Village of Lansing

 

 

MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lansing held on Monday, August 6, 2007, in the Village Office.

 

Present: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees, Larry Fresinski, John O’Neill and Lynn Leopold; Clerk/Treasurer Jodi Dake; Planning Board Representative Philip Dankert; Attorney David Dubow.

 

Mayor Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. and opened the public comment period. Wayne Knoblauch of 145 Brook Way stated that he comes to the Board as a former Trustee and 25 year resident of the Village of Lansing. Although the N. Triphammer Road reconstruction project has greatly improved the main thoroughfare of the Village, he indicated that he is embarrassed to drive down N. Triphammer Road because of the landscaping.  He feels that someone needs to weedwhack and trim around the trees, stone walls and the guardrails. He indicated that the entrance to Pyramid Mall is all crab grass, and that weeds need to be pulled and the area mulched. The weeds are waist high in some areas. He feels the Village should expend additional funds on maintenance and upkeep of the landscaping along this important road. With students and their families returning, he expressed concern over the reactions to the condition of the area. Don thanked him for his comments and stated that the Village has just purchased an $8,000 zero turn mower to use along N. Triphammer Rd. He also explained that the Highway Department has been focusing primarily on our roads, so that we get the best prices, which work is now complete.  He also indicated that the areas along N. Triphammer Road are being attended to. Last week the areas between the sidewalk and road were mowed. Wayne feels they need to learn how to use a weedwhacker because there are still weeds around the trees and guardrails. Don stated that there is a right of way issue beyond the guardrails and that a municipality is not allowed to go onto private property and perform work.

 

Phil Dankert, 32 Dart Drive, asked if a sidewalk was going to be installed along Dart Drive this summer. Don stated that the plan is to put in a sidewalk next summer. He explained that the Village must first go through a design process, and then call a meeting with residents before doing the final design.

 

                       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 Lynn Leopold –Aye               Trustee John O’Neill-Aye                            Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye

 

Phil Dankert, the Village Representative on the Recreation Partnership Board, gave a report on the new draft agreement that was given to the participating municipalities to review. The original 5-year agreement expires at the end of this year. The new agreement will go for another five years. There are 10 municipalities and the County involved in the partnership. The only municipality that does not participate is the Town of Lansing since they have a very strong recreation program. It was reported that last year 115 Village of Lansing youths accounted for 206 registrations. The cost for the Village to belong to the Recreation Partnership is $13,724. It is estimated that the cost for the Village of Lansing will next year will actually go down by approximately $203. David Dubow stated that he and Jodi have both reviewed the draft agreement and there are not a lot of significant changes from the previous agreement. Some changes are just housekeeping issues. The Board will consist of one voting member per municipality with the City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and County getting an extra voting member. Dubow stated that this document is going to all the municipalities to be reviewed and suggested that we wait to make any comments or commitments until the final agreement is published. Phil was not looking for a formal vote this evening. He stated that there is a meeting tomorrow and would get the final agreement as soon as it was available. The Village has always supported this great program. If we did not belong to this program, any child that wanted to participate in these programs would have to pay double if they could even get in. Participation has really increased over the years.

 

Motion - To Approve the Minutes from July 2, 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 O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

                                                     

Motion - To Approve the Minutes from July 12, 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 Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Abstain

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

 

Jodi asked the Board to consider one last budget transfer for the fiscal year 2006-07.

 

                        Resolution #5367-To Transfer $9,592 from F8340.2, Transmission &

                                                     Distribution, Equipment to F8340.4 Transmission &

                                                     Distribution, Contractual.

 

John Bailey has submitted an endorsement on the crime bond as requested by the Board of trustees at the July 2nd meeting. For an additional $42 the Village will have a blanket employee limit to $100,000 with a $1,000 deductible, increased excess coverage on the Mayor to $15,000 and increased excesses coverage on the tax collector to $70,000.

 

                        Resolution #5368-To Increase the Amount of our Crime Bond to a

                                                      Blanket Employee Limit of $100,000 with a $1,000

                                                      Deductible, Increased Excess Coverage on the Mayor to

                                                      $15,000 and Increased Excesses Coverage on the Tax

                                                      Collector to $70,000.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution and Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

 

John O’Neill reported that he continues to work on the permit for the controlled deer hunt. DEC has mailed us a permit application to establish the program. NYSDEC has never done this before with a municipality in our area, so they are anxious to get this going. John distributed a draft Deer Management Program for the Board to review and comment on. Once we have received official permission from DEC we will need to establish an agreement with Murray Estates. It was suggested that John arrange for Bailey Insurance and David Banfield to talk to discuss insurance issues. Posting would also need to be done. We will inform the Sheriff of the controlled hunt and hopefully the local law enforcement agencies will be more involved with patrolling since they know the Village is involved.

 

John will draft a letter to distribute to the neighbors so they are aware of what is going on. Jodi suggested that we have this on the agenda for the August 20th meeting so that residents have a chance to learn more about the program. Information about this meeting will be included in the letter.

 

Lynn would like to have a skilled hunter on their property. It was explained that this would come under a nuisance permit to be issued by DEC.  More information will be e-mailed to the Trustees.

 

Don stated that there is a Bolton Point Commission meeting Thursday. He will discuss the loud motor that they have installed next door to the Village Office. Jodi stated that it is very loud and it affects her computer screen.

