Village of Lansing

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, May 1, 2006, in the Village Office.

Present: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees, Larry Fresinski, Lynn Leopold, John O’Neill and Frank Moore; Clerk/Treasurer Jodi Dake; Attorney David Dubow; and Planning Board Chair Ned Hickey.

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:35P.M. and opened the public comment period. Ned Hickey presented a sketch plan of a proposed minor subdivision that is before the Planning Board and is intended to create a parcel to be conveyed to the owners of the adjacent Colonial Veterinary Hospital property. Dr. Ross of Colonial indicated that they would be willing to donate the proposed subdivided parcel that is located at the foot of St. Joseph Lane as part of their expansion project, but first wanted to determine the Board’s willingness to accept that parcel. Ned stated that the Planning Board has looked at the proposed subdivided parcel and has determined that it would be a good place to connect a walking trail and possibly locate a pocket park. It was explained that Don Edwards will be selling the property to Dr. Ross and Dr. Ross in turn would the be able to donate it to the Village. The parcel is zoned residential so it can’t have commercial improvements located on it, but it is being proposed to serve as a buffer zone and for drainage. Ned asked the Board for their opinion. Mayor Hartill thought it was a great idea. There is currently a sewer easement that runs through the parcel and that would be an appropriate place for the trail. Frank questioned where the trail would come out on N. Triphammer Rd. It would probably come out along the sidewalk of the vet parking lot. Dubow explained that depending upon certain stormwater drainage design decisions by the Planning Board and the Village’s engineer, as well as other considerations, the proposed subdivided parcel might not be conveyed to the Village, but instead consolidated with and retained as part of the Colonial property. The Board of Trustees felt that parkland and a trail would be an appropriate use for that piece of property. Ned also stated that under the new Commercial Low Traffic District zoning guidelines for properties on North Triphammer Road, the proposed veterinary building will be moved forward to the 25-foot build-to line with the parking in the rear of the building. Dr. Ross thanked the Board for their consideration.

Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period

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

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Next on the agenda was the yearly organizational meeting.

2006 Organizational Meeting

RESOLUTION #5232-Appointment of Member to Planning Board

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby appoints Maria Stycos as Planning Board Member for a five-year term that will expire at the end of the Village’s official year in 2011.

Trustee O’Neill moved to appoint Maria Stycos to the Planning Board.

Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5233-Appointment of Alternate Member to Planning

Board for a Period of One Year

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby appoints Mario Tomei as an Alternate member of the Planning Board for a one-year term.

Trustee Fresinski moved to appoint Mario Tomei as an alternate to the Planning Board. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5234-Appointment of Member to Board of Zoning Appeals

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby appoints Mary Sirois as Chair of the Board of Zoning Appeals for a five-year term that will expire at the end of the Village’s official year in 2011.

Trustee O’Neill moved to appoint Mary Sirois to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5235-Appointment of Alternate Member to BZA for a

Period of One Year

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby appoints Dolores Adler as an Alternate member of the Board of Zoning Appeals for a one-year term.

Trustee Fresinski moved to appoint Dolores Adler as an alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5236-Official Newspaper of the Village

Be it RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Journal is hereby established as the official paper for the publication of legal notices for the Village of Lansing.

Trustee Fresinski moved to establish the Ithaca Journal as the Village’s official newspaper. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

The Board discussed the following dates as Official Holidays for 2006-07:

July 3^rd Day before Independence Day- Cancel meeting

September 4^th Labor Day

October 2nd Yom Kippur

January 1^st New Years Day

January 15^th Martin Luther King Day

February 19^th Presidents Day

April 2^nd Passover

RESOLUTION #5237-Establishment of Meeting Days

Be it RESOLVED, that the 1^st and 3^rd Mondays of the month, at 7:30PM, and the second Thursday, following the first Monday of the month, at 12:00 noon are hereby established as regular meeting days for the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing with the exception of Federally Acknowledged Holidays and Major Religious Holidays.

Trustee Fresinski moved to establish the meeting days. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5238-Roberts Rules of Order

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby adopts Roberts Rules of Order as a procedural guideline for Village meetings.

