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MARCH 27, 2001 NOON SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM PRESENT: B. Blanchard, G. Totman, T. Joseph, M. Lane, J. Lalley, P. Penniman STAFF: S. Whicher, County Administrator; J. Hanson, J. Miller, Planning Department; L. Shurtleff, J. Miller, Fire, Disaster and EMS; W.Skinner, Public Information Coordinator; U. Mukherjee, Administrative Services Coordinator GUESTS: D. Kiefer, Board of Representatives; N. Jayne, County Administration; L. Withiam, E911 Operations Committee; B. Wilbur, Ithaca City Fire Chief; R. Haus, Joseph Vitale, Sheriff’s Department; M. Varvayanis, Supervisor, Town of Dryden CALL TO ORDER The meeting opened at 12:04 p.m. Ms. Blanchard distributed the following handouts:
Ms. Blanchard announced that she participated in a meeting with NYSTEC and they proposed that, as the project is highly technical, the RFQC method (Request for Qualified Contractor) be used for procurement of equipment. She said she will circulate an e-mail from NYSTEC on this suggestion. She also announced that she and Mr. Whicher had a meeting with Harlin McEwen, former Chairman of US Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Advisory Council. He has offered assistance to the project on technology issues such as compatibility with the national system. He has also offered to help in accessing federal funding. He has declined to charge the County at this stage. Mr. Lane requested an executive session on the Towers Project regarding potential litigation with Towns. APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES OF MEETING It was Moved by Mr. Totman, seconded by Mr. Penniman and unanimously adopted by voice vote of members present to approve the January 23 and February 27, 2001 minutes with the recommended changes. COMMUNICATIONS/DISPATCH CENTER SITE SELECTION Mr. Lane distributed a memo on why he cannot support the South Hill Fire Station #5 location. He said he felt that the site was vulnerable to emergencies such as ice storms that could result in closing of Route 96. He said he did not like the idea of parking under the 911 Center and referred to the potential, in his view, for student unrest at IC posing possible problems for the Center. Ms. Blanchard said she felt that some of Mr. Lane’s characterizations were not correct and she may prepare a rejoinder on this issue at a later date commenting on Mr. Lane’s objections. Mr. Joseph said he too had reservations on the objectivity of some portions of the site evaluation analysis but, in his view, the choice was between the South Hill Fire Station #5 and the Public Safety Building sites. Mr. Penniman said he too had some reservations with the South Hill site such as parking problems and the need to build into the embankment but he noted that alternate routes to access the site in the event of an emergency were available. Ms. Blanchard noted that in an emergency officials would not drive in their own cars. Mr. Wilbur spoke on the advantages of shared facilities at the South Hill site, when and if the need to establish a command center arose, such as kitchen, lavatory, meeting room, common space. Mr. Lalley said even Route 13 is closed during winter due to accidents and weather condition. He referred to the synergy of the South Hill site and felt it was the best. Mr. Joseph noted in normal use the Dispatch Center is not a gathering site. In an emergency we need a command center, which could be but need not be, the same site. In response to queries from members, Ms. Blanchard spoke of her intention to appoint a client committee to draw up an MOU for the project with the municipalities involved. Ms. Kiefer noted that the accident data handed out needs to be given in the context of traffic counts for each of the roads. She also noted that since the South Hill site is not the cheapest estimate, cost should not be given as a reason for choosing it. It was MOVED by Mr. Totman, seconded by Mr. Lalley, that the COMCAP Committee adopt the resolution establishing the preferred site for a Tompkins County Communications Center at the South Hill Fire Station #5 and authorizing schematic design for the purpose of capital budgeting. A voice vote resulted as follows: Ayes-5, No-1. MOTION CARRIED. Ms. Blanchard said that the resolution would be put before the Board of Representatives on April 3. She said the MOU would be drawn up subsequently and, at Mr. Whicher’s suggestion, the principles to be incorporated into the MOU would accompany the Board resolution. She said she will work with Mr. Whicher on some of the details for presentation to the Board. D. O. T. PROJECT Mr. Hanson said that Cornell University has approved the option on Hanshaw Road for DOT relocation. The next step would be drawing up of an MOU with the State Department of Transportation. SEQR action will follow. NYSTEC DRAFT REPORT Mr. Hanson said that copies of the report (tasks 1 through 3 along with an executive summary) are available at various County offices such as the Board Office, Administration, Planning (one set for loan and one set for reading). STATE-WIDE NETWORK (SWN) / SBA Mr. Whicher spoke of his meeting with SBA, a cell tower construction company, in Albany. He had an interesting dialogue and mutual interests were identified. He said the aim was to maximize the coverage and minimize the number of towers. The company was open to co-location and cooperation with Tompkins County. Where the towers can be put is restricted by the cell companies. We agreed to provide SBA with our list of all usable structures in Tompkins County. The digital technology requires much closer spacing between towers e.g., 3 miles. He also reported that Motorola has been named the preferred vendor and NYS partner for the SWN project. They are 30/60 days to a contract and the contract approval process by the Attorney General would take another 30/60 days. Engineering details will be known subsequently. He said the State will develop a fully integrated system eventually and sought cooperation with local governments. Mr. Whicher reported that SBA put towers along the Thruway and was then told they had to be lighted because the Thruway is designated an emergency runway. SEQRA SCOPING Ms. Blanchard distributed a handout on Public Comments Received for Phase 1 of SEQR Process for the Tompkins County Public Safety Communications System Project. The responses were summarized by J. Miller immediately after the deadline of March 26. Out of the 15 responses received, seven were from municipalities seeking consideration as Involved Agencies. There were questions on the approach to be taken and comments regarding the draft scope. Ms. Blanchard said that the final scope is expected at the end of April and will be put on the web after presentation to the committee. NEW BUSINESS Ms. Blanchard spoke on Building Committee formation. She said all COMCAP Committee members are welcome to attend the meetings. She requested Mr. Totman to serve on the committee as he is Chair of the Public Safety Committee. She said Mr. Whicher and herself will be members and suggested the following 911 representatives: Mr. Wilbur, Mr. Shurtleff and Mr. Lansing. Mr. Lane suggested inclusion of somebody from the Public Works Committee as well. Ms. Blanchard said she will convene the first meeting after which the group can name a chair. OTHER/OLD BUSINESS Ms. Blanchard reminded the group
regarding development of a reaffirmation of the mission statement for
It was MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr.Lalley, and unanimously adopted by voice vote of members present, to hold an executive session on the Towers Project regarding potential litigation with Towns immediately after this meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:34 p.m.
The next meeting will be held April 24, 2001 at noon in the Scott Heyman
Conference Room.
Submitted by Ujjal Mukherjee, Administrative
Services Coordinator.
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