VILLAGE OF AURORA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

DECEMBER 15, 1999

 

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Aurora, New York was called to order in the Firehouse Meeting Room at 7:35 PM on December 15, 1999, with Mayor Gunderson presiding.

 

Present:  Trustees Jim Chase, Janet Mapstone, Jeri Vargo and Ken Zabriskie.

Also present: David Brooks, Debbie Brooks, Mark Fandrich, Attorney for Moonshine Properties; Nancy Gil, Planning Board Chair; Tom Higgins, Principal Planner from the Cayuga County Planning Board; Planning Board Members: Ken Kabelac and Patricia Rittenhouse; and Nancy Yann, Clerk.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to accept the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Village Board of Trustees of November 17, 1999.   Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:

 

Mayor Gunderson made the following changes to the agenda: the treasurer’s report will be next, so Ms. Nabinger can leave; and Tom Higgins will address the Board immediately following the treasurer’s report. 

 

TREASURER'S REPORTS:

 

A.                 Monthly Reports:

 

            Trustee Zabriskie moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for the General Fund dated November 30, 1999. Seconded by Trustee Mapstone, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Vargo moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for the Water Fund dated November 30, 1999.  Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for the Sewer Fund dated November 30, 1999.  Seconded by Trustee Mapstone, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Mapstone moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report for the Water Improvement Reserve Fund dated November 30, 1999.  Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

B.        Budget Modifications:

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to accept the following Budget Modifications:

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            General Fund:

 

            $13.22 from A9060.8 – Health Insurance to A9055.8 – Disability Insurance

 

            Water Fund:

 

            $ 7.43 from F9060.8 – Health Insurance to F9055.8 – Disability Insurance

 

            Sewer Fund:

 

            $ 5.95 from G9060.8 – Health Insurance to G9055.8 – Disability Insurance

 

            Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

C.        Approval of Bills:

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to approve the bills from the General Fund, Claims #207 to 236 in the amount of $3,966.32.  Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to approve the bills from the Water Fund, Claims #207 to 236 in the amount of $1,796.98.  Seconded by Trustee Mapstone, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to approve the bills from the Sewer Fund, Claims #207 to 236 in the amount of $5,892.22.  Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to approve the bills from the Water Improvement Reserve Fund, Claims #207 to 236 in the amount of $2,842.00.  Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.

 

Trustee Zabriskie moved to accept the water adjustments as noted by the Treasurer.  Seconded by Trustee Chase, motion carried 5:0.

 

Mayor Gunderson welcomed Tom Higgins and Mark Fandrich.  Mr. Higgins was present to review the proposed zoning change for Moonshine Properties, LLC from Flood Hazard to Commercial.  Mr. Higgins addressed the concerns of the Cayuga County Planning Board as:  (1) The site is identified by FEMA as a Flood Hazard Area; (2) The site is near the water intake pipe which serves both Wells College and the village water system; (3) The developer stated the site would be improved by a Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District grant from the Corps of Engineers; (4) The rezoning of Paine’s Creek site in this case would be considered spot zoning which is prohibited; and (5) When development occurs in a flood plain, the flood area is redefined, causing
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increased flooding of surrounding areas.  Mr. Higgins went on to say that there is a need for more commercial zoned property to accommodate commercial development within the Village, the Village Planning Board and Village Board should evaluate other areas.  Mayor Gunderson pointed out that the Village did not own much property, most of the property that would be acceptable to use as commercial is not available.  Mark Fandrich, Attorney for Moonshine Properties, LLC, shared a letter from Tim Buhl, from Resource Associates, stating that Moonshine Properties simply requested that the Village Board and Planning Board review the language in the current Zoning Ordinance to see if there was a way that the language of the Flood Hazard Zone allowed uses and/or the Commercial Zone allowed uses could be revised to allow the proposed development.   Mr. Buhl concluded his letter by stating that the purpose in meeting with Village Officials and discussing the details of the proposed project was to establish an open dialogue regarding the development of this site.  He asked to be kept informed of any meetings, actions, correspondence, or other issues at either the local or county level, so that they could attend review meetings and fairly present their proposal and the technical issues to both Village and County officials.  Mr. Fandrich requested a joint meeting with Mr. Borza, Mr. Buhl, Mr. Higgins, the Village Board of Trustees, the Village Planning Board, and himself to discuss the matters at hand.  A meeting will be set up for sometime in the spring.

 

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

Mayor Gunderson reported that a Kiosk was being looked into to replace the current bulletin board at the Firehouse.

 

Mayor Gunderson reported that he had received a letter from the Central New York Regional Planning Board regarding the 2000 Census requesting support for the upcoming census.

 

CLERK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

The Clerk handed the Board copies of literature received from Upstate Citizens for Equality, Inc., relating to the Indian Land Claim.  This was just for their information, to keep them informed.

 

The Clerk reported that many homes did not have their new “911 address” displayed.  A discussion followed on how to get people to put them up.  No decision was made.

 

The Clerk asked if the Board has any suggestions for Internet access.  Trustee Zabriskie suggested trying localnet and the clerk suggested a-znet.  The Board gave authorization to go with the one that would be least expensive.

 

The Clerk asked the Board members what information they would like on the web-page.  They all agreed that less was best, just their name, term and area of responsibility.
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The Clerk asked of she could ask the Village Historian to write a history of the village to be printed on the web-page.  The Board approved.

 

VISITOR RECOGNITION:

 

Mayor Gunderson recognized David Brooks, Fire Commissioner, who asked if the Village would consider putting propane in the tank outside the firehouse.  The Village and the Fire Department will each pay half.

 

COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS:

 

A.                 Buildings and Grounds:

 

Trustee Vargo had nothing to report.

 

B.        Recreation, Parks and Public Events:

           

Trustee Mapstone reported that she would like to donate oranges for Santa this year if asked.  The Board agreed that this was worth doing.  Mayor Gunderson suggested going to Wegmans.

 

C.        Streets and Public Safety:

 

Trustee Chase reported that the Christmas tree lights had been put up and was working.  He will send a thank you note to Kurt, Lorin, and NYSEG thanking them for all their hard work.

 

D.        Water and Sewer:

 

            Trustee Zabriskie nothing to report.

 

E.        Preservation Panel:

 

            There was nothing to report.

 

F.         Planning Board:

 

Trustee Mapstone moved to accept the Minutes of November 3 and 16 from the Planning Board Meetings.  Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

G.                Zoning Board of Appeals:

 

There was nothing to report.


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H.        Zoning Officer:

 

Trustee Mapstone moved to accept the Zoning Officer’s October Report.  Seconded by Trustee Vargo, motion carried 5:0.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

There was no old business.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Mayor Gunderson requested the Board members to reserve and schedule Wednesday, February 2, 2000 at 8:15 PM to discuss the proposed Zoning Law Amendments with the Planning Board.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Trustee Chase moved adjournment at 10:30 PM.  Seconded by Trustee Mapstone, motion carried 5:0.