Town of Ulysses
2016 Winter Newsletter
From the Supervisor Elected or Appointed? Voters decide. As many of you know, the Ulysses Highway Superintendent, Jim Meeker has retired. A BIG thanks to Jim for his 36 years. With this opening, the Town Board feels it would be a good moment to evaluate whether this position, along with that of the Town Clerk, is best filled through the election process or by appointment. Affecting YOU:
The Town of Ulysses is moving
forward on several initiatives
this year and we want your
input on:
 Sidewalks
 Changes in land use
regulations
 Action to make some
elected officials appointed
These topics have the potential
to affect every resident so we
want to make sure you are
aware of opportunities to give
input. Please see the website or
join the town listserv to be
notified of meetings and
progress or see the town
website at www.ulysses.ny.us
Contact the Town Clerk’s office
to be added to the listserv at
[email protected] or 3875767 ext 221.
With the vacancy created by Jim’s departure, the Town Board will need to appoint someone to fill his position until the November election. I am a very strong proponent of residents being active in choosing their representatives—local, state and federal. But both the Clerk and Highway Superintendent positions are apolitical jobs—less representational and more service oriented, assisting people from all political parties and not involved in setting policy. New York State Law allows Towns to have the Highway Superintendent and Town Clerk be either elected or appointed. The law does not require anyone running for office to have the skills and experience to fulfill the duties. If elected, they are entitled to their full salary even if they never come to work. The Town Supervisor nor the Town Board have authority over them. It is almost impossible to remove an elected official who is not doing their job unless they commit a serious crime. Appointing the Clerk and Highway Superintendent positions offers the protections of a secure position, meaning the employee cannot be dismissed at the whim of a new Town Board, nor without documented and well‐founded reasons. But, if egregiously disregarding their responsibilities, the Town Board would be able to replace the em‐
ployee with someone who will uphold their oath of office. If appointed, these positions would be stable, offering the important benefit of building the employee’s skills and wisdom over time. Now that the Highway Superintendent position is open, I feel it would be best to fill it through an open search with a person whose qualifications have been carefully re‐
viewed, and taking into consideration the skills needed, and the experience of each applicant. Many prospective employees might be excellent for the job, but may be deterred by the election process, which is grueling and can be divisive. Qualifications are reduced to brief bullets in campaign literature. Plus the job, if elected, is not secure and can be lost during the next election —a drawback for many. Appointing encour‐
ages a larger pool of applicants. Accountability to the taxpayers is paramount, and employees who are paid through tax dollars need to be efficient, well‐trained, ethical and courteous. When these traits are not being met by the elected official, it is difficult and distasteful to bring short‐
comings into the public arena, but that is the unfortunate route necessary to make the public aware a change is needed. There are certainly pros and cons on this topic. Electors will make the final decision of whether to change the Highway Superintendent and Town Clerk from elected to appointed in a referendum this year. Join the listserv to be notified of the date and watch the website and newspapers. I’m always open for discussing the benefits and drawbacks. Give me a call, drop me a line, or stop in. Photo by M.E. Wright. Town of Ulysses—Winter 2016 Newsle er Public Input Needed: Zoning
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What do you love about where you live? What are the assets of the Town of Ulysses? What existing rules threaten those assets? What changes can be made in zoning to protect or enhance those assets? How can we protect what we value while allowing future changes? What kind of development should be allowed or discouraged in the Agricultural and Hamlet areas? As reported in last spring’s newsletter, the Town of Ulysses received grant funding to update the zoning regulations. Zoning is just one of many tools available to protect and encourage the community character that is expressed in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. …...… As one land use planning guru says, “Plan for the future or destroy what you love.”……….. The grant focuses on two main areas  Agricultural lands and  The Hamlet of Jacksonville but will likely affect all areas outside Trumansburg and away from the lake. See the map below. As the Town moves forward with the zoning update project, we will hold public meetings to gather your input (see below) . Keep an eye on the Town’s website and email listserv for meeting information. Before you arrive at the meeting, think about answers to the questions listed above. INITIAL PUBLIC MEETING ON ZONING UPDATE: Saturday, February 27 9:30 a.m. Trumansburg Fire Hall, 74 West Main St, Trumansburg AFFECTED AREAS Agricultural Priority Area Mixed‐use Hamlet Center 2 Town of Ulysses—Winter 2016 Newsle er Public Input Needed: Sidewalks
FROM THE TOWN CLERK
