HomeMy WebLinkAboutTb 2023-115d Endorse Dissolution Plan Renwick Heights Lighting DistrictMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
July 31, 2023
TB Resolution 2023 - 115 : Endorsing this Proposed Dissolution Plan for the Renwick HeightsLighting District and Setting a Public Hearing on Same
Whereas, in 2021, the Town of Ithaca purchased from NYSEG the eleven (11) streetlights in the Renwick Heights Lighting District, and in 2023 the Town upgraded the streetlights to LED
lights; and
Whereas, there are fifty-one (51) tax parcels located within the Renwick Heights Lighting District in 2023, and future annual costs for the District’s electricity and streetlight maintenance
are estimated to be around Eight Hundred Dollars ($800) in current dollars; and
Whereas, because the Town’s bookkeeping burden and administrative expenses for the Renwick Heights Lighting District are disproportionate to the District’s minimal future costs, the
Town Boardof the Town of Ithaca (Town Board) is considering dissolution of the Renwick Heights Lighting District and paying for the costs of the Town’s lighting districts, once dissolved,
through real estate taxes raised on a townwide basis pursuant to New York Highway Law §327; and
Whereas, New York General Municipal Law §773(2)(a) provides that the Town Boardmay commence a dissolution proceeding for the Renwick Heights Lighting District, which is a local government
entity, by endorsing a proposed dissolution plan; now, therefore be it
Resolved, pursuant to General Municipal Law § 774, the Town Boardendorses the following proposed dissolution plan for the purpose of commencing dissolution proceedings for the Renwick
Heights Lighting District:
(a) The name of the local government entity to be dissolved is theRenwick Heights Lighting District;
(b) The territorial boundaries of the entity were established when the Town Board adopted itsFebruary 5, 1927 resolution creating and establishing the entity; the territorial boundaries
have not changed and are described in said resolution as follows:
In that part of said Town of Ithaca, known as Renwick Heights, and extending on the east side of the State Highway, known as Lake Road, passing through the unincorporated village of
Renwick Heights in said Town and including the lots or parcels of land abutting thereon from and including the property of W.C. Ballard shown as lot #3, thence northwesterly to the junction
of said Lake Road and Remington Road and Renwick Place Road, also extending on both sides of the latter and including the lots and parcel abutting thereon throughout the entire length
of said Renwick Place Road, also extending on both sides of Renwick Heights Road and including the lots and parcels abutting thereon from the junction of said Renwick Heights Road, and
Lake Road, northerly to and including the property of E.L. Palmer shown as lot #25, also the property shown as lot #45, also the property shown as lot #44, also extending on both sides
of Renwick Drive and including the lots or parcels abutting thereon from the junction of said Renwick Drive and Renwick Heights Road, southeasterly to and including the property of W.O.
Kerr shown as lot #1, thence continuing on both sides of said Renwick Drive and including the lots or parcels abutting thereon northeasterly to the eastern boundary line of the unincorporated
Village of Renwick Heights or the western boundary line of the Village of Cayuga Heights.
