Village of Lansing

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, September 24, 2001, in the Village Office.

 

PRESENT: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees Larry Fresinski, Janet Beebe, Frank Moore and Lynn Leopold; Doris Brown, Planning Board Member; Randy Marcus, Village Attorney.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:37P.M. He opened the public comment period. There were no public comments. The Mayor announced that there have been sad and tragic events that have happened in this country. He was referring to the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in NYC, the Pentagon and the fourth plane that went down in Pennsylvania, which was heading for the Capital. It will take a long time for America to recover and this may have a significant impact. The intermunicipal sewer project is at significant risk.

 

Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period

 

Trustee Larry Fresinski moved to close the public comment period. Trustee Janet Beebe seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                           Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye      Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye

 

Next on the agenda was the engineer’s report. The bid opening for the Airport Elevated Tank Demolition was September 11th. The low bidder was Empire Dismantlement Corporation with a bid of $29,710, which includes alternates #1 & #2. However, Dave received a request today from David Mazur of Empire Dismantlement to withdraw their bid because they made a mathematical error in their bid. The second lowest bidder of $29,800 was from Iseler Demolition, Inc. Iseler has also offered the Village a $4,400 credit if the completion date is extended to May 15, 2002. They offered the credit because they would have to make a special trip from Romeo, Michigan if they did the demolition this fall. The Board agreed that they would extend the completion date to May 15, 2002. This will come later as an addition alternate. Dave Putnam recommended that the Village award the contract to Iseler Demolition with Alternates #1 & #2. Alternate #1 is to remove concrete below grade and Alternate #2 is to reseed area. Frank questioned their references. Dave stated that they he has called their references and they were all very good. In addition Iseler has helped Dave with the specs for the project. They’ve been in contact for 4 years. All that Iseler does is take down water tanks. The two owners of the company are brothers and one of them is always on the job site.

 

Resolution #3808-To Release Empire Dismantlement Corporation and Award the Contract Including Alternates #1 & 2 for the Airport Elevated Tank Demolition to Iseler Demolition, Inc. for a Total Contract of $29,710.

 

Trustee frank Moore moved to accept this resolution. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                           Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye     Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye

 

Dave will get the contract to Don to sign tomorrow. Jodi will let Dave know when it is ready to be picked up.

 

Don asked how Uptown Road was coming along. Bill Troy is negotiating with the attorney from the surety bonding company regarding the release of funds. Repairs to Uptown Road will be done this month. Dave has Wilson Contractors lined up to do the repairs. Dennis will need to come up with a grinder. The County has one we could use but since the bonding company is paying for this it would be a cleaner transaction to just rent one.

 

Next the Board discussed the NYSEG Price Protection Plan that was released 3/7/01. This plan addresses energy price protection. What has happened in the last couple of weeks has actually had a positive effect in that there is less electricity needed. There still is some volatility. New York State needs to increase their infrastructure. New transmission lines have not been built in 10 years. Mayor Hartill will write Dick Charsky a letter of support for this plan in the next week. The Mayor did not want to pass the resolution that NYSEG had proposed because the Village endorses the concept not a specific plan. Don will circulate an email of the letter before he sends it so that the Board may comment.

                       

Next on the agenda was the approval of minutes.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for August 15, 2001

 

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

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore-Aye                                            Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye     Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

Trustee Janet Beebe-Abstained

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for August 20 and September 5, 2001

 

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

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore-Aye                                            Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye     Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye

 

