Village of Lansing

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, April 21, 2003, in the Village Office.

 

PRESENT: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees Janet Beebe, Lynn Leopold, Larry Fresinski, and Frank Moore; David Dubow, Village Attorney; Ned Hickey, Planning Board Chairman

 

Mayor Donald Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:37P.M. He opened the public comment period. There were no comments.

 

Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period

 

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

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                           Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                      Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

Dave Putnam, TG Millers, reported that Bush Lane is in this year’s budget but we don’t have room to make it the Village standard 28 feet wide. He informed the Board of the following: There is only enough room to make the road 24-25 feet wide. On one side residents have filled in the ditch with no pipes. Mayor Hartill asked if cement drainage runways were an option. Dave Putnam stated that this would be more expensive than catch basins. Ned stated that there would be increased east/west traffic on Bush Lane, especially once the Viola Miller property is developed, and that one of the three connecting roads to this proposed development will very likely be at Bush Lane. Don asked Dave Putnam to get a detailed estimate of what it would cost to do Bush Lane at a full 28 foot width, and also what it would cost to rebuild the part of Bush Lane which the Village previously worked on past the bridge.  Ned stated that the Miller development is planned in phases, and the proposed phase which will come out onto Bush Lane will probably not be developed until  2005-06.

 

Don stated that next year the Village will also need to consider doing something similar to Dart Drive with drainage and sidewalks, presumably on the south side. The Mayor indicated that if and when the Dart parcel is developed the Village might also want to consider buying a piece of property to create a traffic circle to control the speed of traffic on Dart Drive.

 

Ned was present on behalf of the Planning Board to answer the questions that arose at the last Board meeting on the proposed clustering amendment to the subdivision regulations. A discussion took place concerning the issues previously raised by the Board, and it was agreed that a revised version of the proposed amendment would be reviewed by the Planning Board before it is brought back to the Trustees.

 

Ned gave the Mayor a copy of the inventory report, which Lee Oplinger did, on the Edelman land, which report included some suggestions. Ned thought that this might even be a good project for the Boy Scouts.

 

Next on the agenda was the approval of minutes.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for April 7, 2003

 

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

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore-Aye                                            Trustee Janet Beebe- Aye                     Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

The next matter to be discussed was the proposal to have the Village’s part-time Clerk, Carol Willard, attend available training sessions.  The Board was informed that the following two courses are needed to be certified for performing fire inspections, and that Carol would like to attend both:

 

Course 40-0526 (Part I – Regulations, Administration and Enforcement & 

Part 2 – Fire Safe Design) is scheduled for May 20-22 and May 28-30.

                        Course runs from 8 – 4 daily.    Cost of the course is $ 25 registration fee.

                        Meals and lodging are $40 per day.

 

                        Course 41-0528 (Inspection of Existing Structures) is scheduled for

                        June 24-26. Course runs from 8-4 daily. Cost of the course is $25 registration fee.

                        Meals and lodging are $40 per day.

 

The Mayor indicated that he supports Carol getting this training, and that these additional skills will permit her to assist in code inspections for the Village.

 

Resolution #3944-Authorization for Willard to Attend Code Courses at

                             the NYS Fire Academy in Montour Falls at a Cost

                             Not to Exceed $450 for May 20-22, May 28-30 and

                             June 24-26.

 

                        Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore-Aye                                Trustee Janet Beebe- Aye                              Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

The Mayor reported that the archaeological survey with respect to the North Triphammer Road Project has been completed and nothing was found.  He also informed the Board that additional survey work was included to address the ramp work that is being considered as an add-on to the Project. He then reported that the cost for Fisher Associates to prepare a design for the Route 13 ramp area would be approximately $10,000 which will come out of the General Fund. The next meeting with Fisher is May 2nd. Larry stated that he would not be there for that meeting or the May 5th meeting. Don received a questionnaire from the owner of Fisher Associates regarding the performance so far. The Mayor and the Trustees confirmed that they continue to be very impressed with the Fisher representatives and the work that they have performed.

 

The Mayor advised the Board that there was nothing new to report on joint sewer discussions since there had not been a meeting since the last Trustees meeting. H also reported that Dennis Reinhart has gotten the Village’s flow meters calibrated and properly installed. The new meter readings reflect flow levels approximately 30% lower than previously indicated, the new readings now being consistent with the water consumption reports the Village receives from Bolton Point. Based upon flow readings during recent rain events, it appears that there are some significant infiltration problems in the Northwood Apartments area in the main line going into the plant. The Mayor indicated that repairing this area should result in additional sewer units being made available. Lynn asked if there were any leaks in the Highgate area where we had the backup problem previously. The Mayor reported that the flow meter readings do not indicate unusual fluctuations during rain events so there seems to be no problem there.