New sidewalks for Trumansburg and Ulysses The Town of Ulysses and the Village of Trumansburg are excited to announce that the sidewalks project is underway! The clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8am‐4pm (including lunch time hours) or by appointment. Stop by and say hello! Please contact us with questions or concerns at 387‐5767, ext. 221, or: Carissa (Clerk) at [email protected] Sarah (Deputy Clerk) at [email protected]. This federal‐aid project will improve pedestrian accommodations and safety within the Village and Town, and is comprised of three new sections of sidewalk: Tax Informa on: 1) Approximately 715 feet of sidewalk on Lake Street from Main Street to the Trumansburg Creek Bridge; 2) Approximately 2,847 feet of sidewalk on South Street from Whig Street to Tamarack Lane; and 3) Approximately 1,481 feet of sidewalk on Main St./Route 96 from Cemetery Road to the Shur Save grocery store. The Consulting Team of Fisher Associates, Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects, and Prudent Engineering were selected to complete the design for this project. Members of the consulting team will be conducting field visits and collecting data over the next couple months. The next step will be meetings with the property owners along these streets, as well as meetings with the general public where there will be ample opportunity to discuss the project, ask questions, and provide input. The Village and Town will send mailings to the property owners along the affected routes, advising them of the dates and times for the property owner meetings Be on the lookout for a notice of a public information meetings, offering the opportunity for public input. Join the town listserv, watch the newspaper, the Village and Town websites, or contact Ulysses Deputy Supervisor Michelle E. Wright ([email protected], 387‐
5767 ext. 234) to be put on an e‐mail list for notifications related to this project. Town and County taxes are combined on one bill and mailed out in early January. They are due without a penalty by Monday, February 1. You will be able to pay your bill online and access current/past years information on‐line on our website at: http://
www.ulysses.ny.us/departments/dept‐clerk/clerk‐
town‐county‐tax/. New on the Website Ulysses now has a COMMUNITY CALENDAR. Fun things like the Farmer’s Market, chicken barbecues, music, etc. will be placed on the “community” calendar. Spread the word! Add your own events. Go to ulysses.ny.us/calendar. Town meetings and other government events will be housed on the “government” calendar. On‐line Payments The Town of Ulysses has contracted with a third party to enable citizens to make on‐line payments for dog licenses, water bills, and taxes. To cover processing costs, any credit card payments will be charged a fee of either $1.75 or 3.5% (whichever is greater). Checks and cash will still be accepted without a fee, in person or via mail. To make an on‐line payment, visit the Town Clerk Department of the website. Water District 3 and 4 Billing Informa on The rate for water in 2016 will be $6.55/1,000 gallons. Expect the next meter reading around February 15. Help Shape the Town’s Future: Join the listserv Many initiatives are moving forward in 2016 with numerous opportunities for input from residents. Be notified of these activities or emergency situations by joining the town listserv. Approximately two messages per month are sent. Sign up by e‐mailing [email protected] w w w . u l y s s e s . n y . u s Town of Ulysses—Winter 2016 Newsle er The 2016 Budget and Your Taxes There is no arguing that property taxes in New York State are too high but many arguments why. Using the most recent tax rates, property taxes on a $170,000 house in Ulysses would be approximately: around. Also, half of the sales tax brought into the county goes to the state. It’s no wonder the state has literally billions to spend in highly publicized initiatives. But in Ulysses, there is no base funding to assist us to reduce property taxes. Town of Ulysses $435 (includes $208 for Fire and EMS) Village of Trumansburg: $1147 Tompkins County $1,145 Trumansburg School $3,233 Meanwhile, the town is trying its very best to keep property taxes as low as possible, while balancing service, safety and quality of life. New equipment for the Highway Department is a must and is expensive. Reserves will help pay for some of these expenses, but using up reserves is not a sustainable way to balance the budget. A new system for billing for EMS in 2015 brought in nearly $50,000, none of which goes to the state! I can’t speak for school or village budgets, but approximately 70% of the county’s budget is from unfunded state mandates. These are necessary programs such as Medicaid, police, social services, etc. That means property taxes, rather than income or corporate taxes, are paying for a large portion of the requirements set by the state. If you have questions, please contact me. At the state level, please contact State Senator, Thomas O’Mara at oma‐
[email protected] or 607‐735‐9671. Assemblywoman Barbara Li on fully understands the predicament of local governments and is a strong advocate on our behalf. Towns are responsible for keeping the roads safely maintained, the courts running smoothly, water clear of pollution, buildings inspected for safety, and the use of lands regulated, to name a few. Out of the $3,087,855 town budget, the state contributes <1% in base funding. This number has not increased in many years. Depending on the amount of paving we do, the state contribution increases slightly. In 2015, the total state assistance was $110,000 or 3.6% of the town revenue. The town collects money from fees, fines and licenses and much of that goes to the state. In 2015, the town was required to send $133,265of revenues to the state in exchange for $110,000 in state aid, a net loss of $23,265 to be made up in our property taxes. In other words, the town provides the state with aid, not the other way ‐Liz Thomas 2016 Budgeted Operating Expenses Village of Tburg News State of the Village
Village Trustees have announced the State of the Village
Meeting will be held on
Saturday, January 30th from 9-12
at the Fire House at 74 W. Main St.