The next issue was whether or not to keep the CAC in the codification. Randy explained that back in approximately 1993 the CAC was formed and activated to advise the Planning Board on landscaping, development as it affects the environment, promote Greenway, use of recreational space and beautification. The CAC was active for a number of years but it ended up not serving the purpose that it was intended. The CAC overreached its boundaries and it was dismantled. After this the Greenway Council was formed. This committee never had a guiding light, it had a disagreement with the Planning Board and it has fallen into disuse. The Village has functioned fine without a CAC. If we were to look ahead at development, it’s likely that it will not be as intense. Most commercial areas of the Village are built out. The Planning Board has done a lot to familarize itself with landscape issues over the last year. There is no longer a need for a supplementary committee. Frank stated that the Greenway Council falls under his guidance and he feels that in the past it has been too general. It needs to be more specific to be successful. Lynn asked why we wouldn’t just leave it in.  Originally the CAC became an option under a State Law. If the CAC is kept in the codification the commission is there and you don’t have any legal obligation to appoint to the CAC. Randy doesn’t know if there is any purpose in keeping it in the codification. Randy recommended removing it because it is not likely to serve any purpose. Frank also thinks it should be removed from the codification. The State Legislation for CAC was very broad and the problem we ran into was an even broader interpretation. Don would like to see it removed because it is too broad. Randy stated that the codification would reference the CAC because it did exist but was eliminated.

 

Next on the agenda was solicitors. The trustees all received a sample law on solicitors and peddlers from NYCOM. Lynn commented that it only addresses those asking for money and not those peddling idealisms. Residents of the Village had a few problems this summer with a solicitor, that claimed to be with an athletic program, yet they had no literature. Don questioned if anyone else had had any problems or heard of any residents complaining. Currently, if someone calls the office to say they want to solicit in the Village we ask that they register with the Sheriff’s Department and try to find out some information about what they are doing in case someone calls us. It was suggested that this was a single incident and unless there were more that it should be left alone.

 

Next on the agenda was Mayor’s comments. Don stated that the events of the last two weeks might have an impact on the Village. Sales tax will probably decrease and that accounts for 1/3 of our income. The interest rates have decreased, which means our earned interest is less.  One good thing is that the biggest sales tax generator for the Village is heating oil and everyone will continue to need to heat their homes.

 

Don is unsure of the NYSDOT funding for N. Triphammer Road. Don will speak with them in the next couple of days.  

 

The Bond Act funding for sewer is also at risk. Negotiations are going well. The Village of Cayuga Heights wants to become a partner. The initial buy in will be expensive but offer a reasonable price. Operations would be done by a new corporation and not by the Village of Cayuga Heights.  We would no longer have to beg to Cayuga Heights for sewer units. Don asked Randy to check into whether or not connection fees can be added. The Town of Lansing believes that the buy in expense can be added to connection fees. Town and Village laws are different and Randy will investigate. Village’s can not have sewer districts but towns can.

 

The I&I in the Town of Ithaca has been completed. Dan Walker will provide engineering data to Brent Cross. Once Brent has reviewed this information we should get more sewer units.

 

Lynn stated that she would not be at the Oct. 15th meeting. She also asked if George Gesslein from the Fire Commissioners had contacted the Village about coming to a meeting to discuss EMS service. He has not but Jodi will call him and invite him to our next meeting.

 

Randy gave an update on N. Triphammer Rd. property acquisitions.

Exxon-no contract yet, very cooperative, approved but concerned with signage  

           and Ben is dealing with this.

Homik- have signed contract that states he has the right to challenge amount paid

Kim- Randy needs to add some documentation to these two before they go out

Thin Ice- Neil Tarallo wants a letter confirming that one post of his sign will

                remain in the right of way, it’s a non-issue, just additional work

            Waiting on another 6 deeds to come back.

Basically we are waiting on 11 of 28 properties to be finalized.

 

Janet informed the Board that the street sign for Substation Alley was up.

 

A&P closed on Friday. Larry had circulated an article from the Ithaca Journal that stated that Top’s did not buy out A&P and that they closed because they weren’t doing well. Don thinks that now we have an issue with regards to pedestrians crossing the bridge and going to P&C. Don will find out from Dennis if we can put signs on the ramps and paint the road to alert motorists.

 

Lynn informed the Board that the Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Organization has completed their plan and still has some money for implementation. The IO has no power, they just do recommendations. They have a strong educational component. The Mayor’s main concern with this organization is that it has very little science base.

 

Motion- To Adjourn

 

Trustee Frank Moore moved adjournment. Trustee Janet Beebe seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye                   Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

 

                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

                                                                                                            Village Clerk