MINUTES of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the
Present: Mayor Donald Hartill; Trustees, Larry Fresinski, John O’Neill,
Frank Moore and Lynn Leopold; Clerk/Treasurer Jodi Dake; Attorney David Dubow; David
Putnam, Engineer.
Mayor
Hartill called the meeting to order at 7:33 P.M. and opened the public comment
period. There were no comments.
Trustee Fresinski moved to close the public
comment period. Trustee O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Motion- To Open the Public Hearing on Proposed Local Law A
(2008),
Property Tax Exemption Law.
Trustee Leopold moved to open the public hearing.
Trustee Fresinski seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
David Dubow
explained that we currently have an Elderly Persons’ Real Property Tax
Exemption Law. However, we try and keep in sync with the income levels
established by the State Legislature. This proposed law would implement the
most recent amendments to the provisions of Section 467 of the Real Property
Tax Law of the State of New York to the extent such provisions affect the
“sliding scale” of maximum income levels and corresponding percentages of
assessed valuation that are to be exempt from real property tax. Jodi has
checked with
There were no comments from the public regarding Proposed Local Law A (2008).
Trustee O’Neill moved to close the public
hearing. Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Resolution #5417-To Adopt Proposed Local Law A (2008) as
Local Law 1 (2008)
WHEREAS:
A.
This
matter involves consideration of the following proposed action: Adoption of Proposed Local Law A (2008), to be designated Local Law 1 (2008)
upon its adoption, to amend Chapter 129 (entitled “Taxation”), Article II
(entitled “Senior Citizens Tax Exemption,” and known as the “Village of Lansing
Elderly Persons’ Real Property Partial Tax Exemption Law”), Section 129.17
(entitled “Schedule of partial exemption”) of the
Village of Lansing Code so as to amend the
Village of Lansing Elderly Persons’ Real Property Partial Tax Exemption Law
[originally enacted as Local Law 3 (1990), and thereafter amended by Local Law
13 (1990), Local Law 14 (1990), Local Law 4 (2000), and Local Law 6 (2006)],
and to specifically (i) amend subsection “A” of said Section 129.17 to
implement the most recent amendments to the provisions of Section 467 of the
Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, to the extent such provisions
affect the “sliding scale” of maximum income levels and corresponding
percentages of assessed valuation that shall be exempt from real property tax; and
B.
On December 17, 2007, the Village of Lansing Board of
Trustees preliminarily discussed the purposes
and intent of Proposed
Local Law A (2008), and thereupon scheduled a public hearing thereon for January
7, 2008; and
C.
On January 7, 2008, the Village of Lansing
Board of Trustees held a public hearing regarding this proposed action, and
thereafter discussed and reviewed (i) Proposed Local Law A (2008), (ii) all
other information and materials rightfully before the Board, and (iii) all
issues raised during the public hearing and/or otherwise raised in the course
of the Board’s deliberations; and
D.
On January 7, 2008, the Village of
Lansing Board of Trustees determined that
the approval of the proposed action is a Type II action, and thus may be
processed without further regard to Article 8 of the New York State
Environmental Conservation Law - the State Environmental Quality Review Act
(“SEQR); and
E.
On January 7, 2008, the Village of Lansing
Board of Trustees completed its review of (i) Proposed Local Law A (2008), (ii) all other information and
materials rightfully before the Board, and (iii) all issues raised during the
public hearing and/or otherwise raised in the course of the Board’s
deliberations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOW:
The Village of Lansing Board of Trustees hereby adopts the
attached Proposed Local Law A (2008), to be designated Local Law 1 (2008).
