipality”, after thorough consideration of the various aspects of the problem and study of available data, has hereby determined that certain work, as described in its application and attachments, herein called the “Project”, is desirable, is in the public interest, and is required in order to implement the Project; and

 

WHEREAS, Article 56 of the Environmental Conservation Law authorizes State assistance to municipalities for water quality improvement projects by means of a contract and the municipality deems it to be in the public interest and benefit under this law to enter into a contract therewith;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the Village of Lansing

 

1. That Mayor Donald Hartill is the representative authorized to act in behalf of the Municipality’s governing body in all matters relating to State assistance under ECL Article 56, Title 3. The representative is also authorized to make application, execute the State Assistance Contract, submit Project documentation, and otherwise act for the Municipality’s governing body in all matters related to the Project and to State Assistance;

 

2. That the Municipality agrees that it will fund its portion of the cost of the Project and that funds will be available to initiate the Project’s field work within twelve (12) months of written approval of its application by the Department of Environmental Conservation;

 

3. That one (1) certified copy of this resolution be prepared and sent to the Albany office of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation together with the Application for State Assistance Payments;

 

4. That this resolution take effect immediately.

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to accept this resolution and Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

The Mayor commented that the gas engine in the room next to the office is no longer being used due to the increase in gas prices. It will only serve as a back up. It was found that there is a 6-inch bow in the outside wall, which SCLIWC will have to have fixed. He has not found a trustee to fill John Bailey’s spot yet. He is still working on Kensington. Most of the Mayors time has been spent on water issues and N. Triphammer Rd. property acquisition.

 

The Mayor has checked all the surveys and he gave Randy the offer prices. The total is approximately $354,000. It will end up around $500,000 after all the legal fees. Randy commented that the Thin Ice contract did go out but he hasn’t heard anything yet.

 

The water agreement is close. The issue is that when Bolton Point got land from the Bolton’s to build the plant they made a legal obligation to have a road down to the pump station that was up to Town standards. This obligation has never been met and it needs to be revisited. The road is very steep and would be very costly. Another problem is that the railroad will only allow access to the pump station for maintenance. Don ask Randy to check into the possibility of eminent domain to get a road down to Poison Ivy Point. 

 

The Village was asked by the Lansing Fire Department to participate in Fire Prevention Week and “The Great Escape” again this year. “The Great Escape” is a fire drill, which will be performed nationwide on Wednesday October 11th at 7pm. They ask that every household develop a home fire escape plan and practice it collectively.

           

Resolution #3715- To Declare the Week of October 8-14th as Fire

                               Prevention Week

 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees declares the week of October 8-14th as Fire Prevention Week.

 

Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to declare the week of October 8-14th as Fire Prevention Week and Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill - Aye                              Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye                          Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

 

Lynn stated that she and John Dennis need to be reappointed to the EMC at the end of the year.

 

Frank would like to see an article in the newsletter suggesting Village residents review their insurance coverage. The Mayor will add this to his newsletter article, which he will get to Jodi tomorrow.

 

                        Motion- To Adjourn

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved adjournment. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye                  Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

                        Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye              Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

           

The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M.

 

                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

                                                                                                            Village Clerk