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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Packet 2025-07-28MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD July 28, 2025, 4:30 p.m. Town Hall, 215 N Tioga St YouTube Link Zoom Link AGENDA 1. Ithaca Fire Department – Chief Covert 2. Consider approval of 2026 Wage Scale 3. Consider Authorization to Apply for Funding through the Pro Housing Supply Funds Program for SouthWorks’ Beacon Woods Housing Project 4. Committee Reports a. Budget b. Personnel and Organization/ERC c. Public Works d. Planning e. Codes & Ordinances f. Other 5. Consent Agenda a. Approval of Town Board Minutes b. Approval of the Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Approve Permanent Appointment – GIS d. Approve Permanent Appointment – Finance Officer e. Approval of a Sewer Exemption – Hayts Rd f. Approval of Budget Amendments g. Revised 2025 Expenditure of Highway Funds 6. Review of Correspondence/Reports of Officials Meeting of the Ithaca Town Board July 28, 2025 TB Resolution 2025-xxx: Approval of 2026 Office and Field Classification Wage Scales Whereas, the Town Board established a Wage Scale, which sets the Hiring Minimum and Job Rate for each job classification, which may be increased each year based on a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA); and Whereas, the collective bargaining agreement with the Public Works unit represented by Teamsters Local 317 established a 4.5% cost of living adjustment for 2026; and Whereas, after evaluating the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) as well as other factors, the Town Supervisor and Human Resources Manager in preparation for the 2026 tentative budget recommended to the Personnel and Budget Committees a 4.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to the Job Rates when establishing the 2026 Office and Field Wage Scales; and Whereas, the Personnel Committee reviewed and recommended the modified Job Rates due to the Reclassification project for the Office Wage Scale Classifications E, F & G; now, therefore, be it Resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby approve for the 2026 Wage Scales an overall 4.5% COLA on the Job Rates in the Office and Field Wage Scales; and further Resolves, that the classifications in the Office Wage Scale, E, F & G are modified to a value different from the 4.5% COLA (see attached sheet). Moved: Seconded: Vote: MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD July 28, 2025 TB Resolution 2025 -XXX: Authorization to Apply for Funding through the Pro Housing Supply Funds Program for SouthWorks’ Beacon Woods Housing Project Whereas, the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils and the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) were created to advance efforts to improve New York’s business climate and expand economic growth, and Whereas, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 30 in July 2023, establishing the Pro- Housing Community Program to recognize municipalities actively working to unlock their housing potential, and Whereas, Empire State Development (“ESD”), in partnership with New York State Homes and Community Renewal launched a $100 million Pro Housing Supply Fund in this CFA round to help finance essential infrastructure projects needed to facilitate new housing development in certified Pro-Housing Communities, and Whereas, the Town of Ithaca has been Certified as a Pro-Housing Community since July 2024, and Whereas, Beacon Communities Services LLC has requested that the Town of Ithaca apply for a 2025 Pro Housing Supply Funds Program grant to assist them with the development of the SouthWorks Beacon Woods Housing site for affordable and mixed-income rental housing, and Whereas, the Town of Ithaca is an eligible applicant under the 2025 Pro-Housing Supply Funds Program, and Whereas, under the Pro-Housing Supply Funds Program eligible applicants, in the case of municipalities, are required to authorize an official representative to file the application and to provide ESD with certain assurance of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and Whereas, the proposed project is consistent with goals outlined in the Town of Ithaca’s 2014 Comprehensive Plan, including seeking grants to fund affordable housing; the proposed financing is appropriate for the project; the project will facilitate effective and efficient use of existing and future public resources so as to promote both economic development and development of much-needed affordable housing; and the project develops and enhances infrastructure in a manner that will attract, create, and sustain employment opportunities in the Town, and Whereas, the Town of Ithaca is requesting $5,000,000 in funding assistance from the Pro Housing Supply Funds Program towards SouthWorks Beacon Woods Housing site which has a total anticipated construction cost of $70,975,000, which includes $10,563,000 for infrastructure; and Whereas, the owner of the property will make available half of the matching funds commitment as well as any fees associated with the Grant Disbursement Agreement, and now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca, or designated representative, is hereby authorized and directed to submit an application, including a non-refundable application fee, for funding under the current (2025) CFA round for the SouthWorks Beacon Woods Housing Project with a total estimated infrastructure project cost of $10,563,000, and upon approval of said request to enter into and execute any agreements required by ESD for grant funding that results from the application. Resolved, that the Town will administer the grant in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations established by ESD. Moved: Seconded: Vote: 1 MEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD July 28, 2025 TB Resolution 2025 - : Adopt Consent Agenda a. Approval of Town Board Minutes b. Approval of the Town of Ithaca Abstract c. Approve Permanent Appointment – GIS d. Approve Permanent Appointment – Finance Officer e. Approval of a Sewer Exemption – Hayts