Citizens for an Informed Yorktown

 

 Town Board Meeting

May 21, 2013

 

1. Announcements

a. Recycling electronics (E-waste). Two new dates have been set: May 28 and May 31.  Items can be brought to the Recycling Department behind the police building.

 

b.Generators for YCCC and Town Hall.  Supervisor Grace said that the pads for both generators were being prepared and that there was only one location for the YCCC pads. Regarding the YCCC pad where digging has already begun, Councilman Patel asked what had happened to the planting that had been removed and which were done in conjunction with the nursery school that rents space in the building. The bid for the generators has not been advertised yet, although the technical details have been agreed to.  Councilman Patel also raised the issue of the need for a new transfer switch at Town Hall which activates the generator.

 

2. Courtesy of the Floor

a. Winery: Ann Kutter, speaking as a resident and not as a member of the Planning Board, was critical of the Town Board’s May 7 vote not to advertise a public hearing for a wetlands permit on the town-owned land. She said the site plan approved by the Planning Board that utilized the town parcel provided for a safer traffic pattern and also included important stormwater measures that would benefit the wetlands where no stormwater measures currently existed.  She said the negotiated plan to use the town wetlands was in the best interests of both the town and the Winery and that by refusing to hold a hearing on the permit application, the Board had denied the property owner due process and was also sending a bad signal to other applicants involved in site plan negotiations with the town.

 

Chris Scicara, the Winery’s project manager, called the May 7 vote “appalling,” noting that Mr. DeChairo had already spent $2,000 to clean up the town-owned wetlands as well as money making revisions to his site plan.

 

b. Unsafe structures (1481 Maiden Lane).  (See earlier meeting summaries.) Francesa Samel, whose property abuts the house that burned down 18 months ago, pleaded with the Board to take some action to demolish building’s remains which she said presents a fire and safety hazard as well as causing her a financial hardship as she can’t sell her house was long as the remnants of the old structure remain.  She said she understands the problems associated with the task but she was still asking that something be done.

 

In response Supervisor Grace said efforts to put pressure on the owner to remove the building have, to date, not been successful but that “we’ll be vigilant about it.”  It was unclear from the discussion whether an outside contractor had already been selected to demolish the structure or town staff would be used in the event the decision to proceed with the demolition was made. Supervisor Grace expressed concern that if the town demolished the building, it may not be able to recover its costs, adding that there was an asbestos issue which would affect the cost.

 

c. Fluoridation. Susan Siegel (the person writing this summary) asked for an update on the status of the new fluoridation installation, specifically whether a contract for the design of the new facility had been signed. In response, Councilman Paganelli said that because he had concerns that that engineering firm that submitted a proposal to design the new facility had overlooked a ventilation system 10 years ago when the initial fluoride system was put in, he tried to get other engineers to quote on the job but that didn’t work out because they were not OSHA certified. He said that the Joint Water Works attorney was drafting an IMA (Intermunicipal agreement) that would state that Yorktown would cover the cost of the design engineering work which would be $51,000. He anticipated that once the town reviewed and approved the IMA, it would take 3-6 months to complete the design work. And, until he saw the IMA, he did not know whether the town or the Joint Water Works would actually advertise the bid for the work.

 

3. Electronic Filing Law Public Hearing

In a letter to the Board, Jack Goldstein, a local engineer, raised concern that once plans are available electronically, they could more easily to usurped by a competing professional than hard copies. Paul Moskowitz, speaking on behalf of Walt Daniels, a member of the Conservation Board and Open Space Committee, suggested that the law be amended to require additional types of technical information.

 

The Board voted to close the hearing and unanimously adopted the law. Supervisor Grace said that while Mr. Goldstein’s concern needed to be addressed, he wanted to get the process moving and that the issue could be dealt with later on.  He added that Mr. Daniels’ suggestions need not be included in the law but were part of the review process.

 

4. Street Opening Permit Public Hearing

Without any public input, the Board closed the hearing and voted unanimously for the law which enables utility companies, as well as other applicants, to apply for an annual blanket street opening permit rather than have to apply each time one was needed.

 

5. Selected resolutions passed unanimously

a. Fieldhome. Authorized the Supervisor to sign a PILOT (Payment in lieu of taxes) agreement that amended a 2000 PILOT agreement. The new agreement covers the proposed new senior independent living units and common areas building.

 

b. Temporary CO for Best Plumbing at Crompond Crossing. Authorized the Building Inspector to issue a TCO and to refer out the request for a TCO to appropriate town agencies.