Trustee Fresinski moved to adopt Local Law 1
(2008). Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
The following is a copy of Local Law 1 (2008):
AMENDMENT
TO
ELDERLY PERSONS’ REAL PROPERTY PARTIAL TAX
EXEMPTION LAW
Be it enacted by the Board of Trustees of the
SECTION I. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
The purpose of this Local Law is to amend Chapter 129 (entitled “Taxation”), Article II (entitled “Senior Citizens Tax Exemption,” and known as the “Village of Lansing Elderly Persons’ Real Property Partial Tax Exemption Law”), Section 129-17 (entitled “Schedule of partial exemption”) of the Village of Lansing Code so as to amend the Village of Lansing Elderly Persons’ Real Property Partial Tax Exemption Law [originally enacted as Local Law 3 (1990), and thereafter amended by Local Law 13 (1990), Local Law 14 (1990), Local Law 4 (2000), and Local Law 6 (2006)], and to specifically (i) amend subsection “A” of said Section 129-17 to implement the most recent amendments to the provisions of Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, to the extent such provisions affect the “sliding scale” of maximum income levels and corresponding percentages of assessed valuation that shall be exempt from real property tax.
SECTION II. AMENDMENT.
The schedule provided in subsection A of Section 129-17 (entitled “Schedule of partial exemption”) of Chapter 129 (entitled “Taxation”), Article II (entitled “Senior Citizens Tax Exemption,” and known as the “Village of Lansing Elderly Persons’ Real Property Partial Tax Exemption Law”) of the Village of Lansing Code is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following amended schedule intended to reflect the maximum income levels of eligibility in accordance with the most recent amendments to Section 467 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, which amendments modify the annual income limits to be calculated in accordance with said subsections:
|
ANNUAL
INCOME OF OWNER OR COMBINED ANNUAL INCOME OF OWNERS |
PERCENTAGE
ASSESSED VALUATION EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION |
|
Up to $27,000.00 |
50% |
|
More than $27,000.00, but less than $28,000.00 |
45% |
|
$28,000.00 or more, but less than $29,000.00 |
40% |
|
$29,000.00 or more, but less than $30,000.00 |
35% |
|
$30,000.00 or more, but less than $30,900.00 |
30% |
|
$30,900.00 or more, but less than $31,800.00 |
25% |
|
$31,800.00 or more, but less than $32,700.00 |
20% |
|
$32,700.00 or more, but less than $33,600.00 |
15% |
|
$33,600.00 or more, but less than $34,500.00 |
10% |
|
$34,500.00 or more, but less than $35,400.00 |
5% |
Section III. SUPERCEDING EFFECT.
All local laws, resolutions, rules, regulations and other
enactments of the
Section IV. VALIDITY.
The invalidity of any provision of this local law shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this local law that can be given effect without such invalid provision.
Section V. EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This Local Law shall be effective upon (i) its filing in the office of the Secretary of State and (ii) ten (10) days after publication and posting as required by law; provided, however that it shall be effective from the date of service as against a person served with a copy thereof, certified by the Village Clerk, and showing the date of its passage and entry in the Minutes of the Village Board of Trustees.
David Putnam was present to give an engineer’s report. First Dave provided the following history and report on the Oakcrest water tank and possible water projects:
The Village has been delaying the demolition and replacement of the Oakcrest Tank for several years at the request of Bolton Point, who had hoped to use it as a buffer tank between the plant and the Oakcrest Pump Station in their system while they painted the Burdick Hill Tank. Bolton Point has come to the conclusion that this will not be practical because of the cost involved in retrofitting the tank and yard piping for a one shot deal. Additionally there would be extra personnel costs to operate the system with Oakcrest as the buffer tank. They are investigating construction of a second tank at the Burdick Hill site.
The Village has the following options for replacing the Oakcrest Tank:
All of the options require the demolition of the existing tank and plumbing modifications in the Oakcrest Pump Station to supply the southern half of the Oakcrest Tank grid (the northern half was placed on the Burdick Hill grid in the mid 1990’s and there was discussions of cost sharing at that time, but I do not think it was finalized). Preliminarily, I do not see a great difference in these costs between options and an estimate will be provided at a later date when an option is chosen.
Option 1 replace the tank with a new .5 million gallon (mg) Natgun Tank
|
.5 mg Natgun Tank |
$500,000 |
|
|
Site work allowance |
$60,000 |
|
|
Contingency |
$50,000 |
|
|
Total* |
$610,000 |
|
* Does not include engineering, legal, administration, existing tank demo, or pump station modifications.
