Village of Lansing
MINUTES of a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, June 7, 1999, in the Village Office.
PRESENT: Mayor Don Hartill; Trustees Clifford Buck, John Caren, Larry Fresinski
and Lynn Leopold; Attorney Randall Marcus; Planning Board Member, Doris Brown
Mayor Don Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. and asked for Public Comment. There was no public comment.
Motion- To Close Public Comment
Trustee John Caren moved to close the public comment period
Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
Motion- To Open Public Hearing to Consider the Lighting Plan Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
Trustee Lynn Leopold moved to open the public hearing and Trustee Cliff Buck seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
There was no public present to comment. The Mayor brought a poster that shows a satellite photo of how the planet looks in the night.
Motion- To Close the Public Hearing
Trustee John Caren moved to open the public hearing and Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
RESOLUTION #3568-To Adopt the Village Lighting Plan as Presented and Add it as an Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
Be it RESOLVED, that Village Lighting Plan has been adopted by the Board of Trustees and added as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
Trustee John Caren moved to adopt the Village Lighting Plan and add it as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
Lynn wanted to follow up with Don’s previously stated concern regarding the high-pressure sodium lights. Don stated that this is only to provide guidance, it’s not a law. We can provide guidance to those enforcing the lighting plan.
RESOLUTION #3569-To Appoint Phil Dankert as Planning Board Alternate, John Bailey as Alternate to the BZA and Donald Eckrich as a Member of the BZA
Be it RESOLVED, that Philip Dankert is hereby appointed as alternate to the Planning Board, John Bailey is hereby appointed as alternate to the BZA and Donald Eckrich is hereby appointed as a member of the BZA.
Trustee John Caren moved to make the three appoints stated above and Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
Next on the agenda was the Mayor’s Comments. Last Wednesday he met with various water purveyors to walk the path of the proposed new water main. They had a conversation and it is less attractive now to go along the old railroad bed with the water main. The ditch down Rt34 seems to be a more favorable route.
The railroad bed is still favorable for the sewer route. They are still exploring the option of doing sewer along with water down Rt34. According to Brent Cross, the Village of Cayuga Heights would like to be out of the sewer business. What this means is instead of a special relationship they will be a partner. All things are in place for the Kline Road By-pass. Randy stated that one easement is left to be finalized. Once this agreement is in place we can go ahead.
The Board was given a draft Amendment to the Agreement of Municipal Cooperation for S.C.L.I.W.C. in their packets. The Mayor wanted to endorse this agreement but not all Board members had read through the entire agreement. Don pointed out some of the important points he would like them to pay attention to:
- Cornell’s relationship, special legislation
- 2 more votes, authority is diluted
- making and funding further capital improvements
- $14 million is the final capital cost
- how to actually monitor water intake
Benefits to the Village and region are very significant. The Mayor asked the Board to read over the draft agreement and be ready to vote on it at the Wednesday meeting. John asked if it could wait until the next Monday meeting. The Mayor would like to get it to Ithaca and Cornell before then. This is not the final agreement, it’s a statement of our direction. The Mayor endorses it. The funding for this is at a very low rate. Ithaca tried to get it alone and was denied. John Caren stated that he trusts Don who has represented the Village and his option was that he only wants Randy to read over the language.
The Mayor stated that the letters for the North Triphammer Property Acquisition went out last Friday. He expects this all to be wrapped up by the end of the summer.
Next on the agenda was the discussion of sewer units. Ben had called Don regarding sewer units and what happens when a property has units that they don’t need. Cliff had spoken with Ron Anderson, Mayor of VCH, and he thinks sewer units belong to the property. The question of monetary value of existing units has arisen. The sewer units were not purchased therefore they have no monetary value. Both Villages’ have no law on this issue. Randy stated that Brent Cross’s view is that the units stay with the property. This issue should be made very clear with the new partnership. There is no obvious understanding. Cliff feels we need to speak with the VCH before we go any further.
Next on the agenda was the approval of the minutes for April.
Motion-Approval of Minutes for May 3 &17, 1999
Trustee John Caren moved that the meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
Trustee Cliff Buck-Aye Trustee John Caren-Aye
Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye
Motion-Approval of Minutes for May 12, 1999
Trustee John Caren moved that the meeting notes, as reviewed and revised by the Board, are hereby adopted as the official minutes. Trustee Larry Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye
Trustee Cliff Buck-Abstain Trustee John Caren-Aye
Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye
Lynn Leopold, a village representative since 1986, gave the Board an update of what the EMC has been doing in the last year. The EMC has been very busy and the following is a list of some of things they have been doing:
- Reviewed the Lake Source Cooling environmental Impact Statement, asked
questions and made recommendations. Out of this a Lake Source Cooling Data
Sharing Group was formed.
- Sponsored the EMC State Conference last fall
- Revising the report of the Unique Natural Areas in the County
- Looks at different Impact Statements
- Follows the chemical and radiation reports by Cornell University
- The education committee did a webpage
- County Tower Committee is dealing with issues related to the new 911 band
The County Board is going through a review process of the EMC. Lynn’s role as a municipal representative is to carry issues to the EMC. Cliff asked if we should have notified the EMC regarding the new McLain Development. Lynn stated that is up to the local municipalities as to what goes before the EMC. Our Village has a Planning Board that does reviews and if they feel necessary they could go directly to the EMC. The EMC does not take a stand, they only give recommendations. They have no authority. A lot of times if something goes to County Planning they will forward a copy on to the EMC.
The question that is being asked is are the EMC municipal representatives really representing the interests of their municipality. The question has been asked if the EMC should abolish the municipal reps all together. There are currently 42 members on the EMC. This is the largest and most expensive County Advisory Committee. Lynn feels the committee needs the size to keep going and that there should be more communication between EMC members and their municipalities. There are no reps from Groton or Trumansburg. One good thing out of all this is really good ideas for communication. Lynn suggested that the Village send a letter stating how the Village of Lansing feels about these issues. Don stated that he would like Randy to draft a resolution to express the Village’s endorsement for the EMC. Cliff stated that he can’t get excited about this but supports Lynn 100%.
Next on the agenda was continued discussion on the employee manual. John Caren stated that he, Randy and Ben were meeting next Wednesday and that after this the Board would discuss it further.
Randy informed the Board that he had received an approval from the Town of the contract to have the Town of Lansing repair our water main breaks. Dennis called Randy and left a message that Bolton Point has some comments. Randy asked if the Board would like to pass a resolution to have the Mayor sign this contract or wait until we heard what Bolton had to say. John suggested we wait and the rest of the Board agreed.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee John Caren moved adjournment. Trustee Lynn Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Trustee Clifford Buck- Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold- Aye
Trustee John Caren- Aye Mayor Donald Hartill- Aye
Larry Fresinski- Aye
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M.
Jodi Dake
Village Clerk