Agriculture/Planning/Environmental Committee

October 12, 2006 - 7:30 am

DRAFT MINUTES

 

Members:                   Danny Ross, Chairman; Merwin Armstrong, Vice Chairman; Kay Breed, John Troy and Carol Tytler

Others Present:         Marilyn Brown, Chairman of the Legislature; Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Mike McKee, Legislator, District 17; Katrina Spicer, Secretary to County Administration; Dan Dineen, Director of Planning Department; Richard Van Donsel, County Attorney; Amanda Barber, Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation and Corey Preston, Cortland Standard

Absent:                       Tom Hartnett and John Steger

Mr. Ross called the meeting to order at 7:38 a.m.

Mr. Troy moved adoption of the minutes of the August 10, 2006 meeting; seconded by Ms. Breed. All members voting in favor, minutes approved as printed.

 

RESOLUTIONS:

 

1.                  Authorize Grant Application and Agreement with New York State Department of Transportation – Rural Transportation Assistance Program – Ms. Tytler moved adoption; seconded by Mr. Troy.  Mr. Dineen discussed an external audit in regards to  First Transit and the findings included the lack of services to rural areas.  He added that this is funding regarding services to rural areas but First Transit cannot receive the money, a municipality must receive funding.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

 

2.                  Authorize Assigning Village of McGraw House Numbers – Mr. Troy moved adoption; seconded by Ms. Tytler.  Mr. Dineen discussed that this is in reference to the Planning Department assigning numbers to houses in the Village of McGraw.  He further discussed that it is not to physically number the houses but to assign numbers and report that information to residents and to the Fire Departments.  Ms. Tytler inquired about renumbering.  Mr. Dineen stated that they would not be renumbering, just assigning numbers.  Ms. Breed discussed the importance of having fire numbers on the houses in case of an emergency.  The Committee members agreed and discussed further the importance of the numbering on the houses.  Ms. Barber inquired about funding available for the reflective, fire numbers.  She discussed further the problems for emergency services personnel when they are unable to find a house.  She added that awareness is important, especially in rural areas.  Ms. Breed discussed that she would like an awareness program addressed.  Mr. Schrader expressed that it is not just the homeowners that are not aware of the importance, it is also the utility companies and the Post Office.  Ms. Tytler suggested that since October is Fire Prevention Month that possibly the Cortland Standard could address the importance of this awareness in the newspaper.  Mr. Preston expressed that he would look into it.  Mr. Dineen expressed that the Fire Number and the House Number should both be the same.  Committee members discussed that in some areas, they do differ.  Ms. Breed expressed that this should be addressed at the Post Office.  All members present voting in favor; none opposed; resolution approved.

DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

 

1.         Bids for the purchase of buses for public transportation system – Mr. Dineen distributed copies of bid information regarding the busses.  He discussed additional wheelchair seating and bike racks being installed on the new busses.  Mr. Dineen additionally discussed updating the radio system and the installation of new shelters.  Chairman Brown inquired about the new wheelchair seating be the “flip seats.”  Mr. Dineen commented that they are and that this will allow for use of the seats even when wheelchair rides are not utilizing them.  Mr. Dineen and Mr. Ross discussed a new logo for First Transit being put on the new busses to make them more identifiable.  Mr. Dineen requested that the Chairman authorize acceptance of the bid via written letter.  Mr. Ross inquired about any questions from the County Attorney.  Mr. Van Donsel had no questions regarding this.  Ms. Tytler inquired about someone from Access to Independence being involved in this bid.  Mr. Dineen discussed the involvement from Access to Independence.        

 

2.                  Alternative Energy – Mr. Dineen explained that he has been in contact with a company regarding wind power energy and they are interested in coming to Cortland County to provide the County with information.  He further discussed the ordinances that may be necessary.  Committee members further discussed the Willow Bio Mass and its use of biological material.  Committee members further discussed that the use of biological materials.  Mr. Ross discussed the landfill and the absorption of leachate.  Ms. Barber discussed the recently developed markets and the increased demand for a site and production.  She added that she is interested further in this.  The consensus of the committee was to have Mr. Dineen and Ms. Barber to proceed and gain additional information regarding this issue. 