Trustee O’Neill moved to adopt Roberts Rules of Order as the procedural guidelines for Village meetings. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Municipal Law 77-b, authorizes municipal officials and employees to attend schools, conferences, seminars, etc. conducted for the benefit of the local government. However, such attendance is not authorized, nor can reimbursement be applied for, unless prior approval of the Board of Trustees is obtained. It would be appropriate at the organizational meeting to adopt a resolution authorizing certain individuals, by position, to attend meetings.

Resolution #5239-Clerk to NYCOM Fall Training School

Be it Resolved, that the Board of Trustees hereby grants permission for the Clerk/Treasurer, Jodi Dake, to attend the NYCOM Fall Training School at the Nevele in September 2006

Trustee Leopold moved to have the clerk/treasurer attend the NYCOM Conference. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Resolution #5240-Code & Zoning Officer to Training

Be it Resolved, that the Board of Trustees hereby grants permission for the Code & Zoning Officer to attend the following three conferences:

International Codes Conference

Planning Federation in September

NYSBOC in the Village of Lansing

Trustee Fresinski moved to have the Code & Zoning Officer to attend the three listed Conferences. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5241-Authorization to Pay Claims prior to Audit

WHEREAS the Board of Trustees has determined to authorize payment in advance of audit of claims for certain expenses such as public utility services, postage, freight and express charges and other designated expenses, and

WHEREAS all such claims shall be presented at the next regular meeting of audit,

Be it RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk/Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay claims for utilities, postage, insurance, debt service and Bolton Point’s charges for the quarterly water bills prior to audit by the Board of Trustees.

Trustee O’Neill moved to authorize the Clerk/Treasurer to pay the above stated bills prior to audit by the Board of Trustees. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5242-Salary for Board of Trustees

Be it RESOLVED, that the salaries for the Board of Trustees and the Mayor are hereby set at $4,250 for each member of the Board of Trustees and $11,000 for the Mayor for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Trustee Fresinski moved to establish the salaries for the board members at $4,250 and for the Mayor at $11,000. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5243-Compensation for Planning Board

Be it RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to Planning Board members is hereby set at $6,000 for the chairman and $3,000 for each of the four members for the fiscal year 2006-2007.

Trustee O’Neill moved to set the compensation rate for the Planning Board at $6,000 for the chairman and $3,000 for each member. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5244-Compensation for Board of Zoning Appeals

Be it RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to BZA members is hereby set at $50 per meeting for each of the five members and the alternate member if he or she serves as an acting member of the BZA for the fiscal year 2006-2007.

Trustee Leopold moved to set the compensation rate for the BZA members at $50 per meeting for each member. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5245-Appointment of Elected Member to the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission

Be it RESOLVED, that Donald Hartill is hereby appointed as an elected Village representative to the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission.

Trustee O’Neill moved to appoint Donald Hartill as the elected S.C.L.I.W.C representative. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5246-Appointment of Non-elected Member to the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission

Be it RESOLVED, that Michael Newman is hereby appointed as non-elected Village representative to the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission.

Trustee Fresinski moved to appoint Michael Newman as the non-elected S.C.L.I.W.C representative. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5247-Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Be it RESOLVED, that the mileage reimbursement rate to Village employees using personal cars for Village business shall be the federally approved mileage reimbursement rate.

Trustee Fresinski moved to set the mileage reimbursement rate at the federally approved mileage reimbursement rate. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5248-Procurement Policy

WHEREAS, Section 104-b of the General Municipal Law requires the governing body of every municipality to adopt a procurement policy for all goods and services which are not required by law to be publicly bid, and

WHEREAS, the Village’s procurement policy which was approved on January 7, 1992 states that there will be an annual review of the policy, therefore

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees have reviewed the current procurement policy and do hereby adopt the procurement policy

Trustee Leopold moved to adopt the Procurement Policy. Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Resolution#5249-Investment Policy

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees have reviewed the current investment policy and do hereby adopt the investment policy

Trustee Fresinski moved to adopt the Investment Policy. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

RESOLUTION #5250-Designation of Depositories

WHEREAS the Board of Trustees has determined that Village Law 4-412(3)(2) requires the designation of banks or trust companies for the deposit of all village monies;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

Section 1. That the Board of Trustees does hereby designate the following institutions as depositories of all moneys received by the village treasurer, clerk, and receiver of taxes.

Tompkins Trust Company

M&T Bank

Chase Manhattan Bank

Section 2. That this resolution shall take effect immediately.

