Village of Lansing

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, November 3, 2003, in the Village Office.

 

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

 

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.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 Larry Fresinski- Aye                            Trustee Janet Beebe-Aye                                  Trustee Frank Moore- Aye

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

Lynn presented a proposed resolution regarding a joint funding application for the implementation of the new Phase II EPA and DEC storm water regulations.  She explained that Craig Schutt has submitted a proposed grant for implementing a Storm Water Management Plan. He has asked that all municipalities that would benefit from getting this money pass a resolution in its support, having explained that this joint effort will add power to the grant if all involved municipalities are behind it.  Frank asked who the lead agency would be for this, and Lynn indicated that she believes the Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District will be so designated. Don stated that he has been in contact with Sharon Anderson and she is willing to attend the Village’s next Board of Trustees meeting to give us further information. Board members expressed frustration with the new Stormwater Regulations because they are yet another unfunded mandate. Don commented that because of this anticipated responsibility, the Village added 30% to its engineering costs in the budget.

 

Ned Hickey added that the Planning Board has already had to apply these regulations with respect to the recently approved Millcroft subdivision. He explained that the anticipated drainage costs are estimated to far exceeded what the Miller’s had expected because of the application of these new regulations. David Dubow added that the properties upon which storm water requirements have been imposed are now far more likely to end up being conveyed to the Village with maintenance and upkeep becoming the Village’s responsibility. In such cases, the Village will own drainage areas instead of having easements for them. It was acknowledged that additional monies will therefore have to be added to the budget each year for these newly imposed responsibilities.

 

 

 

Resolution #4006- To Cooperate in Seeking Funding and Implementing Storm

                              Water Management Plans

 

Whereas the Village of Lansing is part of the urbanized area of Tompkins County and is a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) as defined by the Phase II Stormwater Regulations; and

 

Whereas the Phase II Stormwater Regulations require that all MS4s implement a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP);

 

Whereas the MS4s are strongly encouraged by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to collaborate in SWMP implementation, including applications for funding; and

           

Whereas the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a Call for Applications for funding that may be used towards SWMP implementation,

           

Therefore, be it resolved that the Village of Lansing will cooperate with the other municipalities and school districts in the urbanized area of Tompkins County in seeking funding and implementing SWMPs and other activities relating to the control of stormwater impacts on water bodies.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution and Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

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

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

The next item on the agenda was to consider the proposed Agreement amending water rates provided for in the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (SCLIWC) Agreement. Jodi presented the Board with a spreadsheet showing the different municipalities and the percentage surcharge each imposes upon the base SCLIWC rate in billing water consumption to its customers. She pointed out that the Village of Lansing currently has the lowest surcharge of 33%. The current water rate charged by Bolton Point is $1.79 and the proposed increase goes back up to $2.04. This was the rate back in 1999, which then went down to $1.79 in 2000. This is a 13% increase, and the Board was reminded that the increase is attributable to the general increase in operating costs and the anticipated borrowing in conjunction with the recently approved capital project for the expansion and renovation of the water plant and offices. The spreadsheet also showed the difference the Village would collect as a result of the surcharge being increased from $1.79 to $2.04. The difference in revenue for the Village will be an increase of approximately $14,000/yr.  It was agreed that the Board would consider increasing the surcharge at budget time.

 

 

RESOLUTION # 4007-TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE INTERMUNICIPAL WATER COMMISSION AGREEMENT INCREASING THE WATER RATE CHARGES

 

            WHEREAS, the Village of Lansing entered into an agreement of intermunicipal cooperation with several other municipalities creating the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (“SCLIWC”) and authorizing the construction by such Commission of the Bolton Point water treatment plant and related transmission and other facilities, which agreement was restated as of June 5, 1979, and which agreement has been subsequently amended from time to time (such agreement as so amended being hereinafter referred to as the "SCLIWC Agreement"); and

 

            WHEREAS, the SCLIWC Agreement included a schedule of the water rates to be charged, which schedule has been amended from time to time; and

 

            WHEREAS, the parties to the SCLIWC Agreement wish to amend the Agreement to increase the water rates, and a copy of the proposed amendment has been submitted to this Board for its approval; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees finds it is in the best interests of the Village of Lansing and its citizens to effect the proposed water rate increases;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

 

RESOLVED, that the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees, in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law - the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQR”) and 6 NYCRR Section 617.5, hereby determines that adoption of said proposed amendment is a Type II action, constituting “routine or continuing agency administration and management, not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment,” and thus may be processed without further regard to SEQR; and be it further

 

            RESOLVED, that the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees hereby authorizes on its behalf the execution of the proposed amendment to the SCLIWC Agreement submitted to this meeting, approving thereby the amendment to the rate schedule so as to increase the water rates to be charged under the SCLIWC Agreement generally from $1.79 per thousand gallons of water to $2.04 per thousand gallons of water.

