Village of Lansing

 

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, June 4, 2007, in the Village Office.

 

Present: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees, Larry Fresinski, Lynn Leopold, and Frank Moore; Clerk/Treasurer Jodi Dake.

 

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:38 P.M. and opened the public comment period. There were no comments.

 

                       Motion-To Close the Public Comment Period  

 

Trustee O’Neill moved to close the public comment period. Trustee Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Deputy Mayor Hartill-Aye                             Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                             Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Sharon Anderson was present to discuss the idea of putting a rain garden in front of the Village Office. Sharon works with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. One of the things she does is help them get grants. There are monies through these grants to do a rain garden. A rain garden reduces the water that gets to streams. Her proposal is to work with the Board of Trustees. Sharon has already spoken with the Master Gardeners at Cornell. She will be doing an educational program with them regarding storm water and they will then come to the Village and participate in building a rain garden. Sharon will design the garden, the work will be done by these volunteers, and she asked if our DPW could use their equipment to help move dirt. Don suggested that she talk to John Courtney to make arrangements. Once the rain garden is in, Sharon will monitor it through the summer and replace plants as needed in the spring.

 

It was explained that a rain garden is designed to have water sit in the garden for a couple of days after a rain. Since this is such a short time, there aren’t any issues with mosquitoes. It will take about three years for the plants to get established. If there is a drought, the Village will need to water the garden. Frank asked what kinds of plants will be planted. Sharon stated that the plants that are used are ones that can stand being saturated in water. Some of these plants include cardinal flower, hosta, turtlehead, Siberian iris, some shrubs and segues grass. We may want to look into temporary fencing around the garden until it gets established. A rain garden is a shallow bowl with a lower brim on one side so that if we get too much water it has some place to go. A lot of times people install them by their gutters or where they have run off from their parking lots.

 

Lynn stated that if the idea catches on and people install these gardens, it could really make a difference. Rain gardens slow down storm water discharge. Sharon will also do training for residents so they can learn about rain gardens and be inspired to do their own. She would like to do it the same week that she does the Master Gardener Program so that they could come and get hands on experience when the rain garden is installed. We can take credit for public education, participation and for actually doing the work on our annual storm water report.

 

Don asked what the timeline would be. The Master Gardner Program is July 18th so she would want to get a design approved by the Board of Trustees before that date. The Board thought this was a great idea and Mayor Hartill told Sharon to continue with the design. Sharon will present her design at the next Board Meeting on June 18th. He also suggested that Sharon call Eric Goetzman at Pyramid Mall because they are interested in turning the mall into a “Green Mall”. Sharon can also give him some ideas for parking lots. Jodi will call UFPO and have all the utilities marked out in front of the office so that Sharon can come observe the area on Friday.

 

Next on the agenda was the approval of minutes from May 17th & 21st, 2007. There were only enough trustees present to pass the May 17th minutes.

 

Motion - To Approve the Minutes from May 17th, 2007.

 

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 Moore seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                 Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye               Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                        Trustee Larry Fresinski-Abstain

 

Next on the agenda was to pass the tax levy resolution so that Jodi can collect the 2007-08 taxes. Don noted that the levy is down 15% this year. This is due to good management. Don hopes that other municipalities would follow suit.

 

WARRANT TO TREASURER TO COLLECT TAXES

           

To: Jodi L. Dake

      Treasurer of the Village of Lansing

 

            YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to receive and collect from the several names in the assessment roll, hereunto annexed, the several sums named in the last column thereof opposite their respective names, altogether a total of $946,978.18, for the following purposes:

 

            For the General Fund                                                 487,023.34

            For the Water Fund                                                              0.00

            For the Special Assessment-Sewer Collector Fund     20,507.76

            For Delinquent Water Rents                                          2,961.33

            For Delinquent Sewer Rents                                             762.75

            For Cayuga Heights Sewer Rents                               435,723.00

 

            YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to receive as much thereof as may voluntarily be paid to you from June first to and including July first of this year, without additional charge, and after expiration of the time mentioned to proceed forthwith to collect the residue of the sums not so paid in as aforesaid, with five per centum charge for the first month and an additional one per centum charge for each month and fraction thereof thereafter, and you are to file the tax roll and warrant in your office on or before the 15th day of November 2007, at which time the taxes will be returned to the County tax roll.