 

Don has spoken with Steve Farkas and David Herrick about providing sewer service to the Warren Road Business Park in the Town of Lansing. They will also be working on a white paper on a separate sewer plant in the Town of Lansing. Frank has contacts at Cornell who can help us draft a document that will outline the science as we know it. These are mainly people who were involved in the Cornell Cooling Project.

 

The Mayor reported that the Oakcrest water tank needs to be painted inside. To do this, the tank must be taken off line. At that time they will use the tank behind the Village Office.  It was explained that three pressure reducing valves (PRV) would need to be installed to do this, and the cost would not be cheap. The new equipment would become part of the permanent system. The one problem is that two of these PRV’s would have to be underground and they are trying to get away from underground confined spaces. Don suggests that a new tank be build in lieu of the PRV’s.

 

Lynn would like the Village to look into dropping the speed limit on Route 34. Don explained that to do this it would involve getting a petition. Don will get details to Lynn.

 

Don went back to Wayne Knoblauch’s comments from the beginning of the meeting. He feels we have been able to do more with the Village’s budget money since we completed our road work early. He commended John Courtney for being organized and getting this done in such a timely manner. Don feels that the guys in the Highway Department work very well together and have gotten a lot accomplished. He will talk to them about getting some beautification done on N. Triphammer Road now that the road maintenance is complete.

 

Lynn stated that the Rain Garden is now complete. Sharon Anderson has asked if we could be a visitor site this fall when they do Green Building tours. The Board thought that this was a great idea. She will also try and find local businesses to sponsor gardens.

 

Don asked the Board to consider granting him authority to resolve a stormwater issue that is one condition that affects the issuance to Homewood Suites of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy. Currently there is a drainage issue due to a conflict in viewpoints between the engineer for the village and the engineer for the developers. The unresolved issue involves DEC and local requirements and their interpretation, an old drainage easement affection the Homewood Suites property and the neighboring Triphammer Mall property, and the sufficiency of the Homewood Suites storm water facilities. A small portion of the Triphammer Mall property drains into the Homewood Suites stormwater facilities, and there is some question as to whether that needs to be corrected or otherwise addressed before a final Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Don indicated that he has looked at the situation and has concluded that it currently is about as good as it can be done.  He also indicated that he intended to speak further with the engineer for the Village in an effort to resolve the matter, and was requesting authority from the Board to take action as he deemed appropriate in his reasonable discretion, including advising the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer that this particular condition can be deemed satisfied for purposes of issuing a final Certificate of Occupancy.

 

Resolution #5369-To Authorize the Mayor To Use His Discretion In Resolving The Stormwater/Drainage Issue That Is A Condition To Be Resolved In Order To Issue A Final Certificate Of Occupancy For The Homewood Suites, Including Making A Determination That The Current Stormwater/Drainage Facilities As Constructed Suffice For Purposes Of Issuing Such Final Certificate Of Occupancy

 

 

 

Trustee O’Neill moved this resolution and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

 

Dubow presented Proposed Local Law E (2007).  David explained that based upon a matter brought to the Planning Board's attention by Ben at their previous meeting, and at the Board's direction, he has prepared Proposed Local Law E (2007) providing for a rather simple Sign Law amendment.  The Board was provided with a "clean” copy of the Local Law as well as a marked copy noting the language that is being proposed to be deleted.  The suggested elimination of the restriction on illumination of signs identifying a real estate development, subdivision or neighborhood is the result of Ben having indicated that he no longer sees any reasonable basis for the restriction (given other provisions in the Sign Law that make this restriction unfair by comparison), and the Planning Board's agreement with his position.  David explained that if the Board wishes to proceed with consideration of this amendment, a public hearing will need to be scheduled.

Resolution #5370-To Set a Public Hearing for Proposed Local Law E (2007), Amendment to Village of Lansing Code-Sign Law for August 20, 2007 at 7:35pm.

 

Trustee Fresinski moved this resolution and Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye


David suggested that because this is somewhat of a land use planning matter that will apply Village-wide, that we (i) publish the Notice of Public Hearing at least 10 days in advance (the usual Zoning Law amendment procedure), (ii) send it to Ed Marx at the County Planning Department for General Municipal Law Section 239 -l and -m review, and (iii) send it to the adjoining Towns for their review as well.  Jodi will email the proposed law to Tompkins County to help expedite the process.

 

The last issue was the request from Ben Curtis to authorize him to issue a temporary certificate of compliance for the Cutting residence at 11 Cedar Lane. He has inspected the property and it will be substantially complete within a week or so except for establishing ground cover, landscaping, minor site work and minor cosmetic work as well as a few technical issues affecting very limited areas. Ben has recommended that the Trustees approve the issuance of a Temporary Certificate of Compliance with an expiration of October 15, 2007 and a security deposit of $1,000 to ensure satisfactory installation of the screening required by the BZA as well as the other outstanding items.

 

Resolution #5371-To Authorize Ben Curtis to Issue a Temporary Certificate of Compliance to the Cutting Residence at 11 Cedar Lane with an Expiration Date of October 15, 2007 and a Security Deposit of $1,000 to ensure satisfactory installation of the screening required by the BZA as well as the other outstanding items.

 

Trustee O’Neill moved this resolution and Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye


Motion- To Adjourn

 

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

 

Mayor Donald Hartill-Aye                             Trustee John O’Neill-Aye

Trustee Larry Fresinski-Aye                           Trustee Lynn Leopold –Aye

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM.                                       

                                                                                                                                                            Jodi Dake

Clerk/Treasurer