Village of Lansing

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Thursday, May 11, 2006 in the Village Office.

PRESENT: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees Larry Fresinski, Lynn Leopold and Frank Moore; Superintendent of Public Works John Courtney; Code & Zoning Officer Benjamin Curtis; and Clerk, part-time Carol Willard.

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 12:33 P.M.

Courtney stated the Highway Department has been doing normal spring cleanup such as repairing water main breaks, assisting with Adopt-A-Highway projects, sprucing up and mowing the parks, as well as landscaping and mulching around flower beds. The sweeping of streets has also been done throughout the Village. The Highway Department has also been vacuuming the valve boxes for Bolton Point before the Warren Road reconstruction occurs. Otis Phillips has also mowed the easement ROWs for the sewers.

Courtney stated Lansing Trails II is going well. They will be proof rolling today and all is set on bedrock. RC Wilson box outs have been scheduled as well. The Uptown Park pavilion needs some remodeling and the Village will be doing excavating and put on an apron to make it easier for mowing.

Courtney stated that next month will begin road striping and maintenance of roads. Chris Bishop will also be returning as a summer employee on May 22^nd. The Village has purchased a new locator and it has arrived. Courtney has also been attending Lighting Commission meetings as needed.

Leopold asked about the maintenance of the detention ponds throughout the Village which are not owned by the Village. Hartill stated the Village is in the process of identifying them and gaining ownership of them. Courtney stated that the Village has no specific regular schedule for maintenance but deals with the issues as complaints are received. After heavy rains, the detention ponds are looked at to assure there are no problems.

Curtis stated the Planning Board has been spending considerable time on the Colonial Veterinary project. The Trustees are supportive of the proposal as well as the Ross family who own the property. The Ross family will go before the BZA on Tuesday for a variance for the buffer strip between a commercial and a residential zone. They need to go before the BZA as the buffer strip will not be on their property if they give that property to the Village for the park. It should be a win-win situation as the Village will gain a park in that area.

The Planning Board has also been working on the Greenstate Building on N. Triphammer Road. The applicants are going to the BZA meeting on Tuesday for a variance for the second building on the site as they can not build to the 25-foot front setback without a variance. The first building is very close to a stream and this has caused problems during the initial construction where gravel, pumping and drain tiles were needed. The second building will be similar to the first building, as it is one-story and brick. The two buildings are essentially the same and the applicants would like to build them simultaneously.

Curtis stated that Lansing Trails II has run into difficulties with the access road at the Bomax connection. Curtis is unable to write any more building permits or Certificates of Occupancy until this is rectified. Mayor Hartill is working on the issue, which has been stressful for both Bob Dean and Ivar Johnson. There will be an open house Friday from 4-7:00 PM for anyone interested in seeing the inside of these high-priced townhouses.

Regarding the Triphammer Mall, Curtis stated the Flax Sale ran more smoothly this year than in prior years. There are also other changes to the mall. There will be a new knitting shop, Mickey Roof is gone, Hope’s Way has expanded, and there is a Russian deli named AJ Delights.

Curtis stated the Dart property has submitted a sketch plan with three similar sized lots to the Planning Board. Although no development is planned at this stage, Curtis has been having realtors contact him. At the last Planning Board meeting, there were many members of the community present to express concerns regarding traffic, sidewalks, and the east/west connections. Curtis stated this project will probably have input like the Lansing Trails II project. Mayor Hartill stated there is a model currently going on and Dart Drive will be closed at the Warren Road end due to its proximity to Route 13.

Curtis stated the Planning Board is also revisiting the Zoning Law in two areas. First, in regards to buffer strip requirements, the Planning Board will discuss specific issues such as escrows, variable buffers, performance bonds and Letters of Credit. Secondly, the telecommunication ordinance will be reviewed due to technologies that are now available.

Mayor Hartill stated he is working on the Lansing Trails II issue. Hartill will also be meeting with Town of Lansing Supervisor Steve Farkas regarding the latest article in the Ithaca Journal stating the absolute deadline for the determination of the proposed sewer route is June 1^st. The article indicated the Town is proceeding and will go the cheapest route, which is down Cayuga Heights Road. The old railroad bed option is totally out but the Route 34 option is still available. Mayor Hartill will be having another talk with Farkas about the Route 34 option. Moore stated the Town is awaiting the NYSDOT traffic report on Route 34 and time to study it but will probably be unable to do so by the June 1st deadline so that option would not be viable to the Town. Moore feels the Village needs to decide whether to pay a flat percent for the project or an amount equal to the actual benefit to the Village of the project. Moore feels there has not been progress either way and he advised Farkas to resolve this issue with Mayor Hartill. Mayor Hartill stated the build-out of 700 is what the Village will commit to. Board members discussed various numbers for estimates of gallons per day, build-out projections and EDUs. Moore had data with some of these numbers and Mayor Hartill stated they were different than previously presented. Moore stated the Town is looking hard for money and EDUs.

Leopold stated she would present a review of the Stormwater Annual Report at the Board of Trustees’ meeting on Monday.

Moore stated he has obtained a map with more details on the Cayuga Heights proposed sewer route. The colored map indicates underground stream crossings as well as the vent station. Board members reviewed the map. Mayor Hartill requested a copy of the map and Moore will attempt to get another copy for him.

Mayor Hartill entertained the following motion:

Resolution #5252 - Abstract of Audited Vouchers

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 12 for the General Fund in the amount of $234,154.13 is hereby approved for payment, and

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 12 for the Water Fund in the amount of $236,125.15 is hereby approved for payment, and

Be it RESOLVED, that Abstract of Audited Vouchers No. 12 for the Sewer Fund in the amount of $178,173.35 is hereby approved for payment.

Trustee Leopold moved that this resolution be adopted and Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

Trustee Larry Fresinski – Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye

Trustee Frank Moore – Aye Mayor Donald Hartill – Aye

Motion – Adjournment

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

Trustee Larry Fresinski – Aye Trustee Lynn Leopold – Aye

Trustee Frank Moore – Aye Mayor Donald Hartill – Aye

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 P.M.

Carol J. Willard

Clerk, part-time