Option 2 replace the tank with a new .9 mg Natgun Tank and share the cost with Bolton Point (this should also take care of the outstanding cost sharing issues)
|
.9 mg Natgun Tank |
$650,000 |
|
|
Site work allowance |
$120,000 |
|
|
Contingency |
$70,000 |
|
|
Total* |
$840,000 |
|
* Does not include engineering, legal, administration, existing tank demo, or pump station modifications.
Option 3 replace the tank with a new .5 mg Natgun Tank at a new location
|
.5 mg Natgun Tank |
$500,000 |
|
|
Site work allowance |
$130,000 |
|
|
Contingency |
$70,000 |
|
|
Total* |
$700,000 |
|
* Does not include engineering, legal, administration, existing tank demo, or pump station modifications.
Option 3 also might require the installation of Pressure
Reducing Stations at or near one or more of the intersections of
The Town of Lansing has a water project under construction and the average unit price for the below grade PRV building (similar in design to the vault the Village installed by the gate at Bolton Point to put the north part of the Oakcrest Grid on the Burdick Hill Tank system) is $79,000.
Don Hartill feels that Option #2
is the best solution. The Burdick Hill tank needs to be painted inside and they
could use the current Oakcrest tank as a storage tank, but that would involve
significant modifications and cost. It makes more sense to build a tank on
Don stated that he had a very
nice meeting with Scott Pinney, Town of
Don asked Dave Putnam how we were coming with the Northwood Property. David stated that John Courtney was working on finalizing the Bomax sewer and will get appropriate paperwork to David Dubow so that easement documents can be prepared. Dave stated that Northwood has signed off on a map but he still needs to do a few small revisions.
Valeria Coggin, Director of
Tompkins County Assessment, was present to talk about the 2008 Countywide
Revaluation. Valerie advised the Board that has been with the County Assessment
Department for 21 years, and gave the following report: The Assessment
Department is doing a public information campaign in conjunction with the 2008
county-wide revaluation. Prior to the last two years, the County was on an
annual revaluation program. The County went to a triennial program two years
ago. There are 34,000 parcels that have to be looked at in
On January 25th they will be mailing out impact notices. Once a property owner receives a disclosure notice they can schedule a hearing if they don’t agree with the increase. Grievance is a formal procedure that takes place on the fourth Tuesday of May. New York State Real Property Tax Law reads that the burden is on the property owner to prove an assessor wrong. There are different techniques used to determine assessed value. The Assessment Department is interested in creating equality. The system is very transparent. You can go onto the Tompkins County Assessment website and find comparables. You can use sales reports or assessment equity reports. The Assessment Department has put together a booklet to answer frequently asked questions. This is also available on the internet. A condensed version will be sent out with the impact notices.
Frank asked if the new assessments were based on comparable properties. Valeria explained that there are different methodologies. Trending is an increase in general market area. When a revaluation is done they look at each parcel. They field review every single sale. The Assessment Department has 9 certified appraisers. The computer picks the comparables. Don asked if all sales were part of their database. Valerie indicated that to be exposed it has to be listed for sale is some formal manner and be an arms length transaction. What this means is that it has to be on the open market and not a closed sale between family members or related parties or rent to own type transactions.
John O’Neill stated that people in his neighborhood hired appraisers to justify a decrease in their assessed value. Valeria reminded him that appraisals are done for different purposes. If an appraiser was doing an appraisal for financing it would be likely be different than an appraisal to contest an assessment. Again she reiterated that they are trying to create equity.
Ned Hickey asked what percentage does location play in their decision. She stated that there is no set percentage. Each property has to be looked at separately. Sometimes it is an advantage to be next to commercial property, and sometimes it is a disadvantage. Each case has to be looked at separately.
Valeria reminded the Board that the exemption deadline is March 1st. The standard STAR exemption is automatic and doesn’t have to be applied for every year. However, the enhanced STAR, veterans and senior exemptions are based on income and therefore must be applied for annually.