Rd f. Approval of Budget Amendments g. Revised 2025 Expenditure of Highway Funds Moved: Seconded: Vote: TB Resolution 2025 - a: Approval of Minutes Resolved that the Town Board accepts the draft minutes of July 14th as final with any non- substantive changes made. TB Resolution 2025 - b: Town of Ithaca Abstract 14 for FY-2025 Resolved that the Town Board authorizes payment of the audited vouchers for the amounts listed: VOUCHER NOS. 2025 645 - 687 General Fund Town Wide 53,025.64 General Fund Part-Town 24,204.49 Highway Fund Town Wide DA 1,966.91 Highway Fund Part Town DB 92,548.23 Water Fund 19,841.68 Sewer Fund 480,204.65 Fire Protection Fund 261.00 TOTAL 672,052.60 TB Resolution 2025 – c: Approval of Non-Competitive Permanent Appointment for GIS Analysist Whereas, the Town Board approved the provisional appointment of Max Villanueva as a GIS Analyst, effective February 10, 2025; and Whereas, NYS Civil Service has developed the NY Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) Program, which allows for competitive positions to be filled via non- 2 competitive appointment, which means examinations are not required, but candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the titles for which they apply; and Whereas, the title of GIS Analyst has been approved under the NY HELPS program, which means those incumbents may no longer be required to take a civil service examination for their provisional positions as the position is being characterized as “Non-Competitive” unless an exam is advertised; now therefore be it Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca hereby approve the non-competitive permanent appointment of Max Villanueva, GIS Analyst, effective June 11, 2025, with no changes to current wages and benefits. TB Resolution 2025 – d: Approve Permanent Appointment of Finance Officer Whereas, the Town Board approved the provisional appointment of Kelly Anderson as a Finance Officer, effective January 13, 2025; and Whereas, the Tompkins County Civil Service office has provided the certificate of eligible listing for the said title and the staff were reachable candidates; now, therefore be it Resolved, the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca does hereby approve the permanent appointments of Kelly Anderson to the position of Finance Officer, with no change in current compensation or benefits, retro-active to July 23, 2025. TB Resolution 2025 - e: Authorization for the Town Engineer to Issue a Sewer Exemption for 262 Hayts Rd Whereas, the Town Engineer received a request for a Sewer Exemption from Valeria Jordan- Mount, owner of 262 Hayts Rd, indicating the residential home was built in 1976 and the current system is failing with water drainage and waste/sludge rising to the surface of the lawn. The owner indicated there is no access to town sewer and identified the difficulties associated with connecting to municipal sewer due to the nearest sewer main(s) being approximately 4,500+/- feet away, which would require a main extension at an estimated cost of $1,200,000, which is not feasible, and Whereas, the owner is working with a private contractor, and their engineer to prove a plan for replacement to the Tompkins County Health Department, now therefor be it Resolved, pursuant to Town Code Section 214-6, the Town Board finds the applicant has shown unusual and extreme practical difficulties in connecting to municipal sewer for the reasons conveyed by town staff and the reasons detailed in the request for a sewer exemption submitted to the Town Engineer, dated July 22, 2025, and be it further Resolved, that the Town Board authorizes the Town Engineer to issue an exemption from Town Code Section 214-5 Connection required, for 262 Hayts Rd, for the installation of a new, onsite 3 wastewater treatment system associated with the existing residential home, subject to the consent of the Tompkins County Health Department. TB Resolution 2025 - f: Approval of Budget Transfers, Amendments and Modifications for June 30, 2025. Whereas, the Town Finance Officer has reviewed all budgetary revenue and appropriation accounts for the period ending June 30, 2025, and Whereas, this review disclosed certain budgetary revenues and expenditures requiring transfers, amendments or modifications summarized below: GENERAL FUND - TOWNWIDE Budget Transfers ACCOUNT DESCRIPTION FROM TO AA1220.410 CONFERENCES & MILEAGE 521.00 AA1220.420 DUES & PUBLICATIONS 200.00 AA1316.408 POSTAGE 200.00 AA1330.485 PRINTING TAX BILLS 713.00 AA1410.410 CONFERENCES & MILEAGE 66.00 AA1410.420 DUES & PUBLICATIONS 66.00 AA1430.404 PAYROLL SUPPLIES 156.00 AA1430.428 COLLEGE COURSE REIMB PROGRAM 839.00 AA1620.444 SECURITY & FIRE ALARM 8,503.00 AA1620.442 JANITORIAL SERVICES 18,099.00 AA1620.448 ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT 99.00 AA1910.439 LIABILITY INSURANCE 3,611.00 AA1920.420 DUES & PUBLICATIONS 830.00 AA5132.444 SECURITY & FIRE ALARM 4,905.00 AA7110.273 LIGHT DUTY TRUCK 15,000.00 AA7110.271 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK 23,745.79 AA7110.272 MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK 10,396.05 AA7110.400 CONTRACTUAL 15,000.00 AA7110.456 PLANTINGS & LANDSCAPING 3,000.00 AA7110.457 PARKS & GROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS 6,319.00 AA7110.526 TRAIL OVERLAY 15,000.00 AA8540.273 LIGHT DUTY TRUCK 3,750.00 AA8540.271 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK 5,937.00 AA8540.272 MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK 2,600.00 AA8540.400 CONTRACTUAL 4,815.00 AA8540.420 DUES & PUBLICATIONS 2,754.00 AA8540.459 TOOLS & EQUIPMENT 5,648.00 AA8989.468 SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAMS 1,000.00 AA9050.800 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 1,173.00 4 FIRE PROTECTION FUND Budget Transfers SF3410.482 DISTRIBUTE NYS FIRE INSURNACE TAX 3,094.31 SF3085.000 NYS 2% FIRE TAX FUNDS 3,094.31 Resolved, that this Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Finance Officer to record all budget transfers, amendments, and modifications, including all other changes deemed appropriate and necessary.