The current tax parcel numbers that are within said territorial boundaries are:
16.-2-1
16.-2-2
16.-2-3
16.-2-4
16.-2-6
16.-2-7
16.-2-8
17.-2-1
17.-2-2
17.-2-3
17.-3-1
17.-3-2
17.-3-3
17.-3-4
17.-3-5
17.-3-6.2
17.-3-7
17.-3-8
17.-3-9
17.-3-10
17.-3-11
17.-3-12
17.-3-13
17.-3-14
17.-3-16.1
17.-3-18.21
17.-3-18.22
17.-3-19
17.-3-20
17.-3-21
17.-3-22
17.-3-23
17.-3-24
17.-3-25.12
17.-3-26
17.-3-27
17.-3-28
17.-3-29
17.-3-30
17.-3-31
17.-3-32
17.-3-33
17.-3-34
17.-3-35
17.-3-36
17.-3-37
17.-4-11
17.-4-12
17.-4-13
17.-4-14
17.-4-15
(c) The type and/or class of the entity is a lighting district that the Town Boardformed pursuant to former Town Law §§ 260, 261, 262 and 263;
(d) The Town Board estimates that the cost of dissolution of the Renwick Heights Lighting District is One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), which is the cost of associated legal fees and the
publication cost of legal notices;
(e) The Renwick Heights Lighting District has no public employees, so it does not need to provide any plan for the transfer or elimination of public employees;
(f) The Renwick Heights Lighting District’s assets are as follows: Eleven (11) streetlights purchased from NYSEG in 2021 for Three Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-OneDollars ($3,251). The
streetlights were upgraded to LED lights in 2023 for an estimated cost of Four Thousand Two Hundred Forty-FiveDollars ($4,245).The fair value thereof in current money of the United States
is Seven Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-SixDollars ($7,496). On December 31, 2022, the Renwick Heights Lighting District had an available fund balance of Three Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Four
Dollars ($3,154). The Town assessed property tax of Two Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($2,200) to fifty-one (51) parcels within the Lighting District in 2023, proportionately allocated
based on assessed value. The estimated expenses for 2023 (including the cost of conversion to LED lights,eight (8) months of streetlight maintenance, and electricity) areFive Thousand
Thirty-Nine Dollars ($5,039). Any residual funds (estimated to be ThreeHundred Fifteen Dollars ($315)) left at 12/31/2023 will be moved to the Town’s General Fund to offset future costs;
(g) The Renwick HeightsLighting District does not have any liabilities and indebtedness, bonded or otherwise, except as follows: The Town, on behalf of the District, owes the New York
Power Authority and/or its contractors Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars ($7,938) for LED conversions. This amount has not yet been billed to the Town. The Town anticipates
rebates of Three Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-Three Dollars ($3,693), which results in a net indebtedness of Four Thousand Two Hundred Forty-Five Dollars ($4,245);
(h) There are no agreements entered into between the Renwick Heights Lighting District and the Town of Ithaca in order to carry out the dissolution;
(i) following the dissolution of the Renwick Heights Lighting District, the residents of the Renwick Heights Lighting District will continue to be furnished municipal street lighting
services by the Town of Ithaca, which will be paid for by real estate taxes raised on a townwide basis pursuant to New York Highway Law §327;
(j) The entity's assets shall become assets of the Town of Ithaca. The terms for the disposition of the entity's liabilities and indebtedness are as follows: The amount of the entity’s
indebtedness (if any) to New York Power Authority and/or its contractors as of December 31, 2023 as described in subsection g above shall be paid by moving the entity’s fund balance
(which is adequate to pay its indebtedness) to the Town’s General Fund and paying them from the General Fund. There will be no need for the levy and collection of additional taxes and
assessments for the entity’s outstanding liabilities and indebtedness as of December 31, 2023;
(k) There are no local laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of the Renwick Heights Lighting District which shall remain in effect after the effective date of the dissolution;
(l) The effective date of the proposed dissolution is December 31, 2023;
(m) The time and place for a public hearing on the proposed dissolution plan pursuant to New York General Municipal Law § 776 is September 11, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room, Ithaca
Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850;
(n) There are no other matters desirable or necessary to carry out the dissolution; and
Resolved, that the Town Clerk for the Town of Ithaca shall post, publish and display the proposed dissolution plan and provide notice to the public as required by New York General Municipal
Law § 775; and be it further
Resolved, that the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed dissolution plan onSeptember 11, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room, Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street,
Ithaca, NY 14850, and at such time and place all persons interested in the proposed dissolution plan may be heard concerning the same; and be it further
Resolved, that following the conclusion of the public hearing, the Town Board shall meet to take such other and further action on the part of said Board with relation thereto as may
be authorized and prescribed by law, which may include a resolution approving a final version of the Renwick Heights Lighting District dissolution plan.
Moved: Bill GoodmanSeconded:Rich DePaolo
Vote: Howe, DePaolo, Rosen, Goodman, & Johnson