MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of
PRESENT: Mayor Donald Hartill;
Mayor Donald Hartill called
the meeting to order at
Motion-To Close Public Comment Period
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
The engineer was not present so the board moved on to the approval of minutes.
Motion-Approval of Minutes for June 3rd, 12th, & 17th, 2002
Trustee Lynn Leopold 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
Janet Beebe-Aye Trustee
Trustee Frank Moore-Aye
The Mayor stated the board needed to come up with an amount that would be appropriate for selling the surplused computers. Larry stated that at this level the computers are usually donated due to the age and ever changing technology. There are two employees interested in buying the computers and the board decided on $50 for each computer. Jodi will make sure that all the Village information is removed from these computers before they are sold.
Resolution #3884- To Sell the Village’s Two Surplused Computers for $50 each.
Trustee
Mayor
Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee
Janet Beebe-Aye Trustee
Trustee Frank Moore-Aye
Dave Putnam stated that we have accepted the bid from Dean Calice Construction for the Cayuga Heights Road Project and now the board needs to pass a resolution to allow the Mayor to sign the contract on behalf of the Village.
Resolution #3885-To Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Contract for the Cayuga Heights Road Improvement Project
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
Dave stated that the work would begin the middle of next month.
The bonding company is arranging contractors to complete Uptown Road this season.
The next topic of discussion was the village taking over the entrance to Sevanna Park Apartments. The Village is interested in taking over the road if it meets road specifications. Ruston Paving is revising its contract. We have the design for three lanes but it has not been approved by NYSDOT yet. NYSDOT had two concerns with the turning radius of the curb and how it lines up with the drive across the street. The new road will go up to the first Lansing West Apartment. The Town of Lansing can do the earth and roadwork that need to be done for a turn around. The Town can complete the work by the end of October.
The Mayor ask Dave for an update on Sewer I&I. Dennis has written a letter to Brent Cross which gives the results of the repair. Dave Putnam will be meeting with Brent Cross tomorrow to see if the Village can get some more sewer units for fixing manholes. There are no more major leaks other than the two we just fixed. We should get 18-20 more units from this. Dave explained that there are two more sections of sewer that do not have any customers on them on Warren Road. These sections north of the jail and Arrowwood Dr. can be abandoned and sealed off. Also the line that goes under Pyramid Mall is now abandoned. Dave will also talk to Brent about the Kline Road Bypass.
Dave is in the process of getting the sketch for Northwood Apartments cleaned up. Once this is completed Dave and the Mayor will meet with the Colberts. The problem is that the Colberts want a buffer strip but all the utilities are on one side of the road so the road cannot be moved very far.
Next on the agenda was to pass a resolution to increase the water and sewer surcharge from 22% to 33%. The board had built this increase into the budget but never formally did a resolution. Bill Troy stated that the sewer increase had to first have a public hearing because the surcharge is part of our sewer law and we will actually be amending the sewer law. The water surcharge can be increased by resolution.
Resolution #3886-To Change the Water Rate Surcharge
WHEREAS, the Village of Lansing has heretofore imposed and collected a surcharge of twenty-two percent (22%) for water services in addition to the water rates charged for water services; and
WHEREAS, based upon the Village of Lansing’s consideration of a variety of budgetary factors, the Village has determined that such water surcharge should appropriately be increased from twenty-two percent (22%) to thirty-three percent (33%);
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of
1. The water rate surcharge imposed and collected by the Village of Lansing shall be equal to thirty-three percent (33%) of the water rate charges payable by each owner of property that is provided with water service by connection to the Village of Lansing Water System.
2. All water rents and rate schedules adopted by the Village of Lansing prior hereto not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this resolution shall continue to be binding and effective.
3. The surcharge on water rates set forth in this resolution shall be effective from the first Bolton Point water Billing after July 1, 2002, and thereafter until otherwise modified by the Village of Lansing as permitted and required by law.
Trustee Leopold moved that this resolution be adopted and Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
Motion- To Set a Public Hearing to Consider an Increase in the Sewer Surcharge from 22% to 33% for August 19, 2002 at 7:35pm at the Village of Lansing, 2405 N. Triphammer Rd. Ithaca, NY.
