Village of Lansing

 

MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 in the Village Office.

 

Present:  Mayor Donald Hartill, Janet Beebe, Larry Fresinski, Lynn Leopold, Frank Moore; Code and Zoning Enforcement Officer Benjamin Curtis; Superintendent of Public Works Dennis Reinhart;  Motor Equipment Operator Rick Beckwith; and Clerk, part-time Carol Willard.

 

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 12:13 P.M.

 

Beckwith reported the truck is nice although he does not think vehicles need to be turned over every two years.  Hartill stated that with the purchasing contract through the state, it is profitable to do it this way.  Beckwith would prefer to see a new skid steer purchased as the current one is about 8 years old.  Reinhart will pursue this with the state contract.

 

Trustee Beebe reported that the Recreation Partnership Board has switched its meetings to the 4th Tuesday of each month.

 

Trustee Moore asked Mayor Hartill if the Greenway business could be placed on the agenda soon.  Mayor Hartill responded that Monday’s meeting is full due to codification and budget but he will work on it.  Trustee Moore will draft a possible mission statement for circulation to Board members.  Moore also stated the Planning Board has recommended a revisit of Greenway issues. 

 

Trustee Leopold stated Hollywood Video would be coming to the Village at the end of the Applebee’s building.  Hollywood requested a variance to the Planned Sign Area to allow them to have two 25-ft. signs.  The Planning Board denied the request for the sign on the west side of the building but will allow the sign facing the parking lot.  No neon lights will be permitted.  Hollywood Video did receive permission for a drop-off box subject to the engineer’s review on traffic issues. 

 

Trustee Leopold also stated that Best Buys have turned off their large lit sign at night. 

 

Trustee Leopold stated she and Curtis would be meeting with Greg Bronson to discuss the RFP of the AV system for the Village conference room.  Leopold would like to see the bids go out and funds encumbered prior to the end of this fiscal year.  Bronson is currently awaiting answers to technology questions from Time Warner to continue the process.

 

Trustee Fresinski noted the room was cold and requested Curtis reprogram the controls if necessary. 

 

Trustee Fresinski stated the lights on N. Triphammer Rd. do not seem to work smoothly at all times.  Reinhart stated he has spoken with Ron Bleakely, DOT, and they observed the controls at Pyramid Drive.  Programming sequencing is different on weekends than weekdays.  Blakely will discuss with Randy Tennant, DOT, and will do a 10-second differential between the phases for the weekends.  Fresinski will continue to monitor the lights.

 

Trustee Fresinski stated he has not heard much regarding Time Warner cable negotiations.  Curtis responded that Patricia Dunn, City of Ithaca Attorney, and Tom Doheny, Time Warner management, have met and feel content with their rate of progress.  Curtis stated the Board might be interested in requesting Attorney Troy to push review of the ROW law, which is not subject to negotiations, but might get the attention of Time Warner.  Hopefully, all 11 municipalities would adopt the ROW law simultaneously.  Curtis had originally thought this might have been ready by last summer. 

 

Mayor Hartill stated he has received the documentation requiring his signature for the contracts between the Village and NYS DOT to allow the Village to be the local administrator of the N. Triphammer Rd. Reconstruction Project.  Mayor Hartill introduced the following:

 

                        Resolution # 3833 – Authorization for Mayor’s Signature to Allow Village

                        to be Local Administrator for N. Triphammer Rd. Reconstruction Project

 

Be it RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to sign the contracts between the Village of Lansing and NYSDOT authorizing the Village of Lansing  to be the local administrator for the N. Triphammer Rd. Reconstruction Project.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution be adopted and Trustee Beebe seconded the motion.  A vote was take:

 

            Mayor Donald Hartill – Aye                  Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye

            Trustee Janet Beebe – Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore - Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski - Aye

 

Regarding the N. Triphammer Rd. reconstruction $3M project, Mayor Hartill stated that TG Millers’ have indicated it will take 2 construction seasons to complete it and there will be a 3-year disruption.  This summer, the bridge over Route 13 will be re-decked.  The County is also in the process of resurfacing N. Triphammer Rd. from Route 34 to the Village line so this will cause a disruption.  It is still unclear whether the Village will have underground utility lines as the cost is approx. $300,000 to bury these lines.  The Village will receive 80% federal funding but it is unclear whether the 15% Marchiselli funding will be available. 

