Village of Lansing

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, August 4, 2008, in the Village Office.

Present: Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski; Trustees Lynn Leopold and Julie Baker; Attorney David Dubow.

In the absence of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. and opened the public comment period. There were no comments.

Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period

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

Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye Trustee Julie Baker-Aye

The next item on the agenda was the final budget modifications for fiscal year 2007-2008. There was a brief review of the final adjustments resulting from Abstracts 13 and 14 and a discussion as to the re-allocation of certain budget amounts and the total amounts expended from the contingency funds for the General Fund, Water Fund and Sewer Fund. The Board examined and agreed upon the following summaries that Village Clerk Jodi Dake had previously provided:

Resolution #5470-To Approve the Following 2007-08 Budget

Modifications to Replace The Modifications Done at the

May 19,2008 meeting:

2007-08 BUDGET TRANSFERS- GENERAL FUND

Be it RESOLVED to transfer

$ 100.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4,, to General Government

Support, Auditor, Contractual, A1320.4

$ 17.00 from General Government Support, Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2 to General

Government Support, Assessment, Contractual, A1355.4

$ 3,764.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to General Government

Support, Deputy Clerk, Personal Services, A1415.1

$ 2,375.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to General Government

Support, Central Garage, Equipment/Building, A1640.2

$ 5,605.00 from Public Safety, Transportation, Street Maintenance, Contractual, A5110.4

to Public Safety, Transportation, Street Maintenance, Equipment, A5110.2

$ 1,166.00 from Public Safety, Transportation, Snow Removal, Contractual, A5142.4 to

Public Safety, Transportation, Snow Removal, Equipment, A5142.2

$ 2,141.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to Culture and

Recreation, Playgrounds & Recreation Centers, Contractual, A7140.4

$ 6,400.00 from General Government Support, Law, Contractual, A1420.4, to Home &

Community Services, Planning, Legal Expense, A8020.41

$ 2,905.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to Home &

Community Services, Planning, Legal Expense, A8020.41

$ 2,017.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to Home

& Community Services, Planning, Contractual, A8020.44

$ 2,544.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4 to Home & Community

Services, Storm Sewers, A8140.4

$ 168.00 from Employee Benefits, NYS Retirement- Employers Share, A9010.8, to

Employee Benefits, Social Security, A9030.8

$ 40.00 from Employee Benefits, NYS Retirement-Employers Share, A9010.8, to

Employee Benefits, Medicare, A9030.81

$ 1,000.00 from Employee Benefits, NYS Retirement-Employers Share, A9010.8, to

Employee Benefits, Longevity, A9089.8

Total Contingency used -$15,847.00 of $20,000

Budget Transfers- Water Fund

$ 6,552.00 from General Government Support, Special Items, Contingent Account,

F1990.4, to Home & Community Services, Source of Supply, Power &

Pumping, Purchases, F8320.44

$ 5,405.00 from Home & Community Services, Source of Supply, Power &

Pumping, Engineering, F8320.45, to Home & Community Services, Source

of Supply, Power & Pumping, Purchases, F8320.44

Total Contingency used-$6,552.00.

Budget Transfers- Sewer Fund

$ 183.00 from General Government Support, Special Items, Contingent Account,

G1990.4, to Home & Community Services, Other Sanitation- Intergovernmental Charges, G8189.4

$4,900.00 from General Government Support, Special Items, Contingent Account,

G1990.4, to Home & Community ServicesSanitary Sewers,Capital Projects, G8120.22

Total Contingency used-$5,083.00.