Trustee Fresinski moved to set a public hearing and Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
On Wednesday John Bailey presented an insurance proposal. It is a 15% increase over last year but still well ahead of the situation. The village should expect increases in the future. Frank asked if we are satisfied with this proposal. Don feels the Bailey Agency works hard on our behalf. John presented us with a time history of what we have paid. The Mayor went on to explain that we got involved with the Bailey Agency when Ted Wixom was mayor. Every three years we get bid proposals to make sure the cost is in line.
Resolution #3887- To Accept the George B. Bailey Insurance Agency’s
Proposal for Insurance for the Village of Lansing.
Trustee Beebe moved that this resolution be adopted and Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
The next item on the agenda was the tree inventory implementation. The village has a nice document listing all of the trees on village property. The Mayor explained that we need to look at the inventory and set up a maintenance program. Doris Brown stated that Andy Hillman, the City of Ithaca Forester, would come in to a planning board meeting to give us more information on tree maintenance. She also feels that when we are considering trees for along N. Triphammer Rd., we should get trees that are compatible with traffic. Ned added that the trees on Cinema Drive are in and need to be added to the tree inventory along with all the trees on the Edelman property that was donated to the Village. Ned pointed out that there are trees listed that are a hazard and need to be removed as soon as possible because it is a liability issue. Ned thinks someone in the public works department needs to learn how to prune trees or we need to hire someone. The board would like Dennis to get quotes and have the lowest bidder remove the trees listed as priority 1. The board would like Dennis to get two quotes from each, one for Priority 1 and one for Priority 1& 2. There are also some trees that need some maintenance. Rick and Edwin can screen and protect the young saplings from the lawn mower.
Mayor Hartill proposed that since both September Monday meetings are canceled because they are holidays, the board should select a date to have a meeting in September.
Resolution #3888- To Schedule a
Board of
Trustee Fresinski moved to that this resolution be adopted and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
Next on the agenda was mayor’s comments. A committee has selected 3 engineering consultants to interview for the N. Triphammer Rd. Project. They plan to have a design firm chosen by the end of the summer. The original cost estimate for N. Triphammer Rd. five years ago was $3 million. Don does not see any Marchiselli funds being available, which means we will have to pay for 20% of the project. The issue of underground utilities came up. It is estimated that they would cost $300,000. The final decision will not be made until the design firm has given us a cost for the project. This will probably be in the spring. If nothing else, we will at least put conduit in the ground so that it may be done in the future. The Mayor feels we cannot commit until we know the final price tag for the project.
The draft of the Intermunicipal Sewer Agreement is more or less completed. There are still some management issues. The Village of Cayuga Heights main concern is that their residents not pay any more than they are now. There are also issues of how we fund the upgrade of the Village of Cayuga Heights Plant. Don is concerned with the Town of Lansing ability to afford this. Our first meeting in August is a joint meeting with the Town of Lansing so this issue can be discussed. The board continued to discuss sewers. The timeline is to present the EIS to the DEC in August. The next step would not be until the first of the year.
Dennis has written a letter to Brent Cross to report on the flow since our repairs have been completed. Hopefully this will get us about 15 more sewer units. We have received 6 permits already and there are still 3 left.
Lynn suggested we send a letter to Susan Lorbeer thanking her for planting flowers. Jodi will let Dennis know that one of the planters by John Reese’s house is tilted and needs repair. The board thanked Lynn for planting the flowers around the office. Lynn requested that Rick and Edwin dump the dirt out of the barrel by the road so that it can be refilled with good dirt and some nice flowers.
Don is working on getting a member for the BZA. John Dennis would like to remain an alternate. We still need residents to serve on the Youth Commission. John O ‘ Neil suggested Pioter’s wife. John will talk to her. Lynn suggested we ask John Dennis to come to the September meeting to give an EMC update. It was suggested that all these vacancies be listed on our webpage.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye
Trustee
Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee
Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye
The board adjourned at 9:42pm.
Village Clerk