The Manlius Town Board meeting on Feb. 10 was a busy one filled with multiple public hearings — and, as a result, the board considered an amendment to the town code that sets rules on illuminating signs and approved two changes to the town’s veterans tax exemptions.
The first public hearing related to amending chapter 155-25 of the town code which relates to special regulations for illuminating signs. Although illuminating lights are already allowed under town code, this amendment states that light emitting diode (LED) display signs that scroll, move, have display animation or change pictures will be prohibited.
Henry McIntosh, chairman of the zoning board, came to the town board earlier this year to ask this amendment be made to the code so businesses considering putting in LED signs have a standard to go by.
Town attorney Tim Frateschi presented the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) application, and found there to be no negative environmental impacts of this local law.
McIntosh spoke at the public hearing and said from his research, he has not found LED signs to be a hazard to traffic. He also asked the board to consider adding that illuminating signs cannot use a fade effect, and to look into setting regulations on brightness of illuminating signs during daylight and night hours.
The board voted to close the public hearing, but did not taken any further action on the local law because they would like to consider what McIntosh suggested as additions for the amendment.
Veterans tax exemptions approved
Two additional public hearings were held at the Feb. 10 town board meeting, relating to two local laws that would change the Alternative Veterans Tax Exemption and the Cold War Veterans Tax Exemption to match up with current state legislation. Recently, the New York State Legislature voted to change the amounts of reductions for veterans when it comes to paying property taxes, said Frateschi.
Currently, Manlius Town Law states for both the Alternative Veterans Tax Exemption and the Cold War Veterans Tax Exemptions, veterans get a 15 percent reduction per $36,000 home assessed value, combat veterans get an additional 10 percent per $20,000 home assessed value and a 50 percent reduction per $120,000 for disabled veterans. The local law change proposed would show a change that veterans would get a 15 percent reduction per $45,000 home assessed value, combat veterans with an additional 10 percent reduction per $30,000 home assessed value and a disabled exemption of 50 percent reduction per $150,000.
The board voted unanimously to approve both of these tax exemptions, which will go into effect in 2017.
