DRAFT
May 25, 2021
Town of Brutus &
Village of Weedsport
Special Board Meeting
Minutes
The
Town Board of the Town of Brutus and the Village Board of the Village of
Weedsport held an in-person special meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 6:30 PM
at the Village of Weedsport Office, 8892 South Street, Weedsport, NY
Town
Present:
James
Hotaling, Town Supervisor Thomas
Flynn, Deputy Supervisor
Derric
Slocum, Councilor John Abraham, Councilor
Thomas
Piascik, Town Engineer Angela
Skellington, Town Clerk
Village
Present:
Tom
Winslow, Mayor Chad
Platten, Deputy Mayor
Steve
Sims, Trustee Francis Gross Jr., Trustee
John
Clark, Trustee
Guests:
None
Opening:
Mayor
Winslow called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM and led the pledge of
allegiance.
Water – 8734 Weedsport Sennett Road
Mayor
Winslow spoke about the village supplying water to 8734 Weedsport Sennett Road.
Trustee Clark motioned for the Village of Weedsport to be the water supplier
for the town-formed district that will be located at 8734 Weedsport Sennett
Road. The motion was seconded by Trustee Gross.
All
village board members voted yes.
Water Project Updates
Supervisor Hotaling requested Engineer Piascik to
present current water projects that are in progress by the town.
Engineer Piascik summarized the three projects;
Water District # 2 Pump House Enhancements, Water District # 10 including homes
on Ball and Hamilton Roads, and Water District # 11 including homes on Shepherd
and Ryan Roads.
Additionally, a map was shown that included a
proposed district for the southern part of the town that would include
Weedsport Sennett Road, Ross Drive and other roads. The project would include a
water storage tank. The water would be supplied by the Town of Sennett and
include a new water line on Weedsport Sennett Road. This system could
potentially be a back-up system for the Village of Weedsport. Right now, there
are about 30 homes in the town that are considered outside users of the Village
of Weedsport.
Supervisor Hotaling said that USDA Rural Development
would rather do a large project instead of several smaller ones. The amount of
paperwork is the same.
Mayor Winslow stated that the village is in the
preliminary stages of looking into what upgrades it needs for its water system.
Supervisor Hotaling shared information on the Cayuga
County Water and Sewer Authority Master Plan. The plan involves Cayuga Lake
being the source for water and building a treatment plant at Cayuga Lake.
Deputy Mayor Platten
believes it would be beneficial to work with Onondaga County Water Authority
(OCWA) or Skaneateles Lake as the water quality is very good. There was
discussion about the toxic bloom under the old GE Plant in Auburn.
The group thought it
a good idea to put the two water projects (town expansion and village upgrades)
together.
Sewer Projects
– Brutus
Supervisor Hotaling
spoke about the proposed project for sewer system for mobile home parks going
along Route 5 and up Hamilton Road to the Village of Jordan Waste Water
Treatment Plant (WWTP). The WWTP needs to do some upgrades. Shadybrook Mobile
Home park has a sewer packaging plant that is close to the end of its life
(life span of about 20 years). County Line also has a package plant that Barton
& Loguidice estimates having about seven years left.
NYS DEC has
authorized the NYS Thruway building at Exit # 40 to use the Village of
Weedsport WWTP. Engineer Piascik has not heard from the NYS Thruway Authority
on the status.
Trolley
Connection Trail
Engineer Piascik
spoke about the status of the project. A conference call happened earlier in
the day to discuss Right of Way. The NYS DOT will be acquiring the property on
behalf of the town or village. Property comprising of about 4/10ths of an acre
will be purchased.
The trail will be
blacktop and 10 feet wide. It will not be for snowmobiles or 4-wheelers.
Every 300 feet, there
will be additional space to accommodate two accessible wheelchairs by each
other or to allow turnaround.
As part of the environmental
review, Engineer Piascik requests that both the town and village boards pass
resolutions that there are no negative impacts to the parks that are located
within the local municipalities.
Aqueduct Park
in the Town of Brutus
Councilor Abraham
motioned that the Brutus town board is aware of the proposed project, Trolley
Connection Trail, environmental review process. The board has reviewed the
process and believes that the project will not have any negative environmental
impacts on Aqueduct Park. The board believes that the project will enhance the
park.
The motion was
seconded by Deputy Supervisor Flynn.
RES
52-2021 VOTE: 4 ayes, 1 absent, 0 nays. Carried.
Trolley Park
in the Village of Weedsport
Trustee Gross
motioned that the Weedsport village board is aware of the proposed project,
Trolley Connection Trail, environmental review process. The board has reviewed
the process and believes that the project will not have any negative
environmental impacts on Trolley Park. The board believes that the project will
enhance the park.
The motion was
seconded by Trustee Sims.
All
village board members voted yes.
Other Trail & Park
Projects – Brutus
Supervisor Hotaling
summarized the Aqueduct Park Accessibility Project. He stated work is also being
done for placement of the Cayuga County Vietnam Veterans Memorial to be placed
in Aqueduct Park.