The next item on the agenda was to consider the Contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers for SCLIWC’s Employees. Don explained that since we are part of the SCLIWC we must also approve the union contract. A fraction of the Bolton Point employees are unionized. The Board had previously received a copy of the union contract to review.
Resolution #5418-To Approve the Contract with the
International
of Operating Engineers for
Intermunicipal Water Commission’s Employees
WHEREAS, the majority of the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission’s (Commission) non-managerial employees in the Production and Distribution Departments voted affirmatively on January 31, 2001 to be represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers for the purposes of collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS, in December 2004, the Commission and the employees in the union bargaining unit approved a successor agreement to the original contract; and
WHEREAS, the successor agreement expires on December 31, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Commission, in good faith, entered into contract negotiations with the union for a renewed contract for the contract that expires on December 31, 2007; and
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2007, the Commission’s negotiating team reached tentative agreement on a contract with the union’s negotiating team; and
WHEREAS, the Commission reviewed and approved the tentative contract at the November 1, 2007 meeting of the Commission; and
WHEREAS, on November 13, 2007, the employees in the union bargaining unit ratified the tentative contract; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees has reviewed the tentative contract and determined it to be acceptable;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees does hereby approve the tentative contract; and, be it further
RESOLVED, the Village of Lansing Board of Trustees authorizes the Commission’s negotiating team to sign said contract as presented.
Trustee Leopold moved this resolution. Trustee
O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
Mayor Hartill entertained the following motion:
Motion - To Approve the Minutes from December
13th & 17th, 2007.
Trustee
The next item on the agenda was
Mayor’s Comments. Mayor Hartill stated
that probably the most important information he has is on the Oakcrest Tank
situation discussed previously in the meeting. He continues to have discussions
with the Village of Cayuga Heights regarding the sewer situation and rates. Don
sees no major changes for the
The Board was given a letter from
Ben Curtis, Village of Lansing Code & Zoning Officer, asking for their
approval of a Temporary Certificate of Compliance. In the letter Ben explained
that the construction of the Arleo Eye Institute at the corner of
Based on the above, Ben has
recommended in his letter to the Trustees that they authorize a Temporary
Certificate of Compliance for the Arleo Eye Institute at
Resolution #5419- To Issue a Temporary Certificate
of Compliance for Arleo Eye Institute at
Trustee Leopold moved this resolution. Trustee
O’Neill seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
During general discussion, Ned Hickey stated that Phil
Dankert, Planning Board member, is home recovering well from his hip
replacement. At the next Planning Board meeting they will be looking at
widening of a portion of
Ned also informed the Board that the Town of
John O’Neill asked the Mayor if he had had a chance to look at the Flood Insurance model law. It was suggested that Ben Curtis take a look at it because he would be the one who would have the reporting responsibilities.
John would also like to further discuss the issue of peddlers in the Village. The Board has received a copy of the Village of Cayuga Heights law to review. John feels that the enforcement is beyond our ability, but would like to revisit it at the next Monday night meeting.
Because there will not be a quorum for the regular Thursday noon meeting, Jodi asked if the Board would like to reschedule the meeting for Wednesday.
Resolution #5420- To Reschedule the Thursday January 17, 2008 meeting
for Wednesday January 16, 2008 at Noon.
Trustee
Leopold moved this resolution and Trustee Fresinski seconded the
motion. A
vote was taken:
Mayor Hartill requested an executive session.
Motion- To Go Into Executive Session to Discuss Property Acquisition
and Personnel Issues
Trustee Fresinski moved to go into executive session and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
The board went into executive session at 9:10 pm.
Motion- To Come out of Executive Session
Trustee O’Neill moved to come out of executive session and Trustee Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
The Board came out of executive session at 9:38 pm.
Motion- To Adjourn
Trustee O’Neill moved for adjournment. Trustee
Leopold seconded the motion. A vote was taken:
The meeting adjourned at 9:38 PM.
Jodi Dake
Clerk/Treasurer