2016 Budgeted Revenues Topics will include: updates on new sidewalks, the waste
water treatment plant, second water source project, tobacco
free Tburg, deer management and new parking and speed
laws.
Fees, Fines, other 16% The Village’s Second Water Source Project, received a
$2 million state grant to bring fresh well water up from
Taughannock Park along Falls Road in the Town of Ulysses
to connect with the Village system. The project is expected
to start in the Spring. The Town will be providing more
information to Town residents as the project gets underway.
Sales Tax 21% Reserves 10% Village Elections The Village will hold elections for two
trustee positions on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Village
residents vote at the Trumansburg Fire Hall 74 W. Main St. Fund Bal‐
ance 10% Go to the Board of Elections website for more
information: tompkinscountyny.gov/boe. State Funding 4% 4 Property Tax 39% Town of Ulysses—Winter 2016 Newsle er Goodbyes and Hellos
Jim Meeker retired on December 31. He served the town for 36 years, many as the Highway Superintendent. We will miss his smile and historical knowledge, but we know Jim will help in case we have questions. Thanks Jim! A BIG thanks to Dave Reynolds for stepping in as the acting Highway Superintendent. Alex Rachun also fully retired on December 31 from being the Building and Fire Code Enforcement Officer. We thank Alex for continuing on part‐time for many years and now wish him bon voyage as he is now free to travel with his wife. Thanks Alex for your calm demeanor, insight, and being such a reasonable guy! Replacing Alex is Tom Myers who serves in the same position for the Village of Trumansburg. With Tom’s background in the building trades, and after 6 sessions of intensive multi‐day training, Tom is ready to ensure buildings adhere to NYS safety and energy codes. Welcome aboard Tom. Deputy Town Clerk, Patty Halloran also joined the leagues of the retired. We appreciate all her excellent years of service. Her beloved pups will be glad to have her home full time! Don’t forget to stop by Patty. Come to Town Hall and meet the new Deputy Clerk, Sarah Koski. Her skills and big smile make coming to the Clerk’s office a pleasure. She’s a quick study and we really appreciate Sarah jumping into so many facets of what goes on at Town Hall. Sarah, you sure caught on fast to being an excellent public servant. A slightly delayed welcome to Bill Conroy, a talented mechanic who joined the Highway Department in 2015. Not only is he talented, he’s very amusing. Glad to have your skills and great personality Bill! Seeking Those Interested
in the Position of
Highway Superintendent.
The Town of Ulysses is looking for applicants for the position of Interim Highway Superintendent. This administrative position is responsible for supervising the activities and operation of the Highway Department which includes maintaining highways, bridges, waterways and water systems as well as supervising the highway employees.
A complete description of the position is available on the town website or by contacting the Ulysses Town Clerk’s office at 387‐5767 ext. 221 or [email protected]. While the original deadline was January 22, 2016, the Town Board is now taking a slower approach. A new deadline has not been determined, but those interested should submit a letter of interest along with a resume to the Town Clerk. Future deadlines will be announced through the listserv and on the website. _________________________________ From the New Youth Services Program Manager:
Hello Ulysses and Trumansburg! My name is Ethan Cramton and I am happy to write you as the new Trumansburg/Ulysses Youth Services Program Manager. This year in the middle school I will focus on building upon the fantastic programming which Anthony Ouckama provided to students last year. Popular programs such as Chris Bond Training Camp , Big Friend/Middle Friend and Primitive Pursuits will continue to be offered in addition to a number of new programs. High school programming will focus primarily on college and career readiness in the form of internships, college visits throughout the region, resume workshops and the continuation of the Youth Employment Program. So many amazing choices and opportunities! Needless to say, I can’t wait to get them up and running. A bit about me: I am a native Ithacan with a Bachelor of Science in Development Sociology from Cornell University. I have worked with youth of all ages and in many environments ranging from teaching sailing off the coast of Cape Cod to working at Fall Creek Elementary School afterschool program in downtown Ithaca. I love hiking, hunting, camping, reading, playing piano and banjo, sailing, all of the seasons and exploring the human experience through activity and spirited conver‐
sation. I very much look forward to this year! Contact me at [email protected] or 387‐4910. Can you answer “Yes” to
the following ?
* I enjoy collabora ng with people on community oriented projects. * I am though ul and consider other people’s perspec ves. * I have experience in one of the following: construc on, planning, architecture, farming, historic preserva on, engineering, public policy, environmental protec on, municipal work. If so, perhaps it’s me for you to consider being on the Town of Ulysses Planning Board. Contact Town Planner, Darby Kiley for more informa on. [email protected], 387‐5767 ext 222 Town of Ulysses—Winter 2016 Newsle er Energy Initiatives and Updates Clean Energy Financing for Commercial and Rental Properties.
