The Skaneateles Town Board sat in an attorney advice session for one hour last Thursday, Aug. 16, and at least some of that meeting was to discuss its ongoing disagreement with the Skaneateles Recreation Charitable Trust. That disagreement, which has come to a head in recent weeks over who owns what assets in the Skaneateles YMCA and if the assets should be paid for, is moving towards litigation if the two sides cannot reach agreement.
While town board members could not divulge what they discussed specifically in their attorney advice session, Town Attorney Patrick Sardino said he and Town Supervisor Terri Roney did meet with SRCT board members last week. “We are trying to explore other avenues,” Sardino said of ending the impasse.
Last week’s meeting was to be the final face-to-face discussion between the two sides before the town filed litigation papers to solve the issue in court, according to both parties. Sardino would not say if he had filed paperwork to take this to litigation.
The town board’s regular meeting last Thursday was relatively light, with the major issue being the announcement that the state Department of Transportation approved two more speed limit reductions in the town.
The DOT declared it would be “appropriate” to reduce the speed limit on Stump Road between Vinegar Hill Road and Route 321 from 55 to 40 miles-per-hour, and on Visions Drive between Jordan Road and County Line Road from 55 to 35 miles-per-hour.
Honeywell Scanning and Mobility, which has offices on Visions Drive, also requested “no parking” signs along the roadway, but the DOT said that is an issue for the town to decide. Sardino said that would need a local law to approve, and he would look into it.
“We’re batting 1,000 on speed limit reduction requests,” Roney said before announcing the DOT correspondence.
The DOT agreed in July to lower the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles-per-hour on a 1.2-mile stretch of New Seneca Turnpike. The new speed limit will extend from the end of the existing 35 mph speed zone (.4 mile from the village line) to Fisher Road.
Also at the meeting:
—Highway Superintendent Jim Card said the Irish Road bridge is up and guard rails are being installed. He expects paving to begin this week.
—The unsafe house and property on Stump Road, which Town Code Enforcement Officer Debbie Williams started taking official action on addressing in June, is in the process of being purchased by Sennett Company LLC, the board was informed. The company is currently waiting to close on the property. Because the issue is being addressed, the board voted to “release” the documents it previously filed with the county declaring the house an unsafe building and allowing the town to tear it down if necessary.
—Roney announced that one bid was received and opened by the town on Aug. 13 for the PRV (pressure reducing valve) vault bid announced in July. The PRV vault will be used as the town changes its water system to the village water tank. The single bid received was from Ross Valves for $40,700. Card said the town put the bid out to all valve makers they could find and Ross was the only company that made the specific unit necessary for the job. He recommended the town board accept the bid, which it unanimously did.
—Sardino announced that final approval for the property conveyance to Grace Chapel from the town is nearly ready. He requested that the board authorize Roney to sign the official paperwork to affect the transfer and receive the money, which the board unanimously did. The property conveyance concerns the release of a 30-foot drainage easement and a right of reversion.
—Roney announced the resignation of Scott Winkelman from the town Zoning Board of Appeals in order to serve on the town Planning Board, which was accepted. The board now has a vacancy to fill on the ZBA. Anyone who would like to apply for the position can submit a letter of interest to Town Clerk Janet Aaron at [email protected], or call the town hall for more information at 685-3473.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
