Local law to override state tax levy limit passed
By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
At the Aug. 9 meeting of the Cazenovia Town Board, a local law that modifies the notification process for public hearings was approved in order to ensure neighboring residents of properties undertaking projects are properly notified. This was one of two local law that were passed that night, including one that allows the town board to override the state tax levy cap.
Formerly, owners of a property that is undertaking a project which must go to a public hearing in front of the Cazenovia zoning and planning boards must send certified letters to all residents within 500 feet of the property at least five days before a public hearing is scheduled to occur.
A public hearing was held on Local Law H of 2016, which makes amendments to chapters 146 and 165 of town code to state that all applicants must provide stamped and sealed envelopes addressed to all residents within 500 feet of their property to the village office at least 15 days before a public hearing, and the notices will be sent 10 days before the public hearing.
“There have been a few instances where people have been showing up saying ‘I never got notified’ and there’s no way for the town to track it so we have decided that the applicant will turn the letters into the town and the town clerks will send out the letters 10 days before the hearing,” said Supervisor Bill Zupan.
Applicants must also place a notification in the town’s paper and post a yellow notice sign on their property that gives details of the public hearing. The public hearing notice will also be posted on the town’s website.
At the public hearing, one resident has concerns that 10 days wasn’t enough time for notification. “I don’t think 10 days is enough time,” said Sarah Webster. “When people are away, they may not get this letter on time. I think it’s a short period of time, especially for big projects that are going on.”
“I want to point out that state law is five days, so this change would double that from what the state requires,” said Town Attorney John Langey. “Any more time would be difficult because the boards typically meet every few weeks and newspapers don’t come out in print as often as they used to.”
The town board voted unanimously to adopt Local Law H of 2016.
A public hearing was also held on Local Law F of 2016, which allows the board to override the state tax levy limit. Zupan explained that the board has done this every year since the tax levy limit was established in 2011. For the upcoming town budget in Cazenovia, Zupan said the tax levy limit would be .68 percent.
The town board voted unanimously to adopt Local Law F of 2016.