 

The vote on the foregoing motion was as follows:

 

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

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

Don asked Jodi to send the spreadsheet to him electronically.

Next on the agenda was to discus the proposed Settlement and Release Agreement from Computel Consultants.  David Dubow gave some history on the original arrangements pursuant to which the Village engaged the services of Computel in 1996 to seek possible refunds from NYSEG, the compensation to be payable on a success basis with 50% of the recovered refunds going to Computel. Since Sylvia Smith, the prior Village Clerk, left several years ago, Dennis Reinhart, the Village Superintendent of Public Works, has been dealing with Michael Caton of Computel Consultants. David has spoken with Dennis and Dennis was concerned that the proposed Settlement and Release Agreement that was sent to the Village may be inconsistent with what he understood the settlement arrangement to be. David indicated that Dennis needs some clarification from Computel and intended to make further inquiry.  David therefore recommended that the Board wait to act on this until Dennis presents further information at the Wednesday meeting. Don explained that in the past we have had problems with NYSEG charging us for nonexistent streetlights. The Board will wait to hear from Dennis.         

 

There were two sets of minutes for the Board to approve. There were a few things clarified. The sharing of costs for the road by the YMCA was changed to state that with respect to the road which is one half owned by the YMCA and the other half owned by the Village, each will pay for their own section but the job is being done all at the same time. The blank left for the insert of the name of the person in attendance with Earl Westbrook was changed to Janice Johnson.

 

Motion-Approval of Minutes for October 15th & 20th, 2003

 

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

 

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

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

                       

Next on the agenda were the Mayor’s Comments. During his update on N. Triphammer Road he stated that the ramp area of Route 13 would be included in the project.  The Mayor indicated that basically the project is on schedule. There are still property acquisitions that are being negotiated for the driveway by HSBC Bank that goes back to the New Plan Realty property and with Pyramid Mall.  It was explained that Pyramid wants to take over the westerly 300 feet at the end of Pyramid Drive and convey to the Village their section of Graham Road. The mayor estimated that it may be approximately 4 weeks before these final matters are settled.

 

During the Mayor’s sewer update he informed the Board of the status of the ongoing discussions and negotiations regarding the proposed Intermunicipal agreement regarding sewer service and the Cayuga Heights Plant and Ithaca Treatment Plant. The Mayor further advised the Board as follows: The Village has received 39 additional sewer units from the Village of Cayuga Heights.  The Village will continue to monitor our system and repair leaks in the hope of acquiring additional sewer units. The Kline Road bypass is still a viable alternative. The Cayuga Heights plant was well built and is in good shape.

 

Next on the agenda was General Discussion. Frank was concerned with the pedestrian traffic at Pyramid. Don stated that Pyramid is very sensitive to this and what will probably happen is an island will be installed at the end of Pyramid Drive in conjunction with the North Triphammer improvement project.  Ned Hickey explained that the south side sidewalk, which goes to the end of Pyramid, will be partially removed to do some drainage work that is needed there. Cross striping will be done at the Tops light with signage to direct the Pyramid pedestrians to cross.

 

Frank commented that the rehabilitation on the Lansing Trails has not been done. The Board was advised that the contractor to whom the work was awarded is suppose to do the work and they have assured Dennis that it will be completed this season. John O’Neill commented that the trail to Northwood looks very nice.

 

Ned Hickey gave an update on the Tompkins County Municipal Officers and Planning Coalition meeting he attended. There were two presentations. The first was by the new planner, Crystal Buck, from Tompkins County Planning. She presented the beginning of an open space plan for the County.  The second presentation was by the Town of Dryden on part of their draft comprehensive plan. One of Dryden’s main concerns is the commercial business along Route 13. The next meeting is in December.

 

Those at the meeting were reminded that election day is tomorrow and to be sure to vote.

 

                        Motion-To Adjourn

 

Trustee Fresinski moved adjournment. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion.

 

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

                        Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Jodi Dake

                                                                                                                 Clerk/treasurer