In a relatively quiet, quick and straightforward meeting last week, the Cazenovia Town Board held four public hearings, scheduled four more and attended to other basic business.
The board — minus Councilor Pat Race who was absent — continued for the third time each public hearings on the proposed noise ordinance and special events permit laws that have been under consideration since May. The proposed laws would prevent and control excessive noise and establish procedures and requirements to hold special events throughout the town.
Only two members of the public spoke during the two hearings, both asking about how the proposed laws would effect not-for-profit organizations and the fundraising events they hold. Town Supervisor Bill Zupan said no changes have been made to the language of either law since the board’s last public hearings on July 14.
“This is still a work in progress, for both laws,” Zupan said.
Councilor Kristi Andersen reiterated the board’s position that if and when any substantial changes are made to the language of either proposed law, those changes will be posted on the town website and highlighted in red so readers can see exactly where and what the changes were. Andersen also said the town still is waiting to receive feedback on the proposed laws from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, who were sent the laws more than one month ago.
The board voted unanimously to continue public hearings for both the noise ordinance and special events permit law until the Sept. 8 meeting.
The board also held a public hearing on proposed Local Law D, “A local law to amend chapter 165 (zoning) of the town code to amend permitted and specially permitted uses in the New Woodstock hamlet overlay and New Woodstock central business overlay districts in the Town of Cazenovia.” The town code currently allows a number of permitted buildings and uses in New Woodstock by right, as set by the board in 2009 through zoning and subdivision laws, and the proposed law would change those uses from being by right to needing special use permits issued by the town planning board, Andersen said.
After receiving no public comments, the board closed the public hearing then unanimously voted to approve the law.
The board also introduced Local Law E to override the state tax levy limit, an action the board takes every year prior to budget time. The board unanimously voted to set a public hearing on the proposed law for their next regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 8.
Full texts of all proposed and passed laws can be found online at the town website at townofcazenovia.org or at the town office.
Also at the meeting, the board:
—Authorized a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 8, for the annual renewal of Burdin’s Junkyard permit.
—Authorized the solicitation of bids for the purchase of a new 2015 three-quarter ton truck for the town highway department. Bids will be accepted until 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. Bids will be opened at 4 p.m. that day at the town office.
—Approved the use of Ridge Road as part of a 19- and 39- mile bike race on Sunday, Sept. 14, to benefit the Two Smiles One Hope Foundation for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
—Heard from Councilor Liz Moran that the committee to consider the future of the Gothic Cottage met recently with HKK architects and have gone through the potential costs for various renovation possibilities for the Gothic Cottage. The committee now will investigate the potential to move the town office to another building in the town rather than keep it in the Gothic Cottage.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