 

Curtis reported that the Target store will be approx. 125-135,000 SF in size.  In comparison, Tops is 50,000 SF.  Some water and sewer lines will be retired and Target is working with Reinhart on this and will be rerouting some sewer lines.  Also, the drainage swale on the north side will be buried.   

 

Curtis reported that the Tops Plaza is contemplating a Japanese restaurant and possibly a bank or ATM in the middle. 

 

Regarding Pyramid Mall, Dick’s Sporting Goods permit will be out in the next few days.  Borders is also under way.  The Best Buys lights have been placed on a timer and the new stores will also be required to have theirs on timers.  Currently Best Buys is working on their fire alarm problems.  Curtis stated the Mall is aware of the problems that exist with the parking lights and know they need to be resolved through shields or lens as the bulbs can be seen from N. Triphammer Rd. and Highgate Circle.  It was also noted that the parking lot on the southern side needs to be redone when the northern side is being done. 

 

Curtis stated the Board has received his yearly report and may have noted that the volume of permits is up.  This has taken a toll on the number of fire inspections he has been able to perform as he usually does them when the volume of permits drop. NYS will be adopting the international code with enhancements. Curtis also stated the new code was supposed to have been in place by Jan. but it now appears to be July although Curtis suspects it might possibly be as late as Oct.

 

Willard stated Newsletter articles are due by Feb. 28th and so far she has received none so the Newsletter will be slim.  Also codification is on hold until she receives further direction from the Board.

 

Mayor Hartill introduced the following:

 

                                    Resolution # 3834- Abstracts of Audited Vouchers

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 9 for the General Fund, in the amount of $13,873.73, is hereby approved for payment, and

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 9 for the Water Fund, in the amount of $79,328.56, is hereby approved for payment, and

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 9 for the Sewer Fund, in the amount of $153.74, is hereby approved for payment.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved that this resolution be adopted and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. 

 

Reinhart stated that one of the bills in the sewer account was incorrect and he is requesting permission to pull the bill.  Mayor Hartill stated he should have Clerk Dake do this. 

 

A vote was take:

 

            Mayor Donald Hartill – Aye                  Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye

            Trustee Janet Beebe – Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore - Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski - Aye

 

Regarding the availability of sewer units, Mayor Hartill stated he did not attend the last meeting but the engineers have not yet inspected the Cayuga Heights plant.  Currently, the proposals being discussed would place all partners on an equal basis.  Hopefully, the draft agreement for the EIS will be completed by March to go to the DEC and a public hearing will be held by April 1st.  These deadlines are pressuring a completion of this project.  Each municipality may have a permissive referendum.  Engineer Putnam stated that the Village lines are not in good shape and there are two significant leaks (one near Fresinski’s house which loses 1,000 gallons per day or the equivalent of 100 units; and one near the Tompkins Trust Company. Trust Co.)  Flowmeters will be installed to monitor flow.  Mayor Hartill stated that Brent Cross has been alerted of the problems.  Mayor Hartill stated he has given up on receiving additional units from repairs done in the Town of Ithaca as they do not seem forthcoming.  Putnam will be meeting with Reinhart and Putnam will have a recommendation for the Monday evening meeting.  

 

Reinhart stated that Mold Flow has placed their parking lights on timers.  Mayor Hartill stated that CFCU on Craft Rd. will be reviewing their outdoor lights and he asked Trustee Fresinski to monitor them.   

 

Trustee Moore introduced the following:

 

                                    Motion – Adjournment

 

Trustee Fresinski moved to adjourn the meeting and Trustee Moore seconded the motion.  A vote was taken:

 

            Mayor Donald Hartill – Aye                  Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye

            Trustee Janet Beebe – Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore - Aye

            Trustee Larry Fresinski - Aye

 

Meeting adjourned at 1:17 P.M.

 

                                                                                                Carol J. Willard

                                                                                                Clerk, part-time