MINUTES
of a meeting of the Board of
PRESENT:
Mayor Donald Hartill;
Mayor
Donald Hartill called the meeting to order at
Motion-To Close the Public
Comment Period
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-
Aye Trustee Frank Moore-
Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-
Absent
Next
on the agenda was a public hearing to consider adoption of the Landscape
Policy.
Motion –To Open the Public Hearing to Consider
Adoption of the Landscape Policy
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-
Aye Trustee Frank Moore-
Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
John
Majeroni from Cornell Real Estate presented a few important points of the
policy that he felt need consideration. He supports the objective that the Board
is trying to accomplish with this policy. First he asked what zones the
landscape policy would apply to. “Commercial areas” applies to all
non-residential property. John was also concerned with the statement “The
Village of Lansing prefers that a minimum of 12% of the total square footage
should be left undisturbed by the development.” He feels that most existing
features in commercial zones are unattractive. Ned Hickey stated that the
Planning Board must have some point to start negotiations with. A lot of times
the people don’t hire professional help for landscaping like Cornell Business
and Technology Park does. John suggested making it a requirement to have
professional landscapers. Carol Klepack stated that the City and Town of Ithaca
also use this 12%. She also explained that this is a preference not a set
amount so they can talk and negotiate on this. There was further discussion on
replacing vegetation that dies and other specific plantings. It was reiterated
that the Landscape Policy is a guideline and not law. Bill Troy will review the
details of this policy with Carol Klepack. Carol will make sure that the
language is changed to be more negotiable. The Landscape Policy will be part of
the Comprehensive Plan, not part of the Zoning Law. Don proposed that we
incorporate what was heard during the public hearing, have the attorney review
and then vote on the Landscape Policy at the next meeting.
Motion –To Close the Public Hearing
Trustee Janet Beebe moved to close the public hearing. Trustee Frank Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-
Aye Trustee Frank Moore-
Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
The
Board looked over the vouchers and proposed the following resolution.
Resolution #3821- Abstracts
of Audited Vouchers
Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers
No. 7 for the General Fund, in the amount of $17,949.36, is hereby approved for
payment, and
Be it further RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited
Vouchers No. 7 for the Water Fund, in the amount of $729.46, is hereby approved for payment,
and
Be it further RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited
Vouchers No. 7 for the Sewer Fund, in the amount of $325.47, is hereby approved for payment,
and
Be it further RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited
Vouchers No. 7 for the Capital Projects Fund, in the amount of $21,233.89, is hereby approved for payment
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-
Aye Trustee Frank Moore-
Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Next
on the Agenda was to pass a resolution to enter into the New York State
Retirement System. Frank expressed the need to be explicit with the employees
that this will diminish their raises. Don feels it is not either/or, it’s part
of a total employee package. It was also suggested that the raises be based on
performance and not just across the board. Larry stated that this is a cost of
doing business. If the Village is not competitive then the employees will
leave. Since there are only two programs that government employees may
participate in we have no alternative and we have to figure out how to pay for
it. The NYS Deferred Compensation package, which the employees now have, is not
a guaranteed retirement plan. The Board has to remember that the employees are
also taking on an added expense with NYS Retirement. There must be a lot of
give on both sides of the table. Don understands that the Board members do not
wish to join so the deficiency will be lower than originally quoted. The
following resolution approving participation in the New York State and Local
Employees’ Retirement System was presented by
Mayor
Hartill.
Resolution #3822 –To Approve Participation in the New York State and
Local Employees’ Retirement System
BE IT RESOLVED: that the
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that this election shall
become effective on the first (1st) day of January, 2002.
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-
Aye Trustee
Frank Moore- Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Trustee Lynn Leopold-
Absent
Danica
has sent over a quote for computer equipment. Larry thinks the quote is
comparable to the cost of local stores. There were three changes that Larry
would like to see and they were an increase in RAM from 256 MB to 512 MB, add a
CD-ROM and speakers and include a 3-year warranty on parts and labor. Larry
will call Danica to discuss these points. The cost for a flat screen and new
computer will be ~$1,500. Ben will need a 17-inch screen and Jodi will only
need a 15-inch screen. Jodi will call Williamson Law Book to see if her DOS
based accounting programs will run in Windows 2000. The Board wants to go forward
with the network and connections.