 

Resolution #5352 -To Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Tax Warrant

 

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

 

Deputy Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                                                        Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Jodi has submitted to the Board a list of year-end transfers.

 

Resolution #5353 -To Authorize the Following Budget Transfers for

                               2006-07

 

GENERAL FUND

Be it RESOLVED to transfer

$    .08        from General Government Support, Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2, to Clerk,

                   Personal Services, A1410.1

$    .02        from General Government Support, Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2, to

                   Deputy Clerk, Personal Services, A1415.1

$    700.00  from General Government Support, Fiscal Consultant, Audit N Trip,

                   A1330.42, to General Government Support, Auditor, Contractual, A1320.4

$    619.00  from General Government Support, Clerk, Equipment, A1410.2 to General

                   Government Support, clerk, Contractual, A1410.4

$     46.00   from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to General Government

                   Support, clerk, Contractual, A1410.4

$   327.00   from General Government Support, Building, Equipment,A1620.2 to General

                  Government Support, Building, Utilities, A1620.42

$3,000.00   from General Government Support, Building, Equipment,A1620.2 to General

                  Government Support, Building, Village office, A1620.44

$ 2,150.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to General Government

                   Support, Building, Village Office, A1620.44

$    222.50 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to Special Items,

       Taxes & Assessments on Village Property, A1950.4

$    340.00 from Special Items, Contingent Account, A1990.4, to Special Items, to

       Traffic Control, A3310.4

 

$        .18 from Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer, Contractual, A3620.4 to

                  Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer, Electrical Inspector- Personal

                  Services, A3620.12

$        .04 from Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer, Contractual, A3620.4 to

                  Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer,  Personal Services, A3620.11

$ 1,040.00 from Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer, Contractual, A3620.4 to

                  Public Safety, Code Enforcement Officer, Equipment, A3620.2

$          .16 from Transportation, Street Maintenance, Personnel Services, A5110.13

                   to Public Safety, Transportation, Street Administration, Personnel Services,

                   A5010.1

$ 2,289.00 from Transportation Street Maintenance, Personal Services, A5110.13, to

                  Transportation, Street Maintenance, Personal Services, A5110.12

$ 5,060.00 from Transportation Permanent Improvements, Capital Outlay, A5112.2, to

                  Transportation, Street Maintenance, Equipment, A5110.2

$   535.00 from Transportation, Sidewalks, Greenway, Contractual, A5410.41 to

                  Transportation, Sidewalks, Contractual A5410.4

$ 1,506.00 from Culture and Recreation, Playgrounds & Recreation Centers,

                   Contractual, A7140.4, to Culture and Recreation, Playgrounds & Recreation

                   Centers, Equipment, A7140.2,  

$    426.00 from Home & Community Services, Zoning, Legal, A8010.42 to Home &

                   Community Services, Zoning, Contractual, A8010.41

$          .04  from Home & Community Services, Zoning, Legal, A8010.42 to Home &

                   Community Services, Zoning, Personal Services, A8010.1

$ 7,240.00 from General Government Support, Law, Contractual, A1420.4, to Home &

                  Community Services, Planning, Legal Expense, A8020.41

$    150.00 from Home & Community Services, Planning, Engineer, A8020.43 to                  

                   Home & Community Services, Planning, Contractual, A8020.44

$    500.00 from Home & Community Services, Planning, Consultants, A8020.45 to                  

                   Home & Community Services, Planning, Contractual, A8020.44

$    500.00 from Home & Community Services, Planning, Inter Planning, A8020.46 to

                   Home & Community Services, Planning, Contractual, A8020.44

$    265.00 from Home & Community Services, Community Beautification, A8510.4 to

                   Home & Community Services, Storm Sewers, A8140.4

$    857.00  from Employee Benefits, Employers Share, A9010.8, to

                   Employee Benefits, Social Security, A9030.8

$   200.00  from Employee Benefits, Employers Share, A9010.8, to

                   Employee Benefits, Medicare, A9030.81

 

Total Contingency used -$5,418.50 of $20,000

 

Budget Transfers- Water Fund

 

$ 1,020    from F1990.4, General Government Support, Special Items, Contingent

                Account to Home & Community Services, Transmission & Distribution,

                Equipment, F8340.4

 

Total Contingency used-$1,020.