Trustee Leopold moved to adopt the foregoing resolution. Trustee Baker seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye Trustee Julie Baker-Aye

The Board next discussed the consideration of Proposed Local Law D (2008) – Amendment to Village Code-Zoning Law – Elimination of “One-Unit Residence Converted” Use Category. David Dubow provided the following explanation and background: This local law provides for the elimination of the “one-unit residence converted” use under the Village’s zoning provisions, a use that is currently permitted with a special permit approval, general and additional conditions, in the Low, Medium and High Density Residential Districts, the Shannon Park Planned Development Area and the Commercial Low Traffic District.  The current need for this use and the special permit procedures associated with its approval were previously raised by Ben Curtis, Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer, and discussed by the Planning Board. Those discussions resulted in a determination that (i) the “one-unit residence converted” use is somewhat duplicative of the “two-unit residential building” use that is already permitted as of right in the same zoning districts; (ii) the duplication creates unnecessary special permit review and approval by the Planning Board; and (iii) the original underlying purpose and basis for the use is no longer present.  Accordingly, the Planning Board concluded that Ben’s recommendation to eliminate the “one-unit residence converted” use was appropriate and resolved at their last meeting to recommend adoption of this local law. David also explained the procedural requirements for the Board of Trustees to proceed with consideration of this local law, including the scheduling of a public hearing and the referral of this matter to the County Planning Department for general Municipal Law Section 239 –l and –m review. It was pointed out that that because the second regularly scheduled Monday meeting of the Board in August will need to be cancelled due to the lack of a quorum and the first regularly scheduled Monday meeting in September falls on Labor Day and was therefore cancelled at the time of the Board’s Organizational meeting, the next regularly scheduled Monday meeting of the Board at which the public hearing can be held is September 15. The Board determined that it was appropriate to proceed with further consideration of this proposed local law.

Resolution #5471 - To Set a Public Hearing for Proposed Local Law D

(2008) for September 15, 2008 at 7:35pm

Trustee Leopold moved to set a public hearing. Trustee Baker seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski -Aye Trustee Julie Baker-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

The Board then acknowledged that because there would not be a quorum present for the scheduled August 18, 2008 meeting, that meeting should be formally cancelled.

Resolution #5472- To Cancel the Regularly Scheduled Board of Trustees Meeting On August 18, 2008 For Lack Of A Quorum

Trustee Baker moved to cancel the August 18, 2008 meeting. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski -Aye Trustee Julie Baker-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Given the absence of the Mayor, there were no Mayor’s comments. Therefore, the Board proceeded to the General Discussion agenda item.

Lynn inquired as to whether any Board members had read the recent NYCOM Bulletin article regarding the costs and benefits associated with the dissolution of a village. She indicated that her impression from the article is that there are many reasons not to dissolve a village in the name of consolidation, those reasons including the inability to maintain certain services and the levels of service that Village residents may have become accustomed to.

Larry reported on the status of the Village switching over to Time Warner’s Roadrunner business internet service. He indicated that the new service has been installed, and that the Village had experienced its first service interruption which was corrected by way of Time Warner’s customer service procedures. He also explained the coordination of the new internet service and the continuing relationship with the company providing website hosting services and related services to the Village. Lynn inquired as to whether photos can be posted on the Village’s website, and Larry indicated that it can be done on a somewhat limited basis.

Dan Veaner of the Lansing Star inquired as to the speed/radar equipment on North Triphammer Road and the location of the solar panels providing power for the equipment’s operation. None of the Board members were certain as to where in fact the solar panels were located.

Julie reported that she has been working with Ben Curtis on the proposed Building Code Administration local law and that a few issues have arisen that may require and/or benefit from Board discussion, input and guidance. By way of example, she indicated that there may be some questions regarding the enforcement procedures and the authority to be granted to the Code Enforcement Officer for certain matters. It was generally agreed that these types of issues should be identified and then brought to the Board for further discussion and evaluation.

The deer issue was raised and Lynn reported that she understood there would not be a DEC controlled hunt on the Sun Down’s property this year as the owner did not want bow hunting, but instead suggested shot gun hunting as a more humane way of dealing with the problem. Because the discharge of firearms is not permitted in the Village, Lynn indicated that the suggestion by the owner of the property could not be accommodated even if the Village were inclined to proceed in that fashion. She also reported that there are a number of other property owners in the Village who might be willing to permit a controlled bow hunting effort and that the Village is speaking to those individuals about such possibilities.

Motion- To Adjourn

Trustee Leopold moved for adjournment. Trustee Baker seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Deputy Mayor Larry Fresinski -Aye Trustee Julie Baker-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

The meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.