Trustee Fresinski moved to adopt this resolution. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Resolution#5251-Capital Assets Policy

Be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby adopt the Capital Assets Policy

Trustee Fresinski moved to adopt the Capital Assets Policy. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Lynn reported that the Stormwater annual report has to be mailed by June 1^st and one of the requirements is to have a public information meeting on it. Lynn is working on the report and will be contacting Ben and Dave Putnam for help. She has already spoken with John Courtney on what the highway department does. He will do a spreadsheet to show maintenance that is completed. Lynn stated that the local Stormwater contact should be the Clerk/Treasurer since she will be the one fielding calls and directing them to the appropriate person. Since the Code & Zoning Officer handles this on a daily bases, Ben will be listed as the program coordinator. Don asked if we could credit the N. Triphammer stormwater work that has been done this year. Don suggested that the next newsletter have an article on this subject and that we also claim this work on our report. Lynn stated that she could also claim the article she wrote in the October newsletter. Ned suggested including all of the review that the Planning Board does in its evaluation of subdivisions and special permit projects. The Board scheduled a public information meeting for the Stormwater Annual Report for the Board of Trustees meeting on May 15^th at 7:35pm. Jodi will send a legal notice to the Ithaca Journal.

Next on the agenda was approval of minutes from April 13^th & 17^th, 2006.

Motion - To Approve the Minutes from April 13^th & 17^th, 2006

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 O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

Mayor Hartill reported that he still hasn’t been able to get an appointment with NYSDOT to discuss the diversion report for the Route 34 sewer route. The Town is still waiting for an engineering design for the Cayuga Heights Road route. The Kline Road Bypass is working fine. Flows are reasonable. Don finally received flow data from Brent Cross. We have I&I issues, but not as much as the Village of Cayuga Heights.

Don brought up the issue of residents connecting their sump pumps to the sanitary sewer system. This is illegal, but there are a number of houses in the Village that do this. John Courtney recently found this situation in a new house. Don is considering writing a letter to all residents and possibly offering a cost share arrangement to rectify the problem. Don asked the Board for their input. John O’Neill thinks that builders should be held responsible. It should be checked when issuing the final certificate of occupancy. It was acknowledged that entering property without just cause is a problem. It was suggested we take a proactive approach. Frank suggested broadcasting an amnesty program. Let the residents know that we will forgive the past if they rectify the problem. Frank feels there needs to be a compelling reason for property owners to respond. There are many people that don’t know that they aren’t in compliance. John O’Neill feels it is a resident’s civic responsibility. Larry thinks that if there are no teeth behind it, it won’t work and that it should be part of the inspection process. Sump pumps can be run to the stormsewer. It was questioned as to why this was a concern. Don explained that the sewer plant has a capacity, which DEC monitors closely. At times, the Village of Cayuga Heights Plant is over that, and diversion of water from sump pumps into the sanitary sewer system only exacerbates the problem. Don will take the advice given by the Board and go talk to Paul Tunison at Bolton Point.

It was reported that North Triphammer Road is really torn up. Don will speak with Denny of Suit-Kote to see if there can be more control over the weekends. Ned stated that he has had people calling him to find out when paving will be done. Don stated that it would be a couple of weeks. The problem is that the lower grade doesn’t allow for doing one half of the road and then the other.

Frank reported on the monthly intermunicipal sewer meeting. Town supervisor Steve Farkas stated at the meeting that by the end of May a definite proposed route will be determined. Frank feels that the 50 people that live along Cayuga Heights Road need to know what this is going to look like so they can have a reasonable opinion on it. Frank wants a public meeting to hear from Dave Herrick the engineer for the Town. Another issue that was brought up was affordable housing. The Town wants development in south Lansing because it would mean an increase in the number of EDU’s. It is unclear what the Town’s flow will be in the next 10 years. Frank questioned whether we should support affordable housing. The Village already has lots of apartments. Ned added that we have houses for $150,000 that are for sale and aren’t moving. The Town wants to get the County to pick up some of the sewer costs. The Board discussed affordable housing at length.

Jodi reminded the Board that Ivar Jonson is having an open house on Friday, May 5^th at 4pm for his new Lansing Trails II model units. He has invited the staff and boards.

Motion- To Adjourn

Trustee Fresinski moved for adjournment. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Lynn Leopold-Aye

The meeting adjourned at 9:08PM.

Jodi Dake Clerk/Treasurer