He shared that the
third and final project to rebuilding the aqueduct is out for bid. This is to
rebuild the southwest wing wall.
The first phase of
planning for Re-Watering the Erie Canal between Aqueduct and Schasel Parks is
nearly complete. The town worked with Cayuga County on having a flood study
completed to ensure the project would not cause flooding.
Shared
Building/Location Discussion
Supervisor Hotaling
communicated that Fastrac approached the town about purchasing the town hall
for expansion of its building some time ago. The company is still interested in
buying the premises. He also said that the town is in the process of purchasing
about 14 acres on State Route 31 in the village limits to place a new building.
Mayor Winslow stated
that the village board passed a resolution to allow the subdivision of the
property on State Route 31 at its last board meeting.
Supervisor Hotaling
said that he is planning to move forward on having a new building placed there.
He hopes that the village will be involved. It is better to have a building
with shared services instead of the town building on its own. Mayor Winslow
said that there are some differing opinions on location. He would like the
building to be combined and there would have to be some compromise.
The property is about ¼
mile from the center of the village. There is possibility of more
businesses/organizations going onto this property with more space including the
historical society.
Councilor Slocum said
that the location of the current village office was discussed. Considerations given
for having enough space, parking, making sure there would be enough room to do
all business. Trustee Platten said that it would be difficult to put everything
outside of the village center. If an additional three acres near the current
village offices was purchased, there would be enough room to have the village
and town halls, the fire department, the police department and a community
room. The building would be linear with different store front appearance for
each of the offices/departments. There would be about 100 parking spaces in the
back of the building.
Supervisor Hotaling
said if the building could go on State Route 31, there would be more room for
growth. The historical society is out of room at its current location, the post
office could potentially be moved out there. Trustee Gross expressed concern
about those that walk to the post office. Some people walk daily and some have
physical challenges with no vehicle. With a sidewalk to location on State Route
31, snow removal would be necessary. Also, would people that are now walking
begin driving instead?
Supervisor Hotaling
stated that he respects everyone’s opinions and still wants to move forward
with relocating to the State Route 31 property.
Marijuana Legalization
The boards discussed
this and thought that the public should be surveyed to see what it would like
to do related to dispensaries and on-site consumption licenses. The group
agreed to review
Association of Town and
New York Council on Mayors recommendations. There could flyers and a public
meeting to seek input.
Summer Recreation
Program
Mayor Winslow asked if
the program would be happening this summer. Town Clerk Skellington said that in
communicating with Chair Tonya Martinez, she does not believe it will be
happening as in past years. There is a small possibility of some programming
late in the summer. Chair Martinez will monitor what other programs are doing.
Question about funding
– the program was funded for 2020 and 2021 and there were no activities. Should
there be less funds appropriated for 2022 budgets? Town Clerk Skellington said
that funds are in the Recreation Account. A separate Annual Update Document is
prepared by Town Bookkeeper Pam Kelley each year for the Recreation Program.
American Recovery Act
Brief discussion about
funds for this. There is not much guidance on how funds will be distributed and
when.
Sewer
Project CDBG Planning Grant– Brutus Mobile Home Parks
Supervisor Hotaling stated that part of the engineering
feasibility study that is being completed has the NYS DEC concerned about
Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) at the Village of Jordan WWTP. A
recommendation was given for an I&I Study to be completed. There are
planning grants that are funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) –
Home and Community Renewal program. Highly competitive for funding of $50,000
for a municipality with a $2,500 match required. There are 10 grants of $50,000
awarded per year.
Jay Grasso, Grant Administrator consultant, gave a price
for completing a grant application as no more than $2,500.
Deputy Supervisor Flynn motioned to move forward with the
grant application for the I&I study at a cost of $2,500 and to schedule the
necessary public hearing. The motion was seconded by Councilor Abraham.
RES 53-2021 VOTE: 4
ayes, 1 absent, 0 nays. Carried.
Weedsport Rural Cemetery and Truck
Supervisor Hotaling said that the truck being used by the
cemetery is 43 years old and the transmission does not work. There is a 1 ½ ton
F450 town truck that is 11 years old that is used for sanding, plowing, and
limb work. The truck’s worth is $25,000. It can be replaced with another truck
and the F450 can be given to the cemetery as an option for direct funding that
has been occurring each year through the town budget process.
Highway Superintendent Siracusa is looking at a replacement
truck for the town through state contract. A 2020 Dodge 500 with box, plow and
sander is $97,000. There is $116,000 in highway reserve account. $20,000 is
scheduled to be added to the highway reserve account this fall. $40,000 in CHIP
funds could be used toward the purchase of the truck.
It was decided to place this topic on the agenda for the
next town board meeting on June 14, 2021.
Motion to close the
meeting at 8:40 PM made by Deputy Mayor Platten, second by Trustee Clark.
Agreeable by all town board members present.
RES 54-2021 VOTE: 4 ayes, 1 absent, 0 nays. Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Angela M. Skellington, Town Clerk