Next
on the agenda was the approval of minutes.
Motion-Approval of Minutes for December 3, 2001
Trustee Janet Beebe moved that the draft meeting
notes, as reviewed and revised by the Board, are hereby adopted as the official
minutes. Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore-Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Don
has drafted a letter to Steve Vetter of NYSDOT requesting local management of
the N. Triphammer Road Reconstruction Project. The Village should have the NYS
Draft Agreement signed by Commissioner of NYSDOT early in the new year. The
good news is that the County Public Works directors have gotten together to
request proposals for engineering design consultants. This replaces the
previous list of five firms that had been approved by NYSDOT. Now there will be
15 firms to select from. This takes three months off the timeline in terms of
identifying an engineering design consultant. The Village may be able to do
some preliminary construction next session. The bad news is that out of the 15%
Marchicelli Funds we will get the $55,000 for engineering design but obtaining
these funds for the construction portion of the project will be a political
challenge. There is a MPO Policy Committee meeting tomorrow and Don will speak
with Steve then. We still have not heard from Mobil regarding property
acquisition.
There
is a sewer meeting Thursday. Don hopes that Dan Walker, Town of Ithaca
Engineer, has the new flow data for the Village of Cayuga Heights. Once VCH
sees an improvement, we should get 16 more sewer units. The Mayor feels our
sewer flow meters have fallen into disrepair and we get them operational as
soon as possible. Don will discuss this with Dennis.
The
EIS Consultant requested information from Ben on the total commercial square
footage in the village. Ben didn’t have time to do this so this may be a good
project for Carol.
Attorney
Troy had two issues to discuss. Independent Wireless One would like to
collocate a terminal on a NYSEG pole in Phil Dankert Park. The question is, can
we give a lease. The answer is no because it is parkland. We can give a
license. Bill questioned whether he should pursue this for revenue of $500 a
month. Larry couldn’t image this concept in the park. Bill stated that IWO was
willing to come to a meeting. Don suggested that first they give us a correct
drawing.
The
second issue was an encroachment agreement for the bus shelter at the corner of
Graham Road and Votapka Road. The property is being sold and the new owners
requested this. An encroachment agreement is a statement saying that the
Village should not have this on your property and both parties agree to let it
remain on the property but if it ever needs to be replaced the Village must
move it. Further, if any liability
issues arise the Village will protect and indemnify the owner of the property
on which the bus shelter is located. Bill checked with John Bailey to make sure
our insurance covers this. Bill explained that encroachments are done fairly
frequently. Bill suggested passing a resolution allowing the Mayor to sign such
an agreement.
Resolution #3823 –To Allow The Mayor To Sign And Enter Into An
Encroachment Agreement Concerning The Bus Stop At The Corner Of Graham Rd. and
Votapka Road With The Condition That It’s Approved By The Village Attorney
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore-Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Ben
has requested the Board approve a temporary CO for the Montessori School
addition containing additional classroom space and a gymnasium. It will be
substantially completed by December 31st and they would like to move
into the new space after the holiday on January 2nd. Life safety issues for use of the actual
building will be completed. However, site work and landscaping will not be completed
until spring.
Resolution #3824 –To Issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for
Montessori School Addition with a $10,000 Security Deposit and an Expiration
Date of June 14, 2002.
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore-Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe- Aye Trustee
Larry
is still unhappy with the timing of the traffic lights on N. Triphammer by Tops.
The Mayor will speak with Dennis about this.
Lastly
Don has heard that DOT will be doing improvements to the bridge over Route 13
this summer. The bridge will be redecked but not widened.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye Trustee
Meeting
adjourned at 9:43.
Village Clerk