HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB 2023-117f Endorse Dissolution Plan Clover Lane Lighting DistrictMEETING OF THE ITHACA TOWN BOARD
July 31, 2023
TB Resolution 2023 - 117: Endorsing this Proposed Dissolution Plan for the Clover Lane Lighting District and Setting a Public Hearing on Same
Whereas, in 2021, the Town of Ithaca purchased from NYSEG the two (2) streetlights in the Clover Lane Lighting District, and in 2023 the Town upgraded the streetlights to LED lights;
and
Whereas, there are eleven (11) tax parcels located within the Clover Lane Lighting District in 2023, and future annual costs for the District’s electricity and streetlight maintenance
are estimated to be around One Hundred and Thirty-One Dollars ($131) in current dollars; and
Whereas, because the Town’s bookkeeping burden and administrative expenses for the Clover Lane Lighting District are disproportionate to the District’s minimal future costs, the Town
Board of the Town of Ithaca (Town Board)is considering dissolution of the Clover Lane 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 Board may commence a dissolution proceeding for the Clover Lane 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 Board endorses the following proposed dissolution plan for the purpose of commencing dissolution proceedings for the Clover
Lane Lighting District:
(a) The name of the local government entity to be dissolved is theClover Lane Lighting District;
(b) The territorial boundaries of the entity were established when the Town Board adopted its March 9, 1981 resolution and order establishing the entity; the territorial boundaries have
not changed and are described in said resolution and order as follows:
All tracks or parcels of land situated in the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York consisting of several parcels of land lying on either side of Clover Lane, shown on Ithaca Tax
Map No. 59 on block 2 thereof, and comprising lots 5 to 10 inclusive, the westerly side of Clover Lane bound on the north line 200 feet south of the south line of Mitchell Street, on
the west line 51 feet east from the division between the City and Town of Ithaca, on the south by Parcel 19 and on the east by the west line of Clover Lane; also comprising of Parcels
11 to 18 inclusive; bounded on the west by Clover Lane, on the north by said line which is 120 feet south of and parallel of Mitchell Street, on the south by Parcel 19 and on the east
by the east line of Parcels 18 and 17.2 and said line projected northwest as shown on said map.
The current tax parcel numbers that are within said territorial boundaries are:
59-2-5
59-2-6.1
59.-2-7
59.-2-8
59.-2-9
59.-2-10
59.-2-11
59.-2-12.2
59.-2-13
59.-2-14
59.-2-18
(c) The type and/or class of the entity is a lighting district that the Town Board formed pursuant to its March 9, 1981 resolution and order;
(d) The Town Board estimates that the cost of dissolution of the Clover Lane 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 Clover Lane 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 Clover Lane Lighting District’s assets are as follows: Two (2) streetlights purchased from NYSEG in 2021 for FiveHundredNinety-OneDollars ($591). The streetlights were upgraded
to LED lights in 2023 for an estimated cost of Seven Hundred Seventy-TwoDollars ($772).The fair value thereof in current money of the United States is One Thousand Three Hundred Sixty-ThreeDollars
($1,363). On December 31, 2022, the Clover Lane Lighting District had an available fund balance of Six Hundred Thirty-Nine Dollars ($639). The Town assessed property tax of ThreeHundredSeventy-Five
Dollars ($375) to eleven (11) 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) areNine Hundred Seven Dollars ($907). Any residual funds (estimated to be One Hundred Seven Dollars
($107)) left at 12/31/2023 will be moved to the Town’s General Fund to offset future costs;
(g) The Clover LaneLighting 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 One Thousand Four Hundred Forty-Three Dollars ($1,443) for LED conversions. This amount has not yet been billed to the Town. The Town anticipates rebates
of Six Hundred Seventy-One Dollars ($671), which results in a net indebtedness of Seven Hundred Seventy-Two Dollars ($772);
(h) There are no agreements entered into between the Clover Lane Lighting District and the Town of Ithaca in order to carry out the dissolution;
(i) following the dissolution of the Clover Lane Lighting District, the residents of the Clover Lane 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 Clover Lane 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 be it further
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
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 Clover Lane Lighting District dissolution plan.
Moved: Bill GoodmanSeconded:Rich DePaolo
Vote: ayes- Howe, DePaolo, Rosen, Goodman, & Johnson