 

It was reported that street sweeping started today. The Board discussed the possibility of purchasing a used street sweeper to share with other neighboring municipalities. Dave Putnam suggested that buying a brand new one be considered because it has been his experience that sweepers are high maintenance machines and used ones often fail with great regularity. It was acknowledged that the material on the roads makes travel very difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists.  The Mayor commented that it was below freezing for six consecutive weeks during the winter, and with above average snowfall, it has resulted in more than the usual amount of gravel on our roads.

 

Lynn was asked about leaf pick up and the Board discussed the possibility of it being done once a year. Lynn will call Brent Cross at the Village of Cayuga Heights to see if it might be possible to arrange for the use of their machine.

 

The Mayor advised the Trustees that Ben Curtis, the Code Enforcement Officer, has requested that the Board approve a temporary certificate of occupancy for 44 Janivar Drive. Ben’s memo to the Board indicated that the house that John Roy is constructing at that location is substantially complete except for establishing ground cover and minor site work.  He also reported that drainage and erosion control measures are in place, but the lawn will have to wait until the ground is drier. All other code and life safety issues have been satisfied. He recommended granting the temporary certificate of occupancy, to expire on June 30, 2003, with a security deposit of $400.

 

 

 

Resolution #3938- To Authorize Ben to Issue a Temporary Certificates of Occupancy

                               For 44 Janivar Drive, With a $400 Escrow Deposit and Expiration Date of

                               June 30, 2003.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                                Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                                  Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye

Trustee-Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Lynn advised the Board that the Village has received a letter from Chrys Gardener, Community Beautification Coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, stating that the Village’s proposal  we determined to be a winning proposal for the 2003 Community Beautification Grants Program. The beautification advisory committee was in favor of our proposal to add plantings to the signs at all entrances to the Village. The other part of our proposal was to add plantings around the Village Hall. The committee thought the building sat to far away from the road and recommended adding plantings at the entrance of our driveway instead. The Board didn’t feel they should plant close to the road since we will be doing the N. Triphammer Road Construction Project in the near future. The Board thought that they might instead do a planting up the yard a little ways. Lynn will contact Chrys and talk to her further. The letter also inquired as to whether the Village would add plantings around the large Welcome to Tompkins County sign on Route 13 near the airport. There was some confusion as to what sign this request referred to.  

 

Lynn informed the Board that there is a Phase II Stormwater Construction Activity Meeting on 5/6/03, which she will attend.

 

Larry Fresinski brought up the issue of Segways and indicated that the previous discussion on whether or not to allow these electric-powered personal transportation devices on sidewalks is no longer an issue for the Village to decide. Larry reported that a recent article in a Cornell publication confirmed that under New York State law the only motorized vehicles allowed on sidewalks are those for disabled people.

 

The Board reviewed the vouchers. Mayor Hartill proposed that an additional $75 voucher be added to the General Fund for the replacement of Don Edwards paper box which he claims was broken by the snowplow.  The Mayor will write Mr. Edwards a letter stating that this will be the last time he is reimbursed for this.

 

           Resolution # 3946- Abstracts of Audited Vouchers

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 11 for the General Fund, in the amount of $150,820.28, which includes the additional voucher for Edwards, is hereby approved for payment, and

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 11 for the Water Fund, in the amount of $1753.44 is hereby approved for payment, and

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 11 for the Sewer Fund, in the amount of $1570.70, is hereby approved for payment

 

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 11 for the Capital Projects Fund, in the amount of $193,109.51 is hereby approved for payment

 

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

 

Mayor Donald Hartill -Aye                   Trustee Frank Moore-Aye

                        Trustee Larry Fresinski -Aye                Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye

           

Jodi advised the Board, based upon her discussions with David Dubow, that the Capital Projects checks to Fisher Design would be held until May 7th since the payment of those funds, authorized at the Board’s meeting on April 7, is subject to permissive referendum.

 

Frank Moore advised the Board that he, along with Dennis Reinhart, have been interviewing potential candidates for the summer laborer position. He reported that there were around 30 applicants of which 6 were pretty good.  Frank indicated that he was quite impressed with the way Dennis runs the interviews and the good job he does in questioning the prospective employees.

 

Motion- To Adjourn

 

Trustee Fresinski moved adjournment. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion.

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                    Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                      Trustee Larry Fresinski- Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:20pm.

 

                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

                                                                                                            Village Clerk/Treasurer