Budget Transfers- Sewer Fund

 

$  7,017   from General Government Support, Special Items, Contingent Account,

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

 

Total Contingency used-$7,017.

 

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

 

Deputy Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                                                        Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Lynn asked why there were marking flags on Burdick Hill Road. Jodi stated that they are doing Seismic Testing in the area.

 

Don stated that John O’Neil has provided him with all the paperwork that needs to be filled out to get registered with FEMA for flood insurance. He would like to move forward with this as long as it doesn’t cost the Village a lot of money. Larry questioned why we wouldn’t already be a member if the Town of Lansing is.

 

Don requested that the Board give him authority for a full fee proposal for Bolton Point area in an amount not to exceed $6,000. He reminded the Board that they had previously authorized this expenditure for the appraisal that will give us the value of this parcel of land. A new proposal has come in at $4,800. Don is meeting with the property owner on June 22nd.

 

Resolution #5354-To Authorize a Full Fee Proposal for Bolton Point

                         Appraisal in an amount not to exceed $6,000

 

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

 

Deputy Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                                                        Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Don stated that he and Steve Farkas are trying to set up a meeting by the end of the month with the local person for DEC. A separate plant looks very attractive. Frank stated that the next Intermunicipal Sewer meeting is Wednesday and he will not be able to attend. Don stated that the Village and Town lawyers will be meeting to see who will own the truck lines through the Village. The Mayor is still awaiting the financial material he was promised from the Town of Lansing. He stated that it took 6 months to get the engineering report he requested from the Town. Frank stated that the sewer meetings are mostly focused on trying to figure out how to decrease the EDU cost. Frank feels we need to be concerned with what effect the Town’s zoning changes will have on us. Don stated that a joint meeting needs to take place between the Village and Town Planning Boards. Don reiterated that there must be an economic driver to promote the growth and he doesn’t see it. The Bond Act funding is about 30 cents on the dollar so it is not such a great deal. He feels it is important to not get locked into a bad situation and force our children to have to deal with it.

 

Larry stated that he went to Homewood Suites Grand Opening where he said a few words on behalf of the Village. The owner gave him a personal tour of the hotel. There are pictures from the area in all 91 rooms. They filled 87 of these rooms for Cornell’s Graduation weekend. Homewood Suites is intended for the long term business traveler. Their rates range from $120-$220. At their grand opening they made a donation to Loaves and Fishes.

 

Larry reported that preliminary discussions on the proposed Way Finding project have concluded and he is ready to go to Trowbridge & Wolf to get a final design. Once he has a design he will get some areas businesses together to see how they feel. Jodi stated that it seems contradictory to our Sign Law where we are trying to cut down on the amount of signage. Larry stated we are trying to solve a problem at the directory level. It was questioned whether we are trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. Larry feels if businesses are willing to finance a directory then we’ll have the look.

 

Don informed the Board of the letter that was received from Brent Cross at the Village of Cayuga Heights on charges for Mobil to discharge approximately 5,000 gallons a day of pretreated ground water into the system for 10 days. Don would like to take this opportunity to speak with the owners of Mobil to get an easement down the side of their property to install a much needed sidewalk. Don will speak with Brent and David Dubow on this issue.

 

Lastly, Don stated that there is a need for a plan for maintenance of all our stormwater management basins.

 

Motion- To Adjourn

 

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

 

Deputy Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye Trustee Frank Moore- Aye                                                                        Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM.                                       

                                                                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

Clerk/Treasurer