 

3.                  Budget Review – Mr. Dineen explained that this year’s budget is pretty much the same as last years with the exception of the increase in postage and the increase in mileage reimbursement.  He further discussed that the reasoning for the increased in mileage was due to the new communities that he is working with now.  Ms. Breed inquired about the increase in postage.  Mr. Dineen explained that he is producing large monthly reports and will have an increase in mailings due to the house number program.  Ms. Breed suggested using e-mail to send documents similar to the way the County Legislature receives all their monthly agendas, etc. and to just provide a hard copy at the meetings.  She added that this would save on postage.  Mr. Ross suggested bringing this up at the next Planning Board Meeting.  Mr. Ross inquired about the Planner Trainee position.  Mr. Dineen discussed working with the Personnel Department to change it to a Grant Writer/Senior Planner.  Mr. Ross discussed the salary being too low for the position of the Planner Trainee and not being able to keep the position filled.  Ms. Tytler inquired about when the position will be implemented.  Mr. Dineen responded that it will not happen until after January 1, 2007 and briefly discussed the position further.      

 

4.                  First Transit Monthly Report – Mr. Dineen distributed a First Transit Monthly Report and discussed it briefly.  Ms. Tytler inquired about wheelchair usage on the busses and expressed that she was impressed with the high number persons with wheelchairs using the busses.  Mr. Ross invited Ms. Tytler to attend the next Transit Meeting. 

 

5.                  Soil & Water Conservation Report (Amanda Barber) – Ms. Barber distributed a Soil & Water Conservation Activity Report.  She thanked those who participated on the tour and discussed places, which were visited on the tour.  She additionally discussed River Clean-up program and explained that her department conducted it in a different manner this year and they had double the participation.  She added that it went very well.  She went on to discuss that next she would like to coordinate smaller area communities to participate at the same time as the county program and work to conduct a countywide clean up.  Ms. Barber discussed stream bank stabilizations and further discussed the Village of McGraw’s work on a construction project regarding stream bank issues.  She briefly discussed a number of other agriculture projects that are ready to start.  Ms. Barber informed the Committee that her office has received an overwhelmingly high number of calls with regards to water management.  She further discussed board meetings. 

 

6.                  Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation Departmental budget request – Ms. Barber provided Committee members with 2007 Program Goals and Commitments Highlights and discussed them briefly.  She expressed that she is always looking for feedback.  Additionally, she expressed that the needs are not being met to bring the proper attention to Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation.  Ms. Barber addressed the modest $30,000 increased budget request and discussed reasons for the increase.  Additionally, she discussed new Federal and State funds the Soil and Water Conservation District brought to Cortland County in 2006 totaling over $1,378,000.  Mr. Ross inquired about additional funding being available for the Susquehanna Coalition project.  She discussed that it may be available for the Susquehanna Watershed project.  Ms. Breed inquired about Pond Stocking Programs and if there is help for those projects.  Ms. Barber responded that there is not a great deal of effort that goes into those programs and added that only one person is needed to coordinate them.  Ms. Breed additionally inquired about speaking with Lime Hollow Nature Center regarding soil awareness.  Ms. Barber stated that the Soil & Water Conservation District has worked with Lime Hollow on different projects.  Ms. Barber explained that the Soil & Water Conservation District functions with partnerships and some of those partnerships are struggling in regards to their own funding.  She explained that the Soil & Water Conservation District share office space with the USDA and the USDA pays for two-thirds of the rent leaving one-third for Soil & Water Conservation.  She discussed that they have discussed with her that the Soil & Water Conservation District will need to begin to pay a larger share of those costs in the future.  Ms. Barber discussed expenses that are shared with partnerships and that future expenses will be coming back to the districts to be paid by them.  She also discussed the use of many volunteers to assist with programs.  Mr. Ross inquired about water quality and the dumping of raw sewage.  Ms. Barber expressed that the dumping of raw sewage is not permitted and went on to discuss related issue with the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay projects.  She further discussed water quality.  Ms. Barber expressed that she would be happy to present her budget to Budget & Finance Committee.  Ms. Barber discussed the implications of losing a person in her office and the workload of her office.  She explained that currently her office is providing minimal assistance and she would like to be able to provide more.  Mr. McKee expressed that when the Soil & Water Conservation District spends money in our communities it is well spent and circulated.  Ms. Barber expressed that her office cannot do justice to the projects they are working on with only being able to provide the minimal assistance that are providing.  She went on to discuss engineers and problems her office has in those regards.  Ms. Barber expressed the Soil & Water Conservation District can play a better role in disaster preparedness and recovery and that in the past their role has varied.  She asked that the Committee not forget the role that her office can play in disaster preparedness and expressed that they can be more involved.            

 

7.                  Mr. Troy made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. Tytler.  The meeting adjourned at 8:29 am.