Marketing Energy Efficiency in Homes
The Residential Energy Score Project
The City of Ithaca and Tompkins County
recently passed legislation authorizing
“property assisted clean energy”
or PACE, financing to be available to
commercial property owners throughout the County. PACE financing allows
long-term, low cost loans for energyrelated improvements to existing properties--with loan repayments made
through the annual City or County
property tax bill. Most commerciallyowned properties are eligible, including
multi-family residences and buildings
owned by non-profits.
The Town of Ulysses is involved with The Residential Energy Score Pro‐
ject (RESP), a first‐of‐its kind project that is seeking to create strong market demand for energy efficiency in existing houses and, by exten‐
sion, to reduce utility costs for homeowners, to increase energy litera‐
cy, and to help promote the county’s sustainability goals. RESP is a partnership of the Towns of Caroline, Danby, Ulysses, and Ithaca, the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Project funding is provided by NYSERDA through the Clean‐
er Greener Communities program. The project aims to create a voluntary program where homeowners can share a home energy score with prospective buyers, tenants, or other interested parties. The coalition is developing a local label that will give homeowners and prospective home‐buyers information about the energy efficiency of the physical structure of a home, including the heating system, air sealing, and insulation. The project is currently in the program design phase, and is soliciting feedback from the commu‐
nity. The project team aims to have a program and implementation plan endorsed by the participating municipalities by spring 2016. For more information contact Darby Kiley at [email protected]. For more information, email
[email protected].
Home Energy Assistance Program
(HEAP)
This Federal program helps low-income
households meet the high costs of home
energy. The season runs from 11/16/153/15/16. Emergency assistance is also
available. View income guidelines and
apply on-line at www.mybenefits.gov or
call (607)274-5264.
Bulk Purchasing of Energy for the Community
Community Choice Aggregation Community Choice Aggregation is a program under development in NYS. It would allow a municipality, such as the Ulysses, to enter into a contract for the bulk purchase of electricity for all residents. Multiple objectives can be met; municipalities in other states that allow Commu‐
nity Choice Aggregation (CCA) save their residents money through bulk buying. Additionally, the municipality can support and encourage certain types of energy production such as clean or renewable energy. Down the road, municipalities may want to support local generation of electricity such as through local microgrids. Any residential or “non‐
demand” commercial customer would be eligible to join. Equally comforting, if a resident wants to opt OUT of the CCA, it is simple to do so. The state has not finalized the rules for CCAs, and to move forward at the local level requires a local referendum, so residents will decide if this is the direction we want to go. Once the rules are finalized at the state level, you’ll be hearing more. 6 LICENSING IS SIMPLE To obtain a dog license, you will need:  Current rabies certificate  Proof of spaying/neutering (if applicable)  License fee: Altered $13.50 Unaltered $20.50 Bring or mail the information to the town clerk’s office at 10 Elm St. Trumansburg. Thanks to the Town of Ithaca for this ar cle. Town of Ulysses Winter 2016 Newsletter
Town of Ulysses 10 Elm St Trumansburg, NY 14886 Presort Standard US Postage Paid Trumansburg, NY 14886 PERMIT NO 63 Stormwater: soil disturbance and post-construction stormwater management
This is the time of year when vegetation is dormant and we need to pay special attention to soils subjected to rain and melting snow. As mandated by the State and Federal governments, the Town of Ulysses oversees permitting for certain soil disturbances except for agriculture which is regulated at the state level. How do we define a soil disturbance? The Town’s storm‐
water local law defines land development activity as “construction activity including clearing, grading, excavat‐
ing, soil disturbance or placement of fill that results in land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre, or activities disturbing less than one acre of total land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale, even though multiple separate and distinct land develop‐
ment activities may take place at different times on different schedules.” What is post‐construction stormwater management? The stormwater runoff from new development or redevelop‐
ment projects needs to be planned for and managed so that it does not negatively impact neighbors, adjacent streams, or Cayuga Lake. The impacts include an increase in the quantity of pollutants, such as sediment, and an increase in the amount of water flowing to nearby streams. New roofs and driveways are impervious surfaces that change the natural percolation of rain into the ground. What about agriculture? While most farmers and growers manage their land using practices that protect from runoff, some do not. If you are concerned over stormwater runoff from ag lands, contact either the Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation office or the NYS Department of Agriculture. ‐Darby Kiley ELECTRONIC DELIVERY: Help us save time, money and resources. Receive this newsletter by email. Send your address to [email protected] 8